Navigating Loneliness in the Digital Age: Michael Askew’s Solution for Belonging

In this episode of The Alpha Talks, we meet Michael Askew, the co-founder and CEO of Belong - an app that provides deep, meaningful human connection through organised events and meetups. Belong was set up solely to combat one of the most common and difficult problems that effects our world: loneliness.
Listen to Michael recount his personal journey navigating loneliness and how his experiences helped influence the idea and development of Belong. Crucial moments, such as how he adjusted to life by himself in a different part of the world and how the company lost nearly everything while waiting for a pivotal moment are explored in depth this episode.
Michael shares his thoughts on loneliness, its effects and how to stop it from becoming too big of a problem. He explores what sets Belong apart from other products in terms of the solutions it provides and how users benefited from the app since its release.
Michael Askew has found, recognised and dealt with moments of loneliness in foreign lands, and in the process, gained essential knowledge and experience. By climbing out of the darkness and creating a safe, popular way for people to connect, Michael provides a way to push back against this pressing issue most of us face. His journey is a testament to the power of human connection in an increasingly disconnected world.
00:00 Intro
02:33 Who’s Michael?
05:08 From Saudi to Dubai: one of the best moves in my life
09:09 I used digital apps to connect people
16:30 What to look for in a co-founder
20:30 Current tech knowledge and its importance
25:09 What is Belong and how does it stand out from the rest?
31:41 Finding the pivotal moment and solving problems during a rebrand
35:47 Loneliness is equal to 15 cigarettes a day
39:30 Finding the right moment to scale a business and move overseas
46:05 Making the best use of capital runway
50:09 The last card you turn is the only one that counts
53:28 Being an entrepreneur in the digital age
57:56 What's an Alpha
58:40 Quickfire Insights
01:01:34 Conclusion
Learn more about Michael Askew and Belong via the links below:
/ michael-askew-81642a97
belong.me/
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[@KimberlyGilchrist]

I think Michael should write a book 👏

[@seifelhakim]

agree, Thank you 🙌

[@JazzraDixon]

Closer together, more connected. Great episode. 🔥

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@BarbaraPerry-mu1qm]

Following Michael now, good episode!!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@LillianSmith-mn6rb]

Valuable information!!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@arriiw]

leaving me inspired and empowered🤩🤩thank you the alpha

[@WillieCato]

Another great chapter!!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@EstelleReyes-yg3qv]

It's always good to learn from people who have managed to scale businesses in an impressive way. Good for Michael.

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you

[@DandriaPerkins]

The idea of connecting people is always good 👏🏻

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@OsheenaKnox]

I think it can be very useful for those of us who travel alone and have a hard time connecting 🤯, GREAT EPISODE!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@StephenWestbrook-fx9tx]

YESS SIR, GREAT ONE!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@DonnaeCook]

Excellent work!!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@MariaeLevine]

Excellent show!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@JasonMiller-on6iv]

Excellent !!!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@KatelynRoland]

All this information about loneliness is impactful.

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@CoreyRamirez-im3tb]

Loneliness can be very difficult to cope with, I like this idea!

[@seifelhakim]

agree,

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@ClaudeBeachum]

Of course the human side is also important!!

[@seifelhakim]

exactly, Thank you 🙌

[@JerrySorensen]

It is an innovative approach within so much "plasticity"

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@JulieDaniel-yt1sl]

Great episode, very interesting.

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@SharonMontanez]

I have liked so much the interview 👏

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@NanSchultheis]

We have the Internet but still feel lonely. So true.

[@seifelhakim]

true, Thank you 🙌

[@CatherinerDoe]

Good project! Here's to more ideas like this!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@MeganDavis-lz4fc]

AWESOME.

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@GaryDonelson]

TOP CONTENT! 🔥

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@LyndaeTaylor]

Real meetings!!

[@seifelhakim]

exactly, Thank you 🙌

[@GloriaCollado-iy7fj]

If you focus on delivering the best service/product to your customer, then your business will succeed!!

[@seifelhakim]

exactly, Thank you 🙌

[@KathrynMoore890]

GREAT APP! 💯

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@LyndauOtero]

Excellent Channel Content! Keep going 💯👏

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@CraigChambliss]

Two Alphas talking! 👏

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@annemacomber9736]

Everyone who comes to Dubai ends up loving it!!

[@seifelhakim]

exactlyyy

[@WilliamTerry-jn9du]

Progress mentality! TOP

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@DominicMontes-em5dy]

It has a more human and spiritual meaning!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@WilliamRodrigue-xq9ie]

KEEP IT UP 🗣

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@JamesGeiger-jo8cw]

ALPHA mentality 👀

[@seifelhakim]

exactly Thank you 🙌

[@ZyeashaThornton]

Alright, this app sounds good, I gotta look into it more 👀

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@RodneyWalker-zw6zk]

NEW FOLLOWERS HERE 💯

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@KathyeChan105]

Searching for the authentic is from alphas!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌🙌🙌

[@JoserMcDonald]

🔥👏🏽👏🏽

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@DorothyeBerry]

#GOALPHAS

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌

[@AndreaPeck-el5ds]

🔥🙌🏼

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@KennethStringer-yg3nq]

👏👏

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@JamesMonroe-tr9zs]

Alpha Ideas!

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@JoanTaylor-rx7yy]

I think loneliness kills people, apps like Belong are essential to mitigate this problem and connect with new people.

[@seifelhakim]

True, Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@RobertSegovia-ov2iy]

👀💯

[@seifelhakim]

Thank you 🙌 All the way

[@LeoEscobar-lh8py]

SEIF, do you plan to come to the US?

[@seifelhakim]

Should plan that 🙌

[@SusanRuffin]

How safe is this app, though?

[@seifelhakim]

Very safe

[@BetsyYoung-oi9vs]

Who will be the next guest?

[@seifelhakim]

An Alpha guest

[@seifelhakim]

An Alpha guest

[@user-hw7te8xp1y]

لو سمحت اريد ان تتكلم عربي او حلقاتك تترجم لطفا تحياتي لك

[@anelm9052]

في ميزة اسمها الترجمة التلقائية في الحلقة

[@KizzieHolmes]

Alright, this app sounds good, I gotta look into it more 👀

[@seifelhakim]

Interesting one, Thank you 🙌