The CEO Retort with Tim El-Sheikh

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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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Yesterday · 2 hr 22 min
Carl Brown (Internet of Bugs): Will Democrats Blow Up The AI Bubble and Arrest Elon Musk?
Veteran software engineer Carl Brown from Internet of Bugs discusses how the Democrats' "blue wave" midterm election outcome will affect the AI bubble and the tech sector over the next two years. Our discussion examines why the future of tech is so closely tied to this unprecedented election outcome, focusing on specific implications for data-centre spending and the broader AI market trajectory as policy decisions begin to shape the industry landscape. Understanding the intersection of politics and the data centre build-out is critical for anyone tracking the AI bubble. We look at how developments in the midterms could force a re-evaluation of current business strategies and investment cycles. This discussion is not about promoting political ideologies or party politics, which, in our view, are becoming increasingly irrelevant. It is all about economics and people's welfare. Join the conversation now and tell us if you think the midterm election outcome will trigger a significant shift in the AI industry, and even blow up the AI bubble. Will techbros, particularly Elon Musk, face state prosecutions? 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/2026/11/09/carl-brown-internet-of-bugs-will-democrats-blow-up-the-ai-bubble-and-arrest-elon-musk/ 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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
November 2 · 1 hr 11 min
The AI Bubble Is About to Burst. What Happens Next? | Dr Jeffrey Funk
Emergency episode with the tech bubble expert Dr Jeffrey Funk, discussing Anthropic's latest pre-IPO S-1 filing, the stolen $6.3 billion worth of crypto from the Binance security breach and the $1trillion tech market wipeout – all in one week! After a massive, industry-wide sell-off on Friday, October 30, 2026, the broader tech sector—largely tracked by the Nasdaq—lost over $1 trillion in market value in a single session. However, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, was the primary catalyst for the week's panic. Triggered by its Q3 2026 earnings report on October 28, Alphabet's stock suffered a historic 12% to 13% plunge on Thursday, October 29, erasing nearly $500 billion ($475B–$500B) in valuation in a single day. Over October 2026, Alphabet shed roughly $758 billion to $766 billion in total market cap. The tech sector brags about the money going in and assumes money will come out, but as Jeff highlights, that is not the case. He believes the AI bubble could pop over the next month or so. What is different from past downturns, Jeff argued, is the bond market. For example, CoreWeave must pay about 16% to borrow, and its rate rose about one percentage point in just a week. Another example is Nebius, which is close. Oracle pays about 8% and Anthropic about 10%. Broadcom can borrow at 5.5%, but it borrowed about $42B against $38B of profit.We are covering many more points related to this situation, including the potential impact of the US midterm elections. Join the conversation and tell us what you think will happen in the coming weeks after such a brutal October market crash, and whether the outcome of the US midterm elections will affect the AI bubble. 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/2026/11/02/jeffrey-funk-the-ai-bubble-is-about-to-burst-what-could-happen-next/ 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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
October 26 · 1 hr 29 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
October 19 · 1 hr 48 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
October 12 · 48 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
October 5 · 1 hr 18 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 29 · 2 hr 38 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 24 · 34 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 21 · 1 hr 11 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 17 · 44 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 14 · 58 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 7 · 1 hr 1 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
September 2 · 55 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
August 31 · 1 hr 14 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
August 25 · 1 hr 14 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
August 20 · 46 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
August 17 · 40 min
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/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
August 10 · 1 hr 39 min
Steve Keen Warns The Iran War Will Crash the World’s Economy and Trigger WW3
Professor Steve Keen is one of the world’s top economists, an author, and an academic who was among the few economists to accurately predict and warn of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis years before it happened. We dug into why the current AI boom is not just a story about overhyped chatbots, but also a tangled-up mess of bad economics, libertarian ideology, energy constraints, and environmental abuse all at once. Not to mention the cherry on top in the form of the Iran War and the consequential crises we are yet to face in the coming weeks, months and years! Join the conversation! 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 (00:01:53) – Overview of the current global economic situation — AI bubble meltdown, climate disaster and the Iran war. Will it survive by the end of 2026? (00:07:09) – Historical parallels: The Railway bubble and the AI hype led by mediocrity that caused financial markets’ meltdown with wider economic implications. (00:14:14) – History of the “standard” economic theories that brought us to the current economic doom loop of damaged energy supply, the environment and innovation (00:20:18) – What did China get right? They seem to be moving in the opposite direction from the West, achieving apparently better economic resilience (00:23:20) – How the Iran War exposed the weakness of global dependence on fossil fuels and accelerated the switch to sustainability and energy independence (00:25:35) – How conservative, right-wing ideologies and conventional economic theorists together deluded the world in ignoring climate change (00:30:05) – Why the academia side of economics is, and has been, completely out of touch with reality for over 150 years! (00:37:08) – The dangers of the zero-government, no-regulation, anti-democracy libertarian ideology led by top tech CEOs and billionaires, empowered by conventional economic theories (00:43:38) – Despite the evidence of major failures of the conventional economic theories, why do governments keep on following failed models? (00:49:39) – Why cannot people see these issues or choose to be ignorant about the current economic realities that will negatively impact their livelihoods? (00:56:52) – AD: The Retort's Campaign to support our independence in light of the UK parliament's new terror threat laws targeting journalists and NGOs, and what you can do at RetortMedia.com/Support (00:58:10) – Will the situation at the Strait of Hormuz and the developing conflict near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait at the Red Sea trigger points for the imminent economic collapse? (01:01:38) – What will the world look like after the AI bubble collapse and the wider economic disaster that will follow? (01:08:54) – The political responses Steve received following his wider campaigns for change of direction (01:11:16) – The big problem with the economic theory is that it is treated like a religion, not science or accurate data-driven analysis – can anything ever break this religion? (01:25:09) – Do the libertarian economists actually believe in their own theories, or are they being paid to push forward these theories and influence governments? (01:25:09) – Once the economic disaster passes, how do we recover? Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/08/10/steve-keen-warns-the-iran-war-will-crash-the-worlds-economy-and-trigger-ww3/ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
August 3 · 1 hr 16 min
Scott Lucas Exposes Trump's Alarming Behavioural Pattern, Escaping Media Scrutiny
Donald Trump’s latest political theatrics are fast proving to be less about policy than they are about control of the news cycle and authoritarianism. Scott Lucas explores Trump's recent series of speeches and appearances, in which he once again staged a spectacle of exaggerated claims and culture-war rhetoric to draw attention to himself while avoiding the more difficult realities facing his administration and the future of the Republican Party. This is not about the political drama the media tends to obsess about. Trump is proving to be even more detrimental to Americans and other societies that rely on the United States’ political and economic stability. Whether it is inflation, a weak jobs report, or an electorate that tends to respond more strongly to tangible issues than to slogans, the larger argument here is that Trump's playbook has changed shape over time, but not purpose. Join the conversation now and tell us what you think Trump's antics mean to you. 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 (00:03:06) – The danger of falling into the “breaking news” whirlpool and losing track of important developments (00:06:46) – Trump's recent antics at the White House Correspondents Dinner and media manipulation through misinformation (00:14:58) – The Trump administration’s diversion tactics to hide their economic and migration policy failures — blaming “communists” (00:22:02) – Why activists tend to fall into the media manipulation trap, particularly the left-wing who risk their entire movement (00:30:02) – The true threat to American culture is the culture wars orchestrated by MAGA and the radical Christian fundamentalists (00:38:36) – The media are at the centre of this entire theatre, failing to call out Trump’s blatant lies that mislead the public (00:46:30) – The urgent need for the “Two-Minutes” analysis model to help the public understand and follow complex issues (00:47:10) – Example of the two-minute analysis: The congressional hearing persecuting Dr Anthony Fauci, led by the Republicans (00:50:56) – Reminder of Trump’s and MAGA’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and their misinformation campaign — they apply the same approach today (00:59:03) – How populist grifters in politics and tech successfully convinced the public not to trust experts, and how the media failed to hold these grifters accountable (01:03:26) – The consequences of not listening to experts and investigative journalists are dire for the general public — the grifters are fighting back! Episode Notes & Citations: ⁠https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/08/03/scott-lucas-exposes-trumps-alarming-behavioural-pattern-escaping-media-scrutiny Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ytJdrSK0yGL2OZfTitnp8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
July 27 · 1 hr 16 min
Scott Lucas: Trump's Iran War Limbo Catastrophic for Global Economy and Your Cost of Living
Professor Scott Lucas examines the economic realities of the Strait of Hormuz and why it remains a central point of tension in global trade. Here we are again, back to square one with the Iran conflict quagmire. Or, as Scott puts it in this episode: an ongoing limbo! Make no mistake, this limbo comes with catastrophic consequences to the global economy and to our cost of living. Thanks to the so-called memorandum of understanding, which Trump has signed, the Iranian regime has been given the key to controlling one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, the Strait of Hormuz.By reviewing the historical status of these waters before recent conflicts, you will understand the shift in maritime security and what it means for future economic dependence. This breakdown is essential for viewers tracking the intersection of energy markets and international policy. As a bonus point, the conversation also touches on how this crisis could become an imminent crisis for the GOP, as energy prices and instability continue to rise. With the death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who played a critical role in defending Trump within the GOP, will we witness a potential retaliation against Trump? 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 (00:02:51) – We are now in a disastrous limbo with Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global oil markets (00:12:48) – Israel's current influence on the war, grooming a potential new Iranian leader (00:19:15) – Would Trump ever accept defeat to end the war, or will he allow the American economy to collapse to save face? (00:26:40) – Benjamin Netanyahu's internal political struggles from all sides, not just the left. (00:28:25) – What happened to the Iranian protesters that Trump was supposed to "save" before the Iran war? Scott shares shocking numbers of deaths and how this war empowered the Iranian regime (00:36:54) – What is the legal position of the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)? Was it ever valid? (00:38:48) – The strategic moves of Gulf states and their plans for alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz, while the Houthis in Yemen threaten to shut down the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandab Strait (00:43:00) – A pessimistic picture of the global economy, made worse by the AI bubble which may blow up sooner thanks to SpaceX (00:45:42) – The death of Lindsey Graham and its political consequences for Trump and the internal struggles within the Republican Party (00:59:56) – The urgent need for pragmatic, results-oriented politics, empowered by local politics and community engagement, as we see in New York under Zohran Mamdani Episode Notes & Citations: https://retortmedia.com/podcasts/ceoretort/2026/07/27/scott-lucas-trumps-iran-war-limbo-catastrophic-for-global-economy-and-your-cost-of-living/ Subscribe to The CEO Retort: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CEORetort⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ceo-retort/id1767132889⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5ytJdrSK0yGL2OZfTitnp8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Tim El-Sheikh: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timelsheikh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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