Doha Heat

Qatar has been under a lot of scrutiny these past years for human and labor rights, so we invited the International Labor Organization (ILO) to clear some of these misconceptions. We spoke to Houtan Homayounpour, Head of the ILO Project office for the State of Qatar about the reason behind the Qatar-ILO partnership, new initiatives and reforms the government is taking, how Qatar has tackled criticism with regards to human rights, and much more! 

You've seen our host, Ifath Sayed always getting other people's secrets out, but on this episode, we find out surprising things about her from the person who knows her best, her mom, Tasneem Sayed! Kenza Bakrim, our producer, joins us in this episode with some fun games and facilitates some great mother-daughter banter. Listen in below for the best Mother's Day special you've ever heard. 

In this episode marking International Women's Day, we had quite an animated discussion with Amira Shohdi, Egyptian blogger and founder of the #Icantdoitall movement, where we discussed women's rights from cultural, social, political, and religious perspectives. We talked about the pressures faced by today's women, as well as their advancement and successes. Listen in to celebrate this special day with two women who feel strongly about women empowerment. 

Moos d'Herripon, Theatre Director and Drama Teacher from Netherlands, was passionate about theatre ever since she was a child. This passion led to her interest in physical acting and then working as a director all around the world. In this episode, we talk about the meaningfulness of the art, the theatre scene in Qatar, and much more!

We're celebrating Qatar National Sports Day soon, so it only makes sense for us to talk to one of the biggest sporting organizations of the nation, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. In this episode, Samantha Sifah, their Head of Committee Outreach talks about all the community events organized by the Committee leading up to the World Cup and how you can participate. We discuss the meaningfulness of community development, playing or engaging in sports, and we also asked her the most important question of all—what she thinks Qatar will look like after 2022. 

Can you imagine what it's like to resign from a lucrative position of a CEO from a renowned company so you can follow your dreams? Omar Ashour left his comfortable job and took up the challenge of setting off on his own entrepreneurial journey last year with his company, EButler, an application where you can gain access to reliable service providers for all kinds of services, from home beauty, phone repair, educational, to even car repair services, bringing you the ultimate convenience. In this episode, we talk all about the process of being an entrepreneur, from challenges and pitfalls to tips on succeeding as one. To download the app: https://urlgeni.us/E-Butler

Stephanie Innes-Smith and Kate Cliffe talk to us about their wonderful initiative, Team Q90K, which is the first all-female team that will run across Qatar, east-to-west, 90km, in a run taking place on 25 January 2019. We discuss what inspires them to keep fit, the benefits of running, and more.

Dr. Carmen Lopez struggled with financial difficulties growing up, which delayed her college education, but that didn't stop her from successfully achieving a PHD degree. She came to Qatar as a scientist, but her love for reading and writing encouraged her to write a series of short stories about her Puerto Rican culture, but one different from others—these stories don't focus on violence and anger as is the case for most books, but rather gives a positive touch to human struggles. Dr. Carmen believes that's what her country needs as it recovers from the violent hurricane that struck it this year. To find out when the book comes out and learn about her courage, grit and perseverance, listen in.

From teaching fun cooking methods and tips on Al Jazeera Children to learning for 10 years under the multi-Michelin starred celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey himself, Elias Gemayel has made quite a name for himself in the restaurant industry. In this episode, we chat about his journey to success as a chef, his job at Opal by Gordon Ramsey in St. Regis Doha, his favorite food and cuisine, and much more!

Pierre Daniel has been passionate about athletics ever since he was a child. When he came to Qatar, he worked for Aspire to put together programs that raised health awareness in Qatar. He was also the first person to walk and run around Qatar over the course of a few days and receive a Guinness Book World Record for the same. With his initiatives, he aims to empower others to step outside their comfort zones, become more active, and also to highlight the beauty of the nation. Listen to this episode for some health-related inspiration, to learn about Pierre's latest cycling around Qatar initiative to raise awareness about road safety, and much more!

In this episode, we talk to Dr. James Onley about his interest in the history of the Middle East, his transition from academia to the Qatar National Library, and his interesting theory of when Qatar disappeared from the map. We also talk about the incredible initiative by Qatar National Library to create the largest archive on the Middle East completely free and available for everybody to access and many more resources.

Did you know that 80% of a child's learning occurs through their eyes?  In this episode, we talk to Dr. David Hunter Cherwek from Orbis, the flying eye hospital, which provides services and resources to developing countries around the world, about how bad eyesight or ophthalmological diseases can impact a society, and the importance of giving back to the community. We also discuss the vision behind Orbis and how Dr. Cherwek found himself in this field. 

After a successful career in business and marketing, Elsbeth Blekkenhorst opened her own shoe brand. Having nothing to do with fashion before that, she turned some of her negative experiences with finding comfortable shoes into a passion project. In this episode, we talk about the positive experiences and challenges associated with opening your own business, women supporting women, and so much more!

Working in a male-dominated industry can be quite daunting to many women. Sahar El Rafai, an engineer by profession, has taken this as a challenge and brought out the best out of this experience with her. This part-time personal trainer talks to us about balancing two careers, dealing with the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry where a woman may not be taken seriously because of her gender, self-care, and much more!

Sam Meekings' love for writing came from childhood, when he wrote his first book about going on adventures with his dog. As a university graduate, his passion for writing intersected with his interest in exploring different cultures. As a teacher in China, he discovered a fascinating story about the trials of a couple's relationship as they experience Mao's Cultural Regime and the birth of modern China. Not realizing what he was getting himself into, he started his first historical fiction novel. In this episode, we discuss the ins-and-outs of being a writer, what strategies can you use to motivate yourself to keep writing, and how to do justice when you write about another culture without culturally appropriating it. Check out his new book on the story behind a painting by Vincent Van Gogh here: https://t.co/5dYJTOqbe8    

Grace Medina's love for handicrafts didn't start from childhood, even though she belonged to a family of designers. A journalist from Venezuela, she discovered her passion for quilting and patchwork when she decided to explore different avenues as a bored stay-at-home mom. In this episode, we talk about the intricacies of quilting and patchwork, her organization, Handy and Crafty, the connections between art and culture, and how engaging yourself in some form of art can help you cultivate joy and satisfaction and become part of a community.

Sondra Hope, founder of Yala Healthy, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the early age of 24, then faced recurring bouts of it. But the one thought that kept her going through this struggle was that she wanted to be healthier for her daughter. Once overweight, Sondra is now a fitness and health trainer with a unique methodology to train her clients—not just focusing on food and exercise, but also helping them train their minds. Listen to today's episode, where we dive deep into her past and ongoing struggles with cancer, her fitness ideology, tips on living a healthy lifestyle, and the nutritious, tasty, and super affordable treats she offers on Yala Healthy.

The obstacles and the struggles life throw at us can be very daunting and hard to get over. When they’re left unspoken, it can cause a deep-rooted issues within us, such as anxiety. And often times, it's hard to find a community to reach out to for help. When Kausar and Mariam had this realization, they decided to bring together their passions to start Community Connect Doha, an initiative aimed at creating dialogue, so people in Doha could discuss issues pertaining to the community in workshops and other events. In this episode, we speak about their experience as expat kids and parents, the importance of community and talking about stigmatized topics, and more!  

What an episode to kick off the second season with! Our guest this week is the super vibrant and spirited, Harriet Gyamfuah. We talk about how unexpected events got her jobs in Prada, Miu Miu, and Marie Claire, her passion for fashion, writing, and public relations, and the transformation she's experienced in her journey navigating the world of fashion as a woman of color. 

When Khedija Dellal moved to Qatar, she had a hard time interacting with people. Now, the mother of two finds connection with others being a personal trainer and Instagram blogger and helping women stay fit. Listen to how pregnancy changed her life, how she overcame a tough delivery, and how she pursues a fit lifestyle with her children. Through her passion, she helps pregnant woman become stronger and more prepared for motherhood in the comfort of their homes. Listen to the full episode to know her motivational story and learn how exercise and activity can empower you.   If you would like to donate to save animal shelters in Qatar, here's the link: https://www.gofundme.com/animal-welfare-in-qatar