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Disney Discussions is back with a comparison between 1959's Sleeping Beauty & 2014's Maleficent! Sleeping Beauty may be a classic but it's a movie Mike had never seen; tune in to hear his thoughts as well as the other's on this 65 year old movie and the 11 year old prequel/retelling from the villain's perspective. Dan, Megan, Mike & Ria also talk about the transition from animation to live-action, Angelina Jolie's performance, the changed aspects between movies, Sharlto Copley's bizarre rendition of Stefan, the fairies, legacy and of course; Mr Chanterelle! The previous episode of Disney Discussions where our gang spoke about Lilo & Stitch 1 & 2 with special guest Natalie! https://tinyurl.com/2bs7kker For the other Disney Discussions, check GCC episodes; 155, 163, 176, 180, 192, 198, 207, 218, 223, 239 & 247 while their 3rd, 8th, 12th & 15th discussions are on Spider-Dan & The Secret Bores' podcast in late Sept 2022, August 2023, May 2024 & April 2025, or you find every DD episode on this YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcO1Ib_BGD8ajqsEDJPAYC0DSuIUqa26e Ria's Instagram: @RiaCarrogan, @TheRomantasyCoven & @FemmeOnCollective – The Femme On Collective is found on any podcast feed and here: https://femmeon.show and Romantasy Coven is found here: https://podfollow.com/1799664171 You can find Spider-Dan's show, Patreon & further information on his website https://spiderdanandthesecretbores.com or follow him on Instagram: @Spiderdansecretbores Find Megan on Instagram: @GrittsGetsFit or at https://Patreon.com/GenuineChitChat Find all of Mike's social media & other links at https://linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat All supporters of Mike on Patreon have been receiving bonus episodes, including reviews on A Clockwork Orange, Thunderbolts, 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: Mike went on the 20th Century Geek podcast to talk about Child's Play, here: https://pod.fo/e/32462c Spider-Dan was on 20th Century Geek to talk about Child's Play 2: https://pod.fo/e/32c749 Megan & Ria were on Back To The Filmography, talking How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3k9F02YfZnZQgeJ2g3QM1E?si=jlZVQXpfSH-d1MJ0LeHiGw Please review/rate, subscribe and share – it helps the show out an incredible amount!
Một làn sóng ngầm về lâu dài tác động đến mối liên hệ chặt chẽ về kinh tế, thương mại và đầu tư giữa Mỹ và các quốc gia Vùng Vịnh. Xung đột ở Gaza, vụ Israel xâm phạm chủ quyền lãnh thổ của Qatar để tiêu diệt phong trào Hamas trước mắt chưa đe dọa đến những dự án đầu từ hàng trăm tỷ đô la các quốc gia dầu hỏa vừa cam kết với Hoa Kỳ nhưng đã khiến Washington khó xử. Các Tiểu Vương Quốc Ả Rập Thống Nhất, một trong 6 nước thuộc Hội Đồng Hợp Tác Vùng Vịnh GCC đã chính thức tham gia khối BRICS nơi Trung Quốc và Nga đóng vai trò chủ đạo. Một thành viên thứ nhì là Ả Rập Xê Út đã chính thức được mời tham gia nhóm các nền kinh tế đang trỗi dậy. Năm 2023 Bắc Kinh bắc nhịp cầu hỏa giải Ả Rập Xê Út, một đồng minh lầu đời của Mỹ ở Trung Đông với Iran. Riêng Qatar tuy không ngừng mở rộng giao thương với Trung Quốc, nhưng vẫn còn giữ khoảng cách với Bắc Kinh. Hoài nghi từ các đồng minh của Mỹ ở Trung Đông Có điều sau vụ Israel nhắm vào một phái đoàn đàm phán của Hamas đang có mặt tại Doha đã oanh kích một tòa nhà ngay tại thủ đô Qatar hôm 09/09/2025, căng thẳng leo thang giữa một bên là các quốc gia Vùng Vịnh, các nước Ả Rập Hồi Giáo và bên kia là Israel được Mỹ yểm trợ. Qatar dọa ngừng làm trọng tài giữa Israel và Hamas chấm dứt xung đột tại Gaza. Cùng lúc, Hoa Kỳ chỉ cảnh cáo chính quyền của thủ tướng Benjamin Netanyahu cho có lệ. Phải đợi đến 3 tuần sau sự cố nói trên thủ tướng Israel từ Washington mới chính thức bày tỏ « ân hận sâu sắc » đã vi phạm chủ quyền lãnh thổ của Qatar. Trước Qatar, Ả Rập Xê Út từng có cơ hội thử thách tính vững trắc của đồng minh Hoa Kỳ : Tháng 9/2019 Donald Trump trong nhiệm kỳ đầu đã không có phản ứng gì khi drone Iran nhắm vào các cơ sở dầu hỏa của Ả Rập Xê Út cho dù Ryiad mua hàng tỷ đô la vũ khí của Mỹ. Trả lời RFI tiếng Việt, chuyên gia Jean -Loup Samaan, Viện Nghiên Cứu Trung Đông trường Đại Học Quốc Gia Singapore, trước hết giải thích về tầm mức nghiêm trọng của đợt « oanh kích » nhắm vào Doha hôm 09/09/2025 không chỉ đối với Qatar mà cả với các quốc gia trong Vùng Vịnh. Jean-Loup Samaan : « Cuộc tấn công này đã gây ra phản ứng từ các nước vùng Vịnh vì nhiều lý do. Thứ nhất, đây là một cuộc tấn công bất ngờ bởi vì từ trước đến nay, việc Israel tấn công Qatar được xem như là một “lằn ranh đỏ” không thể vượt qua. Điểm thứ nhì, đây lại là một cuộc tấn công từ một đồng minh của Hoa Kỳ – điều này chưa từng xảy ra. Trước đây, các cuộc tấn công vào Qatar thường đến từ Iran, hoặc từ lực lượng Houthi ở Yemen, hay từ Irak. Nhưng lần này lại là từ Israel một đồng minh thân cận của Mỹ. Chính vì thế mà gây ra nhiều vấn đề, đặc biệt là do Washington đã kín đáo, không thực sự lên án cuộc tấn công. Điểm này khiến các quốc gia vùng Vịnh hoang mang. Họ tự hỏi liệu các thỏa thuận quốc phòng với Hoa Kỳ còn đáng tin cậy hay không và nên chăng tiếp tục duy trì mối quan hệ hợp tác quân sự với Washington? » Tựa như trong trường hợp của Ả Rập Xê Út sáu năm trước đây, lần này Qatar và các nước trong Vùng Vịnh tiếp tục thất vọng về thái độ của Hoa Kỳ. Mới tháng 5/2025 các quốc gia này đã trải thảm đỏ đón tổng thống Trump. Abou Dabi cam kết đầu tư 1.400 tỷ vào Mỹ trong 10 năm. Nhà Trắng khoe đã thu hoạch 1.000 tỷ đô la tại chặng dừng ở vương quốc Ả Râp Xê Út. Còn Qatar hứa đầu tư thêm 10 tỷ đô la vào Mỹ và như Donald Trump giải thích 10 tỷ đô la đó sẽ « nẩy nở thành 12.000 tỷ đô la trong tương lai » cho kinh tế Hoa Kỳ. Riêng trong trường hợp của Qatar, nhà sản xuất thứ nhì của thế giới về dầu hỏa và khí đốt này còn chiếm một vị trí then chốt từ quân sự, ngoại giao đến kinh tế trong chiến lược của Washington tại Trung Đông. Đây là nơi 10.000 quân Mỹ đang đồn trú tại căn cứ quân sự Al Udeid, căn cứ lớn nhất của Hoa Kỳ tại Trung Đông. Jean-Loup Samaan, đại học Singapore điểm lại mối quan hệ khá tốt đẹp và hiệu quả của Qatar. Jean-Loup Samaan : « Về mặt ngoại giao, Qatar đóng vai trò trung gian trong nhiều hồ sơ, như trong đàm phán giữa Mỹ và Taliban – Qatar đã đóng vai trò then chốt trong việc Mỹ rút khỏi Afghanistan năm 2021. Ngoài ra, trong vấn đề Palestine, Qatar cũng là một nhân tố trung tâm khi hỗ trợ các cuộc đàm phán với Hamas cho đến thời điểm hiện tại. Về mặt quân sự, Qatar là nơi đặt Bộ tư lệnh trung tâm của Hoa Kỳ tại khu vực Trung Đông – tức là bộ chỉ huy của quân đội Mỹ phụ trách khu vực này đặt tại căn cứ quân sự Al Udeid Điều đó đặc biệt đáng chú ý khi đặt trong bối cảnh các cuộc không kích của Israel – vì có hàng ngàn binh sĩ Mỹ hiện đang đóng quân thường trực tại Qatar ». 10 tỷ đô la : keo sơn giữa Doha và Washington Jean-Loup Samaan : « Qatar cũng là một đối tác kinh tế của Mỹ. Hai quốc gia này không còn phụ thuộc nhiều vào nhau về về mặt năng lượng như trước bởi vì Mỹ đã trở thành nhà sản xuất và xuất khẩu năng lượng lớn trong vòng 20 năm qua. Tuy nhiên, Qatar vẫn là một lực lượng tài chính quan trọng – quỹ đầu tư quốc gia của Qatar rất lớn, đầu tư vào bất động sản cao cấp và công nghệ mới. Ví dụ, trong chuyến thăm vùng Vịnh mùa xuân vừa rồi của tổng thống Trump, ông đã đến Qatar và có nhiều thông báo về các khoản đầu tư lớn của Qatar vào kinh tế Hoa Kỳ.Đây là một khía cạnh đáng chú ý trong quan hệ song phương ». Năm 1972 Mỹ thiết lập bang giao với Qatar. Từ đó đến nay quan hệ ngoại giao, quân sự liên tục phát triển « tốt đẹp » hợp tác song phương được phát triển mạnh me trong nhiều lĩnh vực từ quốc phòng đến năng lượng thương mại, đầu tư. Nhân dịp tổng thống Donald Trump vừa công du Qatar tháng 5/2025, Doha thông báo hợp đồng 96 tỷ đô la với tập đoàn Boeing, đầu tư thêm 2 tỷ vào lĩnh vực quốc phòng, 1 tỷ đô la để phát triển công nghệ mới … Chung cuộc, tổng thống Trump trở về Washington với cam kết 10 tỷ đô la đầu tư của Qatar vào Mỹ trong những năm sắp tới. Giới quan sát cho rằng 10 tỷ đô la đầu tư đó là keo sơn, gắn chặt hơn một chút nữa cho liên minh giữa Doha với Washington đề phòng trước những « áp lực và mối đe dọa tiềm tàng của khu vực ». Trong nhiều năm, Qatar từng bị Ả Rập Xê Út, Các Tiểu Vương Quốc Ả Rập Thống Nhất, Bahein và Ai Cập « phong tỏa » về mặt ngoại giao với lý do, Doha dễ dàng bắt tay với các tổ chức khủng bố… Vậy liệu rằng Mỹ bênh vực Nhà nước Do Thái có thể làm gián đoạn các mối quan hệ này, đặc biệt là về mặt kinh tế hay không ? Chuyên gia về Trung Đông tại Đại Học Quốc Gia Singapore trả lời : Jean-Loup Samaan : « Cho đến nay thì chưa. Phía Qatar đưa ra các tuyên bố ngoại giao khá thận trọng. Họ phân biệt rõ ràng giữa lập trường về Israel mà Doha mạnh mẽ lên án với lập trường của Mỹ. Hiện tại Qatar cho rằng về cơ bản, các cuộc tấn công không làm thay đổi quan hệ với Washington. Tuy nhiên, chúng ta sẽ phải chờ trong vài tháng tới để xem liệu có tác động nào về mặt ngoại giao hay quân sự. Còn về kinh tế, hiện tại rất khó để nói, nhưng có thể chắc chắn rằng Qatar sẽ tránh đối đầu trực diện với chính quyền Trump. Họ sẽ không thực hiện các biện pháp trả đũa kinh tế đối với các công ty Mỹ – điều đó có vẻ rất khó xảy ra ». Ông Samaan chú ý hơn cả đến « dư âm » đối với toàn khu vực Vùng Vịnh và thế giới Hồi Giáo từ vụ quân đội Israel truy đuổi một nhóm của phong trào Hồi Giáo Palestine đang có mặt tại thủ đô Doha để đàm phán trong đợt oanh kích hôm 09/09/2025 Jean-Loup Samaan : « Đúng vậy, tác động của đợt oanh kích này được cảm nhận rõ rệt bởi cả sáu quốc gia trong Hội đồng Hợp tác vùng Vịnh – bao gồm Qatar, Ả Rập Xê Út, Bahrain, Các Tiểu Vương Quốc Ả Rập Thống Nhất UAE và Kuwait. Lý do là vì nếu Qatar có thể bị tấn công, thì 5 quốc gia còn lại cũng có thể là mục tiêu tiếp theo và đó cũng là nhóm các nước ở vùng Vịnh phụ thuộc nhiều vào sự hiện diện quân sự của Mỹ. Ả Rập Xê Út đã nhanh chóng phản ứng qua việc công bố một hiệp ước quốc phòng mới với Pakistan – dù thông tin chi tiết chưa rõ, nhưng có một điều khoản tương trợ lẫn nhau nếu một trong hai bị tấn công. Đây là dấu hiệu cho thấy các quốc gia vùng Vịnh đang xem xét những lựa chọn thay thế cho quan hệ chiến lược với Hoa Kỳ. Họ biết rằng sẽ không có quốc gia nào thay thế hoàn toàn vai trò của Mỹ, nhưng họ sẽ tìm cách đa dạng hóa quan hệ đối ngoại – đặc biệt là hướng tới châu Á ». Trung Quốc là một « lựa chọn thay thế » ? Jean-Loup Samaan : « Về kinh tế, đã có sự cạnh tranh giữa Trung Quốc và Mỹ tại vùng Vịnh trong vài năm trở lại đây – đặc biệt là trong lĩnh vực cơ sở hạ tầng và công nghệ mới như trí tuệ nhân tạo. Song, tôi không nghĩ các quốc gia vùng Vịnh sẽ đột ngột chuyển đầu tư của họ từ Mỹ sang Trung Quốc. Chính quyền Abou Dabi đã đầu tư mạnh vào trí tuệ nhân tạo và từ hai năm nay, điểm đến là Hoa Kỳ mà điển hình là hợp đồng rất lớn hồi 2024 với Microsoft năm 2024 và sau đó vương quốc này cũng đã thông báo sẽ giảm đầu tư vào Trung Quốc. Với những dự án như vậy, rất khó để một sớm một chiều thay đổi điểm đến. Do vậy, tôi không nghĩ Trung Quốc nhanh chóng chiếm lợi thế trong tình huống này, cho dù hướng đầu tư vào Hoa Lục là một khuynh hướng đã nhận thấy từ một vài năm trở lại đây và điều này không liên quan gì đến vụ tấn công nhắm vào Doha hôm 09 tháng 9 vừa qua » . Tháng 5/2025 Bắc Kinh cho phép một quỹ đầu tư của Qatar (QIA) mua lại 10 % vốn của một quỹ bất động sản Trung Quốc AMC. Trung Quốc là đối tác thương mại quạ trọng nhất của Qatar. Trong hai thập niên, từ 2004 đến20 24 tổng trao đổi mậu dịch của Trung Quốc với 6 nước vùng Vịnh đã được nhân lên gấp 10 lần. Cũng nhà nghiên cứu Jean-Loup Samaan, trong một bài tham luận đăng trên trang nhà của Việt Quan Hệ Quốc Tế Pháp năm 2021 đã nhắc đến hiện tượng Doha « bị kẹt » trong cuộc đọ sức giữa Bắc Kinh và Washington. Trung Quốc là nơi đang nắm giữ chìa khóa tăng trưởng của Qatar nhưng về mặt chiến lược, như nhiều quốc gia khác trong khu vực, Qatar vẫn đứng ngoài quỹ đạo của Bắc Kinh. Doha hiện là một mắt xích quan trọng trong kế hoạch Gaza tổng thống Hoa Kỳ Donald Trump vừa trình bày nhân dịp tiếp thủ tướng Israel. Trước đây, các vòng đàm phán giữa phái đoàn Mỹ và đại diện của Taliban từng bí mật diễn ra tại thủ đô Doha. Căn cứ quân sự Al Udeid cũng là nơi hơn 40.000 nhân viên của Mỹ và Afghanistan sơ tán khi Hoa Kỳ rút quân khỏi Kaboul tháng 8/2021. Qatar không chỉ có đô la và dầu hỏa, khí đốt, mà còn là một « đồng minh không thể thiếu của Mỹ ở Trung -Cận Đông ». Nếu như ảnh hưởng của Trung Quốc tại khu vực này và nhất là đối với Qatar ngày càng lớn, chưa thể cho rằng Bắc Kinh là một « chọn lựa thay thế » Hoa Kỳ trong mắt các quốc gia vùng Vịnh. Cũng không có chuyện vì Washington ủng hộ Nhà nước Do Thái mà các nước Ả Rập Hồi Giáo chuyển hướng đầu tư đi tìm những bãi đáp mới.
Paul Gamble, Head of Middle East and Africa (MEA) Sovereigns, and Cedric Berry, Director, MEA Sovereigns, discuss GCC efforts to diversify their economies beyond oil, and the varied pace of progress across the region.
Sermon preached by Nick Gagnon at GCC in Marblehead on September 28, 2025.
9/24/25: N'ton City Council Pres Alex Jarrett: municipal health -- money, schools & priorities. CDH Dr “Sunny” Shukla: yr health & weight management. GCC science prof Brian Adams w/ Tom Ricardi on rehabbing raptors. David Boles & Stacey Lennard: our rivers' health & Saturday's Source to Sea Cleanup.
9/24/25: N'ton City Council Pres Alex Jarrett: municipal health -- money, schools & priorities. CDH Dr “Sunny” Shukla: yr health & weight management. GCC science prof Brian Adams w/ Tom Ricardi on rehabbing raptors. David Boles & Stacey Lennard: our rivers' health & Saturday's Source to Sea Cleanup.
9/24/25: N'ton City Council Pres Alex Jarrett: municipal health -- money, schools & priorities. CDH Dr “Sunny” Shukla: yr health & weight management. GCC science prof Brian Adams w/ Tom Ricardi on rehabbing raptors. David Boles & Stacey Lennard: our rivers' health & Saturday's Source to Sea Cleanup.
9/24/25: N'ton City Council Pres Alex Jarrett: municipal health -- money, schools & priorities. CDH Dr “Sunny” Shukla: yr health & weight management. GCC science prof Brian Adams w/ Tom Ricardi on rehabbing raptors. David Boles & Stacey Lennard: our rivers' health & Saturday's Source to Sea Cleanup.
In this episode, I'm talking with Michael Belton, the CEO of MERED Real Estate Development. Michael's path is a fascinating one: from Alaska to Russia, and finally to the GCC. With over three decades of experience in global real estate, he's managed a staggering $5B in assets across the US, Europe, and the Middle East.We get into what leadership truly means in a region of over 200 nationalities, constant change, and AI on the rise. Michael reminds us that real estate has never been just about buildings, it's always been about people. We discuss why, even as bots start to close deals, timeless skills like curiosity and emotional intelligence are what still set the best leaders apart. Michael also shares the qualities he believes AI can never replicate: human trust, clear vision, and the genuine ability to support and inspire. This conversation is full of lessons on how to lead in a fast-changing world and why, no matter how advanced technology becomes, human leadership still wins.______Follow our Mastervision® Podcast on YouTubeSubscribe on platforms to get new episodes early: YouTube Music Apple Podcasts Spotify
Gaming & fatherhood are the main topics this week with the amazing Dan Belgrave! Dan & Mike have collaborated in the past on GCC, the podcast Superheroes For Dummies and more, but this week they're honing-in on two incredibly important aspects of Dan's life; being a dad and video games! In their discussion, they talk about the challenges of fatherhood and the balancing of time one must adhere to, while also talking about the many incredible things that come along with it. After talking about Dan's son, the duo move into video-game-territory in more detail, including early memories of gaming, why they love it, Ghosts of Tsushima, and so much more – this is one for the gamers and the dads! Find Dan on IG @dark_ronin84 and @black_blur84 or on TikTok @manlikedan84. Dan is involved in a new collaborative podcast project, which will be launching very soon, so keep your eyes & ears peeled! Dan was last on GCC all the way back on episode 115, so dive into the back catalogue to listen! Previous episodes of GCC have included Tony (A.R.) Farina talking about his Sense & Sensibility adaptation, 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 A Clockwork Orange, Thunderbolts, 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!
Sermon preached by Nick Gagnon at GCC in Marblehead on September 21, 2025.
In today's episode, we discuss the laws of termination of employment in the UAE, Oman & Qatar. This includes legal grounds for termination, limitations during the probationary period, employee rights upon termination and more. Subscribe to our podcast today to stay up to date on employment issues from law experts worldwide.Host: Emma Higham (email) (Clyde & Co / Qatar)Guest Speakers: Gorvinder Pannu (email) (Addleshaw Goddard / Oman) & Elodie Chalhoub (email) (Clyde & Co / UAE)Support the showRegister on the ELA website here to receive email invitations to future programs.
On Episode 680 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Karan Taurani, Executive Vice President (Media, Retail, Consumer Discretionary & Internet) at Elara Capital.SHOW NOTES(00:00) Stories of the Day(01:00) Markets rise again on tariff talks(02:22) How it's been a year and the markets have not gone anywhere(05:02) Where are GST savings in households really likely to go?(14:45) Rolls Royce expands in India, sets up largest GCC in India(15:36) Chip wars break out again, with China at the centre(16:53) Where US customers can learn from Indiahttps://www.investing-referral.com/aff303Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube
Today's episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance
Subscribe now for the full episode! Derek is joined by Giorgio Cafiero of Gulf State Analytics and Annelle Sheline of the Quincy Institute to take a closer look at Israel's bombing of Doha, Qatar, this week. They discuss how the strike undermines Qatar's role as mediator in Israel-Hamas negotiations, US complicity, and why Gulf leaders now view Israel, not Iran, as the region's chief destabilizer. They further explore Qatar's hosting of Hamas at America's request, the GCC's tenuous unity in the face of Israeli aggression, the domestic politics driving Netanyahu, and the risks of Israel crossing new red lines. Follow Annelle and Giorgio on Twitter/X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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.
A SEAT at THE TABLE: Leadership, Innovation & Vision for a New Era
In an increasingly competitive retail landscape, more brands are looking for new markets with high growth potential.That's put the GCC (Gulf Cooperative Council) region on more brands' radar. The region includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, nations that have strong spending power and continue to invest in retail development.In this episode of A Seat at The Table we're sitting down with Dr. Heike Lieb-Wilson, a trusted advisor and market expansion strategist for global brands entering the GCC and MENA region. With over a decade of hands-on experience in the UAE - and more than 40 years in international business - she combines strategic clarity with deep regional insight.As the founder of Brightly Labs LLC in Dubai, Heike helps premium European brands navigate complex entry challenges, from licensing and localization to retail growth and partner vetting. Her agent-based model offers brands a low-risk, high-impact pathway to scale in the region - backed by trusted networks and proven frameworks.Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm
GCC leaders are rallying behind Qatar after an unprecedented Israeli attack on its capital. The European Commission is pausing support for Israel. And Egypt is seeking US guarantees that Israel will not attack exiled Hamas leaders again. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: European Commission to pause support for Israel, says von der Leyen President Sheikh Mohamed reaffirms UAE's solidarity with Qatar in meeting with Sheikh Tamim Egypt seeks US guarantees that Israel will not attack exiled Hamas leaders again This episode features Vanessa Ghanem, Arab Affairs Editor; Sunniva Rose, Europe Correspondent; and Hamza Hendawi; Cairo Correspondent. Editor's note: We want to hear from you! Help us improve our podcasts by taking our 2-minute listener survey. Click here.
Raj Malhotra, co-founder of Sole DXB, shares the story behind building one of the GCC's last major independent festivals — a cultural platform born from minimal capital yet lots of passion and grit. The episode traces his journey to meeting co-founders Hussain Moloobhoy and Joshua Cox, and how their shared love for fashion, music, food, and design helped shape the DNA of Sole DXB. Raj reflects on the drive for excellence that fuels the festival each year, their commitment to empowering homegrown businesses in the UAE, and what it means to create a cultural space that can fuel the region's growth.
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/
Your HQ just moved. Your team didn't. That's the reality for companies across the Middle East. RHQ mandates. Saudization. Emiratization. Legal shifts are redrawing the talent map — and companies who don't adapt are getting left behind. Would your hiring strategy survive if you had to rebuild it tomorrow? In this episode of Talent Talk, Executive & Team Coach Andrea Ross sits down with Kinetic's Rudy Bier (Managing Director) and Chris Atkinson (Business Consultant UK & EMEA) — seasoned recruitment experts in life sciences and industrial sectors across GCC — to break down the new hiring battleground in the Middle East. Here's what's inside: → Why Saudi's RHQ laws are forcing leadership teams to relocate — or risk missing out → What Saudization and Emiratization are really doing to salaries and sourcing → Why nationalization is widening the talent gap — and how Kinetic's closing it → How top candidates are standing out in the region's most competitive job market → The 3-year rule that's quietly wrecking careers across the Gulf Also covered: • Why LinkedIn isn't enough (and what's working instead) • The mistake expats are making in Saudi hiring • Why mentorship is becoming a survival skill If you're scaling in Saudi or UAE — you need this episode.
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.
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.
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!
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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.