Rotana Tarabzouni is a Saudi Arabian singer and host of "F*D & Blessed".   0:00 #fawda2020 & Rotana discuss growing up in Saudi Arabia 2:33 Developing “sexual cognitive dissonance” at a young age 6:20 Growing up with liberal parents (for Saudi standards) 8:28 What was Rotana taught about sexuality? 11:18 Sex: short term sensation vs deep feeling 13:04 What is “F*D & BLESSED”? 17:02 Becoming a sex doula 22:00 Going to the US to pursue a music career 27:50 Saudi Arabian’s reaction to Rotana’s music 32:41 US media tendency to fetishize Rotana’s background 36:23 Would Rotana ever move back to Saudi?

Diane Assaf is a lawyer and founder of the Instagram page "lawwithdiane".

Wissam Kamal is a stand-up comic, writer, filmmaker and digital content developer.   Wissam tells us how Farmville and OSN led to his career in comedy (0:06), initially struggling to get his mothers support (3:42),  creating content on YouTube since 2013 (21:20), "Euhh Shu Sar Lyom" (26:45), and debates whether political content gives you more views online (30:30).   He also talks about how the community will back him up if he ever gets taken in by the government (40:51), talking about his insecurities on stage (51:30), his ex-girlfriends religiously strict parents (55:45), and whether he will be leaving Lebanon for good (1:00:00).

Dan Azzi is a financial expert and former banker.   Dan talks to us about the inevitability of the Lebanese economic crash (0:32), the decline of the real estate sector (7:35), pegging the lira to the dollar (11:43), the outcome of our money in the banks (14:30), casino royale and hash: can Lebanon become sustainable (21:00), manipulation in the black market (31:00), decentralisation (36:00), return of the stolen funds (40:52) and the effect of Israel's Middle Eastern peace treaties on Lebanon (48:45)

Maha Mamo is a motivational speaker advocating for the end of statelessness.

Tracy Harmoush is an athlete, adventurer and entrepreneur.   DISCLAIMER: Beeping sound stops after 15 minute mark. Apologies for the technical difficulties.   Tracy explains why she quit banking and the reaction that caused from friends and family (1:22), analyses the "you have to have kids to be happy" mentality (17:10), the notion of being called  "whipped" (28:48) and dissects the question "how is a girl like you still single" (32:18). She also explains modern day beauty standards (37:12), the need to stop praising obesity (42:40) and how to get through to your Lebanese parents about adopting a healthy lifestyle (51:40).    

Hezbollah themed Hawaiian dreams, moving to Tuvalu, the ticket that ended Joe's hope in Lebanon and vaccine stealing.

El 3ama is a content creator who has gained fame by making satirical videos in which he comments on the absurdity of Lebanese society.

Sama'an Ashrawi is a Palestinian-American writer, filmmaker, music producer, and host of the Nostalgia Mixtape podcast.

Nour Hajjar is a stand up comedian and is also known for his witty commentary of Lebanese politics and society on social media. Tony Eli Kanaan is a screenwriter, actor, director, producer and "online clown". He is best known for his Instagram characters "Jacqueline" and "Giovanni Rabbat".

Toufiluk (Toufic Braidi) is a comedian and influencer. Toufiluk explains how Lebanon has changed since he last was here (1:10), why he will never live in this country (4:00), the attempted sexual assault on his sister Elsa (9:57) and the assaulter being caught due to Instagram (15:18). He also details battling obesity (21:35), transitioning into anorexia (29:31), people perceiving him as "jele2" (35:40) and having "700 thousand haters" (41:15). He rounds it off by explaining why he doesn't do adverts (44:25) and wants people to look at themselves in the mirror before criticising (52:00).  

Georges Khabbaz is an actor, writer, director, comedian, musician, playwright, producer and theatre professor. Georges discusses pursuing theatre during the Lebanese civil war (1:10), the arts/cultural sectors surviving corona and the economic crash (6:20), and Lebanese people being strong individually but weak as a group (13:03).  Georges also defends the arts education programs in Lebanon (17:07), calms fears of a mass creative exodus (21:57), discusses his love towards his hometown city Batroun (25:00), and recounts the movie "Ghadi" being based off of his life (29:18). He concludes by giving his recommendation to young people pursuing theatre and arts (36:25) and answering the ultimate question: how do we find true happiness? (39:31)

Aziza Sbaity is the fastest woman in Lebanese history, clocking in at 11.73 seconds in the 100 meter dash in Qatar. She has battled a lifetime of adversity to get where she is fleeing the Liberian civil war at the age of 10, becoming estranged from her mother for 8 years, being discriminated against in Lebanon, and competing professionally with hamstring syndrome. Aziza starts by telling us how she became the fastest women in Lebanese history (1:06), the moment she realised that she can compete professionally (2:43), fleeing Liberia as a kid due to civil war (6:10), and her connection with Liberia and her mother (8:45). She then talks about moving to Lebanon at the age of 10 and adjusting to life there (12:28), her first day of school at SABIS and not knowing that she’d be viewed as an “outsider” in Lebanon (15:25), Lebanese society normalising discriminatory terms (17:46), how to raise people’s awareness on racial matters (21:56), Lebanese government endorsing modern day slavery through the Kafala system (26:03), racial issues even being prevalent with the younger generation (28:13), and how Aziza raised awareness in her school (31:52). We then delve into Aziza gaining an extra year of training due to the 2020 Olympics being postponed (35:20), how she dealt with hamstring syndrome (40:08), if she feels celebrated enough in Lebanon (45:39), and the sports industry in the country needing major reformations (48:02).

Ryan Wuerfel (Zweback) is a FIFA YouTube gamer and has amassed a following of over 1 million subscribers. Ryan starts by talking to us about the origins of his YouTube name “Zweback” and his experiences travelling to Lebanon (1:08). We then delve into his FIFA YouTubing career (5:43), the widespread misconceptions behind gaming (9:55), mental exhaustion that gamers endure (14:33), weird algorithms behind social media platforms (16:27), if content creators are starting to prefer platforms other then YouTube (18:21), and why you would spend time watching somebody that games (20:35). We also ask Zweback  how much money his profession can make (23:40), content creators dealing with fluctuating viewership numbers (29:03), remaining authentic & not selling your soul for views (36:53), why Zweback doesn’t diversify from FIFA (38:01), if FIFA has become too “mainstream” (41:34), Zweback’s love for film & football (49:11), the legacy of Diego Maradona (51:18), and Zweback’s plans for the future (55:37).

Faiza Rammuny (Expired N Fabulous) is a famous blogger, relationship advisor and Instagram figure who uses her accounts to tackle Arab taboos with comedy. Her short sketches and videos display what it's actually like to be an Arab women, especially one who has grown up in Western society, with a very traditional family. Faiza starts by telling us how her online platform “Expired N Fabulous” was created (1:10), having the courage to share her traumatic experiences with the public (6:30), what gets people shunned in Arab societies (9:22), and the context behind the name “Expired N Fabulous” (11:53). Faiza then talks to us about disassociating herself from online backlash/hate (14:58), removing her Hijab at the age of 19 (18:08), her way of practicing religion (21:37), how to change the Western perception on Arabs (30:22), and the Muslim dating scene in America (33:34). We then discuss the double standards towards men & women in Arab societies (37:16), how she educates people by being a relationship advisor (43:05), the younger generation raising awareness in the Middle East (45:25), and how Faiza maintains her Arab identity (48:41).

Sara El Yafi is a public policy and political expert with a strong expertise in renewable energy. She has also worked as a political advisor in Lebanon over the past several years. Sara starts by recounting the Harvard “Israeli Mezze” scandal (0:20), the moment she went viral globally (6:10), how not to culturally appropriate cuisine (9:33), why we should not demonise all Israeli citizens (14:45), and the average American not being interested in global affairs (17:50). We then talk about how Lebanese people love dependability (21:20), the fallacies behind “America will get rid of Hezbollah” (26:00), her not understanding people’s support for Trump (30:48), how Biden will help fight global warming (32:59) & what the Middle East can expect from Joe Biden (43:00).

Sara El Yafi is a public policy and political expert with a strong expertise in renewable energy. She has also worked as a political advisor in Lebanon over the past several years.   We start by discussing whether any of the Lebanese politicians will be held accountable for the Beirut bomb (1:05), Lebanese citizens lacking a proper political education & the Fawda boys’ run in with the police during lockdown (12:10). We then talk about the delays behind the formation of a new Lebanese government (18:56), Sara disproves Tarek’s opinion on Mustapha Adib (22:49), and Lebanon’s financial crisis being its current biggest problem (33:26). Sara disagrees with the notion that Macron visited Lebanon for "business" interest (44:22), Erdogan’s recent foreign interventionist policies (56:13), the October 17 Revolution and focusing on the upcoming Lebanese Parliamentary Elections (1:06:05). We then delve into the issues facing the Lebanese Revolution (1:13:49), and Sara tells us the essence behind successful revolutions (1:17:28).

Marwan Daou (Maro) is an upcoming Lebanese/Ukrainian pop singer and songwriter. He’s been recently signed by a Swedish label and has amassed a decent following on YouTube with 750,000 subscribers covering songs such as Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon”.  His first single “carsick” was released on August 14 and is out on all platforms. Maro starts by telling us how he met his manager (0:29), picking the perfect record label (3:36), YouTube covers making him gain popularity and his musical influences/style (7:04). We then talk about Maro being an online sex symbol (9:45), singing Ukrainian songs as a kid in the bathtub (11:44), how he blew up (15:32), exporting Lebanese culture through music (18:46), whether Aliens exist (23:25), and if Maro’s international fanbase understand his origins (27:14). We also delve into his school years in Lebanon (28:35), trying out for Arabs Got Talent at the age of 16 (32:40), Maro’s dads reaction to him wanting a career in music (37:32), and if he would sacrifice fame for artistic integrity (39:38).

Maxime Chaya is a Lebanese explorer and mountaineer who is the only man to climb the seven summits, three poles and row across an entire ocean. We start by telling him how everyone in Lebanon has a Maxime story (1:10), him being a book smart student with pent up energy  (2:40), discovering his passion for mountaineering by accident (4:27), and the extreme sacrifices he’s had to make (8:44). Maxime then talks about the intense conditions faced when scaling a summit (9:49), explains what the seven summits are (12:57), climbing his first summit Mount Kilimanjaro (14:24), encountering the effects of climate change on his journeys (17:55), conquering his inner summit (22:51), and whether he can afford to have any self doubt (25:11). Maxime recounts the insanity behind rowing across an entire ocean(31:59), hypothetically being more celebrated abroad (39:56), and being a massive inspiration for younger generations (47:10).

Lary BS is a Lebanese comedian, actor, LGBTQ spokesperson, nightlife ambassador, co-writer & host of Lary Screens. Multitalented by nature, Lary played a pivotal role in growing and popularising the Lebanese clubbing scene over the past decade. Lary starts by telling us about the origins of the “Lary Does Decks” show (0:57), his many professions (5:11), how Lebanese nightlife united people in the country (6:51), and whether COVID will change how the younger generation interacts (12:26). We also talk about how Lebanon’s unique nightlife scene gained international recognition (15:24), Lary Screens (17:07), the Say No To Censorship campaign (20:14), his fundraiser for the Lebanese LGBTQ society after the Beirut bomb (24:10), the future of clubbing in Lebanon (30:27), and if this country can continue being a creative hub (32:17).

Karim Ibrahim and Toufic Assaf are the founders of Robocom VR, a virtual reality startup aiming to revolutionise the gaming industry. They were both awarded a spot in the latest installment of the MENA Forbes 30 under 30 class of 2020 due to the impact that their company has had in the region. Karim and Toufic start by telling us how they entered the field of virtual reality (1:08), putting themselves before the company (5:40), what Robocom VR is (12:09), and Dubai pioneering the field of virtual reality (14:27). We then recount our gaming experiences (17:25), talk about the games that Robocom VR currently have (20:27), why the gaming industry lags behind in the Middle East (22:28), and how Robocom’s ambitious nature helped them acquire “impossible” deals (25:23). We also talk about society’s reaction to them making the Forbes 30 under 30 (33:15), implications of social media on our daily lives (38:09), whether VR will negatively effect human interaction (41:00), regulating technology (48:02), and how Robocom wants to become the “Ready Player One” of the world (56:18).

Captain Rola Hoteit is the first female airline pilot in Lebanon who has completely broken down the stigma behind women not being able to fly planes. Rola starts by explaining the process of becoming the first female pilot in Lebanon (1:08) and people’s reactions throughout her journey (10:43). We then discuss modern day rhetoric behind women pilots (12:27), and how society is adapting to the idea of female pilots (14:33). Rola then recounts the famous plane landing at Heathrow airport (16:12), and her scariest flight story where a passenger encountered a near death experience (18:47). We also talk about how Rola finds the perfect balance between work and family (24:25), her role as a pioneer for women in the workforce (29:47), recently piloting the first all female crew in the Middle East (31:46), feeling valued by her society (36:22) and coronavirus effecting the aviation industry (39:09).

Mariana Wehbe is a public relations executive who has cemented her position as an influential figure within her industry. Mariana starts by talking to us about her mother giving birth to her at the age of 13, her parents early divorce and her mother having to give her away to her grandparents in the United States at the young age of 3 (1:05). She then tells us how she grew up as a rebellious Lebanese kid in Florida during the 80s (3:40), her family “abandoning” her to Lebanon at the age of 17 (11:34), how she started working for DHL in Beirut (20:25), and falling out with her mother (24:01). She then opens up about dealing with her abandonment issues and confronting her family after the Beirut explosion (30:02), becoming self dependent and competitive at a young age (32:04), and how leaving DHL for the PR world enabled her to accept herself for who she is (35:15). Mariana also talks about not believing in the traditional job hiring process (40:14), her relationship with her father being nonexistent (43:05), the importance of people critiquing themselves (48:51), and her never ending sentiment towards Lebanon (52:26).

Farah Ahmed (FlexiFarah) is a French/Lebanese Contorionist who is pioneering her profession in the Middle East. Farah starts by telling us about her process of becoming a contortionist (0:48), her life prior to that (3:28), how she trains and explaining her profession to people in the Middle East (6:08). She then talks about her family’s reaction to quitting her corporate job at Pepsi (8:13), having a supportive backbone (14:18), moving to Lebanon in September 2019 (16:05), the Nike campaign that started to justify her career (18:46), and people sexualising her profession (22:43). Farah also explains how she’s encouraged others to try contorion (25:11), coronavirus effecting the future of live performance (26:49) and her advice for people trying to pursue a career in a similar field (31:28).

Chady Eli Mattar is a Lebanese film producer based in California and founder of KINO Industries, an interactive theatrical platform aiming to revolutionise the way we watch movies.                    Chady recounts nerve-racking experiences at business meetings thinking that his Middle Eastern background might jeopardize his work. He then talks to us about bridging the entertainment gap between the West & Middle East (6:04), how money is unevenly distributed in the Lebanese movie industry  (14:04), new age media effecting Lebanese society in a positive way (20:34), and Lebanon’s unorganised structure causing us to waste lots of time (24:06). Chady then explains the reasons behind him wanting to continuously contribute to his homeland (28:40).

Chady Eli Mattar is a Lebanese film producer based in California and founder of KINO Industries, an interactive theatrical platform aiming to revolutionise the way we watch movies. Chady starts by telling us about his journey from Bikfaiya, Lebanon to Hollywood (0:55). He then talks to us about how his interactive film company came to existence (14:50), the effects of coronavirus on his industry (22:13), and debate the business models of streaming platforms (29:23). Chady also explains the process of studios producing and distributing movies (34:50).

Oleksandra El Zahran (Polleksandra) is an activist who uses her online platform to campaign for social and political change in Lebanon. Oleksandra tells us how people respond to her name growing up (0:46) and reacts to the revolutions in Lebanon and Ukraine (both her nationalities) over the past six years (3:06). We then talk about the stigma behind sexual harassment in Lebanon (6:19), the origin of her page (10:47), her platform replacing mainstream media for the younger Lebanese generation (14:45), certain individuals surprising reactions after the Beirut Blast (16:53), women’s roles throughout the Lebanese Revolution (24:24), and debate the topic of women marrying at an early age (29:23). We also discuss the steps Lebanese society needs to create a better support system for women who wish to be career oriented (35:15), Polleksandra’s views on feminism (38:10), her experiences being cyber-bullied (44:39), and her advice for people starting an online platform (54:44).

Nour Hajjar is a food scientist turned stand-up comedian who has a unique presence in Lebanese social media. Nour begins by telling us about switching from food science to stand up (0:46), the Lebanese comedy scene representing our brand oriented culture and the upcoming demographic in Middle Eastern comedy (7:09). We then talk about how Lebanese society and politics provide Nour with great material (12:05), explaining Lebanon to foreign friends (14:36), Lebanese comics in the 90s not being delusional (16:51), Nour using standup to say what’s on everybody’s mind (17:59),  continuity being the basis behind corruption in Lebanese politics (25:25), and whether Nour should stick to sociopolitical content or comment on societal norms (28:28). We then discuss Lebanese citizens abroad always being attached to their country (30:49), peoples reactions to him mocking Lebanese political parties during his shows (32:25), using his Instagram memes to raise awareness (36:57), negative side of many Lebanese citizens fleeing the country (38:31), future of stand-up comedy in Lebanon (42:50), Nour’s parents reaction when he became a comic (45:20), his outlook for the future (47:42), and his upcoming podcast (49:03).

Bernard Khoury is a world renowned architect and a truly unique character. Bernard starts by telling us the story behind his first project, designing the nightclub B018 (1:08) and what influenced his work early on (5:53). He then talks to us about how architectural education has to be reassessed internationally (12:59), modern architecture becoming a pale representation of culture & politics (15:16), the details behind his first 6 projects (23:34), continuously thriving in unstable Lebanese conditions (25:36), and focusing his work on manipulating situations in a “perverted” manner. We then discuss his buildings being severely damaged by the Beirut bomb (34:20), how his projects are a result of his political surroundings (40:05), the end of the unsustainable real-estate era in Lebanon (43:49), and his future endeavours (48:39).

Our initial episode with Rami Rasamny was cut short due to the unexpected fire at the Beirut port on September 10. We decided to invite him back and pick up from where we left off. We reacted to the fire that broke out the day before (1:32) and discussed the systemic corruption that infests Lebanese society(6:00). Rami then talks to us about how recent events “broke down the facade” that was blinding Lebanese people (11:01), raising money by completing a 470 kilometre mountain trail (15:47), seeing Lebanese citizens put in actual effort to rebuild their country (19:44), and the reason as to why we find ourselves in this situation (21:57). We then delve into how Lebanese politicians created a tribalist system that made people rely on them (25:23), the degradation of the Lebanese economy (27:20), and the central banks role in these circumstances (35:11).

Rami Rasamny is a mountaineer, founder of Life Happens Outdoors (an adventure travel community for the first time explorers) and truly embodies the meaning behind following your passion. Rami begins by telling us how he studied law (1:21) and the reasons behind not pursuing a career in the field (3:49). He then talks to us about his experience working in Libya and the insane incident of nearly getting kidnapped (5:18). Rami discusses the origins of his mountaineering career (20:00), ideology behind his venture "Life Happens Outdoors" (23:47), the experience that caused him to turn his life around (26:48) along with the mental (31:05) and physical (33:40) challenges in doing so. He explains to us what mountains mean to him (35:48) and his mindset towards hiking (37:56).   Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on September 10 and had to be stopped due to the fire at the Beirut port which is close by. Part 2 will be uploaded next week.

Tony Elias Kanaan is an upcoming screenwriter, actor, director, producer, and most notably an Instagram clown. We start by talking about Tony’s famous anti Kafala advertisement (1:33), chasing his passion of film-making while studying psychology (7:32), and the approach he takes towards creating his advertisements (9:55). We then delve into the impact of his work (12:46), traditional media pushing Tony as a mental health spokesperson (15:46), what inspires his film-making style (18:21), transitioning from writing to directing (22:16), and the importance of following your passion (24:09). Joseph-Pietro then tells us a bit about being a music composer (26:57). We also discuss the horrendous state of the Lebanese film industry (30:33), future of cinema (39:40), purpose behind Tony’s Instagram characters (43:58), and negativity of cancel culture (48:15). Furthermore, Tony explains to us the reason behind him creating a self defense program and why he received some backlash (49:56).

Ali Salloum aka Sallouminatii is a young Lebanese social media influencer, comedian and musician. We start by talking about the origins of Sallouminatii and how Ali uses humour to break down Lebanese stereotypes (2:06). We then discuss his journey in the US (7:12), effects of Instagram fame on his mental state and using his platform to raise awareness (8:43), toxic masculinity in Lebanon (11:50), and the pressure of always having to be funny along with potentially making a career through social media (16:07). We then delve into the topics of some “white washed” Lebanese expatriates (23:44), his rapping career along with mumble rap (26:55), people being comfortable in their own skin (34:17), and his future ambitions (38:24). Ali also roasts the Fawda team (0:30) and freestyles some bars over a beat produced by Joe-Pietro (41:24).

Leya Jalloul is a young woman who suffered severe injuries from the Beirut blast and almost lost her life. She starts by explaining the situation she found herself in during the explosion (1:10). She then talks about the chaos following the instant aftermath of the bomb (3:06), horrific scenes witnessed at the hospital along with the hectic process of treating her injuries (11:15), and importance of her story (19:32). Leya vents her frustration at the governments lack of support post explosion (22:55), and how she is dealing with the trauma emotionally (27:34).

Awkward, funny and loveable. Three words to describe our friend and quote on quote “therapist” Tara Hanna. She recounts her confusing experience of the Beirut explosion (0:57). We then talk about ways through which people can get over traumatic experiences (6:25), how she is currently helping people get over the anxiety caused by the blast (11:55), and the short term attention span of Lebanese society (18:35). We also discuss the importance of talking about mental difficulties along with living a proactive life (21:30), and the systemic corruption embedded in Lebanon (24:45).

Yasmina Hilal is a young photographer who has recently been documenting the aftermath of the Beirut explosion. We start sharing our individual experiences of the blast and the mental trauma that it has caused (1:42). We then spoke about how she used her passion for photography to help those that were affected by the bomb (9:58), Middle Eastern culture inspiring her artwork (19:40), and unexpectedly finding herself back in Lebanon due to the coronavirus (28:52). We also discuss how Yasmina captures the opportune moment from her perspective (32:50) and the importance of creativity when it comes to Lebanon’s future (36:53).

Mouin Jaber and Sam El Khoury are two activists who have played pivotal roles in the Lebanese Revolution. We start recounting the importance of neighborhoods effected by the Beirut explosion (2:10). We then talk about how Lebanese people can adapt to different situations (8:05), the tremendous support being received by NGOs and international community (12:38), sectarian problems that are created by Lebanese politicians (23:29), and the ways through which Lebanese people should be supporting each other (40:52). We also discuss Mouin's podcast Sarde along with the current media and podcasting landscape in the Middle East (49:36).

Dr. Abdul Rahman Bizri is a specialist in infectious diseases at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. We begin by discussing the current Coronavirus situation in Lebanon (0:17). He then talks about the new social norms we have to abide by (4:22), the differentiation between what we know and misinformation (10:03), outlook on Lebanon’s future with relation to the pandemic (18:12), and debunks/confirms any coronavirus conspiracies (23:43). We also delve into the effects of legalising marijuana for medical use in Lebanon (30:00).

Hussein Hachem is the former CEO of Aramex, a global logistics giant.   We begin talking about living in Lebanon during the civil war and comparing it to life now (2:52). He delves into his early years at Aramex (7:59), the current and future state of logistics and e-commerce (14:53), big tech companies accessing our data (22:30), disruptive startups (34:09), and his opinion on our podcast (43:53). 

Riad Chirazi is the Assistant to the Director for Student Life and Head of Activities, Community Service and Drama at the International College of Beirut.   We discussed changes in student behaviour over time, kids facing learning difficulties at school, Riad's switch from Biology to Drama and the state of the Lebanese film and theatre industries.   Disclaimer: We are fixing the sound quality from episode 2 onwards.

Tarek, Rayaan and Joe talk about the origins behind the concept of Fawda Twenty Twenty. They delve into the word "3isha", personal experiences looking for jobs and how a part of Lebanese society is handling the Coronavirus.