The Silk Narratives: of Arab & Middle Eastern women

This conversation was recorded two years ago in Amman with Her Royal Highness Princess Noor Bint Assim. Returning to it now, I was struck by how grounded and timeless it feels. We speak about identity beyond titles and heritage, about the ongoing work of becoming, softening, and choosing how we want to show up in the world. Princess Noor reflects on growth, change, and the inner awareness that gui...

In this episode of The Silk Narratives , I sit down with Mary Nazzal- award winning social entrepreneur, impact investor who was nominated Most Powerful Arab Woman by Forbes Middle East. An ardent believer in 'doing the right thing' be it  through  conscious entrepreneurship or by speaking up for the rights of Palestinian refugees.  Also voted  Jordan' Top Businesswoman in 2019, Mar...

This episode was recorded in homage to the Palestinian people and their unwavering cause. The Silk Narratives lends its mic to remarkable Palestinian voices to share their pain, experience and what their heritage means to them.    In this episode I am joined by Rania Masri El Khatib who is one of the most prominent players in the Middle Eastern retail industry, with  over 20 years experience in re...

Ricardo Karam, is one of the Arab region's most celebrated Talk Show Hosts. He's worked tirelessly for decades to 'elevate' his audience's interests and knowledge,  so he took the unpopular route of showcasing not singers or politicians but what he calls 'unsung heroes'.  Apart from his captivating TV shows, Ricardo is public speaker, author and  the founder of &...

Rana Salam's name is synonymous with Arab pop culture, which she has managed to carefully gather and construct turning old objects and posters into 'vintage chic'. She has partnered with glowing collaborators such as Harvey Nichols in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Paul Smith, Sonia Rykiel, Comptoir Libanais, just to name a very few. The faces of Arab divas and celebrities...

Lamia Bousnina is founder and owner of 'Musk & Amber', one of Tunis' most prestigious art galleries. The Tunisian-born mother of two , was raised in Saudi Arabia, where she fully embraced a cosmopolitan environment equipping her with openness towards others, and a curiosity to always know more and see more.  Having studied law in Paris and Geneva, she initially joined the UN whe...

In conversation with Tamara Chalabi, a cultural entrepreneur and New York Times critically acclaimed author, curator and commissioner who specialises in contemporary Middle Eastern art. The Harvard-trained historian and author of Late for Tea at the Deer Palace, is also co-Founder of Ruya Foundation.  We speak about her incredible memoir, Iraq's Golden era, what her Iraqi identity means to he...

Yasmin Gahtani is Saudi Arabia's 1st female rock climber.  She holds a degree in computer programming but found her passion in a sport that is not for the faint hearted.  Today, the mother of two twin boys, manages the Rock Climbing Federation under the Ministry of Sports in Saudi.  She says she wanted to be a superhero to her boys and speaks about the beauty of the sport. Her fearlessness an...

In conversation with Amira Behbehani, self- taught Kuwaiti Artist. Amira grew up surrounded by art – her uncle is Jawad Boushahri, a renowned Kuwaiti artist and  owner of Boushahri Gallery, with whom she worked full time before deciding to become a full time artist. Since she started painting in 2001, she has exhibited locally and worldwide.  Being of Iranian descent, her childhood growing up betw...

Join me as I sit down with Lana Al Taweel in her family home in Amman. Lana who is not 25, is a King's Collage graduate, a clinical psychologist and the proud founder of Be Well. Lana founded Be Well, with the mission to build a safe space for mental health expression in Jordan through content creation and the provision of psycho-educational therapies that guide self-help and personal develop...

In conversation with Nadine Sayegh, author of Oranges from Jaffa. Born in Beirut to a Palestinian father and a Syrian mother. Nadine grew up in Vienna, where she's today based. She followed a French education and worked for over 20 years as a manager for Coca-Cola in Europe. She now runs together with her husband, one of Vienna's largest laboratories.   We discuss her journey into writin...

In conversation with Amman-based Art collector and buyer Dina Dabbas Rifai who is also the co-founder of the first Art-fair in Jordan Dar Art Fair. Dina tells us about the story behind the project, and and how her path lead her to dedicating her time to what she loves most: Art and being surrounded by Artists.   Direct and faff-free, Dina also shares some of her character traits and life philosoph...

Arzu Cakmak is a Vienna based full time lawyer, personal trainer, and fitness instructor at the very hip Super Cycle studio . With her positive energy and contagious determination,  Arzu has gathered her very own community that moves with passion.   In this episode, we discuss stigma surrounding her identity and how she turned her Turkish roots into an asset.  I also try to find out how she manage...

The Silk Narratives' very first guest is Amman-based collage artist, Zaina El Said.  Zaina comes from a family of political figures and artists. She opens up about the influence her unique Iraqi and Circassian heritage and family history has had on her personality and how the different cultures she grew up surrounded with have shaped her and her magical artwork.  Follow the Silk Narratives: h...