With MJP

Fergus James is the founder of one of Dubai’s leading bespoke jewellery brands, and in this episode he breaks down the real forces reshaping the diamond industry today, explaining how lab-grown diamonds surged, why social media has changed what people expect from engagement rings, and how Dubai became a global hub for custom pieces. He walks through the evolution of his business, the shifts in pricing and consumer behaviour, and the personal moments that pushed him into the world of diamonds, from replacing his wife’s engagement ring to crafting meaningful pieces for major celebrities. It is a clear and grounded look at how diamonds are chosen, valued, and understood in 2025.

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At 18, Mark White was spiraling. At 23 years sober, he’s one of the most grounded voices in the wellness space. In this conversation, he opens up about the intervention that changed everything, the moment he realised he couldn’t keep living the way he was, and how gratitude, movement, and community rebuilt his life from the inside out.

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Dr Katherine Iscoe breaks down the real impact of people pleasing on ambitious women who appear successful yet feel drained, overlooked, and never quite good enough. She speaks openly about the patterns that shaped her need for approval, the moments that pushed her to confront her own behaviour, and the shift that helped her move from self-doubt to genuine self-respect.The conversation gets into how people pleasing shows up in everyday decisions, what it costs you over time, and the mindset change required to stop shrinking yourself for the comfort of others.

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Evren Özka’s story is one of raw transformation. Before building Mallet London and Everybodies Nutrition, he was trapped in a cycle of addiction, unhealthy habits, and self-doubt. 

Hitting rock bottom forced him to rebuild everything from the ground up.Evren shares how running became his therapy, how nutrition reshaped his mindset, and how he turned pain into purpose. 

He opens up about the moment that changed his life, the discipline it takes to run across three countries, and the mindset behind creating brands that inspire healthier living.This is a story about resilience, redemption, and what it really takes to start over.#thisisdubai #dubai #dubailife

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Ahmed Haffar is one of the most recognizable voices in the Middle East. Known as The Voice of Dubai, he has lent his sound to government campaigns, global brands, airlines, and iconic events across the region. But behind the polished voice and professional success lies a story most people have never heard.At 17, Ahmed was in a horrific car accident in Lebanon that killed his two best friends and left him clinically dead for 46 seconds. What happened after changed everything. In this powerful conversation, Ahmed opens up about the night of the crash, rebuilding his life from scratch, and how that experience shaped his path to becoming an award-winning voice artist, sonic branding specialist, stand-up comedian, and MC.He also talks about the business of sound in Dubai, how to position yourself in a city built on perception, and why learning to sell emotion has been the key to his success.

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Lauren O’Connell shares her deeply personal journey with breast cancer, from the moment she discovered a lump at home to enduring chemotherapy, hair loss, and the life-changing lessons that followed. She reflects on the emotional and physical challenges she faced, the importance of early detection, and how she involved her family in every step of her recovery. Lauren opens up about the role of therapy, resilience, and finding strength in the unexpected, offering an honest and inspiring story of hope, self-discovery, and advocacy this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.#LaurenOConnell #BreastCancerAwareness #CancerSurvivor #thisisdubai #dubai #dubailife

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Irish educator and boxing journalist Cormac O’Donnell joins the show to unpack the UAE’s growing obsession with combat sports and why it’s showing up everywhere from classrooms to fitness studios. From how schools are introducing boxing-inspired programmes to the cultural forces driving the region’s fight boom, Cormac offers sharp insights on discipline, community and what happens when education meets endurance. This one hits hard, literally.

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Irish educator and boxing journalist Cormac O’Donnell joins the show to unpack the UAE’s growing obsession with combat sports and why it’s showing up everywhere from classrooms to fitness studios. From how schools are introducing boxing-inspired programmes to the cultural forces driving the region’s fight boom, Cormac offers sharp insights on discipline, community and what happens when education meets endurance. This one hits hard, literally

Vishakha Abbi is a British-trained nurse in mental health and learning disabilities, as well as the Founder of Mind Path UAE, a consultancy helping organisations, schools, and individuals solve people challenges that training alone can’t fix. In this episode, she unpacks the real reasons teams fall apart, why emotional intelligence matters more than management training, and how even well-meaning HR systems can end up protecting the company over its people.Drawing on her clinical background and years spent working with leaders across the UAE, Vishakha explains how behaviour is communication, not chaos, and how understanding that difference can completely shift workplace culture. From navigating conflict to creating environments where people feel heard, she offers a refreshingly human take on what it really means to build healthy, resilient teams.

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When Langtry “Lala” White found out she was pregnant with monochorionic twins just months after moving to Dubai, life took an unexpected turn. The pregnancy was complicated by Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a rare and high-risk condition that changed everything.What came next was a journey of isolation, resilience, and eventually purpose. The support she found during that time became the spark for everything she does today, from founding Small and Mighty Babies and Twins Plus Arabia to becoming one of Dubai’s most trusted doulas and birth educators.When Langtry “Lala” White found out she was pregnant with monochorionic twins just months after moving to Dubai, life took an unexpected turn. The pregnancy was complicated by Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a rare and high-risk condition that changed everything.What came next was a journey of isolation, resilience, and eventually purpose. The support she found during that time became the spark for everything she does today, from founding Small and Mighty Babies and Twins Plus Arabia to becoming one of Dubai’s most trusted doulas and birth educators.When Langtry “Lala” White lost her twins to a rare pregnancy complication, her world changed forever. Out of that heartbreak came her mission to help others navigate pregnancy, birth, and the quiet grief that too often goes unspoken. This episode explores the hidden side of parenthood, what it means to lose a baby, how couples grieve in completely different ways, and the complicated emotions around what’s called a “rainbow baby.” Lala shares how she turned pain into purpose, supporting hundreds of families through their pregnancies and early parenthood journeys here in Dubai. It’s a conversation about the broken side of maternity care, the guilt and pressure so many women feel, and how birth has become more of a medical procedure than a deeply human experience. Whether you’re a parent or not, it’s about love, loss, and the courage to rebuild.

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