Well Rooted

This week we're doing a quick recap on the Oligarch Gala: who showed up, why it's embarrassing, and why money and power do not translate to cultural currency and relevence. We're also shining a light on one of our previous guests, Sylwia Nazzal, and sharing why we want to see here-plus more Arab artists-celebrated at future (hopefully less problematic) Met Gala carpets. Catch up on Sylwia's episode down below!

Listen to Sylwia's episode HERE

Watch Sylwia's episode HERE

Follow us on Instagram HERE

Marya Khalil-Otto didn't just inherit a company - she inherited a mission. As CEO of VI Peel, the first painless chemical peel formulated for all skin tones, Marya carries forward the legacy of her father, Dr. Khalil, who originally created the peel to treat her own acne.

In this episode of Well Rooted, Marya gets real about what it took to step into leadership after losing her father, relocate to LA, and go back to school to get her aesthetician license - not because she had to, but because she wanted to truly understand the brand and the people it serves.

We get into the actual science behind acne and why it's never just a skincare issue, how sobriety completely shifted her relationship with herself and her work, and what inclusivity in the aesthetics industry actually looks like in practice. Plus, what it's like to run a thriving company while showing up as a mother and a whole person.

To follow Marya on Instagram, click HERE

To follow VI Peel on Instagram, click HERE

To follow Well Rooted on Instagram, click HERE

To learn more about Jarrar & Associates and schedule a free consultation, click HERE

I'm back from Coachella where I watched SWANA artists, representing Palestine to Algeria and Egypt to Pakistan unleash their incomparable energy on the festival stage. I'm sharing my thoughts on DJ Habibeats and Zainab's Coachella premiere, DJ Snake's legendary back2back trap takeover, and what I really think about Sabrina Carpenter's response following the now infamous "Zaghrootagate." Plus, I'm unpacking the brilliant execution of the community led Nochella event that saw brands like For Your Viewing Pleasure and Diaspora People's Place raise over $31,000 for Palestine and Lebanon while uniting LA's finest to celebrate community, resilience, and art.

Listen, comment, or send us a DM (see below for details), and we'll feature you on the next Rooted Recap!

Follow Well Rooted on Instagram HERE

Listen to our episdoe featuring Lara Salmon of FYVP HERE

Listen to our episode featuring Nael Atweh of Grassfed Music HERE

What does it take to build power when the system wasn't built for you?

This week, I sit down with Iraqi-American entrepreneur, startup founder, and one of the most trusted voices in entrepreneurship and career strategy on social media, Layla Shaikley. Layla's story spans architecture school, NASA, MIT, building a multi-million dollar tech startup, and even a viral Muslim hipster music video. She didn't wait to be chosen. She built her own table.

In this episode:

· Growing up Muslim and Arab in post-9/11 America with zero representation

· Why your identity is your greatest strategic asset

· The "super founder" concept and what your first business actually teaches you

· Why emotional intelligence is the most underrated form of generational wealth

· How to find your voice as a creator (even when it feels embarrassing)

· Why representation is just the first step, and ownership is what gives us real power

This one is for the founders, the creators, the first-gen dreamers, and every parent thinking about the environment they're building for their kids.

To follow Layla on Instagram, click HERE

To learn about Layla, click HERE

To follow Layla on Substack, click HERE

To follow Well Rooted on Instagram, click HERE

To learn more about Jarrar & Associates and schedule your free consultation, click HERE

Apparenlty, we listen and we do judge! Wow, guys-our last episode featuring the talented and relatable Farah of Lesh La2 really resonated with so many of you and inspired me to share a bit of my own experience and perspective growing up as a first-gen Arab-American. I also reflect on the role judgment and scrutiny plays in our society (you know aside from uplifting the patriarchy), and I offer up some practical ways I've cultivated the community I seeked and how I found confidence in identity. Reclaiming ownership of the MENA/SWANA narrative starts with us sharing our stories, so enjoy a snippet of mine.

Follow Well Rooted on Instagram Here

In this episode of Well Rooted, Farah, founder of Lesh La2, shares how she built a design-led creative brand rooted in Arab nostalgia, culture, and storytelling.

What started as teaching Arabic on TikTok quickly evolved into Lesh La2-a platform blending design, typography, and Arab pop culture to reshape modern Arab identity and narrative ownership. Farah breaks down how she transformed digital content into a purpose-driven brand, and how nostalgia can be used as a creative tool to inspire the future.

We also explore entrepreneurship, pivoting careers, and the importance of Arab women reclaiming their stories through design, media, and culture.

This episode is a deep dive into Arab creative entrepreneurship, cultural storytelling, and the rise of design-driven brands in the digital age.

To follow Lesh La2 on Instagram, click HERE

To follow Farah on Instagram, click HERE

To follow Well Rooted on Instagram, click HERE

In this episode of Well Rooted, Hani Almadhoun, founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen and Head of Philanthropy at UNRWA USA, shares the story behind a grassroots humanitarian effort feeding thousands in Gaza. Hani reflects on the loss of his martyred brothers and the legacy they left behind through a community-led operation built by the people of Gaza to sustain the people of Gaza. We also discuss the emotional toll of humanitarian aid work, how to identify trustworthy organizations when donating, and why Ramadan is a powerful time to make a zakat-eligible donation to support UNRWA and families in Gaza.

To follow Gaza Soup Kitchen on Instagram, click HERE

To make a donation to UNRWA USA, click HERE

To follow Well Rooted on Instagram, click HERE

To learn more about Jarrar & Associates and schedule a free consultation, click HERE

This week we are revisiting last year's Eid episode featuring the mother-daughter duo behind Knafeh Queens, Fatmah and Reyhanna. I don't think I ever laughed as hard during a taping as when we recorded this fun, truly wholesome, and valuable episode. Fatmah is a testament to Palestinian resilience and community building, and through her journey with Knafeh Queens, has reclaimed Palestinian cuisine and built a brand that resonates across cultures.

We'll be back next week with a new solo episode!

Ramadan Mubarak to all those celebrating!

We are kicking off this month of faith, intention, and realignment with a rerelease of our episode featuring manifestation coach, content creator, and host of the Limitless with Nadia podcast, Nadia Khaled. This is a great episode to dive into as we dicuss making Du'a vs manifestation, setting and executing on goals, and what it really means to live intentionally and with purpose.

Enjoy the episode and I'll be back next Wednesday with a brand new solo episode!

In this solo episode, we reflect on the cultural impact of the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show-what it revealed about language, identity, and who gets to take up space on global stages. We also recall our recent conversation with filmmaker, Rolla Selbak and our discussion on narrative ownership, creative risk, and telling stories that push boundaries.

At its core, this episode is about why growth, personally and culturally, requires us to try new things and step outside our comfort zones. Because real change, in art and in life, usually starts where comfort ends.

Follow Well Rooted on Instagram HERE