WIDN with Malak Fouad

Today’s episode is a deep-dive with our sponsor, EFG Holding . As a long-time sponsor of the show, EFG have been with us from our single digit episode count all the way through to 100! I’m joined on this special episode by Hanaa Helmy, Chief Corporate Sustainability and Impact Officer at EFG Holding and CEO of the EFG Foundation. Hanaa has been with the company 19 years, and has been involved with...

We’re celebrating 100 episodes! So this week I’m sitting down with our producer Chirag Desai to celebrate this milestone and unpack some of the learnings.  Chapters  0:00 Episode 100!  1:11 Evolution of Podcasting  3:11 Reflections  13:53 Destiny vs Agency  24:08 The Impact of Our Work  24:28 A big thanks to EFG Holding  25:35 Malak takes on the Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EF...

We’re continuing my conversation with Azzam Fakhreddin this week, where he tells me about his decision to shift focus to economics under the mentorship of Dr. Galal Amin and getting starting in the family hospitality business. Azzam also tells me about his involvement with the Jordan football team, which just qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 2026. I’m also excited to share that What I Did...

I’m joined today by Azzam Fakhreddin, a name familiar to many across the Middle East as a notable figure in the hospitality industry. On Part 1 of our conversation, Azzam tells me about his involvement in two significant projects, the book ‘Palestine, Memories of 1948’ and the feature film ‘Palestine36’, which is Palestine’s official entry to the 2026 Oscars. It stars iconic actors Jeremy Irons an...

AI is a topic that has come up many times over the years on the show, so today I’m sharing a special episode of Double-Take where I’m connecting the dots from some of our previous episodes on the philosophical, ethical and practical implications of our future AI world. You’ll hear from author & AI expert Mo Gawdat on how we all need to be better role models for this nascent technology, actor R...

Continuing my conversation with Dr. Mona Hamdy to unpack the role of AI, and how the emerging world should prioritise its adoption. We talk about the ethical implications of technological advancements, and the need to close the gap between profit-driven AI development and our needs as a society. She also tells me about her work with Anomaly, the ‘Bitcoins and Birkins’ club, and upcoming launch of...

The word AI gets bandied about by everyone in everything today, and I’ve been wanting to unpack the opportunities and challenges our future world holds for us. So I’m delighted to welcome technology ethicist Dr. Mona Hamdy to the show this week. On Part 1 of our conversation this week, we talk about her pivots, and how she found herself at this unique intersection of technology and human dignity....

One of the themes that often comes up on the show is giving back to the community. Today I wanted to highlight two guests who instantly come to mind when talking about giving back—the incredible heart surgeon, Sir Magdi Yacoub and META’s Regional Director, Fares Akkad.  This episode is part of our new segment, Double-Take, where I take a deep-dive into a single topic and connect the dots between s...

Today I’m sharing the answer to another question I’m asked quite often: “how do you prepare for your interviews?”

Author and commentator Omar El Akkad joins me this week to talk about his latest book “ One day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This ”. This is perhaps the most important book I’ve read in the last couple of years as it brought together all that I have been thinking, and feeling, about Western Liberalism. I talk to Omar about the larger themes that led to him writing the book, and his own...

Media powerhouse Amy Mowafi returns to the show for Encore, where I check-in with your favourite alumni guests.  Since we last spoke, Amy has been leading and participating in various must-attend events across Egypt. She’s also been returning to her first love, writing, with her ⁠ Substack ⁠. You can also catch my previous Encore conversations with adventurer Omar Samra, designers Nada Debs and Na...

Another question I get asked often is “how do you select your guests?”Join me for a look behind-the-scenes at how I select my guests and some of the criteria involved.

We’re continuing my conversation with the talented mezzo-soprano Farrah Al Dibany, exploring the world of opera.  Farrah tells me about her experiences and challenges of her work, including her transformative journey playing Carmen , and her commitment to introducing classical music to broader audiences. She also tells me about her artistic choices on stage, and how she prepares for her roles. You...

Mezzo-soprano Farrah El Dibany joins me on the show this week. We cover her journey from discovering her passion for singing at 14, to her incredible performances, including the FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar and the celebration of the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2022.  I had the opportunity to see Farrah perform in-person a couple of years ago, at the Manial Palace for Princ...

It’s already been an exciting 2025 for What I Did Next . So this week, my producer, Chirag, and I decided to do a check-in and recap the last six months.  We talk about the inspiring conversations, guests and events that have made up the year so far, as well as a look at what’s coming up. I also share a sneak peek into our next guest episode, so listen in to find out! This episode is brought to yo...

I’m often asked how I got started with the podcast. On a special solo episode this week, I’m taking you behind the scenes to tell you how and why I started What I Did Next , and how it came together.

Ayman Tamer is the Chairman of the Tamer Group, a third-generation business with a 100-year history in Saudi Arabia. Ayman tells me how his grandfather opened the first pharmacy in the Arab peninsula in 1922 and its evolution to one of the largest healthcare companies in the region today, with over $2.5 billion in revenue.  It was clear from our conversation that family is everything for Ayman, an...

A few weeks ago, What I Did Next partnered with the 2025 edition of The Narrative Summit which was held at the breathtaking Soma Bay. Today, I’m delighted to share my panel discussion where we explored perceptions of Egypt through a historical and cultural lens, a subject that is close to my heart. I was joined on the panel by historian Mahmoud Sabit, award-winning historian and broadcaster Bethan...

Welcome again to What I Did Next Encore , where I check-in with some of your favourite alumni guests. Today, I’m re-connecting with one of the guests from our first-ever season, advertising director Ali Ali. He catches me up on what he’s been up to since we last spoke, his short film, Smokey Eyes, and exploring production in Saudi Arabia. 

On this week’s bonus episode, Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani tells me about her work in documenting, codifying, and cataloging her research in art. She’s contributed a chapter in Daughters of the Nile , authored Modern Art in Egypt , and is now working on a third book. Chapters  0:00 Introduction  4:35 The Importance of Modern Egyptian Art  6:59 Exploring the Egyptian Avant-Garde This episode is brought...

Fatenn Mostafa Kanafani has led a life full of twists and turns. Her career trajectory has seen her go from being a successful marketer with Procter & Gamble to being instrumental in the success of the relaunch of Ahram Beverages, leading to its eventual sale to Heineken in 2002.  Fatenn then turned her attention to modern Egyptian art and launched Art Talks, a gallery as well as a forum for d...

On today’s episode, I’m reconnecting with pioneering Arab designer, Nadine Kanso, founder of jewellery brand BilArabi. Nadine tells me what’s been happening since our last conversation two years ago, including her partnership with Berluti, and staying authentic in an influencer-dominated world online.  This episode is part of our special series, What I Did Next Encore , where I check-in with some...

We’re continuing my conversation with award-winning ad director and filmmaker Omar Hilal. This week, he tells me about three key projects: the hilarious Aqua Mangos ad, the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad and a sneak-peek into his upcoming film. You can listen to my full episode with Omar Hilal where he tells me about his life’s pivots, starting out as a photojournalist to award-winning ad dire...

I’m delighted to be joined by award-winning ad director & filmmaker Omar Hilal as this month’s guest. Omar is one of those people who discovered that he wanted to become a director very early in life. He started out as a photo-journalist and went on to become an accomplished ad director, with stand-out ads such as the Aqua Mangos ad for Nestle and the ground-breaking Royal Jordanian Ad in his...

This week, I’m joined by Rawya Mansour, Chairwoman of RAMSCO Egypt and Oasis Technologies Monaco, for a special episode as part of our collaboration with The Narrative Summit 2025. Rawya is a pioneer of sustainable development and regenerative agriculture, including shifting away from chemical polymer fertilisers towards green charcoal. We’ll get into the pivotal moments that led her on this journ...