The CEO Retort with Tim El-Sheikh

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Bringing real experts and forward-thinkers out of the clickbait shadows for greater knowledge, purpose, and performance. The CEO Retort is a thought-provoking podcast that features leading experts, entrepreneurs, authors, journalists, and thinkers scrutinising how science, business, health, politics, technology, and AI influence our lives. Hosted by Tim El-Sheikh — a serial deeptech and AI entrepreneur since 2002, one of the first-generation AI pioneers at Google Campus London, a biomedical scientist, and ex-pro athlete. He is currently at the frontier of human-centric Augmented Intelligence.

  1. 1d ago

    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

  2. 4d ago

    Ann Pettifor: The AI Bubble Is A Time Bomb For Ordinary People, Broligarchs Will Cash In

    Ann Pettifor, one of the world's most celebrated economists, explains why the imminent AI bubble crash threatens to harm ordinary people, who will pay the highest price – far more than the tech investors. We analyse the parallels between the current hype cycle and past disasters like the dot-com era and the subprime mortgage crisis. By examining how financial instability spreads, we clarify why this latest market volatility is not just a tech problem, but a systemic risk that endangers the livelihoods of ordinary citizens who are often the last to be considered when the fallout begins. Our conversation moves beyond the hype to address the real-world consequences of speculative investment. Ann discusses the structural flaws in our current economy that allow these bubbles to expand unchecked, often at the expense of public stability. Understanding these patterns is essential for anyone trying to navigate the potential financial crisis ahead. Join the conversation now and tell us what you think the AI Bubble crash will mean for the cost-of-living crisis and the future of global economic stability. 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/2026/09/14/ann-pettifor-the-ai-bubble-is-a-time-bomb-for-ordinary-people-broligarchs-will-cash-in/ 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

    Ann Pettifor: The AI Bubble Is A Time Bomb For Ordinary People, Broligarchs Will Cash In

  3. Sep 7

    Trillions of Dollars Spent on Fake AI Hype and Useless Data Centres | Dr Jeffrey Funk

    Dr Jeffrey Funk joins us to analyse the constant stream of corporate announcements that define the current tech market. We look past the noise to understand why the sheer volume of these claims is struggling to translate into sustainable growth or actual profits. By examining the mechanics of the current AI bubble, we expose the disconnect between projected potential and the financial outcomes we are seeing today. Understanding these shifts is essential for anyone trying to navigate the volatility of modern tech investments. I spent years pushing the conversation around AI, highlighting how AI as a concept turned from excitement to exaggeration at such a rapid pace since ChatGPT’s launch in 2022, and it has become hard to separate real progress from the noise. Yes, AI is real. Yes, some use cases are useful. But the bigger story now is whether the economics can support the huge wave of spending behind it. In other words, is it really worth trillions of dollars in investment? The takeaway is not that AI is useless. Far from it. The takeaway is about how the current market narrative has been overinflated into ridiculous nonsense that is fast turning into parody. Join the conversation now and let us know whether you think AI will continue to matter in narrow, practical ways, while moving away from the idea of endless spending, universal adoption, and trillion-dollar expectations that are becoming harder to defend. Support our independence by becoming a member to support our independence and free access to our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/07/jeffrey-funk-exposes-the-ai-hype-that-led-to-the-fake-trillion-dollar-industry/ 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

    Trillions of Dollars Spent on Fake AI Hype and Useless Data Centres | Dr Jeffrey Funk

  4. Sep 2

    Scott Lucas: The $40 Trillion Debt That's Killing America While Benefiting Trump's Family

    Professor Scott Lucas returns to explain why the debt is more than a big headline, revealing warning signs of long-running structural problems, especially since much of the increase has occurred under Trump 2.0 in less than two years. He traces most of the growth to Trump-era tax cuts, the pandemic-era response, and the current Trump 2.0 administration's continued deficit-heavy approach, stating that the government keeps adding debt without a credible long-term plan to reduce it. We examine the fiscal reality facing the US today, specifically focusing on the approach proposed by Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. This discussion strips away the political rhetoric to examine the numbers driving our current financial trajectory.By analysing shifts in economic policy, we explore who truly benefits from these staggering figures. We also trace the implications of this debt for the average citizen versus the interests surrounding the Trump administration. Understanding these mechanics is essential for interpreting the next phase of global market instability. Join the conversation now and tell us what you think the future of the US economy will look like within the next 12 months. Support our independence by becoming a member to support our independence and free access to our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Preview (00:01:48) – Why your support for independent media is more critical today than ever in the age of AI slop, clickbait, misinformation and aggressive attacks against fearless journalism (00:02:30) – The catastrophic rise of the US national debt to $40 trillion. Who are the winners and the losers of this rising debt and the illusion of growing out of debt (00:18:04) – Tim and Scott debate about the possible economic collapse under the shadow of increasing multibillion-dollar crypto scams and the overinflated AI bubble (00:35:43) – How Trump 2.0 stripped away economic resilience and used crypto as a way out for the US economy, while also financially rewarding Trump family members and other stakeholders (00:45:52) – Limbo in the Iran War and Midterm Prospects. Can the US ever force Iran to surrender (00:51:51) – In theory, if the Democrats win the 2026 midterm elections, will they be able to reverse the corruption – assuming the elections are not being manipulated Episode Notes & Citations: https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/09/03/scott-lucas-the-40-trillion-debt-thats-killing-america-while-benefiting-trumps-family/⁠ 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: The $40 Trillion Debt That's Killing America While Benefiting Trump's Family

  5. Aug 31

    Scott Lucas: What We Can Learn From Dolly Parton's Politics of Care in a Divided World

    Professor Scott Lucas joins us this week to trace Dolly’s rise from humble beginnings to global fame. See why Dolly Parton and her spontaneous nature stand in direct opposition to modern political figures like Donald Trump. Understand the clash of values. In this discussion, we analyse the specific instance where Dolly Parton sang unexpectedly, illustrating her genuine approach to public life. We also examine how Dolly Parton's actions often diverge from the core platforms of right-wing movements such as MAGA, Brexit, and others. By comparing these two public personas, we clarify why her style of influence operates on a completely different frequency to help you interpret the underlying friction between traditional celebrity authenticity and current political branding. This breakdown is for viewers interested in cultural analysis and how public figures navigate contrasting ideological landscapes. Join the conversation now and share with us what Dolly meant to you. Support our independence by becoming a member to support our independence and free access to our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Preview (00:02:54) – Opening on Dolly Parton and the politics of care – from one-room shack to global philanthropy and community investments (00:12:10) – Why Trump and the far right cannot claim Dolly despite their efforts to link her name with their causes (00:13:52) – The Irish pub story and Dolly’s grace with ordinary people – A lesson to influencers and leaders (00:16:12) – Tim shares his mother's charity work, grief, and attending her funeral via Zoom! (00:18:30) – Moving from grief into politics and the rise of division that goes against everything that Dolly stood for. How do we rebuild relationships with supporters of divisive politics? (00:33:35) – Trumpism, libertarianism, Tatcharism, refugees and communities. Why division and inward-looking individualism hurt everyone (00:37:43) – Why DEI is attacked as a concept, not just as a program. Dolly was the biggest champion for DEI, and how the tech sector jumped on the "anti-DEI" bandwagon in 2024 (00:46:33) – Dolly’s consistency on vaccines, women, and decency – the inconvenience for most politicians – with a reminder of The Chicks, Woody Guthrie, and singing with political memory (00:49:44) – Why we must hold all governments accountable for their failure in dealing with migration and asylum seekers, with Ukraine, Syria, and how context changes migration politics (01:06:50) – Attacks on trans people, LGBTQ people, and disabled people by the same supporters of white supremacy and the far right. Again, going against Dolly's pro stance on transgender rights and human dignity (01:09:50) – "Coat of Many Colours," Joseph, and the moral against ostracism and learning from Dolly Episode Notes & Citations: https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/08/31/scott-lucas-highlights-what-we-can-learn-from-dolly-partons-politics-of-care-in-a-divided-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: What We Can Learn From Dolly Parton's Politics of Care in a Divided World

  6. Aug 25

    The AI Bubble is Collapsing Fast, with Spurious Circular Financing | Dr Jeffrey Funk

    Dr Jeffrey Funk returns to discuss how the current AI boom is driven not by healthy demand or sustainable profits, but by shady circular financing and hype. Jeff argues that AI is a bubble, but not like the dot-com or the 1929 bubble, because the structure centres on a few firms rather than a broad market. Traditional bubble metrics like price-to-earnings ratios are misleading, since most companies in the market aren't actually benefiting from AI. We delved into the broader damage caused by this bubble that distorted startup incentives, media and VC hype cycles, and what could happen when the bubble finally breaks. Join the conversation and let's discuss how the AI bubble may be approaching a breaking point, including OpenAI’s centrality, hyperscaler cash flow strain, and weakening confidence in major AI-linked stocks. My concern is that it could also bring the end of entrepreneurship as we know it! Hold on to your seats, folks. Support our independence by becoming a member to support our independence and open free access to our content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Preview (00:02:07) – Why did economic experts and the mainstream media fail to see the AI bubble coming? (00:06:43) – What is a bubble, and why is the AI bubble uniquely different from all the previous hype cycles? (00:18:53) – The apparent lack of understanding and basic knowledge about AI’s limitations and potential leading to bizarre claims and investment decisions (00:23:08) – Are people waking up to the true realities of AI and how data centres killed trust in the whole sector and may kill Oracle! (00:29:01) – How China’s approach toward AI is beating Silicon Valley and why they are immune to the AI bubble crash (00:34:18) – The fallacy of AGI and the singularity claims and how analysts had no idea if these promises are viable, leading to hyperinflation of the AI bubble and its imminent crash (00:43:27) – The shady and questionable financial statements as circular financing (00:48:47) – How some of the major mainstream media outlets, business magazines, influencers and podcasters are being paid by the AI companies and VCs to report positively about AI. Tim reveals he was approached by one of these companies! (00:53:04) – Ad exposing the UK government’s targeting of independent media and journalists and how you can support and protect our independence (00:54:21) – The South Korean market crash of July 2026 and how it will impact the stability of US and global markets (00:58:28) – Are SoftBank and Oracle the biggest losers of the AI bubble? Could they potentially collapse? (01:00:38) – The political and regulatory failure in preventing the overinflation of the AI bubble and protecting investor interests (01:02:22) – Who will be the biggest losers after the AI bubble crash, and who will be held responsible? The blame game will be epic! Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/08/25/jeffrey-funk-explains-why-the-ai-bubble-is-crashing-and-the-shady-circular-financing 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 AI Bubble is Collapsing Fast, with Spurious Circular Financing | Dr Jeffrey Funk

  7. Aug 20

    Scott Lucas Calls for the Rise of Younger Democrats and to Get Their Act Together

    In the second part of this week's Geopolitics review, Professor Scott Lucas turns our attention to the Democrats and the upcoming US Midterm elections. It quickly becomes clear that the real issue is not a simple battle between "the centre" and "the left" within the party. Instead, Scott argues that too much commentary gets trapped in lazy labels and misses the more important question: which candidates are actually effective, pragmatic, and able to connect with voters on the issues that matter? Join the conversation and let us know if you think the Democrats need leadership that can unify the party around issues, not nostalgia, labels, or defensive apologetics and bring all voters together against MAGA's tyranny. Support our independence by becoming a member to help us fight against this dangerous move by the UK government: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Preview (00:02:18) – Reassessing the 2024 election and what Democrats really got wrong with Kamala Harris’ campaign despite Trump’s highly toxic rhetoric (00:09:39) – Trump’s weak approval now that he has been in power and the importance of actual policies over theatrics for the upcoming elections (00:10:45) – Pragmatic Democrats to watch at governor and Senate level who succeeded on clear policy platforms, not on “centre vs left” labelling (00:16:46) – How the media, commentators and analysts are mislabeling the public and distorting the evolving picture of the Democrats (00:23:25) – Why political analysts must focus on issues, not personalities and guilt-by-association framing that offers zero insights (00:26:58) – AOC, “woke 2.0,” and the need to reclaim language and true meaning from Trump, the MAGA movement and their client media (00:30:30) – Should the establishment Democrats transition away from the old guard, such as Biden, Clinton, Obama, Schumer and others? (00:36:03) – Modern Democrats must prioritise grassroots politics, not old-school politics. Case in point: Zohran Mamdani (00:40:42) – Scott’s biography writing on Orwell taught him long ago that we are beyond right and left — each label boxes you in! Episode Notes & Citations: https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/08/20/scott-lucas-calls-for-the-rise-of-younger-democrats-and-to-get-their-act-together/ 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 Calls for the Rise of Younger Democrats and to Get Their Act Together

  8. Aug 17

    Scott Lucas explains how Trump and Israel have completely lost control of the Middle East

    Professor Scott Lucas analyses how the Trump administration have run out of viable military options, decentring the Middle East and destabilising the global economy. The episode opens with a wide-ranging update on the escalating instability across the Middle East, centred on the US-Iran confrontation and the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. Scott explains that the situation has entered a difficult middle phase: a limbo that does not include full-scale war but is also far from peace. This level of increasing uncertainty and instability is exactly what makes the moment so dangerous, especially as shipping through the strait has fallen sharply and the economic stakes keep rising. Support our independence by becoming a member to help us fight against this dangerous move by the UK government: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://RetortMedia.com/Support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: (00:00:00) – Preview (00:02:18) – Climate Change and Political Delusion with the UK's 5th heat wave in a single Summer Season! (00:05:00) – The Escalating Iran Situation. Somehow it is worse than it has ever been. How did the US lose all leverage against Iran? (00:11:13) – Reminder of the June 2026 memorandum of understanding and what Trump signed up to and desperately wants Iran to reengage (00:15:01) — The latest Israel-Lebanon front, Gaza, and the West Bank developments that added further instability in the region (00:17:57) — Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, and Red Sea escalation: The closure of the Bab El-Mandeb Strait – which is only open to Chinese tankers! (00:21:16) — The Trump administration are not even looking at the Yemen-Saudi Arabia situation and how Saudi Arabia could call out Trump on his failures (00:24:41) — The emerging Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan defence pact – dubbed the “Islamic NATO” and the decentring of the entire region (00:30:52) — What is the reaction of Israel and the UAE to the emergence of this new defence pact? (00:36:32) — This complete realignment goes completely against Trump 1.0's pet project, the Abraham Accords. So what's next? Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠⁠⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/08/17/scott-lucas-exposes-how-trump-and-israel-lost-control-of-the-middle-east/ 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 explains how Trump and Israel have completely lost control of the Middle East
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About

Bringing real experts and forward-thinkers out of the clickbait shadows for greater knowledge, purpose, and performance. The CEO Retort is a thought-provoking podcast that features leading experts, entrepreneurs, authors, journalists, and thinkers scrutinising how science, business, health, politics, technology, and AI influence our lives. Hosted by Tim El-Sheikh — a serial deeptech and AI entrepreneur since 2002, one of the first-generation AI pioneers at Google Campus London, a biomedical scientist, and ex-pro athlete. He is currently at the frontier of human-centric Augmented Intelligence.

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