Curated Advice on Better Living

Johnatan Machado is a Venezuelan artist, curator, and photographer living in Qatar. In this episode, Johnatan shares his long and grueling journey pursuing a career in art, giving honest and valuable advice applicable to anyone seeking a creative endeavor or dream. He also details his experiences as a photographer from National Geographic to be one of the only three photographers in Venezuela specializing in low-light theatre and ballet. He also walks us through his experiences with demanding clients and how he navigates this while remaining true to his artistic expression. This was an enjoyable conversation full of honesty and laughter. If you want to support the podcast, please share it around! Remember to follow and enable the notification bell to stay updated on new episodes. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/

Dr. James Green is a former chief scientist at NASA. In this episode, he reflects on his long career in space and the countless NASA missions and achievements. He also shares some incredible stories, like how he caught the first hacker on their network (it's unbelievable!). What planet will Humans first Live on? What are all those UFO sightings? Is there life beyond earth, and has NASA encountered it? He even discusses the NASA Dart Mission (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) before it happened - by the time you're listening, it has already happened and made headlines. Overall, his message is the importance of space exploration for the survival of humanity. It was a pleasure having him on the show and sharing the conversation with you. If you want to support the podcast, consider leaving a review! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com

Hasna Nada has dedicated the past ten years to advocating for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is a personal journey inspired by her son being diagnosed with autism. Back when parents who had children with autism would seek answers and support in online forums, Hasna decided to take a leap of faith and set up the Child Development Centre (CDC) to provide services for kids with autism. She's now working on an online platform called Learn Autism. This was recorded at the CDC during her last day in Qatar. In this episode, she reflects on her difficult but inspirational journey. If you want to support the podcast, please leave a review. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/

Shahd Ahmed, also known as @thisisshoosh on social media, has over 14 years of experience working in events and production in the UAE and Qatar for some of the biggest brands. It would be too long to list them. She recently started The Abstract Agency and was the casting director for the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 TV commercial and was part of the first and second edition of Qatar Creates. In this episode, Shahd is candid about her journey, the challenges, and everything in between. From models fainting last minute at fashion shows to the challenge of being a woman in this male-dominated industry and the importance for social media personalities to take more responsibility when sharing content, Shahd shares her highlights along with the lessons learned along the way. If you want to support the podcast, please leave a review! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/   Relevant Links:

This is part two of my conversation with Ali El Dali. If you're back for another raw conversation on life and all things better living, Ali's got a great and interesting perspective. We discuss a range of topics: from insights from the book It Didn't Start with You: Overcoming Generational Trauma by Mark Wolynn and why it's important to end generational the cycle, the importance of being curious as a podcaster, and Ali's idea to start a podcast on the human experiences. Thank you for taking the time to listen. If you want to support the podcast please leave a review. In the previous episode #25 part one, we get into self-talk and how to rewire your brain with practical advice on affirmations, manifestations, and so on. Contact: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com

This episode is part one of my conversation with my friend Ali El Dali, a Lebanese-Venezuelan whose work takes him to places far and wide. He's passionate about self-development and takes workshops and attends retreats on sound-healing, breath-work, meditation, ceremonies, and so on. Ali believes in the psychosomatic relationship between mind and body and shares a personal example. We dive deep into self-talk and how to rewire your brain with practical advice on affirmations, manifestations, and so on. This episode was on theme with better living, and I'm sure you'll find lots of value in it. And most importantly, Ali is a great vibe, and with each conversation we have, I walk away with something new. Please rate or review the show and share it to support the podcast! Thank you for taking the time to listen.  Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/  

This is part two of my conversation with Naser Mestarihi the vocalist and lead guitarist for the hard rock band Winterburn. He's been a musician for nearly two decades, and in 2010 he became the first to officially release a rock album out of Qatar. The views expressed by my guests are not always reflective of my own. The podcast is a space for a variety of perspectives. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it. Subscribe and hit the notification bell for more free content! Contact: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Relevant Links: https://www.thewinterburn.com

Naser Mestarihi is the vocalist and lead guitarist for the hard rock band Winterburn. He's been a musician for nearly two decades, and in 2010 he became the first to officially release a rock album out of Qatar. Naser speaks his mind and doesn't hold back on the reality of all things music industry from bad record deals, fake streams, and toxic social media. He also describes suffering from Multiple Sclerosis attacks and channeling that pain into his music. This was a raw conversation, make sure to checkout part two. The views expressed by my guests are not always reflective of my own. The podcast is a space for a variety of perspectives. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it. Subscribe and hit the notification bell for more free content! Contact:   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com  Relevant Links: https://www.thewinterburn.com

I taught a two-day workshop titled 'How to Start a Podcast: Finding Your Voice' as part of Tasmeem Doha 2022: Radical Futures at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. This was my first time sharing my craft and passion with a group. I usually consult or help people on a one-to-one basis, and let me tell you, this workshop was at full capacity! So many talented people showed up wanting to learn how they could start their podcast. In this episode, I share advice on how you can develop your idea and then launch your podcast. It all begins with asking yourself the right questions, which help you through the creative process. There's also a bonus; I play the unreleased improvised podcast we did during our second session. This is unedited, and you will notice the volume changing at times and different speakers hoping on. The idea behind this was to get them to engage with the technology and to make it a lot less intimidating. Most importantly, have fun! Thank you, Michael Hersrud and Fae Siddiqui, for assisting with the workshop, and a massive shoutout to those who attended: Al-Anood Al-Thani, Azza Alawad, Rand Assad, Christopher Fink, Gabriela Prince Gonçalves, Dila Hayati, Sherin Karawia, Sara Nabet, Maha Nasr, Rawan Odeh, Ayza Sheikh, Malaika Jenine Tayach. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell to stay updated on a new episode. Contact: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/   Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Relevant Links: https://radicalfutures.qatar.vcu.edu/contributors/khaled-soltan/

Cristiano Carvalho is a Brazilian working in the Aerospace Industry. He grew up in Brazil and spent most of his career worldwide selling planes for Embraer, the world's 3rd largest plane manufacturer. Cristiano shares insights from his experiences doing business with people from different cultures, including a bizarre practice in Japan used for building trust with clients. Cristiano wasn't afraid to reflect on his own life and marriage to share his honest advice. This episode is jam-packed with better living, and there's a lot of value in this conversation. It was eye-opening. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode. Contact: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/   Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Relevant Links: https://www.embraercommercialaviation.com https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/japan-drinking-business-culture-why-getting-drunk-is-so-important-a7736946.html https://www.daytranslations.com/blog/culture-nuance-business/

Abood is an actor on a popular TV show (About Cinema/عن السينما) on the Al Jazeera Media Network. The conversation kicks off with an in-depth look at personality. What was the process of being cast for the show? What it's like being on set? What are some valuable things he's learned along the way? All this and more on the episode. Abood also shares an interesting perspective on what the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can teach us about life and the importance of resilience. Including life wisdom by our coach Tacio Carneiro that impacted his life. Near the end, we have a difficult conversation on mental health. Why is it so hard for men to express their emotions? Let's start having these discussions! It was a raw and insightful conversation with a talented and self-aware guy. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode every Thursday. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKkye9ohYQ4Q7D2eD1wIjUQ https://m.imdb.com/title/tt12358304/?ref_=m_nm_knf_i1 https://m.imdb.com/name/nm11595579/?ref_=tt_mv

Wasim Ahmed is a tech entrepreneur and is one of the founders of Metavisionaries. This tech startup aims to create an educational ecosystem in the Metaverse for people to "learn, interact, transact, build and ultimately live." In this episode, we discuss the goals for Metavisionaries and why he believes there is a significant need for this now in a world seeing exponential change and instability. Some of the topics on this episode include all things frontier technology such as Web 3.0, NFTs, Blockchain, Metaverse, Augmented vs. Virtual Reality. If you're interested in being a part of the discussion that shapes our future, you don't want to miss this episode! If you would like to support the podcast, consider giving it a review and sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes every Thursday.  Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/   Relevant Links: https://www.metavisionaries.io https://www.instagram.com/metavisionaries.io/ https://twitter.com/metavisionaries https://discord.com/invite/AFydMW2Qe7 https://www.linkedin.com/in/wasim-ahmed-ahmeys/?originalSubdomain=uk https://www.instagram.com/itswasimahmed/

Buzaki Hayir is a Somali living in the diaspora. He grew up in Qatar then moved to India, where he lived as an international student for over a decade. We begin our discussion with his experiences, racist encounters, and unforgettable lessons he learned along the way. Besides, what does he mean by the "tax of living in India"? The first part of the conversation was only the warm-up, things go from 0-100 quick! Buzaki details his trip to Somalia after 30 years of being abroad. Let's just say things went wrong from the moment he landed! One of the traumatic incidents included a bomb that went off outside his hotel room. "Bombs aren't like how they are in the movies. I saw metal melting everywhere. It was crazy!" Also, I had to ask him, what's the truth about the pirates? This was a wild conversation with a great guy. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/

Kim Wyatt is an Australian media personality and TV presenter. Kim rose to popularity in Qatar as a prominent food writer, using the name 'mama baba ganoush.' I first interviewed Kim on the radio, but this time nothing is off-limits! We discussed Kim's misconceptions before moving to the middle east over a decade ago. She opens up on what it was like to study history in Australia, from Aborigines to Western education's lack of Islamic history. Kim, who has two young boys, discusses the downside of mainstream education which she believes fails to address children's needs. How can we rethink school? We look into the different approaches, including Synthesis school by Elon Musk and the various Scandinavian models. We also get into the ugly side of social media and what living in the Middle East has taught her. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on new episodes! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/kimwyattofficial/?hl=en

Gentë Retkoceri is a professor of acting and an experienced film and theater actress. Gentë has been acting in different drama plays in theaters across East and West Europe, USA, and has also been part of the National Theater of Kosovo. We begin with what it was like growing up in Kosovo during the Serbian occupation. Many of the plays and projects Gentë acts in are based on heavy topics and Albanian culture: from a tragic true story on human trafficking to the role of honor in blood feuds and the importance of 'besa' for Albanians which is a pledge of honor or keeping a promise. Gentë shares a brilliant blueprint for anyone who teaches a class or conducts a workshop! Finally, as a mother of two young kids, Gentë speaks openly and honestly about the difficulties of being a parent and disciplining children. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode every Thursday! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/gentaretkoceri/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/actingclassesdoha/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8962985/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Aida Al Barwani is a Freelance Marketing Consultant. She started working on major marketing projects in Dubai and has been a digital nomad for the past decade. The meaning of digital nomad is someone who performs their occupation entirely over the Internet while traveling; a person who has no permanent fixed home address. In this episode, Aida shares her insights and advice on how to move from working in an office to becoming fully independent. For many people, this is a dream, including myself. Many of us want to be free to roam. Should you quit your 9-5? And if you do, what can you expect? Aida shares her experience on what it's like, both good and bad. There's a lot of value in this conversation, and it was eye-opening. If you want to support the podcast, consider sharing it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay updated on a new episode. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: Aidksib@gmail.com

Michael Anderson is a South African primary school physical education teacher based in Qatar. He's also an amateur motocross athlete who hosted and competed in many events. You can find him trying to be an inspiration and good role model for his students at school and on social media. Michael began working at a school at 17 and quickly transitioned into adulthood. He reflects on his journey while opening up about earlier struggles and how one teacher had a life-changing impact on him; he's striving to do the same for his students. We discussed many topics, including the effects of learning from home on kids during COVID and how parents, students, and teachers are all struggling - is it time kids go back to school? And how can schools need to do more to support their students, insights on this generation? A horrific dirt-bike accident, surgeries, how he's overcome hardship, and lesson's he's learned along the way. It was an inspirational and humbling episode. You'll likely walk away from it feeling motivated with a fresh perspective on life. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it! Don't forget to subscribe for more free content. A new episode drops every Thursday :)  Contact:   Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/  Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/michaelmx8/?hl=en

On this solo episode, I look at a list from a blog titled "12 Simple Ways to Build Momentum" from Becoming Minimalist - sharing my comments and suggestions along the way. Like many others, I went into 2022 ready-to-go, but January had other plans. That's life, we need to master the art of getting back into the groove or flow, so I have been searching for ways to do that. These are some practical and simple ways you can build momentum again. As an added bonus, I also share funny stories and examples from my life and people I know with an inspirational message at the end. All that and more on this episode! Please rate the show and share it with someone who might benefit. Let's build this community! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/if-you-build-it/ https://www.strengthside.com/?r_done=1 https://tim.blog/geek-to-freak/ http://gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2009/08/make-your-bed/ https://www.fastcompany.com/3013856/why-productive-people-get-up-insanely-early https://www.becomingminimalist.com/minimalist-desk/

We're back again with my friend Moby Buhmaid a Qatari actor/screenwriter who was on episode one of this podcast. This was also recorded at his farm the same day I got COVID for a second time. We caught up on how things are going with his web series. He's currently in the casting process. Moby discusses lessons from one of the most influential books on the law of attraction - The Game of Life and How to Play It (1925) by Florence Scovel Shinn. We get into more honest truth on the difficulty of pursuing creative work and the importance of developing a thick skin. In fact, moving into 2022, Moby wants to focus on becoming less reactive to the external things around him and being ok with letting people go. Why has Moby attracted many toxic friendships in his life? He details past experiences with narcissism, gaslighting, and manipulation. I haven't seen the new Netflix film Don't Look Up (2021), but Moby thinks it's a perfect reflection of the world we live in.   The views of my guests are not always reflective of my own. The podcast is a space for open dialogue and a variety of perspectives. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it! Don't forget to subscribe for more free content. Contact:   Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/  Relevant Links: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Life-Play-Prosperity-Classic/dp/0875162576/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=The+Game+of+Life+and+How+to+Play+It&qid=1642848282&sr=8-2 https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dont_look_up_2021

This episode is different than the usual format. It's a solo episode and a complete guide on one of the easiest, cheapest, and most versatile self-help tools you can do, which is the art of journaling. There is a lot of confusion and hesitation when it comes to people not knowing how to approach this simple habit. I'll clear all of that in this episode. I highly recommend journaling to everyone I know, and I have been doing it for years because it continues to improve my life drastically. In this episode, I get into the benefits of journaling, the different approaches, going in with the right mindset, and everything you need to know to get you started. One of the things I covered in the approaches section of the episode is morning pages from Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I also look at Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and a stoic philosopher whose work is still admired by many today. We talk about the night journal, something many therapists often recommend for people struggling to sleep due to overthinking and anxiety. I also touch on Dr. Jordan Peterson's Self-Authoring Program, an online structured program that has helped me tremendously. All that and more on this episode! If you found value, please rate the show and share it with someone who might also benefit. Good luck! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.selfauthoring.com https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Morning-Pagess-Journal/dp/B009NFYBXU?tag=dailystoic07-20&geniuslink=true https://highexistence.com/journal-marcus-aurelius/ https://www.developgoodhabits.com/start-journaling/ https://www.healthline.com/health/best-guided-journals#how-people-use-it https://dailystoic.com/the-most-important-ritual-you-can-practice-this-year/ https://dailystoic.com/stoic-art-of-journaling/ https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255/ref=pd_sbs_3/137-4564757-4752659?pd_rd_w=62ujQ&pf_rd_p=3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_r=FF0SM2F8NWDTQ8SGMZYH&pd_rd_r=24aea2e6-4242-4b3d-9ada-51c48973df42&pd_rd_wg=GIfmn&pd_rd_i=0812968255&psc=1

Neeshad Shafi is a climate activist considered one of the 'World 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy' by Apolitical. He's also the Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Arab Youth Climate Movement, the first registered non-profit association focusing on climate change in Qatar. This conversation is a response to the claims made by Mikhail Tretyak on episode #7, and Neeshad came prepared with an impressive list of counter-arguments. We begin with excessive carbon in the atmosphere and the link between abnormal weather events and the increasing rate of natural disasters. Then, we move on to the truth about afforestation efforts and Mikhail citing NASA satellite images to claim the world is getting greener. We unpack what it means for Qatar to host the first carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup in 2022. Can the climate fund help less developed countries transition to renewable energy? What is carbon capture, and is it a viable solution? What about the carbon credit system? And will millions of people die if we go net-zero? I asked Neeshad about his experience attending the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) when the historic Paris agreement was signed and Trump pulling the United States out of the agreement. He also touches on Mikhail's comments on Greta Thunberg and details when an African climate activist, Vanessa Nakate, was cropped out of an Associated Press picture. Neeshad urges more youth in the region to get involved and perhaps attend (COP 27), which will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and (COP 28) in the United Arab Emirates. Finally, we end with the notion of individual shaming, suitability lifestyle as a trend, and how beach clean-ups send the wrong message. The views of my guests are not always reflective of my own. The podcast is a space for open dialogue and a variety of perspectives. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it! Don't forget to subscribe for more free content. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://neeshad.com https://www.aycmqatar.org The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. - https://www.ipcc.ch/ Climate Change: How Do We Know? https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/ Global Climate change, Vital Signs https://climate.nasa.gov/ Tracing Big Oil's PR war to delay action on climate change https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/09/oil-companies-discourage-climate-action-study-says/ United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change https://unfccc.int/ Net Zero by 2050, A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-2050 Qatar targets 25% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 under climate plan https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/qatar-targets-25-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-2030-climate-change-plan-2021-10-28/

Ahmad Abbas, also known as Seth, is one of the earliest podcasters in Qatar. He's had several podcasts on Facebook, Soundcloud, but you might know him from Sit Down with Seth on YouTube. Since he's my cousin and a fellow podcaster, expect a raw back and forth conversation. I ask him for a simple burger recommendation, which leads to a semi-tragic story about discovering his love for Five Guys in London. Bonnie, Seth's puppy, was with us while recording this episode. From chewing my bag full of equipment to sleeping on the couch, it was nice to see how he's bringing Seth a ton of joy. What are the challenges of owning a dog? Who does he think shouldn't own a one? We then discussed Sit Down with Seth: difficult interviews, his incredible team, financing, and why the show eventually came to a halt. Plus, a question from his buddy, Adnan Mryhij, the host of Unmuted Podcast on Twitch, got Seth deeply thinking - will he ever podcast again? He shares valuable advice for anyone wanting to podcast or create content. As I look back at this episode, the overall theme here was mental health, and I'm glad we had this conversation. There's a stigma attached to mental health in the Middle East and seeking help. Seth leaves the listener with an important mental health message and why you should never suppress how you're feeling. If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it! Don't forget to subscribe for more free content. A new episode drops every Thursday. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/sitdownwithseth/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCENDu5qMFtD6DGNx-GwEOIA https://www.instagram.com/force_sports/ https://www.instagram.com/unmutedshow/ https://www.betterhelp.com

Anca Stefania is a Romanian intimacy and sexuality coach working with men and women to help them be the best version of themselves. In the realm of healing and growth, there's nothing she doesn't do, from teaching yoga to hosting full-moon women circles. Anca has traveled far and wide to seek enlightenment, going to expensive retreats in Europe to living at a Buddhist temple. But then, a monk taught her there's no such thing as a single moment of enlightenment; instead, it's a daily process hence why we all need a pleasure practice. An incredibly raw discussion where we even discussed our past relationships and unhealthy family dynamics. We covered many things self-development, including intergenerational trauma, masculine and feminine nature, feminism and gender roles in society, archetypes by Carl Jung - lots of great advice for men and women. We also get a women's perspective on why she thinks there's a disconnect between men and women in modern dating, something my guest Ahmed Shaheen brought up in episode 4. I learned a bunch recording this episode, and I'm sure you will too! Please give us a review, and don't forget to subscribe for more free content! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/ancastefaniaiorgulescu/ https://podcasts.apple.com/qa/podcast/the-healer-hub/id1600503362

Mikhail Tretyak is a Ukrainian-American working in one of the giant energy corporations. His career began at Universal Oil Products (UOP), traveling to different sites worldwide to investigate and troubleshoot technical issues. Our conversation starts with Mikhail's experiences in China in the 90's one of them being a gut-wrenching story of him helping a group of Russian women sold into human trafficking. Things take a turn when an unlikely encounter with Mike Chinoy, CNN's Bureau Chief in Beijing, leads Mikhail to help arrange an interview with one of the girls in his hotel room. When the story aired on CNN, the Chinese authorities discovered Mikhail's role, leading to a series of unfortunate events. We then move on to the climate debate, where Mikhail debunks many environmentalist talking points while criticizing the use of Greta Thunberg as a symbol for the movement.  The views of my guests are not always reflective of my own. The podcast is a space for open dialogue and a variety of perspectives.  If you want to support the podcast, please consider sharing it! Don't forget to subscribe for more free content. A new episode drops every Thursday. Contact:  Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Air-Jewish-Scientific-Discovery/dp/0307351793/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=alchemy+of+air&qid=1639644098&sr=8-1

Dianne Matibag (DJ Chloe) has worked as a radio host across several stations in the Philippines and Qatar, including Mellow 94.7fm, Wave 89.1fm, Qabayan 94.3fm, and now QBS 97.5fm - where we both met. This was a great conversation!  Dianne reflects on her beginnings and details the hazing culture that existed in the radio industry back then. Did you know radio is a big deal in the Philippines? So are podcasts; she hosts “Great Connections” with Podcast Network Asia, where she speaks to overseas Filipino workers about their experiences abroad. We weighed out the pros & cons of being signed to a podcast network. What was her most memorable live celebrity interview? Avril Lavigne, John Legend, Jessica Sanchez, the one I got fixated on, was Maria Ozawa, a pornstar who was prominent in Japan. From then on, the conversation took many bizarre turns. I chime in with a story about a rehabilitated arsonist in New Zealand to yet another Illuminati invitation (the first one was in episode #2). She shares her passion for scuba diving, and of course, sticking with the theme of the podcast, I had to ask Dianne for advice on “how to live a better life?” She had a whole list to offer; this is one you don't want to miss.  Subscribe to the podcast for more! New episode drops every Thursday. If you're on apple, support the show by giving us a review.  Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/djchloeonair/ https://open.spotify.com/show/3mFKNOJjsugPewoivIsbep

Jassim Al-Shamali is a CrossFit athlete whose inspirational story is well-known in the CrossFit community. We begin with a turning point in his struggle with weight loss. Still, before we could dig any deeper, we had to establish what defines an ‘influencer' and whether he considers himself one? Then we get into the heavy stuff, where he details his experience going through a gastric sleeve surgery and then gaining the weight again. When he tried CrossFit, it changed his life. Years later, he began to compete all over the world. Jassim drops essential keys when it comes to a suitable approach to losing weight and how to keep it off. He was brave enough to open up about recently losing his father and the harsh lessons he's learned along the way. Should we let go of all expectations?  Support the podcast, hit subscribe! Maybe tell a friend?  Here's a timestamp for the episode: (00:44) - What is an influencer? Is he a CrossFit Influencer? (4:44) - Losing his father, lessons learned & the importance of a support circle. (11:55) - Consistency = Key to Success. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/jassim.al.shamali/ https://www.crossfit.com

Ahmed Shaheen is a radio host based in Qatar. Ahmed tells us the truth on how he got started in radio at the age of 18, nearly a decade ago. He reflects on his beginnings, lessons learned, and the challenge of doing live on-air interviews with some guests. Do radio hosts put on a personality? I also asked him for the weirdest request he got from a listener and how his attempt to help backfired. The conversation shifts when I ask him about the political turmoil in Sudan. How does he identify as someone with a Sudanese background? African? Arab? Or both? This leads to a discussion on home and identity in the diaspora. He shares his experiences dating as a man in his 30's and why he believes there's a misunderstanding between men and women regarding modern relationships, particularly in societies like the Middle East. Make sure you hit subscribe if you haven't already! And maybe tell a friend :) Here's a timestamp for the episode: (00:44) - Reflecting on nearly a decade in radio. (10:52) - Live on-air interviews with difficult guests. (14:27) - Weirdest request from a listener. (16:26) - What's happening in Sudan? Notion of home & identity in diaspora. (22:05) - Modern dating, gender roles, misunderstanding between men & women. Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.instagram.com/callme_shaheen/ https://www.amazon.com/Islam-Between-East-Alija-Izetbegovic/dp/0892591390 https://www.amazon.com/Amin-Maalouf/e/B000AP82XC%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Abdulaziz Yousef Ahmed (Temsa7) is a well known artist in Qatar. I interviewed him for the radio back in 2020, but this time we go way deeper.  Temsa7 details an embarrassing public breakup then having to go straight into lockdown, forcing him on a journey of emotional healing and self-discovery. We get into the idea of shame as a manipulation tool in many Arab societies. He details his flourishing art career and some of his exciting up-incoming projects, including an aqua sports resort in Fuwayrit, Qatar. We take deep dive deep into the benefits of journaling for mental health, a habit we both swear by from the book (The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron). Finally, he shares his most controversial work inspired by the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and how he was almost canceled for it - you don't want to miss this.  If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe for more!   Contact:  Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/  Relevant Links:  https://www.instagram.com/temsa7comics/?hl=en  https://www.jordanbpeterson.com  https://www.theartistswaybook.com  https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/300-rocket-hour  Here's a timestamp for the episode:  (1:27) - Coming out of a toxic relationship & into the pandemic.  (7:03) - The notion of shame in Arab society.  (10:08) - Art career & up-incoming projects.  (14:02) - Benefits of journaling & how to get started.  (19:19) - Controversial artwork & attempts to canceled him for it. 

Chris Thomas is an energy expert working in the gas industry. He details what it was like growing up in Trinidad and his experiences at an all-boys school. We discuss the British vs American school system and how one of them builds confidence while the other destroys it. Chris shares insights from one of the most influential books on crowd psychology (The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon). Chris describes his journey to the energy sector and Trinidad's oil & gas economy, which sparks thought-provoking conversation on the climate debate. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe for more! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/ Relevant Links: https://www.amazon.com/Crowd-Gustave-Lebon/dp/1515435911 https://www.searchanddiscovery.com/pdfz/documents/2016/70231archie/ndx_archie.pdf.html https://diggingforgoldintrinidadandtobago.wordpress.com/world-war-i-and-ii-on-trinidads-oil-industry/ Here's a timestamp for the episode: (1:24) - What it was like going to an all-boys school in Trinidad? (6:10) - British vs American school system - which one destroys confidence? (8:43) - Gustave Le Bon on Crowd Psychology - did Donald Trump read it? (14:50) - Trinidad's energy economy - how Chris got started? (19:36) - Climate debate - things they don't tell you. (28:24) - Illuminati scam - who would this work on?

Mohammed 'Moby' Buhmaid is a Qatari actor/screenwriter and a longtime friend. We recorded this episode at Moby's family farm, since he's moved back from LA he spends much of his time alone working on his new web series. We get into the reality of pursuing creative work, and the unrealistic expectations people have when first starting out. While trying to make it in Hollywood, Moby was offered a role to play a terrorist - this sparks a conversation on the portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in cinema. Finally, we discuss the Jocelyn Mitchell incident at Northwestern University in Qatar and how it inspired one of his characters. If you enjoy the podcast, subscribe for more! Contact: Email: curatedadviceonbetterliving@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekhaledsoltan/Relevant Links:https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-apphttps://www.dohanews.co/breaking-professor-jocelyn-mitchell-withdraws-from-research-project/Here's a timestamp for the episode: (0:00) - Creative process & does environment influence writing? (7:49) - Moby's experiences as an actor in Hollywood. (13:23) - Meditation - how to get started?(15:36) - Jocelyn Mitchell Scandal at Northwestern University in Qatar.