Al Nafs Podcast - Roots and Narrative

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More than coffee… this is legacy, culture, and identity in every cup. ☕🇮🇶 In this powerful episode of Roots & Narrative, we sit down with Ahmed Ridha Alwan, CEO and co-founder of Ridha Alwan Coffee the largest coffee brand in Iraq. Ahmed shares the story behind the name, the responsibility of carrying a family legacy, and how Iraqi culture is deeply embedded in every coffee shop experience. From the streets of Baghdad to becoming a national symbol, this is a journey of resilience, vision, and purpose. We explore: * The story behind Ridha Alwan Coffee * Building the biggest coffee brand in Iraq * Coffee shops as cultural and social spaces * Protecting heritage while scaling a modern business * Why respect and community are at the heart of Iraqi cafés This episode isn’t just about coffee — it’s about identity, belonging, and preserving culture for future generations. 🎧 Watch now and be part of the story. 💬 Comment below: What does a coffee shop mean to you? **العربي:** أكثر من مجرد قهوة… إنها إرث وثقافة وهوية في كل فنجان ☕🇮🇶 في هذه الحلقة المميزة من *Roots & Narrative*، نستضيف أحمد رضا علوان، الرئيس التنفيذي والمؤسس المشارك لعلامة رضا علوان — أكبر علامة قهوة في العراق. يشاركنا أحمد قصة الاسم، ومسؤولية الحفاظ على إرث عائلي عريق، وكيف أصبحت المقاهي جزءاً لا يتجزأ من الثقافة العراقية. من شوارع بغداد إلى علامة وطنية، هذه قصة طموح ورؤية وإصرار. في هذه الحلقة: * قصة نجاح رضا علوان * كيف أصبحت أكبر علامة قهوة في العراق * المقاهي كمساحات ثقافية واجتماعية * التوازن بين التراث والتوسع الحديث * أهمية الاحترام والمجتمع في المقاهي العراقية هذه الحلقة ليست عن القهوة فقط… بل عن الهوية والانتماء والحفاظ على الثقافة للأجيال القادمة ❤️ 🎧 شاهد الآن وكن جزءاً من القصة 💬 شاركونا: ماذا يعني لكم المقهى؟ #podcastclips #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #coffeelover #coffee #iraqipodcast #iraq #podcast #middleeast #realconversations Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

He had the career, the money, and the life in London… but something kept pulling him back. In this episode, we sit down with a founder who walked away from finance to help build Iraq’s startup ecosystem from the ground up. From growing up across Iraq, Sweden, and the UK… to launching companies in one of the toughest markets in the world — this is a story about identity, risk, and purpose. We dive into: - Why he left London at the peak of his career - The reality of building businesses in Iraq - The biggest mistakes founders make early on - Why Iraq could be the next startup nation If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure about your path, or pulled between two worlds… this episode is for you. 🎧 Watch the full episode now on YouTube Link in bio 👆 Tell us in the comments: What does “home” mean to you? #rootsandnarrative #podcast #charity #legacy #humanstories #iraq #inspiration Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome back to Roots and Narrative. Today, Rida and Naba sit down with Mustafa Alchali, the founder of Al Ghad Al Mushreq. He walks us through the early days of the orphanage the struggles, the small victories, and the overwhelming need that pushed him to build a safe space. The twist? The children who once called this place home now manage it. We sit with the new generation of leaders who are currently overseeing the construction of a new charity complex, ensuring that the children of tomorrow have even more opportunities than they did. This is a conversation about legacy, the meaning of home, and how true charity creates a cycle of giving that lasts for generations. If you need a reminder that your circumstances do not define your future, this episode is for you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From hardship to building multiple successful businesses in Iraq, this is a story of vision, grit, and belief. 🇮🇶 We’re proud to welcome Hadi Laith, Founder and CEO of Rawnaq Aldur, Iraqi Franchise, and Qasraliya, to the Roots & Narrative podcast. Hadi is more than a business leader, he’s a world traveller, antiques collector, and visionary entrepreneur whose journey is shaped by resilience, strategy, and the power of having the right people around you. In this eye-opening conversation, he shares the realities behind building businesses in Iraq, the hardships he faced, the lessons he learned, and how family support and strong teams became the foundation of his phenomenal growth. This episode isn’t just about business, it’s about mindset, perseverance, and what’s truly possible when you refuse to give up on your vision. If you’re an entrepreneur, a dreamer, or someone who believes in building something meaningful, this conversation will stay with you. 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe now 👉 Follow Roots & Narrative on Instagram, TikTok & YouTube 👉 Share this episode and be part of telling the stories shaping Iraq’s future. من التحديات إلى بناء عدة شركات ناجحة في العراق هذه قصة رؤية، وإصرار، وإيمان. 🇮🇶 نرحّب بكل فخر بـ هادي ليث، المؤسس والرئيس التنفيذي لكل من Rawnaq Aldur، و الأمتيازات العراقية ، و قصر عالية، في بودكاست Roots & Narrative. هادي ليس مجرد رجل أعمال، بل هو مسافر حول العالم، وجامع للتحف، وصاحب رؤية. في هذه الحلقة الملهمة، يشاركنا رحلته بكل تفاصيلها—من الصعوبات والتحديات، إلى النمو الاستثنائي الذي حققه، وكيف كان دعم العائلة والعمل مع الفريق الصحيح حجر الأساس في بناء نجاحاته. هذه الحلقة ليست فقط عن الأعمال، بل عن العقلية، والصبر، والإيمان بما يمكن تحقيقه عندما تتمسك برؤيتك. إذا كنت رائد أعمال، أو لديك حلم، أو تؤمن ببناء شيء له قيمة—فهذه الحلقة لك. 🎧 شاهد واستمع واشترك الآن 👉 تابع Roots & Narrative على إنستغرام، تيك توك ويوتيوب 👉 وشارك الحلقة لتكون جزءاً من رواية قصص النجاح التي تُشكّل مستقبل العراق. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode of Roots & Narratives was recorded on the road across Iraq 🇮🇶 Our guest, Ali Al Makhzomy, founder of Bil Weekend, is one of the key figures reshaping how the world experiences Iraq. From working in foreign cultural centres and studying in Dubai, to building one of Iraq’s most influential travel initiatives — Ali shares his personal journey, the risks, the challenges, and the beauty of showing the "real" Iraq to the world. This isn’t just a podcast. It’s a story of identity, culture, and reclaiming a narrative. 🎧 Watch now and see Iraq through a different lens. 📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. هذه الحلقة من Roots & Narratives سُجّلت على الطريق داخل العراق 🇮🇶 نستضيف علي المخزومي ، مؤسس Bil Weekend، أحد أبرز الأسماء التي أعادت تقديم العراق للعالم من منظور مختلف. من العمل في المراكز الثقافية الأجنبية والدراسة في دبي، إلى تأسيس تجربة سياحية غيّرت نظرة الزوار للعراق — يشاركنا علي رحلته الشخصية، التحديات، والمخاطرة، وكيف تُبنى الصورة الحقيقية للوطن. ليست مجرد حلقة بودكاست… إنها حكاية هوية، ثقافة، واستعادة السرد الحقيقي للعراق. 🎧 شاهد الآن 📌 لا تنسَ الاشتراك، الإعجاب، ومشاركة الحلقة Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Filmed in the holy city of Najaf, this episode of Roots and Narrative takes us inside the Hikayati Center Joined by Haider Alassam— a groundbreaking, purpose-built educational space redefining support for orphans in Iraq. We sit down with Haidar Lassen, the center’s manager, who shares his powerful personal journey: from growing up in Baghdad, leaving Iraq under political pressure in 1998, rebuilding his life in the UK through years of hard labor, and ultimately returning home after 26 years to create lasting change. Hikayati is more than a rehabilitation center it is a place that builds leaders. Serving orphans aged 7 to 25, the center offers educational guidance, emotional support, medical care, and life-skills training through three carefully designed programs, including intensive residential care for those facing addiction or suicidal ideation. With unique facilities such as Iraq’s only space lab, a science museum, a civilisation route showcasing 100,000 years of Iraqi history, and creative emotional workshops, Hikayati stands as a model of dignity, innovation, and self-sustainability. This episode is a story of return, responsibility, and hope — and a rare look inside one of Iraq’s most impactful humanitarian projects. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

العراق 🇮🇶 قصة تُروى لأول مرة بهذه الصراحة والعمق. في هذه الحلقة الجديدة من Roots & Narratives، نستضيف الدكتور حيدر حمزة العابدي رئيس هيئة الصحة والتعليم الطبي في مؤسسة وارث الدولية لعلاج السرطان. رحلة إنسانية استثنائية، يشاركنا فيها الدكتور حيدر تجربته من حكم الإعدام، مرورًا بسنوات التحدي والمعاناة، وصولًا إلى موقع قيادي يُحدث أثرًا حقيقيًا في حياة الآلاف. حلقة عن الصمود، الإيمان، الرسالة، وخدمة الإنسان رغم كل الظروف. 🎧 حلقة لا تُفوّت — شاهدها الآن على YouTube 🔔 لا تنسَ الاشتراك، الإعجاب، ومشاركة الحلقة #RootsAndNarratives #قصص_ملهمة #العراق #حيدر_العبادي #مؤسسة_وارث #السرطان #الصمود #قصص_حقيقية #بودكاست #يوتيوب --- From a death sentence… to leading one of Iraq’s most important health institutions 🇮🇶 A story of resilience, faith, and purpose In this powerful new episode of Roots & Narratives, we sit down with Dr. Haider Hamza Al-Abadi, President of the Health and Medical Education Authority at Warith International Foundation for Cancer Treatment. Dr. Al-Abadi shares his extraordinary journey — from facing execution, through years of hardship, to becoming a leader making real impact in healthcare and cancer treatment. This episode is about survival, conviction, and dedicating your life to serving others against all odds. 🎥 Watch the full episode now on YouTube 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share #RootsAndNarratives #InspiringStories #Iraq #DrHaiderAlAbadi #WarithFoundation #CancerCare #Resilience #Leadership #Podcast #YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Couples therapy isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a commitment. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Noor Chachan for an honest and powerful conversation about psychiatry, stigma, relationships, and healing. From communication breakdowns and childhood trauma to why couples therapy can feel like opening a Pandora’s box, we explore what it really takes to work through life together — as individuals and as partners. With real insights from the world of psychiatry, we discuss: - Why couples therapy is a “big deal” - How childhood trauma shapes adult relationships - Communication, commitment, and emotional responsibility - Mental health stigma in Iraq and beyond - Why healing the mind is just as important as healing the body This isn’t theory — this is real life. 🎧 Watch till the end for a meaningful conversation on empathy, listening, and growth. #couplestherapy #mentalhealth #psychiatry #traumahealing #communication #relationships #healing #podcast #middleeast #realconversations Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

🌍✨ From Diyala to Dubai to China — one Iraqi’s unbelievable journey of identity, ambition, and finding home again. What happens when you grow up abroad, lose touch with your roots, and then return to the place that shaped you? This episode dives deep into belonging, reinvention, culture shocks, family stories, and the emotional reality of being Iraqi abroad. 🇮🇶❤️ 🔥 From crashing call centres, to strict university life in Sharjah, to culture shock in China, to rediscovering Iraq after decades — this is one of our most inspiring conversations yet. 🎧 Stay till the end. The transformation is worth it. #iraq #abroad #iraqipodcast #baghdad #identityjourney #rootsandnarrative Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.