The TWENTY30
New futuristic cities built from scratch. Giga-projects. Major sports investments. Trillions in spending. An economy and society changing so quickly even locals sometimes can’t believe their eyes. Saudi Arabia is on a mission to change itself from a conservative society with an oil-dominated economy to a modern and open society with a diversified economy - and to become a global tourism destination. Such a transformation has never before been attempted, and the stakes for the Middle East - and the world - are high. The TWENTY30 is a new media network and podcast that explores the seemingly endless dimensions of the social and economic transformations in Saudi Arabia, which few living outside the Kingdom can truly grasp. From the creator and co-host of The 966 Podcast comes a new platform that tackles the news, issues, challenges, and opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region as it continues forward in a full-throttle effort to remake itself while the world watches. Featuring exclusive interviews, frank conversations, and in-depth topic exploration, The TWENTY30 is the first bi-weekly english program of its kind dedicated to uncovering and highlighting the road ahead for Saudi Arabia and the region and why it matters. Hosted by Lucien Zeigler and Dr. Hanaa Almoaibed, The TWENTY30 is a new media network that will expand understanding of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region through real conversations, research, and insights on a variety of platforms.
Episodes
Monday May 13, 2024
Monday May 13, 2024
In Episode Seven, The TWENTY30 Co-hosts, Hanaa and Lucien record this week’s episode from opposite ends of the globe and share some fantastic feedback they received from some early listeners and well wishers!
Then, Hanaa kicks off Episode 7’s DEEPDIVE segment from Los Angeles where she joins The King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) students while they compete against 1700 students from around the world in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF 2024, the world’s largest pre-college STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) competition, taking place from May 11-17 .
Students from all over the Kingdom go through several judging rounds as part of a national competition called the National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, ‘Ibdaa’. Boys and girls from Riyadh to Rijal Alma, and from Khobar to Khamis Mushait come together to form a final team of 35 representing the Kingdom internationally.
The hosts then go on to discuss news, covering flying taxis for Hajj, visas and travel, and Saudis' relationship with money and spending.
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You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts@TheTwenty30.com.
The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.
©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.
Thursday May 09, 2024
Thursday May 09, 2024
The TWENTY30 Co-hosts, Hanaa and Lucien discuss the importance of swords and good sportsmanship as Hanaa’s son heads to a weekend fencing competition (good luck), One very important side benefit from the Kingdom’s expansion of competitive sports opportunities for young people!
Turning the heat down on a very hot topic, Lucien dives deep into the world of air conditioners, highlighting an incredible success story in the ‘Made in Saudi’ Vision 2030 journey. The DEEPDIVE segment each episode is where the hosts explore and discuss and share thoughts on a topic to paint a fuller picture for listeners and viewers. Lucien’s deep dive shows us how FDI is paying off as Saudi manufactures and exports air conditioners in unexpected ways. Saudi Arabia is now building the air conditioning chillers through a joint venture company with the Fortune500 Johnson Controls, founded in 1883 in the USA.
Their investment is now paying off as the Saudi factory is building air conditioners for the Saudi and regional market – but most interestingly, the KAEC (King Abdullah Economic City) based factory is now exporting these back to the USA to fill a supply gap!
The hosts then discuss key NEWS on Saudi – including defence collaboration between the US and Saudi, the launch of Beast House, Neom’s Sindalah island resort, and of course, golf – Lucien’s favourite.
Hanaa ends with a new Arabic word that will help Lucien and all the non-Arabic speaking listeners speak about unexpected life events.
Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show’s creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!
You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts |at| TheTwenty30.com.
Sunday May 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
The co-hosts of TWENTY30 catch up and discuss Lucien's recent hectic week spent in a hospital in Georgetown, Washington, DC.
Next, Hanaa Almoaibed adds her voice to the outpouring of deep condolences to the family of HRH Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsin, who died on May 4th, as well as condolences to her fellow Saudis and anyone whose lives he has touched.
HRH Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsin was the president of the Saudi Society for Culture and Arts since 1973. He was only 75 when he died in Paris after battling cancer. He was an intellectual and he had a deep seated love for literature and poetry.
His loss is felt widely in the Arabic-speaking world.
Hanaa notes that he had “this incredible ability to craft poetry that articulated the emotions of love and longing and feelings, in such a talented manner.”
Rest in peace.
Then, the co-hosts discuss some of the latest news, including BlackRocks big moves in Saudi Arabia recently, Dubai's incredible new airport plans, a China-based food delivery app entering the Saudi market, and more.
The hosts conclude with Hanaa's Arabic word of the day, one that could have benefited Lucien when in Riyadh last week.
Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show’s creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!
You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts |at| TheTwenty30.com.
The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.
©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Wednesday May 01, 2024
The TWENTY30 co-hosts meet up in Hanaa's adopted hometown of London for a special "live" recording of TheTWENTY30 for Episode 4 from studios in the neighborhood of Hackney. The hosts jump into a Deep Dive segment on the recently-announced Vision 2030 report card on the progress of the Vision.
Then, the hosts discuss a menu of excellence on all things Saudi Arabia, kicking off first with sports in the Kingdom and discuss camel racing, the WEF, and so much more from Saudi Arabia this week.
Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show’s creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!
You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts |at| TheTwenty30.com.
The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.
©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Kicking off the third episode of The TWENTY30, co-hosts Lucien and Hanaa consult a magic 8 ball, the famous toy, on how the forthcoming show is going to turn out — receiving a funny answer with which you hopefully disagree (inshallah).
Then, Hanaa kicks off Episode 3’s DEEPDIVE segment, highlighting a recent interview from Mohammed Al-Jadaan, which produced a number of interesting comments on a range of topics including income tax and VAT in Saudi Arabia, the importance of open communication between government leaders and the public, and much more. The segment is part of an ongoing effort by The TWENTY30 to bring to light media items that made waves in the Arabic world but which may have been overlooked by Western media and the English-speaking world.
The hosts round out the show as always with a discussion of some interesting recent news items, including Ronaldo’s hot temper and flooding across Arabia including shocking images from Dubai, the IMF setting up shop in Saudi Arabia, and more.
Programming note: on Wednesday, Lucien and Hanaa will publish Episode 4 from a LIVE recording in studio from London, UK, discussing Vision 2030’s “report card” and much more!
Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show’s creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!
You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts@TheTwenty30.com.
The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.
©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.
Tuesday Apr 23, 2024
Tuesday Apr 23, 2024
The show opens with The TWENTY30 co-hosts, Hanaa and Lucien, catching up and discussing the recently-concluded Eid holiday and traditions around it in Saudi Arabia, including a surprising one surrounding cash gifts that stirs Hanaa’s memories of being a child in Saudi Arabia and piques Lucien’s interest.
Then the hosts jump into the show’s DEEPDIVE segment, highlighting a top storyline or topic that people are talking about. Lucien and Hanaa will use the DEEPDIVE segment each episode to allow for an exploration and discussion of the topic, sharing thoughts and research to paint a fuller picture for listeners and viewers. This week the hosts discuss a recent report in the New York Times discussing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for AI, including for the Kingdom to become one of the largest AI investors in the world through a newly reported $40 billion through the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, which reportedly has discussed a potential partnership with Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms. The move would potentially thrust Saudi Arabia into a leading position globally in AI but also comes with risks.
After that discussion, The TWENTY30 welcomes onto its MAINSTAGE segment Ghada AlMuhanna, a Saudi media and visual anthropologist and cultural and media advisor who many will recognize through her work on social media through popular accounts discussing Saudi history and historical photographs and images. Ghada joins Hanaa from The TWENTY30 to introduce her monthly segment on Saudi Arabia’s history and culture, which will be called The 1727, and why she focuses on visual history of the Arabian peninsula.
The hosts round out the episode first with a discussion of some of the latest NEWS on Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region and lastly with Hanaa teaching Lucien an Arabic word for the day.
Like The TWENTY30? In just a few seconds, you can really help the show’s creators out. Please subscribe to the podcast, and if you can spare a minute, leave a review. Thank you!
You can also email the show’s hosts with their first names @TheTWENTY30.com or email Hosts |at| TheTwenty30.com.
The TWENTY30 Podcast is a production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, LLC.
©The TWENTY30. All rights reserved.
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
Sunday Apr 21, 2024
Join co-hosts Hanaa Almoaibed and Lucien Zeigler for the exciting launch of The TWENTY30 Podcast, a brand new bi-weekly show dedicated to exploring Saudi Arabia’s rapid and significant transformation right before the world’s eyes.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Introduction of Hanaa and Lucien, the seasoned podcasters behind The Twenty30 teaming up to provide the first ever show of its kind on Saudi Arabia in English
A short discussion of the Podcast's mission: Filling the gap in English-language podcasts about Saudi Arabia despite global hunger for authentic stories and insights into the Kingdom.
A sneak peek at what The Twenty30 has in store for future episodes, including: “Deep Dive” segments and discussions into topics, news stories, and issues that everyone wants to know more about
Exclusive interviews and conversations with changemakers and leaders driving Saudi Arabia’s transformation, including public sector and private sector leaders and executives
Regular Guest Contributors, including social media influencer Ghada AlMuhanna Abalkhail, Saudi Real Estate expert Faisal Durrani and others
Dedicated segments to the latest news and developments in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region
Exclusive translation and discussion of local Arabic interviews and news items undiscovered in the West
Discussions about Saudi Arabia’s economy, society, investments, culture, style, art, and entertainment - and life in a changing Saudi Arabia
The TWENTY30 Podcast is the flagship production of The TWENTY30 Media Group, a family of new podcasts and social media channels.
©The TWENTY30 Media Group. All rights reserved.