Meet Samir Mourani | Podcaster & Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samir Mourani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samir, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
For a long time I subscribed to this idea that if you weren’t working, you were lazy and not going anywhere. So I filled my time with things to do. Side projects and new creative ideas. Then, to further optimize my time, I would listen to my favourite podcast while at the gym or responding to emails. It wasn’t until I finally found myself burnt out that I realized I needed a break. I had always preached for taking breaks as that was the thing to say. But when I finally learned to take a break, like even a lunch break, I realized it helped me balance the rest of my day and also didn’t always feel like I was playing catch up. I also learned to prioritize my time in the morning by waking up earlier and saying no to more outings, projects, etc.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I host/produce a mental health/self-development podcast called Gent’s Talk where I regularly interview professional athletes, award winning actors and musicians, as well as entrepreneurs and experts (dating, parenting, health, nutrition, etc.). The series has been so well received that it’s in the top 5% globally on Spotify and onboarded onto a major airliner in Air Canada where all the seasons are streamable. The series dives beneath the surface to pull the curtain back on mental health, wellness and more to redefine modern masculinity and create a safe environment for men to feel like they can have these conversations openly without fear of stigmatization.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Definitely need to check out a Blue Jays game while in town. For food, I’d say one of my favourite spots is called Eden, it’s an Italian restaurant on lakeshore right by the lake, the food is great, the staff are kind and attentive, can’t go wrong.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s plenty of people who have shown up for me in different ways. From the men in my close circle who continue to hold me accountable to my partner who continues to teach me that I can be my authentic self and she won’t judge me for the areas in my life where I could be better. I also credit the lessons learned from the guests on my podcast, Gent’s Talk. James Blunt once said to me, “this is the first time in all my years I was able to finally do an interview as James the human and not James Blunt the artist”, it was powerful.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samirmourani/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/samir-mourani-53826057#:~:text=Samir%20Mourani%20is%20a%20digital,flights%20to%2052M%20passengers%2Fyear.

Other: Gent’s Talk: https://open.spotify.com/show/1QyZB4hdjJrqiealqW0tJy Gent’s Talk: https://www.youtube.com/@GentsTalkPodcast