The Judge Reviews

What actually makes a restaurant feel premium, busy and worth spending money in? In this episode of The Judge Reviews Podcast, I sit down with interior designer and Design First founder Aqsa Riaz, whose work has included major QSR brands such as Popeyes and German Doner Kebab. We talk about the psychology behind restaurant design, why some places instantly feel expensive, the biggest mistakes food...

🥊  From the streets of Glasgow to representing Scotland and Great Britain — Isa Akram is a young boxer with big ambitions. In this episode of  The Judge Reviews Podcast , we sit down with rising professional boxer Isa Akram to discuss his journey from amateur boxing success to making his professional debut. But this conversation goes far beyond boxing. We explore the discipline, sacrifices, famil...

The Nation’s Choice Awards 2026 – THE BIG DEBRIEF! 🎙️🏆 The awards night is over, but the conversation isn't! After Scotland's first Nation’s Choice Awards, we're sitting down to discuss everything that happened behind the scenes, the highs, the challenges and what we'd do differently next time. Joining The Judge Reviews is Jibran from Diamond Events, with the conversation hosted b...

Adam Siddique and Zohaib join  The Judge Reviews Podcast  to tell the story behind  RS Promotions  — a new boxing promotion created in memory of their friend Ramzan. We talk about who Ramzan was, why they chose boxing, what  “Let His Name Live On”  means to them, stepping into the white-collar boxing scene as two South Asian promoters, the challenges of putting on their first event at Paisley Lago...

DJ Magsta joins me on  The Judge Reviews Podcast  for a proper conversation about the reality of life behind the decks. We talk about how she got into DJing, what her family thought about it, being a female DJ in the South Asian scene, whether women are treated differently in the industry, and what Asian weddings are really like from the DJ’s point of view. We also get into the business side of DJ...

Welcome to  JUDGE THIS — You Said It. Now Defend It. In this episode,  Fajr Rana  and  Amjid Bashir  sit down for a direct, unfiltered debate on the subjects people in our community often avoid. We discuss  marriage, relationships, family, parents, culture, Islam, traditions, modern expectations and double standards  — with both guests challenged to explain and defend their views. No shouting for...

Kaz, better known as  Life of Kaz , joins me to talk about the reality behind his transformation — going from around  40% body fat to 20% , changing his relationship with food, building discipline and coming through some difficult periods along the way. We speak about what finally made him change, the mistakes he made while losing weight, balancing takeaways and family life, boxing and physical ch...

What really goes on behind the counter of a Glasgow corner shop? In this episode of  The Judge Reviews Podcast , we sit down with the man behind  Fernhill Grocers  to talk about the reality of running a local convenience store — from family business and long hours to shoplifting, customer stories, social media, viral products and the true margins behind the till. We also get into how Fernhill Groc...

Stephanie Heaney joins me on The Judge Reviews Podcast for a proper conversation about the woman behind the glamorous image. We talk about her journey through modelling, fashion and catwalks, women’s empowerment, motherhood, confidence, social media, public judgement and what life really looks like behind the scenes. Stephanie also opens up about her connection with the Asian community, East meets...

From London to Glasgow, Asad Iqbal has spent more than 20 years building, rebuilding and staying relevant in one of the toughest industries there is. Best known as the man behind  Charcoals , Asad opens up about his early days, how he fell into food, the different businesses and concepts he tried along the way, Charcoals Trongate, Hamilton, Yallah, the mistakes, the setbacks and the mindset that k...

Luqman “Luqi” Javaid joins  The Judge Reviews Podcast  to talk business, entrepreneurship and the journey behind some of his best-known ventures. From  Juicy Drinks to Splash Autocare , Luqman opens up about starting out, spotting opportunities, growing businesses, cars, Dubai, money, mistakes and what he’s learned from years in business. We also get into Glasgow’s business scene, padel, the infam...

John Amabile joins The Judge Reviews Podcast for a look back at an incredible career spanning more than 40 years in interior design and television. Best known to millions from  60 Minute Makeover , John has also appeared on  This Morning, Better Homes with Carol Vorderman and The Hour on STV . From growing up in Paisley and being given just hours to live as a newborn, to working behind the scenes...

Glasgow knows him as  Cari . London knows him as  Iftikhar Ahmed . For years, those two worlds have almost existed separately. In Glasgow, he became known through  Kebabish and Madras Cottage . In London, he built a completely different reputation in  property, investment and major commercial deals . In this episode we go right back to the beginning — growing up, working seven days a week, the inf...

From a family kitchen to one of Scotland's most recognised cake brands... In this episode of  The Judge Reviews Podcast , we sit down with the team behind  Glasgow Cakes  to hear the story behind the business. We discuss: 🍰 How Glasgow Cakes started 💼 Building a successful family business 📈 Growing through social media and branding 🎂 The reality of the cake industry 🤝 Networking and suppo...

Samir "Sammy" Haider joins The Judge Reviews Podcast to tell the remarkable story behind Annaya's Indian Restaurant. From growing up in a family built on hospitality to helping lead one of Scotland's most respected Indian restaurants, Sammy shares the journey behind the business, the lessons passed down by founder Zak Haider, and what it takes to preserve tradition while building...

From humble beginnings to one of Scotland's highest-rated burger restaurants, Mohammad Suhail Azhar joins  The Judge Reviews Podcast  to tell the real story behind  Smokey's @17 . We discuss: 🍔 Building one of Stirling's best-known food brands 📈 Bringing takeaways into the 21st century 💼 Business, systems and creating a franchisable brand 🙏 Faith, discipline and staying process-dri...

For years, Warren Paul has been one of the driving forces behind Scotland's hospitality and events industry. As the founder of  Paramount Events , he's built respected networking events and award ceremonies that have recognised thousands of businesses across Scotland, including the  Italian Awards  and  Spice Awards . In this episode, we go far beyond the awards themselves. We discuss: War...

Arabian fragrances have taken the UK by storm, but what makes them so popular? In this episode of The Judge Reviews Podcast , we're joined by AJ Fragrance Glasgow to uncover the truth behind Oud, perfume longevity, sillage, fragrance oils, designer vs Arabian scents, and the biggest myths in the perfume industry. Whether you're new to fragrances or already building a collection, this episo...

From celebrity clients to helping brands grow online, Maham Parvaiz has built Maham Media into a nationwide social media agency with one clear goal – getting businesses results. In this episode of The Judge Reviews Podcast , Jay sits down with Maham to discuss: How she started in social media at a young age. Building a personal brand alongside a business. Working with names including Diogo Dalot,...

What started during lockdown has grown into one of Scotland's biggest online sweet brands. In this episode of The Judge Reviews Podcast , we sit down with Romana Khaliq and Neelam Aneesa Ahmed , the founders behind SweetPals , to hear how they built a business from home, embraced TikTok Live before most businesses even knew what it was, and turned viral trends into a thriving brand. We talk ab...

What does it really take to build one of Scotland's most recognised dessert brands? In this episode of The Judge Reviews Podcast , I sit down with Usman , founder of Sugar & Treats , to discuss the journey behind the business—from opening the first store to building an award-winning brand, staying ahead of food trends and constantly evolving. We also discuss: 🍓 Being the first to bring Du...

From starting work at just 14 to helping build one of Scotland’s most recognised takeaways — this is the story behind Asian Tandoori, Cambuslang. Jameel, Adam and Cobra join me to talk about the hard work behind the business, winning major awards, the viral Chasni Donner Tray, keeping standards high, and why a clean kitchen is non-negotiable. We also get into the real side of running a takeaway: r...

Welcome back to The Judge Reviews Podcast. This week, Jay sits down with award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, healthcare leader and business owner Sehar Shahid . From becoming one of Scotland's youngest pharmacy board members to appearing on BBC Breakfast, building multiple businesses and helping shape the future of healthcare, Sehar shares the challenges, sacrifices and lessons behind her...

Peter Crolla joins The Judge Reviews Podcast to share the incredible story behind one of Scotland's most recognisable family businesses. From humble beginnings after arriving from Italy in 1895, the Crolla family has built a business that has survived two World Wars, economic downturns, changing consumer trends and four generations of leadership. In this episode we discuss: • The origins of th...

From breakthrough actor to mentor, presenter and community leader, Atta Yaqub has spent over 20 years making an impact both on and off the screen. In this episode of The Judge Reviews Podcast, we discuss acting, representation, community work, ANSAR, football development, public speaking and the journey that made him who he is today. Most people know Atta from his breakthrough role in Ae Fond Kiss...