Kiya Kahe Ga Kazi

It's been six months since the last podcast was uploaded. Here's everything that's happened, and five lessons I've learned from it. Timecodes 0:00: Your guest today is me 1:16: The situation with the Karachi studio 3:31: The podcast must evolve 5:45: Coming to Hyderabad 7:08: Dancing with the idea of doing the podcast in someone else's space 8:01: Why I can't go mobile with the podcast 9:49: The switch to short-form content 11:47: For the people who know me just from the short-form content 13:28: ARKG merch 14:34: The problem with renting space for the podcast 15:38: The Podcast with Mehrub for which I got flack 18:20: The story of the live podcasts 19:25: Segway into what I've learned in 2022 19:42: 1 - The danger of exceeding a person's concept of you and why I felt I owed Irfan bhai an apology 26:20: 2 - The kindness of great people 28:05: 3 - Pakistan's masculinity problem, my five steps for solving it 33:17: 4 - Our inability to put our money where our mouth is 36:57: 5a - Protecting your cognitive capital is important and uncomfortable 39:42: 5b - Admitting that you don't know something is liberating. 41:29: We will try to speak to each other more often. Speak to Kazi: callakazi@gmail.com Find me everywhere else through here: https://linktr.ee/kaziakber

Faisal Sheikh is the founder and CEO of 'Jack of Digital,' the exclusive advertising and data sales partner for TikTok, Eskimi, SHAREit, and SpiderAF in Pakistan. We speak about the ability to endure hardships because of a principle-oriented stance, the evolution of short-form video content, slowing down in an environment that is sped up due to the high rate of technological development, and the timeless nature of certain societal imperatives.

Rayan Khan is a crypto trader who hopes to launch his own NFT project. We speak about the taboos around cryptocurrency, wealth generation, and management, and what he hopes will be a paradigm-shifting community predicated upon his work in the Metaverse.

Abid Saleem is part of the old guard of photographers in Pakistan with a career spanning over 30 years. We speak about what started his career in his teenage years, the pursuit of prominence that Pakistani society seems to be taken by, his deep respect for the craft of acting, what makes one a successful fashion model, the fundamental difference between working in the content creation space in Pakistan as opposed to anywhere else in the world, and about how he's kept up with the technological advancements in camera gear, and content creation more generally. Towards the latter part of the podcast, we also speak about what drives his pursuit of excellence despite having experienced tremendous success in his long-standing career.

Asteria is a singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. We speak about the power of discovering one's calling, the courage required to dream, the immutable engine of trauma, about growing up with resentment toward Pakistani society, moving abroad, and realizing that the resentment was predicated upon something more immediate, about coming back and coming to terms with her heritage and her home.

Nabeel Akbar is a rapper based out of Karachi. We speak about all that governs his music, the pressure of becoming prominent, the problem with pretense, and on what the fierce loyalty of his listeners is predicated upon.

Arham Ikram is a videographer/photographer/content creator based out of Karachi, he is also a design student. We speak about the power of embracing risks, the liberty of living with purpose, the importance of allowing your passions to govern you, and the need to make an allowance for the process.

Bilal Hassan is a photojournalist and a doctor. We speak about the pandemonium of the political realm in Pakistan, the changes in what is understood to be favorable content on Instagram, and how one must adapt, on building an inner circle of good people as an antidote to chaos, on our best laid out plans and the power of accepting uncertainty, on what men could really do to aid women, and on the importance of speaking to young men in Pakistan.

Saba Qazi is a final-year medical student and one of the founding members of 'PakCares,' which is a humanitarian organization hoping to aid the plight of impoverished communities in Karachi and eventually Pakistan. We speak about the inherent heartbreak required for philanthropic work, the spirit of giving, the strength of proactivity, and the stereotypes that govern the Sindhi identity in Karachi.

Taabir is a yoga instructor and a design student at IVS. We speak about the moral decay in the fitness industry in Karachi, the conventions that govern her yoga practice, what led to her attempting to become financially independent at the tender age of sixteen, how she navigates a space rife with blatant commodification, sexualization, and indecent overtures, and about being kind to one's self.

Saman is the media network manager for Redbull in Pakistan. We speak about what governs Redbull's initiatives in Pakistan, how Saman understands the mechanism of empowerment, what it takes to be noticed by the Pakistani chapter of Redbull, and how she came to work for the company.

Ayesha is a journalist and content manager. We speak about the multiple facets of the 'me too' movement in Pakistan, about the propriety that ought to govern conversations about mental health, about what it is to live as a woman or a minority in a country that seems to be taken by patriarchy, and about the conventions that govern us when it comes to idealising certain types of personalities.

Samar is the CEO of the 'Karachi Down Syndrome Program,' which is an organisation that hopes to be a one-stop solution for everything that a person with down syndrome or their family might need, she is also a psychotherapist. We speak about the cognitive capital required to do the work that she does, about being a female CEO in a male-dominated society, about what it is to live and flourish with down syndrome, and what has informed her decision to work in this sector.

Arslan is a writer and creator of 'The Desi Collective,' which is a magazine that hopes to house an expansive retinue of local writers. We speak about the essential nature of writing, the power of narrative building, the primacy of one's own story, and the need for the old guard of writing to seize the suffocation of the writing youth immediately.

Sherry Khattak is a singer, guitarist, music producer, and member of the powerful 'Karakoram.' We speak about the origins of his music career, his absolute inability to say no to someone in need of help, the multiple paradigms that have aided his growth into arguably one of the most versatile musicians active in Pakistan, about the creation and evolution of Karakoram, and about the experience of working with some of the most talented musicians in the country via the apparatus of Coke Studio

Mapu and I speak on the African Pakistani experience, on the plight of marginalized communities in Pakistan, on the history of slavery we opt to omit from our societal discourse, on performative activism and the paradigms that govern cultural appropriation.

J is one of the pioneers of rap in Karachi. We speak about what was, what is, and what he thinks might become of Karachi rap. We also speak about his creative process, the paradigms that govern his music, and the love he feels for his city and her people.

Yahya is the owner and proprietor of 'Thrive,' a streetwear brand based out of Lahore. We speak about the fashion industry in Pakistan, about why he chose to enter the streetwear design space, about what his designs are inspired by, and about the intangibles that govern the fashion industry in Pakistan.

Nida is a community leader and entrepreneur. We speak about women's health care, miscarriages, the taboos around what a working woman ought to be, building inclusive communities with 'the superwomen of Pakistan,' and the impact of something as traumatic as losing an unborn child.

Asad Ahmed is a guitarist and a producer, with a career spanning over thirty years. We speak about the evolution of the music industry in Pakistan, about the genesis of the 'rockstar' archetype, about the hold that Karachi has over him, and about the engine behind any long-standing music career.

Ali Gul Pir is a rapper, comedian, and actor. We speak about the plight of social commentary and satire in Pakistan, about what his strength is predicated upon, about the darkness that anchors his comedy, about perfecting his craft, and about controlling and fostering chaos.

Saif Jatoi is a content creator. We speak about his evolution since he was last on the podcast a year ago, the lessons he's had to learn working in the media industry in Pakistan, a recent unpleasant interaction that served as a wake-up call for him, and about the primacy of the 'why' in one's life.

Risham is a rapper. We speak about the spirit of woman empowerment, the engine behind her music, the hope that propels her forward, and the thought behind her latest song, 'pairi kuri.'

Ameer Ali is an artist, a teacher, and a recent entrant in the NFT markets in Pakistan. We speak about his art, about the point of wealth, the spirit of giving, and the ability to withstand loss being as important as the ability to digest success. We also speak about NFT trading.

Muhammad Shah is a content creator who posits the primacy of the absurd, a rapper, and a business grad. He is also one of the most wonderfully awkward people I have ever met. We speak about fostering dissent through art, the genesis of his style of music and content, about the paradigms that have governed his education and mine, and about the darker side of his art which has erstwhile been contained by his humor.

Ahsan Mughal is a rapper with one of the most unique flows and cadences in Pakistan. We speak about the music industry as it stands in Pakistan, the distinction between rappers from Karachi and Lahore, his nuanced opinion about the latest season of Coke Studio, and why he seems aloof generally from the music scene in Pakistan.

Manal Garib is a makeup artist, a freshly minted owner and proprietor of a beauty studio in Karachi, and co-owner of a women's fitness apparel company called 'Living Fit Apparel.' We speak about the imperatives that govern a working woman's life, about pursuing one's path irrespective of societal conventions, on the art of makeup, and on the engine that drives her towards financial agency.

Asif Hazara is a Boxer. We speak about his humble beginnings. About his belief that if one does not face resistance then they are not on the 'true' path. About how he hopes the Pakistani societal imperatives might shift to include sports other than cricket as worthy of support and repute and about how most entities in Pakistan seem to talk a big game but are not keen on fulfilling any promises.

Shareh is a rapper based out of Karachi. We speak about his writing process, the engine behind his music and his upcoming album, titled 'attachments.'

Sabeena is an actor and a graphic designer. We spoke about how one stumbles upon their passion, about what it was like homing in diaspora as she grew up attempting to reconcile her Russian and Pakistani identities, about the question of where home is, about what drives her work ethic, and about systemic bullying perpetrated by teachers in Pakistani educational institutes.

Sultan is a music producer based out of Karachi. We speak about his prodigious music production talents, about what 'mixing' and 'mastering' entails in the context of music production, about his unwillingness to compromise his artistic authority and independence for greater financial gains, and about his pursuit of peace through attempting to constantly live in the present.

Maria is a hitchhiker, travel content creator, and travel guide. We speak about the travel industry and couch surfing community in Pakistan, about the dangers and beauty of hitchhiking, about her philosophy of complete assimilation before she can claim to know a people, and about her hope to enamor women in Pakistan to travel through her all-female travel trips.

Samantha is a travel content creator from America who hopes to make Pakistan her home. We speak about the grand adventure of global backpack traveling, about how Pakistan compares to the numerous other countries she's visited, and about how she hopes the travel and backpacking community in Pakistan might evolve.

Zas is part of the emerging rap scene in Karachi. We speak about what drives his music, about what it is to open for and collaborate with his heroes, about the different paradigms of concepts like 'hustle' that he would hope to educate his listeners about, and about how rap music allowed him to overcome his speaking disability.

Faran Bhatti is by his own admission an 'experience generator,' with forays in event management, travel tour organization, and most recently fashion design. We speak about his ambitious clothing project that ties into the local interest in NFTS and the Metaverse, about his vision for the events he wants to organize in the future, about his hope to contribute to the local economy with all the work that he hopes to do, and about the great and sometimes destructive power that drives him forward.

Nazar is a writer based in Toronto, Canada. He is also the co-host of the Vaguely Familiar podcast. We speak about what it is to have a home, about living in diaspora, about Karachi and how it's evolved over the years as Nazar has traveled to and from it, and about the history of violence that he's inherited from his father, who had to immigrate, first to Pakistan, and then to Canada.

I am joined by Shane, Zair, and Vais of Kashmir. To date, this is one of the most chaotic and fun episodes that I have done.

Boljani is a Karachi-based Rapper and is part of the wave of prodigious talent emerging on the local music scene. We speak about the genesis of his name, about why his music seems to have a wholesome paradigm to it, about what it is for him to perform on the same card as industry stalwarts The Young Stunners, about the fostering nature of the rap fraternity in Pakistan and about truly coming into his own and occupying the position that he's made for himself at twenty-two years old.

Ali Abbasi is an auditor, and the creator and primary engine behind TPR Pod. We speak about the taboos around discussion of financial liabilities in the context of the arts, about The TPR Pod becoming a cataloging concern that will hope to chronicle the journey of notable personalities, about living in diaspora, the moral grandstanding and weakness of character exhibited by those who inhabit the internet, and about leaving Pakistan and not being able to leave Pakistan.

Kanwal Ahmed is the creator of the 'soul sisters' Facebook group and the producer and host of 'Conversations with Kanwal.' We speak about discourse around women empowerment, about becoming cognizant of the finitude of our cognitive capital, about the robust subcontinental culinary traditions, about trauma, abuse, and how to be reverent of the stories that we are trusted with.

Adil and Asim Baluch are musicians who hope to transcend language with their art. We speak about the texture of a language, about what saved them from the chaos that surrounded them growing up in a broken Liyari, about the need to gain a proper appreciation of the work of an artist, and about the primacy of the process when attempting to understand music.

Shaun is presently the only Unreal Engine Authorized Instructor in Pakistan. He is also a motion graphic designer, colorist, and lecturer of media sciences at IoBM Karachi. We speak about the power of technological determinism and the Unreal Engine platform, about coveting obsoletion and future-forward thinking, and about the primacy of telling a story in a world where the 'hows' of visual media production are increasingly supplemented by artificial intelligence.

Asad is one of the best chefs in Karachi. We speak about the multifaceted culinary traditions of the subcontinent, about the traditional gender roles and societal imperatives that plagued his initial decision to pursue his craft, and about being a leader in the heart of chaos.

Irfan Junejo is a storyteller from Karachi. We speak about loss and love, about paradigms and priorities, about growth and rootedness.

Fatema is a writer, artist, and Autoimmune disorder advocate. She is also someone that has lived with Autoimmune diseases for the better part of her life. We speak about the anger that drives her, about the love that changed her paradigms about life, about the art that heals her, and about what she would like her legacy to be.

Danish Hasan is a content creator, videographer, director, editor extraordinaire. We speak about his evolved creative process, about the false dichotomy between what is personal and what is just business, on the struggle for recognition and the pursuit of excellence, and on unpacking happiness.

Umer Noman is a content creator. We speak about the taboos around mental health, content creation, financial liberation, and the chaotic world of online bullying and cancel culture.

Ali Hamza is a photographer. We speak about toxic masculinity, privilege, and the growth in the clothing and design sectors in Pakistan.

Ramish is a content creator, entrepreneur, artist, sneaker connoisseur, and general financial education enthusiast. We speak about financial liberty, on the importance of failure, on toxic and healthy masculinity, on the deterioration of the collective male psyche, on wealth generation, and on being on your own side.

Anika is an actor and content creator. The conversation begins with our experiences in diaspora and continues into the importance of coming to terms with your shadow and the history of violence and abuse that we are plagued with as a society.

Muhammad Waseem is the recently crowned WBC Silver Flyweight champion in boxing. We speak about his humble beginnings, about his rise through the Pakistan Boxing Federation, about the dearth of proper guidance in sport in Pakistan, about the rampant corruption that plagues local institutions, about the importance of naysayers in a fighter's journey, and about becoming someone you are willing to take responsibility for.