Eyes on

We are truly living through unprecedented times. It is not easy to maintain your mental health when you are stressed and anxious during a war, it is not surprising that people lose their sense of self. So we have called in Clinical Psychologist Dr. Sarah Al Marzooqi to explain why this is happening and how to mitigate these rising (and valid) feelings.

The Sharjah Art Foundation kicks off the opening of the Photography Gallery, with two exhibitions: “Image Keepers: Photographic Works from the Sharjah Art Foundation Collection” and “Photographic Encounters along the Gulf Coasts." Head of Curatorial Jiwon Lee tells us all about the new venue, the exhibitions and the power of photography as a medium of artistic expression.

Dr. Abdalla Ahmed Al Ali, Director of Roads Maintenance Department at the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), joins the show to answer and update us on the road and infrastructure projects around the Muweilah Commercial area and the University City Road towards Choueifat School.

Ahmed Obaid AlQaseer, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), answers a listener's query and tells us about the latest projects in progress with Shurooq, including the newly announced "Kalba Rock Art Centre."

Mohammed Abdulrahman AlNimr, Head of Smart Inspection Division at Sharjah Municipality, joins us to answer a listener's question.

We celebrate Emirati Women's Day with the exciting and fun Sara AlMehairi! Sara takes us on a journey through her life, telling us about the shocking proclamation by her professor that she holds onto to this day, getting rejected during a job interview, all the way to going around the UAE listening to stories to compile them in her book "Under the Ghaf Tree."

In this flavorful episode, we sit down with Chef Mariam Al Mansoori and Arada’s Chief Operating Officer to celebrate the grand opening of "Kashtat Amina" — a brand-new Emirati restaurant bringing soulful local cuisine to the heart of Aljada. Chef Mariam shares her passion for reviving traditional Emirati dishes with a modern twist, while the COO offers insight into how Arada is curating culturally rooted experiences that reflect the UAE’s evolving culinary scene. From the heartwarming story behind the restaurant's name to the community-driven vision fueling its creation, this is a delicious conversation you won’t want to miss! Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio

Sharjah Architecture Triennial announces Vyjayanthi Rao as curator of its third edition taking place in 2026 with Tau Tavengwa joining her as the associate curator. Together they talk to us about the upcoming Triennial and their plans as co-curators.

Pietro Pinetti, the CEO of Studio Bozzetto, and the artistic director of the Bergamo Animation Days and the Sharjah Animation Conference tells us about the vision behind the event and why it's needed in Sharjah and the region.

Tony Bancroft is a seasoned director, animator, and educator with over 30 years of experience in the animation industry, working with Disney, Sony and Warner Bros. But now he is an Animation Program director at Lipscomb University with a passion for teaching and a passion for speaking up against generative artificial animation.

We grew up watching Goku in Dragon Ball, Luffy in One Piece and Usage in Sailor Moon thanks to Toei Animation. Olfa Sakakibara, Producer at Toei Animation Europe, who is also an illustrator, and industry expert with 14 years of experience in the audiovisual industry, including a decade in Tokyo, gives us the behind the scenes at the anime studio and speaks all things anime.

Character designer and animator studied in CalArts and spent a major time of his career working with Disney Animation Studios, creating the likes of Mushu for Mulan and Iago for Aladdin. But all these years later, he started his own animation studio Pencilish Animation Studios, the first-ever crowd-invested animation company, which he states can go head to head as an indie studio with the "Big Guns."

Award-winning animator and character designer Sandro Cluezo tells us his story from his beginnings in Brazil, to working for Don Bluth on "Anastasia" and later with Disney Animation Studios; while also sharing his love for 2D animation as a lost art.

As the saying goes "The kids are alright," and Zahra is an example. She has set her goal to follow and preach the United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals, championing education especially.

The teenage brain appears as a mystery, but award-winning author Nicola Morgan demystifies this enigma through supporting teenagers, parents and professionals and understanding and building resilient minds.

Heifa Odeh's decided to share Palestinian food, and make it approachable to everyone so she started Fufu's Kitchen. Now her recipes ranges from traditional Middle Eastern food, to food catered for people with dietary restrictions and even keeping up with the trends.

While checking out books for her own kids, Syrian-American journalist Rhonda Roumani noticed a gap in the literary space in the US: she couldn't find enough books about her own Arab heritage, culture and background. So she set out on her own mission to write books not only for her own kids, but for all Arab kids in the diaspora.

Do you dream of publishing graphic novels or comics? Literary agent Janna Morishima, who specializes in graphic novels and visual storytelling and is also the founder of Kids Comics Unite, an online community and learning platform for graphic novel writers and artists, spills the details on how to get into the industry.

Award-winning Korean illustrator Ami Shin was bewitched by the cuteness of mice, so she put pen to paper and started a series of "silent picture" books inspired by her travels around the world, which have been translated into many languages. She explains the significance of silent picture books and the values she's trying to invoke through her unique style.

When Colleen Nelson started writing and eventually publishing her books, she had the best source of inspiration besides her creativity: her own students! As a teacher, mother, ex-librarian and someone who just enjoys reading all around, Colleen shares her adventures as an author, why she writes and why she decided not to write YA books.

Illustrators and writers usually work hand-in-hand, together. But what if you are both? Dora Wang tell us her journey as an illustrator, from doodling then creating Pocket Peaches and publishing the story, to working as a visual designer with the likes of Nickelodeon and Dream Works.

Missing her mom's cooking, Maha Kailani took to the internet to start documenting her recipes, starting "Make Delicious Happen", a blog dedicated to simplifying classic Middle Eastern recipes and eventually releasing the book "Yalla, Let’s Eat!"

Inspired by Dilbert and the Peanuts comics, Stephan Pastis grabbed his pencil and became friends with the 4-panel comic strip. Now, many stories, illustrations and books later, he speaks to us about his journey and love for illustration and even how he got his book "Timmy Failure" turned in to a movie on Disney.

The mind behind the wonderful adventures of the mouse Geronimo Stilton and his sister Tea Stilton, Elisabetta Dami, joins us to share her very own adventures into the creation of this series of stories and values she's trying to instill through her lively characters!

If there is someone who is an expert on getting your kids involved in cooking, it's Chef D himself! Chef Dario Stephen, Chef & Owner of Kids Can Cook, talks to us on his experience as someone who has worked with kids as young as toddlers all the way to teenagers in the kitchen, also shedding some lights on difficult things to navigate like picky eaters, allergies and food intolerances.

We already know that we don't exist in a void, because we live in a community whose well-being- whether we're aware of it or not- depends on us. But what about these systems that exist? And how can we teach our children about being socially responsible and "aware"? Award-winning author Linda Booth Sweeney is a systems educator, who shares her knowledge on how to navigate this conversation.

Want to start a podcast? Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) has got you covered with their newest fully-equipped Podcast Room. We got Obaid AlSuwaidi, Media Production Services Section Manager at SHAMS, and the brains behind the idea on Eyes On to give us all the details.

The Africa Institute in Sharjah, an entity of Global Studies University, organizes a "Country-Focused Season" as a way to start conversations on the continent, through various scopes, looking at its past, present and future. Associate Professor of African History Professor John Thabiti Willis joins us to talk about the latest season focusing on the African islands and territories bordering the Indian Ocean, and its latest symposium "Thinking the Archipelago: Africa’s Indian Ocean Islands."

Steven Bartlett knows a thing or two about being an entrepreneur, especially as a risk-taker. So what makes an entrepreneur? And when do you know how to stop and pivot or even drop everything and quit? Steven tells us all his ideas, especially when it comes expanding your abilities and becoming a better, more knowledgeable version of yourself.

After experiencing many cultures and mingling with the people, Rebecca decided that she wanted to share her stories in a book.

Chef Thuy realised that Vietnamese cuisine needs its moment, so she channels her memories of being in her grandmother's kitchen into her recipes and teaching other chefs.

Lawrence M. Krauss is an international Bestselling and Award-winning Theoretical Physicist, Cosmologist, and Author of twelve books, but most importantly, he's an advocate for open dialogue, free speech and space that allows everyone to learn and immerse themselves in science.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Ester didn't realize that she will get an opportunity to discover a passion and love for poetry, that she will eventually use as a voice for herself and other overseas Filipino workers.

What is "mindfulness"? For Dr. Lynn Rossy, it's not only being aware of your surroundings but also aware of your situation, being conscious and enjoying what you eat.

We have seen the word "Ayurveda" stamped on many ideas and items, making it difficult to pin down. Dr. Pratima Raichur, who grew up learning and being exposed to Ayurveda, clears up any misunderstandings on the traditional practice and explains how its connected to every layer of our body, especially the skin.

After losing her son suddenly, Kalsum Choudhry had to put on a brave face not only to prove that she is capable but also to the people around her. So following her late son's recommendations, she decides to publish a book of fables and stories for charity to honor his memory.

After surviving a painful accident, Brandy Gillmore went through an even more pain-filled journey to fight the damning prognosis the doctors gave her. Bit by bit, through research and reading, Brandy began to realize that she will need to exert power over her conscious and subconscious mind, beyond positive affirmations and hope to heal herself.

Iain Thomas started writing to process his emotions, with his words taking him on a journey towards discovering and loving the art of poetry.

How many thriller stories can you write set in an airplane? According to John J. Nance, quite a few. With over 30 years writing and even more as an army and a commercial pilot, John shares his tips on how to write about the things your passionate about.

Artificial Intelligence has been part of the conversation across many fields. A.I. expert and former McKinsey consultant and Chief AI Officer Pedro Uria-Recio goes beyond the present, talking about ideas that may appear rooted in science fiction but he sees as a reality we are walking towards.

Tahir Shah reminds us of the stories we grew up on, that inadvertently became his inspiration during his travels and across his non-fiction and fiction writing.

K.J. Howe takes her kidnappings so seriously, she went to a kidnapping conference. That's just how dedicated she is. Listen to her talk about her character Thea Paris, why she gave her a chronic illness, and why she became involved in ThrillerFest NY as an Executive Director.

Calling Tess Gerritsen a pioneer in the thriller genre is an understatement. Joining the Sharjah International Book Fair for another rendition of ThrillerFest, she talks all about her beginnings, sustaining the thrills and watching her characters Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles coming to life on TV.

What is it like working as an executive chef at a Michelin star restaurant? Chef Claude Godard, who comes from a legacy of chefs, talks us through his life as a chef and restaurateur, the importance of French cuisine in the culinary world and what's it like behind the scenes in the kitchen.

We have been translating books and documents for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In fact, it has been one of the main ways of sharing knowledge beyond the barrier of borders and language. Author and publisher Nour Arab alongside Robert Morgan, a publisher at BookLand Press, take us through their journeys with translation and why it is still needed and relevant in our modern day.

What is SAWA? And how much power do museums and their curators have? The General Director of the Sharjah Museums Authority, Aisha Deemas, shares not only the significance of the program, but its growth as she rose up the ranks in the authority.

Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi talks us through the significance of museums and why he has a soft spot for SAWA as a program beyond his capacity as the Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Government Relations.

SAWA's museums program is testament to the connections Sharjah has built with Germany, through the sharing of expertise, ideas and the love for museums. German Consul General Sybille Pfaff tells us all about how she feels about museums as platforms of knowledge and the friendships forged with Germany.

The Sharjah Museums Authority is hosting a special conference titled “SAWA: A Decade of Cross-Cultural Museum Learning” celebrating their museum studies program and their ongoing collaboration with Germany. Khawla Aqeel AlAwadhi, Head of the Museums Affairs Section at the Sharjah Museums Authority discusss this initiative that is designed to offer professional qualification and learning opportunities for emerging museum professionals.

According to World Cancer Research Fund, breast cancer is the 2nd most common cancer worldwide. But when it's detected early and in the localized stage, the survival rates can jump up to 99%. Badr Qasem Al Jaaidi, the Programs Manager at Friends of Cancer Patients talks all about their longstanding breast cancer awareness initiative the Pink Caravan, and all the services it offers to everyone.