Waystations

The Case for Reading

Reading is in decline, though we are seeing a bit of a revival amongst some youth, who are rejecting the lure of social media and returning to books and board games. But they are a minority. With the decline of reading, one could argue our ability to hold in-depth thoughtful quality laden conversations is also diminishing, as our vocabulary becomes smaller, and so our imagination withers.   Perhaps the loss of reading is having an impact on our ability to function as human beings. In this episode we focus on what reading can do for you. Book recommendations: How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler Flowers for Algernon (1959) by Daniel Keys  About the hosts: Walead Mosaad is an internationally recognized scholar in Islamic studies and human development. His academic and traditional training has accorded him the opportunity to work with communities worldwide as a teacher and project driver. He has completed degrees from Rutgers University and Fath Islamic Seminary in Damascus. He received his PhD from the University of Exeter in Arab and Islamic Studies, and was also classically trained at the Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Chair and Scholar-in-Residence of Sabeel Community. He has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world, as well as Europe and the Far East, delivering lectures on various topics, including spirituality, ethics and intercultural peace building. https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad [https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad]    Rehan Khan is a professor of leadership and novelist. He is an advocate for virtue-based storytelling as well as leading with a moral lens. Over 30 years Rehan has advised several global and regional brands. As an adjunct professor he teaches post-graduate courses in AI and the Future of Work, as well as Leadership: A Moral Perspective, and Personal Influence at one of the world’s leading international business schools. He is a keen observer of history and techno-science. Rehan is the author of a Tomb of Empires (2024) a historical fiction set in 90BC in the Middle East, the Carnegie nominated A Tudor Turk trilogy (2019-2022) set in the Ottoman Empire and Tudor England, and the fantasy sci-fi series, Tales of Khayaal (2025) set on the Earth like planet of Ikleel. These gripping stories also ask readers to consider the role of virtue within the human story. www.rehankhan.com [http://www.rehankhan.com]  and www.talesofkhayaal.com [http://www.talesofkhayaal.com]

Calligraphy and Entrepreneurship with Muhammed Mekki

In this fascinating episode we are joined by Dr Muhammed Mekki, to talk about calligraphy and entrepreneurship. Two topics that you would not normally associate with one another. This is essential listening for all entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders, as to how by having a craft mindset they can better at what they do. Book recommendations: The Cosmic Script by by Ahmed Moustafa and Stefan Sperl Horses Never Lie by Mark Rashid How Much Land Does One Man Need by Leo Tolstoy About the guest speaker:  Dr Muhammed Mekki is an entrepreneur and academic. He is currently a Founding Partner at AstroLabs, a corporate services company that enables Gulf expansion. To date, AstroLabs has supported over 2,000 global ventures to set up and grow in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. In 2011, Muhammed co-founded e-commerce company Namshi, which eventually became one of the earliest venture-backed exits in the Middle Eastern startup ecosystem with its acquisition by Emaar Malls. He is an advisor to Saudi-based Khwarizmi Ventures and has served on the boards of several tech startups. Muhammed is on the faculty at London Business School where he teaches courses on entrepreneurial leadership and digital business across the MBA degree program and executive education. Additionally, he teaches entrepreneurship as part of the faculty of Baghdad Business School. Muhammed has a PhD in innovation and entrepreneurship from SOAS, an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and completed his undergraduate studies at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Dubai, UAE with his family and is an Islamic calligrapher-in-training, studying in the traditional Ottoman method under Master Calligrapher Ferhat Kurlu. About the hosts: Walead Mosaad is an internationally recognized scholar in Islamic studies and human development. His academic and traditional training has accorded him the opportunity to work with communities worldwide as a teacher and project driver. He has completed degrees from Rutgers University and Fath Islamic Seminary in Damascus. He received his PhD from the University of Exeter in Arab and Islamic Studies, and was also classically trained at the Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Chair and Scholar-in-Residence of Sabeel Community. He has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world, as well as Europe and the Far East, delivering lectures on various topics, including spirituality, ethics and intercultural peace building. https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad [https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad]    Rehan Khan is a professor of leadership and novelist. He is an advocate for virtue-based storytelling as well as leading with a moral lens. Over 30 years Rehan has advised several global and regional brands. As an adjunct professor he teaches post-graduate courses in AI and the Future of Work, as well as Leadership: A Moral Perspective, and Personal Influence at one of the world’s leading international business schools. He is a keen observer of history and techno-science. Rehan is the author of a Tomb of Empires (2024) a historical fiction set in 90BC in the Middle East, the Carnegie nominated A Tudor Turk trilogy (2019-2022) set in the Ottoman Empire and Tudor England, and the fantasy sci-fi series, Tales of Khayaal (2025) set on the Earth like planet of Ikleel. These gripping stories also ask readers to consider the role of virtue within the human story. www.rehankhan.com [http://www.rehankhan.com] and www.talesofkhayaal.com [http://www.talesofkhayaal.com]

Mood Swings

We have all experienced how the mood of one person can rub off on others — particularly if they’re leaders, managers, supervisors, head of a family, or generally someone who has influence on others. For example the bosses mood percolates across all the employees.  One person effects several, who in-turn may affect several more, and so before you know it the bad mood of one person may ripple out to a dozen. In this episode we look at mood swings, their impact, and how can we learn to better regulate these.  Book recommendations: The Marvels of the Heart by Al Ghazali The Secret Garden (1911) by Frances Hodgson Burnett About the hosts: Walead Mosaad is an internationally recognized scholar in Islamic studies and human development. His academic and traditional training has accorded him the opportunity to work with communities worldwide as a teacher and project driver. He has completed degrees from Rutgers University and Fath Islamic Seminary in Damascus. He received his PhD from the University of Exeter in Arab and Islamic Studies, and was also classically trained at the Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Chair and Scholar-in-Residence of Sabeel Community. He has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world, as well as Europe and the Far East, delivering lectures on various topics, including spirituality, ethics and intercultural peace building. https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad [https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad]   Rehan Khan is a professor of leadership and novelist. He is an advocate for virtue-based storytelling as well as leading with a moral lens. Over 30 years Rehan has advised several global and regional brands. As an adjunct professor he teaches post-graduate courses in AI and the Future of Work, as well as Leadership: A Moral Perspective, and Personal Influence at one of the world’s leading international business schools. He is a keen observer of history and techno-science. Rehan is the author of a Tomb of Empires (2024) a historical fiction set in 90BC in the Middle East, the Carnegie nominated A Tudor Turk trilogy (2019-2022) set in the Ottoman Empire and Tudor England, and the fantasy sci-fi series, Tales of Khayaal (2025) set on the Earth like planet of Ikleel. These gripping stories also ask readers to consider the role of virtue within the human story. www.rehankhan.com [http://www.rehankhan.com]  and www.talesofkhayaal.com [http://www.talesofkhayaal.com]

Walking with Intention

Sacred scriptures, and the literary works spawned by them, are full of images of paths and passages, of wandering and wayfaring. Many other traditions speak of a path, often straight and narrow, and warn of roadblocks, such as of one’s own pride.  In this episode we speak about walking with intention and also reflect on a recent 200km walk we undertook across desert and mountain.  Book recommendations: Walden by Henry David Thoreau  The Fellowship of the Ring by J R R Tolkien About the hosts: Walead Mosaad is an internationally recognized scholar in Islamic studies and human development. His academic and traditional training has accorded him the opportunity to work with communities worldwide as a teacher and project driver. He has completed degrees from Rutgers University and Fath Islamic Seminary in Damascus. He received his PhD from the University of Exeter in Arab and Islamic Studies, and was also classically trained at the Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Chair and Scholar-in-Residence of Sabeel Community. He has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world, as well as Europe and the Far East, delivering lectures on various topics, including spirituality, ethics and intercultural peace building. https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad [https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad]  Rehan Khan is a professor of leadership and novelist. He is an advocate for virtue-based storytelling as well as leading with a moral lens. Over 30 years Rehan has advised several global and regional brands. As an adjunct professor he teaches post-graduate courses in AI and the Future of Work, as well as Leadership: A Moral Perspective, and Personal Influence at one of the world’s leading international business schools. He is a keen observer of history and techno-science. Rehan is the author of a Tomb of Empires (2024) a historical fiction set in 90BC in the Middle East, the Carnegie nominated A Tudor Turk trilogy (2019-2022) set in the Ottoman Empire and Tudor England, and the fantasy sci-fi series, Tales of Khayaal (2025) set on the Earth like planet of Ikleel. These gripping stories also ask readers to consider the role of virtue within the human story. www.rehankhan.com [http://www.rehankhan.com] and www.talesofkhayaal.com [http://www.talesofkhayaal.com]

Heart of Design with Peter Gould

In this episode we speak with Peter Gould about his design journey and discovering a spiritual path. We discuss why design needs to have spiritual aspirations and how these can be applied.  Book recommendations: * Design for the Real World by Victor Papanek * Ruined by Design by Mike Monteiro * Al-Maqsad al-Asna fi Sharh Ma'ani Asma' Allah al-Husna (The Best Means in Explaining the Beautiful Names of God) by Imam Al Ghazali * What is Art? by Leo Tolstoy About the guest: Peter Gould is a renowned designer, entrepreneur, and pioneer of heart-centered design leadership. For over 20 years he has advised clients from product teams at Apple and Google to emerging startup founders. His popular online programs and recent bestselling book, The Heart of Design, helps align spiritual aspirations and strategic design principles. This unique approach has impacted thousands of professionals and hundreds of teams on their path to living and designing for remembrance, in an age of ‘design for distraction’. Peter is a recipient of the Stanford Certificate of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, winner of international awards, an Ambassador for UN Refugees and lives in Australia . His mission is to nurture a global like-hearted movement that empowers the design-led, heart-centered future. https://peter-gould.com/ [https://peter-gould.com/]   About the hosts: Walead Mosaad is an internationally recognized scholar in Islamic studies and human development. His academic and traditional training has accorded him the opportunity to work with communities worldwide as a teacher and project driver. He has completed degrees from Rutgers University and Fath Islamic Seminary in Damascus. He received his PhD from the University of Exeter in Arab and Islamic Studies, and was also classically trained at the Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Chair and Scholar-in-Residence of Sabeel Community. He has traveled extensively throughout the Muslim world, as well as Europe and the Far East, delivering lectures on various topics, including spirituality, ethics and intercultural peace building. https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad [https://www.sabeelcommunity.org/walead-mohammed-mosaad]    Rehan Khan is a thought-leader, professor, and novelist. He is an advocate for virtue-based storytelling as well as leading with a moral lens. Over 30 years Rehan has advised several global and regional brands. As an adjunct professor he teaches post-graduate courses in AI and the Future of Work, as well as Leadership: A Moral Perspective, and Personal Influence at one of the world’s leading international business schools. He is a keen observer of history and techno-science. Rehan is the author of a Tomb of Empires (2024) a historical fiction set in 90BC in the Middle East, the Carnegie nominated A Tudor Turk trilogy (2019-2022) set in the Ottoman Empire and Tudor England, and the fantasy sci-fi series, Tales of Khayaal (2025) set on the Earth like planet of Ikleel. These gripping stories also ask readers to consider the role of virtue within the human story. www.rehankhan.com [http://www.rehankhan.com] and www.talesofkhayaal.com [http://www.talesofkhayaal.com]