Claim OwnershipTalha Ahad Podcast
Subscribed: 50Played: 935
Subscribe
© Talha Ahad
Description
Welcome to Talha Ahad Podcast. It was journalism that brought me back to Islamabad from London in 2016. Over the last 6 years I have been privileged enough to meet with lots of interesting people from former PM Imran Khan, to Guantanamo Bay prisoners, to industry leaders, politicians, creatives and all kinds of people in between. The stories they shared off-screen were far more fascinating than the ones they told on screen.
I am Talha Ahad, an entrepreneur, journalist and documentary filmmaker. I am going on a journey to explore who people really are beyond the face they show to the world.
I am Talha Ahad, an entrepreneur, journalist and documentary filmmaker. I am going on a journey to explore who people really are beyond the face they show to the world.
182 Episodes
Reverse
Energy, intuition, and the pain that brings you closer to God.In this roundtable, three spiritual practitioners talk about the unseen world, clairvoyant visions and energy reading. We also navigate heartbreak, trauma, and karmic cycles. Alizay, Tooba, and Hammad get candid about the loneliness of healers, the clients who come with black magic fears, and why true healing is rarely pretty.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talhaahadroundtable
"AIK", the first of its kind in Pakistan, is set to revolutionize the way we think about banking. But what does it mean? Is it a strategy? A promise? A secret code for success?In this episode, we asked Ashfaque Ahmed, Chief Officer of Aik by Bank Islami, about it… and the answer might surprise you.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #ashfaqueahmed #aik #bankislami
A former Chief of Naval Staff, a seasoned journalist, and a university student sit down on Talha's roundtable to reflect on a single, powerful question: What does independence truly mean in Pakistan? Then, now, and in the future. Different generations. Different views. But one question: Where is Pakistan headed? This is not your typical Independence Day conversation.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talhaahadroundtable
What changes when someone who's spent years navigating Pakistan’s tech and startup chaos ends up at one of the world’s most powerful tech companies?In this episode, Saad Hamid joins us to talk about that shift, from hustle culture to high-performance environments, from chasing money to chasing meaning, and from building for survival to building with intention.We dive into the failures that teach you more than success ever could, the pivots that force you to grow, and how AI is no longer just a buzzword; it’s now in your hands to solve real problems in your own life.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #saadhamid
One year after his first appearance, Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza returns for an exclusive podcast.We spoke about what’s changed since then, the reaction to his previous episode, the evolving political landscape, his views on free speech, military narratives, and how public perception has shifted over time.This is a follow-up conversation that picks up right where we left off and answers a lot that was left unsaid.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #engineermuhammadalimirza
Why do we wait for a breakdown to finally ask for help?In a culture that romanticises pain and shames softness, mental health becomes either aesthetic or alien. Dr Farah Qadir, Khayyam Sajid, and Nawal Ahmed talk about growing up without emotional language, being “functional” despite anxiety, and the irony of seeking validation in healing spaces.This roundtable is a deep dive into our desi discomfort with vulnerability, validation, and value.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #khayyamsajid #drfarahqadir
Why did Sarwat Gilani walk away from TV dramas at the peak of her career?In this conversation, Sarwat opens up about her aristocratic roots, artistic childhood, and the code of ethics she carries into every room. From turning down regressive roles to calling out the hypocrisy of performative activism in entertainment, Sarwat takes us deep into the politics, power dynamics, and quiet courage it takes to stand alone in an industry that doesn’t reward resistance. She also shares the story behind Churails, her rejection of Cake, and the friendships in the media industry. This episode is about values, voice, vision, and the cost of staying true to them all.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #sarwatgilani
Maria Memon has been on your screen for nearly two decades, as a journalist, anchor, and one of the few female faces who held her ground in a polarising media landscape. But behind the screen presence is a story of constant evolution.In this episode, she opens up about her complicated love-hate relationship with the media industry. She talks about how growing up under societal pressure shaped her, how propaganda now poisons digital storytelling, and what it means to be a woman constantly navigating scrutiny, online abuse, and impossible expectations. She calls out media giants and shares how therapy saved her from emotional burnout.If you’ve ever questioned the media, felt suffocated by social noise, or needed permission to slow down, this episode will hit home.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #mariamemon
They left Pakistan. Built new lives. Created companies. Found stability. But no matter where they go, Pakistan keeps showing up in the guilt, in the pride, in the conversations that never really end. In this roundtable, three diaspora voices, Saad Hashmani, Chaudhry Ayaz, and Uzair Hasan, sit down not just to talk about business or identity, but about what it means to still care about a country that keeps pushing you away. They question the weight of patriotism, the emotional tax of caring, and what it means to succeed abroad while still being rooted to home.This is about the invisible thread that ties every Pakistani back to the land they thought they left behind.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahad talhaahadpodcast #saadhashmani #chaudhryayaz #uzairhasan
Is journalism still journalism when it’s bought and sold?Behind the glitz of primetime lies a broken system: unpaid staff, Syed Talat Hussain collapsing newsrooms, and journalists struggling to survive. gives a raw, insider look into the structural collapse of Pakistan’s media landscape. We talk about financial insecurity, political interference, and why truth-telling has become a luxury.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talathussain
Why are Pakistan’s most promising founders giving up and moving out?This week, we sit down with Mubariz Siddiqui, founder of Carbon Law and legal advisor to some of Pakistan’s biggest startups, to discuss the country's broken startup ecosystem. From regulatory loopholes and crypto bans to policy failures and the brain drain, Mubariz shares the inside view on how the startup wave rose after 2016, and why it’s crashing hard now.He talks about:➡️ The flawed obsession with "hustle culture"➡️ Why smart talent is leaving Pakistan, and he can’t blame them?➡️ The missed opportunities in crypto, AI, and tech.➡️ Why governments that don’t understand information-era economies will keep failing their people?If you’ve ever wondered why it feels so hard to build something in Pakistan, this one’s for you.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #mubarizsiddiqui #carbonlaw
“Do I love Pakistan enough to die for it? No.”Shehzad Ghias has been called everything: traitor, atheist, sellout, hero. In this week’s episode, the host of The Pakistan Experience joins us to talk about the mental toll of cancel culture, the loneliness behind viral fame, and why he’s no longer sure if it’s safe to live or speak freely in Pakistan.He opens up about public backlash, blasphemy accusations, and the terrifying reality of being targeted online. In a country where jokes can land you in jail, Shehzad asks what’s left when humour becomes a liability, and whether it’s even possible to do political comedy in a place where artists must choose between truth and survival.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #shehzadghias #thepakistanexperience
Fame, ego, and the grind behind the camera. What really goes into making it as a creator in Pakistan, and why it’s harder than it looks.In this episode, Irfan Junejo and Kazi Akber get honest about gatekeeping, mainstream egos, chasing perfection, and surviving a world where numbers matter more than craft. From awkward encounters with celebrities to finding meaning in a noisy digital space, this conversation goes where most don’t.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahadpodcast #talhaahad #irfanjunejo #kaziakber
What does it take to build an empire when no one gives you a roadmap?In this episode, Sultana Siddiqui, the force behind HUM, talks about starting from scratch, fighting nepotism, and carving out space for women when the industry refused to make room.From working in a garage to launching one of South Asia’s biggest entertainment channels, she reflects on loss, resilience, and why teaching the next generation is her biggest mission. We also explore the state of Pakistani media, its obsession with saas-bahu sagas, and why she still believes in creating stories that matter.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #sultanasiddiqui
What if the biggest battles weren’t fought with guns, but with whispers?In this episode of the Talha Ahad Podcast, Ali K. Chishti, counter-terrorism expert and author, takes us into the unseen corridors of intelligence. From the tangled roots of Al‑Qaeda and the Taliban, to the covert games of RAW and ISI, Ali exposes how espionage shapes borders, politics, and perceptions.If you’ve ever wondered how intelligence, terror, and statecraft collide, this is the episode you can’t miss.Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on 22nd February 2025.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #alikchishti
More than fame, Saad Hashmani wants to be understood.In this week’s podcast, the Pakistani-American businessman opens up about the illness that changed his life, the trap of online fame, and why he walks out of award shows but shows up at funerals.We talk power, ego, influencer silence on Palestine, and how Pakistan is losing the war of narratives to India. Saad breaks down toxic motivation culture, the politics of money, and what he’d do as a “dictator” to fix the youth.He weighs in on the establishment, Shahid Anwar, and what it really means to have influence in today’s Pakistan.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #saadhashmani
What’s it really like growing up as a Black or African-identifying person in Pakistan?In this episode of TAP Into, content creator Abdullah Maroof , entrepreneur and talent strategist Abiola, and social media influencer Nawafil aka Fils unpack what most people are too awkward to even ask.From microaggressions in schools to double takes in taxis, and how they’ve carved out space in a culture that wasn’t built with them in mind.If you think racism “isn’t really a thing here,” this one’s a must-watch.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #abdullahmaroof #abiola #nawafil
What if Pakistan’s climate crisis isn’t just about emissions, but about the flawed data we’re submitting to the world?In this episode, Dr. Fahad Saeed, Senior Climate Scientist, breaks down the alarming gaps in Pakistan’s official climate strategy, from typos in United Nations reports to calling Quetta our hottest zone.We unpack how bad research, clueless foreign consultants, and a broken knowledge system are shaping policies that miss the mark.We talk institutional failure, climate justice, media responsibility, and why fixing our climate future starts with getting the facts right.This podcast is in collaboration with the British Council Pakistan.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #drfahadsaeed
Electricity in Pakistan is more than just power generation—it’s a complex web of regulation, taxation, and infrastructure. Muhammad Aamir Ghaziani, Chief Financial Officer at KElectric , joins us to unpack the Multi-Year Tariff framework, the role of NEPRA, and why nearly 40% of your bill isn’t even electricity. If you've ever looked at your bill and wondered, “Why am I paying so much?”, this one's for you.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #kelectric #muhammadaamirghaziani
What does self-worth have to do with development?Everything, says Mohamed Yahya, UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan. In this episode, we explore the invisible roots of gender inequality, the silent complicity of society, and why men must be part of the solution. Yahya unpacks what real inclusion looks like, why storytelling is a development tool, and how optimism might just be Pakistan’s most underrated resource.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #mohamedyahya
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States