New Material with Herbert Lui & Hamza Khan
by New Material
Join Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan as they dive headfirst into the raw, messy, and electrifying creative process animating this show. From ghostwriting for tech giants and celebrity thought leaders to stepping into the spotlight as authors and speakers, the dynamic duo unpacks their journey of moving from ‘behind the scenes’ to ‘center stage.’ In this unfiltered conversation, they share candid insights into the thrill—and nerves—of launching new material into the world, the art of collaboration, and how speaking your truth can break down the thin veil between invisibility and impact.
Episodes
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15: For All the Underdogs | New Material
Hamza and Herbert dive into the chaos of building in fast-moving spaces. Hamza reflects on the daily strategic pivots at his AI startup, and the tensions of working on the business vs. working in it, and the tradeoffs that come with chasing momentum. They unpack the underdog mentality: how…
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14: From the Heart | New Material
Herbert takes on Hamza’s challenge from the previous episode to publish something from his journal: a raw, uncomfortable post about failing to become a New York Times bestselling author by 30. The piece turns out as a meditation on ambition, failure, and the gap between expectation and reality....
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13: Steel Sharpens Steel | New Material
In this episode of New Material, Herbert and Hamza kick off by exploring nicknames and self-created monikers. They discuss the prevalence of big personalities in their favorite genre of music, hip hop, before diving into their creative journeys. Hamza reflects on his recent professional setbacks...
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12: The Struggle Continues | New Material
In this episode of New Material, Hamza announces the launch of his new blog, (https://hamzak.com/) marking a return to his writing roots. Inspired by Herbert’s daily writing practice (https://herbertlui.net/), Hamza reflects on his feelings after years of instrumentalizing his creative work and...
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11: Get Lost Sometimes | New Material
Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan discuss the creative process, self-doubt, and the importance of writing. Hamza shares his experience of delivering a new keynote, which received a standing ovation but left him feeling unsatisfied. He reflects on the advice from Herbert's article, "Don't Think To Write,...
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10: Bag The Boss Up | New Material
Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan, co-hosts of the "New Material" podcast, celebrate episode 10 by discussing the concept of "boss" in hip hop culture and leadership. Hamza Khan delves into the etymology of "boss," linking it to historical power dynamics and capitalism. They explore the idea of...
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9: Your Brain Is A Muscle | New Material
In this episode of New Material, Herbert Lui (Creative Doing) and Hamza Khan (SkillsCamp) dive into the surprising power of analog methods in creativity and productivity. Herbert shares his shift from digital tools to pen and paper, explaining how index cards and the Zettelkasten method sharpen…
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8: Just Kids From Scarborough | New Material
In this episode of New Material, Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan dive into their creative origins, reflecting on how growing up in Scarborough shaped their perspectives, work ethic, and artistic sensibilities. They explore the power of constraints in creativity, the lessons of resilience from their...
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7: Straight From Shibuya | New Material
Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan discuss their recent travels and personal reflections. Herbert recounts his month-long trip to Asia, highlighting his experiences in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo, including cultural immersion and family connections. Hamza shares his transformative trip to Rome, which...
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6: Passports & Pivots | New Material
Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan dive into social media and personal branding—Herbert shares why he’s hesitant to use social media, while Hamza talks about rebranding to align his online presence with his real self. They explore the struggle to stay authentic while managing a professional image and why...
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5: No More Parties in NYC | New Material
Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan dive into their experiences living in New York versus Toronto—comparing the energy, opportunities, and personal growth each city offers. They chat about pushing past comfort zones, staying mindful, and not taking life for granted. Hamza opens up about his evolving…
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4: Make It All Come to Life | New Material
Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan discuss their respective weeks, with Herbert focusing on his book and social media engagement, and Hamza on his keynote speaking engagements. They explore three different roles in the creative process—starter, developer, and finisher—emphasizing the importance of...
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3: To Be Spontaneous | New Material
In this episode of New Material, Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan continue their exploration of creative processes. Hamza shares his consistent 5am (!) wake up routine and tales from his recent travels, including a chaotic week of context-switching between family events and work. Herbert talks about…
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2: Everything I’m Not | New Material
In this episode of New Material, Herbert and Hamza dive deep into the murky waters of imposter syndrome and its potentially crushing effect on creative work. Hamza shares the raw reality of tackling a high-stakes textbook update project, facing a torrent of feedback that left him questioning his...
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1: Kids See Ghostwriters | New Material
In our first episode, Herbert and Hamza unpack what it means to step out from behind the scenes and bring your voice front and center. As two creatives who’ve spent years ghostwriting for others, they get real about the evolution from crafting ideas in the shadows to launching this show and...
About this show
Join Herbert Lui and Hamza Khan as they dive headfirst into the raw, messy, and electrifying creative process animating this show. From ghostwriting for tech giants and celebrity thought leaders to stepping into the spotlight as authors and speakers, the dynamic duo unpacks their journey of moving from ‘behind the scenes’ to ‘center stage.’ In this unfiltered conversation, they share candid insights into the thrill—and nerves—of launching new material into the world, the art of collaboration, and how speaking your truth can break down the thin veil between invisibility and impact.
Hosted by
New Material
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