Tariq Elmeri

I am so excited to have the first OH MY GUY! on the blog: Tariq Elmeri - the super talented host and producer of the amazing Da Miri podcast. If you are a fan of podcasts, I would 1 billion % subscribe to Da Miri - it is worth every minute.

I caught up with Tariq to find out his answers to our set of questions - voila !

Tariq is the host and producer of Da Miri

What are your bag essentials?

I have what you would call a ‘man bag’ - I have one from Uniqlo called a ‘mini man bag’ - it is basically like these small satchels that you can squeeze in about 3-4 items. I have my phone, OH MY GUM! in mint, a pen and a portable battery on production days and a set of keys. I keep it light so I can find what I am looking for.

What is your favourite your favourite holiday destination?

We have a few different spots for a few different types of holidays. Quick escapes would be Hampshire - we have this little place that we go to very regularly that is super kid-friendly, surrounded by lots of nature, it is dog-friendly which is a key thing for us since we have Mango. We get to go horse-riding, go on lovely long walks and switch off.

I know! I would love to book a trip to Cape town too!

Our big destination would be Cape Town, South Africa or anywhere in South Africa actually. - it seems to be the place that keeps on calling us back - it could be the weather, the food, the people - there are so many elements that make it feel welcoming and it feels like no where that we have been before. This unique aspect makes it exciting for us to keep visiting SA.

Tariq and the cutest puppy Mango

What is your perfect Saturday/Sunday?

I would say at the moment any day that would allow me to switch off from planning and thinking of the future and my work and growing the podcast. That thinking never really stops and constantly being in the digital space where the podcast exists - it is very consuming. A day in Hampstead Heath with the family running, chasing my daughter Jude and playing with Mango, and having conversations with my wife Elham - it feels like you are in a different world so that kind of day is ideal. Or days where you keep your phone away and relax in the living room watching long series and sipping on tea. Family, good company and doing simple things - the key to a perfect day.

What are you watching and/or reading at the moment?

Watching: The Morning Show on Apple TV - it got off to a rough start and my wife and I did something we don’t usually do and we gave it a second chance and now we are hooked. It is a full hour, very well-made, funny, it is about real issues and it is unpredictable so it makes it interesting to follow.

Reading: I am listening to an audiobook called Deep Work - it is about focused success in a distracted world. It has really helped me understand how our minds work and how much you can focus and how being bored is important. All humans, even professionals, cannot focus for longer than 4 hours a day so going beyond that you are not really focusing or engaged in deep work and this fact has really helped me structure and prioritise my day.

What is your dream three course meal?

I am vegan and plant-based most of the time but I might go for a non-vegan option for this one and say a Sunday roast!

OH MY GUM! in Mint or Cinnamon?

Mint, Mint, Mint! I like the cinnamon for a change but if it was a chewing gum flavour that I had to live with, it would be mint.

What should be our next natural flavour?

I like dates - I mix them with my smoothies in the morning. I have no idea how that would work with natural chewing gum but my vote goes for dates.