Inside The Red Sea Games — Saudi Arabia’s Biggest CrossFit Competition 🇸🇦

In this episode of Stump Station, we dive behind the scenes of the Red Sea Games, one of the biggest CrossFit competitions in Saudi Arabia, held in Jeddah.

What does it actually take to organise a major fitness competition?

From athlete selection and programming workouts to the growth of the CrossFit community in Saudi Arabia, we break down the real story behind the event.

We also discuss an important topic:
Why are there still so few Saudi athletes competing in the RX division?

As the sport grows rapidly in the Kingdom, the goal is to see more Saudi athletes competing, representing the country, and pushing the level of fitness forward.

In this conversation we cover:

🏋️ Behind the scenes of running the Red Sea Games
🇸🇦 The growth of CrossFit in Saudi Arabia
🔥 Why the competition has exploded in popularity
💭 The challenges organisers face
📉 Why there are fewer Saudis in the RX division
🚀 What needs to happen for Saudi athletes to dominate the sport

The Red Sea Games isn’t just a competition — it’s becoming a major moment for fitness culture in Saudi Arabia.

👥 People & Organisations Mentioned

Follow the competition and athletes involved:

📍 Red Sea Games
Instagram: @the.redsea.games

🏋️ Albaraa Alkilani
Instagram: @albaraa.alkilani

🎙 Stump Station Podcast

Hosted by Liam Stump, this podcast dives into fitness, business, mindset, and the people shaping the future of performance in the Middle East.

📸 Instagram: @stumpy94

If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to subscribe, like, and share with someone who loves fitness.

In Episode 30 of Stump Station, I sit down with Dr. Baraa Rajab to talk about pain, injury rehab, mobility, strength training, and why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies.

We dive into:

• Why back pain and knee pain don’t mean your body is broken • The truth about injury rehabilitation in your 30s and 40s• Mobility vs strength – what actually prevents injury • Why “rest” isn’t always the answer • How Saudi women can rebuild confidence through movement • Yoga, rehab, and building real physical capacity • The mindset shift from pain to performance

If you’re a busy professional struggling with back pain, knee pain, stiffness, or feeling weak after years of stress, work, or pregnancy — this episode is for you.

Dr. Baraa explains how movement is medicine, how to build strength safely, and how to stop fearing pain.

This isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about reclaiming your body.

🎧 Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction 03:12 – Dr. Baraa’s journey into movement & rehab 12:40 – Why pain isn’t weakness 24:10 – The biggest rehab mistakes women make 37:25 – Mobility vs strength explained 49:00 – Yoga and rebuilding confidence1:02:30 – Building capacity in your 30s & 40s 1:15:10 – Quickfire round

📲 Connect with Dr. Baraa Rajab: Instagram: @drbaraarajab

If this episode helped you, make sure to: 👍 Like 💬 Comment your biggest takeaway 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on fitness, mindset, entrepreneurship & personal growth in Saudi Arabia

In Episode 29 of Stump Station, we dive deep into something that shapes every entrepreneur long before their first business idea: upbringing.Hasna Baker — founder of Elephantor, a brand strategy and storytelling agency — shares how being raised in Saudi influenced the way she thinks about growth, discipline, and business.This conversation goes beyond branding. It’s about mindset.We unpack:• What it means to be raised with a growth mindset• The difference between being born into confidence vs learning it later in life• Habits vs mood — and why discipline always wins• How family environment shapes ambition• The mindset gap between dreamers and builders• What most business owners misunderstand about branding strategy• Why storytelling is the foundation of long-term brand success• How busy professionals can build both a business and a healthy lifestyleHasna breaks down how Elephantor was built, what problems she saw in the market, and why brand strategy is about clarity — not just aesthetics.If you’re building a business, growing a personal brand, or trying to rewire your mindset for bigger results — this episode will challenge you to think differently.🎙 Guest: Hasna Baker🏢 Founder of Elephantor (Brand Strategy & Storytelling Agency)📲 Instagram: @hasnabaker📲 Agency: @elephantor_saIf this episode adds value, share it with someone who’s building something meaningful.Subscribe for more conversations on entrepreneurship, fitness, mindset, and growth in the Middle East.

In this episode of Stump Station, I sit down in Riyadh for a relaxed coffee podcast with Arshiya, a GCC lifestyle, food, and travel content creator who has built a strong online presence by sharing real life in Saudi Arabia.

Arshiya’s journey is one a lot of people can relate to — she started out as an IT engineer, moved to Saudi Arabia, and slowly transitioned from content creation as a hobby into becoming a recognised lifestyle influencer in the GCC. In this conversation, we go deeper than Instagram highlights and talk about what life is actually like behind the scenes.

This episode covers everything from living in Saudi Arabia as an expat, the reality of being a female creator in the GCC, how social media growth really works, and why Saudi Arabia has become one of the most exciting places right now for creators, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
🎙️ What we talk about in this episode:
Who Arshiya is and how she defines herself beyond social media
What she wants people to feel when they visit her Instagram
The truth about becoming an influencer without planning to
Balancing a professional career in engineering with content creation
When content creation stopped being “just a hobby”
Why she moved to Saudi Arabia and her first impressions of the country
Common misconceptions about Saudi Arabia vs the reality
How Saudi has evolved over the last few years
How helping expats navigate life in Saudi accelerated her social media growth
The strategy behind lifestyle, food, and travel content
What people misunderstand about the influencer lifestyle
How creators can grow without chasing virality
Saudi coffee culture and must-visit cafés in Riyadh
Affordable food spots in Saudi Arabia people shouldn’t miss
Being a female creator in the GCC and handling judgment online
Advice for women who want to start creating content
Quickfire questions and personal takeaways
This conversation is perfect for:
Anyone living in Saudi Arabia or planning to move
Expats in the GCC looking to understand the lifestyle better
Content creators who want honest insight into growth and consistency
Women thinking about starting content creation
Anyone curious about Saudi culture, food, coffee, and daily life
If you’ve ever wondered what life in Saudi Arabia is really like, how creators build audiences in the GCC, or what it takes to balance a career with content creation — this episode is for you.
☕ Grab a coffee, sit back, and enjoy the conversation.

Thinking about working in Saudi Arabia as a coach, trainer, or expat professional?
This episode is for you.
In this episode of Stump Station, I sit down with Portia Mahony, a UK-born personal trainer now coaching in Saudi Arabia, to talk about the real experience of working in the Saudi fitness industry — no sugar-coating.
We break down:
Why she chose Saudi Arabia over places like Dubai
What coaching is actually like in Saudi vs the UK
The biggest cultural and business differences coaches need to know
Working for a company vs going private — pros, cons, and hard truths
The challenges, surprises, and opportunities of coaching here
Advice for coaches thinking of moving to Saudi
Long-term goals, personal ambitions, and what life here is really like
This episode isn’t just about fitness — it’s about career decisions, risk, growth, and building a life abroad.
Whether you’re:
A coach thinking about moving to Saudi
Already working here and unsure about going private
Curious about expat life in Saudi Arabia
Or just interested in the behind-the-scenes reality of working here
This conversation will give you clarity.
🎙️ Quickfire questions at the end cover lessons learned, mindset, habits of successful clients, and advice for anyone considering the move.
👇 Follow Portia here:
Instagram: @portiamahony
👇 Follow Stump Station for more real conversations on fitness, mindset, and life in Saudi Arabia.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with anyone thinking about working in Saudi.

In this Unfiltered a Stump Station mini series 

I sit down with Sarah Farhoud  sports medicine physician, Olympic & Paralympic team doctor, and the founder of the biggest run club in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦.
Sarah is the force behind We Run, the #1 run club in Riyadh, and a community that reshaped running culture in Saudi — especially for women. From launching one of the first run communities of its kind, to working with Team Saudi at the Olympics & Paralympics, her journey is about leadership, confidence, and building something bigger than yourself.
In this short but powerful episode, we talk about:
How We Run started and why it grew so fast
What it’s really like working with Team Saudi at the Olympics & Paralympics
Being a woman putting yourself out there in the fitness space
Inspiring more women to start running and training
Confidence, discipline, and community through movement
This episode is for anyone who wants to:
✔️ Build confidence through fitness
✔️ Start something meaningful
✔️ Break barriers and lead by example
✔️ Be part of a stronger, healthier community
🎧 Grab a coffee and enjoy Episode 24 of Stump Station  Unfiltered.

📍 Follow Sarah & We Run
Instagram: @sarahfarhoud
We Run: @werun.sa
📍 Follow Stump Station for more unfiltered conversations around fitness, mindset, and growth.

In today’s Stump Station episode, I sat down with Tonie-Maria, the founder of Generation H, a nutrition expert, gut-health educator, and the woman leading the UAE’s movement toward REAL clean-ingredient eating — not the marketing fairy tale most brands sell.
This episode goes deep.
Deeper than the typical “eat this, not that” advice.
We break down the lies, the labels, the industry tricks, and the painful truth that most people in the Middle East still don’t know.
🌱 What We Expose in This Episode
• Why “organic” doesn’t actually mean healthy
Tonie explains how companies slap the word organic on ultra-processed food to make you feel good… but your gut pays the price.
• The truth about zero-fat, sugar-free, and low-calorie labels
Why these products often do MORE damage than the real thing.
• Why reading labels is more important than counting calories
One habit that will change your entire relationship with food.
• How the UAE food market tricks people
Especially parents, busy professionals, and anyone trying to lose weight or improve their gut.
• What natural, real foods ACTUALLY do for your digestion
And why your body reacts instantly when you switch.
🧠 Gut Health: The Real Conversation
Most people think gut health is a trend.
But Tonie breaks down what it actually means — and why it impacts:
• bloating
• cravings
• energy
• mood
• stubborn fat
• hormones
• sleep
• overall longevity
She also shares:
• The biggest gut-health mistakes people make in the UAE
• Why you feel bloated even when eating “healthy”
• How to repair your gut without extreme diets
• How parents can improve their kids’ health through simple swaps
• The difference between fat loss and real health (not even close)
🏪 Building Generation H — The Entrepreneurial Journey
One of the most powerful parts of this episode is hearing the story behind Generation H, the UAE’s first clean-label store.
Tonie opens up about:
• The gap she saw in the market
• The moment she knew she had to create this brand
• The risks, fears, and pressure people don’t see online
• How she built trust in a crowded Dubai wellness market
• The hardest part of launching a physical store
• How social media changed everything for her
• Her long-term vision for transforming the region’s food culture
This isn’t just nutrition — this is an entrepreneur building a mission-driven brand from scratch in one of the most competitive cities in the world.
This episode will completely change the way you shop, eat, and think about health.
Tonie doesn’t hold back — and neither do we.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes on fitness, entrepreneurship, gut health, mindset, and the truth behind the wellness industry.
Drop a comment and tell us:
What shocked you the most in this episode?

In this episode of Stump Station, I sit down with Redeet Negate, the founder behind BNB in Dubai — the guy who went from a tech background to building one of the fastest-growing short-term rental businesses in the UAE. We dive into how he went from his first apartment to managing more than 75 units, the moment he realised Dubai was the real opportunity, and what it actually felt like hitting his first $10K month. Redeet breaks down his goal of building a $1,000,000 per month Airbnb business, why that number matters, what it takes to scale in Dubai’s competitive market, and the truth about sub-leasing vs managing vs owning. He shares whether the Dubai Airbnb market is still a gold rush, the mistakes that nearly wiped him out — including losing 1,000,000 AED in one summer — and how he rebuilt, refined his strategy, and found his edge.
We also go deep into how he balances high-level entrepreneurship with fitness, training, and staying mentally sharp. Redeet talks about his fitness goals, whether he’s competing again, how he manages long hours, travel, and renovations while keeping a healthy lifestyle, and the nutrition habits he uses to stay focused when his schedule is chaotic. For anyone in Saudi Arabia or the Middle East thinking of starting an Airbnb business, he breaks down what makes Dubai special, the regulations and compliance traps people need to avoid, whether he plans to expand into Saudi, and what the future of short-term rentals in the region could look like.
Toward the end, Redeet shares his 5–10 year vision, the mindset shift that changed his life, what success means to him now, and answers quick-fire questions about business mistakes, passive income myths, daily habits, and the quote he lives by. This conversation is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, busy professionals in their 30s, or anyone who wants to scale their income, improve their health, and build a lifestyle they’re proud of. 

Connect with Redeet on Instagram at @bnbindubai.

In this powerful episode of Stump Station, Liam sits down with Corinne Rosolia, the visionary behind The Yoga House Riyadh — the studio that went from a small idea to becoming one of the most influential wellness communities in Saudi Arabia.
This conversation dives deep into the real story behind wellness culture in the Kingdom — the parts nobody talks about. From cultural barriers to industry misconceptions, from building a team in a fast-changing city, to the emotional moments inside a yoga class that changed Corinne’s life forever… this episode is packed with honesty, vulnerability, and eye-opening lessons.
We explore:
Why Corinne moved to Saudi and what inspired her to bring yoga here
How The Yoga House was built from scratch — the early struggles, the regulations, the doubt, and the turning points
The truth about yoga culture in Saudi: what’s growing, what’s misunderstood, and what still needs to change
How yoga is helping men and women reconnect with mental health, self-confidence, and balance
The behind-the-scenes reality of running a wellness business — leadership, building a community, choosing the right people, and maintaining authenticity while scaling
The client stories that shaped her, and the moments that reminded her why she started
How she personally avoids burnout, stays grounded, and defines success today vs. when she first arrived in Riyadh
If you’re curious about the future of wellness in Saudi, interested in entrepreneurship, or simply want to understand why yoga and Pilates are exploding across the Kingdom… this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Whether you’re a beginner, an entrepreneur, or someone searching for balance, this episode will open your mind to what wellness really means here — and why communities like The Yoga House are leading the change.
Tune in, slow down, and enjoy the story.

The first ever live episode of Stump Station — filmed right here in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
In this conversation, Jon Bin London and Carl Garner open up about what it really means to live, work, and embrace Saudi culture as expats and creatives in the Kingdom.
We dive into:
How Saudi has changed in the last few years
The biggest misconceptions about Saudi culture
What foreigners can learn from the Saudi way of life
The importance of respect, adaptation, and curiosity
Whether you’re a local proud of your roots or an expat learning the ropes, this episode brings laughs, insights, and a few uncomfortable truths about what it means to fit in while staying yourself.
🎧 Watch full episodes on YouTube
🎙️ Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
📍 Filmed live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
#StumpStation #SaudiPodcast #JonBinLondon #CarlGarner #SaudiCulture #SaudiArabia #Riyadh #ExpatLife #MiddleEastPodcasts