The Creative Minds

Allow me to introduce Brian Drain, the Chief People Officer at daa.

Brian is a professional known for his expertise in human resources, operations management, safety management systems, aviation security, and contract management, with a wealth of experience in the airlines/aviation industry.

I had the privilege to work with Brain briefly on a project a while ago where I got the chance to witness Brian's remarkable work ethic, which immediately caught my attention.

It is a rarity to encounter individuals who genuinely derive joy from their work and authentically care about others. I noticed that from how he works with others and how he went above and beyond by generously mentoring me and patiently answering all my questions. As you may know by now, I'm quite generous with those :)

That is why I was eager to have him as a guest on the show.

In our conversation, we delve into his remarkable journey and the steps he took to attain the prestigious position of Chief People Officer at DAA. We explore the sources of his inspiration, his personal definition of success, the profound meaning the aviation industry holds for him, his genuine concern for the well-being of individuals, and the invaluable advice he has for those in their 20s who are grappling with the uncertainty of their career paths. Additionally, we touch upon Brian's leisure pursuits and the remarkable individuals who make up his inner circle. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and insights.

Can't wait for you to listen to this episode.

This episodes is definitely one of my favorites.

Allow me to introduce you to the remarkable Dr. Stacy Baker, a passionate Traditional Naturopathic Doctor and Functional Medicine practitioner who captivated my attention with her thought-provoking content that has challenged my long-held beliefs about our health.

In her early twenties, Dr. Stacy encountered a series of health challenges that transformed her from being a personal coach into a state of constant exhaustion, leaving her unable to walk without enduring overwhelming inflammation. Determined to regain her health and vitality, she embarked on an unwavering quest for knowledge and understanding.

Motivated by her own struggles, Dr. Stacy immersed herself in the world of functional medicine, dedicating herself to thorough research and education. Her goal was to uncover the underlying root causes of her health issues, unraveling the intricate interconnections within the body's systems. With each revelation, she gained valuable insights into the profound influence that lifestyle and nutrition choices have on overall well-being.

Throughout her episodes, Dr. Stacy fearlessly shares the triumphs and tribulations of her personal healing journey. She provides actionable tips, evidence-based strategies, and profound insights to help you grasp the intricacies of your own body. Exploring a wide range of topics, from gut health to hormone imbalances and chronic inflammation to mental wellness, she empowers her audience to take control of their well-being.

Dr. Stacy's ultimate mission is to guide others on their healing journeys, drawing from her own transformative experiences. She firmly believes in the innate power of the body to heal and is resolute in her mission to equip her listeners with the necessary tools and knowledge to reclaim their vitality and live their lives to the fullest.

Get ready to embark on an enlightening journey with Dr. Stacy Baker as she shares her wisdom, challenges your preconceived notions, and helps you discover the path to holistic wellness.

Note: This episode is the second half of a two-part series.

Allow me to introduce you to the remarkable Dr. Stacy Baker, a passionate Traditional Naturopathic Doctor and Functional Medicine practitioner who captivated my attention with her thought-provoking content that has challenged my long-held beliefs about our health.

In her early twenties, Dr. Stacy encountered a series of health challenges that transformed her from being a personal coach into a state of constant exhaustion, leaving her unable to walk without enduring overwhelming inflammation. Determined to regain her health and vitality, she embarked on an unwavering quest for knowledge and understanding.

Motivated by her own struggles, Dr. Stacy immersed herself in the world of functional medicine, dedicating herself to thorough research and education. Her goal was to uncover the underlying root causes of her health issues, unraveling the intricate interconnections within the body's systems. With each revelation, she gained valuable insights into the profound influence that lifestyle and nutrition choices have on overall well-being.

Throughout her episodes, Dr. Stacy fearlessly shares the triumphs and tribulations of her personal healing journey. She provides actionable tips, evidence-based strategies, and profound insights to help you grasp the intricacies of your own body. Exploring a wide range of topics, from gut health to hormone imbalances and chronic inflammation to mental wellness, she empowers her audience to take control of their well-being.

Dr. Stacy's ultimate mission is to guide others on their healing journeys, drawing from her own transformative experiences. She firmly believes in the innate power of the body to heal and is resolute in her mission to equip her listeners with the necessary tools and knowledge to reclaim their vitality and live their lives to the fullest.

Get ready to embark on an enlightening journey with Dr. Stacy Baker as she shares her wisdom, challenges your preconceived notions, and helps you discover the path to holistic wellness.

Note: This episode is the first half of a two-part series.

Being an Engineer from University of Toronto, this episode hits differently for me, because for once I am talking to an expert who understand what it means to be an Engineer and the challenges that the students face while they are doing their degree. I have gone above and beyond to get the chance to interview Dr.Richard, and if there is anything that I regret is that I wish I have met him earlier on in my life.

In today's podcast, we are honored to have Dr. Richard as our special guest. Driven by his own experiences as a Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering at Princeton University, he has devoted his career to delving into the intricacies of learning styles and enhancing education.

Dr. Richard's personal journey in academia sparked a profound fascination with unraveling the secrets of effective learning. This passion has fueled his tireless efforts to understand how individuals can optimize their learning experiences and achieve their full potential.

His breakthrough came when he discovered the Index of Learning Styles (ILS). This instrument assesses preferences across four dimensions, helping individuals understand their strengths and challenges in academic settings. This instrument assesses preferences across four dimensions: active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/global. By understanding one's learning style profile, individuals can leverage their strengths and navigate potential challenges more effectively within academic settings.

Inspired by this research, Dr. Richard embarked on a comprehensive exploration of the educational system, questioning its worth and seeking ways to improve it. He overcame challenges and resistance, fueled by a passion for transformative education.

In this episode, we dive into his story, his thoughts on the educational system, and the genesis of his research. We also learn about his personal definition of success.

Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. It has opened me up to better understanding how I better learn.

Welcome to today's episode of the podcast where we have the pleasure of introducing you to Bader, also known as llunr, a multitalented artist who is a singer, songwriter, producer, composer, and musician.

But what makes Bader's journey unique is the fact that he initially studied Risk Management at university. It was during his time there that he got the opportunity to be a radio host, and that's when music showed itself to him. Bader had always been a fan of writing, but he never had the outlet until he picked up the guitar and taught himself how to play. This became a way for him to express how he was feeling, and he fell in love with presenting on the radio.

After his time there, he joined a another company as a copywriter, but as time went on, things became redundant, and Bader felt drained by his full-time job. He realized that it was hindering his creativity and decided to quit his job to become a full-time artist.

Of course, any significant change comes with its own set of challenges. Leaving a stable job, especially in our Arabic culture, can be daunting. But Bader emphasizes that struggles definitely cause some form of creativity and encourages aspiring artists to be themselves. He believes that if you try to be someone else, you won't be able to keep up with it.

One of the critical things that Bader discusses is promoting your work and creating the mood with each track. He emphasizes the importance of being yourself That is where I challenge him and ask him "Who he really is?" (P.S loved his genuine answer there)

Bader also shares some tips on how to build a following and gain an audience to listen to your music. We also talk about the mindset that he had to build up to get to where he is now. He admits that he thought about quitting many times, but it was his passion for music that kept him going.

Finally, Bader answers the well known question by now, which is what success means to him and how he defines it in his life.

If you want to know more about Bader's journey and follow his work, you can find him on Instagram (llunrmusic)

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the podcast, and we hope you enjoyed getting to know Bader and his inspiring story!

Looking forward for you to tune in to the FIRST TIME EVER TRIO EPISODE, where I don't only interview them but they interview me as well.

Chris and Ron are the dynamic duo behind Hacker Valley Media, a cybersecurity media company with 6 different podcasts and video shows and one mission: to share the most powerful stories in cyber in creative ways. Through our conversation we explore the ways in which technology can bring us closer together or drive us further apart, the challenges of collaboration and finding partners, and the process of scaling a podcast.

As former corporate employees, Chris and Ron share their valuable insights on leaving their jobs to start their own media company, building relationships with sponsors and partners and the importance of staying true to oneself as a content creator.

Their approach to podcasting is centered on providing value to their listeners, delving into topics that provoke informative and productive discussions. They believe in doing the work and experimenting until they find what works, striving to continuously improve and grow their company.

You can expect to gain fresh perspectives and insights on technology's impact on society, as well as practical tips and advice on building a thriving podcast and media company.

Are you someone who experiences emotions intensely and reacts strongly to them?Do you find yourself constantly worrying and overthinking even the smallest decisions? If so, you might be one of the 15-20% of people in the world who are classified as Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP).

As an HSP, you might also be naturally compassionate and sensitive to criticism, while feeling different from everyone else and sometimes choosing to be alone. You may even be highly intuitive, often feeling tired and overwhelmed due to your sensitivity to external stimuli and the emotions of others.

It's not that you are less capable, but that you are overstimulated. The world might try to mold you to fit in a box that you do not fit in, but you don't have to force yourself to conform.

In my latest podcast episode, I talk with Bethany Perry, a transformational coach who works with trauma and weight loss. As a mother of 5 children and 7 grandchildren, Bethany understands firsthand what it's like to be an HSP and how it can impact your life. Join us as we discuss how to navigate the world as an HSP, and learn to embrace and appreciate your sensitivity instead of feeling overwhelmed by it.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, know that you are not alone. We got you in this episode. Never underestimate the feeling of being herd, it can do wonders especially to a Highly Sensitive Person.

Tune in to the latest episode and let's have an honest conversation about what it means to be a highly sensitive person in today's world.

The latest episode of The Creative Minds Podcast features Edward Johnson, the co-founder and CEO of Push Far. His journey into entrepreneurship is nothing short of inspiring.

At just 17 years old, Edward dropped out of school without finishing his A-levels. But he didn't let that stop him from pursuing his dreams. He took a leap of faith and sent an email to a CEO of a company, he looked forward to be part of, and that is how he landed his first job. It's incredible how one small action can change the course of our lives.

Edward has a unique set of skills and characteristics that have helped him succeed in every project he's taken on. But what's truly special is his passion for entrepreneurship and his desire to help others achieve their goals.

We'll learn more about his latest venture, Push Far, and how it can help us all reach our full potential. Edward will share with us why having a coach in your life is so important, and how it can make all the difference in achieving success.

We'll also dive into the difference between a coach and a mentor, and hear Edward's definition of true success - from the heart.

So, grab a cup of tea, sit back, and listen in as Edward shares his incredible journey with us. It's a story that will inspire you to pursue your dreams, no matter where you're starting from.

Make sure you check out our Instagram page: thecreativemindspod

Looking to start your own food brand but feeling lost and overwhelmed? The latest episode of The Creative Minds Podcast features Erica, a successful food entrepreneur who shares her inspiring story and valuable insights. In this episode, Erica covers a range of topics, including:

• The confidence she gained to start her own food brand
• How she developed her unique product and brand name
• The challenges she faced as an entrepreneur in the food industry
• How she tested and increased the shelf life of her product naturally
• The changes in her inner circle since starting her entrepreneurial journey
• Her goals for the future and definition of success

Don't miss this episode if you're looking to start your own food brand or need some inspiration to overcome obstacles as an entrepreneur. Tune in now to hear Erica's story!

A Peak Human Performance / Executive Flow coach

An Angel Investor

And

The one who Pushes Human Performance Boundaries to MAX

Please WELCOME the one and only Alex Wisch

This episode is made up of 2 parts.

The first part we talk about Alex's journey with DYSLEXIA, understanding deeper what it means and how did he find a way around it to live in a flow state. We also talked about burn out, how to detect it, and how to prevent it.

The second part is focused on the 7 pillars on how to live a flow rich lifestyle.

But why should you care?

Because the more in flow you are the more productive and happier you are. Listen to episode to figure out what the 7 pillars are.

I will give you a hint. One is Communication, another Is Mindset and one is Purpose.

A Peak Human Performance / Executive Flow coach

An Angel Investor

And

The one who Pushes Human Performance Boundaries to MAX

Please WELCOME the one and only Alex Wisch

This episode is made up of 2 parts

The first part we talk about Alex's journey with DYSLEXIA, understanding deeper what it means and how did he find a way around it to live in a flow state. We also talked about burn out, how to detect it, and how to prevent it.

The second part is focused on the 7 pillars on how to live a flow rich lifestyle.

But why should you care?

Because the more in flow you are the more productive and happier you are. Listen to episode to figure out what the 7 pillars are.

I will give you a hint. 

One is Communication, another Is Mindset and one is Purpose.

Meet Gil,  

Gil & I have met a few years ago and never have I thought that we will record an episode together. I am so glad that we did. 

This has been one interesting episode to record early in the morning, and as always the deeper you are in a conversation the deeper the content gets.   

Let me tell you briefly about Gil. Gil is a Mastermind & Networking Expert.  

What does that even mean? Have you heard of it?   

Honestly I have not before I met Gil. I had no idea it existed or understood what it's value was, but after talking to him it made sense.   We address in this episode how to effectively communicate with each other and build up your network.   

Have you ever been in a networking event and wanted to get away from a conversation?   

OR  

Have you ever been in a conversation where you wanted to take things further with that person as you believe that this is what you are looking for in your network?  The real question is how do you take that forward? How do you end both types of conversations.  There is more detail to each and every step.   

Not only that, but also how do you intentionally go to networking events and make the best out of them.   All of this is addressed in this episode.   It is one that you do not want to miss.   

I really wanted to release this episode before the holidays but I wanted it to get the value that it deserves.   

Much Love to all of you always.  

Meet Lauren,

Lauren is the founding partner & CEO of Impact School. I came across her a while ago and loved her realness in the content that she creates.   

In this episode we tried to keep it brief and to the point having her share more about her story and how she stared in the Fitness Industry and after some time, and thousands of lessons learnt, she founded Impact School.   

That is only one part of the episode, she mentions how she dropped out of one of the best Business Universities because she had come to the realization that the teachers who taught her never run their own business and she wanted to learn from the one who actually did.   

Not only that but she tried the corporate jobs and it was not for her either.   

We also talk about the challenges that she faced starting Impact school, what her thoughts are towards hiring talent, and what does she look for in her team?  

To take it deeper, I asked her about relationships both friendships and romantic ones, and if she ever thought that the expectations that she had were ever too high for others to live up to.  

We go as deep as possible in various topics, the deeper you listen the more you get inspired by her story.   

Looking forward to have you check this episode out.   

Much Love to all of you always.     

Meet Ramy Al Kadhi,

Ramy is the Head of Sales @Anghami, author of the novel "Ray", a podcast host, a football fanatic and a martial arts fan. 

I got the chance to meet Ramy when I came across his novel "Ray". 

The back cover of the Novel grabbed my attention, as it was a male's perspective writing about joy, the highs and lows of life, anxiety, friendships, and love interests. 

In this episode, Ramy, a British, Iraqi novelist, shares with us more about his story, from how he was born in London, lived in Bahrain for sometime, continued back his adolescence & University years in London and then settled in Dubai. 

When I got Ramy on the show, I wanted to make sure I asked him about his creative process writing "Ray", hence the name of the podcast ;)

When did he decide to write the novel? How did the ideas come to him? Did he self publish? What are the advantages and disadvantages of self publishing? What did he mean by the Euphoric feeling that he got as he was writing? 

Why did he write the book? Is it based on a true story that he had experienced? I loved his response to those questions as he mentioned that when he wrote the book he took Ray, a fictional character, and placed him in situations and experiences to see how he would navigate through them and in that process he hoped to get clarity for his life. 

I asked him if he had found that clarity after writing the novel? His response shocked me (Check out the full episode to see what he said) 

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

Meet Elissa Freiha,  

Elissa is the Founder and CEO of Womena. Elissa's energy, creativity, desire for change and spontaneity grabbed my attention. Not only that but her desire to want to build up a feminist media company to amplify women's stories.   

To be this passionate about something and build up a whole business around it, one must have a story behind that, and that is why I ask Elissa to tell us more about what fascinated her to want to explore the world of feminism (which she shares at the beginning of the episode)   

We also talk about, how Womena came to existence? The challenges she faced founding a company right after finishing university. What would she have done differently if she would have repeated the same experience again, what is her definition of success and much much more. 

Check out the full episode.

Meet Anthony Joseph,   

Anthony is an Award Winning Real Estate Broker (top awarded agent with 3.9 Billion of property sales), the Host of Dubai Stars Podcast, Author of Amazon best seller Take Charge, and has his own Real Estate Academy, where he teaches his tips and hacks in order to sell real estate in Dubai like a pro.  As we recorded this episode, I really enjoyed the realness that he shared in this episode.   

In this episode he talked about his journey of how he left his comfortable life in Lebanon to moving to a completely new country with no money or connections but  1 relative of his.   

I asked him about:   

1. How he managed to make it in Dubai when he first came, as it is known to be a relatively expensive place to live in.  

2. What skillset does a great Real-estate need to have to thrive in the Dubai market? 

3. What his definition of success? Which was so detailed that I have never had a guest on my show talk about it that way. (Check out the episode to see what his response was)  

4. I even asked him about what his thoughts are on God/ the Universe (however you refer to it) and if that was part of his journey that got his to where he is now.   

It was one genuine, raw, authentic episode that I loved listening to every second of it (which I did several times)   

I might have overwhelmed him by 50 different questions all at once at the beginning of the episode. You will understand what I mean when you listen to the episode :) 

I hope you enjoy it

Love, 

Aida

Meet Nick,   

Nick's content grabbed my attention as he talks all things to do with travel and lifestyle.   

He has grown his Instagram following to 142k talking about places you didn't know existed, how to travel and stay for free, what the do's and don't for travel, cheap places to travel to when you are young and much more.   

In this conversion you will get the chance to learn more about Nick himself behind his online "image/reputation".   

You would assume one with a certain number of following would be doing content creation full time, but he actually works full-time in a completely different field (check out the episode to know what).   He talks about how he started several YouTube channels by the age of 9 but got bullied for creating them and shut them down.   We talk more in this episode about what got him back to content creation and specifically travel, why does he care about his community (he really does), how does he budget for his trips, when is the best time to travel, and how to book the cheapest flights.   

I also asked him about the best place he has travelled too, as well as his daily routine that he follows ( note he wakes up pretty early)   I also asked him about his creative process, and if he executes on every idea that comes to him. (What do you think his response was? )   

and   

Of course what is his definition of success.  

The deeper you go into the episode the more you will enjoy it.   

Hope you enjoy this episode, it is different than any previous episode that I have recorded.  

Meet Mahmoud Bartawi,   

Mahmoud is an Emirati Entrepreneur who has launched Under500 in 5 countries, and cashed out his healthy food for 10X.   

When I asked him about why Under500? He said that he had always been passionate about health, and he was looking for healthy food that tasted good. He understood that living a healthy lifestyle depended 20% on one's workout and 80% on what they ate. He assumed that on average people ate 3 meals a day with under 500 calories each, then they would eventually lose weight. Plus health has been a big part of his life that his father ingrained in him and he wanted more people to get healthy.   

I asked him further about how he and his co-founder got the funding for his business, he mentioned that he had to risk what he had saved for 10 years into this project.   Moreover, Mahmoud talks the difference between the startup time vs real time. But that is not it, we talk about happiness, relationships and his advice for someone who wants to one day have his own startup.   

This was one of the most enjoyable episodes that I have recorded.   

When you listen to the episode, you will realize the calmness and depth of thought that Mahmoud shares in this episode.  

I will guarantee you that you will be inspired listening to the episode.   

Follow Mahmoud Bartawi:  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bartawi/ 

Meet Nour, 

Nour is the Co-Founder and CEO at Intella, which is a Deep Tech and Big Data Company ( note: they are HIRING). 

She had finished her undergrad at Western University in Canada, and then came back to work at Bank al Etihad in Jordan. 5 years in, she had decided to quit the corporate world and go back-packing across South East Asia but WHY? 

In this episode we talk more about:

1. How did she go from deciding to quit her job in the bank to then eventually co-founding Intella.

2. How did she find her co-founder?

3. How did they raise funds for their company?

4. How did they grow their team and hire the right talent?  

5. How do they keep their team motivated and inspired? 

6. What were the challenges she faced being a Women Entrepreneur in the MENA region.  

and   

of-course  

What is her definition of Success? 

Welcome back to The Creative Minds Podcast. I am so glad that you are back here in this new season. 

In this episode, I will re-introduce you to the podcast, tell you more about it, as well as address a very important topic MENTAL HEALTH. 

Since today is October 10th, and that is Mental Health Day, I talk more about what Mental Health, what it is and what causes it. 

In short, always be kind you have no idea what everyone is going through, even though you cannot really see it, it does not mean it is not there. 

Meet Raja Otaqui,   

Raja is an Entrepreneur who loves to do many things as he says in the interview and you will see why.   

He is the Managing Partner at Karmalite Medical Esthetic but not only that but he has been highly involved in Marketing, Social Media, Art, Songwriting, Singing, and Playing the piano.   He is well known for his songs Ma Fi Aman (ما في أمان), Dina (دينا), Bisharafi (بشرفي) which can be all found on YouTube.   

In this episode we talk about his journey from how he started in his Undergrad in Health Sciences, then went into singing/ songwriting songs in English. Following that he ended up being a radio host for a while, before he decided to change things around again and go back to the singing but this time in Arabic, which he clearly explains how different it is, as well as being the Managing Partner at Karmalite Medical Esthetic.   

We talk about all those different phases in his life, but gets more deeper towards the middle/end of the episode, where we talk about the negative/ positive effects of social media. I also asked him about how has he learnt to find happiness in the midst of it all, and what makes him happy.  

I loved his response when he said that how happiness can be found in everything that one does.   

And of course, you all know by now,   

What is his definition of SUCCESS?  

Follow The Creative Minds Podcast:  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thecreativemindspod/ 

Follow Raja Otaqui:  

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rajaotaqui/

Meet Ghinwa El-Ariss,

Ghinwa is a Psychology PHD student at the University of Calgary, where she is studying /researching the DARK SIDE of Relationships.

In this episode I ask her about:

1. Why is she focused on the DARK side of the relationships?

2. Why do people stay in relationships that they know is bad for them?

3. How does this attachment build up and why?

4. Why can 2 people go through the same experience but have a completely different perception of life?

5. How can someone re-learn to love themselves and see their worth if their experiences has shown them otherwise?

6. Is faith/ spirituality a part of the journey that helps one REMEMBER their self-worth?

7. How can you balance between TRUSTING the process and CHASING after your goals?

8. What if one does not have a certain goal in life, how can one know what they are excited about?

9. What does HAPPINESS mean?

10. What does INNER PEACE feel like?

11. How can you navigate social media in a positive way?

And of course

What is her definition of SUCCESS?

Follow The Creative Minds Podcast: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativemindspod/

Follow Ghinwa El-Ariss:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghinwa_ea/

Meet Kevin, 

Kevin is a speaker, a coach, a Fitness and Martial Art lover. He is also the Creator, CFO and Co-Host of Next Level University Podcast. Together with his partner Alan, they have already recorded 1000 Episodes making them a Global Top 100 Podcasts in 125+ countries. 

In this episode Kevin shares more about his story and why he decided to quit his high paying job, and take on the Entrepreneurial path. He definitely mentioned that it was not as glorious as it sounds. 

He did share more of the challenges that he faced during those times but he had a vision and was clear about that and so nothing stopped in his way. 

Kevin added about the importance of being around the "Right" environment and the morning habits that he took on that have given his day more structure and kept him grounded. Listen to the full episode to learn more about his morning routine and how that has positively changed his life. He also talked about how to get back up when you fall off track not allowing it to ruin the rest of your day. 

We addressed topics around anxiety, and the constant need to prove oneself.

I also asked him a few questions around some advice he would have given his younger self 

and 

OF COURSE 

What his definition of SUCCESS is. 

Check out this highly DELAYED and highly VALUABLE episode. 

Meet Maria Fakhoury,   

Maria is currently on her final year pursuing her DOCTORATE degree in Psychology in Chicago. She is also a fellow graduate of University of Toronto and did her high school at the International School of Choueifat. (So to all the Choueifaties out there, you better listen to this episode)  In this episode Maria talks more about her journey and what lead her to continuing her Doctorate in Psychology.   

We also talked about:   

1. Her biggest challenge transitioning from School to University 

2. The limiting beliefs that she, and many of us, fall into, such as believing that our self-worth is based mainly on how we perform at school/ university (i.e grades)  

3. What does Mental Health mean, especially in the Middle East region? 

4. What is the difference between Nature and Nurture? 

5. Are Psychology and Spirituality related? 

6. The use of medication to treat Mental Health issues (how medication should not be the long-term solution but a short term one) 

7. The negative sides of medication vs understanding the root cause of the existing issues 

8. Different methodologies of coping with stress 

9. Gut health and how it affects our mental and physical health

10. Difference between the Big T and the small t (Check out what that means)  

11. Can kids ever be depressed? How so?  

12. What is happiness?  

AND  

ofcourse   

What is her definition of success?  

Follow The Creative Minds Podcast:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativemindspod/ 

Follow Maria Fakhoury:  Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-fakhoury-6a8749104/

Meet Saif Abdualla, 

Saif is an Emirati Father, Husband, Certified Motivational Speaker, Radio Presenter, Tv Presenter, Children’s author, & Events MC/ Host.

This episode for sure took a different path, a path that I did not quite expect.

In this episode we talk more about who Saif is, what he does, does he believe that one should be focused on only doing 1 thing or be a jack of all traits given the fact that he himself wears several different hats.

Things turned around when he mentioned that he lost his parents at a very young age.

That is not an easy state to be in, but his vulnerability and openness to talk about it, gave me goosebumps watching/ listening to it again and I am sure it will do to you too as well.

We talk about how the loss of his parents has impacted his view of the world wondering why he still chose to look at the bright side of things, vs hating on the world. He shares an intimate moment about what it felt like not having his parents during his graduation and how he navigated through that moment.

We also talked about how he got into writing children’s books, what inspires him, what LOVE means to him and of course what his definition of success is.

Follow Saif: https://www.instagram.com/saif_motivation/

Follow The Creative Minds Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativemindspod/

Meet Yazan,

So Yazan and I were at the same High School and it is so exciting to interview him again now after several years learning more about his journey and how he had come across co-founding Power Edison. 

He has been awarded the Forbes 30 under 30 in the Energy sector. 

Pretty exciting isn’t it. 

In the episode we talk more about his story, where he stared how did he come across starting Power Edison? Why did he decide to start his own vs joining an existing company? How did he find his co-founder? We also talked about clean energy and how politics plays a part in that.

Then we also dove deep beyond what he does but on his mindset and mental state, so we touch base on how did he come across knowing that clean energy is what he wanted to do and focus on?

What is passion? And what does it mean to him?

What is happiness? Is it overrated?

What does success look like for him? And does he consider himself successful?

There was a lot of laughter in the episode, which just made it more fun.

Check out the full episode.

Follow him on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yazan-harasis-b4153776/ 

At this point almost everyone has Instagram.

If you are in Dubai or Saudi, I am pretty sure you have come across Lovin Dubai, Smashi, or Augustus Media.

Some pretty interesting pages with a ton of added value, they are direct, to the point, you got to the page, learn something new and go on with your life. That is what I call value.

BUT who is the mastermind behind those pages?

Well let me introduce the CEO & Founder Richard FitzGerald. 

What is his story? How did he come across doing what he does? What was his mindset that got him to where he is now? What were some of his challenges? What is his definition of success? What drives him to always want to create more? 

Those are to name a few.

Check out the full episode. 

Connect with him on: https://www.instagram.com/fitzyrichard/

Meet Sandy Grigsby, 

This episode is one of the most fun and chill episodes that I have recorded. It was so easy talking to her and she has this natural flow of making you just smile.

Such a great energy indeed.

In this episode, we have changed things a bit around and I have decided to start the conversation diving deeper into her childhood, little did I know he childhood was a pretty intense one that has helped shape up who she is. I honestly had no idea that our conversation would lead to that.

In the episode we talk about her childhood and how that had a huge effect on her belief about herself. 

We further talked about gaslighting and what it means? 

The importance of Self-Love and how can you find it? How to overcome negative self-talk? 

She also shares some techniques on how to overcome guilt and regret and ofcourse what her definition of success is. 

Follow Sandy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sandyinfocus/

Meet Vinny, 

Vinny is the Founder and CEO of Stress Undone. This is a long delayed episode that you must listen to. 

Earlier on the show I got amazing guests that talk about Nutrition, Fitness, Diet, Exercise, mindset and all separately, but this episode gives you a complete different point of view since stress will be included in each and everyone of them. 

Did you know that working out is stress itself? Did you hear about Nutritional Stress? All those things are real!!

Did you know that over-working out can actually add more negative stress to your body?

Vinny emphasizes on the importance of Healing in before Healing out, but what does it mean? 

You are always taught to eat healthy, workout, etc. you have heard all of those a million times but there is more to it all. There are so many truths shared in this episodes that no one really talks but Vinny does in this episode which is so refreshing. 

This episode will defiantly open you up to a whole new way of looking at things.

Connect with Vinny on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinnynuzzo/ 

In this episode you will get the chance to learn more about who Tessy is. (P.S_1st ever episode where I get a FEMALE who has been in the MILITARY FIELD talk about her own journey)

In this episode we are going to cover topics about her experience as a female in the Armed Forces, raising 2 kids while being there, we also talk about Marriage & Divorce, how identify Burnout and how to manage it. What it means to listen to yourself. The importance of staying curious & constantly learning, and of course Tessy's definition of Success. 

Join us in this journey. It is going to be a fun one. 

Meet Darine,

Darine did her major in computer graphics and animation then studied film making in New York. She also did her diploma in fine arts in Barcelona, as she was in a time where she was experimenting with her creative side. She also tried painting and sculpting but film making was her thing. She is the founder of a Minute Marvel where she uses her platform to make the invisible heroes visible.

In this episode we talk about storytelling and why it is important. What an authentic story means and how can one capture a feeling and express it in a way people are able to connect with.

She talks about the importance of taking care of herself and putting in the inner work. We address topics like emotion, fear, shame, and uncertainty.

Check out the full episode. 

Meet Dana!!

Dana is a Storyteller, Senior Journalist and Presenter at MBC 1.

In this episode, Dana shares more about her journey into the world of media. She talks about her transition from being this shy girl to presenting on MBC 1 (the first independent Arabic satellite TV station with an estimated audience of more than 130 million Arab people around the world). That is only a small part of the episode. We talk about  passion, brainstorming, the importance of how one speaks to oneself, overcoming fear, how to enhance creativity and find inspiration in everything. I also asked her about her definition of success. Whatever I am going to write here will not be enough. Trust me when I say this, you MUST listen to the full episode. I promise you will learn something new at least every 3 minutes.

Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidatleel13/?hl=en

Follow Dana Abulaban on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/danaabulaban/?hl=en

Meet Farah,

Farah is founder of the Farah foundation. She is a writer, creator, and positivity champ to inspire life.

(Note: Be prepared for this episode it is one of the most emotional ones yet)

Farah first learnt about her autoimmune disease around 17 years ago, where she was told that there was no cure for her illness. That meant that her body will constantly be changing physically, from her skin to her muscles and bones. She shares about how confused, angry, and bitter at everyone and everything she was the first few years, but most importantly, she talks about her transformational journey, a journey inward that took her from the feeling of hopelessness, fear, confusion, bitterness, to being a source of inspiration, motivation, and power for others.

This episode is all for you. Thank you for being part of the journey and making this such a wonderful experience and building such an empowering supportive community. Decided to do something special to connect with you all!! Check out the full episode and make sure you DM me if you would like to be part of that.

Meet Hamza Nabulsi, Hamza shares more of his journey transitioning from being an Industrial Engineer to following his passion in the fitness world. He shares more about why he has chosen this path and what it means to him, as well as addresses the amount of discipline and commitment it takes to stay consistent to see the results. He talks about the importance of having the right mindset every single day to keep him going, he also talks about how having a daily routine helps keeps him on track. You can truly see how much he cares for his clients and how much time and energy he spends tailoring a unique fitness/ nutritional plan for each one of them. I also asked him about his thoughts on veganism, cheat meals and supplements. 

What is the difference between Shame and Guilt?

According to @brenebrown, a research professor who has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, Shame = "I am bad" and Guilt =" I did something bad".

Shame attacks you as an Individual, meanwhile guilt focuses on your behaviour. When you feel attacked that way, you feel that you are not worthy of love and belonging. So, when children are parented by shame, they tend to grow up struggling with self-worth and self-loathing issues. It teaches them that they are inherently not worthy of love and that stays on with that individual as they grow older causing them to behave in self-destructive manners such as violence, aggression, depression, addiction, eating disorders and bullying.

Check out the full episode to learn more about the difference between shame and guilt? What does shame really look like? and how to become more shame resilient.If you are looking to build relationships based on Love, Belonging and Story you are going to love this brief solo episode. 

Meet Kristine Faza. 

Kristine is a Certified Health Coach & Yoga Instructor. She also happens to be a friend of mine, p.s we used to go to the same school as kids. In this episode you will learn more about her story, and what it means to be a Health Coach and why did she choose to follow this path? We talk about meditation, prayer, being present, relationship with food and the anxiety that comes around it. We also address the subconscious mind, gratitude, gut health and the holistic approach to life and even question if the words of affirmations (that everyone talks about) really works?

Meet Alice Law, I got the chance to meet Alice and briefly learn about what she does and found her work inspiring. In this episode she will share more about her story and what drove her into diving in within and work now on helping other people calm down and deal with stress. Her story surprised me (Seriously, never judge anyone, you have no idea what their story is). After going through the challenges that she talks about and finding a way through the chaos to keep herself grounded, she has decided to support others in living the calmest version of themselves. She had no expectations of ever doing what she was doing as she wanted to pursue her interest in fashion but things changed around leading her in this path. Check out the full episode.

Meet Hugh MacLeod, 

This episode was long delayed, and I am so excited for all of you to check it out. 

In this conversation, Hugh shares more about his story and the lessons he learnt along the way and that is when his book “Humanizing Leadership” came to existence. He talks about importance of leading by example, giving back, finding time to oneself, the power of being present and honest with oneself, and the importance of  having the right leadership in an organization. I appreciated what he shared about how blessed he was having people along the way who believed in him before he was able to see the potential in himself and now he wants to give back. This is HUMAITY.

Connect with him on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-macleod-224927170/

Why do we have some problems in communication? It is like you are saying something and you are trying your best to explain it but the person on the receiving end does not quite get it. It gets frustrating but it is not their fault. There are may factors that take place and create a lack of understanding in a communication. Check out the brief episode to understand how the communication process works and what are some issues that we face there. 

What is your Love Language? What does that mean? What is the benefit of knowing it? Why does it matter?

“In the beginning I was one person, knowing nothing but my own experience, then I was told things and I became two people. There were two of I. One I always doing something that the other disapproved of. Or the other I said what I disapproved of. All this argument in me so much.In the beginning was I and I was good. Then came in another I. Outside authority. This was confusing. And then other I became very confused because there were many different outside authorities. I comes through, a little. In moments. And gets pushed back by other I” - Barry Stevens

Meet Adam, 

I have met Adam a while ago and I have observed him grow so much in the past year  and wanted to have him join me on a podcast episode. 

He shares more about what he does, how he has grown spiritually, mentally and physically. We also address topics like stillness, observing one's thoughts, meditation, power of pain. I also asked him about his thought on how someone should quit a negative routine/ habit and REPLACE it with a more positive and empowering one. (notice the word that I used (REPLACE) is key). Listen for the full episode, you are going to love it. 

Connect with adam: https://www.instagram.com/afreezyfrench/?hl=en

What does HSP stand for? 

Has anyone told you that you are “too sensitive”, or told you to “stop thinking too much",  or even "stop being too dramatic and overreacting". If those few words resonate with you you might want to listen to this brief episode that is going to prepare you to the following episode with an amazing women who dives deeper into what HSP is. 

Whether you like it or not, people are going to judge you, at the end of the day, this says nothing about you, but says so much about them and what they believe about themselves. They are going to try to make you feel bad about yourself because they believe that if they bring you down with them then they are superior. Check out the full episode to understand how to navigate such a situation.