Episode 5: The BJJ Black Belt - From Fencing to opening a Jiu Jitsu Gym

Episode 6 : The Surfing Trail Runner

n this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Gusthavo, a Brazilian surf instructor and lifeguard who left a small beach town called Balneário Camboriú in Santa Catarina, Brazil, for Lisbon, learned English in Dublin with €250 to his name, and found his way to the Azores and then Ericeira. From becoming a lifeguard to teaching surf and winning his first long distance trail race, he traces a journey built on two things his parents weren't sure about. They also talk about what it feels like to go back home and find nothing has changed, running 50 kilometres in the Dolomites having never run that distance before, and what it's like to want to quit at kilometre 20 and you still have over 30 kilometres to go. Follow Gusthavo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gusthavosimas/ [https://www.instagram.com/gusthavosimas/] Surf with him in Ericeira: https://mellowmove.com/en/ [https://mellowmove.com/en/] Support a local small business in the Azores: https://www.azoresgarden.com/ [https://www.azoresgarden.com/] 00:00 Growing Up in Santa Catarina 03:26 Becoming a Lifeguard 12:35 Why He Left Brazil 14:23 The Two Things His Parents Weren't Sure About 15:23 Moving to Portugal in 2018 18:40 Seven Months in Dublin 21:28 Getting to the Azores 25:30 On Taking the Leap 31:32 Working to Live 32:41 Going Back to Brazil 35:34 Life on the Island 37:36 Friends Who Stayed, Friends Who Left 42:31 Moving to Ericeira 47:54 On Teaching Surfing 55:44 The Most Common Mistake Beginners Make 1:02:03 How Trail Running Started 1:05:29 Deciding to Run Lavaredo 1:07:14 His First 50K 1:11:41 Winning His First Race 1:13:42 On the Mental Side of Trail Running 1:18:42 A Story About Nearly Quitting 1:23:11 How He Trains 1:27:28 Where He'd Go — Surf and Trail 1:31:02 On Taking Opportunities The Majlis Podcast is about craft, physical presence, and unconventional paths. Subscribe for new episodes.

Episode 5: The BJJ Black Belt - From Fencing to opening a Jiu Jitsu Gym

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Scout — a BJJ black belt, former competitive fencer, and co-founder of Alcateia Jiu Jitsu in Zurich. She traces her path from burning out of fencing at 19, to walking alone into her first BJJ class, to opening a gym with her husband Lucas. They also talk about the reality check of running a small business, and what it means to slow down when someone else becomes the priority. 00:00 Before the Mat — Fencing, Five Years Old  02:38 November 2017 — First BJJ Class  04:22 Burnout at 19  08:27 Let Them Have Fun First  11:27 Nearly Quit, A Lot of Times  14:36 Advice for Men Rolling with Women  17:28 What to Look For in a Gym  20:18 Two Weeks to Open  26:52 The Reality Check Nobody Warns You About  31:02 A Place to Be Vulnerable  33:23 Airplane Mode — Competition Mindset  38:05 It's Normal to Be Nervous  42:12 Don't Stop  45:00 Surprise, You're Gonna Be a Dad

Episode 4: The Ecotourism Builder - From Brazil’s Eco-Lodges to São Tomé’s Wild Frontiers

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits with Bastien Loloum, an ecotourism builder whose path led him from Brazil’s early eco-lodges to a life rooted in São Tomé. What began as a one-year volunteer mission turned into decades of living, working, and building alongside nature and community — from sea turtle conservation and national parks to farming, vanilla, and quiet tourism far from the beaten path. A conversation about patience, responsibility, and what it really means to grow with a place rather than extract from it. Pull up a seat — you’re welcome in the Majlis. 00:42 Introduction 01:00 Leaving Home With No Plan 03:33 Brazil Changed My Life 09:45 When Tourism Destroys Paradise 13:48 Why I Rejected a Normal Career 16:15 The Country I Didn’t Know Existed 21:00 Building Tourism Before Tourists 28:55 Inside a Hidden Ecosystem 38:00 One Year Became a Lifetime 40:45 A small Deal That Changed Everything 57:40 What Most Travelers Get Wrong About Ecotourism Stay on Bastien’s Farm VANHA Plantation Bungalow https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/684077743332900612 [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/684077743332900612] VANHA Cottage at the Farm https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/567012024464664974 [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/567012024464664974] The Jams Delícias das Ilhas — Jams, spices & local products from São Tomé https://deliciasdasilhas.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html [https://deliciasdasilhas.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html] Support São Tomé’s NGOs Programa Tatô — Sea turtle conservation and community engagement across São Tomé https://en.programatato.org/ [https://en.programatato.org/] Fundação Príncipe (Príncipe Trust) — Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development on Príncipe Island https://www.programmeppi.org/en/beneficiaire/fpt-fundacao-principe-trust/ [https://www.programmeppi.org/en/beneficiaire/fpt-fundacao-principe-trust/] More Reading Ahmed’s blog post: São Tomé, January 2026 https://ahmedwarreth.com/travel-log/the-island-you-probably-never-heard-aboutsonbsptom [https://ahmedwarreth.com/travel-log/the-island-you-probably-never-heard-aboutsonbsptom]

Episode 3: The Electrician : From Screens to Sockets

In this episode of Majlis, Ahmed sits down with Vinny, who left a tech support job and started over as a first-year apprentice electrician. He shares what pushed him to make the change, how fast it all happened, and what life looks like now on a busy industrial site — from early starts and safety culture to learning on the job with zero ego. They also talk about transferable skills from tech, making mistakes without fear, and Vinny’s growing respect (and renewed fear) of electricity. 00:00 The Transition from Tech to Trade 03:35 Finding Purpose in Hands-On Work 08:20 Navigating the Job Application Process 13:31 Mental Health and Career Change 16:09 First Week as an Apprentice 19:15 Transferable Skills from IT to Electrical Work 21:14 Daily Structure on a Construction Site 24:14 Navigating the Apprenticeship Journey 26:45 Cultural Shifts in Construction 29:06 Women in Trades: Progress and Challenges 30:26 Home Renovation: Learning Through Experience 34:16 Safety First: Lessons from Mistakes 36:34 Respecting Electricity: A Newfound Awareness 39:33 Investing in Quality Tools 44:38 Reflections on Growth and Sharing Experiences

Episode 2: The Craftsman - From Swiss Farms to Carpentry & Craft

Ahmed and Leo trace Leo’s path from a tool-filled barn in Herrliberg to a life built around making things in wood—starting with early projects like the Adirondack chair and the nerves of “selling your first real piece.” They unpack Switzerland’s apprenticeship culture, including farm life (living with your boss) and how that responsibility shaped Leo’s mindset. The conversation turns into a love letter to craft: why wood feels different than steel, why every board has a “personality,” and what makes work worth being proud of. 00:00 From barn curiosity to real projects 03:08 How it started : first build 07:21 The “be happy during the day” philosophy 08:46 Apprenticeships: freedom to pivot without panic 12:27 Farm life: long hours, different families, real growth 17:45 Canada: independence, culture shock, big-country energy 19:35 Becoming a carpenter: the exam + leveling up 24:28 Materials & meaning: wood, longevity, tools, and craft 35:49 Inspiration and Future Aspirations