Looking back, looking forward

From documenting the 2011 revolution in Egypt and teaching at MIT to realigning her creative purpose and a near-fatal bike accident—multidisciplinary artist, archivist and educator Lara Baladi is my guest this month on the show.We talk about Lara's big life pivots, the power of archiving history and finding peace through art and faith. We recorded this episode episode at Gypsum Gallery during Lara's solo exhibition Z for ZAFAFA, which ran until September 2026.Stay tuned for Part 2 of our conversation next week, where we talk about her love for photography and what she's working on next.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!Azza Fahmy Jewellery(00:00) - Coming up (03:38) - Curating Two Exhibitions, Past and Present (14:21) - Leaving Cairo behind (15:42) - Reinvention, the art world, and MIT (22:19) - Supporting a new generation (27:09) - Lightning Round (29:19) - A near-fatal accident Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

We’re continuing my conversation with Hazem Barakat, co-founder and Chairman of B Investments. On this episode, Hazem outlines their core formula for backing new ventures and why surviving a young market means being a generalist over a specialist.You can also catch Part 1 of my conversation with Hazem, where he talks about the personal turning points that shaped his life and his pivot into private equity in Egypt, in your podcast app.This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!(00:00) - On this episode (03:12) - The hard lessons (07:27) - Education, healthcare and agriculture (09:54) - The B Investments playbook Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

Hazem Barakat, co-founder and Chairman of B Investments, joins me on the show to talk about the personal turning points that shape how he leads and lives, and the realities of private equity in Egypt. On Part 1, we talk about moving to the US at 16, returning to work with his father in the family firm and the importance of ethics and hard work.On Part 2 coming up next week, we’ll dive into the world of private equity and investor interest in sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture.This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!(00:00) - On this episode... (03:10) - Moving to the US (08:58) - Working with his father (13:37) - The move to private equity (22:12) - Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

Award-winning anchor, journalist and author Hala Gorani returns to the show to talk about returning to field reporting and the future of journalism & independent media. Hala also catches me up on what she’s been up to since I first spoke to her in 2023, right after she had finished writing her book But You Don’t Look Arab.This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned.(00:00) - Coming up (02:20) - Reporting: Truth, opinion and now Substack (24:25) - Future of independent media (37:52) - Lighting Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

We’re continuing my conversation with Suzanne Zeidy and Rawah Badrawi, he co-authors of a new book Egypt: Recipes and Stories from an Ancient Land.On this episode, Suzanne and Rawah tell me about their life’s pivots, marriage, children and friendship. We also talk about being the sandwich generation, and whether we can really have it all.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!Azza Fahmy JewelleryOn the episode, Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Fallahy Kaf Earrings, the Mamluki Kaf Bangle and the Gold Roman Chain Ring.Suzanne Zeidy is wearing Azza Fahmy’s T-Lock Necklace and Gold Rosette Necklace, the Joyful Ring and the Endearment Gold RingRawah Badrawi is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Mabrouka Earrings and Filigree Kaf Ring.Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

I’m joined today by Suzanne Zeidy and Rawah Badrawi, the co-authors of a new book Egypt: Recipes and Stories from an Ancient Land, which is part travelogue and part culinary journey. They also happen to be two of my closest friends!On Part 1 of our conversation, Suzanne and Rawah tell me how they came together to write this incredible book, and how they peeled away the fears and uncertainties of local communities to reveal a vibrant and rich culture not seen before by the outside world. We’ll continue the conversation in Part 2 next week, where Suzanne and Rawah tell me about their life’s trajectories and take on our signature lightning round.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!Azza Fahmy JewelleryOn the episode, Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Fallahy Kaf Earrings, the Mamluki Kaf Bangle and the Gold Roman Chain Ring.Suzanne Zeidy is wearing Azza Fahmy’s T-Lock Necklace and Gold Rosette Necklace, the Joyful Ring and the Endearment Gold RingRawah Badrawi is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Mabrouka Earrings and Filigree Kaf Ring.Chapters:0:00 On this episode...3:08 Suzanne’s first book: Cairo Kitchen5:12 Rawah’s first book: Siwa6:56 Coming together for ‘Egypt’16:36 The magic of Sinai20:57 The book’s audience24:59 AI and the Future of BooksMusic ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

This week, I'm sitting down with my producer Chirag Desai to reflect on a whirlwind first half of the year—from interviewing iconic figures and taking the show international to the importance of reclaiming our narrative. We talk about what drives the show, the magic of the MENA region, and what it truly means to create space for our own stories.This episode is brought to you by:EFG Hermes One: your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!Azza Fahmy JewelleryChapters:0:00 Coming up...1:44 WIDN goes international4:30 Reclaiming our narrative13:25 An updated lightning round18:12 What's next for MalakMusic ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

This week, we're continuing the conversation with Karim Mekhtigian and Mohamed Fares, where they tell me about their design philosophy, and their new destination in Downtown Cairo, Tamara Haus, which is where we recorded the episode.Karim & Fares, alongside Emy Hussein, are the visionary architects behind Cairo's premier design firm, Alchemy Architecture. Together, they have spent years shaping the architectural landscape in Egypt, setting new standards of quality, style and craftsmanship. On our previous episode, we talked about how they joined forces to create a partnership that spans two decades.This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!(00:00) - Coming up (03:43) - Local aesthetics, global influence (14:57) - Building the Alchemy ecosystem (18:00) - Tamara Haus Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

This week, I’m sitting down with Karim Mekhtigian and Mohamed Fares, two of the visionary architects behind Cairo’s premier design firm, Alchemy alongside Emy Hussein. Together, they have spent years shaping the architectural landscape in Egypt, setting new standards of quality, style and craftsmanship.In the first of two episodes, we talk about how they each came to architecture and design, and then joined forces to create a partnership that spans two decades. On part two next week, Karim & Fares tell me about their design philosophy, and how they built a brand that became a movement.Our conversation took place at Tamara Haus, a new destination by Alchemy Experience, in the heart of Downtown Cairo.This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!(00:00) - On this episode (01:41) - Karim’s cosmopolitan childhood (03:46) - Fares’ sporting upbringing (12:01) - Meeting of minds (17:14) - Drawing by hand vs AI (22:34) - Building Alchemy (27:38) - Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ

Ramy Adeeb, founder & managing partner of 1984 Ventures, is back for an Encore episode to talk about what he’s been upto since 2023. He talks about why he’s excited about AI in legacy sectors but worried about unemployment. He also takes on our signature lightning round.This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned.(00:00) - Coming up... (08:10) - Who captures value? (15:47) - AI, wars and regulation (27:15) - Guiding the Next Generation (30:26) - Small companies taking on Big Tech (34:38) - Ramy's mentor (40:49) - Lightning Round