The Majlis Podcast

n this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Gusthavo, a Brazilian surf instructor and lifeguard who left a small beach town called Balneário Camboriú in Santa Catarina, Brazil, for Lisbon, learned English in Dublin with €250 to his name, and found his way to the Azores and then Ericeira. From becoming a lifeguard to teaching surf and winning his first long distance trail race, he traces a journey built on two things his parents weren't sure about. They also talk about what it feels like to go back home and find nothing has changed, running 50 kilometres in the Dolomites having never run that distance before, and what it's like to want to quit at kilometre 20 and you still have over 30 kilometres to go.Follow Gusthavo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gusthavosimas/Surf with him in Ericeira: https://mellowmove.com/en/Support a local small business in the Azores: https://www.azoresgarden.com/00:00 Growing Up in Santa Catarina03:26 Becoming a Lifeguard12:35 Why He Left Brazil14:23 The Two Things His Parents Weren't Sure About15:23 Moving to Portugal in 201818:40 Seven Months in Dublin21:28 Getting to the Azores25:30 On Taking the Leap31:32 Working to Live32:41 Going Back to Brazil35:34 Life on the Island37:36 Friends Who Stayed, Friends Who Left42:31 Moving to Ericeira47:54 On Teaching Surfing55:44 The Most Common Mistake Beginners Make1:02:03 How Trail Running Started1:05:29 Deciding to Run Lavaredo1:07:14 His First 50K1:11:41 Winning His First Race1:13:42 On the Mental Side of Trail Running1:18:42 A Story About Nearly Quitting1:23:11 How He Trains1:27:28 Where He'd Go — Surf and Trail1:31:02 On Taking OpportunitiesThe Majlis Podcast is about craft, physical presence, and unconventional paths. Subscribe for new episodes.

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Scout — a BJJ black belt, former competitive fencer, and co-founder of Alcateia Jiu Jitsu in Zurich. She traces her path from burning out of fencing at 19, to walking alone into her first BJJ class, to opening a gym with her husband Lucas.They also talk about the reality check of running a small business, and what it means to slow down when someone else becomes the priority.00:00 Before the Mat — Fencing, Five Years Old 02:38 November 2017 — First BJJ Class 04:22 Burnout at 19 08:27 Let Them Have Fun First 11:27 Nearly Quit, A Lot of Times 14:36 Advice for Men Rolling with Women 17:28 What to Look For in a Gym 20:18 Two Weeks to Open 26:52 The Reality Check Nobody Warns You About 31:02 A Place to Be Vulnerable 33:23 Airplane Mode — Competition Mindset 38:05 It's Normal to Be Nervous 42:12 Don't Stop 45:00 Surprise, You're Gonna Be a Dad

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits with Bastien Loloum, an ecotourism builder whose path led him from Brazil’s early eco-lodges to a life rooted in São Tomé.What began as a one-year volunteer mission turned into decades of living, working, and building alongside nature and community — from sea turtle conservation and national parks to farming, vanilla, and quiet tourism far from the beaten path.A conversation about patience, responsibility, and what it really means to grow with a place rather than extract from it.Pull up a seat — you’re welcome in the Majlis.00:42 Introduction01:00 Leaving Home With No Plan03:33 Brazil Changed My Life09:45 When Tourism Destroys Paradise13:48 Why I Rejected a Normal Career16:15 The Country I Didn’t Know Existed21:00 Building Tourism Before Tourists28:55 Inside a Hidden Ecosystem38:00 One Year Became a Lifetime40:45 A small Deal That Changed Everything57:40 What Most Travelers Get Wrong About EcotourismStay on Bastien’s FarmVANHA Plantation Bungalowhttps://www.airbnb.com/rooms/684077743332900612VANHA Cottage at the Farmhttps://www.airbnb.com/rooms/567012024464664974The JamsDelícias das Ilhas — Jams, spices & local products from São Toméhttps://deliciasdasilhas.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.htmlSupport São Tomé’s NGOsPrograma Tatô — Sea turtle conservation and community engagement across São Toméhttps://en.programatato.org/Fundação Príncipe (Príncipe Trust) — Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development on Príncipe Islandhttps://www.programmeppi.org/en/beneficiaire/fpt-fundacao-principe-trust/More ReadingAhmed’s blog post: São Tomé, January 2026https://ahmedwarreth.com/travel-log/the-island-you-probably-never-heard-aboutsonbsptom

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Vinny, who left a tech support job and started over as a first-year apprentice electrician. He shares what pushed him to make the change, how fast it all happened, and what life looks like now on a busy industrial site — from early starts and safety culture to learning on the job with zero ego. They also talk about transferable skills from tech, making mistakes without fear, and Vinny’s growing respect (and renewed fear) of electricity.00:00 The Transition from Tech to Trade03:35 Finding Purpose in Hands-On Work08:20 Navigating the Job Application Process13:31 Mental Health and Career Change16:09 First Week as an Apprentice19:15 Transferable Skills from IT to Electrical Work21:14 Daily Structure on a Construction Site24:14 Navigating the Apprenticeship Journey26:45 Cultural Shifts in Construction29:06 Women in Trades: Progress and Challenges30:26 Home Renovation: Learning Through Experience34:16 Safety First: Lessons from Mistakes36:34 Respecting Electricity: A Newfound Awareness39:33 Investing in Quality Tools44:38 Reflections on Growth and Sharing Experiences

Ahmed and Leo trace Leo’s path from a tool-filled barn in Herrliberg to a life built around making things in wood—starting with early projects like the Adirondack chair and the nerves of “selling your first real piece.”They unpack Switzerland’s apprenticeship culture, including farm life (living with your boss) and how that responsibility shaped Leo’s mindset.The conversation turns into a love letter to craft: why wood feels different than steel, why every board has a “personality,” and what makes work worth being proud of.00:00 From barn curiosity to real projects03:08 How it started : first build07:21 The “be happy during the day” philosophy08:46 Apprenticeships: freedom to pivot without panic12:27 Farm life: long hours, different families, real growth17:45 Canada: independence, culture shock, big-country energy19:35 Becoming a carpenter: the exam + leveling up24:28 Materials & meaning: wood, longevity, tools, and craft35:49 Inspiration and Future Aspirations

In this conversation, Carl shares his deep-rooted connection to nature, stemming from his childhood experiences in Finland. He discusses his educational journey in biology and forestry, leading to his current role as a forest technician in Switzerland. Carl elaborates on the daily responsibilities of his job, the importance of sustainable forestry practices, and the challenges he faces in the field. He also offers valuable advice for those looking to enter the environmental sector, emphasizing the diverse opportunities available. 00:00 Growing Up in Nature10:41 From Passion to Profession16:38 Navigating Career Paths21:21 Life as a Forest Technician26:52 Long-Term Experiments in Forestry29:20 Agility in Research Hypotheses34:31 Forest Management and Ownership40:52 Tools of the Trade46:48 Challenges in Fieldwork51:32 Getting Started in Forestry54:19 The Beauty of Woodworking