Shahd Ahmed, also known as @thisisshoosh on social media, has over 14 years of experience in events and production in the UAE and Qatar for some of the biggest brands. It would be too long to list them. She recently started The Abstract Agency and was the casting director for the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 TV commercial and was part of the first and second edition of Qatar Creates.
In this episode, Shahd is candid about her journey, the challenges, and everything in between. From models fainting last minute at fashion shows to the challenge of being a woman in this male-dominated industry and the importance for social media personalities to take more responsibility when sharing content, Shahd shares her highlights along with the lessons learned along the way. If you want to support the podcast, please leave a review! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes.
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
This is part two of my conversation with Ali El Dali. If you're back for another raw conversation on life and all things better living, Ali's got a great and interesting perspective. We discuss a range of topics: from insights from the book It Didn’t Start with You: Overcoming Generational Trauma by Mark Wolynn and why it's important to end generational the cycle, the importance of being curious as a podcaster, and Ali's idea to start a podcast on the human experiences. Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you want to support the podcast please leave a review. In the previous episode #25 part one, we get into self-talk and how to rewire your brain with practical advice on affirmations, manifestations, and so on.
Contact:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
This is part two of my conversation with Naser Mestarihi the vocalist and lead guitarist for the hard rock band Winterburn. He's been a musician for nearly two decades, and in 2010 he became the first to officially release a rock album out of Qatar. The views expressed by my guests are not always reflective of my own. The podcast is a space for a variety of perspectives. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it. Subscribe and hit the notification bell for more free content!
Contact:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Relevant Links: https://www.thewinterburn.com
Abood is an actor on a popular TV show (About Cinema/عن السينما) on the Al Jazeera Media Network. The conversation kicks off with an in-depth look at personality. What was the process of being cast for the show? What it's like being on set? What are some valuable things he's learned along the way? All this and more on the episode. Abood also shares an interesting perspective on what the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can teach us about life and the importance of resilience. Including life wisdom by our coach Tacio Carneiro that impacted his life. Near the end, we have a difficult conversation on mental health. Why is it so hard for men to express their emotions? Let's start having these discussions! It was a raw and insightful conversation with a talented and self-aware guy. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode every Thursday.
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Relevant Links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKkye9ohYQ4Q7D2eD1wIjUQ
Buzaki Hayir is a Somali living in the diaspora. He grew up in Qatar then moved to India, where he lived as an international student for over a decade. We begin our discussion with his experiences, racist encounters, and unforgettable lessons he learned along the way. Besides, what does he mean by the "tax of living in India"? The first part of the conversation was only the warm-up, things go from 0-100 quick! Buzaki details his trip to Somalia after 30 years of being abroad. Let's just say things went wrong from the moment he landed! One of the traumatic incidents included a bomb that went off outside his hotel room. "Bombs aren't like how they are in the movies. I saw metal melting everywhere. It was crazy!" Also, I had to ask him, what's the truth about the pirates? This was a wild conversation with a great guy. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode!
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Kim Wyatt is an Australian media personality and TV presenter. Kim rose to popularity in Qatar as a prominent food writer, using the name 'mama baba ganoush.' I first interviewed Kim on the radio, but this time nothing is off-limits! We discussed Kim's misconceptions before moving to the middle east over a decade ago. She opens up on what it was like to study history in Australia, from Aborigines to Western education's lack of Islamic history. Kim, who has two young boys, discusses the downside of mainstream education which she believes fails to address children's needs. How can we rethink school? We look into the different approaches, including Synthesis school by Elon Musk and the various Scandinavian models. We also get into the ugly side of social media and what living in the Middle East has taught her. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes!
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Relevant Links:
Gentë Retkoceri is a professor of acting and an experienced film and theater actress. Gentë has been acting in different drama plays in theaters across East and West Europe, USA, and has also been part of the National Theater of Kosovo. We begin with what it was like growing up in Kosovo during the Serbian occupation. Many of the plays and projects Gentë acts in are based on heavy topics and Albanian culture: from a tragic true story on human trafficking to the role of honor in blood feuds and the importance of 'besa' for Albanians which is a pledge of honor or keeping a promise. Gentë shares a brilliant blueprint for anyone who teaches a class or conducts a workshop! Finally, as a mother of two young kids, Gentë speaks openly and honestly about the difficulties of being a parent and disciplining children. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode every Thursday!
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Relevant Links:
https://www.instagram.com/gentaretkoceri/?hl=en
Aida Al Barwani is a Freelance Marketing Consultant. She started working on major marketing projects in Dubai and has been a digital nomad for the past decade. The meaning of digital nomad is someone who performs their occupation entirely over the Internet while traveling; a person who has no permanent fixed home address. In this episode, Aida shares her insights and advice on how to move from working in an office to becoming fully independent. For many people, this is a dream, including myself. Many of us want to be free to roam. Should you quit your 9-5? And if you do, what can you expect? Aida shares her experience on what it's like, both good and bad. There's a lot of value in this conversation, and it was eye-opening. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode.
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Relevant Links:
On this solo episode, I look at a list from a blog titled "12 Simple Ways to Build Momentum" from Becoming Minimalist - sharing my comments and suggestions along the way. Like many others, I went into 2022 ready-to-go, but January had other plans. That's life, we need to master the art of getting back into the groove or flow, so I have been searching for ways to do that. These are some practical and simple ways you can build momentum again. As an added bonus, I also share funny stories and examples from my life and people I know with an inspirational message at the end. All that and more on this episode! Please rate the show and share it with someone who might benefit. Let's build this community!
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Relevant Links:
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/if-you-build-it/
https://www.strengthside.com/?r_done=1
https://tim.blog/geek-to-freak/
http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2009/08/make-your-bed/
https://www.fastcompany.com/3013856/why-productive-people-get-up-insanely-early
This episode is different than the usual format. It's a solo episode and a complete guide on one of the easiest, cheapest, and most versatile self-help tools you can do, which is the art of journaling. There is a lot of confusion and hesitation when it comes to people not knowing how to approach this simple habit. I'll clear all of that in this episode. I highly recommend journaling to everyone I know, and I have been doing it for years because it continues to improve my life drastically. In this episode, I get into the benefits of journaling, the different approaches, going in with the right mindset, and everything you need to know to get you started. One of the things I covered in the approaches section of the episode is morning pages from Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I also look at Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and a stoic philosopher whose work is still admired by many today. We talk about the night journal, something many therapists often recommend for people struggling to sleep due to overthinking and anxiety. I also touch on Dr. Jordan Peterson's Self-Authoring Program, an online structured program that has helped me tremendously. All that and more on this episode! If you found value, please rate the show and share it with someone who might also benefit. Good luck!
Contact:
Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/
Relevant Links:
https://highexistence.com/journal-marcus-aurelius/
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/start-journaling/
https://www.healthline.com/health/best-guided-journals#how-people-use-it
https://dailystoic.com/the-most-important-ritual-you-can-practice-this-year/