Fawda Twenty Twenty

Episode 28 - Toufiluk (Toufic Braidi)

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).

 

Episode 27 - Georges Khabbaz

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)

Episode 26 - Aziza Sbaity

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).

Episode 25 - Ryan Wuerfel (Zweback)

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).

Episode 24 - Faiza Rammuny (Expired N Fabulous)

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 (BONUS) - Trump, Biden, Taking on Harvard & Israel, Going Viral Worldwide

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).

Episode 23 - Sara El Yafi

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).

Episode 22 - Marwan Daou (Maro)

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).

Episode 21 - Maxime Chaya

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).

Episode 20 - Lary BS

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).