THE LIGHTHOUSE CONVERSATIONS

Conversations with people who live between cultures and make things — founders, designers, chefs, artists, the occasional novelist. Mostly from the Middle East. Recorded at The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, hosted by Hashem Montasser. No sponsors.

Featured episodes

47 min | September 8, 2026

Episode #99: El Primo’s Jonathan Colin on trading 10 years in fine dining for a taco place & the supper club that paid for it
56 min | June 4, 2026

EPISODE #98: Hani AlMalki on Dubai’s F&B reset, credibility over clout, and a restaurant career built without a restaurant. 
53 min | April 1, 2026

Episode #97: Karim Awad on leading EFG Hermes mid-revolution, a decade of building, and why legacy is measured by what remains after you leave.
67 min | April 16, 2025

Episode #91: Abdullah Alajaji on Spotting Market Gaps and Playing the Long Game in Real Estate
47 min | March 7, 2025

Episode #90: Chef Salam Dakkak on Honoring Her Mother's Lega...
53 Min | April 29, 2024

Episode #82: Elie Khouri on career pivots, art...
41 Min | October 19, 2023

Episode #76: Hassan Sheheryar Yassin on starting from zero, overcoming failure, and a chance meeting with William and Kate.
54 Min | May 25, 2023

Episode #71: Natasha Sideris on ambition, balance as a restaurateur, and why Greece is off the table.
47 Min | November 17, 2022

Episode #61: Bokja founders Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri on storytelling and staying ahead of trends.
All episodes

The Lighthouse Conversations

Episode #99: El Primo’s Jonathan Colin on trading 10 years in fine dining for a taco place & the supper club that paid for it

Episode #99: El Primo’s Jonathan Colin on tradi...

47 min |
Episode #98: Hani AlMalki — aka Bedouinfoodie — returns to podcast for a second sit-down, and it lands nothing like the first.

Episode #98: Hani AlMalki — aka Bedouinfoodie —...

56 min |
Episode #97: Karim Awad on leading EFG Hermes mid-revolution, a decade of building, and why legacy is measured by what remains after you leave.

Episode #97: Karim Awad on leading EFG Hermes m...

53 min |
Episode #96: Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte on the Soul of Space and Collectible Design.

Episode #96: Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte on the...

50 min |
Episode #95: Hashem reflects on 2025 and what it actually took to open two restaurants in Riyadh within a single year.

Episode #95: Hashem reflects on 2025 and what i...

44 min |
Episode #94: Lynn Hazim on turning passion into purpose through Middle Child, a restaurant born from creativity, courage, and self-expression.

Episode #94: Lynn Hazim on turning passion into...

42 min |
               
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