We’re thrilled to share another podcast from Kerning Cultures Network with you: “Beyond the Raging Sea: State of Mind”.
In 2016, Omar Samra called Omar Nour with a life-changing idea: “How about we row across the Atlantic Ocean?” Within hours, the two were registered to compete in the world’s toughest race: a 3,000-mile unsupported row across the mighty Atlantic Ocean, in a seven-meter rowing boat. However, nine days into their journey, when their boat capsized in a severe storm and the life raft didn't open, they came face-to-face with death.
State of Mind is produced by Kerning Cultures Network. Lobna Monieb is the host of State of Mind. This episode was produced by Lobna and edited by Heba El-Sherif. Fact-checking by Deena Sabry and sound design by Monzer El-Hachem. Special thanks to Dr Anna Lembke for speaking to us for this episode. 

Introducing… Beyond the Raging Sea: State of Mind

Today on al empire, our season finale and last episode. So who better to end it with than the person who made this all possible? 
Hebah Fisher, KC Network’s co-founder and CEO, demystifies her name, shares beautiful family stories, and reveals a love for kickboxing. Through the highs and lows of building KC Network, Hebah tells us what kept her going. 
Although al empire is coming to an end, we continue to believe in the importance of celebrating our community’s accomplishments. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
This episode was produced by Dana Ballout, Alex Atack, and Tamara Rasamny. Sound design by Mohamed Khreizat and Alex Atack. Fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. The original sting for al empire was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production.

S2E7: Hebah Fisher: Kerning Cultures Co-Founder

Omar went from being an investment banker to adventuring around the world. He’s been on adventures climbing the highest mountains in the world, attempting to row across the Atlantic Ocean, skiing in the North and South Poles, and a lot more, like starting his travel and adventure business, Wild Guanabana. Omar walks us through life’s eccentric highs, literally, and mournful lows.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Tamara Rasamny with editorial support by Dana Ballout and Alex Atack.  Sound design by Tamara Rasamny, and mixing by Mohamad Khreizat, fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. The original sting for al empire was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S2E6: Omar Samra: Adventurer and Entrepreneur

Ghizlan Guenez always loved fashion. But, as she entered the corporate world, Ghizlan could never find modest yet fashionable clothing to suit her style and the women around her. In 2017, she founded The Modist, the first online luxury site for modest fashion.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Alex Atack with editorial support by Dana Ballout and Tamara Rasamny.  Sound design by Alex Atack, and mixing by Mohamad Khreizat, fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. The original sting for al empire was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to stay in touch! 
Support this podcast on https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $2 a month.

S2E5: Ghizlan Guenez: The Modist Founder

You may know Bernard Khoury from Johnnie Walker advertisements. He is the man behind some of Lebanon’s most iconic structures. Bernard takes us back to his childhood and the beginning of his architecture career, with his first major project, B 018, an underground nightclub that made global headlines, and tells us the impact that fame had on his work today.
This episode was produced by Tamara Rasamny, Dana Ballout, Hebah Fisher and Alex Atack. Sound design by Alex Atack and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. The original sting for al empire was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S2E4: Bernard Khoury: Architect

Mona Ataya, a serial entrepreneur, started early by selling chewing gum in grade school. Now, she runs the region’s largest online baby store, Mumzworld. She talks about the balancing act of being a mom and running a leading e-commerce company and how her Palestinian background contributed to her entrepreneurial spirit. 
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Tamara Rasamny, with editorial support by Dana Ballout and Alex Atack.  Sound design and mixing by Mohamad Khreizat, fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. The original sting for al empire was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S2E3: Mona Ataya: Mumzworld Founder

Host and co-creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, Dolly Parton’s America, and more, Jad Abumrad has inspired the sounds of thousands of podcasts and radio shows around the world (Kerning Cultures Network shows included). In this episode, he opens up about being raised in a Lebanese household in Tennessee, curious about the intersection of music and stories. He shares with us his journey towards developing the craft of storytelling through sound, including how he was ignored and (literally) tuned out when he first started.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Alex Atack, with editorial support by Dana Ballout and Tamara Rasamny. Sound design by Alex Atack, mixing by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. The original sting for al empire was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S2E2: Jad Abumrad: Radio Host

Nadine chats with us about how her love for film began, the years of preparation and work for her 2018 film Capernaum, and her journey to becoming the first Lebanese woman in history to be nominated for an Academy Award. 
Note: The first airing of this episode mistakenly claimed Nadine was the first Arab woman to be nominated for an Academy Award. That distinction goes to Jehane Noujaim, another brilliant director.
This episode was produced by Dana Ballout and Tamara Rasamny, with editorial support by Hebah Fisher and Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Original sting composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S2E1: Nadine Labaki: Filmmaker & Actress

This is al empire season 2. Subscribe and leave a rating and review! Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!

S2Season 2 Trailer

In our season finale, Hatoon talks about the video that accidentally went viral and made her famous. From being named as BBC’s 100 Women in 2014 to dealing with trolls, this is the journey of Saudi’s first female comedian.
Follow Hatoon Kadi on social media: @hatoonkadi. This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Linah Mohammad and Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Our original sting was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

في ختام هذا الموسم، تحدثنا هتون القاضي، أول فنانة كوميدية سعودية عن الفيديو الذي حصد شهرةً واسعة فغيّر بدوره مجرى حياتها، كما تشاركنا مسيرتها المهنية منذ تصنيفها ضمن قائمة بي بي سي لأكثر النساء إلهاماً لعام 2014 بالإضافة لمشاعرها الشخصية بعد تعرضها للتنمر الالكتروني وموجات الانتقادات التي تعرضت لها.
يمكنكم متابعة هتون القاضي على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي.
هذه الحلقة من إنتاج هبة فيشر ودانة بلوط وبمساعدة تحريرية من لينا محمد واليكس اتاك.
التصميم الصوتي: محمد خريزات و تدقيق الحقائق: زينة دويدر.
برنامج الإمبير من انتاج شبكة كيرنينج كلتشرز.
Support the show.

S1E7: Hatoon Kadi: Comedian

Andre talks about growing up during the Lebanese civil war and how discovering The Economist at age 13 inspired a spirit of entrepreneurship in him early in his life. Fleeing the violence of Beirut, Andre moves to France where his love of music led him to build his first company. From there, his journey towards success had only just begun.
Update: As of October 2019, Turo raised upwards of $450 million in funding, has 350,000 cars listed on its platform, and 12 million signups.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Linah Mohammad and Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Our original sting was composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
This episode was made possible, in part, by Techwadi, the bridge between Silicon Valley and the Middle East.
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S1E6: Andre Haddad: Turo CEO

Dina, now an acclaimed actress with shows on Amazon and Hulu, initially set out to become a professional dancer, despite trying to quit ballet as a child. In this episode, she talks about the critical moments that propelled her acting career forward and the rewards of pushing the envelope.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamed Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Original sting composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S1E5: Dina Shihabi: Actor

Bassem reflects on the moments that inspired him to leave behind 19 years in medicine for political satire, a show that was watched by 40 million people every week. Now, he tells us about what it’s like reinventing a career for himself in the US, and about the time long ago when he raised baby chicks.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Original sting composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!

S1E4: Bassem Youssef: Comedian

Joy talks about building three companies from the ground up: from signing a $10,000 lease at the age of 23 to raising $56M across her ventures. She also talks about how she always challenged the status quo, even as a child.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Percia Verlin and Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Original sting composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!

S1E3: Joy Ajlouny: Cofounder, Fetchr

Mona tells us about the unusual freedom her Iraqi parents gave her as a kid, the meticulous process behind her work, and how she’s dismantling the idea that data journalism is an impenetrable truth.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Linah Mohammad and Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact checking by Zeina Dowidar. Original sting composed by Ramzi Bashour. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production. Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support the show.

S1E2: Mona Chalabi: Data Journalist

Hamed chats with us about his childhood and what fuels his charisma onstage (including how he’s always wanted to be sexy like Tina Turner). He takes us through Mashrou’ Leila’s evolution - and his own.
This episode was produced by Hebah Fisher and Dana Ballout, with editorial support by Linah Mohammad and Alex Atack. Sound design by Mohamad Khreizat, and fact checking by Zeina Dowidar. Original sting composed by Ramzi Bashour. Selected music by Mashrou’ Leila. al empire is a Kerning Cultures Network production.  Search ‘Kerning Cultures Network’ to hear other podcasts like this one, and follow @kerningcultures on Instagram to stay in touch!
Support this podcast on https://www.patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.

S1E1: Hamed Sinno: Mashrou’ Leila Singer/Songwriter

Be sure to subscribe to this show and leave a rating and review!
Support the show.

al empire

al empire

Get Started

Download the App