The IJK Podcast

Is it rational to believe in the existence of God, Creator of the universe? Welcome to the IJK Podcast!

In this episode, I’m joined by Lukas Ruegger, the Director of Steiger Middle East—a global mission focused on connecting with young people in today’s globalized culture. Lukas has an impressive academic background in Philosophy and Theology, along with an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.

He is also the creator of the YouTube channel Deflate, where he thoughtfully addresses intellectual objections to Theism and Christianity, engaging with leading thinkers like philosopher William Lane Craig and skeptic Alex O’Connor.

Together, we explore one of life’s most profound questions: Is it rational to believe in the existence of a Creator? Lukas shares his insights on this timeless topic, delving into the intersection of faith, reason and truth. During this episode, Lukas and IJK explore many deep subjects such as:

• The Kalam cosmological argument
• The fine-tuning argument
• The Big Bang and its theological implications
• The hiddenness of God
• The problem of Evil
• Science vs. Faith...and many more!

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation! Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes that inspire and challenge your perspective. To follow Lukas on YouTube go to:

https://www.youtube.com/c/Deflate2020

#LukasRuegger #WilliamLaneCraig #AlexOConnor #existenceofgod

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, Imad Jack Karam welcomes Tom Applegarth, an HR veteran with over 30 years of experience working with major global companies like Goodyear Tires, Payless ShoeSource, and Young Living.

Tom, now Head of HR services at Preferred CFO, shares invaluable insights into the future of Human Resources.

They explore the growing trend of hybrid work models, the impact of AI on recruitment and performance management, and the rise of HR outsourcing over the past four years.

Tune in to hear Tom's expert advice on how HR professionals and organizations can adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape!

Imad Jack Karam speaks to John Launius, a leading expert in fragrance hypnosis and the CEO of Shihan Wellness and Shihan Consultants. With an impressive background spanning government, education, technology, media, and marketing, John brings unparalleled expertise to his roles as an Executive Talent Development Coach, Organizational Culture Consultant, and Peak Performance Facilitator.

John is also a certified "Kōmoto" (Master of Ceremonies) in the ancient Japanese tradition of incense appreciation (Kōdō), offering unique experiences like The Incense Journey™ and therapeutic fragrance hypnosis.

He holds multiple black belts, including a third-degree in Gōjū-ryū Aikido. He has extensive experience as a defense contractor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other intelligence agencies, training military and first responders. As a seasoned public speaker and author, John's best-selling book, "The Life and Times of Missouri's Charles Parsons: Between Art and War," showcases his passion for history and storytelling.

His next book, "Love and Letters in WWII," will be released in 2025. In this episode, we will dive with John into the fascinating world of hypnosis, with a special focus on the intriguing practice of fragrance hypnosis and how this can be used to unlock peak performance #JohnLaunius #FragranceHypnosis #hypnosis

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, I am excited to talk to John Saad, a renowned media personality and mountain climber from Lebanon.

John is the Founder & CEO of The Official Lebanese Top 20 and has had an impressive career spanning over 25 years in Radio, TV and Print.

His journey in media started as an advertising executive and evolved into launching and managing promotional and event planning firms across more than 10 countries, including Lebanon, the UAE, Jordan, the US and the UK.

John’s talents also led him to spearhead Virgin Radio Jordan and host the first French radio show in the UAE, as well as the iconic ‘Music Show’ on MTV Lebanon, which I have to say, I was personally a big fan of. But John isn’t just known for his success in media — He is also an adventurer at heart and a passionate trekker. After years of exploring the majestic mountains of Lebanon, he has literally taken his love for trekking to new heights.

In April 2023, already in his fifties, John completed the Everest Base Camp Trek, followed by conquering Mount Kilimanjaro in June 2024, so just a couple of months ago. Let's dive into John’s latest mountaineering adventures and hear his interesting and inspiring stories.

#JohnSaad #Trekking #Kilimanjaro

I am happy to talk to Carolyn Galvin, a Media & Content Production leader with over 25 years of experience working with some of the largest brands in Canadian media.

She is renowned for executing world-class productions such as the Olympic Games, Grammy Awards Red Carpet shows and premier sporting events and has held senior executive positions at companies such as Rogers Sports & Media. Drawing on her extensive production and retail media background,

Carolyn has created ClikIt Media, a cutting-edge production agency specialized in live commerce, our topic for today. As a true innovator in the field, Carolyn leverages the power of live selling to not just drive sales but also to redefine how brands engage with their audiences in real-time.

Carolyn’s vision and expertise continues to shape the future of video commerce, making her a sought-after advisor and influencer in the field.

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, we are going to learn a great deal about the exciting field of Live Commerce and it is revolutionizing online shopping.

#LiveCommerce #OnlineShopping #CarolynGalvin

In episode 8 of the IJK Podcast, Imad Jack Karam talks to Abhimanu Kumar, an expert in machine learning and AI.

Abhimanu has formerly held Senior Data Scientist positions at companies like Apple, Microsoft and Groupon before starting his own business.

He is the Co-founder and CEO of CausalFunnel, a company that helps small and medium businesses compete with the Amazon's of the world by providing them with all the AI and data science tools they need to increase traffic and conversions.

Abhimanu has extensive experience in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence and has authored and co-authored multiple well-cited publications in many subfields of ML and AI.

In this episode, we are going to learn a great deal about the topics of machine learning and AI, enjoy!

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, Imad Jack Karam talks to Dr. Ford Dyke about the exciting topic of Human Performance Optimization. Human Performance Optimization is the process of leveraging data-driven evidence, subject-matter expertise, and innovation to calibrate, elevate, and sustain the Human Experience.

Dr. Dyke collaborates globally with high-level performers such as corporate executives, elite athletes, physicians, academicians, first responders, & military personnel. His methodology integrates components of his Professorship, 7-year career as a Team USA Athlete, and experience as a Performance Coach for Auburn Wheelchair Basketball & the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

In this episode Dr. Dyke talks about the importance of hydration, sleep, physical activity, the mental aspect and nutrition, and shares a wealth of tips and advice you can start implementing today to enhance your life and perform at your peak.

#HumanPerformance #DrFordDyke #PeakPerformance

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, Imad Jack Karam and Dr. Federica Bressan discuss how technology, science and culture work together and co-evolve.

Dr. Bressan is a science communicator and author with a background in techno-science and music. She has two masters, holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Verona, and her mission is to give science a voice and help it make a deep impact in our society.

Federica believes in evidence-based discussions, and in this episode we are going to learn from her about the exciting topics of Technoscience, Technoculture and Science communication in our modern era.

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, IJK talks to Veena Gandhi about the latest trends in digital marketing.

Veena is a growth driven marketer at Digital Street. She has over 15 years of advertising experience and has led million dollar campaigns for companies like Leo Burnett, McCann and FCB.

She has also worked with hip brands like Coca-Cola, LG Electronics, Hewlett Packard and IPL just to name a few.

As a data-driven marketer, digital consultant and performance media specialist, Veena works closely with businesses and advertising agencies by providing digital strategies, CRO solutions, full funnel builds and digital advertising services.

In this episode, Veena and I discuss the latest trends in paid search, social media marketing, AI driven marketing, influencer marketing and much more.

In this episode of the IJK Podcast, I talk to John Bura about his successful entrepreneurial journey in the E-Learning business. John is a prolific entrepreneur who started coding in 1997 and teaching in 2002.

In this episode, John talks about the latest trends in e-learning and shares tips and hacks to succeed in this exciting industry.

John has produced over 40 apps and games. John is a Lead Developer and CEO of a highly successful eLearning company called Mammoth Interactive. Mammoth Interactive produces online Degrees and courses primarily on programming and technology. 1 million students and growing have enrolled in this online school since its inception in 2011.

Some of Mammoth’s courses have even been featured at Harvard! John’s company has also produced XBOX 360, iPhone and iPad games in addition to several iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac apps. Some of these apps have reached #1 in the app store. Recently Nickelodeon has featured a game produced by Mammoth Interactive.