Pulse 95 Live x Sharjah International Book Fair 2025

In this episode, recorded live at the Sharjah International Book Fair, we sit down with Sissy Papathanassiou—historian, author, theatre director, and Greece's Director of Literature and Letters at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on 95.00 FM or online at www.pulse95radio.net

Follow us on social media: @Pulse95Radio

#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #

Sissy Papathanassiou: Bridging Civilizations Through Greek Literature and Theatre

In this episode, Nikos Bakounakis, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture (HFBC), discusses Greece’s renewed literary vision and how the foundation is shaping the global reach of Greek publishing. From fostering translation and cultural exchange between Greece and the Arab world to integrating AI and augmented reality through “Phygital Readers,” Bakounakis explores how HFBC balances innovation with tradition. He also shares insights on the challenges facing the book industry today, lessons from Italy’s publishing model, and what defines the modern Greek literary brand for international audiences.

Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on 95.00 FM or online at www.pulse95radio.net

Follow us on social media: @Pulse95Radio

#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #

Nikos Bakounakis: The Future of Greek Literature and Global Publishing

In this episode, Dr. Julie Smith, clinical psychologist and bestselling author of Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, unpacks the everyday struggles that shape our mental health and how we can build resilience through self-awareness and compassion. She shares practical tools for managing emotions, developing emotional intelligence, and maintaining wellbeing through life’s ups and downs. Dr. Smith also discusses her recent book Open When: A Companion for Life’s Twists & Turns, exploring how empathy, education, and reading can help us better understand ourselves and others — and why small psychological habits can make the biggest difference.


Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on 95.00 FM or online at www.pulse95radio.net

Follow us on social media: @Pulse95Radio

#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SharjahBookAuthority #Onshur #PublishingInnovation #Pulse95Radio

Dr. Julie Smith: Understanding the Mind and Mastering Emotional Resilience

This episode features Fotilas Jason, Deputy Minister of Contemporary Culture of Greece, as he reflects on Greece’s role as the Guest of Honour at the Sharjah International Book Fair. He shares how the nation’s literary and publishing sectors are shaping modern Greek identity while honouring its ancient heritage. The conversation explores Greece’s approach to preserving language, fostering cross-cultural dialogue with the Arab world, and integrating sustainability into cultural events and publishing. Fotilas also discusses his long-term vision for Greece’s contemporary culture — one that connects tradition, innovation, and a global creative spirit.


Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on 95.00 FM or online at www.pulse95radio.net

Follow us on social media: @Pulse95Radio

#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SharjahBookAuthority #Onshur #PublishingInnovation #Pulse95Radio

Fotilas Jason: Redefining Greece’s Contemporary Cultural Identity

At just fifteen, Laiba Zeenath is already making her mark as a published poet. In this episode, she opens up about how her journey with poetry began, the inspirations behind her first verses, and the emotions and themes that drive her writing. Laiba reflects on how poetry has become both a creative outlet and a form of self-expression, offering insight into the books and poets who have shaped her voice. She also shares her hopes for greater support for young writers and what’s next in her journey as one of the UAE’s emerging literary talents.

Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on 95.00 FM or online at www.pulse95radio.net

Follow us on social media: @Pulse95Radio

#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SharjahBookAuthority #Onshur #PublishingInnovation #Pulse95Radio

Laiba Zeenath: The Voice of a New Generation in Poetry

In this episode, Omar Shahid Hamid — former police officer and acclaimed crime-fiction author — reflects on how years spent in Karachi’s counter-terrorism and law enforcement shaped his storytelling. From The Prisoner to The Party Worker, his novels explore the moral grey zones between justice, power, and survival. Hamid discusses how real-world violence and political corruption translate into fiction, why Karachi itself feels like a living character in his work, and how he balances authenticity with sensitivity when writing about the city’s underbelly. He also examines how South Asian crime narratives are evolving in the global literary scene, and what universal human truths lie beneath his stories of crime, loyalty, and redemption.

Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on 95.00 FM or online at www.pulse95radio.net

Follow us on social media: @Pulse95Radio

#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SharjahBookAuthority #Onshur #PublishingInnovation #Pulse95Radio

Omar Shahid Hamid: Crime, Conscience, and the Stories Behind the Badge

Pulse 95 Radio, an affiliate of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, is Sharjah’s first English radio station, featuring a diverse team of local and international presenters and a unique acoustic music format. Themed ‘The Heart of Sharjah,’ Pulse 95 is a fun, positive, feel-good, and light-talk radio station which brings listeners local and international stories, and showcases Sharjah’s rich cultural heritage and latest business developments.

Catch all our 'Pulse 95 Live' coverage from your favourite events.