Explore every episode of the podcast What I Did Next
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looking back, looking forward | 25 Aug 2026 | 00:19:59 | |
This week, I'm sitting down with my producer Chirag Desai to reflect on a whirlwind first half of the year—from interviewing iconic figures and taking the show international to the importance of reclaiming our narrative. We talk about what drives the show, the magic of the MENA region, and what it truly means to create space for our own stories. This episode is brought to you by:
Chapters: 0:00 Coming up... 1:44 WIDN goes international 4:30 Reclaiming our narrative 13:25 An updated lightning round 18:12 What's next for Malak Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Karim Mekhtigian & Mohamed Fares on building a brand that became a movement | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:28:52 | |
This week, we're continuing the conversation with Karim Mekhtigian and Mohamed Fares, where they tell me about their design philosophy, and their new destination in Downtown Cairo, Tamara Haus, which is where we recorded the episode. Karim & Fares, alongside Emy Hussein, are the visionary architects behind Cairo's premier design firm, Alchemy Architecture. Together, they have spent years shaping the architectural landscape in Egypt, setting new standards of quality, style and craftsmanship. On our previous episode, we talked about how they joined forces to create a partnership that spans two decades. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!
Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Karim Mekhtigian & Mohamed Fares | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:32:36 | |
This week, I’m sitting down with Karim Mekhtigian and Mohamed Fares, two of the visionary architects behind Cairo’s premier design firm, Alchemy alongside Emy Hussein. Together, they have spent years shaping the architectural landscape in Egypt, setting new standards of quality, style and craftsmanship. In the first of two episodes, we talk about how they each came to architecture and design, and then joined forces to create a partnership that spans two decades. On part two next week, Karim & Fares tell me about their design philosophy, and how they built a brand that became a movement. Our conversation took place at Tamara Haus, a new destination by Alchemy Experience, in the heart of Downtown Cairo. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!
Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Encore: Ramy Adeeb | 28 Jul 2026 | 00:45:01 | |
Ramy Adeeb, founder & managing partner of 1984 Ventures, is back for an Encore episode to talk about what he’s been upto since 2023. He talks about why he’s excited about AI in legacy sectors but worried about unemployment. He also takes on our signature lightning round. This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned.
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| Dina H. Sherif on entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy | 21 Jul 2026 | 00:29:53 | |
We’re continuing my conversation with Dina H. Sherif, talking about the shift from aid to agency, AI and regulation, and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy. Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. You can catch the first part of our conversation in your podcast app or on our website. This episode is brought to you by:
On the episode, Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Lotus Choker, Lotus Bouquet Cuff, Love Tribal Ring and the Lotus Bouquet Earrings. Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace, Bouquet of Blessings Earrings and the Filigree Kaf Ring.
Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Dina H. Sherif | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:36:53 | |
I’m joined by Dina H. Sherif about entrepreneurship and ecosystem building in growth markets. Dina has served as the Executive Director of the MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship since 2019. She also talks about her own entrepreneurship journey with Ahead of the Curve, and her personal experiences with loss. We’ll continue the conversation in Part 2 about the shift from aid to agency, AI and entrepreneurship as a national competitiveness strategy. This episode is brought to you by:
On the episode, Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s Lotus Choker, Lotus Bouquet Cuff, Love Tribal Ring and the Lotus Bouquet Earrings. Dina is wearing Nizar Qabbani Necklace, Bouquet of Blessings Earrings
Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| ‘What’s Next?’: my panel from The Shift 2026 (from e& and The Narrative Summit) | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:37:08 | |
I recently moderated a panel about how AI is being applied across different sectors like media and finance, how investors are looking at AI companies and the role of telecom in enabling AI adoption. My panelists was made up of a number of the show's alumni including Ahmed Alfi (Chairman, Sawari Ventures), Amy Mowafi (Co-founder & CEO, MO4 Network), Mounir Neamatalla (Founder & CEO, MNT Halan) and Karima El-Hakim (Partner for Africa, Plug and Play Tech Center), and Head of Cloud Software and Services for Ericsson North Middle East, Amer Sakkijha. This panel was part of our partnership with The Shift by e&, powered by The Narrative Summit. The event was a prelude to the annual Narrative Summit's gathering in Soma Bay in October. Chapters: 3:30 Ahmed Alfi on investment criteria 7:40 Mounir Neamatalla Fintech meets AI 12:58 Amy Mowafi on creativity in the age of AI 22:55 Amer Sakkijha on the role of telecom in AI adoption 27:00 Karim El-Hakim on private sector success
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| Karim Moussa | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:40:30 | |
Today I’m bringing you a special episode with our sponsor EFG Holding. I recently interviewed Karim Moussa, Co-CEO of EFG Hermes Buy-Side, Head of Private Equity & Asset Management & CEO of Vortex Energy. Karim tells me how he got started in private equity, and how the thesis of investing with purpose led EFG to expand renewables, education and healthcare. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! I’ll be back with a new guest in a couple of weeks. But before that, we’ll be airing the panel discussion on how AI will continue to impact Egypt and the region that I moderated in May. The panel was part of The Shift by e&, organised by the fantastic team at The Narrative Summit. Chapters: 2:12 Hustling in Berlin 6:48 First Steps in Deutsche Bank 9:23 A detour to Dubai 11:29 Moving into Private Equity 17:46 Building Vortex Energy 24:01 Egypt’s renewables potential 26:56 Investing in education 35:00 Lightning Round Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Youssef Salem on AI and the future of the region | 16 Jun 2026 | 00:20:17 | |
On the second part of my conversation with Youssef Salem, we’re talking about AI, energy security and the future of the region. Youssef also tells me why the younger generation needs to prepare for greater competition in the AI age and how he's working to inspire them. Youssef Salem is the CFO of ADNOC Drilling. ADNOC is the UAE’s primary oil company and 12th largest in the world in terms of production. You can also watch the first part of our conversation where we talk about his personal and professional pivots in your podcast app or our website. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!
Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Youssef Salem | 09 Jun 2026 | 00:38:31 | |
I‘m delighted to be joined by Youssef Salem, CFO for ADNOC Drilling. ADNOC is the UAE’s primary oil company and 12th largest in the world in terms of production. I’ve followed Youssef for quite some time now and in addition to his many professional accomplishments, he’s a wonderful role model for the younger generation entering the corporate world. On this first of two episodes, we talk about his personal and professional pivots that brought him to where he is today, and the impact of the recent war on the UAE in particular. We’ll continue the conversation next week on Part 2, where we talk about the oil & gas sector specifically, and how companies like ADNOC handle crisis management in times like these. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today!
Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Nabila Abdel Nabi on the future of museums | 26 May 2026 | 00:27:46 | |
We’re continuing my conversation with Nabila Abdel Nabi, Senior Curator of International Art at Tate Modern and Lead of the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational. On this episode, we talk about what those specialisations really mean, the paradigm shifts happening in the art world, and how a curator like Nabila collects feedback from the Museum’s audience. This episode is brought to you by:
On this episode, Nabila is wearing Azza Fahmy’s: Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s: Music ID: 5ROQ12DERYHSUUVQ | |||
| Nabila Abdel Nabi | 20 May 2026 | 00:32:40 | |
I’m joined today by Nabila Abdel Nabi, Senior Curator for International Art at Tate Modern and Lead of the Hyundai Tate Research Center: Transnational. When Nabila and I first met a few years ago I was immediately impressed by her sincerity and depth. She is thoughtful and intentional in how she interacts with the world and those qualities make for deep and interesting conversations. We talk about her curatorial work, in particular her focus on transnational and transcultural approaches to art history and the importance of better institutional support for parents. On Part 2 of our conversation coming out next week, Nabila and I talk about the evolution of the museum-artist dynamic and drill down into something that is especially interesting to me—the idea of repatriating art to its country of origin. This episode is brought to you by:
On this episode, Nabila is wearing Azza Fahmy’s: Malak is wearing Azza Fahmy’s: Chapters: 11:17 Her pivot into the art world 14:28 Being an only child 17:39 Institutional support for motherhood 21:09 What’s next for Nabila at the Tate 27:30 The Lightning Round | |||
| Encore: Jalal Abu-Gazaleh & Dalia Sultan | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:40:57 | |
I’m re-connecting again with one of my first guests, Jalal Abu-Gazaleh & Dalia Sultan, co-founders of Gourmet Egypt. The headline news since we first spoke in 2021 is that the company went public earlier this year!
Chapters: 0:00 Coming up.. 13:27 The IPO Journey 31:53 Balancing marriage and business 37:45 The lightning round | |||
| Tim Marshall on the importance of geography | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:20:45 | |
We're continuing my conversation with journalist & best-selling author of Prisoners of Geography, Tim Marshall. On this episode, Tim tells me how the journalism landscape has changed, and the importance of geographical context in understanding current affairs and geopolitics. I’ll be back again next week with a special Encore episode with two of my earliest guests—Jalal Abu Ghazaleh and Dalia Sultan, co-founders of Gourmet Egypt—and the amazing story that led to their incredible IPO earlier this year.
0:00 Coming up... 10:40 The importance of geography in current affairs 15:24 The new world order This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Tim Marshall | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:41:15 | |
Tim Marshall joins me on the show this week to talk about his journey from starting out with the British Royal Air Force to his three-decade career in journalism and now best-selling author of ‘Prisoners of Geography’. We also talk about the importance of understanding geography and how that intersects with current affairs and geopolitics. This is particularly relevant considering the ongoing war in the Middle East. More on that in Part 2 which comes out next week. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Empowering the arab youth, with Thuraya Ismail | 31 Mar 2026 | 00:18:15 | |
I’m continuing my conversation with Thuraya Ismail, CEO of Mentor Arabia, an organisation dedicated to improving the well-being of the Arab youth. On this episode, Thuraya shares her insights on drug prevention, overcoming stigma and how this work intersects with her other passion for arts & film. Chapters: 0:00 Coming up 3:27 Tackling drug prevention 12:12 Impact of Saudi Vision 2030 14:14 Supporting youth through arts 16:13 Expanding Mentor Arabia This episode is brought to you by:
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| Thuraya Ismail | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:38:02 | |
I’m delighted to welcome Thuraya Ismail. She's the CEO of Mentor Arabia, an organisation dedicated to improving the well-being of young Arabs in general, and towards drug prevention in particular. Since its launch in 2006, the organisation has reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries and now operates across 12 countries. Stay tuned for more on that in Part 2 of our conversation next week. I’m really impressed with Thuraya’s work, and I was happy to sit down and get a real in-depth look at her personal journey, including losing her father last year, and her work to mentor the youth of our region. Chapters 0:00 Coming up... 7:36 Career Beginnings at UNDP 13:53 Love for youth development 18:40 Transition to Mentor Arabia 21:52 Personal loss 29:00 Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by:
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| Double-Take: Art & Heritage with Nada Debs, Louis Barthelemy, Omniya Abdel Barr & Sarah Beydoun | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:25:40 | |
On this episode, you'll hear about the incredible message through art with designer Nada Debs and entrepreneur Sarah Beydoun, and the importance of preservation from Omniya Abdel Barr and artist Louis Barthelemy. 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 some of our best conversations. This episode is brought to you by Azza Fahmy Jewellery This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Encore: Mo Hefzy | 14 Feb 2026 | 00:32:41 | |
I'm re-connecting today with award-winning film producer Mo Hefzy. Since I first spoke to him in 2022, Mo has had a series of successful releases, including 'Flight 404', 'Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo', 'Darwish', and many more. This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, so stay tuned. Chapters 0:00 Welcome to a new Encore 0:44 Growth of Saudi cinema 2:50 Challenges in Egyptian cinema 8:00 The impact of streaming 23:34 The Lightning Round | |||
| Abdel Wahed El Wakil on the evolution of architecture | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:33:34 | |
We’re continuing my conversation with legendary architecture Abdel Wahed El Wakil. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of architecture and materials. This episode is a crash-course whether you're in the field, an enthusiast like me, or just want a better understanding of the world around us. Abdel Wahed also tells me about the spiritual connection that traditional architecture fosters with nature and our experience as humans. Chapters This episode is brought to you by:
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| Abdel Wahed El Wakil | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:45:02 | |
I‘m joined today by a legend of from the world of architecture, Abdel Wahed El Wakil. I sat down with him a couple of weeks ago in Doha, where he now lives, to document his incredible journey, his vision for architecture as an industry, and Islamic architecture in particular. Abdel Wahed has designed buildings around the world, including in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Paris and London. He also studied and worked under his mentor, Hassan Fathy, an architecture legend in his own right. Chapters: 0:00 Coming up 10:42 Architecture's Purpose 19:10 Materialism vs Spirituality 23:21 Cultural Revolution 26:34 Designing for the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies 37:58 Reviving Community Spaces 41:40 Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by:
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| Encore: Bobby Chinn | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:28:35 | |
I'm re-connecting today with celebrity chef & author Bobby Chinn. I first spoke to Bobby during the summer of 2021 in preparation for Season 2. That feels like such a long time ago, we were just 8 episodes in at the time, and we're now in our 6th year with more than a 100 episodes! You can listen to that episode in your podcast app or our website.
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| Maria Shollenbarger on why destinations trend, and the future of travel | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:26:44 | |
We’re continuing my conversation with luxury travel journalist and editor Maria Shollenbarger. Today, we’re delving into the travel industry—how and why certain destinations trend over others, how preferences have changed since COVID, and the future of travel in the age of AI. I’ll be back next week with a new Encore episode with all-round rockstar Bobby Chinn. Chapters 0:00 Coming up... 2:30 Travel in a post-COVID world 5:56 The Impact of Social Media 7:22 The role of Airbnb 9:03 Life as a Travel Journalist 11:47 The evolution of luxury travel 16:37 Travel in the age of AI This episode is brought to you by:
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| Maria Shollenbarger | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:37:13 | |
I’m excited to be kicking off the year with Maria Shollenbarger, travel editor at the Financial Times’ HTSI magazine. I got to know Maria last year at The Narrative Summit, where she was on a panel that I moderated. Maria has been with the FT now for 17 years and had always dreamed about working as a travel journalist. On Part 1 of our conversation, we unpack her journey traveling and living around the world.
Chapters: 0:00 Coming up 3:53 Early Career in Magazines 14:56 Moving to Europe 21:37 Life in Singapore 25:22 Reflections on an itinerant life This episode is brought to you by:
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| Welcome to our 6th year! | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:02:09 | |
We all know the value of looking back to understand our path. But as the world becomes increasingly uncertain, I wanted to open a new chapter on the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices | |||
| My conversation with EFG Holding’s Mohamed Abdel Khabir | 23 Dec 2025 | 00:36:55 | |
We’re closing out the year with a special episode with EFG Holding, and I’m joined today by the Group’s Chief Finance & Operations Officer, Mohamed Abdel Khabir. Mohamed joined the investment bank in 2008 and took on the CFO role in 2016. Earlier this year, he took on the additional responsibility of Operations, which includes Marketing, Technology & Administration. Mohamed has been actively involved in EFG Holding’s transformation from a MENA-based investment bank to its current avatar—a leading financial institution with a universal bank in Egypt and a leading investment bank in MENA. We’ll be back in the New Year with a bit of a refresh, new episodes with some amazing guests from across the region. In the meantime, you can catch up on episodes you might have missed here: Chapters This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Bonus: Mounir Nakhla on MNT Halan's high-RPM expansion into Turkey, the UAE & Pakistan | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:09:11 | |
Last week, Mounir Nakhla told me about his entrepreneurial journey with MNT Halan, and how the company has risen to become of the Africa’s fastest growing start-ups. On this bonus episode, Mounir talks to me about the strategy behind their recent expansion into 3 new territories — Turkey, the UAE & Pakistan. Chapters: 0:00 On this episode... 5:12 Consolidation vs. Expansion 8:36 The impact of geopolitical factors This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Mounir Nakhla | 09 Dec 2025 | 00:36:11 | |
I'm joined today by entrepreneur Mounir Nakhla. Mounir is the co-founder & CEO of MNT-Halan, Egypt's fintech unicorn that has now served more than 8 million customers and recently expanded into the UAE, Turkey & Pakistan.
Mounir is an old friend and I've always known him to be incredible disciplined and routine-based. So I wasn't surprised to see this translate into his role as a founder and CEO. He tells me how he pivoted to technology and fintech, and how he's grown as a leader as well.
1:59 Early Influences and Education 9:46 Mentorship and Guidance 17:00 Embracing Technology 20:12 From micromanager to delegator 29:03 Personal Goals and Values 30:50 Well-being and Self-Care 32:52 The Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Encore: Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:34:02 | |
I'm re-connecting today with Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram. Dr. Nadine is the founder & CEO of Proximie and a practicing NHS surgeon with a specialty in plastic surgery. I first spoke to Dr. Nadine three years ago, when she told me how she wanted to help operating rooms function more effectively with Proximie. This episode is part of Encore, where I check-in with some of your favourite WIDN alumni. We’ll continue this segment with more of the show’s alumni, including Chef Bobby Chinn, film producer Mo Hefzy, and more.
0:00 Coming up... 7:24 Driving Transformation in Healthcare 15:26 Expanding into the U.S. Market 17:12 Innovations in the Middle East 19:58 Personal Achievements and Reflections 27:13 Lightning Round! | |||
| Diving into the VC world with Karima El Hakim | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:29:24 | |
We’re continuing my conversation with Karima Hakim on this episode, talking about the evolution of the private sector in Egypt and Africa, and her work specifically with Plug & Play. You can also catch the first part my conversation with Karima in your podcast app or on YouTube. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 0:45 The Private Sector Evolution 11:39 Women Supporting Women 16:23 Leadership in a Changing World 19:55 Karima’s work with Plug and Play 26:48 Addressing the Forum for President Macron This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Karima El Hakim | 11 Nov 2025 | 00:43:34 | |
I’m joined today by Karima El Hakim, Country Director at Plug & Play Egypt, and co-director for the company’s operations in the rest of Africa. Just as importantly, for me she’s one of the show’s biggest fans!
Coming up next week on part 2, Karima tells me about her work with the private sector in Egypt and across Africa, as well as her role serving on the Economic Committee of Egypt’s National Council for women.
0:00 Coming up… 2:00 Early years in Cairo 9:24 Getting into market research 16:09 Return to Egypt 19:06 Personal loss & navigating grief 23:38 The impact of B_URN 29:17 The transition to tech 33:25 Life outside of work 40:42 Lightning Round! This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Hanaa Helmy | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:35:29 | |
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 the Foundatoin right from its launch in 2006. She has also been recognised by Forbes Middle East as one the region’s Top Sustainability Leaders in both 2024 and 2025. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Celebrating 100 episodes! | 21 Oct 2025 | 00:45:55 | |
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 This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Azzam Fakhreddin on getting started in hospitality & his love for football | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:23:03 | |
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 Next just completed 100 episodes! Next week, I’m sitting down with our producer Chirag Desai to celebrate this milestone and unpack some of the learnings.
This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Azzam Fakhreddin | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:37:36 | |
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 and Liam Cunningham and will be premiering in London later this month. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 5:41 Family Legacy and Early Life 14:10 Palestine, Memories of 1948 21:24 Life After 50 22:25 The making of Palestine 36 33:11 Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Our AI future, with Mo Gawdat, Tarek Nour, Omar Elsahy & Ramy Youssef | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:33:33 | |
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 Ramy Youssef on some of the implications for creators and filmmakers, Amazon’s Omar El Sahy talks about some of its practical applications and ad legend Tarek Nour asks some philosophical questions about our AI future. Chapters 0:00 Coming up 1:10 Tarek Nour: The age of acceleration 7:18 Mo Gawdat: The scary-smart world of AI 20:45 Mona Hamdy: What do we want AI to do? 21:27 Ramy Youssef: The manipulation of soundbites 23:59 Omar Elsahy: The future of the workforce | |||
| Mona Hamdy unpacks the role of Artificial intelligence and its ethical implications | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:28:59 | |
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 iConnections Middle East. Chapters 0:00 Where tech and humanity intersect 5:51 Navigating AI's Future Responsibly 9:23 Defining the Ethical Framework for Technology 15:15 The Global Race for AI Resources 20:07 The Bitcoins and Birkins Club 27:25 Launching Middle East Operations This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Dr. Mona Hamdy | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:39:17 | |
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.
Coming up next week on Part 2, I pick Mona’s brain on some of my questions on the future world of AI: have we unleashed something we don’t really understand? How does the emerging world prioritise its technology adoption? Links:
0:00 Introduction 4:37 Childhood Experiences in Egypt 11:07 Philosophical Foundations of Technology 17:26 Early Career and Social Development 24:33 Balancing Family and Education 29:00 Her mother’s impact 37:56 The Future of AI and Its Implications Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Double-Take: Giving Back, with Sir Magdi Yacoub and Meta’s Fares Akkad | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:17:22 | |
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.
Chapters 0:00 The theme of ‘Giving Back’ to the Community 0:50 Fares Akkad’s work with Za’atari Refugee Camp 5:03 Sir Magdi Yacoub’s legacy with Chain of Hope 8:24 Establishing Sustainable Hospitals 12:54 Community-Centric Healthcare 13:46 Rwanda: A New Hope | |||
| How I prepare for guest interviews | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:02:27 | |
Today I’m sharing the answer to another question I’m asked quite often: “how do you prepare for your interviews?” | |||
| Omar El Akkad | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:41:27 | |
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 questions of identity as a result of his experiences as an Arab writer in the West. Our conversation was powerful, intense and thought-provoking. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to Omar El Akkad 02:10 Exploring identity and belonging 18:15 What opened Omar’s eyes to this? 24:20 The power of language and of social media 31:35 The role of individuals to effect change 36:15 The Lightning Round This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Encore: Amy Mowafi | 29 Jul 2025 | 00:29:57 | |
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 Nadine Kanso, and entrepreneur Ahmed Alfi in your podcast apps, or on our website.
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| How I choose my guests | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:05:01 | |
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. | |||
| Farrah El Dibany on her transformative journey playing Carmen | 15 Jul 2025 | 00:25:14 | |
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.
This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| Farrah El Dibany | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:39:33 | |
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 Prince Abbas Hilmi’s museum festival. She has a powerful voice and an incredible presence on stage. Farrah is dedicated and disciplined as only a performance singer or athlete can be. We also spoke of the nuances of being an opera singer and the challenges and joys her career brings her. This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| 2025 so far… | 01 Jul 2025 | 00:30:18 | |
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 you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| How I started ‘What I Did Next’ | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:03:34 | |
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 | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:32:16 | |
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, and it weaves through the company’s heart and soul.
0:24 Going to boarding school 7:17 Family Values in Business 12:43 The Reorganization of Tamer Group 16:11 Taking charge of the business 21:00 Involving the next generation 23:15 Family dynamics 28:57 Future plans This episode is brought to you by EFG Hermes One, your one app for investing in more than 35 stock markets. Start investing today! | |||
| History and Culture: Perceptions of Egypt (The Narrative Summit 2025) | 04 Jun 2025 | 00:31:19 | |
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 Bethany Hughes, multidisciplinary artist & deisner Louis Barthelemy, creative director Zach Sherif, and Maria Shollenbarger, travel editor at the Financial Times’ ‘How to Spend it’ magazine. From reclaiming our narrative beyond the pharaohs, to celebrating craftsmanship, beauty, and global collaborations — this panel was a powerful reminder that culture is not just heritage, it’s our future. | |||
| Encore: Ali Ali | 27 May 2025 | 00:19:21 | |
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. | |||