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's most enduring technology companies. From coding assembly language for the Kuwait Stock Exchange on 16-hour days, to pivoting from IBM mini-computers to PCs, to riding every wave from networking and the internet to cloud, mobile, big data, IoT and now AI. Fayez has been at the frontier of technology in this region for nearly half a century.

But this isn't just a business story. It's a story about passion over comfort, about the cost of obsession, about what it really means to build something that outlasts you. He'll tell you that if you haven't started a business by 40, don't bother. That retirement was invented to push you out. That AI is not another wave - it's a tsunami. And that the most expensive lessons in business are almost always about people.

Whether you're an entrepreneur at the start of your journey, a leader navigating the AI revolution, or someone who wonders what it looks like to still be curious and hungry at 71. This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about success, technology, and time.

Timestamps:

00:00 – "A golden cage": why Fayez came for six months and stayed 45 years

01:28 – Abu Dhabi vs. Dubai and the mind-boggling speed of UAE transformation

06:34 – From electrical engineering to poultry imports to farming — finding what actually excites him

11:20 – Coding the Kuwait Stock Exchange in assembly language and the moment he realized talent has value

12:29 – His first client in the UAE: a video rental library, a 2,000-dirham cheque, and why he never cashed it

15:54 – Seeing every stand at CeBIT with a PC and making a decision that changed everything

17:17 – The seven waves of technology: mainframes to AI — and why AI is the tsunami, not the wave

21:36 – Why Alpha Data's greatest asset isn't talent — it's 2,200 relationships built on trust

23:00 – Life only makes sense in the rearview mirror: navigating the fog of action

26:00 – The three ingredients for success: passion, innate ability, and demand

28:00 – His controversial take: if you haven't started a business by 40, don't bother

29:24 – Why Fayez took Alpha Data public after 44 years — and the succession problem that forced his hand

34:00 – Deliberately leaving money on the table at IPO and why that was the smartest move

38:00 – The stock market chief's warning: "The sleepless nights start after the birth"

41:40 – Alpha Data's three core values: care for people, no red tape, and speed

45:15 – Overcoming introversion, shaking knees, and the demon in your brain that tries to protect you

50:00 – On giving back: why his model is teaching people to fish, not handing them fish

57:00 – AI compared to electricity: we are at the very start of it invading every aspect of our lives

1:00:25 – What AI can never replace: trust, the handshake, and the look in someone's eyes

1:02:40 – Quickfire: what money really means, the hardest decision he ever made, and a belief he's completely abandoned

1:04:24 – Why most people fail and his single biggest leadership lesson

1:09:11 – Why retirement is an invention of the industrial age — and what he's learning right now at 71

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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 Taaleem, for one of the most refreshingly honest conversations about education, leadership, and the cost of ambition. Alan doesn't sugarcoat anything. He'll tell you that technology is not the future of education. That exam should be deleted overnight. That his biggest leadership flaw is not listening. And that for all his professional success, the person he feels he's let down most is his whole family.

From navigating a regional geopolitical crisis to making bold billion-dirham acquisitions, from the rugby field that gave him confidence to the boardroom decisions that kept him up at night, this is a conversation about what it really takes to lead at the highest level and what it quietly costs you.

Whether you're a parent choosing a school, a leader questioning your own values, or someone who built everything from nothing and wonders if it was worth it, this episode will make you think.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introducing Alan and what makes him different from most CEOs

01:15 – What is Taaleem? 36 schools, 50,000 students, and a 21-year story

03:42 – How Dubai's inspection system turbocharges school quality like nowhere else in the world

07:53 – The international teacher recruitment crisis and why Dubai still wins

11:52 – How to actually choose the right school for your child in Dubai

17:48 – Are UAE school fees good value? The honest comparison with UK independent schools

22:22 – Leading through geopolitical crisis: sleepless nights, a billion-dirham bet, and staying calm

28:00 – Growth anxiety, M&A opportunities, and being the knight in shining armor

33:02 – Should schools be doing more to help struggling parents and entrepreneurs?

41:52 – Growing up on a council estate in Shetland: where his drive really came from

50:47 – Feeling like an outsider at university and how rugby changed everything

54:30 – The biggest sacrifice he made to be successful: missing family to referee international rugby

58:32 – Would he do it all the same way again? His most honest answer

01:01:13 – When his working-class values clashed with running a profit-driven company

01:05:21 – His most unpopular opinion: technology is NOT the future of education

01:09:06 – What great teachers actually do that most people forget

01:13:19 – How to prepare children for jobs that don't exist yet

01:16:49 – University vs. apprenticeships: why one path is not better than the other

01:18:39 – Quickfire: are exams outdated, what skill matters more than grades, and who should Spencer interview next?

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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 body.

After watching his younger brother battle leukemia for six years and losing his father to cancer at just 46, Dave's life took a destructive turn. However, those same experiences became the foundation of his mission: to understand how the body heals and why so many people fall ill in the first place.

When Dave was diagnosed with cancer himself at 23, he wasn't shocked. He believed years of stress, trauma, and negative thinking had played a role in his illness.

From hitting rock bottom in Los Angeles, living in a garage and sleeping on a massage table, to building multiple businesses in the health and wellness space, Dave's journey is a powerful story of transformation.

In this conversation, Dave breaks down the fundamentals of health that many people overlook, including nervous system regulation, gut health, sleep, stress, and the hidden impact of modern lifestyles.

Timestamps:

00:00 – How Dave believes he gave himself cancer

02:46 – His brother's leukemia, his father's death, and a family shaped by illness

05:30 – Remembering his father Pierre: the man behind the legend

08:05 – What actually causes cancer? The mind-body connection explained

09:26 – The most powerful memory of his father (a story you won't forget)

12:08 – Regret, absence, and channeling grief into becoming your best self

16:25 – What he would say to his father if he walked in today

17:12 – The manifestation trap: why fixating on outcomes holds you back

21:36 – Stress as the number one trigger of illness — the science explained

24:08 – Information overload vs. real health education

27:44 – Why belief systems can be the most powerful medicine

30:34 – The three pillars every modern human needs to get right

34:01 – Why are we living longer despite living worse?

36:26 – Sleep decoded: deep sleep vs. REM and why that extra hour changes everything

41:31 – REM Plus: the supplement built for the overstimulated modern human

44:17 – Dubai vs. LA vs. Montreal: where entrepreneurs actually thrive

48:04 – From landscaping at 19 to supplements in Dubai: the full entrepreneurial journey

52:18 – His most costly business failure and what it taught him

54:28 – For Us: the two-product system taking Dubai by storm

58:35 – How to build a brand with a vibe you cannot pay for

01:01:31 – The single most important pillar of health (and the free tool to fix it)

01:03:19 – Dave's three daily non-negotiables

01:04:17 – Rock bottom: sleeping on a massage table in West Hollywood

01:07:26 – What he wants to be remembered for

01:10:39 – Why he calls himself an entrepreneur, not a supplement guy

01:11:26 – Quickfire: the habits aging you fastest, what to ban from modern life, and more

01:15:57 – The time he spent five nights in jail

01:16:52 – Will today's kids live shorter lives?

01:20:25 – The power of tribe: why who you surround yourself with is everything

01:20:25 – Peptides explained: what they are, how they work, and when to use them

01:23:46 – The Coke Zero debate: is the dose really the poison?

01:25:37 – The meaning of life, in one word

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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 early twenties with almost no money to struggling to afford meals while surrounded by luxury, Alex's journey is built on risk, resilience, and unexpected breakthroughs. What started as a side hobby filming cars while working in radio quickly turned into a global phenomenon when she discovered that raw, authentic content outperformed highly produced videos.

Within a year of quitting her job, she had already built a multi-million audience.

Today, her brand spans content, media, and business, including SBX Cars, a global luxury car auction platform that generated $15 million in its first year. But success didn't come without cost.

In this conversation, Alex opens up about the realities behind the spotlight. From navigating the public breakdown of her 22-year relationship to battling Hashimoto's disease, anxiety, and depression, she shares what it really takes to rebuild both a business and yourself.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introducing Alex Hirschi (Supercar Blondie) 03:05 – Moving to Dubai with no money and starting from scratch 07:20 – From radio presenter to filming cars on the side 11:15 – Why raw content outperformed high production 15:40 – Quitting her job and hitting 4 million followers 20:25 – Building a global brand and scaling a team worldwide 25:10 – The reality behind social media success 30:45 – Breaking into a male-dominated industry 36:20 – The rise of viral content and key turning points 42:55 – Launching SBX Cars and building a new business 48:30 – The pressure of success and personal sacrifice 54:10 – Navigating heartbreak and rebuilding after her relationship 59:35 – Mental health, burnout, and self-awareness 01:05:20 – Living with Hashimoto's disease 01:10:15 – Prioritising health and personal growth 01:15:40 – The future of her brand and business empire 01:20:05 – Lessons on resilience, authenticity, and starting again

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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, Kimberly's story is one of resilience, grit, and purpose. Starting as a cardiac nurse in the UK and later rebuilding her career from scratch in Australia, she was repeatedly pushed into leadership roles by mentors who saw potential she didn't yet see in herself.

Today, she leads one of the region's most respected hospitals but still considers herself a nurse at heart.

In this conversation, Kimberly shares her approach to people-first leadership, why culture matters more than strategy, and how genuine care for staff directly impacts patient outcomes. From navigating crises like the Dubai floods to leading complex medical innovations and building high-performing teams, her leadership style is rooted in empathy, accountability and action.

Timestamps

00:00 – From leaving school early to becoming a nurse 03:10 – Starting over and building a career in healthcare 06:20 – Mentors who pushed her into leadership 09:45 – From nurse to CEO: an unexpected journey 13:30 – Leading with empathy and building strong teams 17:10 – Why culture matters more than strategy 21:05 – Handling crises and leading during the Dubai floods 25:40 – The realities of leadership and decision-making 29:15 – Innovation in healthcare: AI, robotics, and patient care 33:50 – The competitive healthcare landscape in Dubai 38:20 – Attracting top global talent 42:10 – Women in leadership vs people empowerment 46:00 – Balancing pressure, responsibility, and resilience 50:25 – The future of healthcare and medical innovation 55:10 – Inspiring the next generation of nurses and leaders 58:30 – Defining legacy and impact

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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 journey is a story of resilience, persistence, and redefining what success looks like.

This conversation goes beyond business. It explores the mindset required to keep going through rejection, the role of environment and opportunity in places like Dubai, and why discipline matters more than motivation when building something long-term.

Ahmed shares lessons from failure, the importance of branding and location in scaling a business, and how social media has played a key role in expansion. He also reflects on purpose, giving back, and why true success is not just about wealth, but impact.

Timestamps

00:00 – Overcoming ADHD, dyslexia, and early rejection 03:10 – Discovering entrepreneurship and first business steps 06:25 – Building a water park business across 33 countries 10:40 – Why Dubai creates unique opportunities for entrepreneurs 14:15 – Cultural mindset, government support, and business growth 18:30 – Breaking expectations and choosing a different path 22:05 – Lessons from failure and business setbacks 26:10 – The power of persistence and obsession 30:20 – Branding, location, and scaling a global business 34:45 – Leveraging social media for growth 39:10 – Navigating partnerships and challenges 43:50 – The emotional side of entrepreneurship 48:30 – Discipline vs motivation: what actually drives success 52:40 – The role of self-belief and mental resilience 57:15 – Giving back and building a purpose-driven life 1:02:30 – Why success is more than money 1:07:45 – Future trends in wellness and entrepreneurship 1:12:10 – Leaving a legacy and empowering the next generation

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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 humans, not just high achievers.

Tomas' path into education was unexpected. After travelling the world in his early twenties, he began working at a North London school supporting refugees and immigrant communities. What started as a temporary role quickly became a calling, launching an international career that took him from Brunei to Aiglon College in Switzerland, one of the world's most expensive schools.

Now leading Dubai College, Tomas believes schools should focus on far more than exam results. His mission is to develop character, empathy, kindness, and leadership, preparing students not just for academic success but to become good humans who can make a meaningful impact on the world.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introducing Tomas Duckling and Dubai College 02:05 – The history of Dubai College and why it's so oversubscribed 04:15 – Removing the debenture system and creating merit-based admissions 07:12 – Tomas' unconventional journey into teaching 10:03 – From London classrooms to international schools in Brunei 13:48 – Teaching at Aiglon College in Switzerland 17:10 – How global experiences shaped his philosophy on education 21:02 – Why academic results alone are not enough 24:30 – The importance of character, kindness, and empathy in schools 27:18 – The pressures parents place on modern education 31:05 – Comparing the UK, European, and UAE education systems 34:12 – The future of learning in a world shaped by AI 38:20 – Why human skills will matter more than ever 42:45 – The Edge Curriculum: teaching empathy, design, and entrepreneurship 47:30 – Encouraging students to solve real-world problems 50:15 – Bullying, kindness, and creating positive school culture 54:40 – The role of sport, extracurriculars, and resilience 58:10 – The debate around homeschooling and social development 01:02:20 – Diversity and multicultural education in Dubai 01:05:15 – The real purpose of education in the 21st century

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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 explore natural approaches to healing.

Barbara shares her perspectives on topics that continue to spark discussion around the world. From the body's ability to heal itself, to diet, detoxification, gut health, pregnancy nutrition, and why she believes many people misunderstand the role of modern health care.

This episode explores the thinking behind her views on PTSD, COVID-era health policies, folic acid, fasting, colon cleansing, and hormonal health. Whether you agree with her or not, her perspective has sparked millions of conversations across the wellness world.

Timestamps :

00:00 – Introducing Barbara O'Neill and why she sparks global debate 03:15 – Escaping a violent marriage with six children 08:40 – The turning point that led her into psychiatric nursing 12:05 – Observing the limits of conventional treatment 16:30 – The belief that the body can heal itself 20:10 – Why she encourages people to question mainstream health advice 24:20 – Childhood environment and long-term health 28:15 – Diet, gut health, and disease prevention 33:40 – Her views on PTSD and emotional trauma 38:05 – COVID-era policies and public health debates 43:10 – Detoxification, fasting, and colon cleansing 48:20 – Coffee enemas and natural detox practices 52:40 – Pregnancy nutrition and the folic acid discussion 57:30 – Hormones, aging, and natural balance 01:02:40 – Longevity and modern lifestyle diseases 01:07:15 – Are doctors extending life or extending sickness?

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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 to fight for the underdog, Dr. Soon-Shiong went from performing complex surgeries in Los Angeles to inventing Abraxane, a breakthrough nanoparticle chemotherapy now used worldwide. But he believes chemotherapy was only chapter one, Chapter two is immunity.

He breaks down the role of the 450 million year old Natural Killer cell and why it may be the missing piece in cancer prevention, then dives into IL-15, once ranked the most promising molecule to cure cancer and now approved in 33 countries, with new ground in lung cancer treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Soon-Shiong also shares his warning of a coming "pandemic of cancer," the controversy around COVID vaccine development, the overlooked $10 blood test hidden inside routine labs that predicts mortality risk, and how camel nanobodies, AI and robotics may democratize treatments that once cost $1 million.

If you care about longevity, cancer prevention, or the future of medicine, this episode matters.

Timestamps:

00:00 – First impressions of the Middle East and the crisis of trust

08:17 – What cancer really is and the role of the Natural Killer cell

14:08 – The warning: a possible pandemic of cancer in young people

16:47 – The T-cell COVID vaccine controversy

24:40 – IL-15: ranked the #1 molecule to cure cancer

29:07 – Breaking news: approvals in 33 countries and Saudi Arabia

31:06 – Immunity, aging, and the link to longevity

37:53 – The $10 blood test hidden in plain sight for 30 years

39:28 – Why camels and sharks don't get cancer

44:32 – From apartheid South Africa to billionaire inventor

48:13 – Turning $1 million CAR-T therapy into a $25,000 robotic solution

50:33 – Why the Middle East could lead the next biotech revolution

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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. The losses that humble you. The rejection that sharpens you. The family roots that anchor you when success tries to pull you off course.

At the heart of this episode is impact. The founding of The Giving Family charity, feeding thousands during Ramadan, and the philosophy he calls "passive blessings over passive income." In a world obsessed with scale and status, Fadie challenges the audience to ask a harder question: What are you building that will outlive you?

Timestamps:

00:05 – From wild youth in Miami to purposeful giving

03:13 – The power of kindness and leaving a legacy

08:43 – Lessons learned through loss and resilience

11:37 – Palestinian roots, love, and identity

18:13 – Moving to Dubai and starting over

23:54 – Building a medical distribution and brokering business

33:18 – Mastering networks, handling rejection, and closing deals

43:02 – Behind the scenes of Dubai Bling

58:25 – Launching FadieCakes and the business of desserts

1:04:50 – Founding The Giving Family and feeding communities

1:11:56 – Making volunteering part of everyday life

1:14:50 – Ramadan beyond fasting

1:23:18 – Regrets, growth, and defining success

1:25:32 – Passive blessings over passive income

1:28:26 – The challenges of fundraising in Dubai

1:29:41 – How you can help feed those in need

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