In this episode I get to sit down with renowned photographer and storyteller, Matthieu Paley.
One of the remarkable qualities of Matthieu is his passion to experiment with human experience and to tackle all the psychological challenges of adapting oneself to a new environment to be able to tell an accurate story.
We talk about a wide range of topics in this podcast, from self directed learning to the preconceived ideas that we, as humans, have been fed, and having the ability to unlearn and let go of them.
It was an absolute joy to experience Matthieu’s energy and sheer intellectual curiosity. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.
In this episode, I sit down with Hassan Hajjaj, a Moroccan artist, photographer, designer, and filmmaker, living between London and Marrakech. Hassan talks us through the evolution of his career, going from photographer to artist. He also talks about the importance of creating a vibe.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
You can find me here: https://www.instagram.com/amadmiaan/
Hassan here: https://www.instagram.com/hassanhajjaj_larache/
“Sometimes you have to see if your work is changing how you think and feel about things” - Arshia Haq
In this episode, I sit down with Arshia Haq, also known as Discostan, an Indian American Artist, DJ, producer and writer living in LA. Arshia talks us through the narratives presented in her work across mediums which are heavily influenced by her experiences as an immigrant and a Muslim. She also talks to us about the dangers of creating social echo chambers.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“I never look at a failure as a failure I look at it as a learning curve, a feedback loop. “ - Solemann Haddad
In this episode, I sit down with Solemann Haddad, a French-Syrian chef living in Dubai. Solemann talks about the importance of taking chances. He talks about how sometimes the best thing in life is simply figuring what you don’t want to do.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
You can find us here:
https://www.instagram.com/amadmiaan/
https://www.instagram.com/cutebreadboy/
“Theoretically you can study all you want but unless youre in the thick of it you won’t really know how something works.” - Aleena Naqvi Hussain
This week I sit down with Aleena Naqvi Hussain, a Pakistani artist and photographer living in Lahore. In this episode, Aleena walks us through the evolution of her career after moving back to Pakistan. She describes the how some people in your life can have the greatest impact on the path you create.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“If the goal for making this kind of artwork was because I want to connect with Palestine, its more than I can dream of to literally connect with Palestine and work with the women doing Tatreez and go there and physically connect with them and be part of their community.” - Jordan Nassar
This week I sit down with Jordan Nassar, a Palestinian American artist living in New York. In this episode, Jordan talks about the importance of developing platforms and bodies of work that initiate deeper and more meaningful dialogues. He describes the evolution of his relationship with Palestine and Israel, and how his understanding of the two has helped form his own life and career.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“My everyday is; I wake up and I’m eager to get to work, I work until there’s no light left and it’s uncomfortable to work and as long as I’ve done that, things have opened up.” - Nima Nabavi
This week I sit down with Nima Nabavi, an Iranian artist living in Dubai. In this episode, Nima talks about discovering his passion for geometric expression, and his works that were initially inspired by his grandfather. He walks us through his prior careers in both fashion and events, and the powerful role that his friendships have played within them.
Nima reminds us of the significance of always having a moral center, and how crucial it is to value the time given to us.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“If we don’t define how we want to be spoken about, we leave it for others to speak for us and generally those voices are not from India, come with their own biases, and are usually in English. “ - Malika Verma
This week I sit down with Malika Verma, an Indian-Canadian founder of Border&Fall and Strategic Director of Raw Mango , living in India. In this episode, Malika talks us through her journey of discovering the power of communication. She emphasizes how influential words can be when they serve as a geo-localizer and cultural identifier. Malika also talks about how her work advocates India's design and craft communities, and explains what it authentically means to be Made in India.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
Instagram.com/amadmiaan
Instagram.com/theamadshow
“We should be deeper than just knowing each other, we should strive to understand each other. ” - Bunyamin Aydin
This week I sit down with Bunyamin Aydin, a Turkish designer and founder of fashion brand Les Benjamins, living in Istanbul. In this episode, Bunyamin talks about the dangers of social media, the power of community and the importance of reconnecting the East. He also walks us through the early days of his brand and shares his stories of fulfilling a dream set out by his father.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“In the parts of my life that I’ve been unhappy, I’ve been trying to find fulfillment outside myself.” - Jason Seife This week I sit down with Jason Seife, a Syrian-Cuban artist and designer living in Miami. In this episode, Jason talks about the importance of pushing through and to keep on going, for life goes on even in the most uncertain of times. He also shares how his life came to a full circle through his travels and career choices, bringing him back to his calling; being a bridge between the traditional and the contemporary. As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps. With gratitude, Amad
“Get addicted to getting rejected.” - Zinnia Kumar
This week I sit down with Zinnia Kumar, an Indian Australian model and PhD student at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. In this episode, Zinnia talks about a wide range of topics including social phobia and overcoming it, the fashion and beauty industry for South Asians, colorism, facing rejection, and the power of media and advertising when it comes to representation.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“You need a lot of love in your heart but you also need to be disturbed by all the injustices that happen in this world, that is what makes you take a stand and raise your voice.” - Savia Shah
This week I sit down with Savia Shah, a Pakistani Canadian entrepreneur living in UK. In this episode, Savia talks about the importance of bridging divides. She also walks us through her life as a third culture kid, from a young age in Canada to now in the UK, and how the experiences that have come to form her personal narrative are being projected through The Third Edit.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
“It’s never gonna be perfect, you might as well just go with it. “ - Ali Mehrdad
This week I sit down with Ali Mehrdad, an Iranian entrepreneur living between Dubai and LA. In this episode, Ali talks about how he learned to build his confidence from a young age, which led to starting his eyewear brand, Roberi and Fraud. The brand quickly became a must-have accessory by the likes of Gigi Hadid, the Kardashians and Angelina Jolie. He also tells us how important it is to focus on the work and enjoy the hustle rather than on busying yourself with the small things.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
Find us
https://www.instagram.com/amadmiaan/
https://www.instagram.com/theamadshow/
https://www.instagram.com/alimherdad/
https://www.instagram.com/roberiandfraud/
“I became obsessed with the idea of rethinking everything that we do.” - Butheina Kazim
This week I sit down with Butheina Kazim, an Emirati entrepreneur, film producer and founder of the first and only art house cinema in the Gulf. In this episode, Butheina talks about the evolution of cinema and storytelling in the region. She also takes us through the journey of building Cinema Akil - the community and the space.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
Find us
https://www.instagram.com/amadmiaan/
https://www.instagram.com/theamadshow/
https://www.instagram.com/butheinahk/
https://www.instagram.com/cinemaakil/
“You’re doing everything for yourself.” - Mous Lamrabat
This week I sit down with Mous Lamrabat, a Moroccan artist living in Belgium. In this episode, Mous talks about the importance of getting bored and how we have lost the art of being with ourselves. He also shares the intimate lessons he has learnt about family, giving back and being patient.
As always, I welcome any comments or feedback. Available on all podcast apps.
With gratitude,
Amad
can find us here:
https://www.instagram.com/amadmiaan/
https://www.instagram.com/theamadshow/
https://www.instagram.com/mouslamrabat/