Eyes on

As the saying goes "The kids are alright," and Zahra is an example. She has set her goal to follow and preach the United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals, championing education especially.

The teenage brain appears as a mystery, but award-winning author Nicola Morgan demystifies this enigma through supporting teenagers, parents and professionals and understanding and building resilient minds.

Heifa Odeh's decided to share Palestinian food, and make it approachable to everyone so she started Fufu's Kitchen. Now her recipes ranges from traditional Middle Eastern food, to food catered for people with dietary restrictions and even keeping up with the trends.

While checking out books for her own kids, Syrian-American journalist Rhonda Roumani noticed a gap in the literary space in the US: she couldn't find enough books about her own Arab heritage, culture and background. So she set out on her own mission to write books not only for her own kids, but for all Arab kids in the diaspora.

Do you dream of publishing graphic novels or comics? Literary agent Janna Morishima, who specializes in graphic novels and visual storytelling and is also the founder of Kids Comics Unite, an online community and learning platform for graphic novel writers and artists, spills the details on how to get into the industry.

Award-winning Korean illustrator Ami Shin was bewitched by the cuteness of mice, so she put pen to paper and started a series of "silent picture" books inspired by her travels around the world, which have been translated into many languages. She explains the significance of silent picture books and the values she's trying to invoke through her unique style.

When Colleen Nelson started writing and eventually publishing her books, she had the best source of inspiration besides her creativity: her own students! As a teacher, mother, ex-librarian and someone who just enjoys reading all around, Colleen shares her adventures as an author, why she writes and why she decided not to write YA books.

Illustrators and writers usually work hand-in-hand, together. But what if you are both? Dora Wang tell us her journey as an illustrator, from doodling then creating Pocket Peaches and publishing the story, to working as a visual designer with the likes of Nickelodeon and Dream Works.

Missing her mom's cooking, Maha Kailani took to the internet to start documenting her recipes, starting "Make Delicious Happen", a blog dedicated to simplifying classic Middle Eastern recipes and eventually releasing the book "Yalla, Let’s Eat!"

Inspired by Dilbert and the Peanuts comics, Stephan Pastis grabbed his pencil and became friends with the 4-panel comic strip. Now, many stories, illustrations and books later, he speaks to us about his journey and love for illustration and even how he got his book "Timmy Failure" turned in to a movie on Disney.

The mind behind the wonderful adventures of the mouse Geronimo Stilton and his sister Tea Stilton, Elisabetta Dami, joins us to share her very own adventures into the creation of this series of stories and values she's trying to instill through her lively characters!

If there is someone who is an expert on getting your kids involved in cooking, it's Chef D himself! Chef Dario Stephen, Chef & Owner of Kids Can Cook, talks to us on his experience as someone who has worked with kids as young as toddlers all the way to teenagers in the kitchen, also shedding some lights on difficult things to navigate like picky eaters, allergies and food intolerances.

We already know that we don't exist in a void, because we live in a community whose well-being- whether we're aware of it or not- depends on us. But what about these systems that exist? And how can we teach our children about being socially responsible and "aware"? Award-winning author Linda Booth Sweeney is a systems educator, who shares her knowledge on how to navigate this conversation.

Want to start a podcast? Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) has got you covered with their newest fully-equipped Podcast Room. We got Obaid AlSuwaidi, Media Production Services Section Manager at SHAMS, and the brains behind the idea on Eyes On to give us all the details.

The Africa Institute in Sharjah, an entity of Global Studies University, organizes a "Country-Focused Season" as a way to start conversations on the continent, through various scopes, looking at its past, present and future. Associate Professor of African History Professor John Thabiti Willis joins us to talk about the latest season focusing on the African islands and territories bordering the Ind...

Steven Bartlett knows a thing or two about being an entrepreneur, especially as a risk-taker. So what makes an entrepreneur? And when do you know how to stop and pivot or even drop everything and quit? Steven tells us all his ideas, especially when it comes expanding your abilities and becoming a better, more knowledgeable version of yourself.

After experiencing many cultures and mingling with the people, Rebecca decided that she wanted to share her stories in a book.

Chef Thuy realised that Vietnamese cuisine needs its moment, so she channels her memories of being in her grandmother's kitchen into her recipes and teaching other chefs.

We have seen the word "Ayurveda" stamped on many ideas and items, making it difficult to pin down. Dr. Pratima Raichur, who grew up learning and being exposed to Ayurveda, clears up any misunderstandings on the traditional practice and explains how its connected to every layer of our body, especially the skin.

What is "mindfulness"? For Dr. Lynn Rossy, it's not only being aware of your surroundings but also aware of your situation, being conscious and enjoying what you eat.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Ester didn't realize that she will get an opportunity to discover a passion and love for poetry, that she will eventually use as a voice for herself and other overseas Filipino workers.

Lawrence M. Krauss is an international Bestselling and Award-winning Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, and Author of twelve books, but most importantly, he's an advocate for open dialogue, free speech and space that allows everyone to learn and immerse themselves in science.

Tahir Shah reminds us of the stories we grew up on, that inadvertently became his inspiration during his travels and across his non-fiction and fiction writing.

Artificial Intelligence has been part of the conversation across many fields. A.I. expert and former McKinsey consultant and Chief AI Officer Pedro Uria-Recio goes beyond the present, talking about ideas that may appear rooted in science fiction but he sees as a reality we are walking towards.

How many thriller stories can you write set in an airplane? According to John J. Nance, quite a few. With over 30 years writing and even more as an army and a commercial pilot, John shares his tips on how to write about the things your passionate about.