
Think of her as a modern-day Renaissance person, with an insatiable appetite for creativity and an unwavering passion for human evolution. With a solid foundation in event management and leadership, Elly began her career at Red Bull, learning from the best in the industry for five years. Drawing on that expertise, she went on to launch her own entertainment agency, La Gota Entertainment, along side her wellness festival, ChinChinTalu, which allows her to cultivate human connection.
Nov 20, 2023
42 min

Aaliyah Nooru is an author, speaker, and Holistic transformation specialist. She helps heal, align, and elevate individuals by helping them to connect to their inner being and discern their inner voice,
by merging and simplifying modern science and ancient wisdom.
Her technique on manifestation and reality creation reminds you of the power you have within you.
You can find more of her on Instagram @aaliyahnooru
Nov 12, 2023
1 hr 1 min

Reed is a performing Flow and movement artist, communications consultant, and sustainable fashion designer from the Adyghe Republic based in Dubai.
Having been born in Aleppo, Syria, raised in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and studied between UAE and Cyprus, Reed is the textbook definition of a third culture kid (TCK). This in turn has made her most curious about the dots that make up our collective human experience; what it means to “belong” to a place or a people, and how to express that in a way that others can connect with.
Coupled with her upbringing, her academic background in International Relations, anthropology, cultural studies, and psychology, has been instrumental to her 10-year career in Social and Digital Marketing and Communications in UAE and Saudi Arabia.
In 2015, while dealing with rough times in her personal and professional life, she came to learn about Flow State and Flow Arts and she was immediately hooked. She taught herself the basic techniques of several flow props, improved tremendously, especially during quarantine, and continues to learn new ways to improve every day. Reed enjoys fusing her dance, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi training into stories told through movement. She has since performed at some of the largest venues in the UAE.
Since 2018, Reed has delivered over two dozen workshops and talks about Flow Arts and Flow State to children, adults, and corporations alike.
She is the founder of Coven Dubai and Coven KSA, an award-winning artist collective and the largest group of fire and light artists in the Middle East. The collective performed the first and only fire show at Expo2020 and won first place during “Win The Crowd” on ADTV last December.
Her vision behind the collective is training and empowering local and regional Flow Artists and performers, in collaboration with world-class acts and performers. For the purpose of telling unforgettable stories through jaw-dropping effects and stunts, relevant to the Middle East and true to its heritage and culture.
Reed is also the owner and designer of sustainable festival fashion brand; Inspyre Apparel+, creating one-of-a-kind magical statement wear mindful of the weather conditions of the GCC and catering to the tastes of young festival goers in the region.
Currently based between Dubai and Riyadh, you can find her on Instagram (and sometimes on TikTok) at @reedelrium with links to her ventures on her page.
Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation about the stories we like to tell ourselves with Reed.
Oct 12, 2023
1 hr 23 min

Valentina, an accomplished psychologist and artist, has seamlessly integrated her dual expertise into the realm of art therapy, catering to women of diverse backgrounds and ages. Her literary journey commences with the compelling book "For Her," the inaugural installment of a trilogy that will be complemented by "For Him" and "For Them."
The genesis of "For Her" extends far back in time, its roots entrenched in the lives of three generations of women who nurtured Valentina within the rich traditions of her cultural and social heritage. With the tapestry of marriage, relocations, and the profound experience of childbirth, Valentina found herself grappling with fundamental questions about the world she was born into, prompting her to explore alternate perspectives and continuous personal growth.
Her quest for self-discovery encompassed a diverse array of endeavors, from psychological training and meditation to theta healing, yoga, vipassana, extrasensory perception, veganism, and an insatiable appetite for literature on women. She discovered that many of these sources provided only fragmented insights, akin to isolated puzzle pieces. It was only after several years of introspection that a complete picture began to crystallize in her mind, a perspective she now eagerly desires to share with others.
Valentina's journey is an enduring one, an ongoing odyssey with no foreseeable endpoint. Yet, she finds solace and fulfillment in traversing this path, building a community of like-minded women. Together, they are forging a system where women can liberate themselves from societal stereotypes and constraints, emerging as individuals who authentically embrace life.
Based on a lifetime of observations and personal experiences, Valentina firmly believes that, regardless of one's circumstances, age, or social standing, cultivating spiritual and mental resilience is indispensable for navigating life's inevitable trials and tribulations. Her source of strength isn't rooted in experience or status, but rather in her unwavering commitment—to gather the strength needed for progress and self-fulfillment. She extends her hand particularly to those commencing their journeys, eager to provide guidance and support.
Valentina's deeply held conviction is that a woman's power emanates from nurturing her soul and connecting with her true nature. In a world fraught with challenges and injustices, she advocates for the nourishment of the soul, maintaining unwavering faith in oneself. Instead of turning to external forces for solutions, Valentina emphasizes the practice of mindfulness, a continual and introspective endeavor that empowers women to navigate their paths without becoming entangled in esoteric distractions.
Above all, Valentina reminds us that a woman embodies energy, an energy that can be harnessed primarily for self-betterment. In her words, it's an energy directed inward, a journey of self-discovery and empowerment that doesn't rely on external interventions but draws strength from the depths of one's soul.
Oct 6, 2023
57 min
