DecafQuest

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Support the channel: https://gumroad.com/l/decaphilo Bio: Trishank is an amateur computer scientist, RWRI alumnus & instructor, physical culturist. Website: https://www.trishank.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/trishankkarthik Relevant links: online philosophy courses: https://gumroad.com/decafquest e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com

This is a sample of what my online philosophy classes are like. More info: https://decafquest.com/ https://decafquest.com/shop/ https://twitter.com/Decafquest e-book: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Talk #9: Ethical and Socially Responsible Investment: Is there such a thing? Bio: Dr. Ghassan Chammas is a founding partner and manager of Orion Financial Solutions, an international financial consulting firm specialized in Credit Analysis, Corporate Debt restructuring and Corporate Recapitalization. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ghchammas Link to presentation slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sotHrRrkt8jD0KtWVmScxhg4Ce7sHD_n/view?usp=sharing Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Talk #8: Power Sector: Where Do We Go From Here? Bio: Jessica Obeid is an independent energy policy consultant focusing on electricity and energy transition. She also serves as Senior Global Advisor for London-based consultancy Azure Strategy, formerly Castlereagh Associates. She is Academy Associate at Chatham House's energy, environment and resources department in London, where she previously served as resident fellow and non-resident fellow for the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. Prior to moving into policy, Jessica had a decade experience in engineering, with her last position being chief energy engineer at the United Nations Development Programme in Beirut. She has published widely and regularly provides expert commentary to leading media outlets. Jessica holds a master's degree in Political Sciences with emphasis on Diplomacy and Negotiations and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Lebanese American University. She's currently a PhD scholar at the University of East London researching renewable energy in data centers. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jessica_Obeid Articles: https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/featuredArticle.php?id=314 https://castlereagh.net/lebanon-attempts-to-fast-track-electricity-reform/ https://www.executive-magazine.com/economics-policy/lebanons-new-electricity-plan https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/lebanons-bumpy-road-imf-deal-implications-us-policy Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Talk #7: Mahmoud Rasmi (@decafquest) | Why Is Football Nicknamed the Beautiful Game? A Philosophical Reflection. Bio: I finished my PhD in Philosophy at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Between 2013 and 2020, I taught philosophy and cultural studies at the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Now, I have decided to venture into the virtual world in order to give affordable classes online to people who are interested in studying philosophy in a non-academic setting. Twitter: https://twitter.com/decafquest Online #philosophy courses: https://decafquest.com/shop/ Presentation slides: https://bit.ly/3cruR5s Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. Sixth talk: Ronnie Chatah (The Beirut Banyan) | Sharing the Story Bio: Ronnie Chatah hosts The Beirut Banyan podcast, a series of storytelling episodes and long-form conversations that reflect on all that is modern Lebanese history. Topics range from political and economic reform to the arts, architecture and collective memory. He also leads the WalkBeirut tour, a four-hour narration of Beirut's rich and troubled past. WalkBeirut has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and BBC Radio 4. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebeirutbanyan Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com Suggested links: We Should Not Mourn Justice via L'Orient Today: https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1247158/we-should-not-mourn-justice.html Robert Fisk: A Conscience Adrift via Newlines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/argument/robert-fisk-a-conscience-adrift/ Additional features on WalkBeirut: New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/middleeast/beirut-walking-tour-history.html Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-walk/beirut-guide-gives-walking-tours-of-citys-history-and-his-own-idUSKBN1FJ22Y BBC Radio 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j2bml BBC World: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s60ww Voice of America: https://newsvideo.su/video/3430608 Kerning Cultures Podcast: https://kerningcultures.com/kerning-cultures/the-things-that-cant-speak

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. Fifth talk: Dan Azzi | Why Wearing a Suit is as Useless as Technical Analysis Bio: Dan Azzi is a retired investment banker. He worked at UBS, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche, and Bear Stearns. Most recently, he was Head of Global Markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, for Standard Chartered Bank, retiring in 2015 as CEO/Chairman of the Board in Lebanon. Currently, he is a regular OpEd writer and lecturer in economics, monetary policy, and political reform. Twitter: https://twitter.com/dan_azzi Relevant links: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. Mike Azar | Lebanon and the Game Theory of Anarchy Bio: Mike Azar is an international finance professional who advises governments on financing transactions in strategically important sectors. His clients include the governments of the United States, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, and France. He has a graduate degree in international relations and finance from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/AzarsTweets Relevant links: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by Mahmoud Rasmi (@decafquest). Second Lecture: Philippe Caponis | Towards a More Responsible Tech Development Bio: Philippe is interested in better understanding how scientific theories illuminate (and often reshape) philosophical debates about the nature of space and time, identity and material constitution. He holds an MS in Physics and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Paris. https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1327182022629068803 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com Schedule of upcoming talks: https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1319985717032964102

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. First Lecture: Mahmoud Dgheim | Towards a More Responsible Tech Development Bio: Mahmoud Dgheim (@dgheim) is a Lebanese blockchain evangelist and Co-founder & CEO at Castalise - a platform introducing the potential behind blockchain and privacy-preserving technologies to the rapidly growing world of data analytics. https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1322959710270738438 Relevant links: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: info@decafquest.com Schedule of upcoming talks: https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1319985717032964102 Suggested readings: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies Book by Nick Bostrom Life 3.0 Book by Max Tegmark The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology Book by Ray Kurzweil Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money, Business, and the World Book by Alex Tapscott and Don Tapscott Permanent Record Book by Edward Snowden Andrew Trask privacy-preserving AI https://youtu.be/4zrU54VIK6k

Joint Episode with Ronnie Chatah from The Beirut Banyan. https://youtu.be/bSQjOWIdKQk Ronnie Chatah is a Master of Science (2017) graduate in literature and creative writing at the University of Edinburgh. His previous degrees include a Master of Arts (2012) in Middle East Studies from the American University of Beirut and a Bachelor of Arts (2003) in Political Science and Psychology from George Mason University. Ronnie conducts a history and political walking tour of Beirut called WalkBeirut, which initially ran from 2009 – 2013. The tour has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Voice of America and BBC Radio 4, and navigates Beirut's recent past while unraveling more complicated episodes - including Lebanon's civil war - through storytelling. The tour remains popular among tourists and Lebanese alike, and at its inception served as the only walking tour of Beirut. WalkBeirut was brought to a halt from 2013 – 2017 after Ronnie's father, Mohamad Chatah - a career diplomat, International Monetary Fund senior official, Lebanese finance minister and senior advisor to former prime ministers Fouad Seniora and Saad Hariri - was assassinated in a car bombing in Beirut on December 27, 2013. Ronnie left Lebanon in the immediate aftermath and decided to pursue his father's legacy in print and audio narration. The culmination of that work is a novel underway titled Buried in Beirut, and a podcast which Ronnie launched in 2019 named The Beirut Banyan. From tourism to tragedy, Ronnie's work reflects on Lebanon's recent politics and history, addressing the personal wounds associated with untimely and unjust loss. Relevant Links: WalkBeirut: http://walkbeirut.com The Beirut Banyan: http://beirutbanyan.com New York Times: https://nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/middleeast/beirut-walking-tour-history.html Reuters: https://reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-walk/beirut-guide-gives-walking-tours-of-citys-history-and-his-own-idUSKBN1FJ22Y BBC Radio 4: http://bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j2bml BBC World: http://bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s60ww Kerning Cultures Podcast: https://kerningcultures.com/kerning-cultures/the-things-that-cant-speak The Fire These Times Podcast: https://thefirethisti.me/2020/07/05/34-remembering-through-storytelling-in-times-of-hardship/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Mahmoud Natout is an entrepreneur, consultant, and educator. He is co-founder of L3b, a start-up that utilizes play-based strategies to help organizations build vibrant and human-centered work cultures that foster collaboration and innovative risk-taking. Relevant Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahmoud.natout L3b website: http://l3b.space/ Corridorri website: https://corridorri.com/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Nadine Welson Njeim is a Lebanese entrepreneur, and a tech and sustainability geek. She is the founder and managing partner of Microbits, a now leading digital agency. She is also head of the PR & BD department of Designer-24 holding. She is currently pursuing her master's in management at Harvard University. Nadine was elected as Miss Lebanon in 2007. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nadinewnjeim Facebook: https://facebook.com/nadinenjeim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadinewnjeim Website: https://microbits.co/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Dalal Mawad is a Lebanese journalist currently working as a senior Middle East and North Africa video producer with the Associated Press. She previously worked as a regional video producer for the United Nations Refugee Agency covering displacement in the Middle East and the world. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dalalmawad Website: https://dalalmawad.com/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Ghadi is a Lebanese Journalist and Writer. She's worked as an investigative journalist in the Levant and the region, as well as directed and produced documentaries covering war conflicts, displacement, and humanitarian crises. She currently runs GAIAMEDIA, a media consultancy, and production house. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ghadifrancis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancisGhadi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghadifrancis/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Karl Sharro (aka Karl reMarks) is an architect, satirist and commentator on the Middle East. He is a Partner at PLP Architecture in London and co-author of Manifesto: Towards a New Humanism in Architecture which was included in 100 Artists' Manifestos: from the Futurists to the Stuckists, a survey of 100 influential art manifestos from the last 100 years. He has practised architecture in London and Beirut, and taught for five years at the American University of Beirut. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarlreMarks Book: https://www.amazon.com/Then-Created-Middle-There-Breaking/dp/0863569021 Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Dr. Ahmad Al-Jallad is a philologist, epigraphist, and historian of language. His work focuses on the languages and writing systems of pre-Islamic Arabia and the ancient Near East. He has authored books and articles on the early history of Arabic, language classification, North Arabian and Arabic epigraphy, and historical Semitic linguistics. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Safaitic Personal website: https://leidenuniv.academia.edu/AhmadAlJallad Recently published book (The Damascus Psalm Fragment, available in pdf format): https://www.academia.edu/43189829/Al-Jallad._2020._The_Damascus_Psalm_Fragment_Middle_Arabic_and_the_Legacy_of_Old_%E1%B8%A4ig%C4%81z%C4%AB_w._a_contribution_by_R._Vollandt Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

#AgriNERDS 1) Souhad Abou Zaki is an #economist with a constant craving for learning. She's passionate about rural development and has been fortunate enough to work in this realm with Rural #Entrepreneurs, an #NGO that works on expanding employment prospects for youth and women and promoting #entrepreneurship as a tool for socio-economic change in rural communities. Twitter: https://twitter.com/souhad_16 2) Robert Malek is an agricultural entomologist. He studies the chemical ecology and foraging behavior of natural enemies, their interactions with plants and with insect pests and evaluates their potential as biological control agents. He also works on citizen science projects aimed at bridging the gap between science and the public and enhancing scientific literacy. Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalekRobert 3) Mouhaned is rural strategy developer and agriculutral consultant. Twitter: https://twitter.com/MouhanedD Website: https://agrileb.com/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below. Professor Magda BOU DAGHER KHARRAT is a Plant Geneticist. She is head of laboratory Biodiversity and Functional Genomics at the Faculty of Science in Saint-Joseph University (USJ) Beirut. Adapting to the lockdown and working from home: 00:02:00 Research and conservation fieldwork (irises season): 00:03:50 A faulty anthropocentric perspective? 00:11:00 How do you decide which plants to conserve? (invasive vs native species, botanical gardens, cost of maintenance) 00:13:00 Jouzour Loubnan NGO (theory vs practice): 00:22:35 Awareness campaigns about flora, conservation practices, field trips, and hands-on activities: 00:26:00 Being passionate about what you're interested in, choosing to work in plant biology and conservation: 00:32:00 Has the effort been worth it? 00:38:20 Lebanon flora database (info + pics): 00:43:15 Ecosystems need to be protected because they are difficult to restore; how system restoration is carried out; adopting pioneer methods by studying animal excrements; hyenas are not only carnivores, they become herbivores based on the season: 00:47:00 International plant database initiative: 00:55:40 Cost of lab sample analyses is expensive in Lebanon: 00:57:25 Is there awareness about the importance of environmental conservation? 01:00:00 To restore and conserve or to cultivate? (agroforestry) 01:03:00 Arsal project: 01:06:30 Plant names: 01:11:00 Traditional vs innovative strategies: 01:13:20 A reflection on COVID-19 and the human place nature; maintaining the ecosystem balance: 01:20:40 Magda was selected as part of the faces of exchange, which highlights 80 years of the US Visitor Leadership Program: 01:33:00 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/magdaboudagher Jouzour Loubnan twitter: https://twitter.com/jouzourloubnan Websites: http://www.lebanon-flora.org/ http://biodiversite-liban.blogs.usj.edu.lb/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Magda_Bou_dagher_kharrat Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below. Reem Saleh is a Lebanese Filmmaker. She is currently Associate Director of External Relations and Partnerships at NYUAD Arts Center. She's chaotic, passionate, and a globetrotter. Adopting a dog: Drogo: 00:01:40 Reem's educational and career backgrounds: 00:05:50 "To be on the field gives you a very different perspective.": 00:13:35 A discussion of Reem's movie 'What Comes Around' (death, poverty, community, solidarity, FGM): 00:18:05 Female genital mutilation: 00:32:00 Top-down vs bottom-up awareness campaigns: 00:45:20 An anecdote during filming: 00:47:10 The dire economic situation in Lebanon ("no one is immune to poverty): 00:52:30 Mazen Barbir's question: "why do succeed at an individual level but fail collectively?": 00:56:30 Issues with which university students struggle (multiple jobs, stress, competition, social pressure [what would people say about you?], mental health, struggling to save the appearance): 00:59:00 Solidarity and helping each other out [Kilna Ya3ni Kilna, and other initiatives]: 01:10:05 Meeting Jason Silva: 01:13:00 Future projects [a new documentary about alienation, displacement, identity, what is home]: 01:18:25 What prompted the idea for the documentary: on being vulnerable and feeling helpless: 01:20:30 What is leadership? A sports example; athlete's mental strength: 01:24:00 Relevant links: Movie: 'What Comes Around', https://journeyman.tv/film/7423 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meemzo Drogo's Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/drogattitude/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of content below. Elias Bou-Issa, Lebanese poet and author, records and books hunter, born in Ehden in 1984, currently living and working as a telecom engineer in The Netherlands. Corona-made beards: 00:01:00 Dutch vs Lebanese work-ethic and attitude towards work: 00:04:45 Law and law enforcement in Lebanon: 00:07:45 Moving to France: 00:11:30 French vs Dutch work culture: 00:22:33 The importance of workplace trust: 00:26:00 French revolution: 00:27:15 French syndicate, the de-naturing of 'noble' causes, empty activism, and NGOs: 00:33:35 Lockdown in the Netherlands: 00:47:52 Tai Chi class anecdote, the meaning of life, and cultural appropriation: 00:50:12 NGOs and the bureaucratization of institutions: 00:58:00 French revolution genocide: 01:06:50 US vs Lebanese Social Justice Warriors; victimology narratives : 01:10:10 University dorms in France: 01:17:50 The Bulgarian connection, culture and traditions: 01:23:20 Lebanese stress: 01:39:00 Elias the writer and poet; 1st published book: 01:44:15 Linguists with agendas: 01:49:30 Latin va arabic script to write Lebanese poetry: 01:54:30 We use English and French in Lebanon to fill a linguistic void: 02:11:35 Fairuz and the Rahbanis' contribution to language. Their corpus filled a linguistic void but was brought to a halt during and in the aftermath of the civil war. (Natouret l mfeti7): 02:14:00 Masra7iyet Loulou: 02:24:07 Where far right and far left meet: a psychoanalytic interpretation of these stances: 02:34:10 Record and book hunting/collecting: 02:39:00 Give me three words, cafe concept: 02:50:53 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/encrier Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below. Miled and Melissa are an ex-pat Lebanese married couple based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. They create digital content that focuses on their travel escapes, useful tips and tricks, and their favorite places in the UAE and its surroundings. Introduction (the name, background, COVID impact and working from home): 00:00:46 Deciding to start a travel vlog and blog page on Instagram and Facebook first and then on YouTube: 00:11:06 Attitude towards tourism and tourists of people in the MENA region: 00:15:22 A discussion about vlogging culture in the MENA region, why does it seem not to be so popular? (Lebanon vs other countries in the region): 00:17:34 The difficulties content creators face in Lebanon because of internet connection: 00:20:33 There are many things you can learn on YouTube than on other social media platforms, and why creating content on it is very demanding: 00:23:19 Youtube algorithm, and video length requirements to make your videos more visible: 00:25:50 Why The Rahal's content is different (spontaneous, informative, interesting, and fun): 00:28:10 Deciding whether or not to record on a trip, whether or not it feels like a burden (the Oman anecdote): 00:31:56 Do The Rahals argue over the idea, content, or editing of their travel videos? 00:38:50 Monetization of Youtube channel in the MENA region: 00:40:00 Vegetable Conspiracies shoutout: 00:41:36 You work for YouTube, and so you have to adapt accordingly: 00:43:20 Coming up for a storyline of the videos, pre or post-recording? 00:46:40 Recording on a honeymoon? How about maybe? 00:47:50 Organized or plan as you go trips? 00:49:10 Why Medellin? 00:51:30 The Argentina experience (DecafQuest): 00:55:06 The Colombia experience (the.Rahal): 00:57:00 The Guatape experience: 01:01:00 Thoughts on the South America trip and the cultural shock of traveling to new continents: 01:04:36 The more we travel, the more we discover that we all face the same struggles and conflicts: 01:07:20 Japan vs China: 01:09:45 Lebanon as not a cosmopolitan country; we are not that exposed to people from other countries or backgrounds:01:12:20 The importance of seeking to constantly improve oneself, and how travel can help: 01:14:40 The best dish in the world: labneh and sardines? 01:18:00 Deciding to create a YouTube channel: 01:23:06 Melissa talks to plants? What?: 01:24:50 What is your reaction to how people react when they know Mel speaks Chinese? 01:26:30 The philosophical dimension of the Chinese language: 01:31:00 People in the far east seem to be happy, is this true? 01:33:15 Urban vs suburban lifestyle: being chill and whatnot: 01:35:20 The lockdown experience in a frenetic lifestyle: 01:38:45 Social media platform of preference: 01:43:00 Working for YouTube? 01:44:09 Creating quality digital content: 01:47:00 Follow the.Rahal on social media at the below links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.rahal/ Youtube: youtube.com/therahal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRahhal/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below: Graham Griffiths is a political risk analyst with a particular focus on the Gulf. He studied philosophy and economics before getting an MA in Middle East studies. Topics discussed: Political risk analysis: 4:48 Importance of consulting services: 13:34 Factoring in the unpredictable: 22:06 Graham's educational background in economics and philosophy: 28:10 Is 'middle eastern studies' a scam?: 32:56 A critique of analytic philosophy: 40:00 Philosophy between theory and practice (philosophy is more about asking questions): 45:00 Universalism vs relativism in philosophy: 52:50 (Political correctness) Reconciling cultural diversity and ethical values within the consulting sphere: 58:20 Political risk analysis job profile: 1:06:00 The importance of factoring in geopolitical developments in the analysis before making final recommendations: 1:11:00 The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the region: 1:18:00 An overview of Douglas Hofstadter's Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid: 1:26:00 Intellectual play: 1:28:47 A discussion of Nassim Taleb's books: 1:31:00 The feasibility of wanting to be anti-fragile: 1:34:40 Dislocating experiences COVID vs war: 1:48:00 Graham's experience learning Arabic, and the difference between fus7a and local languages: 2:00:00 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/_graham_rhys Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Also known as ‘Miss Word', Adriana started her writing career at a very young age, publishing stories in local newspapers and magazines. With 3 books to her account and a long career with multinationals and local agencies, she creates fun, fresh, attention-grabbing content and copy, working as a freelancer since she "emancipated herself from corporate slavery". Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/adrianaleboss Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrianalebosswriter Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Nadim Kobeissi is a researcher in applied cryptography and the director of Symbolic Software, a small applied cryptography research office in Paris where Nadim and his team develop new scientific analysis tools and perform security audits for the private sector. Previously, Nadim taught computer security at NYU Paris. Nadim obtained his Ph.D. in December 2018 after doing research at Inria Paris while being accredited by ENS Paris. Relevant links: Personal website: www.nadim.computer An Investigation Into PEPP-PT: https://nadim.computer/posts/2020-04-17-pepppt.html Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaepora Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Sultan Al-Qassemi is a columnist, art & architecture enthusiast, and currently visiting Instructor, Islamic Civilization & Societies program at Boston College. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sultanalqassemi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sultanalqassemi/ Barjeel Art Foundation: https://www.barjeelartfoundation.org/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Wissam Kamal is a Stand up Comedian, Digital Content Creator, and Filmmaker #Lebanese #comedy Relevant links: https://linktr.ee/WissamKamal Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Elie is a food Scientist and Geography/Rap/Wrestle Mania Geek Relevant Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElijahLeb92 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lebanese_culture_history/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LebanonCH Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

#Health #NERDS #CORONA 1) Zakia Dimassi is a Pediatrician and medical educator based in Lebanon https://twitter.com/ZakiaDimassi 2) Lama Awada is a hypochondriac who's also a researcher in the fields of biophysics and immunology, currently based in Marseille https://twitter.com/planetperfume 3) Hadi Khachab is an Interventional Cardiologist , he studied medicine and cardiology in France where he has been living for 18 years. He loves food, travel, and Fairouz lover https://twitter.com/hadito13 4) Maysa Bou Dargham is a Food Safety and Hygiene Specialist Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Liliane is a Computer Science #NERD. She worked as a software engineer for 8 years, then shifted into the digital marketing space, which led her to #Facebook Ireland then Dubai. She now works as a Product Marketing Manager for Facebook MENA. You can reach out to Lilian at the below links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FunkyOzzi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelWithFunk Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TravelWithFunk https://www.instagram.com/FunkyOzzi/ Travel Blog: http://blog.funkyozzi.com/ Support the channel: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Translator extraordinaire embracing the joys of precariousness. Language consultant for international organizations and digital nomad. Fervent champion of the Lebanese dialect with a twist of sarcasm and savage trolling. Twitter: Marcelle: https://twitter.com/Marcellenassif DecafQuest: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Dan Azzi is a retired CEO who watches the watchmen. (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.) #Stoicism #philosophy Twitter: Dan Azzi: https://twitter.com/dan_azzi DecafQuest: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

A curious #economist with a constant craving for learning. I'm passionate about rural development and I've been fortunate enough to work in this realm with Rural #Entrepreneurs, an #NGO that works on expanding employment prospects for youth and women and promoting #entrepreneurship as a tool for socio-economic change in rural communities. Relevant links: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-hate-my-major-observations-career-counseling-souhad-abou-zaki/ Twitter: Souhad: https://twitter.com/souhad_16 DecafQuest: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Hussein Noureddine has been a journalist since 2002. He is a versatile #NERD who worked in several sectors including the banking and steel industries. He definitely loves his classical #Arabic poetry, and writes beautiful poems in #Lebanese. Twitter: https://twitter.com/HuseinNourdin Relevant links: https://www.al-akhbar.com/Author/5383 DecafQuest twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Mother. Writer. HR Manager. Avid Procrastinator. Trouble-Maker for good! For more information you can follow her work at the following links: Blog: https://thefoodiemama.weebly.com/ Twitter: Rayan Kahtoun : https://twitter.com/leb_obs KilnaYa3niKilna: https://twitter.com/KilnaYa3ni Green Environment Movement: https://twitter.com/GEM_Leb Instagram: Green Environment Movement: https://www.instagram.com/gem_lb/ The Needy Girlfriend: https://www.instagram.com/theneedygf/ Decafquest twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

DecafQuest #7 - Mazen Barbir Mazen Barbir is the Head of FX Trading @ Intl Bank in Dubai, and a doctoral student researching psychology and opportunity recognition. He has been an expat since 98. Twitter: Mazen Barbir: https://twitter.com/mazen_barbir Mahmoud Rasmi: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

دان قزي كاتب ومحلل اقتصادي. Twitter: Dan Azzi: https://twitter.com/dan_azzi Mahmoud Rasmi: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

وائل هو نيرد علقان بالبونزي. Wael is a Free Market Nerd locked in the Ponzi. Twitter: Waël Atallah: https://twitter.com/wael_atallah Mahmoud Rasmi: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

كريس هو مستشار إداري وعالم بيانات وهواة تمويل فضولي Chris is a Reformed Management Consultant, Data Scientist and Inquisitive Finance Hobbyist. Twitter: Christian Adib: https://twitter.com/AdibChristian Mahmoud Rasmi: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

مقابلة مع نسيم طالب. An interview with Nassim Taleb, author of #BlackSwan, about the current #Lebanese economic and political situation.

مقابلة مع نسيم طالب.

محمود دغيم مختص بالبلوك تشاين والكربتو كارينسيز. Extra information about who the NERDS are can be found on the below links. #Bitcoin #blockchain #IMF #WB You can follow us on Twitter: Mahmoud Dgheim: https://twitter.com/dgheim Lebfinance: https://twitter.com/lebfinance Mahmoud Rasmi: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

مايك عازار هو متخصص في تمويل البنية التحتية في طرابلس وقد قدم المشورة لوكالات الإقراض الحكومية حول تمويل العديد من مشاريع الغاز الطبيعي البحرية . Mike Azar (@AzarsTweets) is a Tripoli-based infrastructure finance professional who has advised government lending agencies on the financing of several recent offshore natural gas projects. For more information checkout the below links: You can also follow us on twitter: Mike: https://twitter.com/AzarsTweets Mahmoud Rasmi (decafquest): https://twitter.com/Decafquest

محمد فاعور باحث أكاديمي في الشؤون المالية ومقره دبلن ، مع التركيز على سوء السلوك المالي في القطاع المصرفي. Mohamad Faour is a Dublin-based academic researcher in Finance, with a focus on financial misconduct in the banking industry. Relevant articles: https://al-akhbar.com/Issues/282002 You can also follow us on twitter: Mohamad Faour: https://twitter.com/Mohdfaour89 Mahmoud Rasmi (decafquest): https://twitter.com/Decafquest