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Most fintechs chased hype. Abhi chased cash flow.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we sit down with Omair Ansari, Co-Founder & CEO of Abhi, one of Pakistan's fastest-growing fintechs.Abhi began with earned wage access, giving workers instant liquidity. Today, it has scaled into payroll financing, SME lending, and invoice factoring — and even acquired a licensed microfinance bank in Pakistan to materially lower its cost of funds.We explore:- Why profitability and cost of capital decide who survives fintech's winter- How Abhi scaled from earned wage access into a full-stack working capital platform- Pakistan as the anchor, GCC as the growth frontier- The real potential (and limits) of tokenization & private credit- Why licences and compliance, not glossy apps, are the true moat in fintech- How embedded finance at payroll and receivables lowers costs and expands inclusionThis is more than a growth story — it's a blueprint for building durable fintech in emerging markets.
For his eighth appearance on GCC, Tony talks about his published adaptation of Sense & Sensibility! In more detail, Mike & Tony talk about the second instalment in The Austen Chronicles; That Other Dashwood Girl. The duo talk about why Tony focused on a little-known character, how writing this differed to writing Welcome To Mansfield, his love of Jane Austen, the emotional beats of the novel, the narrator's role, his research into England/Britain (as the book takes place there, with British characters) and more! This is a conversation for any writers, book readers and definitely one for those who love Austen (Janeites)! Find Tony @ARFarina on Instagram & Facebook or find his site here: www.arfarina.com and find his Jane Austen books Welcome To Mansfield and That Other Dashwood Girl wherever you buy books! You can hear the playlists for Tony's novels on Spotify or his website: www.arfarina.com/music.html Tony has been on GCC numerous times, including episodes 195 (introducing his first Jane Austen novel Welcome To Mansfield), 219 (for Buffy Revisited), episode 222 for further information on Welcome To Mansfield, ep 237 with Ada (AA) McCartney to talk about voice-acting for WTM and 250 to celebrate the release of Comics Lit! Anachronistic Comics: http://martianlit.com/books/21/anachronistic-comics Comics Lit Volume 1: https://accomplishinginnovationpress.com/product/comics-lit-vol-1 Mike's Comics Lit convo with Tony & Tonya, video: https://youtu.be/NAgjMyC26is - Audio: https://pod.fo/e/286e5c Previous episodes of GCC have included Seth Singleton talking about Comics Lit, celebrating Where I'm From 200 with Alyson Shelton, interviews & reviews from the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival and discussing The Intergalactic Empire Of Wakanda novel with its author, Suyi Davies Okungbowa! All Patreon supporters have been receiving bonus episodes, including reviews on Thunderbolts, Morbius, Superman III & IV, Venom 3 and more, as well as early access! Support at www.patreon.com/GenuineChitChat or https://ko-fi.com/GenuineChitChat If you're a Star Wars fan, check out Star Wars Chit-Chat for Mike's in-depth reviews, breakdowns & things you missed episodes for Andor, The Clone Wars and more, on any podcast app or on YouTube: https://podfollow.com/starwarschitchat & https://youtube.com/@starwarschitchat Guest Spots: Talking Child's Play, after watching it for the first time, on the 20th Century Geek: https://pod.fo/e/32462c Another episode of Disney Discussions is out where Mike & Dan spoke about Lilo & Stitch 1 & 2 with Megan, Ria & guest Natalie! https://tinyurl.com/2bs7kker Mike has been on the 20th Century Geek podcast, reviewing Superman '78, Superman II, the Super/Man documentary and Superman 2025! https://pod.fo/e/2bea07 Find all of Mike's social media & other links at https://linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Please review/rate, subscribe and share – it helps the show out an incredible amount!
The book of James is often called the “Proverbs of the New Testament” because it's filled with down-to-earth, practical wisdom for daily living. In this series, we'll walk through the letter of James and discover how godly wisdom applies to every part of life—our words, our relationships, our trials, our decisions, and even our faith in action. James doesn't just tell us what to believe; he shows us how to live it out.
Live from Bali at Coinfest and ZIGChain Connect, Abdul (co-founder, ZIGChain) shares how he went from Standard Chartered → early crypto investor → co-founder of Zignaly → now launching a purpose-built L1 focused on wealth generation and access for the Global South.We get into: why bootstrapping a chain (no massive grant spigot) can work, backing independent founders (10+ dApps at mainnet), and why private credit will be the next breakout RWA after stablecoins. Abdul explains DIFC fund tokenization, sustainable yields, and mixing TradFi discipline with Web3 velocity.Founders: don't miss his notes on finance fluency, AI-first ops, and using your token as a product marketing door-opener.Key Timestamps[00:00:00] Intro — Coinfest Bali & ZIGChain Connect[00:01:10] Abdul's path: Pakistan → banking → Bitcoin → Zignaly → ZIGChain [00:03:30] Access gap in emerging markets; why build rails, not just apps [00:05:20] TradFi skills in Web3: how capital really moves[00:06:15] Why another chain? Purpose-built for investment/yields (not generic L1)[00:07:10] Bootstrapping vs grants; investing in external founders (10+ dApps at TGE) [00:08:40] Culture & team: 60 ppl / 14 countries; resilience across cycles [00:10:05] Founder advice: business-first decisions; know your numbers; AI for leverage [00:12:20] Roadmap: testnet → public mainnet; DIFC tokenization; first tokenized fund [00:13:40] Bitcoin treasury yield use case; RWA infra as a service [00:14:30] Growth: token as GTM, mixing Web2 talent with Web3 speed [00:15:40] Events ahead: Token2049, BNB Chain Week, ADGM/FinTech, Switzerland Summit [00:16:40] RWA outlook: private credit as “next stablecoins” (12–16% in GCC) [00:18:10] The ask: builders > grants; strategic capital; play with (test/main)netConnecthttps://zigchain.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zignaly/https://zignaly.com/https://x.com/zigchainhttps://x.com/zignalyhttps://x.com/arafaygaditDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/
The book of James is often called the “Proverbs of the New Testament” because it's filled with down-to-earth, practical wisdom for daily living. In this series, we'll walk through the letter of James and discover how godly wisdom applies to every part of life—our words, our relationships, our trials, our decisions, and even our faith in action. James doesn't just tell us what to believe; he shows us how to live it out.
8/26/25: Former Nhmptn City Council Pres Jim Nash: last night's mayoral debate. CDH Rehab Ass't Dir Andrea Noel-Doubleday: changing seasons, staying fit. GCC prof Brian Adams w/ Bob & Monica Leverett: our Old Growth Forests. Filmmaker Larry Hott w/ Brian Adams on "Wild by Law."
8/26/25: Former Nhmptn City Council Pres Jim Nash: last night's mayoral debate. CDH Rehab Ass't Dir Andrea Noel-Doubleday: changing seasons, staying fit. GCC prof Brian Adams w/ Bob & Monica Leverett: our Old Growth Forests. Filmmaker Larry Hott w/ Brian Adams on "Wild by Law."
8/26/25: Former Nhmptn City Council Pres Jim Nash: last night's mayoral debate. CDH Rehab Ass't Dir Andrea Noel-Doubleday: changing seasons, staying fit. GCC prof Brian Adams w/ Bob & Monica Leverett: our Old Growth Forests. Filmmaker Larry Hott w/ Brian Adams on "Wild by Law."
8/26/25: Former Nhmptn City Council Pres Jim Nash: last night's mayoral debate. CDH Rehab Ass't Dir Andrea Noel-Doubleday: changing seasons, staying fit. GCC prof Brian Adams w/ Bob & Monica Leverett: our Old Growth Forests. Filmmaker Larry Hott w/ Brian Adams on "Wild by Law."
On our latest episode of The Future of the Firm podcast, Sophie Gunn, Senior Consultant at Source, caught up with Emma Carroll, our Head of Content, to debate some of the most important findings from our Client Perceptions programme so far in 2025. They then discuss how firms can use this information to gain competitive advantage. Sophie shared her insights on the following matters and more: Based on surveys of nearly 4,000 senior buyers, sector expertise and subject matter experts have been the top differentiators for consulting services in recent years. Sophie also reveals other crucial attributes. Client perceptions show notable regional differences. Some examples include: In the US, there's a rising emphasis on a firm's global reach; a trend likely driven by recent shifts in supply chains and tariffs. In countries like China and Japan, clients are primarily focused on a firm's implementation ability. In the UK, GCC, and Australia, thought leadership is comparatively a more highly valued attribute. According to the survey, there is a gap between the perceptions of firms by existing clients and prospects, with current clients rating firms' quality of work higher than their prospects. Sophie shares what this means for marketing teams. There's a notable shift in how senior managers perceive consulting firms: those below the C-suite are becoming less positive. Sophie sets out how firms can respond. If you enjoyed this conversation, then head over to our Client Perceptions reports page, where you'll discover much more about how senior decision makers perceive leading firms. We share our independent analysis by geography, sector, and service lines, with recent reports including those on financial services, energy & resources, and the US market. Use these reports to gain insight into client priorities, competitor strengths, and market gaps to better position your brand. You can access the reports directly or contact us for more information.
Author & podcaster Seth Singleton joins Mike to dive deep into the question; why do we write? Although Seth & Mike have many mutual friends, this is their first podcast together! In more detail; Seth & Mike talk about getting in one's own way and “the cost of failure”, tying into how introspection helped Seth get through certain failures, before talking about what started Seth on his writing journey and why he continues to write. The duo discuss Seth's contributions to Comics Lit and Anachronistic Comics and many projects Seth writes, or has written for, including writing comics for kids such as Hapsie or Spellcasters, and so much more – this is an incredibly introspective, yet inspiring, conversation that's perfect for any level of writer or people who want to be motivated to create more! Seth's Site: www.storieswithseth.com – Seth's Instagram @SethTheWriter Seth's podcast Storytelling With Seth: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/seth-the-storyteller Anachronistic Comics: http://martianlit.com/books/21/anachronistic-comics Comics Lit Volume 1: https://accomplishinginnovationpress.com/product/comics-lit-vol-1 Mike's Comics Lit Convo with Tony & Tonya: https://pod.fo/e/286e5c Previous episodes of GCC have included celebrating Where I'm From 200 with Alyson Shelton, interviews & reviews from the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival and discussing The Intergalactic Empire Of Wakanda novel with its author, Suyi Davies Okungbowa! All Patreon supporters have been receiving bonus episodes, including reviews on Thunderbolts, Morbius, Superman III & IV, Venom 3 and more, as well as early access! Support at www.patreon.com/GenuineChitChat or https://ko-fi.com/GenuineChitChat If you're a Star Wars fan, check out Star Wars Chit-Chat for Mike's in-depth reviews, breakdowns & things you missed episodes for Andor, The Clone Wars and more, on any podcast app or on YouTube: https://podfollow.com/starwarschitchat & https://youtube.com/@starwarschitchat Guest Spots: Another episode of Disney Discussions is out where Mike & Dan spoke about Lilo & Stitch 1 & 2 with Megan, Ria & guest Natalie! https://tinyurl.com/2bs7kker Mike has been on the 20th Century Geek podcast, reviewing Superman '78, Superman II, the Super/Man documentary and Superman 2025! https://pod.fo/e/2bea07 Find all of Mike's social media & other links at https://linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Please review/rate, subscribe and share – it helps the show out an incredible amount!
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER! That's our next study in the ONE ANOTHER sermon series. You may wonder what deep spiritual value encouragement has. We all like to receive it, and it makes us feel good to give it, but we are tempted to think that encouraging one another doesn't rank up there with the “heavyweights” of loving one another and forgiving one another. Think again! In the words of Bible scholar William Barclay, “Encouragement one of the highest of human duties…The world is full of discouragers, but we have a Christian duty to encourage one another.” And that's why God, in His Word, goes into great detail explaining encouragement. Join your GCC family this weekend as we dig into the Scriptures and discover this life-changing command of God.
Sermon preached by Nick Gagnon at GCC in Marblehead on August 24, 2025.
In today's Tech3 from Moneycontrol, we bring you the top startup and tech stories of the day. Dream11's plan to wind down its real money gaming business as the Online Gaming Bill 2025 heads for Presidential assent. Bike taxis make a cautious comeback in Karnataka after a High Court nudge. Pune is emerging as India's next big GCC hub, attracting global giants. And Apple gears up to open its third India store in Bengaluru this September.
This week we talk about the ethical use of Ai and the blurring between humans and code. We take your feedback and answer some questions about VoIP & SIP. -- During The Show -- 00:55 Dangers of AI AI ethics Leveraging AI responsibly Humans take the easiest path Noah's kid's and AI ANS AI adventure Notebook LM Ask Noah Show AI summary AI is only getting better Guard rails Effects of AI on the brain Guy who leaves his wife for AI Politeness and AI 23:54 News Wire Cmake 4.1 - cmake.org (https://cmake.org/download) Rust 1.89 - releases.rs (https://releases.rs/docs/1.89.0) GCC 15.2 - gcc.gnu.org (https://gcc.gnu.org/pipermail/gcc-announce/2025/000189.html) Peazip 10.6 - github.com (https://github.com/peazip/PeaZip/releases/tag/10.6.0) Handbrake 1.10 - handbrake.fr (https://handbrake.fr/news.php?article=59) Audacity 3.7.5 - audacityteam.org (https://support.audacityteam.org/additional-resources/changelog/audacity-3.7.5) Calibre 8.8 - calibre-ebook.com (https://calibre-ebook.com/whats-new) KDE Frameworks 6.17.0 - kde.org (https://kde.org/announcements/frameworks/6/6.17.0) KDE 6.4.4 - kde.org (https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.4) MESA 25.2 - ubuntu.com (https://fridge.ubuntu.com/2025/08/08/ubuntu-24-04-3-lts-released) Windows 11 Native UI Framework - windowscentral.com (https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/microsoft-confirms-windows-app-sdk-winui-open-source) Debian 13 - debian.org (https://www.debian.org/News/2025/20250809) Ubuntu 24.04.3 - ubuntu.com (https://fridge.ubuntu.com/2025/08/08/ubuntu-24-04-3-lts-released) Proxmox 9.0 - proxmox.com (https://www.proxmox.com/en/about/company-details/press-releases/proxmox-virtual-environment-9-0) Linuxmint 22.2 linuxmint.com (https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_zara.php) Extix 25.8 - extix.se (https://www.extix.se/extix-deepin-25-8-live-based-on-deepin-25-0-1-stable-latest-with-refracta-snapshot-and-kernel-6-16-0-amd64-exton-build-250806) Tails 7.0 RC - torproject.org (https://blog.torproject.org/tails-7_0-rc1-testing) Alma Linux and Native Nvidia GPUs - almalinux.org (https://almalinux.org/blog/2025-08-06-announcing-native-nvidia-suport) BadCam - securityweek.com (https://www.securityweek.com/badcam-new-badusb-attack-turns-linux-webcams-into-persistent-threats) Big Sleep - techzine.eu (https://www.techzine.eu/news/security/133674/googles-ai-big-sleep-discovers-twenty-new-security-vulnerabilities-in-open-source) Grok 2 Going Open Source - reuters.com (https://www.reuters.com/business/musk-says-xai-will-open-source-grok-2-chatbot-2025-08-06) Roblox AI - abcnews.go.com (https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/roblox-rolls-open-source-ai-system-protect-kids-124443058) NVIDIA 580 Drivers - phoronix.com (https://www.phoronix.com/news/NVIDIA-580.76.05-Linux) Gnome 48.4 - gnome.org (https://discourse.gnome.org/t/gnome-48-4-released/30706) Virtualbox 7.2 - virtualbox.org (https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Changelog-7.2) Podman 5.6 - github.com (https://github.com/containers/podman/releases) Mabox Linux 25.08 - maboxlinux.org (https://maboxlinux.org/mabox-25-08-chinese-japanese-and-korean-fonts) EasyOS 7.0 - bkhome.org (https://bkhome.org/news/202508/easyos-excalibur-series-version-70-released.html) Bluestar Linux 6.16 - sourceforge.net (https://sourceforge.net/projects/bluestarlinux) Zephix 8.0 - zephix-linux.sourceforge.io (https://zephix-linux.sourceforge.io) EasyOS 7.0 - bkhome.org (https://bkhome.org/news/202508/easyos-excalibur-series-version-70-released.html) ASMI Linux 13 - theregister.com (https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/15/asmi_13_debian_edition) UAT-7237 - thehackernews.com (https://thehackernews.com/2025/08/taiwan-web-servers-breached-by-uat-7237.html) Plague Malware - latesthackingnews.com (https://latesthackingnews.com/2025/08/13/newly-discovered-plague-linux-backdoor-malware-remained-undetected-for-a-year) Dropbox & 2 Year Old Apache Vulnerability - zdnet.com (https://www.zdnet.com/article/dripdropper-linux-malware-cleans-up-after-itself) Netfilter Flaw - gbhackers.com (https://gbhackers.com/linux-kernel-netfilter-flaw) CrossC2 - phoronix.com (https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-Bhyve-Detection) FireWood Backdoor - gbhackers.com (https://gbhackers.com/firewood-malware-targets-linux-systems) ASI Revived - webpronews.com (https://www.webpronews.com/google-revives-linux-asi-overhead-slashed-to-13-for-enhanced-security) Buttercup AI - helpnetsecurity.com (https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/08/18/buttercup-ai-vulnerability-scanner-open-source) CANN Toolkit - artificialintelligence-news.com (https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/huawei-nvidia-cann-cuda-open-source-challenge) 28:03 JMP Chat - Jordan Out going calls Reset sip credentials Use an asterisks Wizard Problem with binding things to phone numbers 33:14 SIP and Switches - Michael Mikrotik pros and cons Flashing alternative software 37:37 OpenWRT on Unifi - Fred OpenWRT Table of Hardware (https://toh.openwrt.org/?view=normal) UniFi AC Page (https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/unifiac) UniFi AC Pro Image (https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/24.10.0/targets/ath79/generic/openwrt-24.10.0-ath79-generic-ubnt_unifiac-pro-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin) Noah already flashed a UniFi AP Fixing Steve's WiFi SCALE WiFi 49:24 Email Server Recommendations - Joshua Viability of self hosted email Mail in a Box & Nextcloud Mail cow -- The Extra Credit Section -- For links to the articles and material referenced in this week's episode check out this week's page from our podcast dashboard! This Episode's Podcast Dashboard (http://podcast.asknoahshow.com/456) Phone Systems for Ask Noah provided by Voxtelesys (http://www.voxtelesys.com/asknoah) Join us in our dedicated chatroom #GeekLab:linuxdelta.com on Matrix (https://element.linuxdelta.com/#/room/#geeklab:linuxdelta.com) -- Stay In Touch -- Find all the resources for this show on the Ask Noah Dashboard Ask Noah Dashboard (http://www.asknoahshow.com) Need more help than a radio show can offer? Altispeed provides commercial IT services and they're excited to offer you a great deal for listening to the Ask Noah Show. Call today and ask about the discount for listeners of the Ask Noah Show! Altispeed Technologies (http://www.altispeed.com/) Contact Noah live [at] asknoahshow.com -- Twitter -- Noah - Kernellinux (https://twitter.com/kernellinux) Ask Noah Show (https://twitter.com/asknoahshow) Altispeed Technologies (https://twitter.com/altispeed)
There's drama about the latest RISC-V patches in the kernel, SparkyLinux and Kaisen Linux have updates, and GCC is looking to drop some architectures. Nvidia ships a driver update, ffmpeg and OnlyOffice adds AI, and distros are shipping the soft reboot. For tips we have SystemD-Manager-TUI for managing Systemd, a step-through of auditing a downloadable install script, the timeout bash command, and an interesting question about how to get colors back in grep output. You can find the show notes at http://bit.ly/4mEkufi and have a great week! Host: Jonathan Bennett Co-Hosts: Rob Campbell, Ken McDonald, and Jeff Massie Download or subscribe to Untitled Linux Show at https://twit.tv/shows/untitled-linux-show Want access to the ad-free video and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord.
Zak's Traders Cafe spoke with Howard White, interim chairman of Hydrogen Utopia International, about a significant strategic pivot: moving from a focus on hydrogen for transportation to supplying ultra-low-cost, "super green" hydrogen to heavy industry in the GCC. What follows is a clear-eyed look at the technology, the economics, the environmental opportunity, and the commercial plan Daniel and I discussed with Howard. Why the pivot from vehicles to industry? Hydrogen for cars, trucks and buses has been promised for years but growth is still modest. As Howard pointed out, there are fewer than 100,000 hydrogen vehicles worldwide today, with roughly 70% of them in the Far East. At small scale, hydrogen is expensive—which makes it a weak competitor to petrol, diesel and even electricity for most road transport applications. That reality prompted Hydrogen Utopia to take a fresh look at where hydrogen demand is both large and price-sensitive: heavy industry. Cement and steel plants are enormous energy consumers and major CO2 emitters. A typical, reasonably sized cement plant could take on the order of 100,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year. If hydrogen can be provided at a price close to natural gas, industry can decarbonize at scale. The Inentech advantage: TRL9, modular and proven Hydrogen Utopia has secured exclusive access to Inentech technology—a process with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 9 , meaning it is fully commercialized and proven. Importantly, the company is modularizing the technology to match the operational scale of industrial customers. Rather than building massive single plants, the approach is to deploy multiple modular facilities collocated with cement or steel plants. ""We have been running [this technology] for 20 years and fully operational for 13 years."" That operational history is critical: it reduces deployment risk and allows Hydrogen Utopia to offer long-term offtake agreements and predictable pricing for industrial customers. Target pricing: super green hydrogen at about 1.5 cents/kg Perhaps the most striking claim Howard made is the target delivered hydrogen price: about 1.5 cents per kilogram (in certain GCC countries, supported by grants and interest-free loans). At that level, hydrogen becomes highly competitive with natural gas for many industrial uses. Key enablers of this ultra-low cost are: Using non-recyclable mixed waste (including plastics, tyres and oil sludge) as feedstock. Modular, proven Inentech deployments co-located with customers—eliminating hydrogen transport costs. Financial support in the GCC for "super green" hydrogen projects (grants, favourable financing), which conventional renewables-to-electrolyser projects may not receive. Waste-to-hydrogen: scale and environmental benefits The process not only produces hydrogen, it also destroys problematic plastic additives and toxic contaminants that traditional recycling and incineration do not address. Howard highlighted several environmental advantages: Destruction of tens of thousands of pollutants added to plastics (PFAS and other additives). Ability to process large volumes—one facility could consume roughly 250,000 tonnes of mixed waste plastics per year . Four such facilities would process 1 million tonnes annually. Co-processing of tyres and oil sludge, addressing difficult waste streams (Howard referenced the large tyre stockpiles in Kuwait as an example). ""Plastic is fantastic and it is a material that they should be allowed to produce as much as they want as long as they do something about the destruction of it."" Revenue model: hydrogen, CO2, fees and credits Hydrogen Utopia expects multiple revenue streams from each deployment: Hydrogen sales —long-term offtake agreements with cement and steel plants (30-year contracts are the target). CO2 sales for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) —in the GCC, CO2 has market value for boosting production from mature fields. Management fees —Hydrogen Utopia plans to run each project as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and earn fees/ownership percentages. Carbon credits —deployments will generate significant CO2 savings and may qualify for credits. Howard expects each SPV to be comfortably profitable (internal rates of return in the high teens), even at the low hydrogen price point. The company will take a conservative, staged approach: secure non-binding offtake LOIs first, then raise project financing supported by LOIs and regional funders. Market focus: GCC first, regulatory tailwinds The GCC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and other Gulf states) is Hydrogen Utopia's primary target market. Reasons include: Large industrial clusters (cement, steel, petrochemicals) with substantial hydrogen demand. Regional policymakers offering grants and concessional financing for waste-to-hydrogen "super green" projects. Existing demand for CO2 in EOR operations. Howard is optimistic that with the right legislation—such as mandatory separation of plastics—the feedstock supply challenge could be addressed quickly. He expects government and oil-company interest (including state majors like Saudi Aramco and regional sovereign projects) as a pragmatic alternative to international attempts at capping plastics production. Commercial approach and risk management Hydrogen Utopia plans to: Deploy projects as SPVs collocated with customers to avoid hydrogen transport and simplify integration. Secure long-term offtakes (30 years) with gradual pricing: slightly higher in the first five years, stable and low thereafter. Leverage grants and interest-free lending available for waste-to-hydrogen solutions in the region. Start modestly and scale pragmatically—no "ask us for half a billion dollars up front" approach. What success looks like In Howard's view, a small number of well-placed facilities in the GCC could make a substantial dent in both hydrogen cost curves and global plastic pollution. A handful of 250,000-ton-per-year waste-processing facilities would divert massive volumes of waste from landfills and oceans while producing competitively priced hydrogen for decarbonizing heavy industry. He also stressed the broader strategic appeal: for oil majors and national oil companies, investing in waste-to-hydrogen can soften the political and reputational pressure arising from plastic production, while providing new revenue streams. Outlook and next steps Hydrogen Utopia is now focused on signing LOIs and offtake agreements with cement and steel producers in the GCC, structuring SPVs for projects, and engaging regional funders who are keen to support super green hydrogen. The combination of a proven TRL9 technology, modular deployment, strong regional incentives, and multiple revenue streams makes this a high-conviction pivot for the company. Conclusion The story here is pragmatic: use a proven industrial technology to turn problem waste into a valuable decarbonization feedstock at scale. By targeting large, price-sensitive industrial consumers in the GCC and pairing modular Inentech plants with favourable financing and policy support, Hydrogen Utopia aims to deliver hydrogen at a price that changes the equation for heavy industry decarbonization. If successful, the model could both undercut the cost barriers facing hydrogen adoption in industry and create a sizable new pathway for responsibly destroying mixed, non-recyclable plastics and other hazardous waste.
Sermon preached by Nick Gagnon at GCC in Marblehead on August 17, 2025.
Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of Fertiglobe, the world's largest seaborne exporter of urea and ammonia combined, joins Zoë Knight, HSBC's Global Head of Sustainability Research and Integration, to share insights on low carbon solutions for agriculture, including the huge potential for ammonia in the energy transition.Watch or listen to the podcast to find out more.This episode was recorded on the sidelines of the HSBC Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Exchanges Conference in London on 18 June 2025.Read more about the GCC conference here https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/campaigns/hsbc-gulf-cooperation-council-conference-gccDisclaimer: Views of external guest speakers do not represent those of HSBC.
Segment 1 • On Transformed, a marriage suffers from husband's hidden porn use. • Dr. Lou Priolo exposes why we justify anger against those who've wronged us. • A powerful example of how biblical counseling cuts to the heart. Segment 2 • Forgiveness must be given when someone repents, but trust is rebuilt over time. • Handing trust to the unfaithful too soon is foolish—and dangerous. • Bitterness is a poisonous root that churches often fail to confront. Segment 3 • With John MacArthur's memorial coming soon, how will GCC honor him biblically? • The delicate balance between honoring a life and glorifying Christ. • What your funeral focus should say about your life's purpose. Segment 4 • Lighter moments from John MacArthur show his warmth and wit. • Memorable clips capture his unique style. • A final look at a pastor who shaped countless lives for Christ. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!
Hello and thank you for joining us here at Gospel Community Church! This week all of our elders addressed the calling of the local church to "go and make disciples", what that looks like on a daily basis for the church, and how we at GCC are planning for our future, our funding, our expansion, and the growth of the Kingdom in Fayetteville and the world.
Evolving Leadership in a Tech-Driven Region In this episode, Michael chats with Mohamed—an Egyptian leader based in Saudi Arabia with a wealth of experience across the Middle East and Europe. The conversation explores the region's tech-fueled transformation and how it's reshaping business and leadership. With a young, dynamic population and a high-growth environment, the demand for leadership coaching is on the rise. Mohamed shared that leaders are realizing that information alone doesn't drive transformation—coaching does. Michael added that resilient leadership thrives in spaces where people feel empowered to adapt and grow, especially in today's fast-changing world. Coaching as a Catalyst for Leadership Growth Michael and Mohamed dive into why coaching is no longer optional—it's essential. Michael emphasized the power of being coachable and how reaching out to mentors can elevate a leader's impact. Mohamed echoed this, noting that one of the biggest hurdles in leadership development is working with individuals unwilling to learn. Together, they highlighted how coaching unlocks personal clarity and drives sustainable leadership growth—though not everyone is ready to embrace the process. From Fear to the Front of the Room: A Nurse's Speaking Breakthrough Michael shared an inspiring story of a nurse educator he once hired who struggled with public speaking. With encouragement and support, she stepped out of her comfort zone, pursued speaking opportunities, and eventually landed a leadership role in the healthcare system. The takeaway? When we identify and support the unique passions of our team, we unlock potential that transforms careers—and organizations. The Human Side of AI in Leadership AI may be changing how we work, but as Michael and Mohamed discussed, it can't replace the human elements of leadership—empathy, coaching, and connection. Mohamed shared thoughtful insights on the evolving role of AI in the workplace and the need for leaders to remain adaptable. Michael noted that while AI can supercharge productivity and creativity, the true essence of leadership will always be rooted in relationships. Global Impact: Mercer's Role in Leadership Development The episode wraps with a look at the global work Mohamed is doing with Mercer, helping shape the next generation of leaders through innovative coaching and development programs. He encourages listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for more on Mercer's approach to building resilient, future-ready leaders around the world. Mohamed Hamza is a renowned authority on leadership assessment and development. As a certified executive coach, facilitator, and assessor, he has made significant impacts across the GCC, Europe, and Africa. Mohamed currently designs and delivers cutting-edge leadership solutions to top clients as Senior Client Success Director at Mercer. With over 15 years of experience, Mohamed has coached over 3,000 leaders from future talents to C-suite executives in over 60 multinational organizations like PepsiCo, Microsoft, and Saudi ministries. He has trained 200+ professional coaches and established corporate academies generating multi-million dollar revenues. Mohamed holds coaching credentials from the International Coach Federation (PCC), Center for Creative Leadership, and Ashridge-Hult. Mohamed can share invaluable insights into leadership development, coaching, and building high-performing teams. His diverse experiences assessing and developing leaders globally across cultures allow him to discuss a wide range of relevant topics. Podcast hosts and audiences can expect practical wisdom and real-world examples from Mohamed's extensive expertise in this field. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-hamza-b9a54b28/ Website: https://thetalententerprise.com/
Author, filmmaker, poet, podcaster and truly inspirational person Alyson Shelton returns to GCC to discuss the 200th episode of Where I'm From! In more detail; Alyson joins Mike on GCC for the fourth time to talk about her four year journey through her poetry-inspired show Where I'm From, where she has a different guest on each week to perform their own version of George Ella Lyon's Where I'm From poem! Plus, Alyson & Mike talk about poetry and performance, the essay/story collection Alyson has edited; Loss Of A Lifetime, their respective passion projects, fandoms, introspection and more - this is the perfect conversation for fans of writing, poetry and self-reflection! Alyson's website: www.alysonshelton.com Alyson's Instagram, where she airs Where I'm From live each week: www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton Alyson edited & contributed to the essay & short story collection The Loss of A Lifetime: www.alysonshelton.com/the-loss-of-a-lifetime Reburn Volume 1 TPB Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/reburncomic/reburn-volume-1 The short film Alyson wrote: www.alysonshelton.com/to-hold-the-night-film Alyson is part of the Femme On Collective, releasing episodes of Fine Cut here: www.femmeon.show Alyson is also a contributor to Comics Lit Volume 1: https://accomplishinginnovationpress.com/product/comics-lit-vol-1 Mike's appearance on Where I'm From #80: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl-E9a-6XIo Alyson has appeared on Genuine Chit-Chat previously, on episodes 159, 173 & 185! The last two months of GCC has been reviews and interviews from the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival 2025, where Mike & Spider-Dan watched a bunch of movies and spoke to several people involved at the festival, including legendary producer Gale Anne Hurd! Listen on this feed & watch on YouTube, plus go to Spider-Dan And The Secret Bores for the other half of the reviews and interviews: https://spiderdanandthesecretbores.com All Patreons have been receiving bonus episodes, including reviews on Thunderbolts, Morbius, Superman III & IV, Venom 3 and more, as well as early access! Support at www.patreon.com/GenuineChitChat or https://ko-fi.com/GenuineChitChat If you're a Star Wars fan, check out Star Wars Chit-Chat for Mike's in-depth reviews, breakdowns & things you missed episodes for Andor, The Clone Wars and more, on any podcast app or on YouTube: https://podfollow.com/starwarschitchat & https://youtube.com/@starwarschitchat Guest Spots: Another episode of Disney Discussions is out where Mike & Dan spoke about Lilo & Stitch 1 & 2 with Megan, Ria & guest Natalie! https://tinyurl.com/2bs7kker Mike recently reviewed Superman '78, Superman II and the Super/Man documentary on the 20th Century Geek podcast, while Dan spoke about Superman IV! https://pod.fo/e/2bea07 Mike was on Reckless Rebellion to talk about Andor's Prison Arc from S1, listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2c28cc Find all of Mike's social media & other links at https://linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Please review/rate, subscribe and share – it helps the show out an incredible amount!
Areeb Pasha and Khaled Alfakesh, the respective CFOs of fast-growth, consumer-focused tech firms in the Middle East, Dubizzle and Talabat, join Samer Deghali, Co-Head of Capital Markets and Advisory, MENAT, HSBC in this video podcast.They discuss their growth stories (including Talabat's experience post-IPO and Dubizzle's acquisition strategy), how they are adapting to changing consumer needs, the UAE real estate market, and their priorities ahead. They also share their advice for other businesses looking to expand in the UAE.Watch or listen to find out more.This episode was recorded on the sidelines of the HSBC Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Exchanges Conference in London on 18 June 2025. Read more about the GCC conference here https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/campaigns/hsbc-gulf-cooperation-council-conference-gccDisclaimer: Views of external guest speakers do not represent those of HSBC.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, joins Nabeel Albloushi, HSBC's Head of Markets & Securities Services, MENAT, to share insights on the Middle East's tech landscape and how e& made the shift from telecom operator to global technology group.Watch or listen to find out more.This episode was recorded on the sidelines of the HSBC Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Exchanges Conference in London on 19 June 2025.Read more about the GCC conference here https://www.business.hsbc.com/campaigns/hsbc-gulf-cooperation-council-conference-gcc Disclaimer: Views of external guest speakers do not represent those of HSBC.
In many workplaces, urgency culture has become the norm: every email, meeting, or task is treated like a crisis, triggering a constant state of hyper-vigilance. According to recent research right here in the GCC, this steady pressure is fueling anxiety, exhaustion, and widespread burnout among professionals. But why? And how do we switch off if your company's culture is on and on and on? Dr Thoraiya Kanafani from the Human Resources Institute and Clinics helps us unpack how urgency culture pushes people over the edge and what it means for mental health. This month, a new study by Times Higher Education has highlighted that many students admit to using AI in ways universities never anticipated, prompting not just a raft of summer resits but also prompting urgent calls to redefine what ‘cheating’ means in the age of AI. We explore what that means for exam policy, student behaviour, and academic integrity with Dr Zeenath Reza Khan, Founding president of the Centre for Academic Integrity in the UAE. Why are you buying what you're buying? Jen discusses the psychology of shopping with Kate Hardcastle, AKA The Customer Whisperer and author of The Science of Shopping.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
"Investing by Global Regions" Panel - 361Firm Newport Conference (July 2025)Transcript: https://361.pub/GlobalRegionsNP25TranscriptAll 361Firm Podcasts on Apple (https://361.pub/podcast_apple), Spotify (https://361.pub/spotify), Simplecast (https://361.pub/pods) SUMMARY: The panel at the 361Firm Newport Conference discussed investment opportunities and challenges in various global regions. Areej Alturki highlighted Saudi Arabia's rapid transformation, with major investments from firms like BlackRock and projects like Neom. Parth Vakil noted India's growing middle class and demographic challenges, emphasizing the potential of AI and smartphones. Brittany McDonough from Launch Africa highlighted the continent's talent pool and integration with the GCC. Charles Beyrouthy discussed the US Chips Act's impact on geopolitics and chip manufacturing. Anna Cardona from Mississippi emphasized the region's strategic location and tax incentives for regenerative energy projects.SUMMARY KEYWORDS: Saudi Arabia, GCC, investment opportunities, economic transformation, cultural change, India, middle class growth, demographic challenges, Africa, talent development, technology sovereignty, US Chips Act, grid reliability, AI, data centers.SPEAKERS: Areej Alturki, Brittany McDonough - Launch Africa, Parth Vakil, Mark Sanor, Speaker 1, Charles Beyrouthy, Anna Cardona You can subscribe to various 361 events and content at https://361firm.com/subs. For reference: Web: www.361firm.com/homeOnboard as Investor: https://361.pub/shortdiagOnboard Deals 361: www.361firm.com/onbOnboard as Banker: www.361firm.com/bankersEvents: www.361firm.com/eventsContent: www.youtube.com/361firmWeekly Digests: www.361firm.com/digest
What's unique about Emerging Markets and what themes should investors be paying attention to? Polina Kurdyavko, Head of BlueBay Emerging Markets, joins Craig Kussel, HSBC's Head of Emerging Markets Macro Sales – UK, South Africa and Israel, for a discussion about the risks and opportunities across Emerging Markets against a dynamic backdrop, where investors are seeking diversification.Watch or listen to find out more.This episode was recorded on the sidelines of the HSBC Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Exchanges Conference in London on 18 June 2025.Read more about the GCC conference here https://www.business.hsbc.com/en-gb/campaigns/hsbc-gulf-cooperation-council-conference-gccDisclaimer: Views of external guest speakers do not represent those of HSBC.
Let us know your thoughts. Send us a Text Message. Follow me to see #HeadsTalk Podcast Audiograms every Monday on LinkedInEpisode Title:
Vedran Pušić gost je Vladimira Stankovića u 186. epizodi podkasta Biznis priče.
This episode covers the stability of Islamic Republic of Iran in the aftermath of the 12 Day War, and how the regime will adapt to its new reality. Guest Biographies Michael Connell is an expert in Persian-Gulf security-related issues, the armed forces of Iran, U.S.-GCC security cooperation, and adversary cyber policy and strategy. He has served as CNA's Field Analyst to Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). Dov Zakheim a Senior Fellow at CNA and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He served as Undersecretary of Defense from 2001-2004. Further Reading CNA Report: The Nuclear Programs of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran CNA Report: The Evolving Russia-Iran Relationship CNA InDepth: Russia and China Respond—or Don't—to the 12-Day War in Iran CNA Talks: Syria After Assad
After almost 130 years, chiropractic is the leading alternative health care discipline in the US. What's our next move? The old saying, 'leave the place better than you found it" holds very true right now for those of us who have been around for 30+ years. Can we leave chiropractic better than we found it? Recorded live at the GCC event in 2017
A pioneering Saudi athlete who defied expectations by qualifying to represent Saudi Arabia in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, becoming the first Saudi male skier to do so. Since his international skiing debut in 2021, he has competed in multiple FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, including Planica 2023 and Trondheim 2025.Despite training in a city with no snow, Rakan's daily regimen built on running, swimming, cycling, and hill climbs, reflects a relentless commitment to excellence that has propelled him from the desert to the world stage. Away from the snow, Rakan is also a decorated rower, inspired by his cousin Hussein Alireza, who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He is a multiple-time GCC indoor rowing champion and a national champion at the Saudi Games who has represented Saudi Arabia at the 2022 Asian Games in single sculls.
On today's program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school's president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We'll have details. And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members. Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren't ready to use it for everything. Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area. First, a former member is suing John MacArthur's megachurch for how it handled church discipline. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jim Vertigo, John Seewer, Jessica Eturralde, and Christina Darnell. Until next time, may God bless you. MANUSCRIPT: FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I'm Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I'm Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we'd like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today's program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school's president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We'll have details. And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members. Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren't ready to use it for everything. Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area. Natasha: But first, a former member is suing John MacArthur's megachurch for how it handled church discipline. Warren: In a complaint filed Thursday (July 3) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, lawyers for Lorraine Zielinski said she went to leaders at the megachurch in LA's Sun Valley neighborhood, where MacArthur is the longtime pastor, seeking counseling for her troubled marriage and was told her conversations would be kept confidential. According to the complaint, she told counselors she was afraid for her safety and the safety of her daughter, alleging that her then-husband was physically abusive. Her lawyers said church leaders pressured Zielinski to drop her request for a legal separation. When Zielinski tried to resign as a church member, pastors put her under church discipline for failing to follow their counsel, according to the complaint. They also allegedly told her to either come to a meeting with church pastors or details of her counseling would be made public to the congregation. Natasha: What happened? Warren: According to the complaint. “When Plaintiff did not attend the meeting, GCC made good on its threat and shared information gained through confidential communications relating to her marriage with GCC membership,” “GCC also misrepresented parts of these communications, painting Plaintiff as a bad actor in the marriage and the party at fault for the marital dispute. GCC also omitted Plaintiff's husband's desire to remarry and dissolve the marriage.” Natasha: Church members were also allegedly asked to pressure Zielenski to submit to church leaders and to reconcile with her husband, according to the complaint. Warren: Lawyers for Zielenski said the church violated her right to privacy and her right to free association, disclosed private facts, painted her in a false light, breached confidentiality and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. Grace Community Church did not reply to a request for co...
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Tania Tasopoulou, a business psychologist and organizational development expert with more than 25 years of experience in Europe and the GCC. Tania has led executive roles at global organizations including Coca-Cola HBC and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and began her career at Korn Ferry (formerly Hay Group S.A.), where she served as Expertise Leader for Talent Management and Leadership Development across Southeast Europe. Now the founder of OrgDesignWays, Tania is pioneering conversations about the future of work, the transformative power of Generative AI, and how leaders can evolve alongside technology—not behind it. Together, Tricia and Tania explore how AI reveals patterns in human behavior, why psychology and philosophy are more relevant than ever, and how families and educators can help shape mindsets that are adaptive, creative, and future-ready. Whether you're an HR professional, educator, or executive navigating emerging technologies, this episode will challenge you to rethink leadership, learning, and the real future of human-centered work. Meet our guest: Tania is a business psychologist and organizational development expert with over 25 years of experience in Europe and the the GCC region, holding diverse executive roles in both Organizational Development and Business Operations. Tania started her career as a consultant at Korn-Ferry (formerly Hay Group S.A.) where she was the Expertise Leader for Talent Management & Leadership Development for South East Europe, before moving to corporate roles in Coca-Cola HBC and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Tania is deeply interested in the future of work and the transformative impact of technology, particularly Generative AI, on the work landscape. For this reason, Tania established OrgDesignWays, a pioneering company with the vision to lead the future of organizational development through People & AI. Tania holds two BAs in Psychology, an MSc in Organisational Assessment and an Executive MBA. Connect with our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-tasopoulou/ https://orgdesignways.com/ https://www.taniatasopoulou.com/ Learn more about our show sponsors for our summer series: https://pod.shiftingschools.com/ ⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps 00:01 – Origins of a Futurist Mindset Tania shares what sparked her lifelong interest in organizational strategy and the future of work. 03:22 – Generative AI & Redefining Job Value What large language models reveal about how we value human contribution in the workplace. 05:23 – Why Humanities are More Important Than Ever A compelling case for blending psychology, philosophy, and technology in future-focused education. 07:31 – Chatbots, Comfort, and Asking Big Questions A study reveals students prefer asking questions to AI—what does that mean for learning? 09:22 – Fear vs. Opportunity in the Future of Work Why we need to shift our mindset to prepare for jobs that don't exist yet. 12:32 – Raising Curious, Adaptive Humans Tania offers parenting insights on how to build confidence, resilience, and readiness for change. 17:32 – How Psychology Explains Generative AI From hallucinations to biases: Tania explains how psychology helps decode AI behavior. 21:44 – Interdisciplinary Leadership in the Age of AI Why leadership today means managing both people and intelligent systems.
In today's episode, we unpack the GCC's new Schengen-style tourist visa and what it means for Middle East tourism, plus explore Accenture's four-part blueprint to help travel companies build resilience in a shifting economic landscape.Are you new and want to start your own hospitality business?Join our Facebook groupFollow Boostly and join the discussion:YouTube LinkedInFacebookWant to know more about us? Visit our websiteStay informed and ahead of the curve with the latest insights and analysis.
The core of banking is broken, and duct-taping legacy systems won't fix it.This week on Couchonomics with Arjun, I'm joined by Myles Bertrand, CEO of Tuum, the modular core banking platform built in Estonia and now scaling across Europe and the GCC.Tuum isn't selling digital lipstick. They're rebuilding the real plumbing of modern banking — one composable, cloud-native layer at a time.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, we sit down with Tim Levene, CEO of Augmentum Fintech, the UK's only publicly listed fintech venture capital firm.From going public to backing infrastructure instead of hype, Tim shares what permanent capital allows that traditional VC structures don't and why he believes the next decade of fintech will be won with discipline, not just disruption.What we cover:
Khalid Saad is a seasoned venture capitalist and FinTech entrepreneur with a proven track record of launching new ventures and accelerating existing ones. Over the years, he has partnered with startups and established companies on digital strategy, business development, partnerships, and market-entry plans—spanning payment systems, remittance services, crypto platforms, open banking, and more .He is the Founder & Managing Partner of Bunat Ventures, a Bahrain-based regulated venture-builder VC focused on nurturing and investing in high-growth startups across the GCC.Khalid serves on the board of CoinMENA, a Central Bank–regulated crypto-asset exchange, and is a board member of Oqal – Bahrain Chapter, the region's largest and most active angel investment network . Additionally, he advises 01 Systems, a leading regional financial technology and digital transformation firm, and contributes to the Finance, Insurance & Tax Committee of the Bahrain Chamber.Until recently, Khalid was the Founding CEO of Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB)—the largest FinTech hub in MENA, recognized by S&P Global Ratings as one of the region's two most advanced FinTech ecosystems . Under his leadership, BFB united ~100 public and private stakeholders (regulators, banks, telcos, asset managers, family firms, educational institutions, etc.) and hosted around 50 companies working across payments, blockchain, crypto assets, data analytics, robo-advisory, crowdfunding, and AI .Before BFB, Khalid was a Business Development Manager at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, where he promoted the financial services sector and attracted major institutions—from banks and wealth managers to FinTechs and insurers—to Bahrain . Prior to that, he worked with Ernst & Young, conducting feasibility studies, market research, and implementing a governance, risk & compliance platform in Bahrain, and with SEI Investments in London managing UK and European equity portfolios .Khalid holds an MSc from Imperial College London and a First Class BSc from the University of Exeter .LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalidesaad/
The Forbidden Worlds Film Festival reviews conclude with 1962's Japanese Moby Dick adaptation; The Whale God Mike & Spider-Dan delve into the 1962 kaiju/Moby Dick movie The Whale God, which Mike was hugely looking forward to watching but it has some controversial topics within – although it's not gratuitous, note the sexual assault trigger warning. Neither Mike or Dan had seen or heard of this movie before, due to its non-existent UK release, so they were excited to watch it on an IMAX screen at Forbidden Worlds – they review the movie in-depth, talking about the plot, dialogue and kaiju for the first 30 minutes, then give the trigger warning and discuss the sexual assault scenes and the plot implications & character reactions that follow. Although this is the last review, Mike & Dan still have some interviews to release, so keep an eye out for those before GCC returns to the more regular interview-style pods! Make sure you check out their reviews of Battle Beyond The Stars, Orca & She Creature on this feed, and check out Spider-Dan's feed for the other half of their reviews, including Waterworld, The City Of Lost Children, Tremors and more! For more information, visit www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk – Kaiju Expert Steven Sloss: https://linktr.ee/stevensloss For visual elements, check out the video version on YouTube: https://youtube.com/GenuineChitChat Make sure you follow & subscribe to Spider-Dan's podcast as much of the coverage will be split between the feeds/YouTube channels! https://spiderdanandthesecretbores.com & www.patreon.com/spiderdanandthesecretbores Make sure you check out the special preview episodes Mike & Dan did, where Mike reviewed the 1985 movie Young Sherlock Holmes for the 40th Anniversary of the movie, where a special showing (& cast Q&A) is happening! For Dan's preview episode, he delved into the Waterworld sequel comic; Children Of Leviathan! Check out Mike's in-depth reviews, breakdowns & things you missed episodes of Season 2 of Andor, on any podcast app or on YouTube: https://podfollow.com/starwarschitchat & https://youtube.com/@starwarschitchat All Patreons have been receiving bonus episodes, including a Thunderbolts, Superman III and Superman IV review, as well as early access and more! Support at www.patreon.com/GenuineChitChat or https://ko-fi.com/GenuineChitChat Guest Spots: Another episode of Disney Discussions is out where Mike & Dan spoke about Lilo & Stitch 1 & 2 with Megan, Ria & guest Natalie! https://tinyurl.com/2bs7kker Mike recently reviewed Superman '78, Superman II and the Super/Man documentary on the 20th Century Geek podcast, while Dan spoke about Superman IV! https://pod.fo/e/2bea07 Mike was on Reckless Rebellion to talk about Andor's Prison Arc from S1, listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2c28cc Find all of Mike's social media & other links at https://linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Please review/rate, subscribe and share – it helps the show out an incredible amount!