Good Host, Bad Guest | E355

Is there such a thing as being too rich for shawarma?This week on Pass The Kabsa, a complaint about a shawarma restaurant in Riyadh's Hittin neighborhood sparks a full-blown debate about food smells, traffic, class, and whether rich people have officially run out of problems.Then Shamsi announces his return to gaming after buying a PlayStation 5 and discovering God of War in 2026. Apparently, buying a kettle, learning Japanese crafts, and spending time at home are all part of his character development.Things take a more serious turn as we dive into the US election results, Trump's political future, the cost of living, and the influence of money on American democracy. We also debate why Arabs celebrate Muslim and Arab politicians winning elections in America, whether representation actually translates into meaningful change, and the complicated relationship between Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, and the wider Arab world.And somehow, we end up discussing techno-feudalism and Cyberpunk 2077.From shawarma to geopolitics, it's another week around the table.Subscribe to Pass The Kabsa for weekly conversations about Saudi culture, music, pop culture, current events, and everything in between.⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠

This week, the boys dive into a GQ Middle East article titled "Arab Culture Needs Better Haters" and ask whether the Saudi and wider Arab creative scenes have a problem with honest criticism.Why do we celebrate people for being first instead of being good? Why is criticism of someone's work so often taken as a personal attack? And can an industry really improve if everyone keeps telling each other they're doing great?The boys share their own experiences with backlash, broken relationships, lost opportunities, and nearly seven years of saying exactly what they think. From Saudi film and music to fashion, podcasting, awards, and creative communities, nothing is off the table.But first, the boys assemble the worst possible crew for a mission to Mars. Later, they discuss the evolution of smartphones, AI, brain implants, and whether technology is moving faster than humanity can handle.⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠

This week on Pass The Kabsa, we're talking about Saudi Arabia's portrayal in international media, including a Reuters report about expatriates leaving the Kingdom, the role of foreign journalists, and the difference between how Saudi Arabia is experienced by the people living here and how it's presented abroad.We also get into the possibility of World War III, Europe's political and economic struggles, international double standards, and what makes a society hold together.But first, we have more important questions: Why do Arab girls wear fruity pajamas? Are baths disgusting? And can AI finally become your friend?From human-sounding AI to media narratives, global politics, religion, cultural identity, and everything in between — another week of conversations at the Kabsa table.⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠

Elon Musk wants us to believe the Tesla Roadster can fly. We're not entirely convinced. We kick things off with Tesla's latest Roadster spectacle. Rocket thrusters, backflips, nitrogen tanks, and a car that's been promised for nearly a decade. Is Elon Musk changing the automotive industry again, or is this just the greatest marketing stunt on Earth?Then we head back to Saudi Arabia, where the ongoing regional conflict has led to postponed events, new security concerns, and a major discussion about the Houthi attacks, Yemen, and the politics shaping the region.We also dive into Reverse Engineer Everything, an AI-powered project raising big questions about the future of software. What happens when anyone can recreate an expensive application? Does AI threaten the business model of the entire software industry?Finally, we look at the protests in France, Europe's economic and political problems, and how quickly the global order appears to be changing.⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠

Saudi vs. UAE gave us plenty to talk about—and the reactions took it beyond football. This week, the boys get into Saudi’s Gulf Cup win, fans taking things too far, national pride, and the politics spilling into the game.Then we discuss King Khalid Airport and Yemen, Ceer's SAR 399,000 starting price, Apple’s rumored smart home hub, and what AI’s latest advances could mean for creative work. Plus, a little gym talk to close things out.⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠

Back With Another One!Enjoy The Episode! ⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠X

A bizarre Flydubai incident raises questions about what can happen inside a cockpit, a cybersecurity expert demonstrates how vulnerable modern EVs can be, and Soundstorm 2026 suddenly gets cancelled. We also get into Riyadh Season, Saudi creators and whether Saudi Arabia can become a real gaming-development hub.⁠Pass The Kabsa Website⁠YouTube⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Back With Another One!Enjoy The Episode! ⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠X

Back With Another One!Enjoy The Episode! ⁠Website⁠YouTube⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠X

Back With Another One!Enjoy The Episode! ⁠YouTube⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠X