Conversations with Ricardo Karam

Today, Ricardo sits down with Amin Maalouf for a very special conversation. Amin Maalouf is described as one of the Arab world's most influential writers, weaves extraordinary tales in his novels, mixing historical events, romantic love, fantasy, and imagination. A Lebanese writer who lives in France and writes in French, Maalouf explores fundamental problems of identity, the pressures of religion and nationality, and the concerns and values of different cultures in the Middle East, Africa, and the Mediterranean world. In this episode, he talks about his own origins, his inspiration and his views on the Arab world today. Take a listen.

Today Ricardo brings to you a conversation he had with HRH Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan. Ricardo visited Prince at his wonderful home right outside of Amman. Prince Ali was of course born into the Jordanian royal family - his father was the King Hussein of Jordan and his mother was Queen Alia of Jordan. But Prince Ali is not your typical prince - he is a modernist, an advocate for progress and change. He proved that during his time at FIFA as he was one of a number of FIFA officials to call for the publication of the Garcia Report into allegations of corruption. Not only that he successfully championed the lifting of FIFA's ban on the hijab in women's football.

Ricardo sits down with Ramzi Haidamus a Lebanese-American who left the shores of Lebanon during the civil war for San Francisco. There he pursued both a bachelors and masters in electrical engineering and then he built a career of dreams. He worked at Dolby for 17 years, and became Executive Vice President. Then to the surprise of so many he quit his job to spend more quiet time with his family. He rejoined the workforce in 2014, he became President of Nokia Technologies then President and CEO of Immersion Corporation, the leading innovator of touch feedback technology. Ramzi tells us his a story: a story of immigration, of success, of hard work, of risk aking, of family and love.

In this episode, Ricardo sits down with Baria Alamuddin for a very special conversation. Baria Alamuddin is an outspoken, award-winning political journalist from Lebanon. She has been making waves in the media world for many decades and is best known in the Middle East, the US, and the UK for talking tough with cultural icons, heads of state, and religious leaders till she was dubbed as the "Well of Secrets." Memorably, she was also the last journalist to interview Prime Minister Indira Gandhi before her assassination in 1984. Beyond her career, she is a wife, a mother, and the mother in law of George Clooney.

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In this podcast episode, we embark into the world Talal Chatawi, a prominent Lebanese writer and journalist, who rose to prominence as the youngest editor-in-chief in Lebanon, assuming the role at the renowned Lebanese weekly magazine "Al-Hasnaa" during only his second year of study at the Faculty of Mass Communication. Transitioning fluidly between various media platforms, Chatawi made his mark on radio, hosting a program under the direction of the late Layal Rahbani, daughter of the iconic Assi Rahbani and Fairouz. His journey in broadcasting led him to talk shows and television, notably spearheading the acclaimed "Open Night" program. With a penchant for storytelling, Chatawi eventually turned his focus to writing, producing a collection of compelling works ranging from memoirs to novels. Among his notable publications is "The Time of Ziad," a poignant reflection on a bygone era that resonates with readers longing for nostalgia.
Stay tuned for more updates on Talal Chatawi's captivating
literary journey and impactful contributions to journalism.
في هذه الحلقة البودكاستية، نلتقي طلال شتوي، الكاتب والصحفي اللبناني البارز، الذي صعد إلى الصدارة باعتباره أصغر رئيس تحرير في لبنان، حيث تولى دور المجلة الأسبوعية اللبنانية الشهيرة "الحسناء" خلال سنته الدراسية الثانية فقط في كلية الإعلام.انتقل بسلاسة بين مختلف المنصات الإعلامية، وترك بصمته على الراديو، حيث قدّم برنامجاً تحت إشراف الراحلة ليال الرحباني، ابنة عاصي الرحباني وفيروز. قادته رحلته في مجال البث إلى البرامج الحوارية والتلفزيونية، وكان أبرزها قيادة برنامج "الليل المفتوح" الشهير.ومع ولعه بسرد القصص، حوّل شتوي تركيزه في النهاية إلى الكتابة، وأنتج مجموعة من الأعمال الجذابة التي تتراوح بين المذكرات والروايات. من بين منشوراته البارزة "زمن زياد"، وهو تأمّل مؤثّر في حقبة ماضية يتردد صداه لدى القراء الذين يتوقون إلى الحنين إلى الماضي.