This episode is brought to you by Brooke Bond Red label! In this episode, we bring together creators from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to unpack what it means to be South Asian, together and apart. From biryani debates to marriage pressure, language barriers to chai traditions, we explore the shared roots and striking differences that shape each country’s identity.Topics include colorism, family dynamics, gender expectations, accents, food culture, and the impact of immigration, all thr...
Jul 06, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode, we explore fatherhood, identity, and what it means to stay in a broken system. Topics include raising kids abroad, desi marriages falling apart, men’s mental health, public pressure, cancel culture, and doing business in Pakistan — all through the lens of Junaid Akram’s unapologetically honest perspective.
Jun 12, 2025•2 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, we explore parallel universes, reincarnation, and the nature of our thoughts. Topics include self-awareness, the struggle to sit with your mind, finding purpose, craving attention, and Gen Z’s growing interest in spirituality.
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, we explore the realities of modern relationships, what causes breakups, gender roles, and mental health. We discuss divorce rates, societal expectations in brown families, long-distance love, and the ideal age for marriage across cultures.
May 26, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, we discuss how it is like living in Canada with Mo Amir, host of Vancolour in British Columbia, Canada. He discusses about everyday life, his experience as a Pakistani immigrant in Canada, racism, and cultural practices.
May 19, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this episode, we discuss how life is like in china with Hannah, a multimillionaire businesswoman in China. She discusses how relationships, everyday life, technology, and cultural practices are like in the country compared to the West.Follow Karak With Mahreen for more meaningful conversations on life, identity, and culture with fascinating individuals.
May 18, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 51
This International Worker’s Day, we got the opportunity to talk to Talha, an incredible Careem Captain who is balancing his intense work with social media. He dreams to be a business man and buy a BMW for his best friend. We talked about his life, experiences, earnings, and challenges as a Careem driver. Shout-out to the real ones, the workers who wake up early, hustle hard, and keep everything running behind the scenes. You build, carry, clean, fix, and move the world forward. We see you. We ap...
May 18, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, Parul Gulati, actress and founder of Nish Hair, shares her journey from the entertainment industry to building her own business. She talks about growing up in a culture with strong family values, the challenges of independence for women, and how her background shaped her career choices. Parul also opens up about the realities of the entertainment world, discussing whether TV actors are treated unfairly and revealing the truth about Shark Tank! Beyond acting, she dives into the b...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this episode, Dr. Nabila Ismail, a licensed pharmacist turned travel content creator, shares her incredible journey of quitting her stable healthcare job to explore the world. She opens up about navigating stereotypes, traveling solo as a Pakistani-American woman, and her transformative trip to Pakistan after a 10-year gap. From the unique Kalash Valley to exploring places even her family in Pakistan had never visited, she experiences the country in a whole new way. We also dive into the chal...
Feb 26, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode, Martin Al-Masri, founder of the House of Victor, shares his inspiring journey of coming to Dubai and building one of the city’s leading fashion brands. He talks about his deep connection to Dubai, the discipline and opportunities it offers, and the life lessons he’s learned along the way. Martin dives into the difference between old money and new money, the art of filtering the right people in your life, and why timing and energy are crucial for success. He also reflects on navi...
Jan 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, Shayoon, an entrepreneur and healer, shares her inspiring journey of building a healing center while balancing life between Kenya and the UAE. She talks about the importance of reconnecting with nature, sustainable living, and raising children with conscious values. Shayoon opens up about her own healing journey, overcoming trauma through spirituality, and how it deepened her connection to her faith. She also sheds light on the dark realities of the internet, sharing her work in...
Jan 18, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this episode, Leila shares her experience growing up as an Iranian-American after 9/11 and how it shaped perceptions of Middle Easterners. Leila talks about the misconceptions surrounding Islam and its surprising similarities to Christianity and Judaism. She also explains the difference between race and ethnicity, showing how these ideas are viewed differently in the West and the East. Grab your Karak and join us for a powerful conversation on identity, religion, and culture!
Jan 04, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode, Gabriel shares his journey of moving from Brazil to Dubai as a teenager and how his perspective of the city transformed after experiencing it firsthand. He opens up about his travels to Pakistan, especially the breathtaking northern areas, and his take on the food, hygiene, and cultural differences.We also dive into racism within South Asian communities, the contrast between life in the USA and the UAE, and the similarities between Islam and Christianity despite the hate they so...
Dec 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, Manpreet Kaur, a successful real estate agent and social media influencer, shares her inspiring journey from a small village in Punjab to building a thriving career in Dubai. She opens up about the challenges of breaking cultural norms, the struggles of being a financially independent woman, and the resilience that defines Punjabis worldwide. Manpreet dives into the deep-rooted stereotypes about women in South Asian societies, the importance of education, and how financial indep...
Dec 21, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode, Misha Akbar, founder of Sama Health, shares her personal mental health journey and how it inspired her to create a platform for culturally relevant therapy for South Asians in the UAE. She discusses the deep rooted stigma surrounding mental health in South Asian cultures, the lack of awareness about postpartum depression, and the guilt often placed on mothers. Misha also addresses generational communication gaps, the pressures of collectivist societies, and the need to normalize...
Dec 07, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 42
This episode is brought to you by Amazon.ae. Don't miss out on the Amazon White Friday Sale happening this November from the 21st to 30th. BUT if you're a Prime Member, you get earlier access to all the discounts on the 20th. It's Amazon's BIGGEST sale of the year. Check it out now: https://www.amazon.ae/whitefriday?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wfs24-retail-influencer-na-mahreenmunir-ae-podcast3-na-21 In this episode of "Shopping the Desi Way," Mahreen welcomes Rutavi Mehta to talk about the unique an...
Nov 27, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 3
This episode is brought to you by Amazon.ae. Don't miss out on the Amazon White Friday Sale happening this November from the 21st to 30th. BUT if you're a Prime Member, you get earlier access to all the discounts on the 20th. It's Amazon's BIGGEST sale of the year. Check it out now: https://www.amazon.ae/whitefriday?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wfs24-retail-influencer-na-mahreenmunir-ae-podcast2-na-21 In this episode of "Shopping the Desi Way," we dive into fun and relatable shopping habits with Juman...
Nov 21, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 2
This episode is brought to you by Amazon.ae. Don't miss out on the Amazon White Friday Sale happening this November from the 21st to 30th. BUT if you're a Prime Member, you get earlier access to all the discounts on the 20th. It's Amazon's BIGGEST sale of the year. Check it out now: https://www.amazon.ae/whitefriday?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wfs24-retail-influencer-na-mahreenmunir-ae-podcast1-na-21 In this episode, I sat down with Priti Malik to explore the quirks of Desi shopping culture. We share...
Nov 18, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In this episode, Wilonda, founder of The Brush Spa in Dubai, dives into her journey from Haiti to the UAE. She opens up about embracing her Caribbean heritage, the challenges of building a beauty business, and the impact of social media on body image and eating disorders. She also discusses the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards and subtle racism that often goes unnoticed. Tune in for a powerful discussion on beauty, culture, and the unique experiences of life in Dubai.
Nov 03, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, Keith Pereña, a Filipino journalist in the UAE, shares his inspiring journey from selling pens at trade shows to interviewing top personalities like Olympic medalists and Miss Universe. Keith talks about his family’s move to Dubai, Work life in the UAE, Linguistic racism, Filipino expats in the UAE, Similarities between Emirati and Filipino culture, and the challenges expats face. He also touches on media’s role in connecting cultures and navigating his identity while working at...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this episode, Umar Punjabi dives into his personal journey of making money at 10, experiencing homelessness, and enduring an abusive father. He shares how the constant violence led him to hallucinate fights, and how cultural views on divorce made it harder to escape the situation. Umar also talks about the religious bias he's observed, where people selectively preach what benefits them. He believes that instead of therapy, success is the key to overcoming life's struggles. Grab your karak and...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Join Sahil Sajan as he explores the complexities of managing a family business and the pressure to meet family expectations. He candidly discusses growing up in a South Asian household, the privilege of inheriting a business, and the importance of working hard to earn that privilege. Sahil also reflects on his parents' expectations and how it stems from their care for his safety and success. The episode also touches on whether it's better to join the family business or start from scratch, and th...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode, Ahmed, the founder of Aqua Fun, shares his journey from bankruptcy and legal battles to building the world’s largest inflatable water park in Dubai. He dives deep into the cultural differences between the UAE and the West, and whether there’s a real divide between Emiratis and expats. Ahmed also explores the challenges and positives of living in Dubai, the blend of tradition and modern life, and the importance of tolerance and respect in a diverse society. Join us for an honest ...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this episode, Manisha Chhabra, the founder of Numaish, shares how she built one of the UAE's biggest fashion exhibitions, empowering over 2,000 designers and promoting South Asian culture. She talks about the power of financial independence for women, turning exhibitions into a new way to shop, and keeping traditional fashion alive. Manisha also dives into her own journey, breaking down barriers, finding fresh talent, and creating a legacy. Grab your Karak and join us for an inspiring convers...
Sep 01, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode, Mariah Al-Idrisi shares her story as a Moroccan-Pakistani growing up in the UK. She talks about being the first hijabi model and how it changed the fashion industry. Mariah discusses the rise of Islamophobia, judgment within the Muslim community, and the importance of real media representation. Grab your Karak and listen in for an engaging conversation!
Aug 02, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this episode, Shadia Siddiqui, host of "What's Brown Got to Do With It," shares her journey. She talks about growing up with an Indian father and Pakistani mother in the UK, facing racism, and dealing with strict cultural norms. Shadia discusses how immigrant families hold onto old values while their home countries evolve and how her modern family helped her embrace her culture. She highlights her diverse friend groups, the influence of her open-minded father, and the evolving attitudes of ne...
Jul 09, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Join Mahreen in this enlightening episode as she converses with Priti Malik, a charismatic radio host from Dubai, renowned for her vibrant presence on the Kris Fade Show. She opens up about the challenges she faced in the media industry, confronting stereotypes, and advocating for greater cultural representation. Priti also shares heartfelt stories about her family's impact on her life choices, her experiences navigating an interfaith marriage, and her ongoing commitment to celebrating her cultu...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode, Dr. Hasia, the creator of Doctor's Dose, shares her journey of building a global skincare brand. She talks about the power of mindset, positive energy, and manifesting dreams. Dr. Hasia also discusses her love for makeup, fashion, and dressing up, and how she defied the stereotype that nerds can't be fashionable by excelling academically while embracing her girly side. She shares her experience moving from the UK to Dubai, the cultural adjustments, and rapidly building her busin...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this episode Layla talks about entitlement, feminism, and the impact of Western culture on society. She talks about tackling entitlement in social media, shares her unique perspective on feminism versus typical Western views, and discusses how Western norms broadly influence people's behaviors and beliefs. This episode focuses on the complexities of embracing personal values against the backdrop of global ideologies. Grab your Karak and join us for a thoughtful conversation
May 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode, Umer talks about starting a creative hub in Dubai and dealing with mental health challenges. He reflects on how creativity has deeply influenced his life, supported by his family. Umer also dives into the changing social and cultural norms in Pakistan, discussing how attitudes towards mental health are improving, the challenges of old expectations, and how these changes impact personal identity and society. Grab your karak and join us for an inspiring discussion on creativity, i...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 29
