Karak with Mahreen

In this episode, Martin Al-Masri, founder of the House of Victor, shares his inspiring journey of coming to Dubai and building one of the city’s leading fashion brands. He talks about his deep connection to Dubai, the discipline and opportunities it offers, and the life lessons he’s learned along the way. Martin dives into the difference between old money and new money, the art of filtering the ri...

In this episode, Shayoon, an entrepreneur and healer, shares her inspiring journey of building a healing center while balancing life between Kenya and the UAE. She talks about the importance of reconnecting with nature, sustainable living, and raising children with conscious values. Shayoon opens up about her own healing journey, overcoming trauma through spirituality, and how it deepened her conn...

In this episode, Leila shares her experience growing up as an Iranian-American after 9/11 and how it shaped perceptions of Middle Easterners. Leila talks about the misconceptions surrounding Islam and its surprising similarities to Christianity and Judaism. She also explains the difference between race and ethnicity, showing how these ideas are viewed differently in the West and the East. Grab you...

In this episode, Gabriel shares his journey of moving from Brazil to Dubai as a teenager and how his perspective of the city transformed after experiencing it firsthand. He opens up about his travels to Pakistan, especially the breathtaking northern areas, and his take on the food, hygiene, and cultural differences. We also dive into racism within South Asian communities, the contrast between life...

In this episode, Manpreet Kaur, a successful real estate agent and social media influencer, shares her inspiring journey from a small village in Punjab to building a thriving career in Dubai. She opens up about the challenges of breaking cultural norms, the struggles of being a financially independent woman, and the resilience that defines Punjabis worldwide. Manpreet dives into the deep-rooted st...

In this episode, Misha Akbar, founder of Sama Health, shares her personal mental health journey and how it inspired her to create a platform for culturally relevant therapy for South Asians in the UAE. She discusses the deep rooted stigma surrounding mental health in South Asian cultures, the lack of awareness about postpartum depression, and the guilt often placed on mothers. Misha also addresses...

This episode is brought to you by Amazon.ae. Don't miss out on the Amazon White Friday Sale happening this November from the 21st to 30th. BUT if you're a Prime Member, you get earlier access to all the discounts on the 20th. It's Amazon's BIGGEST sale of the year. Check it out now: https://www.amazon.ae/whitefriday?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wfs24-retail-influencer-na-mahreenmunir-ae-podcast3-na-21 I...

This episode is brought to you by Amazon.ae. Don't miss out on the Amazon White Friday Sale happening this November from the 21st to 30th. BUT if you're a Prime Member, you get earlier access to all the discounts on the 20th. It's Amazon's BIGGEST sale of the year. Check it out now: https://www.amazon.ae/whitefriday?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wfs24-retail-influencer-na-mahreenmunir-ae-podcast2-na-21 I...

This episode is brought to you by Amazon.ae. Don't miss out on the Amazon White Friday Sale happening this November from the 21st to 30th. BUT if you're a Prime Member, you get earlier access to all the discounts on the 20th. It's Amazon's BIGGEST sale of the year. Check it out now: https://www.amazon.ae/whitefriday?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wfs24-retail-influencer-na-mahreenmunir-ae-podcast1-na-21 I...

In this episode, Wilonda, founder of The Brush Spa in Dubai, dives into her journey from Haiti to the UAE. She opens up about embracing her Caribbean heritage, the challenges of building a beauty business, and the impact of social media on body image and eating disorders. She also discusses the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards and subtle racism that often goes unnoticed. Tune in for a powe...

In this episode, Keith Pereña, a Filipino journalist in the UAE, shares his inspiring journey from selling pens at trade shows to interviewing top personalities like Olympic medalists and Miss Universe. Keith talks about his family’s move to Dubai, Work life in the UAE, Linguistic racism, Filipino expats in the UAE, Similarities between Emirati and Filipino culture, and the challenges expats face....

In this episode, Umar Punjabi dives into his personal journey of making money at 10, experiencing homelessness, and enduring an abusive father. He shares how the constant violence led him to hallucinate fights, and how cultural views on divorce made it harder to escape the situation. Umar also talks about the religious bias he's observed, where people selectively preach what benefits them. He...

Join Sahil Sajan as he explores the complexities of managing a family business and the pressure to meet family expectations. He candidly discusses growing up in a South Asian household, the privilege of inheriting a business, and the importance of working hard to earn that privilege. Sahil also reflects on his parents' expectations and how it stems from their care for his safety and success. T...

In this episode, Ahmed, the founder of Aqua Fun, shares his journey from bankruptcy and legal battles to building the world’s largest inflatable water park in Dubai. He dives deep into the cultural differences between the UAE and the West, and whether there’s a real divide between Emiratis and expats. Ahmed also explores the challenges and positives of living in Dubai, the blend of tradition and m...

In this episode, Manisha Chhabra, the founder of Numaish, shares how she built one of the UAE's biggest fashion exhibitions, empowering over 2,000 designers and promoting South Asian culture. She talks about the power of financial independence for women, turning exhibitions into a new way to shop, and keeping traditional fashion alive. Manisha also dives into her own journey, breaking down bar...

In this episode, Mariah Al-Idrisi shares her story as a Moroccan-Pakistani growing up in the UK. She talks about being the first hijabi model and how it changed the fashion industry. Mariah discusses the rise of Islamophobia, judgment within the Muslim community, and the importance of real media representation. Grab your Karak and listen in for an engaging conversation!

In this episode, Shadia Siddiqui, host of "What's Brown Got to Do With It," shares her journey. She talks about growing up with an Indian father and Pakistani mother in the UK, facing racism, and dealing with strict cultural norms. Shadia discusses how immigrant families hold onto old values while their home countries evolve and how her modern family helped her embrace her culture. S...

Join Mahreen in this enlightening episode as she converses with Priti Malik, a charismatic radio host from Dubai, renowned for her vibrant presence on the Kris Fade Show. She opens up about the challenges she faced in the media industry, confronting stereotypes, and advocating for greater cultural representation. Priti also shares heartfelt stories about her family's impact on her life choices...

In this episode, Dr. Hasia, the creator of Doctor's Dose, shares her journey of building a global skincare brand. She talks about the power of mindset, positive energy, and manifesting dreams. Dr. Hasia also discusses her love for makeup, fashion, and dressing up, and how she defied the stereotype that nerds can't be fashionable by excelling academically while embracing her girly side. She...

In this episode Layla talks about entitlement, feminism, and the impact of Western culture on society. She talks about tackling entitlement in social media, shares her unique perspective on feminism versus typical Western views, and discusses how Western norms broadly influence people's behaviors and beliefs. This episode focuses on the complexities of embracing personal values against the bac...

In this episode, Umer talks about starting a creative hub in Dubai and dealing with mental health challenges. He reflects on how creativity has deeply influenced his life, supported by his family. Umer also dives into the changing social and cultural norms in Pakistan, discussing how attitudes towards mental health are improving, the challenges of old expectations, and how these changes impact per...

In this episode Abbey talks about moving from America to Dubai and finding Islam. She talks about her first challenges, facing stereotypes, and how these led her to Islam. Abbey shares how prayer gave her purpose and the change after accepting a new faith. She also mentions feeling part of the Muslim community and how her views have changed. It's a story of adjusting, finding faith, and fittin...

In this episode, we talk about the tough choices we make between following our dreams and meeting family expectations. We hear from people with different stories on how they kept true to themselves while staying close to their families and culture. From picking careers to deciding where to live or who to marry, we dive into the struggles and wins of balancing personal goals with family ties. So gr...

In this episode Divya Bhathela talks about her unexpected career as a cabin crew member and the adventures that followed. She shares how her mother's strength and unique views on life helped shape her into the person she is today. From dealing with surprises to finding her own way in Dubai, Divya's journey is all about staying strong and believing in yourself, thanks to her family's su...

This episode features Neeti Sharma, who dives into her journey of growing up with a Desi background in a Western context. Neeti shares her insights on the struggles of identity formation, the pressure of academic and professional ambitions, and the complex dynamics of love and approval in Desi families. Her personal anecdotes shed light on the challenges of fitting in, battling societal beauty sta...