The Majlis Podcast

n this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Gusthavo, a Brazilian surf instructor and lifeguard who left a small beach town called Balneário Camboriú in Santa Catarina, Brazil, for Lisbon, learned English in Dublin with €250 to his name, and found his way to the Azores and then Ericeira. From becoming a lifeguard to teaching surf and winning his first long distance trail race, he traces a journ...

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Scout — a BJJ black belt, former competitive fencer, and co-founder of Alcateia Jiu Jitsu in Zurich. She traces her path from burning out of fencing at 19, to walking alone into her first BJJ class, to opening a gym with her husband Lucas. They also talk about the reality check of running a small business, and what it means to slow down when someone...

In this episode of Majlis , Ahmed sits with Bastien Loloum, an ecotourism builder whose path led him from Brazil’s early eco-lodges to a life rooted in São Tomé. What began as a one-year volunteer mission turned into decades of living, working, and building alongside nature and community — from sea turtle conservation and national parks to farming, vanilla, and quiet tourism far from the beaten pa...

In this episode of Majlis , Ahmed sits down with Vinny , who left a tech support job and started over as a first-year apprentice electrician . He shares what pushed him to make the change, how fast it all happened, and what life looks like now on a busy industrial site — from early starts and safety culture to learning on the job with zero ego. They also talk about transferable skills from tech, m...

Ahmed and Leo trace Leo’s path from a tool-filled barn in Herrliberg to a life built around making things in wood—starting with early projects like the Adirondack chair and the nerves of “selling your first real piece.” They unpack Switzerland’s apprenticeship culture, including farm life (living with your boss) and how that responsibility shaped Leo’s mindset. The conversation turns into a love l...

In this conversation, Carl shares his deep-rooted connection to nature, stemming from his childhood experiences in Finland. He discusses his educational journey in biology and forestry, leading to his current role as a forest technician in Switzerland. Carl elaborates on the daily responsibilities of his job, the importance of sustainable forestry practices, and the challenges he faces in the fiel...