Seele Food

Lainey has a distinct retro style that makes her easily spotted in a room. Since she was a child Lainey hasn't been seen without bell bottom flared pants, on stage or off. It's her style and her warm and inviting Southern personality makes Lainey attractive to her fans in the US and around the world. This is my second time interviewing the singer from Baskin, Louisiana. She exudes Southern graces with her thick down South accent, and she's ever so humble and down to earth…

This interview firstly appeared in written form in MOJEH Magazine's December 2020 issue. I sat down with Emad at her hotel room during the October 2020 El Gouna Film Festival in El Gouna Egypt to do this interview. We talk fashion, her acting work, the festival, and her charitable work.

A sit-down chat with Country Music artist Devin Dawson where we talk about everything from his Metal days, to what inspired him to go Country, the pandemic, and his new EP dropping January 15th.

Egyptian actress Yousra isn't just any actress, she's a legend in her native Egypt and in the Middle East as its leading lady.

She's got that Taylor Swift vocal sound about her and you find a bit of Kacey Musgraves mixed in, and as she puts it, she ‘dances with an air of mystery.' Kären McCormick is growing in her Country Music career and we talk about everything from Afrobeats, her music, Nashville, touring, and her desire to diversify Country Music.

In this interview we talk calling- how perfumery found Kilian; we talk how perfume-making is more similar to cooking than cognac making; he opens up about his two newest scents launched this month: Angels' Share and Roses on Ice; his secret to success; and giving back.

Her Excellency, Dr. Sara Al Madani is one of the realest people that I have had the opportunity to meet. She's a fashion designer, serial entrepreneur, member of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (for those who don't know, Sharjah, is one of the UAE's seven emirates). But above all her professional accomplishments, Sara is kind. This comes from a deep love of herself, which isn't narcissistic, but, in knowing God and being guided by Him. All of this is coupled with knowing and respecting herself, which results in her having a love of humanity. When she is able, she gives of herself by sharing tips and wisdom to inspiring entrepreneurs.We discuss taking that risk and starting your business in the age of Covid. The Pandemic has left a lot of people jobless and some might be considering starting a business, but don't feel confident or feel like they have the tools to be an entrepreneur. We chat about the necessary tools to start a business; how to know if the person you're thinking to partner with to be a business partner is the right person; what else is needed (being emotional, mentally, and socially equipped) to start a business; and, Sara share what she wishes she had known before starting her first business, which, you will find her response surprising.

Katie is a Creative, living in Washington, DC. She and Ally, Seele's Editor actually grew up together in the American South, having grown up in the same church. It's not possible to move forward as a nation, Black and White unless we seek to understand, talk, listen, repent and heal together. Katie and Ally chat on themes of racism and share ways of moving forward

Shaye Strager is a triple threat of styling, public relations and branding for the fashion and jewelry industries with more than 20 years of experience. Shaye multi-tasked her way through several firms before finding the perfect haven for her talents at Studio PR, a boutique luxury agency she co-founded. But, seven years ago she launched her own fashion styling business under Strager Style LLC.

Joanne “Jo” Moody is the President and Co-Founder of Agape Freedom Fighters, and she leads healing teams, teaches, speaks, trains and equips leaders and lay people nationally and internationally in all types of ministry venues. We discuss the basics of the prophetic, one of the five fold ministry gifts from Ephesians 4: 11-12.

Lauren Jenkins is a singer-songwriter who has been touring since she was 15 years old. And she's also an accomplished actress and filmmaker. We talk music, her music, what she has been doing in Nashville during quarantine, and movies.

Janet Giachino and I recently sat down, over Zoom, in quarantine with Mexican actor, Eduardo Verástegui to talk about his testimony, Mexico, faith, the type of godly men and women people should be pursuing for their life partners, and his upcoming film “Sound of Freedom,” which dives into the global issue of human trafficking through the true story of a former CIA agent.

Jan Smith is a nationally recognized singer, songwriter, and musician. And, she is a Grammy nominated producer, Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee, and a multi-platinum certified vocal coach and vocal producer who has vocally trained distinctive voices in the industry. She's the owner of Jan Smith Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, a state-of-the-art vocal coaching facility, but she offers services nationwide to record companies, artists, producers and motion pictures.

Erick Goss is the CEO and Co-Founder of Minno, a Nashville-based media and technology company focused on serving Christian kids and families through an ad-free subscription-video-on-demand platform. Erick earned a reputation as an innovator in digital marketing at a little company called, Amazon, where he was instrumental in launching a lot of firsts for the company. Erick began his career in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a helicopter pilot and later as a spokesperson at the Pentagon.

Today is Messia's story, a Lebanese man who grew up with domestic violence and abuse, done to him by his father, which turned him to sexual immorality, living a life hating God, but a life yearning for love. How could he forgive those who were supposed to protect her? I'd encourage you to listen why.

Seele Editor, Ally sat down with Country Music duo, Shannon Haley and Ryan Michaels, known as Haley and Michaels over the weekend in London. They were in London for the C2C Music Festival that got cancelled because of travel bans related to the Coronavirus.They've been named one of Rolling Stone's “Artists You Need to Know” and they sharpen a fresh, arena-size sound and embody what it means to be a pure duo on stage and off

Rebekah Mazzei, Seele Magazine's contributor and Ally Portee, Editor-In-Chief interviewed Laura Toganivalu, known as Laura Toggs, one recent Saturday morning. Laura and her husband Peter are Global Pastors of Hillsong Church's Young & Free and they're also prolific speakers and together they pastor the youth ministry. Between three continents- Australia, North America and Europe, over three different time zones, the three chatted for an hour about Biblical womanhood, music, knowing when to run from a bad relationship, her initiative ‘The Secret Garden' and more.

Seele Magazine Editor, Ally sat down with Americana singer/songwriters Sean McConnell and Garrison Starr on their European Tour, on their pitt stop in London last week. Sean has released 13 albums and written for artists like: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Christina Aguilera. And Garrison Starr is a singer, songwriter and record producer based in Los Angeles, and known for her vibrant and impassioned live performances. In a wholesome conversation about music and the creative process of songwriting we got into some juicy topics about the differences between their American and European audiences, their inspiration, Garrisson's persecution in her faith journey, and what we can expect to see from them in 2020, which include their duo group, "My Sister, My Brother" hopefully touring sometime this year.

Jules loves God and loves people, and everything she does is to uplift Jesus and empower people to go after their dreams and goals. In 2009 when she moved from Atlanta to Dubai to be a stewardess, her eyes were opened to a great big world of cultures and languages. For there, with three months' rent in her bank account, she spent several years serving in South Africa through the Hillsong Foundation. From there, in 2017 she started Brave by Faith, where she runs about 20 retreats a year in exotic locations, inspiring travelers to adopt new healthy habits, while casting off old insecurities and mindsets, replacing them with a fresh knowledge of God and His deep love for mankind. One thing you will take away from this podcast episode, when listening to Jules' journey is that when you walk with God, surrendering your life's direction to Him, He will lead you on a journey far above anything you could ever ask for or imagine.

He played football, he worked for NASCAR, he was on Survivor Nicaragua and finished second, and he's now a Country Music artist. Chase Rice is having a pretty wild ride of a life enjoying what's he's been called to do.

She's been named as an artist to watch and her current single has over 1 million views on YouTube. Her sound is soulful, incorporating husky vocal tones with superlative song writing. But it's Nouri's early life story of growing up in a refugee camp and moving to New Zealand that helps her to humbly handle her burgeoning music career.

Sarah Beydoun started her business as a social project that was meant to empower the women who make her handbags, and they still do, but they are also empowering the women who carry them. Employing women prisoners, ex-prisoners and underprivileged women in Lebanon Sarah launched her business, Sarah's Bags. Today, 19 years after its conception, Sarah has over 200 artisans, who have been outcast by society, making her handbags and accessories. The brand is on a mission to keep traditional techniques alive and fresh by using them to interpret modern designs.

Shefali is an Indian-American who left the United States at the age of 5 and grew up between Mumbai and Dubai. With high expectations, she became an executive at the age of 21 at her family's corporate business in Mumbai.Fulfilling the family business responsibilities, she's an executive for a BSE listed company. She's also a board director for two other companies.In year 2019, Shefali launched a book called Own It! that helps individuals prove themselves as capable leaders. This book was written based on the lessons Shefali has learned in life, helping her to become a confident leader and progress in her career. She knew what it takes, and she believes that people can also learn what it takes to OWN IT!

Ten years ago, Thompson Square signed to one of Nashville's leading labels, and their debut self-titled album went Gold, with a #1 Double Platinum single. They went on to release a follow up 'Just Feels Good', while touring with artists like Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line, as well as starting to spread their wings internationally with a #1 single in Australia, and nearly 1 billion streams worldwide for their music to date. They have also had two GRAMMY nominations, been named Duo of the Year in both the CMA and ACM Awards, and this latest album marks their long-awaited return to releasing and performing music after taking some time away for the birth of their son Cooper, who has also inspired their first children's book and song 'Time To Get Dressed'. The latest album 'Masterpiece' is out now.

We talk faith and Country Music with Tommy.

May El Khalil, the president of the Beirut Marathon Association sat down with Seele Magazine Editor, Ally Portee and talked about her 20+ years in Nigeria, and, returning home to Lebanon to inspire her post civil war nation through sport, with a marathon association. What used to be a few thousand runners has turned into several thousand runners, where's May's vision has put Beirut on the map of international marathons.

Yalda Hakim is a BBC World News presenter and correspondent, which she joined in 2012. She made her on-screen debut in March 2013 presenting a special three-part series of Our World entitled, Iraq: Ten Years On.Before joining BBC World News Yalda was the presenter of SBS Dateline in Australia. She has reported on Afghanistan's Kandahar province, Libya during the Arab Spring, from the streets of Juba, South Sudan, as many celebrated the new country's independence, and on various issues from the Middle East, the U.S., Africa and Europe.

Lainey Wilson gets you with her distinct Southern drawl. It's the first thing that you notice about her. Lainey's music, from the tunes to the lyrics are honest and relatable, but also full of grit. I met up with Lainey after C2C and we talked music, her fans in London, and women artists that inspire her.

Queen Esther is a fascinating woman who faced many challenges. Seele Magazine editor, Ally points out a few things you may have never thought of. And, Elizabeth Neep is a writer, a painter, book publisher and an editor. We talk faith, women, calling and Queen Elizabeth.

A sit down chat with Country Music trio, Runaway June.

This is part 2 of our interview with Joyce Azzam, the first Lebanese woman to climb 5 of 7 world summits. This coming November, she will be climbing Mount Vinson in Antarctica. And in the spring of 2019, she will attempt to climb Mount Everest. Her goal is to reach the 2 poles and become the second woman in the world to complete the Explorers Grand Slam. She's keen to inspire girls and women to follow their dreams and challenge themselves through her #YesYouCan campaign.

Seele Editor, Ally chats with Joyce Azzam, the first Lebanese woman to climb 5 of 7 world summits. This coming November, she will be climbing Mount Vinson in Antarctica. And in the spring of 2019, she will attempt to climb Mount Everest. Her goal is to reach the 2 poles and become the second woman in the world to complete the Explorers Grand Slam. She's keen to inspire girls and women to follow their dreams and challenge themselves through her #Yes_She_Can campaign.

Seele Editor, Ally chats with New Zealand musician Phil Joel. Phil is the former bassist for the Christian rock group, Newsboys. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Phil lives in Nashville, TN with his family. But now, he has his own band Zealand. This fall, Zealand will be opening for Newsboys on their fall tour.

Meta Washington is a radio host on Kirk Franklin's gospel music channel on Sirius radio. Seven days a week she in the studio in Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. Meta has been a music lover since she was a child and spent her free time in record stores quizzing the clerks about various artists. Today, she combines that love of music with her love of God.

Tommy Hatto is a British actor. He stumbled into acting. It wasn't something he dreamed of doing, and by stumbling into it, he has landed roles in movies like Marvel's second Thor and Fast & Furious 8. He has worked with JLo and has a movie coming out later this year starring Samuel L. Jackson. Tommy opens up a how he got into acting, working in the business, modeling, and being British and Thai.

A conversation with Andrew Hyatt, an award-winning writer and director. He talks his latest movie, “Paul, Apostle of Christ' and his background story. The movie was made on a shoestring budget of $5 million. Andrew is passionate about God, and he has done well in combing his two passions: storytelling in film and God.

This is an interview from March's C2C Festival at London's 02 Arena. Seele Food sat down with Country music band, LANco and the five guys talked music, faith, performing in the UK and humility.

Penny & Lucy Lou Art started in May 2013 when owner and artist, Penny McPeak along with her pooch, Lucy Lou launched, built www.pennyandlucylou.com and began taking her photography to the next level. Penny opens up about what led her to start a business, the pros and cons of being an entrepreneur, what her art line offers, and her Christian faith.

Interview with the Ladies of Clean Beauty Co- Elsie and Dominika. Clean Beauty Co is about making natural and non-toxic beauty accessible to the masses. As well as sharing easy and fun recipes, they also now have a product line available for sale.