Better Perspectives with Omar Shaker

Ep07. The Shadow w/ Ryan Ginn

Do you have a dark side? Have you ever acted in ways that surprised you, that seemed out of your own control?
The truth is, we all have these shadowy parts of ourselves, that we try to ignore or repress. It’s that part of us, as Carl Jung describes, that is not in our own awareness, but shows up in certain circumstances. Usually leading to sticky situations.
In this episode we are joined by Relationship Educator and Coach, Ryan Ginn. In the episode:
Ryan shares his expertise on the topic of the shadow.
He introduces to us a healing modality called Internal Family Systems (or IFS), as a way to help individuals understand and reclaim their own shadows.
And we do a live demo with one of our hosts!
Things get very real in this episode, so sit back, relax, and see if you can find yourself in this conversation. If you were to lift the veil of your own psyche, what would you find?

Ep06. The Takeover w/ Omar Shaker [Part 2/2]

Is revenge a dish best served cold? Are there other ways to restore power?
Hello everyone, this is Paul Kist again, I decided to hold onto the reins for one more show, to continue the conversation we started last time in Part 1 of this conversation. Omar reluctantly but graciously allowed this stunt to continue, and I so appreciate what came out of it.
Revenge is a tricky thing. There's a certain amount that serves only to injure and perpetuate toxic cycles. But there's also the lack of it, which also allows a violation to go unvindicated.
There's no doubt, we are elated to our very core when our movie heroes get the bloody revenge they've been seeking. We also can't deny the depth of healing that can come from more restorative ways to bring the scales back into balance.
"But sometimes, you just want that bastard to pay."
We go further into Maskat's world, as he wrestles with the aftermath of his own revenge story, and we discuss these really complex topics.

Ep06. The Takeover [Part 1/2] w/ Omar Shaker

Have you ever had a bully? Have you ever bullied someone? Have you ever gotten revenge on your bullies?
Bullying is something almost all of us have experienced in some way growing up, either as the bully or the bullied. This topic has gotten a lot of attention in the public discourse over the last few years. The weapons are not just fists and physical intimidation anymore. With the internet comes more ways a bully can try to assert dominance or inflict shame upon another. And the impacts can be devastating, and in some cases the damage is permanent.
In this episode we talk about:
The origin story of Maskat’s bullying experience
How Omar reclaimed power after an experience with his own bully
We introduce the topic of revenge and its purpose when it comes to bullies
Looking back whether you were bullied, or were a bully, how have you processed these experiences years later?

Ep05. Experiencing God w/ Sherin Wafaai

Were you brought up in a religious family? How did your relationship to religion change as you grew up?
It is Sunday and I am back! This time with my wife, who had and continues to have a very interesting relationship with religion and the different ways we get to experience God.
In this episode:
Her story from trying to please God by getting veiled to rebelling after someone tried to shame her in acting a certain way.
How she found God in a way that is more meaningful for her.
The basics of self-love, self-compassion, and healing!
Why chapter 5 is so important for the story, and why I chose to create so much tension around the protagonist’s relationship with religion
How far did you make it in the book?

Ep04. Aggression w/ Khaled Sallam

Where does aggression come from? How can we deal with it?
I come to you this Sunday with a cup of warm conversation that is one part aggression and two parts real talk.
I really enjoyed recording this with one of my oldest and closest friends, Khaled Sallam. In this episode, I take a stab at dissecting masculine aggression with one of the most loving and considerate men I know.
We’ll cover:
His story is featured in Chapter 4 | Taurus Strikes.
Is there any good that can come from aggression?
What happens when men are not allowed to feel?
How do we grow out of bad experiences? Where do we find salvation?
I will leave with the words Khaled uses at the end of the episode:
“I hope my pain can provide a literary device for you".
See you next Sunday, as we move onto Chapter 5 | Morning Glory

Ep03. When Sons Become Fathers w/ Ahmed Sameh

Do you remember causing mischief? Are you currently causing mischief? What happens when you’re discovered causing said mischief? How do authority figures (like your parents!) react?
We present you today with the third episode, covering real stories of people who inspired me to write this novel. Namely, Chapter 3, where Maskat is running around with his friends Jay and Chiumbo and they are up to wreak some havoc on Lamu Town. Maskat wants to connect with others and he joins the ride to be cool, and to be a man.
The plot twist in the very end is inspired by Ahmed Sameh, who I interview in this episode. We cover:
Plenty of our own stories as boys doing “wrong” things and how our parents reacted to us.
Sameh’s own experience with his son now doing the same thing to him and his struggle is not making his son fear him like he feared his dad.
What kind of world we would like to create, so that Sameh’s newborn daughter does not have to go through a lot of women go through today.
A little bit about African Crossroads, and what the future of Africa might look like. (There is so much more that he ahd to say about this, so if you like the last part I’ll post another episode with that part of the conversation.)
Let us know what you think!
Definitely read the third chapter first to avoid any spoilers!

Ep02. Spirit Guides (and how to summon them) w/ Lina Shaker

Have you read chapter 2 yet?
This episode will give you plenty of reasons to dig in. In this one, I interview Lina -my sister- and she shares her story about meeting our grandpa as her ‘spirit guide’ meditation years after he passed away. If it sounds freaky, that’s because it is.
Don’t forget to share the love by commenting and spreading the word about this.
Based on your feedback, I will be doing shorter commentary posts as we go into chapter 3 in the next 2 weeks. Expect more Carl Jung, a definition of the word Gumption, and Episode 3 all coming up!
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Ep01. Talking to Bulls w/ Paul Kist

How do you handle confrontation? What about when your opponent only speaks… cow?
Join us on the series premiere of the Gumpcast where Omar interviews the real man who experienced the bull encounter described in chapter 1. We will explore:
- Confrontation in general
- The value of emotional communication
- Our relationship to nature
Enjoy this inaugural episode as we dive into the surprising encounter between Maskat and the beast, and what we can learn from it.
Who are your real life bulls?