Koom Stories with Sham Essadki
Hosted by Hicham "Sham" Essadki
Private reflections on the warrior’s path, the seeker’s heart, and the builder’s hands.
Step into a quiet corner of the riad at the Koom Martial Arts Retreat Center in Marrakech.
"Koom Stories" is an intimate collection of monologues from founder Hicham “Sham” Essadki—a place where the microphone is passed not to guests, but inward.
Here, in his own voice, Sham bridges worlds often kept apart:
The discipline of the martial artist and the surrender of the Sufi,
the vision of an entrepreneur and the stillness of a meditator,
the strength to protect and the wisdom to hold space.
Each episode is a solo reflection drawn from a life lived at the crossroads—stories of building a sanctuary in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, and the personal transformations that unfolded along the way. You’ll hear about the focus found in a fighting stance, the humility hidden in a sacred teaching, and the very real challenges of turning a dream of refuge into a living, breathing community.
This is for you if you’ve ever:
- Sought depth behind the technique, meaning behind the movement.
- Felt called to create a space where others can heal or grow.
- Longed for a practice that strengthens both the body and the spirit.
- Believed that leading and serving can be the same sacred act.
Sham speaks to the warrior in you—the part that values integrity, resilience, and protection.
He speaks to the seeker in you—the part that craves truth, beauty, and connection.
He speaks to the guardian in you—the part that builds, nurtures, and stays loyal to what matters.
Through these personal narratives, you’ll explore:
• The Sufi Principles in Motion – how breath, presence, and surrender transform physical practice into moving meditation.
• The Architecture of Sanctuary – honest talk about creating a business that is both sustainable and sacred, a space that is both safe and transformative.
• The Integration of Strength & Softness – why real wellness isn’t about escape, but about cultivating the grounded capacity to meet life fully.
Koom Stories is not a lecture. It’s a conversation with a guide who has walked the path before you—offering neither shortcuts nor easy answers, but companionship and clarity for your own journey.
Press play. It feels like a talk shared over mint tea after the evening training.
You leave with a quieter mind, a softer heart, and a clearer way forward.
Listen. Reflect. Rise.
Subscribe to Koom Stories with Sham Essadki, wherever you listen.
www.KoomRetreatCenter.com Marrakech, Morocco
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
What does it truly mean to take the essence of a retreat center beyond its physical walls and into the world?
In this soul stirring monologue, Hicham Essadki - founder of Koom Retreat and lifelong student of Moroccan Sufi traditions - shares the profound insights, challenges, and unexpected blessings of Bringing sacred practices to urban environments.
Join Hicham as he reveals:
🌍 Why Brussels is just the beginning - How traveling with your retreat creates global community instead of isolated experiences
💼 The 8-to-6 worker's secret weapon - Adapting Sufi heart traditions and martial arts for people who can't "escape" to the desert
🔥 The post retreat gap most centers ignore - How Koom is building lasting circles in cities so transformation doesn't end at checkout
💡 For retreat creators - Why This approach isn't just marketing...it's mission-critical for the future of Sacred work
This is more than a podcast episode - it's a call to remained what retreats can be. whether you are a facilitator dreaming bigger, a seeker craving real-world spirituality, or simply curious about the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern life...press play
🔗 Links
👉 Join Brussels Koom Community : https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ke11du0kmf3FVgmIDFpvuU
👉 Join the Koom Retreat Marrakech waiting list:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KV9mwRCvKCRHRdq8RWTiuk
#retreatrevolution #sacrednotSecret #koomworld
Monday May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
What happens when you take the deep, earth rooted practices of a Moroccan retreat center and drop them into the heart of a bustling European city? This July, Koom Retreat Center Founder Hicham Essadki is embarking on a radical experiment: bringing Sufi heart traditions, martial arts and Embodied mindfulness to Brussels - not as an escape from modern life, but as a transformation of modern life.
In this trailer. you will get a sneak peek at :
🔥 Why cities are the next frontier for retreat work (and why the 9-to-5 worker needs this now more than ever)
🌙 How to adapt Sacred practices for subway rides and lunch breaks (without diluting their power)
💡 The big questions this trip will answer (Can 90 minute sessions create real change? Can a park replace a mountaintop?)
For retreat leaders, this series will be a masterclass in taking your work on the road. For seekers. it's proof that transformation doesn't require quitting your job. And for the Koom community, it's the birth of something new.
Subscribe now - First episodes drops Tuesday May 27th. Where should we go next?
Sunday May 25, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Have you ever felt the quiet, gnawing madness of chasing what isn’t there? The next achievement, the next validation, the next *version* of yourself—always just out of reach? In this profound and soul-stirring episode, we explore how our obsession with the unseen is not a flaw, but a hidden invitation—one that leads us back to the raw, unfiltered truth of who we are.
Join us as we unravel:
- Why the restlessness you feel isn’t a curse, but a call to awaken
- How the present moment—your breath, your body, your frustrations—holds all the signs you need for real transformation
- What happens when you stop running and finally let reality teach you
Set against the backdrop of Koom Martial Arts Retreat in Marrakech, this episode is an ode to those who are done with distractions and ready to confront what’s real. Whether you’re a seeker longing for depth, a retreat facilitator crafting spaces for awakening, or simply someone who senses there’s more to life than the chase—this is your sign.
The dojo is open. Will you step in?
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
🔥 Episode description:
The Raw Truth abiut running a retreat center (you've never heard before)
Ever wonder what it really takes to run a retreat center? Hicham Essadki, founder of Koom Retreat Center Marrakech, pulls back the curtain on the chaotic, Sacred, and deeply human side of holding space - from last minute gluten free meltdowns to the moment a guest whispers, "this place saved me"
💡 You'll discover:
▪︎ The #1 mistake new retreat owners (it s not what you think)
▪︎ Why a perfect retreat is the opposite of transformational
▪︎ A simple koom ritual that leaves guests in tears (in the best way)
This isn t just a podcast - its a wake up call for anyone dreaming of opening a retreat center, feeling burnt out as a facilitator, or craving a life of real impact.
Listen now...and remember why you started. 🌿
[🚀 Share if you believe in spaces that heal!]
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
Listen if you ever wondered:
"How do i cretate a retreat people remember - not just instagram"
Saturday May 17, 2025
Friday May 16, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025