Featuring my recent conversation with Sameer on Big Talk
Every so often someone asks me a question that usually takes me by surprise.
“How did you end up doing all of this?”
It’s a fair question.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to work as an aviation electronics engineer, qualify as a pilot, build technology companies, establish a media production business, become known as Bahrain’s “Blogfather,” develop a passion for gardening, and more recently immerse myself in artificial intelligence and mobile app development.
On paper, they appear to be completely different careers.
To me, they’ve always been different chapters of the same story.
Recently I had the pleasure of joining Sameer Uchi on his Big Talk podcast for one of the most enjoyable and personal conversations I’ve had in years. We spoke about entrepreneurship, engineering, blogging, AI, gardening and the philosophy that has quietly guided every project I’ve ever undertaken.
What struck me afterwards was that the conversation wasn’t really about apps, businesses or technology.
It was about solving problems.
I’ve Always Been an Engineer
Although many people know me today through blogging, media or my recent apps, I still think of myself first and foremost as an engineer.
Engineering teaches you a particular way of looking at the world.
When most people encounter a problem, they see an inconvenience.
Engineers see an opportunity.
An opportunity to simplify something.
To improve something.
To remove friction.
To make life just a little bit better.
That mindset has followed me throughout my career—from maintaining aircraft for Gulf Air, to producing television programmes, to designing irrigation systems, to writing software.
The industries changed.
The thinking never did.
Becoming Bahrain’s “Blogfather”
Long before Facebook, Instagram or X existed, I discovered the incredible potential of publishing on the internet.
What began as a personal website eventually evolved into Mahmood’s Den, one of Bahrain’s earliest and most influential blogs.
Over time I somehow acquired a nickname that has stayed with me ever since:
The Blogfather.
It still makes me smile.
Looking back, blogging taught me lessons that continue to influence everything I build today.
Listen carefully.
Be authentic.
Share what you learn.
Keep improving.
And never stop being curious.
The Person Who Inspired My First App
Ironically, my journey into app development didn’t begin with technology.
It began with Mayaan.
When our daughter Mayaan was born, my wife Hanan diligently recorded every aspect of her day—feeding, sleeping, nappies, medication, milestones and countless other observations.
She filled notebook after notebook.
As an engineer, I looked at those pages and immediately thought:
“There’s so much valuable information here… but none of it can actually be analysed.”
Parents spend hundreds of hours collecting information.
Doctors rarely get to benefit from it.
Patterns remain hidden.
Questions remain unanswered.
That observation became the inspiration behind Masadir Child Health Tracker.
Rather than simply replacing a notebook, I wanted to build something that could help parents understand trends, assist healthcare professionals, and preserve a child’s medical history in a meaningful way.
It wasn’t about building an app.
It was about solving a problem.
Technology Should Have Purpose
That same philosophy led to My Medical Vault.
Its purpose became deeply personal when my mother was admitted to intensive care after suffering a pulmonary embolism.
Doctor after doctor asked the same questions.
What medication is she taking?
Does she have allergies?
What procedures has she undergone?
What are her latest test results?
Watching that happen reinforced something I’d already believed.
Critical medical information shouldn’t exist only in paper files or scattered hospital systems.
It should be available when it’s needed most.
Technology should reduce stress—not create it.
Growing More Than Gardens
People are often surprised when they discover that one of my biggest passions is gardening.
I’ve been fascinated by it for more than twenty-five years.
Like most hobbies, it started with curiosity.
It gradually became an obsession.
Eventually it became Garden Affairs, and later inspired another application called GulfGrow.
Gardening in the Gulf isn’t the same as gardening in Europe or North America.
Our climate presents unique challenges.
Extreme temperatures.
High salinity.
Water scarcity.
Different planting seasons.
Different pests.
Different expectations.
I wanted to create a practical guide specifically for people living in our part of the world—something that removes the guesswork and gives gardeners confidence, whether they’re growing tomatoes on a balcony or creating an entire home garden.
Reinvention Isn’t Starting Over
People sometimes describe my career as a series of reinventions.
I don’t see it that way.
I’ve never deliberately tried to reinvent myself.
I’ve simply followed problems that interested me enough to solve.
Aviation.
Broadcast technology.
Media production.
Blogging.
Landscaping.
Artificial intelligence.
Software.
Different industries.
The same curiosity.
My Advice to Entrepreneurs Usually Surprises People
One of Sameer’s questions was about entrepreneurship.
My answer surprised him.
If someone already has a stable career, my first advice is simple:
Stay where you are.
That may sound strange coming from someone who has started multiple businesses.
But entrepreneurship isn’t a fashion statement.
It isn’t for everyone.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with building an outstanding career inside an organisation.
Only when you discover a problem that refuses to leave your mind—something you genuinely believe should exist—should you consider taking that leap.
And even then, don’t chase money.
Money has always been the by-product.
Purpose comes first.
If what you build genuinely improves people’s lives, financial success has a much better chance of following.
Looking Forward
Artificial intelligence has dramatically changed what’s possible for independent creators.
Today, individuals can build products that once required entire software companies.
That’s an extraordinary opportunity.
I’m still learning.
Still experimenting.
Still building.
And, just as importantly, still enjoying the process.
If there’s one message I’d like people to take away from this conversation, it’s this:
Stay curious. Keep learning. Solve real problems.
Everything else has a habit of taking care of itself.
Watch the Full Interview
My sincere thanks to Sameer for such an enjoyable and thoughtful conversation.
If you’d like to hear the full stories—including aviation, blogging, entrepreneurship, Formula One, AI, Garden Affairs, GulfGrow, Masadir Child Health Tracker and much more—you can watch the complete episode below.
I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
If something resonates with you, leave a comment here on Mahmood.tv or under the video. I read every one.
Thank you for your continued support over the years.
— Mahmood Nasser Al-Yousif
Projects Mentioned in this Interview
If anything in this conversation sparked your interest, you can learn more about the projects discussed during the interview below.
- Masadir Child Health Tracker – A comprehensive child health and development tracker for parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals.
- My Medical Vault – Securely store and manage your personal medical history, medications, allergies and healthcare records.
- GulfGrow – The smart gardening companion designed specifically for gardeners across the Gulf region.
- Garden Affairs – Professional garden design, landscaping and maintenance services in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
- Mahmood’s Den – The original blog that earned me the nickname “The Blogfather.”
- Masadir Media – Creative media production and software development for businesses, organisations and entrepreneurs.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this interview, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to leave a comment below or share the article with someone who might find it interesting.
