John Achkar: A Late-night Sarde on Fear, Failure & Finding your Voice | Sarde Podcast

This Sarde is brought to you by our incredible patrons at
/ sardeafterdinner
Without you guys, there is no Sarde (after dinner). Thank you.
In this #Sardeafterdinner, we reconnect with our friend, stand-up comedian, entrepreneur, and NEW late-night talk show host John Achkar. The three of us discuss the fear of failure, the rush to get back up again, create in the face of adversity and thrive outside our comfort zone. Here’s what we talked about:
-From stand-up comedy to TV: is freedom of expression at stake?
-Nightmarish reviews from new audiences
-Pop Culture War vs Actual War
-Are Lebanese people resilient or just in denial?
-Stories about failure, success & grit from Médéa, Mouin and John
في هذه الحلقة من #سردة، نعاود الالتقاء بصديقنا والكوميدي الستاند أب ورائد الأعمال ومقدم برنامج طار الوقت الجديد جون أشقر. نناقش معاً الخوف من الفشل والهمة للنهوض من جديد والإبداع رغم كل الصعاب والتحديات. ناقشنا في هذه الحلقة:
-من الستاند أب كوميدي إلى عالم التلفزيون: هل حرية التعبير في خطر؟
-تعليقات كابوسية من الجمهور
-حرب المشاهير مقابل الحرب الحقيقية القائمة
-هل الشعب اللبناني صامد أم في حالة إنكار؟
-قصص من ميديا ومعين وجون عن الفشل والنجاح والعزيمة
Sarde (noun), [Sa-r-de]: A colloquial term used in the Middle East to describe the act of letting go & kicking off a stream of consciousness and a rambling narrative.
The Sarde After Dinner Podcast is a free space based out of the heart of Beirut, Lebanon, where Médéa Azouri & Mouin Jaber discuss a wide range of topics (usually) held behind closed doors in an open and simple way with guests from all walks of life.
سردة (إسم) سَرْدَةْ : مصطلح بالعامية يستخدم في منطقة الشرق الأوسط للدلالة على الاسترخاء وإطلاق سردية.
يشكّل بودكاست سردة بعد العشاء مساحة حرّة من قلب بيروت، لبنان، حيث تناقش ميديا عازوري ومعين جابر عدّة مواضيع (لطالما) تمّت مناقشتها خلف أبواب مغلقة وذلك بطريقة بسيطة ومباشرة مع ضيوف من شتّى المجالات.
00:00 | The Episode’s Themes
00:01:30 | A Special Message from Us & John
00:02:57 | How Sarde changed John’s life
00:08:02 | From Stand-up Comedy to TV
00:16:33 | Hustling at Work
00:24:34 | Does TV limit comedians’ freedom?
00:27:02 | What makes John’s show different?
00:32:46 | Lebanon’s Comedy O.Gs
00:36:19 | An expat’s confession
00:37:30 | Pop Culture War vs Actual War
00:46:37 | John on Shark Tank
00:54:25 | Médéa, Mouin & John on fearing failure
01:06:01 | “That Boring Friend”
01:08:13 | Finding our “Ikigai”
01:14:48 | The importance of a Support System
01:19:37 | The evolution of being funny
01:27:57 | School Nostalgia
01:31:56 | Career Loneliness (?)
01:38:48 | A pinch of hope
NEW Sarde. Every. Wednesday
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10 PM 🇰🇼 🇶🇦 🇸🇦 🇧🇭 🇹🇷 🇮🇶 🇸🇾 🇯🇴
11 PM 🇦🇪
8 PM 🇫🇷 🇹🇳 🇲🇦 🇩🇿 🇩🇪 🇸🇪 🇮🇹 🇪🇸
7 PM 🇬🇧 🇸🇳 🇨🇮
2 PM 🇨🇦 EST 🇺🇸
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5 AM 🇦🇺 AEST
Don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel for more episodes & clips! It makes a huge difference!
bit.ly/3ytaWfA
تابعوا سردة عبر يوتيوب، أنغامي، سبوتيفاي، أبل بودكاست وجوجل بودكاست
#sardeafterdinner #MedeaAzouri #MouinJaber #JohnAchkar #جون_أشقر
Connect with Sarde | @sardeafterdinner
/ sardeafterdinner
/ sardeafterdinner
/ sardeaftrdinner
Connect with Médéa
/ medea.azouri
/ medea.azouri
Read Médéa’s articles (French):
www.lorientlejour.com/author/...
Connect with Mouin
/ mouin.jaber
Connect with John
/ johnachr
/ johnelachkar
/ everythink.me
Check John’s Tour Dates
www.johnachkar.com/
Watch John’s Late-night Show
www.lbcgroup.tv/episodes/1744...
Listen to Sarde (after dinner) on:
Spotify - spoti.fi/3nBjBGW
Anghami - play.anghami.com/album/101474...
Apple Podcasts - apple.co/3kE9MGn
Google Podcasts - bit.ly/2I6ndjS

[@sardeafterdinner]

Hey Guys! Welcome to SARDE everyone!! Don't forget to Like & Sub to this video for the Algorithm Gods! 00:00 | The Episode’s Themes 00:01:30 | A Special Message from Us & John 00:02:57 | How Sarde changed John’s life 00:08:02 | From Stand-up Comedy to TV 00:16:33 | Hustling at Work 00:24:34 | Does TV limit comedians’ freedom? 00:27:02 | What makes John’s show different? 00:32:46 | Lebanon’s Comedy O.Gs 00:36:19 | An expat’s confession 00:37:30 | Pop Culture War vs Actual War 00:46:37 | John on Shark Tank 00:54:25 | Médéa, Mouin & John on fearing failure 01:06:01 | “That Boring Friend” 01:08:13 | Finding our “Ikigai” 01:14:48 | The importance of a Support System 01:19:37 | The evolution of being funny 01:27:57 | School Nostalgia 01:31:56 | Career Loneliness (?) 01:38:48 | A pinch of hope

[@cocogamie4206]

In a world full of troubles, sarde is the safe place

[@joymj7251]

This guy has a super mentality with a very light witty take on things.. very inspiring.. I enjoyed every minute.. I hope he stays decent and down to earth as he is

[@hodamohamed-yt7od]

I watched this episode and I was having a breakup, every time I remember john and his divorce I tell myself it will pass. thank you

[@mathieubarbar4903]

بالنسبة للناس يلي ما بتعرف...حلقة كتير قوية لدرجة انو بتنحضر مرة تانية...

[@mariamchehade9475]

You guys bring light to the Lebanese people by doing what you're doing. Thank you!

[@antoinefrangieh6081]

Bravo John (et merci Medea et Mouin) pour le recul et la vision. Le changement arrivera grâce cet espoir et à cette lutte contre l’obscurantisme.

[@journeyofatulip467]

One of the best episodes, inspiring and meaningful. Accepting failure … and improving.. wow. I didnt know that it took him all of this work to be where he is, i think he s doing well on lbc giving value and fun and im always checking his instagram👍🏻

[@user-yu8oh5ce7h]

The podcast that makes me feel like I’m back home. Thank u for working hard to keep it entertaining, fun, educational and authentic. ❤️✌️

[@soapkills2213]

19:09 underrated mouin joke I LITERALLY HOLLERED WHEN HE SAID ''SHE'S PRAYING FOR YOU'' LMAOAOA

[@steve.lebanon]

سردة هي احسن شي تعرفت عليه بغربتي كملووووو و ما توقفو

[@mariamadam3389]

John is sooo right about how much you guys do and you have no idea about it. I was literally telling my friend before watching this, I cant focus I need to listen to my podcast, these 2 are the only people now that keep going and doing a good job (I was trying to finish my hw in dental school) you guys are the only thing that is keeping me from feeling burnt out and giving up in our this journey

[@foufayyy]

I love hearing the creative process and people behind his shows

[@andrewgerges8052]

i am so very happy that i got a ticket for his show in lyon… even tho front row was unavailable after just minutes 😭

[@hollybeeme]

I really enjoy Sarde After Dinner! This episode, like all the ones I've watched so far, are so well done, so comfortable, and allow me to become aware of so many talented people out there! Thank you!

[@joumantafnkji8178]

Amazing thank you Medea & Mouin for this. John is great as always. Greeting from Sweden

[@rebeccam5622]

A great Sarde, and we can’t wait to see your show Down Under John ! 🇦🇺 🇱🇧

[@raghadh.al-haideri4502]

كلش احب فكرة المجتمع اللي نعيشه و حرفيا نعمل على بناءه سويةً. واثقة و على اتم اليقين اننا قادرين على جعل الواقع افضل و الرؤية حقيقية بشفافية. مشكورين 🤲🏼🙏🏼❤️ Ps: ارشّح الاستاذ علي فاضل يكون ضيف احد الحلقات المستقبلية. 🫒🫶🏽

[@idksomeone5238]

Hi, my name is Lara from Orlando Florida. I love you guys I listen to you much I can I fee happy when I listen to you. Thank you for that.❤

[@mathieubarbar4903]

Woww! Grand merci du fond du cœur 🙏

[@elsaker]

3 awesome people in one awesome show.

[@ElieToumaHalabi]

One of your best episodes! John Achkar is very inspiring!

[@hananabiakl6939]

Thank you Sarde for hosting the one and only John Achkar! I never saw you a failure even when you thought you failed! Plz come to Ohio Cleveland and I have the funny stop comedy club my friends if you consider we will be honored to have you! Huge Lebanese community in Cleveland Ohio

[@mahashokor]

It’s an interesting and amazing episode 🥺 Failing and Accepting failure and using it to improve ❤️I believe in our generation 🥺❤️❤️❤️

[@talalrenedarjani8752]

Thank you guys ! I really enjoyed watching this episode of sarde !

[@boudihabbouchi2070]

Love you guys, you are fabulous, greetings from UK. XXX

[@karimaboualaynen]

Hello Medea and Mouin you're the best duo on a podcast I watch so please if u can bring Hisham Haddad to sarde❤❤ All the support❤

[@ramysh-xv2im]

super 2awie❤ kl dief 3m iji 22awa mn altani❤ thx m3ine & medea

[@foufayyy]

Heartwarming episode

[@user-kd7je1ey1w]

You make me believe more in our generation❤❤

[@Nutrioo]

I Love your show guys...it is so open civilized and laid-back...keep it up!

[@sarakadamani1584]

Very inspiring! Thank you guys :*

[@NazihRaychouni]

Amazing Episode! So inspiring!

[@ihabammoury2879]

really enjoyed this sarde with John ❤

[@karamaldayeh6669]

حلقة كتير حلوة برافو ❤️

[@zepheonix]

Thanks!

[@sardeafterdinner]

THANK YOU!

[@BROKERLINELB]

Fully inspirational episode this can change a life

[@ghinwabassil7767]

Amazing episode as usual ❤

[@smktube5205]

Amazing one ❤❤

[@yusufabukaarmen270]

kteeeer 7iluw!

[@fayezakil]

Sarna zamen ma hderna sarde helwe awiye la John

[@mikearmani7580]

Love you guys and love the show thank you so mush for what you doing 🙏🙏

[@ChristEmmanian]

You are amazing guys ❤

[@nayirab]

Beautiful sarde🤍

[@harune6594]

I also saw John from afar at Beirut airport bas ma bahdalto xD I was like omg I know that guy from Sarde hahaha great guy

[@emkay1679]

All the best john!!!!! Amazing episode

[@soo6ygirl81]

Amazing episode you guys! Can’t wait for your stand up in Jeddah, just please open the ticketing we need to BOOK FRONT RAW 😬😬😬

[@nadimkhoury5790]

1:24:40 I hope u guys can come to South America. I live in Mexico and there is a huge Lebanese community here and Mexicans from Lebanese origins. There are also lots of Lebanese clubs. Would be more than happy to share more info about this with you guys.

[@ghandourelhabre8221]

Best wishes

[@NajiAbdelKhalek]

please please please have an episode with Fouad Yammine

[@MK-pz5gf]

🤢

[@dianamoukaddem3252]

congratulations John!!!

[@user-tu5kg6wk8s]

Very inspiring episode!🫶🏼

[@jadalmhanna6200]

Wow amazing you are giving great motivation 🔥

[@carolea3782]

Bravo John mwafa2 deyman nchallah w 32bel kel chabeb w sabaya yle2o tari2on ❤

[@monasalem5085]

loved this episode

[@Firashelou]

nice sarde ! i follow John since the beginning and i did not like his jokes at first but now i do because he is evolving well, i met him in te2dim l brevet he was sitting in front of me what a time it was we did well in the exam after all 😄

[@jessica3285]

This episode is surely epic! Love your content guys. W John wa7ch.

[@ranahazim5496]

So fun!!! ♥️♥️

[@DoryMelhem]

Great episode

[@bilalhazzouri8906]

John, please come to Nottingham, the UK. Many Arab people would like to attend your session.

[@petraricha9216]

john love ur sense of humor

[@imadamine]

I really liked John’s ending statement. Hopefully we will have a Lebanon that reflect our generation’s image, a generation of forced expats that left lebanon physically and their souls stayed back home.

[@berthemakhlouf1760]

❤❤❤

[@salamdagherderma2314]

Love u john❤

[@gladysmoussa9639]

❤

[@jehanetman4259]

❤❤❤❤

[@carolea3782]

It’s an excellent sardé 🎉ktir mahdoumin kelkon 😂

[@msa590]

See you in Melbourne in July!

[@RedaMohsen-ik4de]

❤🇱🇧

[@Paj147]

بدنا شادن تيجي تسب لكل وتفش خلقنا ❤️

[@ramleh5]

Ma khasso bel comedy

[@ibrahimantonios]

All what is happening to us in Lebanon has one reason : we refuse to pay the real price of our freedom and we can’t survive by acting as amateurs of freedom

[@wissamberjawi7284]

استاذ معين كيف بقدر اتواصل معك ؟؟؟

[@ashzed5556]

رجاء استضيفو الصحفي "سيد جبيل" ، صاحب قناة "نعرف"

[@yoru4372]

عملو سردة مع نعيم حلاوة

[@charlesdickens2035]

تسمحوا لنا أنه ناخد بيتس من الحلقة ننشرهم على الصفحات الخاصة (الشخصية)؟ لأنه في كلمات انحكت بتلبق ع سوريا متل ما بتلبق علبنان (و ع كتير دول متلنا) وشكراً ع الحلقة الحلوة

[@michelleabousamra8730]

Dawle working from home 😂😂😂

[@basselbeirouti988]

Duisburg in Germany

[@mhdkh7407]

We need Shaden

[@jadgeagea]

If you can bring athletes to ur pod 🙏❤️

[@yousifyoukhana2418]

😂😂😂❤️❤👏🇱🇧👏❤️❤️👍

[@maxtab12]

في اسئال منكن بالترجمة؟؟ جملة عربي وجملة انكليزي؟؟

[@ici70yz49]

فكره لسرده: أتمنى حلقه عن الكفاءات العلميه العربيه التي تتعرض للتمييز في الغرب وخارج دولهم وهم خريجي جامعات غربيه جيده. ألتقيت بشخص لديه دكتوراه في الرياضيات ولكنه عاطل عن العمل لسنتين. ارى الدول الخليجيه تجلب الهندي والاوربي… الخ ولايوجد برامج لتفضيل العربي وتوظيف اشخاص ذو إنجازات. وجذبهم للعمل.

[@malekdrwesh5543]

إذا موضوع مش ترند ف صعب

[@Azantys]

بعدين منقول خلية نحل لل ruche. مش وكر. الوكر منقوله لدبابير. El la rame يعني المجذاف. بس للتوضيح. ما قصدي اذداً اتمنيك. 😂😂

[@Azantys]

معين وميديا. وخاصةً ميديا لأنها كانت واعية منيح لهيديك الحقبة. او لانها عاشت برة ما شافت. على شو مستغربين انو الحرب قايمة بالجنوب والناس ملتهية بظالم وجربوعة والFood blogger. يا جماعة بالاجتياح لمن بيروت الغربية كانت عم تاكل غارات وقصف وما في مي وما في كهرباء وحصار الخ.. بالمنطقة الشرقية كانوا لبنانيين ولا مش بس اهل المنطقة الشرقية بل كتير من المنطقة الغربية على البحور والنايت كلوب وآخر همهم شو عم بيصير بالمزرعة او ببرج ابو حيدر مثلاً. بحرب الجبل لمن لبنانيين مش "اغراب" دبحوا بعض وتشردت العالم كانوا ببيروت بغير عالم. لمن الثنائي فتك ببعضو بال ١٩٨٨ وراح ١٤٠٠ قتيل بالضاحية والجنوب وإقليم التفاح من مجرد الواحد ضهر من الشياح ووصل على مستديرة شاتيلا خلص صار بعالم تاني ما خصوا إذا مواطن اخوه عم بيروح ١٠٠ شقفة. نفس الشي بحرب الالغاء ولك يللي كان بالبترون او بالغربية كان سهر ورقص وفقش ويللا !! حاج تستغربوا هيدا هوي الشعب. او بالاحرى الشعوب اللبنانية. شعب مدّعي قَبَلي ما عندو ولاء لوطن بس معبوده زعيمه.

[@antoniot5081]

Two things: the Lebanese government which is not going to south is already controlled by hizballa And second the Lebanese army is not allowed to be present there in full power following the order of the lovely ثنائي

[@Rex_houLa97]

Are u live in Lebanon ? Or just search

[@user-ck8ye5vg8s]

Guys bsharafkoun jibo sief al walid harb aal podcast and ask him questions like do u support lgbt w hek i really want to see him with u in the podcast

[@walidn.shehabi6211]

"خلية نحل" وليس "وكر نحل"

[@frisbeeking7002]

اكيد ما بتبرّع لناس معهم اطكثر من مليون دولار

[@user-qi4uo8fl9u]

ابن علي جابر ياجماعه تعو تبكي

[@mukhlesalfares5035]

في حرب بجنوب لبنان 😛😛😛😛 بنتقدوا الدرويش الحريري بس مين مشعل الحرب مو مهم ! البودكاست يصنف يساري تحرري جعفري 😛

[@memob8195]

شو بدنا نلحق ندفع اذا بدنا ندفع لكل البودكاست اللي منتابعه . رواتبنا رح تروح ع البودكاست

[@user-sy1lk6ss1b]

lolo

[@danielJkordab]

this show used to be cool, now we see the same people over and over again and it's clear just for marketing! سردة صار إعلام قديم

[@laramkd9544]

Guys I love you but please dont forget about Gaza, there is war in the South but their is a gen0cide in Gaza, please never stop talking about Gaza

[@ihabal.shaabe7491]

خلصة موضة فلسطين!!! يا عيب الشوم انا لغيت اشتراكي لا سمح الله صار حرب علبنان بتحبو نتعاطف معكم شهر و بعدا منناسكم!!!

[@ysalha3504]

صارت حرب بلبنان يا اخي وما حدا لكشنا !!! ومش يس هيك ما ضل مرتزقة من الدول العربية الا ما فات على لبنان وقتل وخرب ودبح !!!

[@ihabal.shaabe7491]

@@ysalha3504 لازم نتعلم من اخطائنا

[@ihabal.shaabe7491]

@@ysalha3504 لازم نتعلم من الأخطاء

[@jesyjess6016]

هيدا شغلهم مافيهم يوقفوه ، وليه اصلا ليقفوه؟؟ شو رح تستفاد فلسطين وقت منوقف حياتنا؟؟ المهم نعلم يلي علينا ويلي منقدر عليه والحياة بدها تمشي

[@AzTO96]

askhaf min hal insan ma shift be7ayati - lame af, unfunny

[@user-yu8oh5ce7h]

The podcast that makes me feel like I’m back home. Thank u for working hard to keep it entertaining, fun, educational and authentic. ❤️✌️

[@aabb8143]

❤❤❤❤

[@odin8720]

❤❤❤