• Frankly Speaking | S13 E14 | Fahad Nazer, Spokesperson, Saudi Embassy in Washington DC
    Nov 23 2025

    On this episode, we speak to Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, who joins us just days after the crown prince's high-profile visit to the United States.

    The trip brought major developments on defense and nuclear power, and has cemented Saudi Arabia's regional partner for peace and prosperity in the region. We ask him about all of that, plus details of the Saudi initiative to convince Washington to intervene and settle the dispute in Sudan, and much more.

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    31 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E13 | Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
    Nov 16 2025

    On this episode, we speak to Michael Ratney, former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and longtime American diplomat with decades of experience across the Middle East.

    Mr Ratney provides rare insights about the bilateral relationship, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman heads to Washington for what is being billed as a truly historic visit. We ask him what he expects of the visit and what his views are on the questions being raised about the strategic value of US alliances following the Israeli and Iranian strikes against Qatar last summer.

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    26 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E12 | Amjad Tadros Ex-CBS Producer author of ‘The Fixer’
    Nov 9 2025

    On this episode, we speak to Amjad Tadros, former CBS producer and four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist.

    After decades covering Iraq and Syria, how does he view the Middle East today? As Western media coverage of the Arab world becomes more balanced, and after 30 years in some of the world’s toughest environments, what finally made him step down away from journalism?

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    37 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E11 | John Pagano CEO of Red Sea Global
    Nov 2 2025

    On this episode we speak to John Pagano, the CEO of Red Sea Global, the man leading one of the most ambitious tourism projects in the world and who has also recently granted Saudi citizenship. Saudi Arabia is positioning the Red Sea as a major part of its economic transformation, aiming to create a luxury destination powered by renewable energy and carefully designed to protect its fragile coral reefs and marine life.

    But can the Kingdom truly rival long-established destinations like the Maldives and Egypt? How will it maintain the balance between rapid growth and real sustainability? And what will it take to turn a national vision into a lasting international success story?

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    25 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E10 | Nic Robertson CNN’s International Diplomatic Editor
    Oct 26 2025

    On this episode we speak to Nick Robertson, CNN's international diplomatic editor and one of the most experienced war correspondents in the field today.

    More than two years after the war in Gaza began, a fragile ceasefire is now in place. Full-scale fighting has paused but the region remains tense with sporadic cross-border fire, ongoing hostage exchanges and deep uncertainty over Gaza’s political future.

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    34 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E9 | Muin Serhan CEO of AMSA Hospitality
    Oct 19 2025

    On this episode, we speak to Muin Serhan, the CEO of Amsa Hospitality in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom set its sights on 100 million visitors by 2030 and hit that target seven years ahead of schedule.

    Many have called it a remarkable achievement, but one that’s now testing the limits of the country’s hospitality sector, with hotel shortages, soaring prices and a race to keep up with demand. So how can Saudi sustain that momentum without losing control of quality or cost? Who’s stepping up to deliver the infrastructure behind the vision? And how would the infrastructure handle the pressure of a global spotlight?

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    34 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E8 | Omar Awadallah Palestinian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Oct 12 2025

    This week, we speak to Omar Awadallah, deputy minister of foreign affairs for political affairs at the Palestinian Authority, as controversy grows over President Trump's new Gaza peace plan.

    Within hours of its launch, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 50 Palestinians, shattering hopes of peace. Can Washington really rein in its closest ally, or has the balance of power shifted too far? And if Hamas is told to disarm with no assurances from Israel, can this truly lead to peace or only deepen mistrust and violence?

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    34 mins
  • Frankly Speaking | S13 E7 | Benedikt Franke Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Munich Security Conference
    Oct 5 2025

    On this episode, we speak to Dr. Benedikt Franke, the vice-chairman and CEO of the Munich Security Conference,fresh from its first-ever leaders’ meeting in Saudi Arabia. How did regional leaders respond to President Trump’s latest Gaza peace plan? Is a two-state solution remotely possible with the Israel’s hard-right government? What role can Saudi Arabia play in pushing diplomacy forward? And can the MSC still build consensus, or is the West too divided to shape the future?

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    23 mins