Fawda Twenty Twenty

Episode 19 - Karim Ibrahim & Toufic Assaf

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).

Episode 18 - Rola Hoteit

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).

Episode 17 - Mariana Wehbe

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).

Episode 16 - Farah Ahmed (FlexiFarah)

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).

Episode 15 - Chady Eli Mattar (Part II)

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).

Episode 15 - Chady Eli Mattar (Part I)

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).

Episode 14 - Oleksandra El Zahran (Polleksandra)

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).

Episode 13 - Nour Hajjar

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).

Episode 12 - Bernard Khoury

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).

Episode 11 - Rami Rasamny (Part II)

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).