The Path We Choose
Exploring who we become through the path we choose. This podcast delves into the choices and experiences that shape our identities and lives.
Episodes
The 1% Who Change Generations | Sahil Adeem | Ep. 27
In this thought-provoking episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Sahil Adeem to explore how Allah’s chosen path for us often diverges from the world’s expectations. Sahil dives deep into why most people simply follow the crowd while the rare thinkers—less than 1%—shape generations through independent thought, faith, and purpose.
The conversation uncovers how human
Why Faith Alone Can Change Everything | Episode 26 | Shahrez Hayder & Mohammed Al-Ubaidy
This episode is proudly presented by Ketkoot Iraqi Chargrilled Chicken! The go-to spot for bold Iraqi grilled chicken, whole chicken feasts, and delicious community meals in Mississauga and beyond.
https://linktr.ee/ketkoot
Apply for Shahrez's Inner Circle Mentorship Program:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12Ruwll04qJ-y5y7YfWpnCToaDSo39jWRWVjzXgIsUBM/viewform?edit_requested=true
What if absolute
The Immigrant Hustle That Built a Global Brand | Matt Preschern | Ep. 25
This episode is proudly presented by Ketkoot Iraqi Chargrilled Chicken! The go-to spot for bold Iraqi grilled chicken, whole chicken feasts, and delicious community meals in Mississauga and beyond.
https://linktr.ee/ketkoot
How do you go from starting with nothing in a new country to leading global teams at some of the world’s largest companies? In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host
The Truth About Mistakes, Accountability, and Allah | Shaykh Rasoul & Shahrez Hayder | Ep. 24
This episode is proudly presented by Ketkoot Iraqi Chargrilled Chicken! The go-to spot for bold Iraqi grilled chicken, whole chicken feasts, and delicious community meals in Mississauga and beyond.
https://linktr.ee/ketkoot
Apply for Shahrez's Inner Circle Mentorship Program:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12Ruwll04qJ-y5y7YfWpnCToaDSo39jWRWVjzXgIsUBM/viewform?edit_requested=true
How do we nav
What They Don’t Teach You About Success in School | Hussein Farhat & Shahrez Hayder | Ep. 23
Why do we spend years in school learning facts, but never learn the skills that actually lead to success? In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Hussein Farhat and Shahrez Hayder to explore the real lessons school never taught — about mindset, discipline, personal growth, and navigating life beyond grades.
They discuss why traditional education misses the
How to Manifest Anything Through Faith | Muhammad Al-Ubaidy & Shahrez Hayder | Pt. 1
This episode is proudly presented by Ketkoot Iraqi Chargrilled Chicken! The go-to spot for bold Iraqi grilled chicken, whole chicken feasts, and delicious community meals in Mississauga and beyond.
https://linktr.ee/ketkoot
Why does working yourself to exhaustion sometimes keep you stuck in the exact same place? Why does chasing success feel like pushing opposing magnets together?
In this episo
He Got Tired of Waiting, So He Fixed Montreal Himself | Saad Tekiout & Shahrez Hayder
He Got Tired of Waiting, So He Fixed Montreal Himself | Saad Tekiout & Shahrez Hayder
In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Saad Tekiout and Shahrez Hayder to explore the story behind the Montreal man who went viral for fixing potholes across the city himself.
What started as one simple act of service quickly became something much bigger. Saad began repa
Why "Knowing" Islam Isn’t Changing Your Life | Muhammad Al-Ubaidy & Shahrez Hayder
Why "Knowing" Islam Isn’t Changing Your Life | Muhammad Al-Ubaidy & Shahrez Hayder
Why do so many people have faith and belief but still struggle to take action?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Muhammad Al-Ubaidy and Shahrez Hayder to explore the real gap between faith, discipline, and consistent action.
This conversation breaks down why
Why Women Test Men: Psychology, Attraction & Relationship Dynamics Explained | Shahrez Hayder
Shahrez Hayder on Women Psychology, Attraction & Relationship Dynamics
Why do women test men in relationships and what does it really mean?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Shahrez Hayder to break down the psychology behind attraction, relationship dynamics, and behavioral patterns between men and women.
This conversation explores why wome
You’ve Been Programmed Since Birth | Dr. Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui
You’ve Been Programmed Since Birth | Dr. Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui
Are your thoughts and behaviors shaped by subconscious programming you don’t even realize?
In this episode, Dr. Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui explains how the mind is conditioned from an early age and how that programming influences beliefs, habits, emotions, and life decisions. The conversation explores why people repeat patterns, h
Shahrez Hayder on Islam as a System for Life
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Shahrez Hayder to break down a truth most people misunderstand:
Feeling stuck is not failure. It’s a test.
This conversation dives into why people feel trapped in their careers, relationships, or personal growth journeys—and how these moments are actually shaping a stronger mindset, clearer direction, and de
Hope Comes From Doing: Fighting Injustice Through Action | Ep16 Clip
What does it mean to truly stand up for justice, even when the world around you is changing in ways you never imagined?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Canadian lawyer, law professor, author, and international affairs commentator Faisal Kutty for an intimate conversation about faith, activism, immigrant resilience, and the moral responsibil
Greater Isr*el, Ir*n & The Narrative You’re Fed | Faisal Kutty
Greater Isr*el, Ir*n & The Narrative You’re Fed | Faisal Kutty
What really shapes global views on Greater Isr*el, Ir*n and Middle East politics, and how much of it comes from narrative framing and media bias?
In this insightful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Canadian lawyer, law professor, author, and international affairs commentator Faisal Kutty, who br
The Google Dream Job That Left Me Questioning Everything | Ep13 Clip
What if the dream job you've been chasing isn't the destination at all, but just another chapter in a much bigger story?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with former Google leader Kareem Elsayed for an intimate conversation about faith, entrusting outcomes to God, and what it really means to find purpose beyond prestige.
This conversation begins
The Car That Broke Down at Every Turn: Finding Meaning in Life's Chaos | EP15 Clip
What if life's greatest lessons aren't found in the destinations we plan, but in the breakdowns we never saw coming?
In this powerful clip from The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque explores one of life's most profound truths: the gap between our plans and reality. Through a compelling story about a cross-country journey where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, this conversation
I Reinvented Myself 30 Times: The Art of Personal Transformation | David Herman | TPWC
I Reinvented Myself 30 Times: The Art of Personal Transformation | David Herman | TPWC
What does it really take to reinvent yourself over and over again?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque speaks with entrepreneur and sales leader David Herman, also known as “Sweet Dave,” about the reality of personal transformation, career reinvention, and building a meani
The Green Lights Philosophy: Following Values Over Goals in Leadership | EP14 Clip
What if the biggest obstacle standing between you and your goals isn't external, it's you?
In this powerful clip from The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque continues his conversation with Maleeha Shahid, Deputy Mayor of Whitby, Ontario, as she unpacks one of the most profound leadership philosophies: following your values instead of chasing rigid goals.
Maleeha shares how her journey int
From Pakistani Immigrant to Canada’s Deputy Mayor: Maleeha Shahid’s Leadership Journey | TPWC
From Pakistani Immigrant to Canada’s Deputy Mayor: Maleeha Shahid’s Leadership Journey | TPWC
How does a Pakistani immigrant rise to become a Deputy Mayor in Canada?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Maleeha Shahid, the Deputy Mayor of Whitby, Ontario, public servant, leadership coach, and author. Her journey from arriving in Canada as an im
Why Letting Go of the Wheel Totaled My Car | EP13 Clip
What if the key to overcoming life's biggest challenges isn't about controlling the outcome but mastering your response to it?
In this powerful clip from The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque explores one of the most misunderstood concepts in personal growth: the balance between faith, effort, and surrender. This conversation dives deep into the psychology of control, emotional release, a
Why I Left Google: From Dream Tech Job to Finding Purpose | Kareem Elsayed
Why I Left Google: From Dream Tech Job to Finding Purpose | Kareem Elsayed
Why would someone leave a high-paying job at Google?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), Umer Farooque speaks with former Google leader Kareem Elsayed about why he walked away from a dream tech career and what success really costs behind the scenes.
After nearly a decade inside Big Tech, Kareem had wha
How Body Language Reveals Everything About Character | EP12 Clip
What separates good coaches from truly great ones? It's not just strategy or tactics—it's the ability to listen, communicate, and see beyond the game.
In this clip of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque continues his conversation with veteran soccer coach, broadcaster, and author Glenn Crooks, diving deep into the human side of coaching: communication, leadership, and the power of liste
50 Years of Coaching Wisdom: Leadership, Football Strategy & Player Development | Glenn Crooks
50 Years of Coaching Wisdom: Leadership, Football Strategy & Player Development | Glenn Crooks
What does 50 years of elite football coaching teach you about leadership, mindset, and building winning teams?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque speaks with veteran soccer coach, broadcaster, and author Glenn Crooks about high-performance coaching, player develop
Why High Performers Burn Out More (And How to Recover) | EP11 Clip
In this clip of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with burnout recovery expert, speaker, and author Cait Donovan to unpack the growing burnout epidemic affecting professionals across North America.
This conversation explores the real causes of burnout, how chronic workplace stress impacts the nervous system, and why burnout is not just a mental health issue but a physical an
The Burnout Epidemic Explained: Causes, Recovery & Workplace Mental Health | Cait Donovan
The Burnout Epidemic Explained: Causes, Recovery & Workplace Mental Health | Cait Donovan
In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with burnout recovery expert, speaker, and author Cait Donovan to unpack the growing burnout epidemic affecting professionals across North America.
This conversation explores the real causes of burnout, how chronic workplace stress i
Why You Don't Need a Gym to Stay Healthy | EP10 Clip
What if the fear holding you back isn't telling you to stop—it's telling you to pay attention?
In this clip of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with somatic practitioner and wellness expert Rochelle Rice for a deeply insightful conversation about intuition, fear, confidence, and the power of embodiment. This clip explores how our bodies hold the answers we're searching for—
The Body-Mind Connection Explained: Healing, Trauma & Emotional Wellbeing | Rochelle Rice
In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with somatic practitioner and wellness expert Rochelle Rice to explore the powerful body–mind connection and how healing, trauma, and emotional wellbeing are deeply interconnected.
This conversation dives into how unresolved trauma lives in the body, how emotional patterns shape our nervous system, and why true healing req
The Confidence Exercise That Actually Works | EP09 Clip
What if the difference between success and struggle isn't talent, intelligence, or opportunity—but something far more fundamental?
In this powerful episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque dives deep into the psychology of confidence, communication, and self-awareness with an expert who has dedicated their career to helping people unlock their authentic voice and transform how the
How to Build Unshakeable Confidence | Karol Ward | TPWC EP09
In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Karol Ward, TEDx speaker, author, and expert coach specializing in confidence, communication, and self-awareness.
Karol is best known for her powerful TEDx talk “Finding Your Voice”, where she explores how authentic self-expression can unlock personal and professional transformation. In this deeply insightful conversa
The Hard Truth About Starting a Business | EP08 Clip
Is Your Product Really Enough to Succeed?
In this eye-opening clip from The Path We Choose podcast, Rohail Hasan Siddiqui breaks down a crucial lesson that most founders overlook: products don’t sell themselves.
The truth? No matter how amazing your product is, without the right sales strategy, storytelling, and human connection, you’ll be left in the dust. Find out why Rohail believes that re
Pakistani Entrepreneur Builds a Global AI Business | Ahsan Mashkoor | TPWC EP08
In this episode of The Path We Choose (TPWC), host Umer Farooque sits down with Ahsan Mashkoor, the Pakistani entrepreneur who built WAI Industries, a global AI company, from scratch. From navigating challenges in starting a business with limited resources to innovating in the AI space, Ahsan shares his journey of resilience, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
This conversation is packed with acti
The Hidden Power of Body Language in Communication | EP07 Clip
What if the difference between getting hired and getting ignored isn't your resume—it's how you tell your story?
In this powerful continuation of the conversation with Rohail Hasan Siddiqui, founder of Master Orator and corporate communication coach, host Umer Farooque dives deeper into the non-verbal side of communication—the body language, facial expressions, and storytelling techniques that se
Why Anyone Can Be a Great Public Speaker | EP07
What if the most powerful tool you have isn’t your résumé, your network, or your technical skills? What if it’s simply how well you communicate—and how intentionally you listen?
In this episode, host Umer Farooque sits down with Rohail Hasan Siddiqui, founder of Master Orator and corporate communication coach. They dive into the art of public speaking, the ethics of communication, and why being a
The Truth About Sales Nobody Tells Beginners | EP06 Clip
Most people struggle with sales because they quit too early.
This conversation dives into why closing takes volume, how to overcome the fear of being pushy, and why delivering results matters more than short-term profit. A real look at sales, trust, and long-term thinking.
Outbound, Sales, and the Mindset That Built a 7-Figure Business | EP06
What if success in business isn’t about talent, luck, or having the perfect idea?
What if it’s about committing to one direction long enough that failure becomes unreasonable?
In this raw and deeply honest episode, host Umer Farooque sits down with Josh Dueck, founder of JKD Agency, to unpack what it actually takes to build a business from nothing—no safety net, no shortcuts, and no excuses.
Jo
The Secret to Scaling Your Business Through Better Systems | EP05 Clip
Email isn’t just a personal nuisance—it’s a business asset. Learn how to create processes, delegate effectively, and optimize your workflow so your business runs smoothly, even if you’re a small team or solo entrepreneur.
KAOS to Systems: Building a Business That Runs Without You | EP05
What if the cure to chaos in your business—and your life—isn’t a new tool, hire, or strategy?
What if it’s simply getting clear on what you actually do, how you do it, and why it matters?
In this deeply practical episode, host Umer Farooque sits down with Deanne Kelleher, founder of Kaos Group and author of the upcoming book Organize Optimize Profit, to explore the systems, processes, and human
Your Phone Is Rewiring Your Brain and You Don’t Even Notice | EP04 Clip
Dopamine used to come from effort, creativity, and connection. Now it comes cheap from endless scrolling. When boredom turns into stress and stress turns into screen time, your brain slowly rewires itself. This is why death scrolling isn’t harmless and why learning to step away matters more than ever.
How Sleep, Stress & Modern Life Are Making Us Sick | EP04
What if the cure to modern stress, anxiety, and chronic illness isn't found in the future—but in our evolutionary past?
In this groundbreaking episode, host Umer Farooque sits down with Dr. Patrick Owen, evolutionary biologist, nutrition scientist, and author of upcoming book The Mismatch Era, to explore why modern humans are struggling—and what we can do about it.
Dr. Patrick’s journey began wi
The Power of Perspective with Tammy Cunnington | EP03 Clip
Tammy Cunnington’s journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and the power of perspective. After a life-changing accident at age six, Tammy navigated years of recovery, learning to adapt to a new reality while finding her identity through sport.
How a Six-Year-Old Plane Crash Survivor Became a 2x Paralympian | EP03
In this powerful and deeply moving episode, host Umer Farooque sits down with Tammy Cunnington, a two-time Paralympian, author, and resilience advocate whose life story redefines what it means to overcome adversity.
At just six years old, Tammy's life changed forever when a plane crashed at an air show, leaving her in a wheelchair and severely damaging her left arm. What followed was a year in th
Bob Molle on Eastern Philosophy: Building Strength, Relationships & Unlocking True Potential
In this insightful episode, Bob Molle dives deep into his journey with Eastern philosophies and the life-changing lessons he’s learned along the way. Discover how he embraced the principles of integrity, inclusiveness, and honesty, and how these ancient teachings shaped his approach to wrestling, business, and relationships. Bob discusses the powerful concept of “relations vs. relationships,” emph
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable (Bob Molle's Playbook) | EP02
Olympic silver medalist, two-time Grey Cup champion, and six-time Hall of Famer Bob Molle shares the unfiltered playbook behind resilience, relationships, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable.
Born into a competitive household in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan—one of four boys constantly wrestling, fighting, and competing—Bob learned early that life rewards those who refuse to settle. By age 21,
How Marco Pasqua Turned Every “No” Into His Life’s Purpose | EP01
Speaker, entrepreneur, and accessibility advocate Marco Pasqua shares how resilience, authenticity, and The CUBE Principle helped him transform early adversity into lifelong purpose.
Born three months premature and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 18 months, Marco grew up without special accommodations. His parents pushed him to adapt, problem-solve, and refuse limitation. Lessons that shaped the
The Path We Choose | Trailer
Welcome to The Path We Choose, a podcast built on one simple obsession:
Why do people become who they become? Ever since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by the minds behind the stories—the doctors, athletes, scientists, innovators, and everyday people who chose a path and committed their lives to it. That curiosity only grew as I built my publishing company and met individuals from every corne
