Author and commentator Omar El Akkad joins me this week to talk about his latest book, “One day, everyone will have always been against this”. This is perhaps the most important book I’ve read in the last couple of years as it brought together all that I have been thinking, and feeling, about western liberalism. I talk to Omar about the larger themes that led to him writing the book, and his own questions of identity as a result of his experiences as an Arab writer in the West. Our conversation was powerful, intense and thought-provoking. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Start Investing Today: https://app.efghermesone.com/ Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Omar El Akkad 02:10 Exploring identity and belonging 18:15 What opened Omar’s eyes to this? 24:20 The power of language and of social media 31:35 The role of individuals to effect change 36:15 The Lightning Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Media powerhouse Amy Mowafi returns to the show for Encore, where I check-in with your favourite alumni guests. Since we last spoke, Amy has been leading and participating in various must-attend events across Egypt. She’s also been returning to her first love, writing, with her ⁠Substack⁠. You can also catch my previous Encore conversations with adventurer Omar Samra, designers Nada Debs and Nadine Kanso, and entrepreneur Ahmed Alfi in your podcast apps, or on our website. I’ll be back with a new guest next week, see you then! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another question I get asked often is “how do you select your guests?”Join me for a look behind-the-scenes at how I select my guests and some of the criteria involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re continuing my conversation with the talented mezzo-soprano Farrah Al Dibany, exploring the world of opera. Farrah tells me about her experiences and challenges of her work, including her transformative journey playing Carmen, and her commitment to introducing classical music to broader audiences. She also tells me about her artistic choices on stage, and how she prepares for her roles. You can listen to Part 1 of our conversation here: https://www.at-media-group.com/what-i-did-next/farrah-el-dibany/ This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Start Investing Today > Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mezzo-soprano Farrah El Dibany joins me on the show this week. We cover her journey from discovering her passion for singing at 14, to her incredible performances, including the FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar and the celebration of the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022. I had the opportunity to see Farrah perform in-person a couple of years ago, at the Manial Palace for Prince Abbas Hilmi’s museum festival.  She has a powerful voice and an incredible presence on stage. Farrah is dedicated and disciplined as only a performance singer or athlete can be. We also spoke of the nuances of being an opera singer and the challenges and joys her career brings her. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Start investing today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s already been an exciting 2025 for What I Did Next. So this week, my producer, Chirag, and I decided to do a check-in and recap the last six months. We talk about the inspiring conversations, guests and events that have made up the year so far, as well as a look at what’s coming up. I also share a sneak peek into our next guest episode, so listen in to find out! This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Start investing today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m often asked how I got started with the podcast. On a special solo episode this week, I’m taking you behind the scenes to tell you how and why I started What I Did Next, and how it came together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ayman Tamer is the Chairman of the Tamer Group, a third-generation business with a 100-year history in Saudi Arabia. Ayman tells me how his grandfather opened the first pharmacy in the Arab peninsula in 1922 and its evolution to one of the largest healthcare companies in the region today, with over $2.5 billion in revenue. It was clear from our conversation that family is everything for Ayman, and it weaves through the company’s heart and soul. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Chapters 0:24 Going to boarding school 7:17 Family Values in Business 12:43 The Reorganization of Tamer Group 16:11 Taking charge of the business 21:00 Involving the next generation 23:15 Family dynamics 28:57 Future plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few weeks ago, What I Did Next partnered with the 2025 edition of The Narrative Summit which was held at the breathtaking Soma Bay. Today, I’m delighted to share my panel discussion where we explored perceptions of Egypt through a historical and cultural lens, a subject that is close to my heart. I was joined on the panel by historian Mahmoud Sabit, award-winning historian and broadcaster Bethany Hughes, multidisciplinary artist & deisner Louis Barthelemy, creative director Zach Sherif, and Maria Shollenbarger, travel editor at the Financial Times’ ‘How to Spend it’ magazine. From reclaiming our narrative beyond the pharaohs, to celebrating craftsmanship, beauty, and global collaborations — this panel was a powerful reminder that culture is not just heritage, it’s our future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome again to What I Did Next Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite alumni guests. Today, I’m re-connecting with one of the guests from our first-ever season, advertising director Ali Ali. He catches me up on what he’s been up to since we last spoke, his short film, Smokey Eyes, and exploring production in Saudi Arabia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s bonus episode, Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani tells me about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She’s contributed a chapter in Daughters of the Nile, authored Modern Art in Egypt, and is now working on a third book. This episode is brought to you by ⁠EFG Hermes One⁠, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:35 The Importance of Modern Egyptian Art 6:59 Exploring the Egyptian Avant-Garde Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani has led a life full of twists and turns. Her career trajectory has seen her go from being a successful marketer with Procter & Gamble to being instrumental in the success of the relaunch of Ahram Beverages, leading to its eventual sale to Heineken in 2002. Fatenn then turned her attention to modern Egyptian art and launched Art Talks, a gallery as well as a forum for discussion on all aspects of art. She is now working on a third book in a trilogy looking at Egyptian modern art and artists. She talks to me in great detail about the threads connecting art, politics, and her identity in shaping who she is today. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets worldwide. Download EFG Hermes One on the App Store or Google Play Store and start investing today! On a bonus episode out next week, I talk to Fatenn about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She's contributed a chapter in the book Daughters of the Nile, authored Modern Art in Egypt, and is now working on a third book. You can find out all about this on the bonus episode, so stay tuned. Chapters: 0:00 On this episode… 2:01 Childhood Experiences Abroad 5:21 Cultural Identity and Challenges 7:29 Transition to Marketing Career 10:36 Journey with Procter & Gamble 13:17 Moving Back to Cairo 18:11 Ahram Beverages 21:56 The Ahram Beverages Success Story 24:08 Personal Life and Marriage 28:34 The Role of Art 29:38 Founding Art Talks 35:50 Focus on Modern Egyptian Art 39:01 Lightening Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, I’m reconnecting with pioneering Arab designer, Nadine Kanso, founder of jewellery brand BilArabi. Nadine tells me what’s been happening since our last conversation two years ago, including her partnership with Berluti, and staying authentic in an influencer-dominated world online. This episode is part of our special series, What I Did Next Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite alumni guests. We’ll continue this series each month with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned. And if you haven’t already done so, you can also listen to my Encore conversations with Omar Samra, Nada Debs and Ahmed Alfi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re continuing my conversation with award-winning ad director and filmmaker Omar Hilal. This week, he tells me about three key projects: the hilarious Aqua Mangos ad, the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad and a sneak-peek into his upcoming film. You can listen to my full episode with Omar Hilal where he tells me about his life’s pivots, starting out as a photojournalist to award-winning ad director to filmmaker: https://listen.amaeya.fm/widn-omar-hilal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m delighted to be joined by award-winning ad director & filmmaker Omar Hilal as this month’s guest. Omar is one of those people who discovered that he wanted to become a director very early in life. He started out as a photo-journalist and went on to become an accomplished ad director, with stand-out ads such as the Aqua Mangos ad for Nestle and the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad in his portfolio. The ads he’s worked on have won more than 50 awards, including 5 Grand Prix. In 2023, he switched gears to release his directorial debut, Voy! Voy! Voy!, which went on to win 16 awards globally and was Egypt’s official selection to the Oscars. Listen in as he tells me about his life’s twists and turns from ad-man to film director and everything in between. This episode is brought to you by EFG Holding, a financial institution with a universal bank in Egypt and the leading investment bank in the Middle East and North Africa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I’m joined by Rawya Mansour, Chairwoman of RAMSCO Egypt and Oasis Technologies Monaco, for a special episode as part of our collaboration with The Narrative Summit 2025. Rawya is a pioneer of sustainable development and regenerative agriculture, including shifting away from chemical polymer fertilisers towards green charcoal. We’ll get into the pivotal moments that led her on this journey as well as her involvement with The Narrative Summit. The theme for the 2025 edition of The Narrative Summit is Egypt reset – to redefine Egypt’s global standing by showcasing its economic resilience, investment potential and cultural dynamism. The summit will focus on three key pillars—Financial accessibility, Tourism and hospitality, and the sports ecosystem. The Narrative summit will take place from April 7 to 9 against the breathtaking backdrop of Somabay on the Red Sea coast. You can follow me on Instagram for coverage from the event, and I’ll also be moderating a panel on the 8th of April. I’ll be back with a new guest next week, see you then! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m excited to share a special episode from the podcast, Gems of Arabia about Arab Representation in Media. The episode, hosted by WIDN alum Hatem Al Akeel, was recorded a few weeks ago at the CNN Academy in Abu Dhabi in front of a live audience of the Academy’s latest cohort of budding journalists. We were joined by another WIDN alum Becky Anderson, Managed Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abbas. This was a great conversation about breaking stereotypes, how Arab voices are represented, and the importance of re-shaping and owning our narrative on the world stage. I hope you find the conversation as insightful as I did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re continuing my conversation with interior architect Nouf Al Moneef, Director of the Noor Riyadh festival. On today’s episode, Nouf tells me about the evolution of Noor Riyadh, why they chose light as a theme in addition to art, as well as about her own design aesthetic. You can find the first part of my conversation with Nouf in your podcast app as well as on YouTube. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nouf Al Moneef is an interior architect and the Director of the Noor Riyadh festival, which falls under the larger umbrella of the Riyadh Art Project. Noor Riyadh has now welcomed more than 3 million visitors and hosted artworks by hundreds of Saudi, regional and international artists. Nouf also continues to help grow the conversation about art and design on social media, although she is not a fan of the word influencer. Nouf has garnered a huge following and has had an obvious impact on how the KSA is perceived and she is a wonderful ambassador for culture, the arts and her country as a whole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re continuing my conversation with actor Khalid Abdalla this week, going behind the curtain into his solo play, Nowhere. I saw the play when I was in the UK last October and was personally moved by his performance. On this episode, Khalid tells me about the journey that led to him writing Nowhere, and the impact of his work. On a bonus episode for members out next week, we’ll dig into his process as an actor, and how he prepared for his role as Dodi Fayed on The Crown. If you haven’t tuned in, you can also catch the first part of my conversation with Khalid in your podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices