Talha Ahad Podcast

What does it take to succeed when the odds are stacked against you? Zishan Nurmohamed shares his remarkable journey from a council estate in North London to becoming a partner at EY (Ernst & Young). He opens up about childhood struggles, racism, cultural bias, and the enduring influence of his mother. Packed with powerful lessons on resilience, perseverance, and determination, this episode is...

What does childhood look like in Pakistan today? In this roundtable, I sit down with Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Pakistan’s Country Representative, along with children from the NCRC Child Advisory Panel, Baryal and Sania, to explore what children really need in today’s world. We examine how parental support, emotional care, and education shape a child’s growth, and ask: Are we truly listening to wha...

The world is changing, social media, AI, and Gen Alpha are redefining learning. But are our madrasas ready? In this episode, our guest explores how centuries-old Islamic education systems face a new challenge: balancing tradition with technology, and authority with empathy. Can faith education adapt without losing its essence? Watch to discover what’s possible. Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on Y...

What really happens behind the closed doors of modern intelligence? In this rare and powerful conversation, we sit down with Sir David Omand GCB, British former senior civil servant & former Director of the GCHQ, to unravel the world most people only know through headlines, fiction, or rumours. From counter-terrorism missions and tracking Osama Bin Laden to preventing attacks planned across bo...

When Pakistan’s mobility sector was collapsing, Swvl was exiting, Careem was shifting focus, and funding was drying up, one woman quietly decided she wasn’t done solving the problem. What started as a single bus run on her maxed-out credit cards grew into one of the country’s most resilient mobility solutions. In this candid and powerful conversation, Maha Shahzad shares what kept her going throug...

Why does child abuse continue to go unpunished in Pakistan? Humaira explains how, in South Asia, traditions often overpower Islamic reforms, influencing women’s lives, family structures, and even the justice system. Violence, child abuse, polygamy, media exploitation, and misinterpreted faith hide in society’s shadows. She urges young women to embrace their identities, stay self-aware, and let jus...

In this episode of The UK Chapter, we sit down with Shahzad Younas, the man who left a fast-rising career at Morgan Stanley to fix a broken system of Muslim matchmaking and build Muzz_app, one of the world’s leading Muslim marriage platforms. Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts. #talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #shahzadyounas #muzz

In this episode, I sat down with the Founder and Trustee of British-Pakistan Foundation, Asif Rangoonwala, a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and British Pakistani, to explore his journey of faith, hard work, and resilience. Asif reflects on his early struggles, the importance of humility, and the lessons he learned from building businesses like Eurobuns while giving back through the Rango...

Dr. Naeemi, an esteemed Islamic scholar and current Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), and Mr. Rasul, a prominent religious scholar and Chairman of Idara Fikr-e-Jadeed, Lahore, explore how faith, culture, and intellect shape morality, including sensitive topics like sex education. From Sufi influence to modern education, they discuss why Islam looks different across regions, how se...

Amir Anzur sits down with Talha Ahad to share his journey, vision, and insights on building Pakistan’s global presence in tech. From his experiences working with the Dubai government, where he learned the power of confident women leaders, entrepreneurial government culture, and a global outlook, to his role as CMO of Pakistan Software Export Board. Amir explains how Pakistan can scale its IT expor...

Exiled leaders, banned tycoons, jailed politicians, secret influence from London, fractured alliances, and silent power play. Pakistan’s politics is shaped as much abroad as at home. From Altaf Hussain’s decline, Malik Riaz’s UK ban, and Imran Khan’s shifting influence, to British courts, hidden networks, media weaknesses, and the political figures who quietly direct 2025, Murtaza Ali Shah breaks...

What’s the real cost of chasing fame in Pakistan’s entertainment industry? Ainy Jaffri opens up about the unspoken realities of being an actor: the favoritism, the power lobbies, and the unregulated chaos of an industry where everyone’s replaceable. From Pakistan’s struggle to reach Netflix quality to why the West prefers Indian faces, she unpacks what truly shapes success, and what it costs. Sear...

When even experts from the World Bank and Oxford University are surprised by what Pakistan has already achieved in fintech, you know the script is changing. In this conversation, Noman Azhar, Chief Officer at Zindigi by JS Bank, breaks down how Pakistan quietly built one of the most advanced digital banking ecosystems in the region years before it became a buzzword elsewhere. From pioneering branc...

Is Punjab's crippling smog crisis an unbeatable problem, or is there a new high-tech strategy that could finally clear the air? In this critical episode, Talha Ahad sits down with Silwat Saeed, the Secretary of the Environment Protection & Climate Change Department (EP&CCD), Government of Punjab. As the driving force behind Punjab's new data-led approach, Secretary Saeed reveals th...

In this episode, I sat down with Shahzad Akbar, former advisor to Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and ex–Deputy Prosecutor of NAB. We discussed Pakistan’s political future, his years working closely with Imran Khan, and the question everyone keeps asking: Will Imran Khan ever be free again? A candid conversation about power, accountability, and what really happens behind closed doors in Pakistan’...

From political instability and digital neglect to short-term thinking and corporate complacency, Pakistan’s challenges run deep. In a rare and insightful conversation, Asad Umar, Ather Imran Nawaz, and Syed Ahmad break down why our institutions underperform, why the corporate sector failed to innovate, and how the IT industry lost decades of potential. Yet, amid the criticism lies hope, a belief t...

As thousands move abroad for stability, Aqib Hassan, Chief Commercial Officer at  Homes By One, chose to create opportunities in Pakistan. In this powerful conversation with Talha Ahad, he talks about belief when no one else believes, the courage to start from zero, and why he believes Pakistan’s future depends on those willing to fight for change. Through One Homes, Aqib is leading an effort to r...

From daily commutes to everyday independence, Yango isn’t just about rides; it’s about rethinking how people move, live, and connect. In this episode, Miral Sharif, Country Head of Yango Pakistan, sits down with Talha Ahad to unpack what it means to build technology that truly serves people, especially women finding freedom in their everyday choices. Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spo...

In this episode of The Talha Ahad Podcast UK Chapter, I sit down with Abdullah Afzal, best known as Amjad from Citizen Khan, to talk about identity, representation, and life beyond fame. We discuss his journey as a British Pakistani comedian, the realities of typecasting, and how comedy became his way to express faith, culture, and belonging. A candid and humorous conversation about breaking stere...

This episode takes you inside rural Punjab, where hope and awareness are rewriting the story of health and hygiene. From scarcity to sustainability, discover how behavior change became the spark for lasting progress Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts. #talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #asadullah

Raheel Ahmed, Business Head at Shan Foods, shares the story behind biryani wars, brand philosophy, and building a Pakistani food legacy worldwide, all in one conversation. In this episode, discover how a local dream became an international success, staying true to its roots while redefining what it means to showcase Pakistani taste to the world. Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify,...

In this episode of our UK Chapter, I sat down with David Bickford, former MI5 and MI6 Legal Director, to explore the secret world of espionage. We talked about his journey into the world of intelligence, black ops, and what life inside Britain’s most secretive institutions really looks like. David also shared how he transitioned from government service to becoming an author and reflected on the hu...

When they uploaded their first Facebook posts 10 years ago, their families thought it was just a waste of time. Today,  Waleed Wakar, Arbaaz, and Urooj are professional creators who've got millions of views, helped launch restaurants, built communities, and changed lives through content. And they answered the question nobody else is asking: Is Facebook still the golden platform to start your c...

In our opening conversation for the much-awaited UK Chapter, I travelled to Scotland to sit down with Humza Yousaf, the country’s first Muslim First Minister. He reflects on navigating criticism for LGBTQ+ rights, balancing faith and identity under scrutiny, calls Gaza the world’s first “livestreamed genocide,” and grounds his journey in the Hadith: “Actions are judged by intention." Search ‘...

"Digital Pakistan” sounds futuristic, but what does it really mean? In this exclusive conversation, Shaza Fatima Khawaja from the Ministry of IT Telecom Pakistan explains how digitization isn’t about fancy tech; it’s about improving everyday lives. From FIRs at the police station to payments and citizen services, this episode unpacks how Pakistan could become a true digital nation. Search ‘Talha A...