Marketplace Discussions

Cross-posted with Jordan B. Goldstein’s podcast The Athletic Philosopher: A Chat with Jordan B. Goldstein on Virtues and the Philosophical Mindset in Sports.Jordan B. Goldstein holds a Ph.D. in Sports History and has over seven years of experience teaching sports philosophy, sociology, and history. After leaving academia, he founded Phya Academy, a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to exploring the connections between sport, philosophy, and human flourishing. Drawing on the wisdom of centuries of athletic practice and thought, Jordan helps people cultivate balance in body, mind, and spirit.Twitter: https://x.com/JB_GoldsteinWebsite: https://linktr.ee/jgoldsteinYoutube: ‪@dr.jordanb.goldstein7977‬Article discussed: https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/mano-a-mano/If you’d like to explore more along the lines of philosophy, business, and media, I also curate ReadQuest, a collection of articles, books, and essays on culture and ideas: https://curation.decafquest.com/Website: https://decafquest.com/

A chat with Jordan B. Goldstein on virtues and the philosophical mindset in sports.Jordan B. Goldstein holds a Ph.D. in Sports History and has over seven years of experience teaching sports philosophy, sociology, and history. After leaving academia, he founded Phya Academy, a coaching and consulting practice dedicated to exploring the connections between sport, philosophy, and human flourishing. Drawing on the wisdom of centuries of athletic practice and thought, Jordan helps people cultivate balance in body, mind, and spirit. | Twitter: https://x.com/JB_Goldstein | Website: https://linktr.ee/jgoldstein | Youtube: ‪https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jordanb.goldstein7977

Bio: Nick Hutchison is the visionary force behind BookThinkers, a thriving 7-figure marketing agency bridging authors and readers. In just over 7 years, he has cultivated a platform reaching over 1,000,000 people monthly and hosts the top 2% global podcast, "BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books," featuring interviews with renowned authors like Grant Cardone and Lewis Howes. Nick's platform and services have empowered countless authors to reach millions of readers, driving substantial revenue growth. His services encompass video production, podcast booking, and social media brand building. With a mission to inspire readers to take action, Nick authored "Rise of the Reader," delving into mastering reading habits and applying newfound knowledge to unlock potential. Buy the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/c9dE0ln Learn more about Nick: www.nickhutch.com Learn more about BookThinkers: www.bookthinkers.com Personalized Book recommendation: DM Nick at www.instagram.com/bookthinkers Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Philosophy for Professionals: https://philosophyforprofessionals.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Newsletter: https://decafquest.substack.com/ For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Johannes is founder and leader of the Halkyon Thinkers Guild. The Guild invites all those who seek along the path towards new realms of thought. Find Johannes: Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohannesAchill Website: https://www.halkyonguild.org/ YouTube: @JohannesNiederhauser Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Philosophy for Professionals: https://philosophyforprofessionals.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Newsletter: https://decafquest.substack.com/ For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Daniel Vassallo is bad for the economy. His main business plan is to avoid returning to work from an office. Ever since he quit his cushy job at Amazon (sometime around 2018), he has dabbled in so many things and launched several products, including an AWS ebook, an online course on how to grow your Twitter audience, cutting boards (yes, I swear), and most recently a community to support people in creating and building their portfolio of small bets. The community includes courses, talks, mentorship, and a very active and vibrant Discord channel. Most importantly, it has channels dedicated to gossip. Sign up for the invaluable material, stay for the gossip. Find Daniel: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dvassallo Small Bets: https://smallbets.co/ Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Philosophy for Professionals: https://philosophyforprofessionals.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Newsletter: https://decafquest.substack.com/ For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Leslie J. Harkema is Associate Professor of Spanish and director of the Division of Spanish and Portuguese in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures at Baylor University. She is the author of Spanish Modernism and the Poetics of Youth: From Miguel de Unamuno to La Joven Literatura (Toronto Iberic, 2017), and her writing on various aspects of literary and cultural modernity in the Iberian Peninsula has appeared in Bulletin of Spanish Studies, Modern Language Notes, Revista Hispánica Moderna, Cuadernos de la Cátedra Miguel de Unamuno, Public Books, and elsewhere. Find Leslie: Website: https://mlc.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/person/leslie-harkema Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Philosophy for Professionals: https://philosophyforprofessionals.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Newsletter: https://decafquest.substack.com/ For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Like Currant, Megan has an MBA. She spent more than 10 years working in supply chain and analytics; now she focuses on the stories that data doesn’t tell. She's the creator of the Supply Jane & Fifo Adventures, picture books that teach supply chain and operations management concepts to kids, as well as the Corporate Elements Mysteries, cozy mysteries for millennials that balance life and work. Find Megan: Twitter: https://twitter.com/mprestonmeyer Firebrand (Novel): https://amzn.eu/d/bjzZHPO Website: https://alpinechalet.coffee/ Supply Jane: https://supply-jane.com/ Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Philosophy for Professionals: https://philosophyforprofessionals.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Newsletter: https://decafquest.substack.com/ For more info: [email protected]

Bio: After a career as a fairly traditional academic teaching and publishing in Philosophy, Religious Studies, Literature, and Critical Thinking, Gregory Sadler transitioned into entrepreneurial, public, and client-focused work. After completing APPA certification in 2014, he has engaged in philosophical counseling, executive coaching, and ethics and organizational consulting through his business ReasonIO. Another aspect of his work in public philosophy involves producing educational content making philosophy accessible worldwide. Gregory's main YouTube channel contains over 2,500 videos, has over 135,000 subscribers, and over 12 million views. He appears frequently on podcasts and shows discussing concepts and real-life applications of philosophy, and provides lectures, discussions, and workshops. Gregory also teaches part-time at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, and co-hosts the Wisdom for Life radio show. Find Gregory B Sadler : YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregoryBSadler/ Sadler's Lectures podcast - https://medium.com/gregory-b-sadler-ph-d/the-sadlers-lectures-podcast-56e18619c5aa Half Hour Hegel: https://medium.com/gregory-b-sadler-ph-d/the-half-hour-hegel-series-7af8b459c8a5 Study With Sadler Academy: https://reasonio.teachable.com/ ReasonIO: https://reasonio.wordpress.com/ Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Nick Gray is an entrepreneur and best-selling author living in Austin, Texas. He started and sold two successful companies: Flight Display Systems and Museum Hack. Nick is the author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, a step-by-step handbook that teaches you how to build big relationships by hosting small gatherings. Over 75,000 people have watched his TEDx talk about why he hates most museums. He’s been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine called him a host of “culturally significant parties.” Find Nick: Website: https://nickgray.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickgraynews Book: https://a.co/d/5FIn4b7 Relevant links: Unlocking Social Connections: The Power of the 2-Hour Cocktail Party: https://decafquest.substack.com/p/unlocking-social-connections?sd=pf Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Louis Pereira lives a dual life. During the day, he works with his family to run a traditional, offline first business in Goa, India. At night, he's a creator on the internet where he builds web apps and publishes the occasional article. Currently, he's tinkering around with AI (as is pretty much everyone else) and trying to figure out how to use it to build things that are useful. Find Louis: Twitter: https://twitter.com/louispereira Audiopen: https://audiopen.ai/ Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Keith Frankish is Honorary Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, UK, Visiting Research Fellow at The Open University, UK, and Adjunct Professor with the Brain and Mind Programme in Neurosciences at the University of Crete, Greece. He is the author of Mind and Supermind (2004) and Consciousness (2005), as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. Keith’s research interests lie mainly in philosophy of mind. He is well known for defending an illusionist view of consciousness, in opposition to forms of phenomenal realism. Find Keith: Twitter: https://twitter.com/keithfrankish Personal website: https://www.keithfrankish.com/ Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Jordan O'Connor is an engineer by trade and a self-taught digital marketer. He is founder of Closet Tools, a Poshmark automation tool. He builds intuitive and performant products, provides SEO services and courses, and shares his ideas and thoughts through his blog and Twitter to help & inspire others on their digital entrepreneurship journey. Find Jordan: • Website: https://jdnoc.com/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdnoc Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Hassan Osman is a creator on the side. His full-time job is as a Senior Vice President at NWN Carousel (views are his own) where he leads the organization’s Professional Services team. He also writes short books for busy managers. He is the author of several Amazon Bestsellers, including “Influencing Virtual Teams,” “Don’t Reply All,” and most recently, “ChatGPT for Nonfiction Authors.” Hassan also hosts the “Writer on the Side” podcast (www.writerontheside.com) which helps other full-time employees write and publish their nonfiction books. Find Hassan: • Website: https://www.writerontheside.com/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorOnTheSide • Projects: www.creatorontheside.com Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

Bio: Joy Batra is founder of Quartz Consulting, a freelance consulting firm that has advised start-ups, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Gunderson Dettmer, JioSaavn, briefly as a Bollywood actress (long story), and most recently as Head of Legal at Syndicate Protocol. Joy has lived or worked in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the UK. She currently splits her time between NYC and Boston. Joy holds a JD/MBA from Harvard University. Links: Website: https://joybatra.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/joybatra Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoyBatra Instagram: https://instagram.com/joybatra The Freelance Mindset: https://a.co/d/ev6xTs7 Relevant links: Website: https://mahmoudrasmi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

The Marketplace Discussions podcast is an attempt to bridge the gap between disciplines. Bio: Utkarsh Amitabh is the chief executive officer of Network Capital and the chief marketing officer of http://5ire.org, a blockchain unicorn valued at $1.5 billion. http://5ire.org acquired a stake in his company Network Capital (http://networkcapital.tv), one of the world's largest mentorship platforms that empowers 1.6 million school students and 150,000-plus young professionals to build meaningful careers. Educated at Oxford and INSEAD, Utkarsh worked at Microsoft for seven years across the US, Europe, and India, leading business development for big bet projects. He writes for Harvard Business Review and World Economic Forum. Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/utkarsh_amitabh Network capital: https://www.networkcapital.tv/ The Seductive Illusion of Hard Work: https://a.co/d/0iEAP2O Passion Economy and the Side-Hustle Revolution: https://a.co/d/6cfoIGz Relevant links: Website: https://decafquest.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This event is part of the Marketplace Discussions series in an attempt to bridge the gap between disciplines. Summary: Are NFTs dead? In this marketplace discussion, Pete Noble will discuss the hype that surrounded the NFT market. He will be exploring whether or not they will have any relevance, and will cover some potential use cases NFTs might still have. He will also be addressing questions and criticisms surrounding NFTs.  Bio: Peter spent two decades as an executive in the Software industry, selling and building high-performance sales organizations.  In 2016, he left conventional employment and has since served as a consultant.  Having learned about Bitcoin in 2015, Peter grew increasingly curious about crypto and has developed a high-conviction view of our future - filled with potential for new, creative applications of technology for everyone.  He lives in the US Pacific Northwest, is married with 3 girls, and is devoted to habits of personal growth. Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/petewnoble Relevant links: Website: https://decafquest.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

​This event is part of the Marketplace Discussions series in an attempt to bridge the gap between disciplines. ​Summary: In this marketplace discussion, Colin Gorrie will introduce you to a few of his favourite dead languages, explain how we know anything about languages spoken before the days of the tape recorder, and offer some advice for anyone crazy enough to want to learn one. ​Bio: Colin Gorrie received his Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Arizona in 2014. Since the pandemic started, he has been teaching courses online on a mission to bring linguistics out of the ivory tower. Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/colingorrie Relevant links: Website: https://decafquest.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

​This event is part of the Marketplace Discussions series in an attempt to bridge the gap between disciplines. ​Summary: In this marketplace discussion, the main discussion will center around innovation in consumer goods: where all those new products in your supermarket and drugstore come from. How big corporations try to figure out what you'll be willing to buy, and usually fail to get it right. What sustainability & impact investing actually means, and how simple it is to do well if you understand how it should work (which isn't how it currently works). ​Bio: Costas is co-Founder of the global creative innovation agency Happen Group, which created over $5Bn incremental revenue for its clients. Sold to Accenture in 2019, after which Costas considered living under a bridge but instead dabbled with VC. He now writes books about the ugly reality of innovation and doing business in consumer goods. In the past 25 years, he has led innovation projects across cultures and categories on all continents (including the Antarctic), for over 100 major consumer goods companies. Before starting Happen, Costas worked as a product designer and engineering manager. Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/grumpyinnovator Relevant links: Website: https://decafquest.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This event is part of the Marketplace Discussions series in an attempt to bridge the gap between disciplines. ​Summary: Residuality provides a new theory of software engineering through applied complexity science. This session will introduce the idea by comparing and contrasting the philosophical differences between residuality and the accidental philosophy that software engineers have inherited from the industry and their education - and shows how this potentially represents the first steps out of the permanent crisis that has been the history of software engineering. The session will also introduce the basic tools required to enable software design in conditions of high uncertainty. ​Bio: Barry is a PhD Candidate within Complexity Science and Software Design. He runs Black Tulip Technology and is a former Chief Architect and leader of the global Solution Architect Community at Microsoft with 20 years experience in the design of distributed systems. Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TechnologyTulip Relevant links: Website: https://decafquest.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This event is part of the Marketplace Discussions series in an attempt to bridge the gap between disciplines. ​Summary: In this marketplace discussion, Prab Randhawa sheds light on how cryptography-enabled technologies are transforming digital identity, altering the concept of ownership, and reshaping financial markets. ​Bio: Prab spent a decade working at Apple and Shell on a variety of interdisciplinary projects. In 2021 he left to work for (but really on) himself, and among other things, founded a crypto business. These are notes on his plebeian journey into degeneracy. Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/prabhchintan Relevant links: Website: https://decafquest.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Discussions series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry.  In this marketplace discussion, Jordan B. Goldstein takes us on a quest about how philosophy can help us live a good life not only intellectually, but also through exerting our bodies physically. Jordan Goldstein has a Ph.D. in Sports History and 7+ years teaching sports philosophy, sociology, and history.  He recently quit academia to build a coaching and consulting business Phya Academy, and to work on curriculum development at Synthesis School. Links: Website Twitter: https://twitter.com/JB_Goldstein Relevant links: Website Twitter For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry.  Support the channel: https://gumroad.com/l/decaphilo Bio: Trishank is an amateur computer scientist, RWRI alumnus & instructor, physical culturist. Website: https://www.trishank.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/trishankkarthik Relevant links: online philosophy courses: https://gumroad.com/decafquest e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This is a sample of what my online philosophy classes are like.   More info: https://decafquest.com/  https://decafquest.com/shop/  https://twitter.com/Decafquest e-book: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Talk #9: Ethical and Socially Responsible Investment: Is there such a thing?  Bio: Dr. Ghassan Chammas is a founding partner and manager of Orion Financial Solutions, an international financial consulting firm specialized in Credit Analysis, Corporate Debt restructuring and Corporate Recapitalization. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ghchammas Link to presentation slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sotHrRrkt8jD0KtWVmScxhg4Ce7sHD_n/view?usp=sharing Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Talk #8: Power Sector: Where Do We Go From Here? Bio: Jessica Obeid is an independent energy policy consultant focusing on electricity and energy transition. She also serves as Senior Global Advisor for London-based consultancy Azure Strategy, formerly Castlereagh Associates. She is Academy Associate at Chatham House’s energy, environment and resources department in London, where she previously served as resident fellow and non-resident fellow for the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. Prior to moving into policy, Jessica had a decade experience in engineering, with her last position being chief energy engineer at the United Nations Development Programme in Beirut. She has published widely and regularly provides expert commentary to leading media outlets. Jessica holds a master’s degree in Political Sciences with emphasis on Diplomacy and Negotiations and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Lebanese American University. She’s currently a PhD scholar at the University of East London researching renewable energy in data centers. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jessica_Obeid Articles: https://www.lcps-lebanon.org/featuredArticle.php?id=314 https://castlereagh.net/lebanon-attempts-to-fast-track-electricity-reform/ https://www.executive-magazine.com/economics-policy/lebanons-new-electricity-plan https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/lebanons-bumpy-road-imf-deal-implications-us-policy Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Talk #7: Mahmoud Rasmi (@decafquest) | Why Is Football Nicknamed the Beautiful Game? A Philosophical Reflection. Bio: I finished my PhD in Philosophy at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Between 2013 and 2020, I taught philosophy and cultural studies at the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University. Now, I have decided to venture into the virtual world in order to give affordable classes online to people who are interested in studying philosophy in a non-academic setting.  Twitter: https://twitter.com/decafquest Online #philosophy courses: https://decafquest.com/shop/  Presentation slides: https://bit.ly/3cruR5s Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. Sixth talk: Ronnie Chatah (The Beirut Banyan) | Sharing the Story Bio: Ronnie Chatah hosts The Beirut Banyan podcast, a series of storytelling episodes and long-form conversations that reflect on all that is modern Lebanese history. Topics range from political and economic reform to the arts, architecture and collective memory. He also leads the WalkBeirut tour, a four-hour narration of Beirut’s rich and troubled past. WalkBeirut has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and BBC Radio 4. Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebeirutbanyan Relevant links: e-book Sardonically Speaking: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: [email protected] Suggested links: We Should Not Mourn Justice via L’Orient Today: https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1247158/we-should-not-mourn-justice.html Robert Fisk: A Conscience Adrift via Newlines Magazine: https://newlinesmag.com/argument/robert-fisk-a-conscience-adrift/ Additional features on WalkBeirut: New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/middleeast/beirut-walking-tour-history.html  Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-walk/beirut-guide-gives-walking-tours-of-citys-history-and-his-own-idUSKBN1FJ22Y BBC Radio 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j2bml  BBC World: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s60ww  Voice of America: https://newsvideo.su/video/3430608 Kerning Cultures Podcast: https://kerningcultures.com/kerning-cultures/the-things-that-cant-speak

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. Fifth talk: Dan Azzi | Why Wearing a Suit is as Useless as Technical Analysis Bio: Dan Azzi is a retired investment banker. He worked at UBS, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche, and Bear Stearns. Most recently, he was Head of Global Markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, for Standard Chartered Bank, retiring in 2015 as CEO/Chairman of the Board in Lebanon.  Currently, he is a regular OpEd writer and lecturer in economics, monetary policy, and political reform. Twitter: https://twitter.com/dan_azzi Relevant links: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. Mike Azar | Lebanon and the Game Theory of Anarchy Bio: Mike Azar is an international finance professional who advises governments on financing transactions in strategically important sectors. His clients include the governments of the United States, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Russia, and France. He has a graduate degree in international relations and finance from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Twitter: https://twitter.com/AzarsTweets Relevant links: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected]

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by Mahmoud Rasmi (@decafquest). Second Lecture: Philippe Caponis | Towards a More Responsible Tech Development Bio: Philippe is interested in better understanding how scientific theories illuminate (and often reshape) philosophical debates about the nature of space and time, identity and material constitution. He holds an MS in Physics and an MA in Philosophy from the University of Paris.  https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1327182022629068803 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest For more info: [email protected] Schedule of upcoming talks: https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1319985717032964102

This talk is part of the Marketplace Lecture Series in an attempt to bridge the gap between academia and industry hosted by @decafquest. First Lecture: Mahmoud Dgheim | Towards a More Responsible Tech Development Bio: Mahmoud Dgheim (@dgheim) is a Lebanese blockchain evangelist and Co-founder & CEO at Castalise - a platform introducing the potential behind blockchain and privacy-preserving technologies to the rapidly growing world of data analytics.  https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1322959710270738438 Relevant links: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/ohYop Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest For more info: [email protected] Schedule of upcoming talks: https://twitter.com/Decafquest/status/1319985717032964102 Suggested readings: Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies Book by Nick Bostrom Life 3.0 Book by Max Tegmark The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology Book by Ray Kurzweil Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money, Business, and the World Book by Alex Tapscott and Don Tapscott Permanent Record Book by Edward Snowden Andrew Trask privacy-preserving AI https://youtu.be/4zrU54VIK6k

Joint Episode with Ronnie Chatah from The Beirut Banyan.  https://youtu.be/bSQjOWIdKQk Ronnie Chatah is a Master of Science (2017) graduate in literature and creative writing at the University of Edinburgh. His previous degrees include a Master of Arts (2012) in Middle East Studies from the American University of Beirut and a Bachelor of Arts (2003) in Political Science and Psychology from George Mason University. Ronnie conducts a history and political walking tour of Beirut called WalkBeirut, which initially ran from 2009 – 2013. The tour has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Voice of America and BBC Radio 4, and navigates Beirut’s recent past while unraveling more complicated episodes - including Lebanon’s civil war - through storytelling. The tour remains popular among tourists and Lebanese alike, and at its inception served as the only walking tour of Beirut. WalkBeirut was brought to a halt from 2013 – 2017 after Ronnie’s father, Mohamad Chatah - a career diplomat, International Monetary Fund senior official, Lebanese finance minister and senior advisor to former prime ministers Fouad Seniora and Saad Hariri - was assassinated in a car bombing in Beirut on December 27, 2013. Ronnie left Lebanon in the immediate aftermath and decided to pursue his father’s legacy in print and audio narration. The culmination of that work is a novel underway titled Buried in Beirut, and a podcast which Ronnie launched in 2019 named The Beirut Banyan. From tourism to tragedy, Ronnie’s work reflects on Lebanon’s recent politics and history, addressing the personal wounds associated with untimely and unjust loss. Relevant Links: WalkBeirut: http://walkbeirut.com The Beirut Banyan: http://beirutbanyan.com New York Times: https://nytimes.com/2018/02/07/world/middleeast/beirut-walking-tour-history.html Reuters: https://reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-walk/beirut-guide-gives-walking-tours-of-citys-history-and-his-own-idUSKBN1FJ22Y BBC Radio 4: http://bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j2bml BBC World: http://bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s60ww Kerning Cultures Podcast: https://kerningcultures.com/kerning-cultures/the-things-that-cant-speak The Fire These Times Podcast: https://thefirethisti.me/2020/07/05/34-remembering-through-storytelling-in-times-of-hardship/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Mahmoud Natout is an entrepreneur, consultant, and educator. He is co-founder of L3b, a start-up that utilizes play-based strategies to help organizations build vibrant and human-centered work cultures that foster collaboration and innovative risk-taking. Relevant Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahmoud.natout L3b website: http://l3b.space/ Corridorri website: https://corridorri.com/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Nadine Welson Njeim is a Lebanese entrepreneur, and a tech and sustainability geek. She is the founder and managing partner of Microbits, a now leading digital agency. She is also head of the PR & BD department of Designer-24 holding. She is currently pursuing her master's in management at Harvard University. Nadine was elected as Miss Lebanon in 2007. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/nadinewnjeim Facebook: https://facebook.com/nadinenjeim Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadinewnjeim Website: https://microbits.co/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Dalal Mawad is a Lebanese journalist currently working as a senior Middle East and North Africa video producer with the Associated Press. She previously worked as a regional video producer for the United Nations Refugee Agency covering displacement in the Middle East and the world.  Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/dalalmawad Website: https://dalalmawad.com/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Ghadi is a Lebanese Journalist and Writer. She's worked as an investigative journalist in the Levant and the region, as well as directed and produced documentaries covering war conflicts, displacement, and humanitarian crises. She currently runs GAIAMEDIA, a media consultancy, and production house.  Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ghadifrancis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancisGhadi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghadifrancis/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Karl Sharro (aka Karl reMarks) is an architect, satirist and commentator on the Middle East. He is a Partner at PLP Architecture in London and co-author of Manifesto: Towards a New Humanism in Architecture which was included in 100 Artists’ Manifestos: from the Futurists to the Stuckists, a survey of 100 influential art manifestos from the last 100 years. He has practised architecture in London and Beirut, and taught for five years at the American University of Beirut. Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarlreMarks Book: https://www.amazon.com/Then-Created-Middle-There-Breaking/dp/0863569021 Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Dr. Ahmad Al-Jallad is a philologist, epigraphist, and historian of language. His work focuses on the languages and writing systems of pre-Islamic Arabia and the ancient Near East. He has authored books and articles on the early history of Arabic, language classification, North Arabian and Arabic epigraphy, and historical Semitic linguistics. Relevant links:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Safaitic Personal website: https://leidenuniv.academia.edu/AhmadAlJallad Recently published book (The Damascus Psalm Fragment, available in pdf format): https://www.academia.edu/43189829/Al-Jallad._2020._The_Damascus_Psalm_Fragment_Middle_Arabic_and_the_Legacy_of_Old_%E1%B8%A4ig%C4%81z%C4%AB_w._a_contribution_by_R._Vollandt Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

#AgriNERDS 1) Souhad Abou Zaki is an #economist with a constant craving for learning. She's passionate about rural development and has been fortunate enough to work in this realm with Rural #Entrepreneurs, an #NGO that works on expanding employment prospects for youth and women and promoting #entrepreneurship as a tool for socio-economic change in rural communities.  Twitter: https://twitter.com/souhad_16 2) Robert Malek is an agricultural entomologist. He studies the chemical ecology and foraging behavior of natural enemies, their interactions with plants and with insect pests and evaluates their potential as biological control agents. He also works on citizen science projects aimed at bridging the gap between science and the public and enhancing scientific literacy. Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalekRobert 3) Mouhaned is rural strategy developer and agriculutral consultant. Twitter: https://twitter.com/MouhanedD Website: https://agrileb.com/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below. Professor Magda BOU DAGHER KHARRAT is a Plant Geneticist. She is head of laboratory Biodiversity and Functional Genomics at the Faculty of Science in Saint-Joseph University (USJ) Beirut.  Adapting to the lockdown and working from home: 00:02:00 Research and conservation fieldwork (irises season): 00:03:50 A faulty anthropocentric perspective? 00:11:00 How do you decide which plants to conserve? (invasive vs native species, botanical gardens, cost of maintenance) 00:13:00 Jouzour Loubnan NGO (theory vs practice): 00:22:35 Awareness campaigns about flora, conservation practices, field trips, and hands-on activities: 00:26:00 Being passionate about what you're interested in, choosing to work in plant biology and conservation: 00:32:00 Has the effort been worth it? 00:38:20 Lebanon flora database (info + pics): 00:43:15 Ecosystems need to be protected because they are difficult to restore; how system restoration is carried out; adopting pioneer methods by studying animal excrements; hyenas are not only carnivores, they become herbivores based on the season: 00:47:00 International plant database initiative: 00:55:40 Cost of lab sample analyses is expensive in Lebanon: 00:57:25 Is there awareness about the importance of environmental conservation? 01:00:00 To restore and conserve or to cultivate? (agroforestry) 01:03:00 Arsal project: 01:06:30 Plant names: 01:11:00 Traditional vs innovative strategies: 01:13:20 A reflection on COVID-19 and the human place nature; maintaining the ecosystem balance: 01:20:40 Magda was selected as part of the faces of exchange, which highlights 80 years of the US Visitor Leadership Program: 01:33:00 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/magdaboudagher Jouzour Loubnan twitter: https://twitter.com/jouzourloubnan Websites:  http://www.lebanon-flora.org/ http://biodiversite-liban.blogs.usj.edu.lb/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Magda_Bou_dagher_kharrat  Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below. Reem Saleh is a Lebanese Filmmaker. She is currently Associate Director of External Relations and Partnerships at NYUAD Arts Center. She's chaotic, passionate, and a globetrotter.  Adopting a dog: Drogo: 00:01:40 Reem's educational and career backgrounds: 00:05:50 "To be on the field gives you a very different perspective.": 00:13:35 A discussion of Reem's movie 'What Comes Around' (death, poverty, community, solidarity, FGM): 00:18:05 Female genital mutilation: 00:32:00 Top-down vs bottom-up awareness campaigns: 00:45:20 An anecdote during filming: 00:47:10 The dire economic situation in Lebanon ("no one is immune to poverty): 00:52:30 Mazen Barbir's question: "why do succeed at an individual level but fail collectively?": 00:56:30 Issues with which university students struggle (multiple jobs, stress, competition, social pressure [what would people say about you?], mental health, struggling to save the appearance): 00:59:00 Solidarity and helping each other out [Kilna Ya3ni Kilna, and other initiatives]: 01:10:05 Meeting Jason Silva: 01:13:00 Future projects [a new documentary about alienation, displacement, identity, what is home]: 01:18:25 What prompted the idea for the documentary: on being vulnerable and feeling helpless: 01:20:30 What is leadership? A sports example; athlete's mental strength: 01:24:00 Relevant links: Movie: 'What Comes Around', https://journeyman.tv/film/7423 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Meemzo Drogo's Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/drogattitude/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of content below. Elias Bou-Issa, Lebanese poet and author, records and books hunter, born in Ehden in 1984, currently living and working as a telecom engineer in The Netherlands. Corona-made beards: 00:01:00 Dutch vs Lebanese work-ethic and attitude towards work: 00:04:45 Law and law enforcement in Lebanon: 00:07:45 Moving to France: 00:11:30 French vs Dutch work culture: 00:22:33 The importance of workplace trust: 00:26:00 French revolution: 00:27:15 French syndicate, the de-naturing of 'noble' causes, empty activism, and NGOs: 00:33:35 Lockdown in the Netherlands: 00:47:52 Tai Chi class anecdote, the meaning of life, and cultural appropriation: 00:50:12 NGOs and the bureaucratization of institutions: 00:58:00 French revolution genocide: 01:06:50 US vs Lebanese Social Justice Warriors; victimology narratives : 01:10:10 University dorms in France: 01:17:50 The Bulgarian connection, culture and traditions: 01:23:20 Lebanese stress: 01:39:00 Elias the writer and poet; 1st published book: 01:44:15 Linguists with agendas: 01:49:30 Latin va arabic script to write Lebanese poetry: 01:54:30 We use English and French in Lebanon to fill a linguistic void: 02:11:35 Fairuz and the Rahbanis' contribution to language. Their corpus filled a linguistic void but was brought to a halt during and in the aftermath of the civil war. (Natouret l mfeti7): 02:14:00  Masra7iyet Loulou: 02:24:07 Where far right and far left meet: a psychoanalytic interpretation of these stances: 02:34:10 Record and book hunting/collecting: 02:39:00 Give me three words, cafe concept: 02:50:53 Relevant links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/encrier Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below. Miled and Melissa are an ex-pat Lebanese married couple based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. They create digital content that focuses on their travel escapes, useful tips and tricks, and their favorite places in the UAE and its surroundings. Introduction (the name, background, COVID impact and working from home): 00:00:46 Deciding to start a travel vlog and blog page on Instagram and Facebook first and then on YouTube: 00:11:06 Attitude towards tourism and tourists of people in the MENA region: 00:15:22 A discussion about vlogging culture in the MENA region, why does it seem not to be so popular? (Lebanon vs other countries in the region): 00:17:34 The difficulties content creators face in Lebanon because of internet connection: 00:20:33 There are many things you can learn on YouTube than on other social media platforms, and why creating content on it is very demanding: 00:23:19 Youtube algorithm, and video length requirements to make your videos more visible: 00:25:50 Why The Rahal's content is different (spontaneous, informative, interesting, and fun): 00:28:10 Deciding whether or not to record on a trip, whether or not it feels like a burden (the Oman anecdote): 00:31:56 Do The Rahals argue over the idea, content, or editing of their travel videos? 00:38:50 Monetization of Youtube channel in the MENA region: 00:40:00 Vegetable Conspiracies shoutout: 00:41:36 You work for YouTube, and so you have to adapt accordingly: 00:43:20 Coming up for a storyline of the videos, pre or post-recording? 00:46:40 Recording on a honeymoon? How about maybe? 00:47:50 Organized or plan as you go trips? 00:49:10 Why Medellin? 00:51:30 The Argentina experience (DecafQuest): 00:55:06 The Colombia experience (the.Rahal): 00:57:00 The Guatape experience: 01:01:00 Thoughts on the South America trip and the cultural shock of traveling to new continents: 01:04:36 The more we travel, the more we discover that we all face the same struggles and conflicts: 01:07:20 Japan vs China: 01:09:45 Lebanon as not a cosmopolitan country; we are not that exposed to people from other countries or backgrounds:01:12:20 The importance of seeking to constantly improve oneself, and how travel can help: 01:14:40 The best dish in the world: labneh and sardines? 01:18:00 Deciding to create a YouTube channel: 01:23:06 Melissa talks to plants? What?: 01:24:50 What is your reaction to how people react when they know Mel speaks Chinese? 01:26:30 The philosophical dimension of the Chinese language: 01:31:00 People in the far east seem to be happy, is this true? 01:33:15 Urban vs suburban lifestyle: being chill and whatnot: 01:35:20 The lockdown experience in a frenetic lifestyle: 01:38:45 Social media platform of preference: 01:43:00 Working for YouTube? 01:44:09 Creating quality digital content: 01:47:00 Follow the.Rahal on social media at the below links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.rahal/ Youtube: youtube.com/therahal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRahhal/ Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Table of contents below: Graham Griffiths is a political risk analyst with a particular focus on the Gulf. He studied philosophy and economics before getting an MA in Middle East studies. Topics discussed:  Political risk analysis: 4:48  Importance of consulting services: 13:34  Factoring in the unpredictable: 22:06  Graham's educational background in economics and philosophy: 28:10  Is 'middle eastern studies' a scam?: 32:56  A critique of analytic philosophy: 40:00  Philosophy between theory and practice (philosophy is more about asking questions): 45:00  Universalism vs relativism in philosophy: 52:50 (Political correctness)  Reconciling cultural diversity and ethical values within the consulting sphere: 58:20  Political risk analysis job profile: 1:06:00  The importance of factoring in geopolitical developments in the analysis before making final recommendations: 1:11:00  The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the region: 1:18:00  An overview of  Douglas Hofstadter's Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid: 1:26:00  Intellectual play: 1:28:47 A discussion of Nassim Taleb's books: 1:31:00  The feasibility of wanting to be anti-fragile: 1:34:40  Dislocating experiences COVID vs war: 1:48:00  Graham's experience learning Arabic, and the difference between fus7a and local languages: 2:00:00 Relevant links:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/_graham_rhys Support the channel:   Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Also known as ‘Miss Word’, Adriana started her writing career at a very young age, publishing stories in local newspapers and magazines.  With 3 books to her account and a long career with multinationals and local agencies, she creates fun, fresh, attention-grabbing content and copy, working as a freelancer since she "emancipated herself from corporate slavery". Relevant links:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/adrianaleboss  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrianalebosswriter Support the channel:   Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest   Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest   Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Sultan Al-Qassemi is a columnist, art & architecture enthusiast, and currently visiting Instructor, Islamic Civilization & Societies program at Boston College.    Relevant links:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/SultanAlQassemi  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sultanalqassemi  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sultanalqassemi/  Barjeel Art Foundation: https://www.barjeelartfoundation.org/   Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Wissam Kamal is a Stand up Comedian, Digital Content Creator, and Filmmaker   #Lebanese #comedy   Relevant links: https://linktr.ee/WissamKamal   Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Elie is a food Scientist and Geography/Rap/Wrestle Mania Geek   Relevant Links:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElijahLeb92  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lebanese_culture_history/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LebanonCH   Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

#Health #NERDS #CORONA  1) Zakia Dimassi is a Pediatrician and medical educator based in Lebanon  https://twitter.com/ZakiaDimassi  2) Lama Awada is a hypochondriac who's also a researcher in the fields of biophysics and immunology, currently based in Marseille  https://twitter.com/planetperfume  3) Hadi Khachab is an Interventional Cardiologist , he studied medicine and cardiology in France where he has been living for 18  years. He loves food, travel, and Fairouz lover  https://twitter.com/hadito13  4) Maysa Bou Dargham is a Food Safety and Hygiene Specialist   Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest

Liliane is a Computer Science #NERD. She worked as a software engineer for 8 years, then shifted into the digital marketing space, which led her to #Facebook Ireland then Dubai. She now works as a Product Marketing Manager for Facebook MENA.   You can reach out to Lilian at the below links:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/FunkyOzzi  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelWithFunk  Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/TravelWithFunk  https://www.instagram.com/FunkyOzzi/  Travel Blog: http://blog.funkyozzi.com/   Support the channel:  Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/decafquest  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decafquest  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Decafquest