The Mo Show | Presented by BSF

From playing at the highest levels of European football to becoming an Asian champion with Al-Ahli, Turkish international Merih Demiral joins The Mo Show for an honest conversation about his journey, sacrifices, setbacks, and life in Saudi Arabia. Demi opens up about his friendship with Cristiano Ronaldo, overcoming injuries, losing his mother at a young age, and the winning mentality that helped Al-Ahli conquer Asia. We also discuss his special bond with Al-Ahli fans, the rise of Saudi football, his ambitions with Türkiye, and his dream of retiring at Al-Ahli. A personal conversation about football, loyalty, resilience, and what it truly means to represent Al-Ahli at club level and Türkiye on the international stage.  0:00 Intro 2:32 Saudi Arabia Feels Like Home 5:55 First Impressions of Al-Ahli 8:13 His Connection With Al-Ahli Fans 11:45 Overcoming Injury to Win the AFC Champions League 14:45 Winning Back-to-Back Asian Titles 17:09 Overcoming a Difficult First Season at Al-Ahli 21:09 The Pain of Losing the Intercontinental Cup 23:14 Matthias Jaissle’s Departure From Al-Ahli 25:18 Al-Ahli’s Team DNA 26:23 His Partnership With Roger Ibañez 28:13 The Development of Saudi Players 31:46 What Makes Al-Ahli Fans Different 35:25 Can the Saudi Pro League Become a Top Five League? 39:57 From Türkiye to European Football 40:44 Losing His Mother at 14 and Finding Motivation 43:10 Cristiano Ronaldo’s Advice About Saudi Arabia 46:30 His Dream of Representing Türkiye 49:32 Life Away From Football 51:14 His Dream of Retiring at Al-Ahli 52:10 Winning the Saudi Pro League and Future AmbitionsPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

We sit down with Yara Al Namlah, Saudi entrepreneur, beauty influencer, and founder of When Minds Meet, a lifestyle company spanning beauty, wellness, hospitality, and food and beverage.From starting as a beauty blogger at 15 to launching her own brands in Sephora and Selfridges London, Yara shares the journey behind her success, the challenges of building businesses, and the lessons learned along the way. We explore the reality behind social media fame, her personal struggles, the influence of family, and the importance of staying true to herself.Yara also reflects on Saudi Arabia's transformation, the rise of homegrown brands, and the opportunities shaping a new generation of entrepreneurs. A conversation about ambition, resilience, identity, and building a legacy beyond fame.0:00 Intro3:07 From Beauty Blogger to Entrepreneur4:31 Building a Community, Not Just Followers8:21 Why Supporting Small Businesses Matters13:07 The Curiosity Behind Her Success15:24 From Architecture to Beauty19:37 Family Support and Saudi Identity23:06 Sharing Only 1% of Her Life26:29 Inspiring the Next Saudi Generation29:29 Launching Moonlgaze in Sephora33:46 Influencer vs. Entrepreneur36:15 Building a Lifestyle Business Empire40:42 The Future of Saudi Beauty46:38 What Global Brands Misunderstand About Saudis53:38 Learning From Failure57:52 Seeing Her Success on Billboards1:00:11 Disconnecting From Social Media1:05:25 Burnout, Creativity and Taking Breaks1:08:15 Advice for Aspiring Saudi Entrepreneurs1:10:23 Lesson From Her Mother1:14:05 Her Proudest Moments1:18:37 Taking a Saudi Brand Global1:23:33 Dealing With Criticism and Public Opinion1:25:58 The Real Yara Behind Social Media1:30:33 How Social Media Affects Attention1:32:10 Faith, Timing and Trusting God's Plan1:37:29 Does She Regret Being Famous?1:41:06 Saudi Arabia's New Tourism Destinations1:46:51 Finding Purpose and Starting Something New1:50:06 Beauty, Failure and Life Lessons1:50:49 Changing the World's Perception of Saudi Arabia1:56:41 How MBS Inspired Her2:01:04 Saudi Women's Growing Opportunities2:03:44 ClosingYara AlnamlahInstagram https://bit.ly/4z421zBX https://bit.ly/4zLKGLASnapchat https://bit.ly/4sjho4xLinkedIn https://bit.ly/4iyXGhYTickTock https://bit.ly/4BjfZiqWebsite https://www.yaralnamlah.comPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Patrice Evra: Manchester United France Legend on Football, Fame and Life After RetirementPatrice Evra is a former French international and one of the most decorated left-backs of his generation.During nine years at Manchester United, he won five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League, served as captain during the Sir Alex Ferguson era, and earned 81 caps for France.Since retiring, Patrice has built an entirely new chapter beyond football, developing his personal brand, pursuing business and investment opportunities, and expanding into entrepreneurship, media and content.He’s taken the lessons, relationships and global profile built through elite sport and applied them to life beyond the pitch.Over roughly 40 minutes, we spoke about the sacrifices, the relentless work, and the things people rarely see when the cameras are off. We covered football, life, business, setbacks, ambition and what comes next.0:00 Intro2:16 Does Patrice Evra Miss Football?3:30 Finding Success After Football5:44 Life After Retirement7:36 Becoming More Famous After Football8:15 Favorite Manchester United Moment12:04 Winning the Champions League13:18 Why Saudi Football Needs More Visibility13:52 Lessons from Sir Alex Ferguson16:55 “I Love This Game”18:40 How Football Opened Doors in Business21:39 The Funny Side of Patrice Evra23:20 Why He Hasn’t Returned to Football24:11 The Biggest Mistake Athletes Make in Business27:05 Learning, Listening and Life After Retirement28:14 Is Football Heading in the Right Direction?31:28 Living Without Regret33:24 The Only Red Card of His Career35:28 Clean Sheets, Assists and Becoming a Left Back37:12 ClosingPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Mohammed Albuty is the CEO of NHC, Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company and the largest real estate developer in the region.Under his leadership, NHC has grown into one of the key forces behind the Kingdom’s urban transformation. By the end of 2025, the company had reached 300,000 housing units, with a target of 600,000 by 2030. Today, NHC operates across 16 Saudi cities and more than 25 major urban destinations, with projects launched exceeding SAR 250 billion in value and sales surpassing SAR 120 billion. Its ambitions extend well beyond housing.NHC expects the value of its residential and commercial portfolio to exceed SAR 500 billion by 2030, while its technology arm operates 13 digital platforms serving more than 35 million users.At the centre of that expansion Mohammed is helping shape how millions of people will live, work and experience Saudi cities as the Kingdom works toward its Vision 2030 housing and quality-of-life goals.0:00 Intro5:03 Building Communities, Not Just Homes8:43 What Is NHC and What Does It Do?12:32 How NHC Is Scaling Across Saudi Arabia14:42 Transforming Saudi Arabia’s Housing Market18:05 Building a New Housing Ecosystem23:49 Why Owning a Home Is Easier Today27:03 Achieving More in 10 Years Than5029:02 How NHC Became Financially Sustainable33:03 Scaling Fast Without Sacrificing Quality37:03 Protecting Buyers and Building Trust40:42 How NHC Is Disrupting Real Estate44:20 The Hardest Decisions as NHC CEO46:18 Misconceptions About NHC50:25 Saudi Real Estate for International Investors54:01 The Future of Saudi Cities57:40 Why Leadership Can Be Lonely1:00:14 What NHC Taught Him About Himself1:01:15 Career Advice for the Next Generation1:03:08 Ego, Leadership and Sharing Credit1:05:21 ClosingPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Al-Hilal and Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly opens up about his remarkable football journey from Metz and Genk to becoming one of Serie A’s top defenders with Napoli, playing for Chelsea in the Premier League, and finding a new home in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.  Kouli reflects on how Maurizio Sarri transformed his game, facing racism in European football, the mentality and leadership required at the highest level, and what it really takes to become an elite defender.  He also takes us inside Al Hilal’s historic Club World Cup run, including the unforgettable victory over Manchester City, while sharing his perspective on the growth of the Saudi Pro League, the future of Saudi football, and the next generation of Saudi players.  The conversation goes beyond club football as Koulibaly discusses captaining Senegal, AFCON, mental health, pressure, his relationship with Al Hilal fans, life in Saudi Arabia, his father’s influence, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind when his playing career comes to an end.  0:00 Intro4:53 The Sacrifices of Professional Football6:14 Rediscovering the Joy of Football9:44 Thriving Under Pressure at the Biggest Clubs12:20 Napoli: The Turning Point17:09 How Sarri Changed the Way He Sees Football19:14 Facing Racism in Football24:16 Why Become a Defender28:57 Communication, Leadership Defending as a Team33:45 Performing When You’re Not at 100%35:21 Playing in Saudi Arabia’s Extreme Heat38:45 The Penalty That Taught Koulibaly a New Rule41:03 Al Hilal: From an Unbeaten Season to No Trophies44:13 Representing Saudi Football at the Club World Cup46:20 The Historic Victory Against Manchester City51:34 Changing the Perception of Saudi Football53:37 Al Hilal’s Most Underrated Players59:07 Developing the Next Generation of Saudi Talent1:05:30 The Real Salem Al-Dawsari1:09:24 Mental Health, Motivation Enjoying Football1:12:47 Koulibaly’s Message to Al Hilal Supporters1:16:00 The Red Card in the 2024 King’s Cup Final1:19:34 Captaining Senegal Representing a Nation1:24:36 The AFCON Controversy1:28:26 Investing in Saudi Arabia Life Beyond Football1:30:28 How Football and Defending Has Changed1:33:22 Greatest Idol1:34:35 Closing Thoughts Presented by BSFInstagram https://bit.ly/47XvqjvX https://bit.ly/4vkYICNLinkedIn https://bit.ly/4c7CsooWebsite https://bit.ly/4tBULI0 Noon Instagram https://bit.ly/3XRScUYWebsite https://bit.ly/44lnA1S AlmosaferInstagram https://bit.ly/4xOCwkxX https://bit.ly/4xZo0ahWebsite https://bit.ly/3TcXZFoApp Download https://bit.ly/4Amy4vO Brew 92Instagram http://bit.ly/3VN6MeILinkedIn https://bit.ly/42kN65EWebsite https://bit.ly/4grbAjK IWC Instagram https://bit.ly/44dxbFWWebsite https://bit.ly/43K8JMk Lexus Instagram https://bit.ly/4tRXzS6X https://bit.ly/4cDZ4gIWebsite https://bit.ly/4kTlTz6 The Mo ShowYoutube https://bit.ly/3nDwsZvApple Podcast https://apple.co/3J9ScX4Spotify https://spoti.fi/33dzsC2Anghami https://bit.ly/3mRo1uyInstagram https://bit.ly/2KAwq5vX https://bit.ly/3KanEnJTikTok https://bit.ly/43L92poLinkedIn https://bit.ly/3NkxZoeSnapchat https://bit.ly/3NM3LKQWebsite https://bit.ly/3H2DhMMEmail [email protected] by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Abdulaziz is the CEO and Secretary General of the Saudi Olympic Paralympic Committee, and one of the key figures shaping the Kingdom’s sporting future. With a career spanning leadership roles at the Ministry of Sport, Saudi Sports Company, the Saudi Sailing Federation and Saudi Esports Federation, Abdulaziz brings a unique perspective on how Saudi sport has evolved and where it is heading next.The conversation explores what it really takes to build Olympic champions from grassroots participation, scholarships and elite training centers to selecting podium-potential sports, funding federations and making difficult decisions around athletes and resources.They also discuss the rapid rise of Saudi women in sport, why Abdulaziz believes the Kingdom’s first Olympic gold could come from a female athlete, the integration of Olympic and Paralympic sport, naturalization and international talent, the future of the Saudi Games, and the long-term road toward Riyadh 2034. It’s a conversation about ambition, patience, leadership and what it takes to build a sporting nation capable of competing with the best in the world.0:00 Intro3:31 Building Saudi Arabia into an Olympic Competitor6:30 The Biggest Challenge in Developing Saudi Sports9:41 Inside Saudi Arabia’s Elite Training Centers12:37 Discovering Saudi Talent the Athlete Scholarship Program17:42 Building a Nationwide Network of Training Centers21:44 Building Saudi Arabia’s Olympic Talent Pipeline23:06 Which Sports Could Win Saudi Arabia Olympic Medals?27:18 What Saudi Arabia Can Learn from Olympic Powerhouses32:23 What Saudi Sports Still Needs to Improve34:53 How Young Should Children Start Playing Sports?38:46 How Saudi Sports Federations Are Funded42:13 Planning for Los Angeles, Brisbane Beyond44:27 Saudi Arabia’s Road to the 2034 Asian Games49:11 The Rise of Women’s Sports in Saudi Arabia53:07 Why Saudi Arabia Invests So Heavily in Sports57:09 Why Competing Against Asia Makes Saudi Arabia Stronger58:08 Leadership Lessons from Saudi Sports1:00:42 The Legacy Abdulaziz Baeshen Wants to Leave1:02:13 Closing ThoughtsPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, bestselling author and speaker who has played a role in some of the world’s best-known startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com and uBid.com.  Over his career, he has founded multiple companies, led both public and private businesses, and worked across industries ranging from technology and entertainment to gaming. His work has also earned recognition beyond business, including producing a Grammy Award-winning jazz album and executive producing an Emmy Award-winning television show.  Today, Jeff is Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which supports entrepreneurs across 200 countries, and serves as Chairman of the Global Gaming League. He has advised entrepreneurs, corporations and governments around the world, working with organizations including the White House, U.S. State Department and United Nations on entrepreneurship and economic growth initiatives. He has spoken in more than 70 countries and is the author of SCALE, a guide to growing businesses.  Beyond business, Jeff is the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a nonprofit providing homes, education, food and healthcare to children in need around the world. His career has increasingly focused on using entrepreneurship not simply to build successful companies, but as a tool to create opportunity and positive impact at scale. 0:00 Introduction5:30 From My First Startup to Transforming the Travel Industry8:20 Challenging the Status Quo and Rethinking Travel13:57 The Secret to Innovation and Building Disruptive Companies17:49 From Priceline to Booking.com: Transforming Online Travel20:10 How the Internet Revolutionized the Travel Industry23:40 Legacy, Impact, and the Difference We Leave Behind27:01 Redefining Success Beyond Money, Fame, and Status32:43 What Do You Want People to Say About You?35:02 What Separates Global Companies From Small Businesses?37:05 Why Great Teams Matter More Than a Star CEO42:30 Why You Should Hire People Smarter Than You45:04 Which Industries Will Be Transformed in the Next Few Years?49:50 AI and the Future of Education52:36 Experiential Learning vs. Memorization: How We Should Learn56:19 Saudi Arabia’s Transformation and Vision for the Future57:45 The Future of Tourism and the Red Sea59:10 Final Thoughts: Innovation, Leadership, and LegacyPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Margery Kraus is the Founder and Executive Chairman of APCO Worldwide, a company she started in 1984 as a small subsidiary of a Washington, D.C. law firm and built into a global consultancy with roughly 1,200 people across 35 locations.Her story, though, starts much earlier. The child of immigrants whose family fled Nazi Europe, passed through Cuba and eventually rebuilt their lives in America, Margery grew up around resilience, risk and starting again.We talk about how that shaped the entrepreneur she became, why she refused to listen when people told her “you can’t do that,” and what it was really like building a global company while raising a family.We also get into the 2004 management buyout that helped make APCO one of the world’s largest majority women-owned consulting firms, how you step back from leading a company you built without really letting go, and what four decades advising some of the world’s most influential leaders have taught her about who thrives under pressure and who doesn’t.Recorded in Dalian, China, during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions, we also look at the world right now: China’s place in the global economy, shifting trade relationships and what the rest of the world may be getting wrong about this moment.And then there’s AI. Margery says it’s the thing that keeps her up at night. For someone who has built a career and a business around human trust, judgment and relationships, I wanted to know why.A fascinating conversation with someone who has spent more than 40 years building, adapting and refusing to stand still.Special thanks to the World Economic Forum for bringing us together in Dalian.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Mazen S. Darwazeh is the Executive Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hikma Pharmaceuticals, and a Jordanian senator currently serving his fifth term.His journey with Hikma began in 1985 as a medical representative.Over the next four decades, he rose through the company to lead its MENA business and help shape Hikma into the largest pharmaceutical company by sales in the region and a FTSE 100 multinational employing around 9,500 people across three continents.Recorded in Dalian, China, this conversation was made possible thanks to the World Economic Forum, who facilitated the episode during the Annual Meeting of the New Champions.On this episode, we talk about what it takes to preserve the values of a family-built company as it becomes a global institution, Hikma’s ambitions for healthcare in the Middle East, the growing role of biosimilars and biotechnology, and the challenge of ensuring access to essential medicines in a region shaped by geopolitical uncertainty.We also discuss China’s evolving role in the pharmaceutical industry, Mazen’s perspective from both business and public service, and what four decades in healthcare have taught him about leadership, longevity and building something that lasts.Powered by Podeo — Listen to this episode

Armz is a British-Ghanaian bodybuilder, combat sports athlete and social media personality who rose to prominence through his fitness content and motivational message. Known for his imposing physique and unapologetic honesty, he’s built a career spanning bodybuilding, influencer boxing, music, and online content while openly discussing the triumphs, setbacks, and controversies that have shaped his life. Armz spent some time in Saudi Arabia, where he worked with the local fitness community, coaching aspiring bodybuilders and immersing himself in the Kingdom’s rapidly growing health and fitness scene. On this episode, we explore what it was really like growing up on the streets of London, the discipline it took to avoid the traps that surrounded him, and the mindset that helped him forge a different path. We also discuss his rise to fame, the highs and lows of living life in the public eye, the lessons he’s learned from failure and adversity, and why resilience has become the defining characteristic of his journey. This is a conversation about hardship, accountability, reinvention, and what it truly takes to build yourself both physically and mentally. 00:00 Intro3:36 Social Media and Comparison7:19 Embracing Saudi Culture9:12 Meditation and Self-Awareness11:07 Honest Friends, Loneliness and Community16:36 Living Without Regret20:01 Losing His Father and Struggling at School24:38 How Combat Sports Changed Armz30:55 Seven Months of Injuries and Adversity41:53 Everything Is Rigged in My Favour50:29 Strength Is Built Through the Fire53:48 No One Is Coming to Save You56:37 How London Shaped Armz Korleone1:03:05 His Mother’s Sacrifices1:09:04 Surviving London and Guiding the Youth1:12:21 The Discipline Behind His Success1:15:22 Finding Purpose Beyond Social Media1:17:27 Returning to Ghana and Giving Back1:23:01 His Honest Experience Living in Saudi1:27:32 Exploring Islam and Spirituality1:30:31 Final ReflectionsPowered by Podeo — Listen to this episode