The Passionfruit Podcast

Nour Hassan, the founder of Radical Contemporary, is a passionate creative. She started Radical in 2017 after graduating college just when she came to the realisation that she wants to pursue a career where she constantly creates. Today, Radical is an all-round online indie magazine that features everything from articles about fashion, culture and lifestyle to event coverage, PR, and beyond! Nour has worked with so many big brands and was able to grow her platform across the MENA region. Her Podcast, the Radical Contemporary podcast, which she started last year in 2020, is one of the very first podcasts in Egypt and the MENA region.

In this episode, Nour shares with us how her passion for art + fashion set her off to get into creative writing and content creation. She explains to us how being born and raised in Jeddah had a huge impact on her sense of curiosity and creativity and how the Abaya was a source of empowerment. Nour gives advice to anyone that wants to get into content creation and shares with us how she was able to bounce back after having a major setback while starting radical.

Suhayla Al-Sheikh, the founder and creative director of @SANDBOXSU, is an Egyptian Jewelry Designer who has started her brand while studying at college. She moved from Dhahran to Cairo in 2012 to study Visual Arts and Mass Communication and started getting into conceptual design. Suhayla uses her background and heritage as SANDBOX's main source of inspiration. Her brand is has been featured in multiple world-renowned magazines and publications. 

In this episode, Suhayla walks us through her research and design process whenever she comes up with ideas for her collections and she gives us an insight as to why she called her brand SANDBOX and the concept behind her logo. She shares with us how she works on keeping her brand sustainable and socially responsible. She also explains to us her passion for soccer and how she balances playing for a soccer team with her marriage, being a mom, and being a jewelry brand owner. 

If you're into or looking to get into conceptual design, then this episode is for you!

Nour Rizk @makeupbynrizk managed to build her makeup career before turning 20. She can create glam looks, red carpet looks, and bridal looks, but her ultimate passion is for special effects makeup. She is also one of the very artists in Egypt that does special effects. Nour has created a name for herself thanks to her immaculate makeup looks that she has done on brides and celebrities. She has been working on her makeup career ever since she was 15 and was able to leave a mark on the makeup industry in Egypt. Nour was able to grow an organic following on Instagram that has led a lot of people to get inspired by her makeup techniques. Nour speaks a lot about how she balances her time between her work and business, her academics, her fitness and social life on her instagram.

In this episode, Nour shares with us what sparked her passion for makeup at a very young age,  how she started building her makeup career before the age of 20, and her plans to study special effects makeup after she graduates. Nour also shares with us where she wants to go beyond her passionfruit and the kind of impact she wants to make on the movie industry in Egypt.

If you’re looking to feel inspired, this episode is for you.

You can find Nour on instagram @makeupbynrizk

This week's guest, Ahmed Tarek @tarek.jpeg founder of @jpegcity, has changed the game of photography in Egypt and the MENA region. He has set really high standards for visual documentation. His photos are extremely distinct and they appear to be telling a story that keeps whoever sees his photos intrigued to know what it is. My guest is also one of the contributors to the rise of the Rap Scene in Egypt. He has created visuals for some of your favorite rising Egyptian rappers. He has also worked on a variety of different projects that have really showcased his talent and eye for photography. 

In this episode, Ahmed shares with us his passion for visual documentation, his photography technique, his strong work ethic, and what made him start his business. He also speaks to us about the different things that inspire him as an artist and how he uses these inspirations to produce his work. Tarek also talks to us about the people and minds that constantly inspire him. 

Whether you're into photography or not, this episode is for you.

To follow Ahmed on instagram @tarek.jpeg

To follow Ahmed's second account @jpegcity

In this episode the Egyptian chef Karim Abdelrahman @aveckarim shares with us how he found his passion for cooking, his experience as a Culinary Art student studying in Paris, how his curiosity paved the way to his career and his experience working at the 3 Michelin Star restaurant Guy Savoy.

Nour + Aisha from the Culture Mocktail podcast share with us their passion for exploring cultural identities. In this episode they explain to us how growing up as Third Culture Kids (TCKs) inspired them to start their podcast and how they want to use their platform to represent what they call “cultural misfits.” Nour + Aisha share with us how by being dreamers they were able to shape their identity, today. We also discuss hustle culture, career, and why it’s essential for everyone to spend time to explore their passion(s).

To follow Nour on instagram: @nourabosaif

To follow Aisha on instagram: @ohitsaisha

To follow Culture Mocktail on instagram: @culturemocktail 

You can also stream Culture Mocktail on all your favorite Platforms!

In this episode I spoke with Omar Lotfy, a dedicated self-taught Art Director. Omar worked on several projects that really showcased his talent for art and conceptual thinking. In this episode Omar tells us about what made him get into Art Direction, how he comes up with a shoot idea, how he executes his shoots, and the importance of constantly leveling up his skills.

Omar’s instagram: @theblumar

In this episode I am going to be speaking with Omar Lotfy, a dedicated self-taught Art Director. Omar worked on several projects that really showcased his talent for art and conceptual thinking. In this episode Omar tells us about what made him get into Art Direction, how he comes up with a shoot idea, how he executes his shoots, and the importance of constantly leveling up his skills.

Omar’s instagram: @theblumar

In this episode, Nancy El-Taher and Mariam Zahw, founders of the Fashion Styling Agency DYAD. Share with us how they create opportunities for themselves, what’s it like being young creatives that are trying to make it in the fashion industry, as well as their creative process when they come up with a shoot idea. They will also explain to us how they turn hardships into opportunity, especially after a world-renowned fashion magazine used their idea without giving them credit for it.

DYAD’s instagram: @dyad.me

DYAD’s email: [email protected]

In this episode, Nancy El-Taher and Mariam Zahw, founders of the Fashion Styling Agency DYAD share with us how they create opportunities for themselves, what’s it like being young creatives that are trying to make it in the fashion industry, as well as their creative process when they come up with a shoot idea. They will also explain to us how they turn hardships into opportunity, especially after a world-renowned fashion magazine used their idea without giving them credit for it.

DYAD’s instagram: @dyad.me

DYAD’s email: [email protected]