Builders of the Broken Bazaar
Builders of the Broken Bazaar is a podcast hosted by Dr. Tabish Zaman that explores entrepreneurship in the aftermath of systemic collapse. It focuses on refugees, migrants, and everyday innovators who build meaning and dignity in broken systems. The series challenges conventional startup narratives by highlighting informal economies and community-driven survival. Through conversations with founders and thinkers, it reframes entrepreneurship as an act of defiance and social repair.
Episodes
The Starvation is no Accident; It has an author!
Starvation is rarely just about food. Famine is rarely just about hunger. In a world watching catastrophe unfold in real-time on our screens, the most disturbing reality is that some suffering is treated as urgent while other lives are deemed negotiable.In this powerful Season 1 Finale of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman sits down with Omama Marzuq (Board Member) and Hani AlMadhoun
Stop pretending everything is fine!
We are living in a world where the data is screaming at us, but our systems are only whispering. What happens when the very institutions designed to protect stability begin to feel like they are managing that very same decline, and our leaders expect us to go along with the charade?In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Zoe Cohen—a concerned citizen, coach,
The man & the method behind that suit!
Formal politics is failing to resonate. With the lowest voter turnout in decades and a majority of citizens feeling abandoned by their representatives, the "story of Britain" is fracturing.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by filmmaker and presenter Adam Brichto. Adam has become a viral sensation for his "man in the suit" street interviews, entering highl
The system locks the door, then blames you for standing outside!
We are told that capital is more "sustainable" and "inclusive" than ever before, with tens of billions committed to social impact. Yet, the lived experience of the displaced tells a different story—one of blocked pathways, unrecognised credentials, and a system that rewards those who fit the pattern while punishing those who stand out.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Za
Capitalism forgot ordinary people and called it progress!
We treat economic growth as an automatic win for society, yet trust in our institutions is collapsing while wealth is buried in opaque offshore accounts. For too long, ordinary people have been told that their role is to work, consume, and stay out of the way.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, to dismantle the myth
Why Nobody Talks About Rohingya? I Lost My Country at 12!
We treat displacement as a physical act of crossing a border. But for Yasin Arafat and the one million Rohingya displaced from Myanmar, displacement is archival, psychological, and generational. It is a system that attempts to steal a people's continuity and their ability to imagine a future.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Yasin Arafat, a human right
Palestine bleeds for you. Why it changes everything?
We are told that the conflict in Palestine is "complicated," a series of religious debates and territorial claims. But for Ramsey Hanhan, the reality is far more direct: it is a system engineered to make an entire people feel disposable, and forgettableIn this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Ramsey Hanhan, a former physics professor who walked away from the
Why small businesses matter? The migrant business myth.
We are often told that the backbone of the British economy is its small businesses, yet we systematically ignore the one-fifth of those firms owned by migrants. We label them as "unconventional" or treat them as economic "peccadillos," failing to see the sophisticated networks of care and innovation that keep our neighborhoods alive.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zama
Why People Have Stopped Trusting Politics? The Story that Broke Britain
Episode 27: Why people have stopped trusting politics? The story that broke Britain.We treat politics as a rational exercise, a matter of choosing between competing policy lists and economic models. But while the "leadership elite" reads from autoprompters, millions of people are living in a "fog of despair," feeling the weight of a system that has fundamentally abandoned them.In this episode of B
Refugees are not a burden. Broken systems are.
We treat integration as a policy problem to be solved with checklists and funding lines. But for the 82,000 people currently waiting for asylum decisions in the UK, integration isn't a government program, it’s a daily struggle for survival and dignity.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Severine Kipili, the founder of Bora Shabaa. Severine shares her pro
Some People Are Measured. Others Are Filtered
Episode 25: Some people are measured, others are filtered!Description: We treat the global digital economy as a level playing field, yet geography still dictates who is allowed to participate. What happens when world-class talent is trapped behind concrete walls and arbitrary blockades?In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Kathrine Tinggaard Nicolaisen, th
Gaza Bridge: The Logic of Survival!
What does it mean to be a "winner" in a situation where you have lost everything? For Mohammad Helles, it means turning systemic frustration into a roadmap for community survival.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Mohammad Helles, a software engineer in Gaza who transitioned from construction labor to global tech with nothing but a basic laptop and an i
We have built a system that hides truth
Episode 23: We have built a system that hides truth!Description: We are surrounded by more information than any society in history, yet we have never felt further from the truth. Complex global events are stripped of context, corporate influence is hidden in plain sight, and trust in traditional institutions has evaporated.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joine
Culture is Infrastructure Not A Checkbox
Episode 22: Culture is Infrastructure, Not a Checkbox!Description: We treat Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a compliance exercise—a set of optics to be managed in annual reports and strategy decks. But while the language of inclusion has become familiar, trust in our institutions is at an all-time low.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Sunaina
War Broke the Country. Not the People.
When war collapses a country, the systems fail, but the people remain. What happens when a high-level business leader is forced to become a "refugee," trading a boardroom for a production line in a salad factory?In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman sits down with Hanna Morozova, an Ecosystem Builder & Entrepreneur who is redefining what it means to rebuild after a
The Problem Isn't Chaos. It's Normalised Chaos
The world hasn't simply become more unstable; it has become normalized in its instability. We are told that global crises are being "managed" through summits, panels, and statements, yet 5 billion people have become poorer while displacement reaches record heights.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Dominic Morgan, the voice behind "The Human Promise." T
Mental Health is Infrastructure, Not Self-Care!
We are constantly told that mental health is an individual responsibility. That "self-care" is the solution. That if we just "optimize" our routines or download the right app, the pain will subside.But what if the real problem isn't a lack of clinical tools, but a resistance to help that doesn't sound like anything people recognize in their everyday lives?In this episode of Builders of the Broken
This AI is Built for Liberation: Not Just for Profit
Episode 18: This AI Is Built for Liberation, Not Just for ProfitWe are constantly told that artificial intelligence is neutral.That data is objective.That algorithms simply optimise.That harm is an unfortunate side effect of progress.But what if the real question isn’t what AI can do but who it is built to serve?In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman is joined by Said an
Growth Is Not the Only Goal
Episode 17: Growth Is Not the Only GoalWe are constantly told that growth equals success.That scaling is progress.That innovation means moving faster, bigger, and further no matter the cost.But what if growth itself has become the problem?In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman is joined by Kasper Benjamin Reimer Bjørkskov, Founder of No Objectives, to challenge one of th
Ep 16: We Never Paid Attention to This Side of Tech
Technology Isn’t Neutral. It’s Cultural.We are constantly told technology is neutral.That algorithms are objective.That design is “just technical.”But technology doesn’t appear from nowhere.It is built by people, shaped by culture, and assembled through decisions, decisions that increasingly determine who gets a job, who gets a mortgage, and who receives medical care.In this episode of Builders of
Ep:15 Christmas Special: Rugby isn't the only thing this Club wins at!
At Christmas, we are told stories about generosity and togetherness.But in many UK cities, the reality looks very different.Shrinking public services.Widening inequalities.Communities carrying more with less.In this Christmas Special of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman returns to Hull — a city often reduced to statistics, but held together by people.Joined by Paul Hamnett, CEO of the
Ep 14: Integrating Into A New Country Is A Two-Way Street
Integration is often treated as a checklist.Learn the language.Follow the rules.Fit in quietly.But real integration doesn’t work that way.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman speaks with Montasir Mohamed — entrepreneur, business leader, and refugee-turned-citizen in Finland — about what integration actually looks like when it moves beyond policy and into everyday life.
Ep 13: Your Are Being Played by Big Tech
You Are Being Played by Big TechIn this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman speaks with Mona Fowzy — CEO of JaneTech and a software engineer with over 25 years across EA, AOL, Yahoo, CBS, and global scientific labs — about why we don’t need more technology at all.We need less hype, less manipulation, and far more courage to question the systems shaping our lives. Together, th
Ep 12: Silicon Valley is Lying to You
In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman speaks with Paul Biggar — founder of CircleCI and DarkLang, and co-founder of Tech for Palestine — a leading voice challenging the myth of “neutral” technology.From inside Silicon Valley’s inner circle to the frontlines of digital justice, Paul unpacks the uncomfortable truths about the industry that claims to build the future.Toget
Ep: 11: We Don't Need More Start-Ups. We Need Belonging
We Don’t Need More Start-Ups. We Need Belonging!In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman speaks with Dr Alexandra David — sociologist at the Institute of Work and Technology in Germany and one of Europe’s leading voices on migration, innovation, and inclusion.Together, they explore:How refugee and migrant entrepreneurs turn displacement into innovation.Why “deprived areas”
Ep: 10: They Call It the Third Sector. But...It’s the First to Show Up.
When systems crumble, who still shows up? In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman speaks with Debra Allcock Tyler, CEO of the Directory of Social Change — one of the UK’s most fearless voices on charity leadership, advocacy, and justice.From shrinking council budgets to silenced community voices, Debra unpacks what it means to lead when compassion itself is under attack.
Ep 9: Future of Healthcare is Human not Digital
Leadership isn’t forged in comfort—it’s shaped in crisis. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr Tabish Zaman sits down with Dominic Morgan, CEO of Rethink Crisis and Founder of the Authentic Leaders Institute, whose journey from army jail to NHS commissioner reshaped how we understand leadership, integrity, and reform.From war zones to hospital corridors, Morgan has led through pres
Ep 8: Entrepreneurship Is Not a Gift From the West!
Displacement isn’t just about borders or bombs - it’s about the systems that strip people of dignity and the ways they resist. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman speaks with Professor Theodore Khoury, one of the world’s leading voices on entrepreneurship in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. From refugee camps in Jordan to the shadow economies of Lebanon, Khour
Ep 7: Crisis Creates Entrepreneurs
When war collapses every system, who keeps communities alive? In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman speaks with Alaa Albakour, director of Localized Action, about how Syrians rebuilt from nothing but trust and necessity. From food committees and youth volunteer networks to women-led initiatives that turned leftover aid into dignity, Alaa shows how resilience emerges no
Ep 6: Humanitarianism uncovered: How Every Refugee Camp is a story of broken Promises!!
Displacement is too often called a crisis. But what if it’s actually a system — one built to manage people, not empower them? In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman speaks with Dr. Philip Proudfoot, political anthropologist and author of Rebel Populism, about how exile has become permanent, how aid budgets follow politics more than need, and why dignity in displacement
Ep 5: The Hidden Heart of Innovation: Resilience
We love the myths: Silicon Valley geniuses, billion-dollar unicorns, “lightbulb moments.” But the truth is far messier. Real innovation is born of necessity — in the relentless grind of failure.In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman speaks with Professor John Bessant — one of the world’s leading voices on innovation and inclusive entrepreneurship. From Edison’s 10,000 f
Ep 4: The Business of Survival: What We Never Ask About Boxes of Aid?
Aid is meant to save lives. But no one wants to depend on it. Families don’t wait in hope for cardboard boxes — they organize, barter, build, and survive. Yet the humanitarian system continues to treat them as passive recipients, delivering assumptions instead of answers. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman speaks with Marina Kobzeva, a former aid recipient turned hu
Ep 3: How One Entrepreneur is Building Human Capital with Technology, AI, and Displaced Communities
Every “smart” AI system — from ChatGPT to self-driving cars — runs on unseen human labor. Behind the algorithms are people in refugee camps, conflict zones, and struggling economies, quietly training the machines that shape our world. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman speaks with Iva Gumnishka — founder of Humans in the Loop and Cartier Women’s Initiative Award win
Ep 2: When Survival Gets Marketed as Entrepreneurship
Every 30 hours, a new billionaire is created.Every 33 hours, a million people fall into extreme poverty. Over 120 million people are now forcibly displaced — not by accident, but by political choices, economic extraction, and systemic neglect. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman examines why refugee and migrant entrepreneurship is so often survival-driven rather than
Ep 1: Entrepreneurship Beyond Profit: Stories of Resilience and Hope
Inequality. Displacement. Digital disruption. What happens when global systems collapse—and people are left to survive without support? In this first episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, host Dr. Tabish Zaman dismantles the myths of modern entrepreneurship and spotlights necessity entrepreneurs who build not for profit, but for survival, dignity, and community resilience. From refugee camps a
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