Welcome to the seventh episode of The Middle Ground, a new talk show and podcast, not on politics, but on the people of Brussels.
With a background in women’s rights, our guest, Georgia Mourad Brooks, built her career around creating spaces where women can thrive. In 2021, she founded The Nine, Belgium's first female-focused members' club.
With British and Lebanese roots, and many lives lived between Canada and Egypt, she’s made Brussels her home while balancing business, family, and a community of powerhouse women. She has a sharp eye for Brussels’ challenges, but also a deep appreciation for its hidden treasures.
In this episode, we discuss how to unpack and embrace complex identities, how to take ownership of our roots, how to raise a family in Brussels and how the city’s catholic tradition is making it more kid-friendly than you might imagine. Georgia also shares her thoughts on entrepreneurship and business building in Brussels and explains why many tend to fail, at first.
The episode is hosted by Viktorya Muradyan.
Caution: After this episode, you might wanna join Georgia’s club. More info on The Nine here.
You can find Georgia on LinkedIn.
🔵 About The Middle Ground
We’re Valeriya and Viktorya, two immigrant best friends who came to Brussels from Ukraine and Armenia. We bonded over war, visas, jobs, and endless receptions, and eventually built a home together – with a blue couch overlooking the Belgian capital and the heart of the EU. That couch has become the place where we laugh, vent, and try to make sense of this city we’ve learned to love. One night, we realised Brussels was missing exactly that: a cosy, human space for honest conversations.
That’s how The Middle Ground was born: a mix between a talk show and a podcast for all the people of Brussels – not just those with titles and badges, but also those who keep the city alive with their work, love, stories, frustrations, victories, and humour. We want to show a Brussels where everyone belongs, and where you can build a beautiful, happy life even before you’ve “made it.”
Every week, we invite someone onto the couch to talk about their journey, their lessons, and the truths we usually only share over coffee or beers. It’s funny, warm, sometimes cheeky, and always real.
👉 Join our community: We need you to make this project work. You are the soul of Brussels, your life and your stories keep this city alive. Subscribe, comment, share your thoughts, and let’s find our middle ground together.
If you are interested in being a guest, please fill out this form, and we will get back to you.
🌍 Follow us on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and TikTok
📧 Get in touch with us: themiddleground.bxl@gmail.com
🔗 Connect with the producers and hosts:
Valeriya Izhyk → Instagram | LinkedIn
Viktorya Muradyan → Instagram | LinkedIn