Podcast
Talha Ahad Podcast
Hosted by Talha Ahad · UR
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.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Exposure to the UK Changes Your Identity as a Pakistani? | Roundtable | Ep21
Feb 1701:21:58Tap to summarizeIn this special UK Roundtable, Pakistani voices living in the UK unpack identity, belief, and the impact of stepping outside everything you were taught. From religious tolerance and colonial legacies to curriculum, culture shock, and life between Pakistan and London, this episode explores how exposure reshapes who we are.Featuring:• Talha Umer Rajput – President, Pakistan Society CULC• Momina Ashraf – Communications Practitioner• Shahzina Malik – Research Consultant• Haris Mahmood – Design Researcher & Content CreatorSearch ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talhaahadroundtable
Transcribe →Pakistani Chef Cooking for Hollywood Stars & Netflix | Talha Ahad Podcast | Saliha Khan Sadozai | Ep194
Feb 1000:58:34Tap to summarizeFrom cooking for Netflix, Soho House, and private international icons to reimagining how Pakistani flavors are experienced abroad, Saliha Khan Sadozai isn’t just serving meals; she’s reshaping narratives.In this conversation, Saliha shares how food became her medium for storytelling, representation, and advocacy. She fights for the people of Kashmir through food, using ingredients, memory, and culinary craft to keep their story present at global tables.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #salihakhansadozai
Transcribe →How Is Gen Z Changing Food Trends And Brand Strategy In Pakistan? | Badar Yousuf | Talha Ahad Podcast | Ep193
Feb 1000:46:22Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Badar Yousuf, Chief Financial Officer at National Foods Limited, shares how Pakistani food brands compete on international shelves and what it takes to stand out among global players. He talks about why today’s competition is brand versus brand, and how a clear identity, innovation, and strong taste help brands win.The conversation also looks at how Gen Z is changing food habits in Pakistan, why convenience and variety matter more than ever, and how AI, when used carefully in backend processes, can support smarter growth. At its core, this episode is about building global food brands from Pakistan with the right mindset, strategy, and decisions.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #nationalfoods
Transcribe →Why Do People Find God After Losing Everything? | Roundtable | Episode 20
Feb 1001:47:11Tap to summarizeIn this raw, unfiltered episode, Talha sits down with Fahad Malik, Zeeshan Shafqat Malik, and Sheikh Sajawal for a conversation that goes where most podcasts won’t: friendship under pressure, hard work that goes unnoticed, faith in moments of doubt, and the loneliness behind ambition. They debate Gen-Z, social media illusions, ego, integrity, money, growth, and why values matter more when no one is watching.From business and burnout to God, kindness, and real relationships, nothing is rehearsed, and nothing is polished. If you’ve ever felt stuck, misunderstood, or tired of pretending, this episode is for you.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talhaahadroundtable
Transcribe →What Brands Really Want From Content Creators (Inside Secrets) | Farzana Baduel | Talha Ahad Podcast | Ep192
Feb 300:48:30Tap to summarizeWhen the system isn’t built for you, what does it really take to break in and stay there?In this episode, we sit down with Farzana Baduel, one of the UK’s most respected PR experts, to examine how influence is built when access is never handed to you.Growing up British Pakistani in a hostile Britain and founding a PR firm without elite networks, Farzana reflects on power, exclusion, and the unspoken rules that shape who gets heard.The conversation also cuts through racism, women in PR, and the hollow performance of “thought leadership".Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #farzanabaduel
Transcribe →A Conversation with Imran Khan’s Closest Friend | Sahibzada Amir Jahangir | Talha Ahad Podcast | Ep 191
Feb 101:22:14Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Sahibzada Amir Jahangir, a former advisor and decades-long confidant, reflects on a side of Imran Khan that few have truly seen. From private moments in the UK to decisions made under immense power and pressure, the episode reveals how faith, humility, and an uncompromising moral line shaped him long before politics, and why those same traits became inconvenient once he entered power.It revisits the rise of PTI, the role of the establishment, and the internal resistance that quietly stalled change in Pakistan.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #sahibzadaamirjahangir
Transcribe →Is This the Only Guide You Need to Build a Successful Business This Year? | Roundtable | Ep19
Jan 2100:57:46Tap to summarizeAre you ready to build a business that actually lasts?In this roundtable episode, leaders from Wafi Energy Pakistan Ltd ( Shell License) share grounded insights on what it truly takes to turn ideas into real impact. From founder mindset to execution, discipline, and long-term thinking, the conversation goes beyond surface-level entrepreneurship talk.This isn’t hype or motivation. It’s a clear, honest look at how young businesses grow, the skills that separate builders from dreamers, and why guidance and the right connections matter just as much as ambition.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talhaahadroundtable #shell
Transcribe →Pakistan Ready for New Electric Vehicle (NEV) Revolution? | Danish Khaliq | Talha Ahad Podcast | Ep190
Jan 2100:40:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Danish Khaliq, Vice President Sales and Strategy at BYD Pakistan, takes us behind the scenes of bringing new electric vehicles (NEVs) to Pakistan. From floods, delays, and tough roads to winning the trust of drivers, he shares the real challenges and surprising successes of introducing something new to the streets.If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to change how Pakistan drives, this conversation is a must-watch.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #byd #bydpakistan
Transcribe →Understanding Pakistan’s Oil & Energy Sector - CEO PARCO Gunvor Limited | Asif Iqbal | Talha Ahad Podcast | Episode 189
Jan 601:03:30Tap to summarizePakistan’s energy sector sits at the intersection of policy, infrastructure, and long-term planning.In this episode, I sat down with the CEO of PARCO Gunvor Limited to understand how Pakistan’s oil and energy ecosystem actually functions, from refining capacity and supply chains to the structural challenges that impact energy security and economic stability.This conversation focuses on realities rather than rhetoric, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and what needs sustained attention if Pakistan is to build a more resilient energy future.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #asifiqbal #parcogunvor
Transcribe →Why Pakistan’s Education System Is Failing Students and Youth? | Roundtable | Episode 18
Dec 2900:57:44Tap to summarizeWhat are we getting wrong in education today?In this roundtable, Talha Ahad is joined by Ms. Kaneez Zehra (Executive Director, SAQE), Urwa Naeem (Senior Program Officer, SAQE), and Ms. Gulmina Bilal (Chairperson, NAVTTC) to unpack how rote learning, digital misinformation, and outdated systems are producing workers instead of thinkers.The discussion explores social media, AI, media literacy, mentorship, and skills-based education. As Pakistan’s youth remain our greatest asset, the question remains: are we preparing them to think, or just to work?SAQE is a not-for-profit committed to evidence-based policy advocacy efforts to institutionalize free and compulsory education. Through its flagship network, the Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE), SAQE has been actively engaging grassroots communities on critical education issues since 2005, with an outreach that spans 65 districts and over 1500 Union Councils.Search ‘Talha Ahad Podcast' on YouTube, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.#talhaahad #talhaahadpodcast #talhaahadroundtable
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