On Purpose with Jay Shetty - Simi & Haze ON: Keeping a Beginner’s Mind & Communicating Effectively in any Relationship

Episode Date: December 20, 2021

Simi and Haze Khadra chat with Jay Shetty about using the influence they have built together over the years and the experiences they’ve had while living in different countries, they are very vocal about humanitarian oppression the world is not fully seeing, continuous learning through books and proper education, and creating a brand that aims to support inclusion and diversity.Simi & Haze, Khadra also known as the fashion duo called Simi & Haze, are of Palestinian descent, born in Saudi Arabia, raised in London, attended high school in Dubai, and majored in film production & fine art in which they both graduated in the top two-percent of their class. The celebrity DJ duo continues to perform at festivals and has a strong social media presence. They recently launched their very own beauty brand called SIMIHAZE Beauty.Get your copy of Think Like a Monk today by clicking this link!https://thinklikeamonkbook.com/Episode Resources:Simi and Haze Khadra | WebsiteSimi and Haze Khadra | InstagramSimi and Haze Khadra | TwitterSimi and Haze Khadra | PinterestLike this show? Please leave us a review here - even one sentence helps! Post a screenshot of you listening on Instagram & tag us so we can thank you personally!Achieve success in every area of your life with Jay Shetty’s Genius Community. Join over 10,000 members taking their holistic well-being to the next level today, at https://shetty.cc/OnPurposeGeniusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm Jay Shetty and on my podcast on purpose, I've had the honor to sit down with some of the most incredible hearts and minds on the planet. Oprah, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Hart, Louis Hamilton, and many, many more. On this podcast, you get to hear the raw real-life stories behind their journeys and the tools they used, the books they read, and the people that made a difference in their lives so that they can make a difference in hours. Listen to on purpose with Jay Shetty on the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Join the journey soon. What if you could tell the whole truth about your life, including all those tender and visible things we don't usually talk about?

I'm Megan Devine. Host of the podcast, it's okay that you're not okay. Look everyone's at least a little bit not okay these days, and all those things we don't usually talk about, maybe we should. This season, I'm joined by stellar guests like Abbermote, Rachel Cargol, and so many more. It's okay that you're not okay. New episodes each and every Monday, available on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm Dr. Romani and I am back with season two of my podcast, Navigating Narcissism.

This season we dive deeper into highlighting red flags and spotting a narcissist before they spot you. Each week you'll hear stories from survivors who have navigated through toxic relationships, gaslighting, love bombing, and their process of healing. Listen to Navigating Narcissism on the iHeart Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Even in school, we would switch classes pretty often, and I'd remember always taking her English and history tests and exams, and she would take my math and science.

You show up to each other's exams. We delegate or in science, for example, like the more like I would do biology and she would like do chemistry. And you got away with it? Oh yeah. We got away. No one ever found out. No, found out.

No. Hey everyone, welcome back to on purpose. the number one health podcast in the world. Thanks to each and every single one of you that come back every week to listen, learn and grow. Now, I love it when I get to sit down with people that have had conversations offline before, put it on the podcast, record it and share it with each and every one of you. Today's guest are two people that I am fascinated by. I'm curious to learn more about them today. I admire them for how they show up in the world, the energy they

carry, and how they make me and my wife feel whenever we're around them. We got introduced to them by our dear friend, Raquel, who also happens to be in the room, who'll be on the podcast very, very soon as well. But I'm so grateful that she's in the room because she's the one who connected us. Today's guests are Fashion Duo, DJ Duo, Simee and Hayes. Thank you for being here. Thank you for having us. This is really rare because we never do interviews.

People are always like, we've never heard your voices. So we really like even talking on our Instagram stories or anything. But we trust you and we love you. So here we are. I feel honored hearing that. And my team said the same thing to me. They were like, we're trying to find interviews with them on it. And researching and what they like. And I was like, yeah, but that's why I want to sit down

with you. Because like I said, when Raquel introduced us, and we've had a couple of dinners here and there, and we've always had couple of dinners here and there, and we've always had these deep reflective conversations, and you both have such a wonderful warmth and positive energy about you. And then I was like, they do have voices. They have wonderful opinions.

They have great ideas, and I love hearing that. Why don't you do interviews? Let's start there. What has stopped you over the years from doing interviews? We're just very selective about who we talk to, especially if it's live like this. We've also done a lot of magazine interviews stuff where a lot of stuff has been taken out of context. I'd also sometimes rather have the people who are closest to me and the people who really know us, rather have the people who are closest to me and the people who really know us, know how we really are,

and not really focus on outside opinions or something we said being taken out of context. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Hey, do you wanna tell me what you just told me before the podcast? Because then everyone can have the disclaimer because I was laughing. I was cracking up when you told me this

and I feel like everyone needs to know this. I basically said. Simmi's like the spokesperson of the twins. I guess that's, yeah, so she does more of the talking between us. When did that decision get made? It just happened kind of naturally. I feel like even in school,

we would switch classes pretty often, especially because we had the same subjects, but we didn't have the same classes. So, and I just remember always taking her English and history tests and exams, and she would take my math and science. So we have goals. We have goals.

We have goals. We delegate. Or in science, for example, the more I would do biology and she would do chemistry. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals.

So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals.

So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So we have goals. So just thought like why not we could we couldn't we can do this so why not try and then we just we just kept getting away with it. Yeah, we kept going

with it. Yeah, that's amazing. I love that. Well, one of the things that you know, you both of you are Palestinian and we've spoken about that offline as well when we've been connecting. But I wanted to hear about, you know, I wanna hear about your story, your journey, your background, the growth, because, like you said, I don't think many people know. And when we don't know, we start putting people in boxes and we make decisions. What do you think are some of the framing that you have,

but who are you? I wanna know about that difference between how you think sometimes people may frame you, but then how you frame yourself. I would say I'm just very curious and interested in learning. Like I'm really big on self improvement and self development.

I always feel like I don't know anything. So with that mindset, I feel like I can, you know, every day learn something new because there's so much opportunity in every day to learn stuff from anyone and from any experience, any book that I pick up. I think investing in yourself is such a huge thing. And I think that we, that's a value that we've been taught since we were

kids. Like my mom was always like, was always like, you know, learn an instrument, pick up a book, do this. Like, we were like in so many clubs in high school and middle school. We were like on every sports team. And we still maintained a 4.2 GPA. It's so crazy because we actually graduated with the exact same GPA. But you know, in the same grade. What? How do you do that? Just add it up to be the same.

Yeah, very strange. Hey, how do you describe yourself? Pretty much the same as what Simmy said. People only get a small glimpse of us, so they don't really get the full picture, which isn't there. I mean, like we said, we barely do any interviews or anything, so that's what they see on the surface. But like obviously,

there's way more were like involved in so many different projects involved in so many different things like our very eager learners and a 4.2 GPA is like ridiculously good, right? So you have to be super smart to get a 4.2 GPA, right? Tell me a bit about your parents because you said there, and I love what you said, like, you know, just I think today we have lots of conversations about privilege and often it's it's something that, you know, gets looked down upon, but obviously your parents worked really, really hard, or your grandparents, and your great-grandparents. Like, that's how my mom was born in Yemen and moved to London when she was 16. And they moved there with nothing and built a life and then gave me opportunities that

they didn't have. Tell us a bit about your parents. Wanna hear a bit about your mother and father. I know you post a lot, you have family trips. Like I wanna know a bit more about their journey and maybe about their story that you'd be comfortable sharing with us about how they got to where they got to. My mom, she started her fashion. She has a shop and I think it's, I mean, it started off as a shop in Saudi Arabia and she started off as a buyer and we started going to fashion week with her at the time to buy for her store and then the shop expanded and it became like,

it became much bigger than I think she anticipated because bringing a high end designers to the Middle East to that region was really new. And Hayes and I were sort of trained in showrooms with the designers to create new collections for the region based off of the collections that were already shown on the runway in Paris. We were really focused on proportions, shapes, textures, what is flattering to the body, what's just all those things that helped us develop an eye for like functionality. And how old were you when you go to?

We were like, I think we first started going when we were 14. We were something. Yeah, and I think that really helped us, even where we are today, it's like a study, like we've been studying this since we were 14, and we started doing our own buying appointments and you know, doing being in showrooms alone,

we were like 15, 16, and it was awesome that she trusted us, but I guess we did a good job. So she actually trusted you to, like, come up with ideas. And to come up with ideas on how to make something more flattering to a body type that's not like a model body type. Yeah, and my parents are amazing. They've been together for 30 years. And, you know, I think it's really amazing to see

how in a relationship that is lasting, you have to keep choosing each other and keep healing and doing the work and I've seen my parents change. Like since we were, you know, if I'm when we were kids to now, they're just such different people and that's aspirational.

I mean, I really hope that one day I can have that in a partner too. Yeah, that's amazing. I love hearing that. And it's amazing to see how, you know, a lot of people don't want to go on and grow older and do what their parents do, but both of you became so passionate about something that your mother was passionate about. And I love what you said that we've been studying this for such a long time because I think when people think about fashion and, you know, I think anyone who ever sees you guys, whether it's online or when I've seen you at events or whatever, maybe the way you guys dress and you're fashion, everything is just like, wow, that's so unique. Like, I've never seen that before and I think that you know me and Rade always feel that way when we see you guys are like wow like you know like

we literally go like what's like it's so unpredictable it's so unique and so when you say you study something I think fashion often people who don't necessarily can't appreciate it maybe like oh but it's just clothes or it's just colors and it's like, but actually when you see someone invent something new or someone who creates something that's very rare, you then start looking at it and saying, oh, there's a real art and a skill to that. Tell us about how that art and skill developed independently and collectively between you both, because how would you describe it? You both as having a similar sense of taste in style? Would you say you've actually ever very different? How would you describe it? I think we have a very similar taste.

Very similar taste. I think it's inevitable with, you know, disar experiences and developing that vocabulary that we have just in terms of, like, taste and how we see things. We've all talked about spirituality and consciousness before. Do you guys feel that with your connection? Is there a conscious twin connection that you guys experience and feel and tell me about where you experience it the most independently and collectively? I feel like because we spend so much time together and because we work together and we have mostly the same friends, we inevitably have, I know what she's thinking. She knows what I'm thinking.

So in that sense, I would say we do have that collective consciousness. There's like trippy moments that happen, being a twin. I feel like only twins will understand this, where I'll walk into a room and haze will be there. And for a split second, I know this sounds crazy. But first for a second, I'll be like, wait, what am I doing there?

Wow. Yeah, and then I'll just come back into like real life. But it's like a really nuanced thing that happens in very small moments. And I think that's, I don't know, I feel like it's a magic power. Yeah, I wish I could experience that and I always tell Rady I'm like I really want twins like that's what I want. We don't have twins on either side of the family so I don't know likely it is. They always have each other. Yeah. Yeah and I think that's really special because you know even in like

our friendships and like in relationships and stuff like we don't look for a companionship that's not something that's like the crucial to us. Like we don't need to have just companionship. We look for other values and because obviously we have each other. So I think that we're really lucky that we have that experience because even moving schools and things like that growing up we never had. I was never scary. Like I always hear like my friends like moving schools, like it was always like a big thing for them, but for us, we were like excited because like we had each other so. I love you. That's so beautiful. How many schools did you guys go to when you were young?

Like it sounds like you made your own to law. Yeah, I mean, we lived, we were born in Saudi Arabia, so we went to probably two schools there when we were little and then we moved to London and We went to one school there. It was an all-girl school and then in high school. We were in Dubai and We went to two schools there That's a fair piece. Yeah, and then we came to LA and went to the university here Hey, so where were you? Did you? Did you always know? This is what you wanted to be? This is what you wanted to do?

Or has it been more of a natural organic evolution? Was there anything else? It definitely happened quite naturally. I feel like I always knew I was going to end up in a creative field. Like even with music, we didn't know we were going to end up in music at all. We were actually studying film.

And then our friend group was so immersed in music that we just kind of stumbled into it. And that's how we became DJs. So yeah, I feel like it's kind of lucky that it kind of happened quite naturally for us. I love that. And then where did music and fashion collide? Or where did those two worlds become so important to you?

When did you both feel like this is something not only are we gonna do this, but we're gonna do this together and that where was the beginning of that journey? Well, fashion has just always been a part of our DNA with our mom and just growing up in fashion and going to fashion weeks since we were kids. I think that it was just already in place

for us. And then music, well, we studied fine art and film production and college. And then as Hayes was saying, we were in the studio a lot with our friends who are musicians. And we just sort of started deejing our friends' parties just on the low, just because we love music and we love playing music. We love doing transitions. We were really interested in transitions, like from song to song, and I think that there is an artistry in that. Also, reading the room as a DJ, it's like you have to be really good at energy and feeling people's energy, especially

if it's a smaller event because we did start doing smaller events in the beginning. We were just like asked to do a favor for a friend at like a party at Coachella and then we were approached by a bunch of managers to. Is that how it started? Yeah, to manage. Yeah, we were always kind of skeptical about being DJs. We had a lot of DJ friends that we respected so much that we weren't, we didn't want to be like, oh, we're just going to come and we kind of pushed it away

like we resisted it a lot. But then we were like, whatever, we just like play music. Let's just do this. And then we just started doing so many events around the world. And it took us, DJing took us to places and helped us meet a lot of interesting people. And I think that we never forced it. You know, it just sort of happened for us. And we, because we were doing something that we found was really fun and that we loved DJing fashion or music, everything just like

informed each other. Yeah. Yeah. So, Simeon Hayes founded Simeon Hayes Beauty, which is super exciting. I saw the launch and that's when I like message you guys. And I was so excited for you Yes, it's simmian haze founded simmie haze beauty, which is super exciting I saw the launch and that's when I like message you guys and I are so excited for you because I think creating something with someone You love is is such a special offering into the world and you getting everyone else to have an opportunity To be a part of that world tell us about why you created Simmi haze beauty. What was the intention behind it? What was the essence of it? And what are you excited about sharing it with people?

Simea's Beauty came out of our need to create something that didn't exist. So we didn't want to create a beauty line for the sake of slapping our names on a product and selling something that's been out already. It's been in the making for three years. Wow, that's a long time. Yeah, and it's, you know, it's been such a long process. Like the, our first product is this product called Velvet Blur, and it's a matte lip balm,

which anyone in the beauty industry would be like, that's impossible. How can you make a matte lipstick? That's also moisturizing. Because the formulations, it's like really challenging to create that sort of texture and still achieve that effect. But that's why it took so long because we had, we realized that that's what's missing in the market. Something that you could just do with one swipe and it feels like a lip balm, it's really comfortable, but it has the effect of a matte lipstick.

You know, we also just wanted that for our personal use. Like we would go into like these beauty stores and pick out like the same shade and like all these different brands. And there was like one thing we liked in that one and one thing we liked in that one, but like there was nothing that was like combined. And that specific lipstick, it's like an amalgamation of the perfect things in all the beauty products, all the lipsticks that we tried.

Yeah. And then there's like this amazing sun flush formula that we also created that just gives you like a healthy flush. I think it's also, the brand came out of, what we're saying is there was stuff that's missing from the market that we wanted to create that would make our lives easier. And that's what we want to do.

We want to just facilitate an easier lifestyle for people. We don't want people to take 10 hours doing their makeup. We want people to have reliable, very high quality, efficient products. And we're going to do the research to make sure you have that product in your hand and that it looks beautiful and that you're proud of it, and that you want to put it

on your counter. And have it be this like full sensory experience from like holding the packaging to put it, putting it on. And I think that the reviews have been so exciting to see because that's exactly what people are saying. Yeah, congratulations by the way. Thank you. I was reading some of the articles where people were saying,

just how easy it is and how accessible you've made makeup. And I think that that's fascinating in an industry which, like you're saying, a lot of the time you could spend hours in front of the mirror, try and look a certain way, and then you don't feel happy with yourself, and it hasn't been made easy. But you've created something that is accessible, that is easy, that's shareable,

that people can, like you said, I love the idea of what you described as the sensory experience from the moment they open it, the moment they put it on, was there something about the process that surprised you? In actually creating makeup, like going from actually wearing makeup and using other people's makeup,

but the process of creating it, was there anything that was interesting or challenging or unique about the process for someone who's like, maybe someone's listening, they're like, oh, I'd love to create makeup one day or someone's sitting there going like, oh, I've never understood, was there something that was hard or difficult about it?

Like, how many times do you have to do it? Yeah, that everything affects everything. So let's say there's like a powder and the more you compress the powder, the less pigmented it's going to be. But then you want pigment. So then you so if you put it in a packaging and then it all falls out, that's not going to work. So there's like it's a ruby scheme. Yeah, like you can't use the same packaging for like all the same formulas.. There are some moments where we wanted to do a concealer in a pump, but they were like, oh no, this formula only works in this sort of tube.

And it's how all these elements work together to deliver a certain effect. And you can't do whatever you want. It's a of like a trial and error. There's like a lot of challenges within creating a specific product. It's definitely a chemistry. And I think that it's important to work with people who really love what they're doing and who really believe in your product because Hayes and I are always pushing for innovation. And Simeha's beauty is here for to be that bridge to what beauty is going to be.

And yeah, we definitely pushed the lab to create products that didn't exist before. And that's having it be successful, having a product that actually works, is further impetus to create more innovation. So are you doing all the testing and innovation out in Milan, or is that one of the places, or is that the place you're sourcing? No, that's where we do all the testing.

Why did you choose Milan, apart from the obvious reasons, but was there something that drew you there? When you said you wanted to create it with people who actually love what they're doing, is that? Well, Milan has the, well, it's not really in Milan, it's kind of out in the country. Wow. Yeah, there's like maybe four labs

that are like the biggest labs in the world that create the best makeup in the world. For like all different brands. For the highest and brands. And so we visited over the three years, every single makeup lab that you can imagine. We even like ended up in Malta. It's amazing.

I, Bradley and I just launched our tea company, Sama, which is an herbal and hot tea company. Oh, man. And so, yeah, I need to get you some. I need to get you some. I love that you love tea. I know which is perfect. I can't wait to open them. We subconsciously knew. Yes. That is actually true. I am not getting you. We just announced it like two days ago. That's crazy. People appreciate tea. Like I have a special bond and connection. Oh, I was about to play in a high.

Yeah, but when you love to give us real feedback, when we give them to you, but oh, amazing. We've just been through that whole process as well of like sourcing the tea leaves and the ingredients and obviously a lot of our ingredients are sour. Where do you source them? India. So a lot of our like root herbs in each of the teas is from India. And we've used these adapted jurns and specific herbs with de-stressing qualities and calming and people. Amazing.

And rather, these obviously the expo, all of that stuff. So we've been trying to find them. And, you know, we've just been through that process. So even though it's not makeup, it's like there's a similarity in the idea of, again, what you said, like finding people that actually love what they do, like we found people who we consider potion masters, we're like, this person like literally is like a food scientist and knows how, and Rade knows which flavor is the blend, but then having someone who can help us blend them

effectively has been such a fun process. Yeah, who you trust. Yeah. From across the world. Yeah, exactly, exactly, right? Last two. Yeah, we can't be there every single time. Oh my god, I'm so excited to try. I can't wait to share it with you. Yeah, and I'm sure Rade is excited to try to make up too. Yeah.

It's going to be a good, and I'm sure you'll figure out something for me to try to. The lip balm sounds great. Like a lip balm sounds great. I definitely need one of that. Well, that's also in the water. Yeah. I'm Dr. Romani, and I am back with season two

of my podcast, Navigating Narcissism. Narcissists are everywhere, and their toxic behavior in words can cause serious harm to your mental health. In our first season, we heard from Eileen Charlotte, who was loved by the Tinder swindler. The worst part is that you can only be guilty for stealing We heard from Eileen Charlotte, who was loved by the Tinder Swindler. The worst part is that he can only be guilty for stealing the money from me, but he cannot be guilty for the mental part he did.

And that's even way worse than the money he took. But I am here to help. As a licensed psychologist and survivor of narcissistic abuse myself, I know how to identify the narcissist in your life. Each week you will hear stories from survivors who have navigated through toxic relationships, gaslighting, love bombing, and the process of their healing from these relationships. Listen to navigating narcissism on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Eva Longoria. I'm Maite Gomes-Rachon. We're so excited to introduce you to our new podcast Hungry for History. On every episode, we're exploring some of our favorite dishes, ingredients, beverages from our Mexican culture. We'll share personal memories and family stories. Decode culinary customs. And even provide a recipe or two for you to try at home. Corner flower. Both. Oh, you can't decide. I can't decide. I love both. You know, I'm a flower tortilla flower. Your team flower. I'm team flower. I need a shirt. Team flower, team corn. Join us as we explore surprising and lesser known corners of Latinx culinary history and traditions. I mean, these are these legends, right? Apparently, this guy Juan Mendes.

He was making these tacos wrapped in these huge tortillas to keep it warm, and he was transporting them in a burro, hence the name the burritos. Listen to Hungary for history with Ivalangoria and Maite Gomez Rejón as part of the Michael Tura podcast Network available on the iHeart Radio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I am Mi'amla and on my podcast, the R-Spot, we're having inspirational, educational, and sometimes difficult and challenging conversations about relationships. They may not have the capacity to give you what you need.

And insisting means that you are abusing yourself now. You human! That means that you're craziest hell, just like the rest of us. When a relationship breaks down, I take copious notes and I want to share them with you. Anybody with two eyes and a brain knows that too much Alfredo sauce is just no good for you. But if you're going to eat it, they're not going to stop you. So he's going to continue to give you the Alfredo sauce and put it even on your grits if you don't stop him.

Listen to the art spot on the iHeart Video app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Both of you have talked today about how you love learning and you're curious and you're always trying your best in whatever it was to be open to stuff. I want to know what something recently that you've both been trying to learn more about this year or in the last 12 months or even recently. What's been something that you think has been sparking your curiosity individually? What's been that thing that's been like? I want to learn a bit more about that this year. I'm just going to go, I'm going to answer this question from the last book I read. Totally. Yeah, because I read a lot of the books,

and they're all on different topics. Like I just reread the four agreements, and then at the same time was reading on Palestine, the nom Tromsky, Eel and Papay book, this incredible physicist, Carlos Revelli, and he is amazing, because he talks about physics from a very poetic perspective. And I'm really into allegories, especially in topics that are as complex as physics. And he makes it so easy to understand. Because, you know, physics is like,

from like the smallest atom how things are created, and I'm really interested in creation. Yeah, I think reading books on like different subjects helps my mind kind of put things together. I always remember when Steve Jobs said, creativity is just connecting things. In the beginning, I was like, I Jobs said creativity is just connecting things. In the beginning, I was like, I need to just focus on one book. I need to just do the one book, but I just started embracing the fact that I'm jumping around. I just jumped around a lot from book to book, and I think informs my intellect in a more creative way.

my intellect in a more creative way. But yeah, on Palestine is like a really important book on the subject. And I also read this amazing book called The Way of the Spring by Ben Aaron Reich that is about the situation in Palestine, but mostly through anecdotes with people who live there, like Palestinians who live in the West Bank. I love both those books on the subject, so if you're looking to learn more, but I'm a big nom Tromsky fan, the linguistics hero, and I think something that's really important that he brings up in that book is how the language used around

Palestine and the situation in Palestine sort of has perpetuated the cycle of an effective debate that you know using terms like the peace process or negotiations or both sides words like that or expressions like that they perpetuate this loop of what Elon Pappet calls a conceptual paralysis. And it's a really ineffective way of talking about the situation, terms like decolonization, regime change, apartheid, ethnic cleansing.

Those are the terms that are conducive to real change. And I think it's so exciting to see that finally the world is waking up and using that those terminologies to talk about the situation in Palestine. Yeah, that's such a great answer. I love them. I love getting book recommendations. And so you've given us a ton of great ones there. Don Miguel Ruiz is actually coming in the podcast soon too. Oh my god. I need to be here. And I'll let you guys know. But when, you know, obviously, when why is learning about or your heritage been so important to you and also sharing about it too. And, you know, I know that when we connected

both of you shared, so wonderfully, and also just you're both so, what's the right word? I wanna say this, you're both so curated and elegant with your words as well when you're writing about something like, you're not being cautious or you're not being careful, you're just being thoughtful. And so not being careful, you're just being thoughtful.

And so tell me about why it's been so interesting for both of you to learn about your heritage and to learn about what's happening and how has that informed some of the work you've been doing. Being Middle Eastern is inextricable to how we are and how we see the world. And in so many, anybody who's come across Middle Eastern culture, it's a hotbed of literature, architecture, mysticism. There's a lot of incredible values, generosity,

understanding, loyalty, like those values are just paradigmatic of Arab culture wherever you find it in the world. And learning about our culture and I think even talking on Palestine on our platform, I feel lucky because we are Palestinians, so in some ways we have carte blanche to talk about it. And people are not gonna criticize us the way that they would criticize somebody

who's not Palestinian, but I think we do have a responsibility to highlight to people that, you know, the situation in Palestine isn't a new situation. It's a story of, it's not a new story. Like it's a story of colonialism and dispossession and it's happened in history over and over and over again, you know, European settlers coming to a foreign land, expelling or committing genocide against the indigenous people.

But when you talk about it in terms of Palestine, they make it seem this like, like this crazy, multifaceted, complex issue and anything that any criticism against it is castigated as anti-Semitic. And I think that's where a lot of the tension comes in. It's like anything you say is going to be labeled anti-Semitic, but that's labeled anti-semitic, but that's what the mainstream media wants you to believe because they, you know, the whole function of the media is to control your focus. And, you know, they don't want you to be concerned over the lives of ordinary people. They want you to be, they want you to focus on whether this person is anti-semitic. And that's like the crucial

value of the media. And I think engaging in a little bit of critical thinking takes you out of that sheep kind of audience that are sort of passive participants in the media, which Walter Liffmann calls the bewildered herd. I love that term. But yeah, all it takes is a little bit of critical thinking and looking at the Jewish scholars,

like listen to, I always saw my Jewish friends like, I've had so many conversations with them about. Pastine, and I always say, listen to your scholars, there's some of my favorites, you know, Nome Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, Yuri Davis, Gabor Mate, Stephen Salada. There's so many amazing Jewish scholars who speak on the situation in Palestine. They will show you the indoctrination that a lot of people have been through growing up,

seeing Palestine in a certain way, seeing Palestinians in a certain way, and yeah, teaching them to relearn and engage in the critical thinking requires to see the world as it is. Thank you for sharing that. And, you know, I just love what I really appreciate about both of you. And I see this obviously based on some of the conversations we've had, but also from following you guys, like, there's just so much thought and research and reading and thinking happening behind the scenes that people may not be aware of. And I think if something that we can all learn is what you just rightly said is the skill of critical thinking and the skill of questioning without being judgmental, without having to

put things in a box, without division. And I think often we think those skills come together. We think if you're a critical thinker, you have to be able to like divide and segregate. Whereas actually if you're a critical thinker, you can actually find places for everything to make sense. And so I appreciate what you've just shared with us from the perspective of, hey guys, this is what we need to be thinking about. This is the kind of stuff we need to be questioning. Yeah. Does that, yeah. Yeah, and I think it does take a lot of international pressure to change the situation.

And it's awesome to see that now, you know, there's like the BDS movement is really making a difference. There's like Israel apartheid week across campuses that started off in Canada, and now it's like the biggest sort of activist, campaign, yeah, campaign, on the situation, and then there's a lot of infographics there's reading, there's just so much information.

And when my friends come up to me and they asked me about it, especially when it was happening when like a couple months ago, it was really emotional for me to even talk about because those kids that you see in the videos, they look like my cousins. Like it's heartbreaking. So, you know, I was always encouraging my friends.

Like, I'll talk to you about it, but like go online and do the research. It's right there. And I think it's hard to go and look at yourself and look at what you've learned and say, oh, maybe I wasn't, you know, taught what the truth is. And I've had direct experiences with this. Like I went to USC and studied film, but one of my elective classes was Middle Eastern Studies. And I remember my professor was Canadian. She studied Middle Eastern Studies her whole life. She was a PhD. There was a quiz happening that day. I remember we were talking about Israel Palestine.

One of my classmates was like, raise her hand. She was like, what if I don't believe that this is what happened? Will I get the question wrong? And my teacher was like, that's history. You know, like that interaction was just so emblematic of the indoctrination that kids go through. Once you look at what's happening over there, through a colonial perspective, you can no longer hide behind the claim of complexity

or anti-Semitism or anything else. It is just what it is, and it's a humanitarian crisis. And we have a responsibility to affect change. It's really cool to be able to help in any way. And when people say, like, oh, you're an influencer, you're this or that, it's like, I don't even get offended by that term because, you know, there's a deeper function within the term influencer and that's that you have a voice and that people will listen to you. Well, I thank you for using your platform in that way. It's, you know, it's always, it's so wonderful to be around purposeful individuals and have purposeful friends doing things that are meaningful to them and serving and helping,

especially when it comes to children. I feel like children's one thing that I hope that no one in the world can disagree on that requires nurturing, requires love, requires the basic necessities. It's just basic necessities. Yeah, basic necessities. Crazy, because actually in that Ben Aaron Rack book, the way of the spring, something that really like caught me off guard was this, there was this character in the book that just kept getting charged for no reason and being put in jail for no reason. He came out of jail and he was asked, oh, so do you miss anything about your experience

in prison, as a joke? He was actually, prison soul virtue was the water pressure. Like I could take a good shower. Yeah. And it's just crazy how something so basic as taking a shower is impossible in the West Bank and in Gaza.

Yeah, because they only really have 20% access of the mountain aquifer that's literally in Gaza. So, yeah, basic necessities. I mean, how many people don't have databases? Yeah. So anyone who's listening right now, Raquel, our dear friend who introduced us, she's sitting here and she was sharing a really important reflection that I can't articulate quite as well as she did because it came from her heart. Yes, exactly that's what I'm saying. But I'm gonna repeat what Raquel was saying that

and this is what I'm hoping that people are gonna get from this episode. Like I think that's the point. Like I think what Raquel just said is what I'm genuinely hoping are people gonna get what people are going to get from this conversation. They're going to see two people that we get a very limited viewer on or ideas upon. But then today we've got to realize just how broad your experiences are, your life experience

and life story are from Raquel, we're saying, you, you know, born in Saudi Arabia, you've studied and landed in Dubai, in LA, you've had the experience of music, a fashion of neuroscience, like who brings those three things together? And the reason why you're such tastemakers is because you're global citizens, and you live with a global heart, and it's not just the external expression of how artistic you are, but even your heart has been impacted by all these other stories, philosophies and ideas that you've heard. And I'm hoping that that does some justice, even that is not all of who you are, but

I'm hoping that that does some justice into people understanding who you are. I think having all these experiences and being so many places and meeting people of all different cultures, it's given us a heightened sense of empathy and compassion for being a human being. And a sense of understanding that somebody who grew up in one place wouldn't have. Yeah, and obviously that's what Rick L. Seng, like your experiences of being able to connect with so many different hearts and so many different minds and you've lived across so many different places that you've you've got to experience a so many different hearts and so many different minds. And you've lived across so many different places that you've, you've got to experience a lot of different cultures.

And that's what you were saying earlier that you were like, well, some people would call that privileged, but actually you've turned your privilege into purpose and into service and connecting with people. Like, yes, like you said, you can be privileged that you got to travel, but traveling hasn't made you more eager to travel. It's made you more eager to love and serve and try and help people. If that feels right. Yeah, I love that.

Yeah, it feels like you're well put. Yeah, your experiences have just, they haven't made you more hungry to have more experiences and see more places. It's like, actually, it's helped us connect with each human that we meet and want them to feel a certain way. What have I not asked you or what have you not spoken about today that's on your heart that's in your mind and you both like, Jay, I have to share this today. I have to tell your community or if there is a new message,

there's nothing you've asked us. But I want to make sure that because your friends and people I care about, I want to make sure you feel you've had a chance to share your heart. I don't know. I feel like we talked about so much. Good. I mean, if you feel happy and satisfied with everything we've talked about, that makes me feel good because I just, you know, I just wanted everyone, and I, and I'm very grateful you trusted me, but I wanted everyone to just see just how

intelligent, thoughtful, masterful you both are in so many ways. And, uh, yeah, I mean, I wanted to call you guys a friend, honestly, because it's... Likewise, I mean, we're so honored to be on this podcast. I'm so honored to hear that from both of you, because I also think the same of you that, you know, you're known for being incredible, like masters in music and in fashion and in taste, but you're using that platform for purposeful reasons. Like that to me is, it's the same trade, you know, like I'm trying to take what I've learned from my teachers and I'm trying to share it globally and you're doing something that's globally recognized, but you're trying to elevate that. And I think

that's what is so beautiful to see, but also how thoughtful and deep your research is in reading. I think, you know, I think people often think that whatever word you use in Raquel and I felt the same way, whether you use the word influence or whatever that word is, like, you often just think that people don't, they're not reading, they're not thinking, they're not learning. And it's like, but both of you, I know the events we all go to together, we're always learning from other people and, you know, I think there's so much there. So I thank you both from the bottom of my heart for trusting me for being in my life. I thank Raquel for bringing

us together and surprising us all today. And also creating that added piece of a depth that we all got to uncover, but I hope we get to have, there we go. I hope we get to have many more of these conversations. I hope you will come back on the podcast in the future. I hope that Simea's Beauty has the most incredible and successful first 12 months and beyond. Thank you so much. And I hope that you keep serving and making a difference to everything you do.

You both lights in this world and you're making such an impact through everything you touch. And I'm fully behind the fundraisers. So however I can get involved, please let me know. I'd love to be a part of it as well. Thank you so much for having us. Yeah. Thank you guys.

And thank you everyone who's listening. Yes, thank you to everyone who's been listening and watching. Who's been at this far down the podcast? They have. They made it. Simeon is pleased. We love you. We do.

Oh, yeah, you tell them. You tell them that you love them. That would be an adorable one. But no, I want to thank everyone who's been listening and watching. I know you made it this far because you're an amazing community. Please, anything that Simeon has shared that stood out to you, that resonated with you. I'd love you to tag them on Instagram and post it. I want them to feel the love from this episode. So if you love me, if you love on purpose and you love anything they said today, please share that tag them. I want them to see what resonated with you because

they've been so kind to us today and opening up and sharing their story and sharing their journey. I want them to know what an impact I had on your life. So thank you everyone for listening and watching and we'll be back soon. truth about your life, including all those tender invisible things we don't usually talk about. I'm Megan Devine. Host of the podcast, it's okay that you're not okay. Look, everyone's at least a little bit not okay these days, and all those things we don't usually talk about, maybe we should. This season, I'm joined by Stellar Gas, like Abbermote, Rachel Cargol, and so many more.

It's okay that you're not okay. New episodes each and every Monday, available on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to podcasts. What do a flirtatious gambling double agent in World War II? An opera singer who burned down an honorary to kidnap her lover and a pirate queen who walked free with all of her spoils, haven't comment. They're all real women who were left out of your history books. You can hear these stories and more on the Womanica podcast.

Check it out on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Our 20s often seen as this golden decade, our time to be kept free, make mistakes, and figure out our lives. But what can psychology teach us about this time? I'm Gemma Speg, the host of the psychology of your 20s. Each week we take a deep dive into a unique aspect of our 20s, from career anxiety, mental health, heartbreak, money, and much more to explore the science behind our experiences. The psychology of your 20s hosted by me, Gemma Speg.

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