The Courage to Fall
podcast
About the Podcast
The Courage to Fall podcast is about the moments in life when things don’t go as planned, when you take the leap, miss the landing, and find yourself face-down in the dirt. And then… you get back up.
Ep 9: Starting Over Without Starting From Zero
Tony Feghali sits down with Dr. Mona Itani for an honest conversation about courage, reinvention, and what it really means to start over.
Mona shares her journey from telecom engineering into academia, entrepreneurship, and social innovation. Along the way, she reflects on the calculated risks that shaped her career, the challenge of stepping into junior roles again despite years of experience, and the emotional process of letting go of the social enterprise she built.
They discuss the deeper meaning of courage, not just taking risks, but having the clarity to make difficult decisions, the resilience to rebuild, and the humility to begin again when necessary.
Ep 8: Leading Through Uncertainty: Supporting Entrepreneurs in Lebanon
Tony Feghali speaks with entrepreneur and business advisor André Abi Awad about leadership, resilience, and supporting business owners during uncertain times in Lebanon.
As the country faces another difficult period, André recently reached out to entrepreneurs across Lebanon to offer support and guidance. That message sparked this conversation.
André shares lessons from his own journey, including going bankrupt twice early in his career before rebuilding and going on to train and advise entrepreneurs in more than 50 countries. Those experiences shaped how he now helps others navigate crisis and uncertainty.
The conversation explores how business owners can regain clarity when fear and disruption take over, why speed of understanding and action matters during difficult moments, and how entrepreneurs can develop what André calls an anti-fragile mindset, emerging stronger from challenges rather than simply surviving them.
Ep 7: Rebuilding at 45: Leaving the Spotlight and Starting Again
After a 25-year career in television, Tina made a life-changing decision. She left the spotlight, moved countries at 45, navigated separation from her children geographically, and rebuilt her life from the ground up.
We explore what it means to recycle yourself when a chapter ends unexpectedly. We talk about identity beyond titles, transitioning from public presence to private impact, and the resilience required to start again when you thought you were already established.
Ep 6: The Transformational Coach Who Transformed Herself
Christiane shares how she transitioned from years of family life and humanitarian work into pioneering image consulting in a region where the field did not yet exist. Facing skepticism, cultural resistance, and her own complicated relationship with money, she had to learn not only how to build a business, but how to value her expertise and charge for it with confidence.
Ep 5: What Horseback Riding Taught Her About Life
Through her early journey with horseback riding, Noor reflects on fear, hesitation, and what it takes to rebuild inner stability. She shares how learning to ride helped her let go of perfection, accept uncertainty, and build courage one ride at a time.
Ep 4: Planting Change with Salim Zwein
From his childhood obsession with trees to building rooftop ecosystems and founding a 200,000-member farming community, Salim shares how grief, curiosity, and grit shaped his journey.
Ep 3: Love, Leadership, and the Power of Humility
From Mandela’s humble strength to Musk’s controversial drive, Tony and Gino unpack what it truly means to lead with heart. Or without.
Ep 2: Blooming with AI: Ziad Nassar on Disrupting Fashion and Rebuilding Brands with Agents
Tony and Ziad explore how fashion, architecture, and digital design intersect with identity, the role of AI as a collaborator rather than a tool, and what it means to be radically inclusive in creative industries.
Ep 1: Saudi Encounters, Soulful Power & Redefining Leadership with Samantha Sacchi
Samantha unpacks her experiences running emotional intelligence programs in Riyadh, navigating taboos, and witnessing the rising spark of young Saudi women who are redefining what’s possible.
Share Your Story
Got your own fall-and-rise story? I’d love to hear it. Your story could inspire someone else to keep going.

