The CEO Retort with Tim El-Sheikh

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Your space for greater knowledge, purpose, and performance. Subscribe & Join Us at TheRetort.com ❤️ The CEO Retort is the anti-clickbait, thought-provoking show hosted by Tim El-Sheikh, a biomedical scientist and former basketball player who became a serial deeptech entrepreneur after discovering the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in 1996 while studying genetics and the Human Genome Project. In 2002, Tim quit his PhD in data fusion to focus on architecting intelligence systems for his ventures and is one of the pioneering first-generation AI founders at London’s Silicon Roundabout.

  1. 3d ago

    Tech Bubble Expert: The AI Bubble Is Crashing, and You're NOT Ready

    The AI bubble is crashing, and it is time to look at the financial reality behind the hype with one of the world's leading experts on tech bubbles, Dr Jeffrey Funk. We discuss how financial professionals are finally speaking up about the lack of real returns in the artificial intelligence sector. Jeff reminds us why businesses need actual revenue generation, not just high margins, which many of these companies currently lack. We examine how the market focus has shifted away from the fundamental need to make money over the past two years. We break down why the lack of significant profits remains a major red flag for the entire industry. Looking past the marketing, we assess whether these models can ever generate sustainable long-term revenue. We also discuss whether business schools and VCs will finally change their theories post the AI bubble crash. Above all, what will the future of entrepreneurship be?Join the conversation and tell us whether you think the AI bubble will finally burst this year, and what consequences we will all face. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠⁠https://theretort.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/10/26/jeffrey-funk-the-ai-bubble-is-crashing-and-you-are-not-ready/ CEOR Voices Featuring: ClubLe.app – Get Three Months free when you use "CEOR" at checkout. A new lifestyle app that helps you meet and connect with new people, and helps you use less AI! Sponsors & Offers: Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Tech Bubble Expert: The AI Bubble Is Crashing, and You're NOT Ready

  2. Oct 19

    The Media's Narrative about AI and Vibe coding is Dangerously Misleading | Carl Brown (Internet of Bugs)

    Carl Brown of Internet of Bugs returns to discuss the oversold hype around AI vibe coding versus reality, and what the recent Adobe story really shows us. The media's narrative around AI vibe coding is fundamentally misleading. We break down the reality of software development and how tools actually work. You may have seen the recent headlines about the developer Brandon Thomas and co-founder Michael Caffrey using Anthropic's Claude Opus 5.5 to build clean-room, open-source clones of seven major Adobe programs written in Rust. As we have been calling out on this podcast, the media and certain podcasters and influencers suggested that, thanks to AI vibe coding, this small team could "decompile" and recreate Adobe’s major software products and threaten Adobe's future forever. Obviously, this is not true! Join the conversation and tell us whether you think vibe coding creates more problems than solutions, especially when used by individuals who have never coded or built software and technology businesses. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠https://theretort.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/10/19/carl-brown-internet-of-bugs-the-medias-and-influencers-narrative-about-ai-vibe-coding-is-nonsense-dangerous-and-misleading/ Sponsors & Offers: Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    The Media's Narrative about AI and Vibe coding is Dangerously Misleading | Carl Brown (Internet of Bugs)

  3. Oct 12

    Scott Lucas: Trump's Incompetence is Bad for America, Great for the Rest of the World

    Professor Scott Lucas examines what Xi Jinping’s visit to the U.S. suggests about the shifting balance of power and Trump's conflicting, multifaceted presidency. Scott sees China as pursuing long-term economic influence while signalling that rivalry need not lead to conflict, despite President Xi Jinping's repeated references to the "Thucydides Trap" in his speeches directed at Trump. That contrasted with Trump's focus on strongman appearances and political spectacles. We also discussed Trump's rhetoric about inviting Iran to bomb Los Angeles and San Diego, killing millions of fellow Americans, and the crowd's shocking celebratory reaction. What unsettled me was how easily talk of violence against Americans could become rally entertainment. We also considered how Brexit weakened cooperation between the UK and Europe, and how difficult rebuilding those ties can be, even though they are critical for the future of both the UK and the EU. Join the conversation and tell us whether democratic systems can withstand this damage and whether competence and resilience can matter more than slogans in the post-MAGA world. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: https://theretort.com/join Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠https://theretort.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/10/12/scott-lucas-trumps-incompetence-is-bad-for-america-but-great-for-china-the-eu-and-the-rest-of-the-world/ Sponsors & Offers: Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Scott Lucas: Trump's Incompetence is Bad for America, Great for the Rest of the World

  4. Oct 5

    Tech Bubble Expert: Has The AI Bubble Turned into A Huge Scam?

    Dr Jeffrey Funk, the world-leading expert on tech bubbles, returns to analyse the financial reality behind Anthropic's latest leaked financials and the potential IPO disaster. We also examine how the tech sector uses the concept of Total Addressable Market (TAM) to justify massive capital injections into companies like Anthropic and OpenAI, despite a lack of significant ROI. Investors are being pushed to bet heavily on an out-of-this-world, lucrative AI future. Still, we need to look past the marketing to assess whether these models can generate sustainable revenue. The current AI investment landscape is fraught with risks, particularly for pension funds and university endowments now being asked to back these firms. Not to mention Trump's latest antics, including renaming AI as "Super Intelligence" and floating the idea of public ownership of OpenAI and Anthropic. Join the conversation and tell us whether you think the AI bubble has now entered the Ponzi scheme territory and whether it should be seen as a scam. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: https://theretort.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/10/05/jeffrey-funk-reveals-whether-the-ai-bubble-turned-into-a-huge-scam-with-anthropics-leaked-financials/ Sponsors & Offers: Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Tech Bubble Expert: Has The AI Bubble Turned into A Huge Scam?

  5. Sep 29

    Carl Brown (Internet of Bugs): Silicon Valley's Idiocy is Killing AI, Innovation and The Internet

    Veteran software engineer Carl Brown of Internet of Bugs joins me to expose the fallacy and dodgy claims that superintelligence and AI will kill humans. We discussed how the tech sector reached its current messy situation, starting with social platforms that learned to reward outrage, engagement, and extreme opinions long before today’s AI boom. Join the conversation and tell us whether you think Silicon Valley has any future left. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/21/jeffrey-funk-no-ai-will-not-end-humanity-its-a-distraction-from-real-ai-dangers/ CEOR Voices Featuring: ClubLe.app – Get Three Months free when you use "CEOR" at checkout. A new lifestyle app that helps you meet and connect with new people, and helps you use less AI! Sponsors & Offers: Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Carl Brown (Internet of Bugs): Silicon Valley's Idiocy is Killing AI, Innovation and The Internet

  6. Sep 24

    Scott Lucas: Trump 2.0 Fueled The Rise of European Far-Right Groups, Benefiting Russia!

    Professor Scott Lucas joins us to discuss the critical situation facing European Union politics and analyse how Trump 2.0 has emboldened populist factions. The rise of the far right across Europe is not simply a story about voters suddenly embracing extremism. It is a story about frustration with stagnant economies, pressure on public services, immigration, cultural change, and the growing belief that mainstream political parties no longer listen. Scott and I acknowledge the real concerns about jobs, housing, healthcare, and economic security. But we must redirect the blame toward certain wealthy and powerful political figures posing as champions of the common person, not immigrants and minorities, who are just as much victims as everyone else. We argue that the answer cannot be simply to condemn these movements. Rather, we must pressure mainstream parties to demonstrate competence and show people that democratic government can improve their lives. Join the conversation and tell us whether you think cross-border and cross-cultural collaborations are the solution to a world facing shared challenges, isolation and nationalism. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/24/scott-lucas-explains-how-trump-2-0-fueled-the-rise-of-european-far-right-groups-benefiting-russia/ Sponsors & Offers: ClubLe.app – Get Three Months free when you use "CEOR" at checkout. A new lifestyle app that helps you meet and connect with new people, and helps you use less AI!Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Scott Lucas: Trump 2.0 Fueled The Rise of European Far-Right Groups, Benefiting Russia!

  7. Sep 21

    Jeffrey Funk: No, AI Will Not "End Humanity" – It's a Distraction from Real AI Dangers

    In this conversation, Dr Jeffrey Funk returns to challenge the growing narrative that artificial intelligence will destroy humanity. Spoiler alert: it won’t! Our central argument is not that AI is harmless, but that the loudest “AI will kill everyone” claims often distract from more immediate problems: weak business economics, inflated promises, poor oversight, and the misuse of AI by powerful organisations. Jeff highlights that, instead of accepting vague warnings, audiences should ask a simple question: how, exactly, would it happen? We also examine the financial pressures behind the AI boom, as AI labs and data-centre operators face enormous infrastructure costs, while revenue growth, token demand, and profitability remain uncertain. We believe AI can solve real problems when it is developed carefully and applied where the benefits are clear, and the risks are manageable. The better path is to focus on practical use cases, demand specific evidence, and regulate the people and organisations making consequential decisions, not the science-fiction version of AI created by headlines and hype. Join the conversation and tell us if the tech sector will ever shift back to AI that actually serves people and prioritises innovation over hype and shareholder interest. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/21/jeffrey-funk-no-ai-will-not-end-humanity-its-a-distraction-from-real-ai-dangers/ Sponsors & Offers: ClubLe.app – Get Three Months free when you use "CEOR" at checkout. A new lifestyle app that helps you meet and connect with new people, and helps you use less AI!Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Jeffrey Funk: No, AI Will Not "End Humanity" – It's a Distraction from Real AI Dangers

  8. Sep 17

    Scott Lucas: Trump Might Be Making a Deal with the Houthis in a Total Middle East Chaos

    Scott Lucas joins us to analyse the latest developments in Middle East politics as the Trump administration pursues unconventional paths with the Houthis. Although Iran supports the Houthis, they are not simply an Iranian proxy. Scott highlights that this group is a Yemeni movement with their own political, religious, and territorial ambitions. The Bab el-Mandeb is a vital passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider global trade network. Houthi attacks on shipping have already caused major disruption, rerouting vessels and increasing shipping costs. We discuss how the group's growing presence along the coast also creates the possibility of a wider blockade, adding another source of pressure to the Strait of Hormuz and raising concerns about global oil supplies. Scott reveals how Saudi Arabia is now facing a difficult situation. Its coalition in Yemen has been weakened by divisions with the United Arab Emirates and by the failure of government forces to stop the Houthi advance. Join the conversation and share your perspective on how these shifting alliances might reshape the region's future. Support our independence and help us keep our content free for all to access by becoming a member: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/17/scott-lucas-reveals-trump-might-be-making-a-deal-with-the-houthis-in-a-total-middle-east-chaos/⁠ Sponsors & Offers: Proton Mail – Secure email that protects your privacy, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Start with as little as $1: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.proton.me/retort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brain-FM – Peak your productivity on demand with Neuromusic. Get an extended 30-day free trial without limits: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.brain.fm/ceor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Scott Lucas: Trump Might Be Making a Deal with the Houthis in a Total Middle East Chaos
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Your space for greater knowledge, purpose, and performance. Subscribe & Join Us at TheRetort.com ❤️ The CEO Retort is the anti-clickbait, thought-provoking show hosted by Tim El-Sheikh, a biomedical scientist and former basketball player who became a serial deeptech entrepreneur after discovering the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in 1996 while studying genetics and the Human Genome Project. In 2002, Tim quit his PhD in data fusion to focus on architecting intelligence systems for his ventures and is one of the pioneering first-generation AI founders at London’s Silicon Roundabout.

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