Sweathead, A Strategy Podcast A Quick Trip Around Africa, the Middle East, and Asia - Sit and Talk, Nairobi
Mar 25, 2026
A whirlwind travel log covering events across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Stories about launching shows with scarce data and platform hurdles. Vivid scenes from Nairobi nightlife, Amapiano in Johannesburg, and Lagos hospitality. Notes on Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Cairo, Istanbul, Manila’s AI projects, and Southeast Asian street life. Reflections on where to live based on music, youth, and dancing.
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High Production Events And Airport Shakedowns In Nigeria
- In Nigeria Mark attended highly produced events by Rage Media, experienced intense nightlife, and felt both dazzled and vulnerable due to frequent requests for money.
- Lagos drew 180–200 attendees at his event but the travel and airport experiences included multiple shakedown requests at immigration.
Saudi Arabia Feels Young And Ambitious
- Mark found Saudi Arabia surprising: a very young, optimistic population with Vision 2030 reforms and visible social loosening.
- He noticed locals welcoming cultural respect gestures, like wearing local dress, and many women active in medicine and engineering.
Choosing Cities By Music And Street Life
- Mark ranks cities by personal fit: he prefers places with vibrant street music and dancing such as parts of Turkey, Latin America, and Africa.
- He uses music, public life, and youthful energy as criteria for choosing where to spend more time.