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.

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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.

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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.


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#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.


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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.

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

Laiba Zeenath: The Voice of a New Generation in Poetry

Live from the Sharjah International Book Fair, we sit down with Paul Lynch — the Booker Prize–winning author of Prophet Song — to talk about storytelling in turbulent times, writing with empathy, and how fiction can help us confront fear without losing our humanity.

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Fiction, Freedom, and Fear - A Conversation with Booker Prize Winner Paul Lynch

From Kingston to Sharjah, award-winning Jamaican author and filmmaker Marcus Bird joins us live at the Sharjah International Book Fair to talk about storytelling across borders. We dive into culture, identity, and how fiction and film can capture the rhythm of modern life — raw, global, and deeply human.

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Global Voices, Local Roots - Marcus Bird on the Power of Story

From Law & Order to Pretty Little Liars, acclaimed TV writer and novelist Matt Witten joins us live from the Sharjah International Book Fair to talk about the craft of writing for screen and page. He shares insights from his workshop Five and a Half Steps to Pilot Writing Success, the art of storytelling that hooks an audience, and how thrillers translate from novels to television.

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Writing for the Screen - Matt Witten on Story, Suspense, and Success

Join us for a conversation with Mahra Al Qasir, Official Spokesperson of the House of Wisdom, as she takes us through their exhibition at the Sharjah International Book Fair. Discover the centuries-old intellectual dialogue between Arab and Greek civilizations through rare manuscripts, including the first printed edition of Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine. A fascinating journey through philosophy, science, and shared heritage.

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

Mahra Al Qasir from House of Wisdom on Arab-Greek Knowledge Exchange at SIBF 2025

Join us for an inspiring conversation with bestselling author Shirley Jump as she shares her journey through romance, inspirational fiction, and mentorship. From balancing humor with emotional depth to crafting authentic characters in books like The Bride Wore Chocolate, Shirley opens up about her creative process, the evolution of her career, and the advice she gives aspiring writers. Discover what shaped her as a storyteller and what's next for this prolific author.

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

Shirley Jump on Writing with Heart and Humor

This episode features Payal Arora, digital anthropologist and author of The Next Billion Users: Digital Life Beyond the West. She explores how people in the Global South are reshaping the way we think about technology, innovation, and inclusion. From challenging Western tech myths to designing more equitable digital futures, Arora shares insights from decades of fieldwork and her upcoming book From Pessimism to Promise. She discusses the intersection of gender, labour, and digital platforms through her FemLab initiative, and highlights lessons the Middle East and North Africa can draw from emerging markets. Engaging, insightful, and forward-looking — this conversation redefines what it means to create technology for everyone.

Payal Arora: Rethinking Technology Through the Eyes of the Global South

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.

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

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

This episode features Eman Bin Shaiba, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets at the Sharjah Book Authority, discussing Onshur — a groundbreaking initiative reshaping the future of publishing in the Arab world. She unpacks the three pillars of Onshur — Launch, Scale, and Disrupt — and how they’re designed to empower publishers at every stage, from start-ups to global expansion. Eman explores how technology, innovation, and sustainability are redefining Arabic-language publishing, and what it takes to build a lasting, future-ready ecosystem. She also shares her vision for Onshur’s legacy — one that champions creativity, cultural exchange, and long-term impact across the region’s literary landscape.

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

Eman Bin Shaiba: Transforming the Arab Publishing Future with Onshur

This episode features Chef Wissam Kahi, co-founder of Eat Offbeat, a social-impact catering company that celebrates refugee and immigrant chefs by bringing their authentic recipes to global audiences. He shares how food can tell powerful human stories — much like literature — and how each dish becomes a bridge between cultures, memories, and identities. Chef Wissam reflects on the intersection of storytelling, design, and inclusivity across the culinary and publishing worlds, revealing how his own heritage and experiences shape his creative philosophy. From childhood recipes to life-changing dishes, this conversation explores how cuisine, like books, has the power to connect hearts, preserve heritage, and inspire empathy across borders.

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Chef Wissam Kahi: Storytelling Through Food and the Power of Shared Heritage

At the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, New Zealand-based author Ashia Ismail-Singer brings her signature “global kitchen” to life — where flavours from Africa, India, and Europe meet in a heartfelt celebration of her Memon heritage. In this episode, she talks about her latest cookbook Food for Sharing, and how food becomes a story of migration, belonging, and memory. From her crowd-favourite Parmesan-crumbed paneer with hot honey to reflections on cultural identity and comfort, Ashia shares how simple dishes can transcend borders and connect people through shared experience.
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Ashia Ismail-Singer: Blending Cultures and Comfort Through Food

As Sharjah Public Libraries marks 100 years of nurturing a love for books, Eman Bushlaibi, the library network’s Director, reflects on how libraries have evolved from quiet reading rooms into dynamic hubs for learning, innovation, and community connection. She discusses the transformation toward digital infrastructure, inclusivity for all residents, and the library’s growing role in shaping youth education and career choices. Eman also explores how Sharjah’s century-long commitment to literacy continues to guide its vision for the future — where libraries remain both timeless sanctuaries for readers and forward-looking spaces for knowledge and sustainability.

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#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SharjahPublicLibraries #EmanBushlaibi #KnowledgeHub #ReadingCulture #Sustainability #Pulse95Radio

Eman Bushlaibi: A Century of Libraries and the Future of Knowledge in Sharjah

In this episode, Majd Al Shehhi, Director of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Association (ERRA), highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property and fostering a culture of respect for authors’ rights. Speaking from the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, she explains how ERRA works to ensure fair compensation for writers and publishers, strengthen partnerships with educational institutions, and promote awareness of reprographic rights across the UAE. Majd also discusses the Association’s future vision — building a sustainable digital framework to manage licences and safeguard creative works — and why rights awareness is essential to sustaining creativity and empowering the region’s literary community.

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#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #ERRA #MajdAlShehhi #AuthorsRights #IntellectualProperty #PublishingInnovation #Pulse95Radio

Majd Al Shehhi: Protecting Creativity and Authors’ Rights with ERRA

In this episode, Susana Villasuso, Mexican chef and author of Sobremesa, shares how food can bridge cultures, languages, and generations. Speaking from the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, she explores the meaning of “sobremesa” — the Mexican tradition of staying at the table long after the meal — and how that spirit of connection translates globally. Susana reflects on her culinary journey from her grandmother’s kitchen in Mexico to her life in London, balancing authenticity with innovation while introducing the world to the true depth of Mexican cuisine. She also offers insights for aspiring Arab chefs and writers hoping to publish their own cookbooks, and reminds listeners why food remains one of the most powerful expressions of memory, identity, and love.

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#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SusanaVillasuso #Sobremesa #MexicanCuisine #CulinaryStories #CulturalHeritage #Pulse95Radio

Susana Villasuso: Bringing the Spirit of Mexico to the World’s Table

In this episode, Armen Adamjan — the creator behind viral eco-hack videos and author of Don’t Throw It Out! — shares how a single lockdown video on regrowing scallions sparked a global movement. With over 26 million followers and billions of views, Armen opens up about the creative process behind his fast-paced, educational content and the real secrets to staying ahead of ever-changing social media algorithms. He reflects on his journey from working behind the camera to becoming a full-time creator, the challenges of turning short-form content into a bestselling book, and the habits that helped him build a loyal global audience. Armen also offers practical advice for aspiring creators afraid of judgment, and reveals what’s next in his mission to make sustainability fun, accessible, and viral.
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Armen Adamjan: From Viral Hacks to Building a Global Creative Brand

In this episode, Tamer Said, Director of the Sharjah Literary Agency, introduces the mission and vision behind the first Emirati agency dedicated to representing Arab writers on the world stage. He explains how the agency bridges the gap between local authors and international publishers, helping protect intellectual property rights and turning powerful Arabic stories into global literary and cinematic successes. Tamer discusses the difference between self-publishing and agency representation, the professional advantages writers gain through expert guidance, and how the agency is reshaping the future of Arabic literature through translation, global rights deals, and cultural collaboration.

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#SharjahInternationalBookFair #SIBF2025 #SharjahLiteraryAgency #TamerSaid #ArabicLiterature #PublishingIndustry #WritersJourney #Pulse95Radio

Tamer Said: Taking Arabic Literature to the Global Stage with the Sharjah Literary Agency

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.

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