Mountain Collective Podcast

In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, Mourad sits down with Olivia Madarasz , who designs and grows partnership and affiliate ecosystems , and has worked with global brands including Nike, Crocs, New Balance, and Diesel. They explore what really drives brand growth beyond advertising—from building memorable campaigns and writing compelling copy to creating stories that connect with p...

In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, Mourad sits down with Isabelle from Locus Solus Studio to discuss the journey of building a distinctive creative identity in the worlds of 3D design, fashion, and visual storytelling. The conversation explores how Isabelle developed her unique artistic style, the importance of drawing inspiration from culture, art, and everyday experiences, and w...

In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, Mourad sits down with digital artist and creative visionary Fabian Oberhammer, better known as Dizzy Viper, for a conversation that every creative should hear. As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the creative landscape, artists are facing a question that may define the future of their work: What happens when technology can imitate creat...

In this episode, Mourad sits down with designer Annabel Sirvent i Roser to discuss her creative journey, freelancing, life between Barcelona and Munich, and the evolving role of AI in design. They explore how environment influences creativity, the value of versatility, and why human creativity remains essential in an increasingly AI-driven world. https://www.annabelsirvent.com/

In this episode of Mountain Collective Podcast, Mourad sits down with Amsterdam-based Creative Director Al-Baghdadi for a deep conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the mindset behind building a creative life. From his early days in game development and animation to his work in film and visual storytelling, Al-Baghdadi shares how curiosity, constant learning, and the desire to create ha...

In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, we explore one of the biggest questions facing creatives today: As AI makes it easier for anyone to generate images, videos, music, and ideas — what becomes the true creative advantage? We dive into the tension between AI and human taste, discussing whether creativity is becoming automated or if taste, perspective, and emotional depth are becomin...

Mourad sits down with Alice Fiorenza, Head of Production at REEF Studios — a multidisciplinary creative studio based in Sardinia, Italy. The two first connected at a creative festival in Barcelona, and that energy carries into the whole conversation. They open with what it actually feels like to be at these industry gatherings — less about the talks, more about the rare chance to be in the same ro...

In this episode, we sit down with Funs Jacobs — Next-Gen Brand Architect and author of The Creative Renaissance — to explore what it means to build brands in the age of AI. Funs argues that the iconic brands of the future will be built by creatives, run by agents, and fueled by culture . We unpack what that actually means: from why human taste is the last true unfair advantage in a world of AI, to...

In this episode, I sit down with Jose Peon — a Cuban-born, New York-based fashion designer and 3D artist who built his career from scratch with nothing but a laptop and relentless hustle. Jose shares how he discovered fashion through Virgil Abloh while studying fine arts in Cuba, taught himself Cinema 4D, Marvelous Designer, and CLO, and then moved to New York where he literally went floor by floo...

In this episode, we dive into what it really means to hit a creative low—and how to find your way back. From losing momentum and questioning your work to rebuilding discipline and confidence, this conversation unpacks the reality of creative dips and why they’re a necessary part of growth. Instead of waiting for motivation to return, we explore how small actions, consistent routines, and a shift i...

Trying harder feels like the answer—but what if it’s the problem? In this episode of Mountain Collective, we explore the idea of gentle discipline and why forcing outcomes often creates resistance instead of progress. From creative work to business and personal growth, pushing too hard can lead to overthinking, burnout, and a loss of momentum. This episode breaks down the balance between disciplin...

In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast, I sit down with Thanos Stathakopoulos founder of The Greek Embassy in Amsterdam. Before opening a restaurant, Thanos built a community of over 15,000 people through diaspora-driven events—creating a cultural movement long before launching a physical space. We dive into what it really means to build a brand rooted in identity, why community always...

This weekend, I went on a hike with friends—nature, fresh air, and a clear mind. But while walking, I caught myself focused on recording content instead of fully experiencing the moment. In this episode, I reflect on how easy it is to be “one step ahead” or distracted, even when we think we’re present. Inspired by ideas, I explore the balance between creating and actually living. Because the journ...

In this episode, Richard shares a raw and honest perspective on what it takes to grow as a creative and entrepreneur. As the Company Owner of Golden Gate Real Estate NL and previously Fight District Amsterdam , his journey spans from building fitness communities to launching ventures focused on long-term value and impact. Starting with Rich Fitness and Mind Elevators, where he coached individuals...

Mourad shares a quiet reflection from the mountains after weeks of fasting during Ramadan, including a 37-hour water fast. He explores how stepping away from constant consumption—food, noise, and content—creates space for clarity and creativity. This episode is a reminder that creativity doesn’t come from doing more, but from allowing space for ideas to arrive. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwh...

Creative careers rarely follow a straight path. In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast , we explore The Art of Sidequesting — how curiosity, conversations, and small creative experiments can lead to unexpected opportunities. We break down how to balance exploration with focus using the main quest vs. sidequest mindset , the 70/30 rule , and the Sidequest Flywheel , a simple framework s...

What if fasting was never about food? In this episode, we explore fasting as a full reset — not just for the body, but for the mind, heart, and environment. We talk about how fasting helps the body repair, switch fuel sources, and build metabolic flexibility. But more importantly, we go deeper into the mental and emotional layers most people ignore. What does it mean to fast from negative thoughts...

Your brain doesn’t fully know the difference between something real and something you strongly imagine. In this episode, we connect visualization, Ramadan fasting, muscle repair, and creativity. You’ll learn how fasting cleans and prepares the body, how eating protein turns on growth, and how discipline shapes identity. Fasting is the storm. Recovery is the rebuild. Visualization gives direction....

What happens when your head gets too big? You go to bigger places. In this episode, I share a 15-hour journey into the mountains — from sunrise to night — and how feeling small helped me reset, surrender, and create from flow instead of force. We explore what Surrender Maxxing really means, why ego blocks creativity, and how nature teaches us to let go of control.

In this episode, we explore creativity not as something you force with your mind, but as something you allow through the body. Using a long hike through nature after heavy storms and floods as a starting point, this conversation looks at why silence, movement, and environment naturally shift us into a parasympathetic state — and why that matters for creative work. We dive into the nervous system,...

In this episode, we explore how sound shapes creativity through the nervous system. From music and silence to the words we use — especially the ones we say to ourselves — sound reaches the body before thought and determines whether we create from safety or pressure. This episode breaks down how language becomes physical, why creative blocks are often nervous system responses, and how choosing diff...

In this 15-minute episode, we break attention down to its biological roots. Not as a marketing trick or an algorithm problem, but as a nervous-system process that determines what gets noticed and what gets ignored. You’ll learn: Why attention is selection, not meaning The difference between awareness and attention How attention is felt in the body before it’s thought The two modes of attention: Mo...

Most creatives wait for inspiration. They wait to feel motivated, ready, or confident enough to create — and when that feeling doesn’t come, they assume something is wrong with them. In this episode of Mountain Collective , we go one layer deeper. This conversation is about what comes before feelings : your nervous system, your physiology, your sleep, and the inputs you give your senses long befor...

In this episode of Mountain Collective, Mourad shares a lesson learned in the mountains that every creative needs to hear. While hiking on snow, he noticed something critical: where the sun hit the surface, the snow was soft and walkable. In the shadows, the snow was hard, shiny, and dangerous — one step could send you sliding. That contrast became a metaphor for creativity and business. Many crea...

Showing up — even when it’s uncomfortable. If you’re a creative, founder, or builder trying to stay consistent in a noisy world, this one is for you. In this episode of the Mountain Collective Podcast , we sit down with Chris Kore for an honest conversation about the inner battles creators rarely talk about. We dive into: Why most people quit before momentum starts The difference between motivatio...