Forward_Moves
Forward_Moves is a podcast hosted by Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad, that shares lived experiences and stories of successful personalities in the Middle East from the creative world of art, design, entertainment, hospitality, business, and other disciplines.
Episodes
30 episodes
Ricardo Karam: A voice connecting worlds
� In this powerful episode of Forward Moves, host Raja Haddad sits down with renowned Lebanese media personality, entrepreneur, and TAKREEM Foundation founder Ricardo Karam for an unfiltered conversation about dignity, identity, and the p...
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Episode 30
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1:01:50
Forward Moves – Episode 29: The Paused Episode
In this in-between-episodes reflection, host Raja Haddad unpacks the firstconversations of Chapter Three with Basil Yassin and Anthony Maalouf. Instead ofrecapping, Raja dives into four reflections: heritage as creative fuel, innovation...
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Episode 29
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10:29
Heritage as Ingredient: Basil Yassin’s Recipe for Innovation
What does it mean to preserve culture through cuisine? In this candid conversation, host Raja Haddad sits down with Basil Yassin — the culinary creator behind Yava and Tonton Bakes, two of Dubai’s most talked-about dining concepts. ...
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Episode 28
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47:02
Tactful Design: Preserving Culture While Moving Forward with Anthony Maalouf
Chapter 3 is finally here, and with it the deep personal conversations with thought leaders of the creative community in the Middle East continue to share lived experiences and life hacks to move forward.In this episode host Raja Hadd...
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Episode 27
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39:52
Chapter 3 Transit: What We Learned from Past 2 Seasons
The journey toward the 3rd chapter of Forward_Moves has been a thoughtful one, in true fashion of any movement… forward.In this transition episode, Raja Haddad distills the key themes from the past 25 episodes, sharing his ...
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13:55
Creativity, Advocacy and Legacy: How identities are preserved
What role does art and creativity play in advocacy and forging an identity? How to valance passion and entrepreneurship , and how important are communities in transmitting stories within cultures? 🙌🏽🎙️ The season 2 final episo...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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42:46
Turning Passion into Purpose: Chef Bader’s Recipe for Success
What do chocolate, culture, and choosing your own path have in common? One Emirati chef. In this episode of Forward_Moves, host Raja Haddad sits down with Chef Bader Najeeb, pastry chef, chocolatier, and founder of Burnt Orange, fo...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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48:59
Designing Belonging: Gardens as Living Poems with Zain Masud
What does it mean to build beauty with purpose?In this episode of Forward_Moves, host Raja Haddad is joined by Zain Masud, a London-trained art world professional turned landscape designer, who is reshaping how we experience space, memory, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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52:35
Designing with Soul: Meshary Al Nassar on Identity, Space & Storytelling
Can a room tell a story?In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad sit down with Meshary Al Nassar—renowned Interior Architect & Cultural Storyteller—to explore how space, memory, and identity intert...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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48:41
Supper Clubs, Slow Living & Stories from the Kitchen Table
Can a single dish carry the weight of heritage, memory, and identity?In this episode of Forward_Moves, host Raja Haddad sits down with Chef Ahmad Halawa, the Palestinian culinary artist bringing people together—one plate at a ti...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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38:14
The Leap into Purpose: Fadi Rifai on Music, Healing & Creative Freedom
🎙 How do you honour your purpose and find joy in the process? In this heartfelt episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad sit down with multidisciplinary musical artist Fadi Rifai to explore the power of creativit...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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51:44
Breaking Stereotypes, Building Stories: Nez Gebreel on Regional Creativity
From rebranding Victoria Beckham to redefining Arab identity! Welcome back to Forward_moves! In this bold and thought-provoking episode, Nez Gebreel, Creative Luxury Strategist, joins Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad to unpack what it me...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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46:55
Sound, Silence & the Stories Between – with Shelley Frost
Silence, sound, and the soul of a region. In this powerful episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Raja Haddad and Lina Nahhas sit down with Shelley Frost—harpist, entrepreneur, and founder of The Fridge—to explore the art of listening, th...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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44:53
Empowering Founders: Noor Sweid’s Incredible Coming of Age Journey
What does it take to build billion-dollar businesses and empower the next generation of founders across MENA? In this episode, Raja Haddad sits down with Noor Sweid, VC powerhouse, author, and Shark Tank judge. Noor shares her journey ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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38:49
Handmade, Heartmade: Crafting Identity with Nada Debs
What does it mean to truly belong, and can design help us find our way home?In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad sit down with pioneering designer Nada Debs, whose work blends heritage and modernity, craft...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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40:55
Preserving the Fire: How Mohamed Maktabi Blends Heritage with Modernity
What happens when tradition meets bold vision in the world of design? In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad sit down with Mohammad Maktabi, the creative force behind Iwan Maktabi, to explore the powerful i...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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43:33
Can Art Change the Narrative? Sunny Rahbar on Vision, Risk & Reinvention
Welcome back to Season 2 of Forward_Moves! Hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad sit down for a raw, face-to-face conversation with Sunny Rahbar, co-founder of The Third Line gallery in Dubai. Together, they trace Sunny’s journey from post-9/11 New...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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42:30
Building an Art World from Scratch: Inside Dubai’s Creative Movement with Asmaa Al Shabibi
Season 2 kicks off with an inspiring conversation between hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad and special guest Asmaa Al Shabibi, co-founder of Lawrie Shabibi Gallery and a key figure in Dubai’s evolving art scene. What’s Inside This...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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40:26
Season One Finale: The Power of Movement, Identity, and Human Connection
In this face-to-face season finale episode of Forward_Moves, co-hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad open up about the origins of the podcast and their shared mission to celebrate art, creativity, and human connection.From the emotional de...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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41:17
Letting Go & Finding Purpose with Dina Ghandour
Is success about pushing harder—or knowing when to surrender? In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas & Raja Haddad talk to Dina Ghandour, a wellness expert and entrepreneur, about her journey from corporate PR to yoga, energy h...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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43:18
Reinventing Creativity: Omar Al Gurg's Design Philosophy
What does it mean to create? Emirati designer and entrepreneur Omar Al Gurg, founder of Modu Method, believes everything is a reinvention—an evolution of what already exists. In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad e...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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45:56
Amrita Sethi On The Intersection Of Art, Tech And Personal Transformation
Can sound become art? Can technology reshape storytelling? 🎨🎧In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas & Raja Haddad sit down with Amrita Sethi, a former banker turned award-winning digital artist and an NFT artist in the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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51:18
Radical Honesty in Music: The Journey of Karrouhat
🌟 Meet The Mind Behind Karrouhat 🎶This episode of forward_moves explores the journey of the musical project Karrouhat, which beautifully fuses Arabic heritage with global sounds. Hosted by Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad, the conversation d...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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49:03
Strings and Inspiration: How Stefania Nazzal Creates Art from the Everyday
Step into the world of Stefania Nazzal, where vibrant colors collide with tactile textures to create sensory masterpieces! Our hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad dive into Stefania’s artistic journey—from her fascination with number...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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40:05
Curiosity, Resilience, and Trust: the codes of Ayman Fakoussa
Discover the Secrets to Luxury Branding with Ayman Fakoussa 🌟In this episode of Forward_Moves, hosts Lina Nahhas and Raja Haddad explore the successful journey of Ayman Fakoussa, co-founder of The Qode, Dubai’s leading luxury br...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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40:43