Made in Dubai with Spencer Lodge
Made in Dubai with Spencer Lodge, formerly the Unscripted Podcast, features conversations with fascinating personalities in Dubai. Host Spencer Lodge interviews pioneers, dreamers, and doers who are shaping the UAE's future, from business leaders and record-breakers to cultural icons and creative disruptors. Each episode focuses on the journeys behind their success—the risks, challenges, and defining moments—alongside the unique magic of Dubai as a place where ambition meets opportunity. The podcast offers inspiration for entrepreneurs and anyone curious about life in the UAE.
Episodes
#413: Nick Watson built a special running chair and bike so his disabled son could race triathlons by his side.
Nick Watson is a former Royal Marine who moved to Dubai in the late 1990s and later founded Team Angel Wolf, a nonprofit built around his son Rio, who is 23 and lives with a rare chromosome condition. The wider mission behind Team Angel Wolf, teaching communities and schools across the UAE what real inclusion looks like. Timestamps 0:57 Nick and Spencer meet after 21 years of near misses 2:12 Why
#412: Why getting a health check once a year could save you a lot of money, and it might just even save your life | Dr. Hasan Alogaily
Dr. Hasan Alogaily is a global expert in longevity, and he's here to cut through the noise. Peptides, supplement stacks and expensive therapies dominate the conversation online, but he says none of it matters if the basics aren't in place first. In this conversation, Hasan explains why lifestyle is the real foundation of a longer life, how often you should actually be getting your bloods checked,
#411: She Rescued 682 Children | Hannah Badi, CEO of Himalayan Entrepreneur Resources
She grew up in a community that Nepal doesn't count. Below all 126 castes. Girls in her village had no access to education, healthcare, or transport. From the age of 11, they were sold. Hannah Badi was nearly trafficked at 9 years old. She escaped at midnight with 32 girls and a stone in her hand. She went on to rescue 682 children. Her sister is now a minister of Nepal. This is one of the most po
#410: She Survived a Liver Transplant. Then Questioned If She Deserved It. | Nadia Musiuk Liver transplant survivor
Her son was 12. While she was on the waiting list for a donor liver, he went home and Googled everything she was too scared to search. She came through the surgery. And then sat with a question that stopped everyone in that room. Dr. Kaiser Raja, her surgeon at King's College Hospital Dubai, is also in this conversation. And Spencer does something in this episode that Nadia did not know was coming
#409: The Truth About Medical Insurance in Dubai That Nobody Tells You Until It Is Too Late | Sam Douglas, Insurance Broker of Beneple
Most people in the UAE assume their company medical plan is there to look after them. Sam Douglas has spent 13 years on the other side of that assumption. This is one of those conversations that changes the way you think about something you assumed was straightforward. Sam is honest, specific, and genuinely good at explaining a world most employees never get to see inside. Time stamps 0:00 Intro
#408: Your Employer is Gambling with Your Gratuity | Safa Bouzidi, Managing Director of Daman Investments
Most people in the UAE have spent years building a career and assuming their gratuity is sitting somewhere safe, waiting for them when they leave. Safa Bouzidi is one of the few people who will actually tell you what is happening to it. If you work in this country and you have never asked your company where your end-of-service money is, this is the conversation that will make you start. Timestamps
#407: THE CEO OF LEO BURNETT JUST CALLED OUT HIS OWN INDUSTRY | Nadim Ghrayeb, CEO of Leo Burnett
We talked about what the advertising industry actually gets wrong, and why most agencies won't tell you. We got into Jaguar, Ferrari, data, creativity, and the uncomfortable truth about what really makes a campaign work. And then halfway through, he said something that had nothing to do with any of that. Sixteen years. That's how long he's been sitting with something most men in this part of the w
#406: Success Has Nothing to Do with What You Build | Paul Evans, CEO of Solutions Leisure
Paul Evans is the CEO of Solutions Leisure, one of the most recognised hospitality brands in the UAE with 23 venues across the region. But that is not the reason we brought him in. He grew up dyslexic and spent years being told he wasn't enough, and the decisions he made in his early twenties landed him in a UK prison cell at 21. What followed was years of searching for something he couldn't name,
#405: Sami Kayyali: Most CEOs Are Terrible Communicators and Nobody Tells Them
Sami Kayyali is the founder and managing director of Rekarda, one of the most specialist communications businesses in the UAE. But the work he does is not what most people think. He is not building slides. He is sitting behind the scenes of the rooms where the most consequential decisions in the region get made, shaping how CEOs, government entities and multinational boards communicate before they
#404: Dennis McGettigan, From a House of Ten in Dublin to Dubai's Biggest Pub Empire
Dennis McGettigan is the founder and CEO of McGettigan's, one of the most recognisable hospitality brands in the UAE. But the story behind it starts in Dublin, in a house with ten children run "like a business", where the kitchen was locked at 7pm and every kid got jobs and five pounds a week. His father started as a dishwasher on the QE1 at nineteen, bought his first pub for eight thousand pound
#403 From Top of Her Class in America to Vice Chancellor | Dr. Amina Al Marzouqi, a Life Built on Discipline and Service
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 o
#402: Stop Feeling Guilty. It Is a Wasted Emotion. | Dame Heather McGregor on Reinvention, Breaking Barriers and Why It Is Never Too Late
Known to millions as Mrs. Moneypenny from her 16 year Financial Times column, Heather has been an investment banker, executive search entrepreneur, Edinburgh Fringe performer, off Broadway actress, PhD holder, chartered accountant and now Provost of Heriot-Watt University Dubai, overseeing 5,500 students and 600 staff. She qualified as a chartered accountant three weeks before her 60th birthday.
#401 "Dubai Is Not as Easy as You Think" | Jason Grundy, MD of Robert Walters on Hiring, Talent and the Truth About the UAE Job Market
Most people arrive in Dubai thinking the opportunities will find them. Jason Grundy has spent 25 years watching that assumption play out badly. As Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Robert Walters, Jason has seen every side of the hiring market. The candidates who oversell themselves. The companies that leave great people waiting a month for feedback and wonder why they lost t
#400: 8 Years. 400 Episodes. The Guests Spencer Never Forgot | Ashley Cain, Paul Griffiths, Rachel Conlan & Daniel Priestley
Eight years. Four hundred episodes. And Spencer still can't quite believe it. For the 400th episode, Spencer sits down to reflect on the podcast that has shaped him as much as he has shaped it and revisits four conversations that moved him, changed him, and that he hasn't been able to stop thinking about. None of this happens without the people who have shown up every single week for eight
#399 "The Doctor Is Not Always Right" | Hein Van Eck, CEO of Mediclinic Middle East on AI, Future of Hospitals, and Why Dubai's Doctors Are World Class
"The Doctor Is Not Always Right" Hein Van Eck is a healthcare actuary by training, a breed of thinker who sits at the intersection of data, ethics, and human behavior. He started in insurance in South Africa, was handed his career-defining job after answering a single ethical question correctly, and has spent the last 20 years on the provider side watching an industry transform in real time. H
#398 Katy Keenan, CEO of BCCD, on Rebuilding and Why Success in the UAE Takes Longer Than You Think
Katy Keenan has turned the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai into one of the most respected business communities in the UAE 1,200 members across 29 sectors, a board that's now 50% women, record profits donated to charity, a 98% satisfaction rating, and a LinkedIn following that grew from 6,000 to nearly 33,000 with no marketing budget whatsoever. Just authentic storytelling, genuine relationships
#397: "It's Not If You'll Be Attacked, It's When" | Ossama, CEO of GBM on AI, Cyber War, and more
Ossama El Samadoni leads GBM, one of the most respected technology organisations in the region, with over 300 employees, triple-digit million dirham revenue, and clients across the Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Russia. The disappointment that derailed his dream is exactly what built him. But this isn't a story about career pivots. It's a conversation that should make every business leader in thi
#396: From 1 table to 112 Venues Across 26 Countries | Antonio Gonzalez, CEO of Dubai's Biggest Hospitality Group
He opened his first venue from a counter so small it could barely fit a table. No hotel background. No hospitality degree. Just restlessness, a borrowed chef, and a bet on Dubai. Twenty years later, he runs 112 venues across 26 countries, employs over 7,000 people worldwide, and is navigating one of the most uncertain periods this city has ever seen. In this episode, Spencer sits down with Ant
#395: 45 Years, 7 Tech Waves & a $1.5 Billion IPO at 71 | Fayez Ibbini on Building Alpha Data, AI & Why Retirement is a Lie
He arrived in Abu Dhabi in 1981 when roads turned to soft sand and ceilings collapsed because villas were built with saltwater cement. He came for six months. He never left. Forty-five years later, he just took his company public at a $1.5 billion valuation and he's 71 years old with zero plans to stop. In this episode, Spencer sits down with Fayez Ibbini, founder of Alpha Data, one of the UAE
#394: "Technology Is NOT the Future of Education" - The CEO of 36 Schools, Alan Williamson on Education, Leadership & Sacrifice
He grew up on a council housing estate in the Shetland Islands. His family were coal miners and civil servants. He had no connections, no privilege, and no clear path. Today, he runs one of the UAE's largest education groups — 36 schools, 36 nurseries, 50,000 students, and a publicly listed company worth over a billion dirhams. In this episode, Spencer sits down with Alan Williamson, CEO of Ta
#393: "I Gave Myself Cancer" | Dave Catudal on Stress, Health & The Power of the Mind
This episode explores the connection between mind and body, the truth about stress and illness, and why Dave believes: "You either make yourself sick… or you make yourself healthy." In this episode, Spencer sits down with Dave Catudal, a serial entrepreneur, health coach, and supplement formulator whose life has been shaped by loss, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of understanding the human
#392: From Radio to 130M Followers | Alex Hirschi aka supercarblondie on Building a Global Brand
What does it really take to build one of the most powerful personal brands in the world? In this episode, Spencer sits down with Alex Hirschi, known globally as Supercar Blondie, one of the most successful automotive content creators and entrepreneurs today. But behind the supercars and global audience of over 130 million followers is a very different story. From moving to Dubai in her e
#391 From Nurse to CEO | Kimberly Pierce on Leadership, Healthcare & Building a Culture of Care
How do you go from leaving school early to leading one of Dubai's top hospitals? In this episode, Spencer sits down with Kimberly Pierce, CEO of King's College Hospital Dubai, whose journey into leadership was anything but planned. From describing herself as a "bad girl at school" who left before finishing year ten to returning to night school to earn her qualifications and pursue nursing,
#390: From ADHD & Dyslexia to Building a Global Business | TheAquaman on Turning Struggles into Strength
What if the challenges you were given were actually your biggest advantage? In this episode, Spencer sits down with Ahmed Ben Chaibah, an entrepreneur who turned ADHD and dyslexia into the very traits that fueled his success. What many see as limitations, he learned to use as a competitive edge. From early struggles in school to building a business empire spanning 33 countries, Ahmed's jo
#389: Inside Dubai's Most Prestigious School | Dubai College Headmaster Tomas Duckling on Education, Character & The Future of Learning
What should schools really be teaching the next generation? In this episode, Spencer sits down with Tomas Duckling, Headmaster of one of the most prestigious schools in the UAE, to explore the pressures shaping modern education, the role of parents in an increasingly competitive system, the impact of technology and AI on learning and why the future of education must focus on building good huma
#388: The Most Controversial Voice in Wellness? Barbara O'Neill on Natural Healing, Modern Medicine & Questioning Everything
Modern medicine has achieved incredible breakthroughs. But what happens when someone challenges the entire system? In this episode, Spencer sits down with Barbara O'Neill, one of the most talked-about and polarizing figures in the global wellness space. Loved by many and criticized by others, Barbara has built a massive following by encouraging people to question mainstream health advice and e
#387: Are We Finally Winning Against Cancer? Dr. Patrick on IL-15, NK Cells & The Pandemic of Cancer
Cancer is not a foreign invader. It is a failure of defense. In this episode, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, surgeon, scientist, inventor and one of the most influential figures in modern medicine, lays out a radical idea: your body already knows how to defeat cancer. The question is whether we are activating it… or suppressing it. Born in apartheid South Africa and driven by what he calls a duty
#386: Passive Blessings Over Passive Income: Fadie Musallet on Success, Faith & Giving Back
Success looks impressive. Impact feels different. In this episode, Fadie Musallet shares his transformation from a troubled youth in Miami to a purpose-driven entrepreneur and philanthropist in Dubai. This is not just a business story. It is a story about redemption, faith, resilience, and choosing to build a legacy that serves others. This conversation explores what really shapes a man.
#385: From Trauma to Triumph: Dr. Gian Power's Journey of Resilience and Leadership
Trauma changes you. For some, it becomes a weight that never lifts. For others, it becomes a catalyst. In this episode, Dr. Gian Power shares the deeply personal story that shaped his life and leadership journey. From childhood shyness and quiet ambition to navigating the devastating and unresolved murder of his father, this conversation explores how unimaginable loss can redefine purpose. Dr. Gia
#384: Unlocking the Subconscious: Hypnosis, Trauma & Transformation with Ebrahim Turner
Hypnosis is often misunderstood and dismissed as performance or placebo. In this conversation, Ebrahim Turner, widely known as the "billionaire hypnotist," breaks down what hypnosis really is and why it has become one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional transformation. From rewiring habits and addressing deep-rooted trauma to improving performance in business and hi
#383: From External Success to Inner Struggle: Lousin Mehrabi in Conversation with Spencer Lodge on Rejection, Family Pressure & Finding Self-Worth
In this conversation, Lousin Mehrabi sits down with Spencer Lodge for an open and reflective discussion that goes beyond surface-level success. Through thoughtful questioning, Lousin encourages Spencer to open up about the gap between external achievement and internal fulfillment and how family expectations, particularly his relationship with his father, shaped his drive and self-perception.
#382: From Plumber to £148M Exit: Charlie Mullins on Grit, Failure & Building an Empire
Charlie Mullins is a deeply contradictory and complex figure - from a deprived council-estate childhood in south London to founding a plumbing empire, cashing out for £148 million and remaking himself as a global-living, politically outspoken tycoon. He embodies both the grit of old-school trades and the excesses of modern wealth. His post-sale life is marked by public provocation - from giant ant
#381: The Accident That Changed How Cyrus Rustom Sees Risk, Discipline & Life
This episode isn't about motivation. It's about perspective. Cyrus Rustom shares the moments that reshaped how he sees life — from joining the Marines at 16 to escape chaos at home, to surviving an accident he was certain he wouldn't live through, to rebuilding everything afterward. We talk about business failures, discipline myths, opening a company one week before Covid shut the world down and w
#380: Creators Are Losing Millions And This Tech Could Fix It
From buying Bitcoin at $66 to tokenizing gas fields. In this episode, Sebastian Huth reveals the hidden lessons most people miss about crypto, tokenization, real estate and creator economy. Learn why leaving your crypto on exchanges is a huge risk, why infrastructure beats hype every time and how tokenization is about to change the way we own almost everything, including real estate and even e
#379: From Global DJ to Penniless in Dubai: Peter Doyle's Unbelievable Comeback
Peter Doyle's life proves that success isn't a straight line and that sometimes, losing everything is the beginning of becoming who you're meant to be. From the worlds' top DJ booths and global stages to sleeping in the back of a Toyota Yaris in Dubai when things got really tough, Peter opens up about the highs, the lows and the moments that nearly broke him. With no passport, no money and
#378: The Episode That Never Nearly Happened..
This episode takes a look back on 2025 and lifts the lid on Spencer's journey so far as a long form content creator, podcaster, entrepreneur and incredible storyteller. In this episode Spencer speaks from the heart about the big names along the way and the impact of his show on his life, and the guests around him, including what doesn't show up on the highlight reel. From nearly quitting the s
#377: Why Hollywood Celebrities Fly to Dr. Adeel – The Truth Revealed
#376: Dubai's Real Estate Bubble? Sam McCone Predicts What Happens Next.
This week's guest is Sam MCone, a lifelong Dubai resident and the visionary founder of McCone Properties. Having moved to Dubai at the age of two, Sam has a unique, ground-level perspective on the city's meteoric rise from a quiet trading post to a global powerhouse. His journey in real estate began as an agent, but his innate, level-headed resilience led him to build his own successful brokerage
#375: Losing Everything, Running Further: Nico De Corato's Untold Dubai Story
Join us on Made in Dubai as we sit down with Nico de Corato, an ultra-endurance athlete, entrepreneur who is passionate about the UAE. From ultra-marathons and mountain biking to freediving, jet skiing, and desert adventures, Nico's story spans resilience, discipline, and pushing beyond limits. In this episode, Nico shares: How he moved from Naples to Dubai and mindset behind his training ultra ma
#374: Chris Hemsworth, Big Ideas & Bayut: Sahar Khan on Building an Iconic Brand
This week's guest is Sahar Khan, the dynamic Head of Marketing at Bayut. A foundational member of the team, Sahar joined Bayut in 2014 as one of its first sales employees and has been instrumental in building the brand into the UAE's leading property portal. With a innate passion for creative, out-of-the-box marketing since childhood, she has spearheaded some of the company's most iconic campaigns
#373: From Bullied Kid to Global Leader: Sebastian Bates' Warrior Academy Story
Sebastian Bates is a British entrepreneur, author, and martial artist best known as the founder of the Warrior Academy, a Dubai-based organisation dedicated to developing children's confidence, focus, and resilience through martial arts. With over 25 years of experience and a background in professional martial arts and extreme sports. He is the best-selling author of The Warrior Method and Not a V
#372: Creators, Brands, and AI: The New Rules of Influencer Marketing with Danny Agg
This week's guest is Danny Agg, who leads Zodiac Global with a clear vision for growth, innovation, and excellence, serves as CEO overseeing the company's strategic direction, partnerships, and overall talent strategy. In this episode, Danny dives deep into the evolving world of talent management and influencer marketing. The conversation highlights the critical role of trust in building authentic
#371: Overnourished, Overwhelmed, and Underserved: Rethinking Health with Dr. Nas Al Jafari
This week's guest is Dr. Nas Al Jafari, a leading Functional Medicine physician and founder of DNA Health in Dubai, renowned for his science-driven, holistic approach to health and wellness. With a focus on uncovering and addressing the root causes of chronic conditions, Dr. Al Jafari integrates the latest medical research with personalised care to help patients achieve optimal well-being. Passion
#370: The Rapid Evolution Of Cypto & Is Society Moving To Cashless A Good Thing Or A Bad Thing?
This weeks guest, Karl Mohan, is a seasoned fintech and crypto executive, currently serving as General Manager for APAC and MEA and Global Head of Banking Partnerships at Crypto.com. With over two decades of experience across traditional finance and emerging technologies, Karl is known for bridging the gap between banking and blockchain innovation. Passionate about financial inclusion and responsi
#369: How AI Is Going To Change Video Content, Dealing With Haters & The Future For Mo Vlogs
This week's guest is Mo Vlogs, social media personality who has made a name for himself as one of Dubai's most prominent YouTubers and vloggers. Renowned for his daily vlogs, Mo offers viewers a window into the opulent lifestyle the city is known for, from luxury cars and high-end real estate to exclusive events and behind-the-scenes glimpses of Dubai's fast-paced culture. In this episode, Mo Vlog
#368 What You Can Get In Dubai That You Can't Get Anywhere Else
This week's guest is Firas Al Msaddi, the founder and owner of fäm Properties, Dubai's most technologically advanced real estate company and a multidimensional force shaping the future of the city's property market. A Syrian-born entrepreneur and author, Firas has redefined what it means to lead in real estate, combining deep market expertise with data, proptech, and integrity-driven leadership.
#367: The CEO Shaping Tomorrow's Dubai – Farhad Azizi on Wealth, Innovation & What Money Can't Buy
This weeks guest is Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, the real estate arm of the Azizi Group in Dubai, where he also serves as Vice Chairman. Educated in the U.S. with a bachelor's from the University of Tulsa and an MBA from Suffolk University, he later established ventures in Germany before returning to Dubai to lead Azizi Developments, founded in 2007. Under his leadership, the company h
#366: The Man Who Redefined Resilience By Winning Gold After Two Kidney Transplants - Omar Tom
This week's guest is Omar "OT" Tom, a double kidney transplant recipient and inspirational athlete who won gold in the 200m sprint for Team UAE at the World Transplant Games Despite being born with serious kidney conditions, he has used sport as a way to celebrate life, defy expectations and show that organ recipients can not only survive but thrive. In this powerful episode, Omar shares his j
#365: Elie Khouri Reveals How He Landed Shark Tank Dubai, What It Means To Be An Entrepreneur & The One Skill You Need In Life To Succeed
This week's guest is Elie Khouri, a Lebanese-French businessman, entrepreneur, art patron and media leader. Best known as the founder and chairman of Vivium, a Dubai-based single-family office. A driving force in the communications industry, he has served as chairman of Omnicom Media Group for the Middle East and North Africa since 2019, following a successful 13-year tenure as CEO. Beyond his cor
#364: Carl Allsopp on Building The Largest Real Estate Brokerage in the region, Why People Fail In Dubai And Lack Of Patience Amongst Young People
This week's guest is a leader in Dubai's property market and an entrepreneur who turned ambition into one of the region's greatest real estate success stories. Seventeen years ago Carl Allsopp, CEO of Allsopp & Allsopp, arrived in Dubai with little more than a dream and an unshakable drive to succeed. What started as a bold move to launch a real estate brokerage grew into the largest in the regi
#363: What You Didn't Know About Dragons Den, Building Vitabiotics & Investment Success Rate with Tej Lalvani
From driving forklifts in his family's warehouse to steering a billion-pound global business and captivating audiences as a Dragon on Dragons' Den, this week's guest, Tej Lalvani, is the meaning of entrepreneurial grit and innovation. As CEO of Vitabiotics, the UK's largest vitamin company, Tej has expanded the brand to over 100 countries, turning products like Wellwoman, Perfectil, and Pregnacare
#362: Binance CMO, Rachel Conlan, Reveals the Marketing Behind the World's Largest Crypto Exchange, Growth Hacks & Lessons From Failed Campaigns
This weeks guest is Rachel Conlan, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange and blockchain ecosystem. With over two decades of experience in marketing, brand strategy and partnerships, she leads a global team driving Binance's mission to make crypto more accessible to millions worldwide. In this episode, Rachel shares her personal journey into the cryp
#361: Are Fat Loss Drugs Cheating? Dr Hussain dives into the negativity around Fat Loss Drugs and if they really are a silver bullet!
This week's guest is Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, a lifestyle medic, long-distance triathlete and UK Athletics Leader in Running Fitness whose philosophy centres on movement, community and nutrition. He is also the Royal College of General Practitioners' Lead for Lifestyle and Physical Activity, a clinical advisor to Swim England a holistic approach to physical, mental and social wellbeing. Drawing on
#360: Turning tragedy into purpose – Ashley Cains journey from losing his 8 month old daughter to using it as the catalyst for the fight against childhood cancer
This week's guest is Ashley Cain, a former professional footballer turned TV personality, endurance athlete and advocate for children with cancer. The death of his daughter Azaylia from leukemia in 2021 inspired The Azaylia Foundation, through which he's completed extreme endurance feats to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. More recently he has appeared and co-produced the BBC's Into
#359: The UK is suffering with an ADHD Epidemic – Dr Enayat discusses ADHD in the UK as well as the secrets to living a longer life
This week's guest is Dr Mohammed Enayat, also known as The Longevity Doctor, a UK-based GP and the founder of HUM2N Longevity Clinic. With expertise in Functional, Regenerative and Aesthetic Medicine, he's on a mission to redefine what it means to live well and live long. Blending cutting-edge science with a personalised, human-centred approach, Dr. E helps high performers optimise their health, e
#358: Is VAT On Private Schools Ruining UK Education? Ana Boulter's Fight from the Heart On UK Education
This week's guest is Ana Boulter, an advocate for children and their education who uses her everyday life, often quite literally from the kitchen sink, to challenge the status quo. With a sharp eye on UK politics and a fierce commitment to children's rights, she speaks up for all families, especially those navigating neurodiversity, mental health struggles, and the complexities of the education sy
#357: Wellness vs Wellbeing – What's the Difference? Ryan Hopkins Talks Through What You're NOT Told About The Workplace
This week's guest is Ryan Hopkins, a best-selling author, workplace wellbeing expert and global keynote speaker. His book, 52 Weeks of Wellbeing, has become an international success translated into Korean, Turkish, German, Dutch, and Arabic. Ryan's mission is to revolutionise workplace wellbeing through a no-nonsense, practical approach, positively impacting over 1.25 million people across the wor
#356: How can you become successful selling Real Estate in Dubai? The truth behind the market & how Calum White is building the fastest growing brokerage in the region
This week's guest is only 32 years old and what he's accomplished in that time is nothing short of remarkable. As part of a new generation of high-performance entrepreneurs, he has broken into the UAE real estate scene over the past four years and built one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the region. His approach to business is relentless. His ability to connect with people, demystify the rea
#355: Uncovering the Evolving World of Plastic Surgery with Dr. Matteo Vigo
This week's guest is Dr. Matteo Vigo, a leading plastic surgeon based in the UAE. With a wealth of experience, Dr. Vigo has performed over 1,500 procedures, including more than 1,000 breast augmentations making him a true expert in the field of cosmetic surgery. In this episode, we explore the history and evolution of cosmetic surgery, from its early beginnings to its rise in popularity. We unpack
#354: Hard Truths on Real Leadership: Naoum Barakat on Culture, Accountability & Cutting Through the Noise
In this episode, we sit down with Naoum Barakat, a transformative leader in HR strategy and talent development across the UAE and beyond. With decades of experience shaping people and culture in some of the region's most influential organisations, Naoum brings deep insight into what truly makes a great leader. From the boardroom to the locker room, we unpack leadership through surprising lenses wh
#353 A True Insight Into the UAE Law - Arash Zads Guide to Knowing How to Navigate UAE Law Common Misconceptions
This week's guest is a trailblazer in the legal world and a content creator who's rewriting the rulebook on how lawyers show up online. Arash Zad is a UAE based lawyer who took a bold step into unfamiliar territory, TikTok - Somewhere most only knew from the funny dancing. While most of his peers stuck to traditional methods, Arash turned the camera on, shared his legal insights with clarity and c
#352: Firewalking, Ice Baths & No Fear: Benoit Demeulemeester's Guide to True Resilience
How far would you go to break through fear? For Benoit Demeulemeester, it starts with breathwork, ice baths, and walking barefoot across burning coals. A former high-stakes banker turned transformational coach, Benoit has spent the last 14 years pushing people past their mental limits. Through Endorphins Management, he's taken everyone from CEOs to entire teams into fire rituals and freezing wat
#351: Ollie Ollerton on Surviving Trauma, Rebuilding Identity, and Leading with Purpose
What does it take to survive chaos, lead under fire, and rebuild your life from rock bottom? Ollie Ollerton doesn't just teach it – he's lived every brutal moment. A former Royal Marine Commando and Special Forces operative, Ollie rose to public attention on 'SAS: Who Dares Wins'. But long before the cameras, he was battling trauma, addiction, and identity loss after leaving the military. Tod
#350: Jas Mathur on Discipline, Health, and the Billionaire Mindset
Jas Mathur made his first million before he turned 20. But his biggest success? Reinventing himself. From tech prodigy and media mogul to health entrepreneur and investor, Jas's story is one of relentless drive, reinvention, and personal transformation. He's built businesses worth hundreds of millions and lost over 100kg in a complete health reset. This episode goes far deeper than money and met
#349: Paris Norriss on Grit, Pain and Running 7 Marathons in 7 Days on 7 Continents
Most people struggle to run even one marathon. Paris Norriss ran seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days. Adventurer and endurance athlete, Paris Norriss, shares what it takes to push the body and mind to the absolute limit. Alongside his friend James Elliott-Square, Paris completed the World Marathon Challenge, running a full marathon every 24 hours across Antarctica, Africa, A
#348: Maaz Sheikh on Building Starz Play, Surviving the Storm, and Scaling to $370M
What does it take to go from survival mode to a $370 million exit – all without breaking? Maaz Sheikh, co-founder and CEO of Starz Play, has lived the answer. In this episode, Maaz opens up about the high-stakes journey of building one of the Middle East's leading streaming platforms, from battling burnout and chasing investment, to navigating a buyout and preparing for what's next. This is
#347: Turning Email into a US$225M Business that Changes the Game for Business Owners
Social media algorithms control your audience. Email lets you take back that control. Tyler Denk, founder of Beehiiv, an email newsletter platform that has scaled to a US$225 million valuation in just four years, shares his journey from building Morning Brew (sold for US$75 million) to launching Beehiiv. He unpacks why email newsletters remain one of the most powerful and underutilised tools f
#346: Mobility Is the New Currency, and This Man Helped Thousands of People Access It
Think a second passport is about avoiding tax? For millions of people, it's about something far more basic: freedom of movement. In this episode, Armand Arton, founder and CEO of Arton Capital and one of the world's most influential voices in global citizenship and investment migration, shares his journey. From growing up in communist Bulgaria with a passport that limited his every move, to b
#345: How to Future-Proof Your Business with AI the Right Way
Your employees are already using AI, and you probably don't even know it. But the problem is, they could be unknowingly leaking confidential company information. If you're a business owner, this should concern you, or at the very least, pique your interest. In this episode, AI expert and founder of Tyde.AI, Isabella Williamson, unpacks what business owners need to know about adopting AI the ri
#344: The High Cost of Loneliness and What Leaders Can Do About It
We're in the middle of a social connection crisis. Call it what you like, loneliness, isolation, disconnection, it's becoming one of the most urgent issues of our time. In the U.S. alone, the cost of loneliness to businesses is estimated at $154 billion. And that figure is only going to grow unless we start addressing it. Our guest on the show today is Simone Heng, a global keynote speaker and exp
#343: AI Won't Replace You. But the Person Using It Now, Will.
AI is already changing the way we sell, scale, and show up in business. But most people are still playing catch-up. In this episode, entrepreneur and AI strategist John Lee breaks down the mindset shift every business owner, sales leader, and entrepreneur needs to make right now. Because the real power of AI isn't in the tech, it's in how you use it to multiply what you already do well. Whethe
#342: The Gold Strategy You've Never Heard of but Should Be Using
Most people think gold just sits in a vault, safe, static, and gathering dust… But Mark Pey, Head of Strategic Relationships at Monetary Metals, is on a mission to redefine how we think about gold. In today's world of volatile markets, vanishing trust in fiat currency, and overhyped digital assets, gold is the most powerful, underused tool for wealth generation. Whether you've overlooked gold
#341: Kris Fade on How He Built His Career and Making It Big in Dubai
Kris Fade is the voice behind the region's #1 radio show, a star of Netflix's Dubai Bling, and the founder of the health and wellness brand Fade Fit. But he didn't just wake up famous. Kris's success is the result of relentless hustle, smart decisions, and an unshakable belief in himself. From launching a brand-new radio show in Dubai to building a multimillion-dollar business, and leveraging the
#340: Dubai Real Estate Explained with One of the City's Top Property Experts
Dubai's real estate market is booming, but are you asking the right questions before investing? In this week's episode, I sit down with Sonia Waters, Head of Sales at AYS Developers, to talk all things real estate – escrow accounts, how the market is evolving, and what makes Dubai such a hotspot for investors. I'm also proud to officially welcome AYS Developers as the new title sponsor of the
#339: Rob Lake on America's Got Talent, Magic & Building a Global Empire
What does it take to turn a childhood dream into a global career AND make Adele disappear along the way? Rob Lake, one of the world's most celebrated illusionists and finalist of America's Got Talent, has done just that. But beyond the magic, Rob is also an entrepreneur who's built a successful empire around his craft. From discovering his calling at 10 to winning the prestigious Merlin Award, pe
#338: Jonathan Holmes on Why Employee Churn is Costing You Millions
What's the real cost of a bad hire, and how do you build a future-proof team in a fast-changing world? Jonathan Holmes, Managing Director for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) at Korn Ferry, one of the largest executive search and human capital consulting firms in the world, has spent decades helping businesses make the right hiring decisions and build stronger teams. His perspective on bu
#337: How to Walk Away from what No Longer Serves You with Najwa Zebian
The scariest thing isn't change, it's never changing at all. So why do we resist it? Najwa Zebian – poet, author, and advocate – has built a global following by confronting life's hardest truths: Why we stay in toxic relationships, Why walking away feels impossible, and Why we struggle to truly own our worth. In this episode, she opens up about loss, identity, and rebuilding life on her own
#336: Hala Gorani on Journalism, Truth and Finding Purpose
Who do you trust when the media is constantly under fire? Hala Gorani has spent decades reporting from the frontlines – covering wars, breaking global news, and shaping how the world understands current events. Now, the legendary journalist and war correspondent is pulling back the curtain on what really happens behind the headlines. From the mental toll of conflict reporting to the hard trut
#335: Dr Jessamy Hibberd Reveals the Truth: Why You Feel Like an Imposter (And How to Break Free)
Why do we never feel good enough, no matter how much we achieve? Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a clinical psychologist, author, and expert in mental resilience, breaks down the hard truths about success, trauma, and self-doubt, and why even the most accomplished people feel like imposters. She reveals why our brains are wired to focus on the negatives, how social media is warping our perception of reality,
#334: The Memory Doc on The DISTURBING Truth About Why your Memories are a lie
Is your memory a reliable record of the past? Or a story your brain keeps rewriting? Leading neuroscientist Dr Charan Ranganath, aka The Memory Doc, joins us on Unscripted With Spencer Lodge, to reveal how our brains store, distort, and reshape our memories. From false memories to the way trauma, depression, and even psychedelics impact what we recall, Dr Ranganath breaks it all down in a way
