The Mo Show Presented by BSF

In this rare and deeply personal conversation, I was fortunate to sit down with Ruth as she opened up about the defining moments of her life, from learning the power of smart risk to helping stabilize the global economy in 2008.Her and I dive deep into Google’s AI strategy, how competition from ChatGPT ultimately makes the company stronger, the Nobel Prize–winning breakthroughs behind AlphaFold and Ruth’s candid view on how close we really are to finding a cure for cancer.Ruth also shares her “battle scars”, hiring philosophy, her vision for the future of teleportation technology, and the advice she would give to anyone looking to pivot their career successfully.A big thanks to the Google team in Riyadh for facilitating this shoot at their beautiful offices.0:00 Intro3:39 Leading Through the 2008 Financial Crisis5:37 Flexibility vs. Rigidity in Career Paths8:41 Thriving in Google’s Culture of Innovation11:12 Google’s Approach to AI Competition13:35 Unlocking Creativity with Gemini17:14 Making Bold Bets at Google19:20 Data Privacy and Security at Google21:34 Google’s Investment in Saudi Arabia Vision 203027:58 Future Tech: Teleportation AI in Healthcare32:10 Curing Cancer Personal Battle35:40 Life Lessons: Risk, Learning, and Mentorship40:02 Reflecting on Regrets and Closing

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf is one of the most respected Islamic scholars and the co-founder of Zaytuna College in the U.S. He has spent over forty years studying with some of the world’s leading scholars and is known for making deep Islamic wisdom accessible and relevant to modern life. Through his books, lectures, and teaching, he’s helped countless people reconnect with their faith, find clarity, and make sense of the world around them.

From IBM and Microsoft to serving as Chief Business Officer at Google X, Mo Gawdat has spent over three decades at the forefront of technology and innovation. Today, the bestselling author turns his engineer’s mind toward life’s biggest question: how can we live well and meaningfully in an age defined by artificial intelligence?This monumental 2.5 hour episode, which Mo Islam called “the best I’ve ever shot”, is a journey through life, loss, and the future of humanity.Mo Gawdat opens up about his late son Ali and the lessons that inspired ‘Solve for Happy’, before diving into the decade of disruption ahead: from the rise of AI and autonomous weapons to universal basic income and the impending economic reset.Together, the two Mo’s explore why Arabs are so misunderstood in the West, how ethical AI must be grounded in love and empathy, and how the Middle East can lead the next wave of innovation.They challenge the failures of modern education, the grip of the military-industrial complex, and even the mysteries of the space-time continuum, all while searching for meaning in what Mo calls the “legendary level” of modern life.A very big thanks to Merwas Studios in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for inviting us to shoot in their WORLD CLASS Studios!00:00 Intro03:18 IBM, Microsoft Google X05:07 Losing Ali: The Moment Everything Changed09:27 Writing Solve for Happy11:41 Leaving Google Launching “1 Billion Happy”13:35 Living with Loss17:05 Fate, Life the Interconnectedness of Everything23:04 Death as the Opposite of Birth26:02 The Video Game of Life31:23 Ali’s Death Mo’s Purpose34:53 Redefining Success: Impact over Ego38:54 Learning, Curiosity Creation44:08 Solitude Silent Retreats49:01 Meditation Practices55:13 Mindfulness in Daily Life57:06 The Loneliness Epidemic1:01:02 East vs. West: Community vs. Individualism1:05:10 Surveillance, Privacy the Illusion of Security1:08:11 Raising Children in a Broken World1:11:03 The Collapse of Capitalism the Rise of AI1:21:16 China vs. The West1:24:06 The Illusion of Stock Markets Institutional Control1:30:03 War Economics: How Weapons Drive Profit1:35:19 Humanity’s Awakening Questioning the System1:41:08 Reclaiming the Arab Narrative1:47:27 Building Ethical AI1:52:18 Entrepreneurship, Self-Reliance Believing in the Region2:00:03 Education is Broken2:07:03 Business vs. Capitalism: Purpose Over Profit2:10:00 Reclaiming Global Perception2:17:13 Governance, Fairness Leadership in the Arab World2:22:06 Living in Uncertain Times2:25:17 The Ultimate Video Game of Life2:26:57 Closing Reflections

Nourine is a visual artist whose intricately detailed pencil drawings explore the line between reality and constructed imagery. Her immersive works challenge perception and invite quiet reflection. Beginning with photography or digital compositions, she meticulously translates her ideas into pencil on paper blending contemporary image-making with traditional technique. Through themes of identity, interaction, and perception, her focus on objects, surfaces, and textures creates a heightened sensory experience, prompting deeper reflection on how form and space shape human experience. In this intimate 90 minute conversation, Mo and Nourine traverse a wide spectrum from the evolving art world and the boundaries of creative freedom, to motherhood, postpartum depression, and the quiet strength it takes to support loved ones through life’s most testing moments.  0:00 Intro1:20 What Is Hyperrealism?5:02 From IBM Engineer to Full-Time Artist9:53 Instability, London Survival12:41 Independence, Failure Mindset Resilience19:18 Gulf Art on the Rise25:27 What Makes “Art”?28:00 Inspiration, Process Research Ethics38:52 Burnout vs. Patience45:00 Politics, Palestine Artistic Freedom47:12 Creative Blocks50:00 Postpartum Depression59:02 Family Balance, Presence Digital Detox1:09:11 Digital Addiction, Parenting Screens1:13:23 Preparing Kids For Life1:15:43 The IWC Minute1:18:04 Life Without Art:20:30 Mantras Influences1:24:06 Childhood, Vision, and the Gift of Observation1:26:53 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

A Saudi storyteller, actor, writer, and director whose work blends art with social impact, Fatima is the founder of Alf Wad Production House and The Other Story Project, initiatives that have transformed storytelling into a tool for cultural dialogue and community building.Her breakout role in Barakah Meets Barakah (2016), Saudi’s submission to the Oscars, helped shape the country’s new cinematic wave. Named a “Next Generation Leader” by Time Magazine and described as the “Sophie Calle of Saudi Arabia” by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fatima has become one of the most recognized creative voices from the Kingdom. She holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University, where she researched Arab identity and gender representation in cinema and literature.0:00 Intro2:34 Childhood Background6:47 Control, Messiness Acceptance13:00 Parents, Resentment Empathy22:03 Imposter Syndrome35:13 Barakah Public Reaction41:50 Writing/Directing vs Acting45:30 Owning the Narrative55:04 Saudi Film Ecosystem Grows59:34 “The Other Story”1:11:24 Globalization Cinema1:19:32 Alwad: A Thousand Valleys to the Heart1:23:22 Red Sea Festival Market Maturity1:34:44 Mental Health, Phones Finding Balance1:40:31 Women, Theology Harvard1:49:58 “Carve What Isn’t There”1:52:56 Ignoring Bad Advice1:55:29 Feeling Most Alive1:58:32 Dreams, Manifestation Mortality2:06:13 ClosingFatima AlbanawiInstagram https://bit.ly/4mC4nP1LinkedIn https://bit.ly/3IBI5iEWikipedia https://bit.ly/4nNGdCiWebsite https://bit.ly/3IA3IQmThe Mo ShowYoutube https://bit.ly/3nDwsZvApple Podcast https://apple.co/3J9ScX4Spotify https://spoti.fi/33dzsC2Anghami https://bit.ly/3mRo1uyInstagram https://bit.ly/2KAwq5vX https://bit.ly/3KanEnJTikTok https://bit.ly/43L92poWebsite https://bit.ly/3H2DhMMEmail info@themopodcast.com

We kick off season six with the CEO of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority, internationally recognized for his pioneering work in conservation and community-driven environmental management. A visionary conservation leader and human rights advocate known for his pioneering work in sustainable, people-centered environmental management. He rose to prominence as the founding CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. On this episode, Andrew and I explore the PMSBR at Wadi Al-Disah, home to 15 ecosystems and an ambitious re-wilding program bringing back locally extinct species like the Persian onager and sand cat. They discuss why the reserve remains unfenced, forming a vital wildlife corridor linking NEOM, the Red Sea, and AlUla. The conversation dives into how tech and AI satellite collars, camera traps, vulture and turtle tracking translate into real conservation impact. Andrew also reflects on leadership lessons from working with Nelson Mandela and highlights community-first initiatives, including a pioneering team of female rangers driving change on the ground. We touch on public access (camping, guided experiences over gate fees), education to combat litter, and the reserve’s aspirations for UNESCO recognition. 00:00 Intro03:50 Wild Childhood 05:56 Mandela & Leadership11:39 15-Ecosystems Revealed14:15 Rare Species & Juniper Trees 16:39 Re-wilding Explained21:30 Conservation Tech & AI24:06 Open Corridors & Access28:23 Rangers, Women & Beddouins 33:25 Protection, Education & Vision43:57 UNESCO Bid & Climate55:34 MBS Leadership And Closing PMBSRInstagram https://bit.ly/4mWzx4xTwitter https://bit.ly/4gl4gWILinkedIn https://bit.ly/4pl4XDrWebsite https://bit.ly/467Vs1u The Mo ShowYoutube https://bit.ly/3nDwsZvApple Podcast https://apple.co/3J9ScX4Spotify https://spoti.fi/33dzsC2Anghami https://bit.ly/3mRo1uyInstagram https://bit.ly/2KAwq5vX https://bit.ly/3KanEnJTikTok https://bit.ly/43L92poWebsite https://bit.ly/3H2DhMMEmail info@themopodcast.com Saudia Website https://bit.ly/495n6fBInstagram https://bit.ly/3UgTTdAX https://bit.ly/4beIQY8 Noon Instagram https://bit.ly/3XRScUYWebsite https://bit.ly/44lnA1S Eight Sleephttps://www.eightsleep.com/sa/themoshow/ IWC Instagram https://bit.ly/44dxbFWWebsite https://bit.ly/43K8JMk Brew 92Instagram http://bit.ly/3VN6MeILinkedIn https://bit.ly/42kN65EWebsite https://bit.ly/4grbAjK CreditsAndrew Zaloumis | GuestMo Islam | Host FounderRyan Ismail | COOGregoris Kalai | Head of StrategyFares Saied | Executive ProducerMahmoud Taha | DOPAdnan Alkhateeb | GafferOmar El-Faroug | BTS Photographer Production AssistantTito | Creative DirectorYoussef Hamieh | Show ManagerPowered by "STUCK?" | TranslationThe Mo Show Theme Song by Saud Al-Turki