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This episode is about the power of your mind. This topic was actually inspired by my recent exhibition with TAM GALLERY. It was called “The person who lived in the Garden” and The concept behind it was about the literal or metaphorical definition of a garden. My interpretation is on the metaphorical side and is what I will expand on here with you all listening. 

In the modern age chaos, finding peace can be challenging. There is nowhere to go that isn’t bustling with opinions, anxiety, stress and people. So, the only thing you can control is your mind. That is your garden. Wherever you go, you take your garden with you. The state of mind that you are in is all under your own control. So, water the grass and pick out the weed. 

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This is a special episode done in collaboration with THE CREATIVE SCHOOL AT RYERSON UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO AND THE GREEK CAMPUS. 

The partnership kicked off with a special “Meet the Creative School” where experts discussed Creative Industries in Egypt.

In anticipation of their September launch, The Creative School at Ryerson Cairo has invited local professionals and prospective students to a special evening at The GrEEK Campus where The Junction Summer Sessions took place for creative minds to meet in two dedicated panels, one of which is recorded for this podcast; it is titled “Breaking Boundaries”.

I am honored to have moderated such a valuable discussion and to speak to inspiring creatives in the Egyptian world as well as have a live podcast taping of this event for “Talks with Nstudio” 

In a connected world, is it still valuable to speak about regional movements and industries? Moving from local to global? Breaking glass ceilings with gender roles across different professions?  This panel will discuss all that as well as answer questions about international influence and impact, transdisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of tradition.

My Guests are: Amr Salama, Omar Mobarek, Alya Sorour & Reem El Adl

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There is so much that goes into telling a story, it takes a set of skills that you are inherently born with. It is not merely a conversation, it is a sharing of experience, of thought, of humor, of influence, of sharing energy that will leave an impact.

Nala Kamel is a young voice who has left a large foot print in this competitive field. She has been out and about in the Egyptian World of interviewing and hosting, from the Gouna Film Festival and Cairo International Film Festival to hosting a TEDx session! She has been interviewing celebrities and influencers from all over and is now going to share with us her experience. 

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In today’s episode, we will be talking more about the human factor behind the work. Each designer has gone through a phase of not fully reaching their potential. Maybe due to fear, discomfort, external judgement, etc.

And it has been said that when someone can’t take responsibility for their life, their work, their mistakes, or even their shortcomings they start coming up with an external factor to throw the blame on.

This is a sham3a. A shama3a in other words is an excuse.  

Sometimes success can be scary. Or what it takes to be successful is scary. It’s difficult to explain, but once you giving yourself more and more of these reasons or "sham3as"  then you feel more comfortable in blaming those excuses for the lack of success.

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Egypt is made up of small details to create the most lively of places! People, noises, smells, banners, colors and even buildings. There is a beauty in finding the most beautiful of things in the most unexpected of places. 

A place like Cairo demands your full attention but also allows you to nestle into its fast paced style. My guest this episode is an artist who captured all of this hive of activity onto singular artworks. 

Nora Zeid is an illustrator, designer, and visual artist based in Dubai. Having worked as a graphic designer for a few years, Nora shifted her focus to her practice. Some of her clients – past and current – include Google, Estée Lauder, VICE and Dubai Design District. Nora has participated in exhibitions including 'Cairo Prints Exhibition - Edition II’ (Cairo, 2021) and SIKKA Art Fair (Dubai, 2019). She held her first solo exhibit entitled ‘Cairo Illustrated: Stories from Heliopolis’ at Taskheel, under their Critical Practice Program,  in 2021.

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What does It mean to have an identity? Does it change as time goes on or is it a constant thing that just evolves for every phase in your life?

Is it difficult to shape your identity? Or can you just entirely reconstruct it?

It is so important to understand that your core identity is a solid unchangeable fact. It must be learned and understood through a lot and I mean A LOT of self reflection. It is your foundation; the core of everything in your life.

Hear my short but sweet episode on your identity as a designer and the two most important questions that you need to ask yourself to be an amazing creative. 

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The eyes speak so many languages, especially behind the lens so it is in Photography that then allows the eyes to speak a very distinct language based on who is holding the camera. It is very individualistic and intimate, it is serious, it is fun, it is detailed, and it could show you something you wouldn’t have noticed on your own. 

My guest today is someone who has left a mark in the Egyptian photography world. She does everything from shooting, to printing her own pictures, to selling them. She collabrotaes with many other artists and is always exhibiting her work to working on projects like trance, red bull, Citroen, Somabay, Orascom and more! 

Listen to this episode to know how she started her career, her dream as a Nat Geo Wild photographer, touring Egypt with Redbull, how to be fearless, and advice on staying true to yourself (the weirder the better) in such a saturated field.


Visit Nstudio Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/by_nstudio/

Farida Bustani's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/faridabustani/

Farida Bustani's website:  https://www.faridabustani.com/

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The Secret Sauce is a special quality or feature that is the main factor in the success of something or someone. So, it is what makes something click or what lets one designer make it while others can’t figure out how to breakthrough their field. 

My guest for todays episode is Salma El Fawal. She is a super cool art director and the founder of shop Calma, a vintage online store that gathers quirky antiques and collectables from all over Cairo. She has a presence like no other, and is always pushing the bar on her photoshoots through her art direction. She will be sharing with us her insight on her own secret sauce and how to have your own!  

You can head to my instagram and hers to see more of our work!

My instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_nstudio/

Salma El Fawal's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salmaelfawal/ 

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Last episode we were talking more about gut instinct, which goes hand in hand with this week’s episode: 9-5 job and freelancing. When to actually quit and if it is actually worth it. I am joined by Marsy,  the founder of Marsycreatesthings. It is a creative boutique agency & creator of all things whacky & random.  We discuss her shift from a 9-5 to fully focusing on her side hustle, and inspiring projects she worked on and the process behind them. 

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This is our first episode together so I thought I would properly introduce myself! How I followed my own gut instinct and why you should follow yours.

When you have gut feeling, follow it. The only natural talent an artist has is the desire to create. Everything outside of that is a skill that they learned. And some people pick up those skills quicker than others, which is completely okay! But everybody can learn those skills if they have the desire to create.

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