{"podcast":{"title":"Made in Dubai with Spencer Lodge","slug":"made-in-dubai-with-spencer-lodge-1158354","podcast_index_feed_id":1158354,"rss_url":"https://spencerlodge.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"https://spencerlodge.tv/","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/0/c/3/a/0c3a03e060af42aad959afa2a1bf1c87/podcast_artwork.png","author":"Spencer Lodge","episode_count":407,"summary":"Formerly the Unscripted Podcast with Spencer Lodge Join Spencer Lodge as he connects with the most fascinating personalities in Dubai. A city that rose from the desert sands to become one of the most ambitious, innovative and inspiring places on Earth. Behind its glittering skyline are people with stories just as extraordinary - pioneers, dreamers and doers who dared to turn bold visions into reality. Made in Dubai is where those stories are told. Hosted by Spencer Lodge, each episode is a front-row seat to conversations with the people shaping the UAE's future — from business leaders and record-breakers to cultural icons and creative disruptors. But this isn't just about their success. It's about the journey - the risks they took, the challenges they faced and the moments that defined them. It's about the unique magic of Dubai: a place where ambition meets opportunity, where cultures from around the world collide to create something truly special and where anything feels possible. Whether you're an entrepreneur searching for your next big move, someone curious about life in the UAE or simply in need of inspiration, Made in Dubai is your invitation to step inside this vibrant city…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-13T10:19:15.992091+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/made-in-dubai-with-spencer-lodge-1158354"},"episode":{"title":"#403 From Top of Her Class in America to Vice Chancellor | Dr. Amina Al Marzouqi, a Life Built on Discipline and Service","slug":"403-from-top-of-her-class-in-america-to-vice-chancellor-dr-amina-al-marzouqi-a-life-built-on-discipline-and-service","published_at":"2026-06-22T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/made-in-dubai-with-spencer-lodge-1158354/403-from-top-of-her-class-in-america-to-vice-chancellor-dr-amina-al-marzouqi-a-life-built-on-discipline-and-service","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/made-in-dubai-with-spencer-lodge-1158354","url":"https://spencerlodge.libsyn.com/403-from-top-of-her-class-in-america-to-vice-chancellor-dr-amina-al-marzouqi-a-life-built-on-discipline-and-service","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/spencerlodge/Full_Audio_-_Dr._Amina_Almarzooqi_-_University_of_Sharjah_-_Made_in_Dubai.mp3?dest-id=974060","summary":"In 1981, a young Emirati woman convinced her father to let her travel to America to study. On her very first exam in a class of 75 Americans, she came first. That woman is now Vice Chancellor of the University of Sharjah. Dr. Amina Al Marzouqi's story is one of the most inspiring journeys Spencer has covered on this show. After graduating in the US, she came home and was made deputy director of the UAE's entire primary healthcare system. She did her master's degree and went on to help build 106 primary healthcare centres that earned WHO recognition. Twenty four years in education later, she leads one of the UAE's most respected universities. This conversation is full of wisdom. Dr. Amina talks about what university is really for, why a great teacher matters more than a famous institution, and why she believes students need less lecturing and more genuine interaction. She shares what it was like chairing her university's Covid response committee and supporting thousands of students through lockdown. She reflects on running a campus during the missile attacks, why students felt safer on university grounds than anywhere else, and the quiet strength the UAE revealed when it mattered most. Timestamps: 0:00 How hard is it to be a student today with AI, mental health pressure and a region in conflict 1:30 Chairing the Covid response committee and what students needed most during lockdown 8:02 What university is really for: independence, critical thinking and self discipline 12:22 The teacher makes the subject: why a great lecturer matters more than a great university 18:13 Arriving in America in 1981, defying her father, and her first mixed classroom 22:24 The professor who saw her potential and the exam that changed everything 27:40 No management training, one year to get a…","meta_description":"In 1981, a young Emirati woman convinced her father to let her travel to America to study. On her very first exam in a class of 75 Americans, she came fir…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4225,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/made-in-dubai-with-spencer-lodge-1158354/episodes/403-from-top-of-her-class-in-america-to-vice-chancellor-dr-amina-al-marzouqi-a-life-built-on-discipline-and-service/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/made-in-dubai-with-spencer-lodge-1158354/403-from-top-of-her-class-in-america-to-vice-chancellor-dr-amina-al-marzouqi-a-life-built-on-discipline-and-service.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}