We collect a checklist of what it means to be "attractive" long before we we even know who we are. We want to get honest about where these rules come from. Is it the male gaze shaping women, the way women project expectations onto each other, or a hyper-curated algorithm making us all look identical? "You'd look better if..." But who actually decides these standards? Men? Women? The media? Or are we all reinforcing them without realising? This talk is a deep dive and a debate for anyone who has ever wondered: “Is this actually my taste, or was I conditioned to want to look like this?” “Why do the standards of 'home' and the West feel like a constant tug-of-war on my body?” “If men and women both play a role in upholding these standards, who are we actually trying to please?” We’ll unpack the conditioning we received from cinema, magazines, and our own family dinner tables. Let's talk about who really sets the rules, and let's be honest, this is a needed conversation.

For the longest time, we were invisible. Or worse… reduced to stereotypes we didn’t recognize. The accents, the clothes, the “aesthetic”, it looks like representation. It feels like progress. But is it? Or are we just a new audience to sell to? Because in a time of cancel culture, it sometimes feels like representation has become a checklist. Add a face, add a language, add a “cultural moment”… and you’re safe. This talk is for anyone who’s ever thought: “Why does this look like me, but not feel like me?” “Who is this story really for?” “Are we being included… or just used?” “Who controls the narrative…and why?”

Living away from where you’re from has a way of changing what home means. We hold onto versions of it through stories, summers, and memories but we rarely question how real that version actually is.

Ghosting. Benching. Breadcrumbing. Situationships Rodent boyfriends, Shrek dating, black cat & golden retriever couples. Do they help us communicate better… or hide how confusing, messy, and vulnerable modern relationships really are?

If you grew up between cultures, you probably make friends faster than you pack a suitcase. One week someone’s a stranger, the next they’re your comfort.

Join us for a gentle, guided poetry walk and writing experience as the city eases into golden hour. This walk is designed to awaken your senses, slow your pace, and help you notice the quiet magic of the transition from day to evening.

Starting at Baniyas Metro and walking through Naif, Ayal Nasir, and Al Sabkha, this walk invites you to see the city through a slower lens to notice how people shape a place and how a place, in turn, shapes them.

A little “phone voice” here, a touch of “meeting mode” there we’ve all done it. This talk is for anyone who’s ever felt a little too aware of how they sound. Maybe someone’s mimicked your accent before (ouch), or maybe you’ve been told you sound “different.” But who decides what “normal” even is?

As the sun sets, Sarah will guide us through a slow, reflective walk, one that invites you to sketch with your senses, not just your eyes. From drawing with your non-dominant hand, to sketching what you hear and feel, it’s about noticing more.

Can a digital village ever raise us, guide us, and hold us accountable the way a real one did?” We often say it takes a village but what happens when the village moves online? (By village we mean community 😉)

Across many cultures, eating with our hands is more than just a way of consuming food, it’s ritual, intimacy, and a connection to heritage. Yet in globalised spaces, it often gets side-eyed, misunderstood, or even shamed.

Ever found yourself drawn to someone simply because they “get” your cultural references or avoiding dating outside your background because it feels like too much explaining?

Ever felt like you’re constantly editing parts of yourself, like your accent, your clothes, even your thoughts, just to fit in? Between being “too much” for one culture and “not enough” for another, many of us end up shapeshifting just to belong.

Have you ever struggled to reply when a relative speaks to you in your mother tongue? Do you feel like you understand your heritage language but can’t speak it fluently? You’re not alone.

Fair skin, lighter eyes, smaller noses—somehow, these have become the "ideal," even in cultures rich with diversity. From skin-lightening creams to nose jobs, the pressure to fit into a Western mould runs deep in South Asian and Middle Eastern communities.

The pressure to “settle down” often feels like a deadline we didn’t agree to, but how do we balance tradition with personal happiness?

Behind the scenes stories from films like The Lunchbox, Masaan, and The Elephant Whisperers; An evening of cinema, conversation and inspiration.

An introspective look at privilege, encouraging awareness and understanding of its impact on our interactions and opportunities.

A revealing dialogue about family secrets and the cultural dynamics of honesty, trust, and communication.

Explore the art of storytelling and its power to inspire, connect, and drive meaningful change.

An eye-opening conversation about cultural authenticity and how globalization shapes our daily lives and traditions.

A critical discussion on colorism and society’s deep-rooted obsession with skin tone in beauty and beyond.

An immersive experience into Sri Lankan traditions, led by cultural guide Danuka Ariyawansa.

Renowned artist Mona Haddad explored memory and identity through scent, guiding attendees in crafting unique fragrances.

A behind-the-scenes conversation with filmmaker Shazia Ali Khan, director of the acclaimed movie Pinky Memsaab.

A culinary journey through Palestinian cuisine with Haya Bishouty, celebrating flavors, stories, and traditions during Ramadan.

Explored how structures become canvases for stories, showcasing narratives that transcend time, space, and societal norms.