Chasing My Hero

by Debbah Dounia

"And to my hero, that's who I chase. When I was 15, a very important person asked me, 'Who's your hero?' I said, 'I don't know. I gotta think about that. Give me a couple of weeks.' Two weeks later, this person asked again, 'Who's your hero?' I said, 'I thought about it. You know who it is? It's me in 10 years.'" - Matthew McConaughey, Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • #9 How to Get Rich (Without Getting Lucky) – A Deep Dive

    #9 How to Get Rich (Without Getting Lucky) – A Deep Dive

    Episode Summary: Have you ever dreamed of financial freedom—of living life entirely on your own terms? In this episode, we explore Naval Ravikant’s wisdom on money, success, and freedom by diving deep into The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. But this isn’t just about getting rich; it’s about shifting your mindset, finding work that feels like play, and understanding that true wealth isn’t just about numbers in a bank account—it’s about time, freedom, and meaning. I also share my personal experiences witnessing extreme wealth—from Barcelona’s yachts to the extravagance of Dubai—and what they taught me about what truly matters. Let’s embark on this journey together, learning from one of the greatest minds on wealth. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction: A Personal Story About Wealth [3:20] Realizing What Wealth Is Really About [5:13] A Deep Dive in The Almanack Of Naval Ravikant's Wealth Formula [52:20] Closing thoughts Resources Mentioned: Shoe Dog, Phil Knight The Almanack Of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson The Anthology of Balaji: A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future by Eric Jorgenson Follow me on Social Media: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dounia-debbah-5ba3b720b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dounia_dbh_bip?igsh=cXJidTd3cGxjcDdy&utm_source=qr On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@douniadbhbip?_t=8oldi9r0xcr&_r=1 On Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chasingmyheropodcast-l5x?si=H1ZZGH5rb87qDMdx

  • #8 The 4 Horsemen of Death: The Diseases That Will Kill You

    #8 The 4 Horsemen of Death: The Diseases That Will Kill You

    Episode Summary: In this episode, I start with a personal story before diving deep into the four horsemen of chronic disease—the conditions most likely to shorten our lives: metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease. Inspired by Peter Attia’s Outlive, we explore what it truly takes to live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. Timestamps: [00:00] - My Personal Story & Why This Topic Matters [12:41] - Medicine 1.0, 2.0, and the Rise of Medicine 3.0 [15:00]- Where Should We Begin: The Strategies [26:46] - What Makes A Centenarian [36:21] - The First Horseman: Metabolic Disease & Obesity [43:05] - The Second Horseman: Cardiovascular disease [48:38] - The Third Horseman: Cancer [56:27]- Alzheimer’s: The Final Battle [1:07:00] - Are All These Screenings & Treatments Really Worth It? [1:11:47] - Final Thoughts & What’s Coming Next Resources Mentioned: Outlive by Peter Attia Mortality by Christopher Hitchens Follow me on Social Media: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dounia-debbah-5ba3b720b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dounia_dbh_bip?igsh=cXJidTd3cGxjcDdy&utm_source=qr On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@douniadbhbip?_t=8oldi9r0xcr&_r=1 On Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chasingmyheropodcast-l5x?si=H1ZZGH5rb87qDMdx

  • #7 From Reflection to Resolution: Lessons from 2024 And A Game Plan for 2025

    #7 From Reflection to Resolution: Lessons from 2024 And A Game Plan for 2025

    Happy New Year ! Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode, we take a moment to reflect on the lessons, growth, and moments that shaped the last months of 2024. Together, we dive into timeless wisdom from Stephen Covey's "Begin with the End in Mind" and the revolutionary concept of the 12 Week Year, exploring how these ideas can help you approach 2025 with clarity, purpose, and momentum. You'll discover how to reframe your year into actionable, impactful sprints and build a vision that fuels your drive. This isn’t just another reflection—it’s an invitation to step into your best self and start chasing your hero. Timestamps: [00:00] Intro [02:35] How I started 2024 [06:52] Matthew McConaughey: We shouldn’t just look for reasons why we fail—we also need to ask why we succeed [9:48] Stephen Covey’s Wisdom: How to begin with the end in mind and build a vision that drives you. [21:33] Reflecting on 2024: Lessons learned, growth experienced, and inspiration for the future. [29:25] Ali Abdaal's 5-steps Process to Actually Achieve our Goals in 2025 [30:43] The 12 Week Year: Why redefining a year as 12 weeks can revolutionize your productivity. [45:25] Closing Thoughts: Gratitude, promises for the future, and wishing you a miracle-filled 2025. Resources Mentioned: Matthew McConaughey https://www.rev.com/transcripts/matthew-mcconaughey-motivational-speech-transcript Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – A guide to living with purpose and intentionality. Ali Abdaal Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WONRS7BLh4g&t=793s Mo Gawdat's Solve for Happy Brian P. Moran’s The 12 Week Year – A transformative system for achieving more in less time. Follow me on Social Media: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dounia-debbah-5ba3b720b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dounia_dbh_bip?igsh=cXJidTd3cGxjcDdy&utm_source=qr On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@douniadbhbip?_t=8oldi9r0xcr&_r=1 On Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chasingmyheropodcast-l5x?si=H1ZZGH5rb87qDMdx

  • #6 Lessons on Fame, Critical Thinking, and Life Decisions

    #6 Lessons on Fame, Critical Thinking, and Life Decisions

    Episode Summary: Love of the Country, Fame, and the Power of Criticism In this episode of Chasing My Hero, we dive into ideas that will challenge the way you see the world—and yourself. What does it mean to truly love your country? Is fame a blessing or a burden? And how can we use criticism, not as a weapon against us, but as a tool for growth? Inspired by the wisdom of thinkers like Naval Ravikant and Charlie Munger, I unpack concepts that will leave you questioning your decisions, your ambitions, and the stories you’ve been telling yourself. We explore the courage it takes to expose your ideas to the world, the pain of rejection, and the unexpected beauty of seeing reality for what it truly is. This isn’t just about decision-making or content creation—it’s about rewiring how you approach failure, criticism, and success. If you’ve ever wondered how to align your deepest values with the actions you take every day, or how to embrace the uncomfortable truths that lead to real growth, this episode will resonate with you. Tune in for a conversation that’s honest, inspiring, and maybe a little uncomfortable—but isn’t that where all great change begins? Timestamps [0:00] Intro – The power of community, Unity, and belonging [5:10] Criticism And Fame [17:05] Learning Critical thinking and Building Judgment [48:35] Closing thoughts Resources Mentioned Amancio Ortega- Founders podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/founders/id1141877104?i=1000678682722 11 Reasons Not to Become Famous (or “A Few Lessons Learned Since 2007 by Tim Ferris https://tim.blog/2020/02/02/reasons-to-not-become-famous/ Blog Post : https://www.prolificliving.com/the-moral-obligation-to-market-and-promote-your-brilliance/ Share Your Work By Austin Kleon The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Charlie Munger (Referenced Quotes) Follow me on Social Media: On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dounia-debbah-5ba3b720b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dounia_dbh_bip?igsh=cXJidTd3cGxjcDdy&utm_source=qr On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@douniadbhbip?_t=8oldi9r0xcr&_r=1 On Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chasingmyheropodcast-l5x?si=H1ZZGH5rb87qDMdx

  • #5 Redefining Failure: What My First Business Attempt Taught Me And How To Do Great Work

    #5 Redefining Failure: What My First Business Attempt Taught Me And How To Do Great Work

    In this episode of Chasing My Hero, I reflect on a pivotal moment in my journey—one where I faced failure, doubt, and the realization that maybe I hadn’t truly started the way I wanted to. I dive into the story of trying to build a business from scratch, the lessons learned from my animated medical YouTube channel, and the challenges of balancing creativity, ambition, and medical school. From hiring my first collaborator—who quit on day one—to grappling with the ethics of charging students like myself, this episode is an honest exploration of what it means to confront flawed ideas, let go of unworkable plans, and refocus on what truly matters. I also share insights from Paul Graham’s essay How to Do Great Work and discuss how ability, interest, and effort are essential ingredients for success—alongside the occasional dash of luck. If you've ever struggled with starting something new, felt overwhelmed by the weight of your dreams, or wondered how to align passion with purpose, this episode is for you. Tune in to explore the beauty of recalibrating your journey and chasing what’s truly worth fighting for. Timestamps [0:00] Intro – Reflecting on the journey so far. [0:57] The Story Of My YouTube Channels [8:36] The Desire To Create A Business – Balancing financial needs with fairness. [11:20] What is valuable enough for me? [11:50] Insights from Paul Graham’s How to Do Great Work – Why ability, interest, and effort are the keys to success. [16:41] The defining decade- Just Work [27:00] Closing thoughts Key Themes The importance of starting imperfectly and learning through doing. Balancing ethical considerations in business. Lessons from failure: letting go and recalibrating your vision. The role of ability, interest, and effort in chasing great work. The intersection of passion and practicality in career and business. Resources Mentioned Paul Graham’s essay: How to Do Great Work https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html Book: The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay My Medical Youtube Channel BIP: https://youtube.com/@bip40?si=EWmFKLZiwa_zjCP4 My first ever YouTube channel Dounia cover songs: https://youtube.com/@douniacoversong316?si=NXeb64I_szqOCCjT My Motivational videos Youtube channel Be The greatest :https://youtube.com/@bethegreatest8933?si=LEOxrHGzuMdUftMv My other singing Youtube channel sing for fun: https://youtube.com/@singforfun6961?si=lpJKLSVlD_KvcVVA Follow me on Social Media: On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dounia_dbh_bip?igsh=cXJidTd3cGxjcDdy&utm_source=qr