The Debrief

The Debrief is joined by David Abel, director of the documentary In The Whale, to tell one of the most extraordinary survival stories you will ever hear. In June 2021, Cape Cod lobster diver Michael Packard plunged into the waters off Provincetown on a routine dive, only to be caught inside the mouth of a humpback whale, trapped in total darkness for around 30 seconds, certain he was about to die, before the whale surfaced and spat him back out. David takes the team inside how it happened, how Packard survived, and why he questioned the story himself before every detail checked out. He also reveals the part most people never hear: what the sudden, dizzying wave of global fame did to a fiercely private man who just wanted to keep diving.

Driverless cars are already operating on Dubai’s roads, but are they ready for the city’s unpredictable traffic, and are passengers ready to trust them? Hassan Khairat and Antonio Semeraro, Principals at Arthur D. Little Middle East, join The Debrief to discuss where the UAE stands in the global autonomous vehicle race, why companies including Pony.ai, Baidu Apollo Go and WeRide are testing their technology here, and whether Dubai can achieve its ambitious target of making 25% of all trips autonomous by 2030.

AI is moving too fast. That’s the warning from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who recently called for the industry to slow down. And he isn’t alone. Some of the biggest names in artificial intelligence are raising concerns about the speed of development and the potential damage rogue AI systems could cause. But how realistic is the threat, and what could it mean for ordinary people? Maher Yamout, Lead Security Researcher at Kaspersky, joins us to explain what is really happening, whether fears of an AI takeover are justified and how we can protect ourselves.

The Debrief crosses live to Apple expert and content creator Jermaine D'Vauz to break down everything from Apple's big launch. Fresh off the September keynote, Jermaine talks the team through the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and the headline moment nobody could stop talking about: Apple's first-ever foldable iPhone, its biggest change in form factor since the iPhone X. He gets into the upgraded cameras, what the foldable is expected to cost, and whether it lives up to years of hype. And there's a change at the very top too, as this marked the first launch led by Apple's new CEO John Ternus, stepping into the role after Tim Cook. Jermaine gives his verdict on what it all means for anyone thinking about their next upgrade.

Every year, somewhere between two and five trillion dollars in dirty money is washed through the global financial system. The Debrief is joined by Robert Nordlander, who spent 20 years as a Special Agent with IRS Criminal Investigation, one of the world's most elite financial crime units. Robert explains what the unit actually does, and walks the team through what it takes to track dirty money through somewhere like Zhao Wei's Golden Triangle zone in Laos, a 39 square mile enclave one man effectively runs as his own country. He also gets into whether crypto has made hiding money easier or harder, how both criminals and investigators are now racing to out-use each other with AI, and what strings to pull at to track dirty money.

The Debrief sits down with 26-year-old Loic De Marie, who has been diagnosed as a psychopath, for a rare and unsettling look inside how he actually experiences the world. Loic takes the team back to his youth, the moment he first understood he was different, and the incidents that made his family realise something more serious was going on. He speaks with striking bluntness about relationships and whether he can genuinely love, how he makes sense of grief and heartbreak, and where, if anywhere, he finds joy. He describes how he used to manipulate people (especially women) and just how conscious he was of doing it, and what it's like to feel no fear. Dane and Shaan were left terrified and fascinated in equal measure…

Nearly 30 years after Tupac Shakur was murdered, a jury has finally found someone guilty. Journalist Cathy Scott, who covered the case from the night Tupac was shot, explains who Keffe D is, how his own words helped convict him, and why justice took so long.

The Debrief is joined by true-crime filmmaker Joe Berlinger, the man behind Netflix’s The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare. In November 2022, four university students were found murdered inside an off-campus house in Moscow, Idaho. Joe takes us inside the investigation, the evidence and the extraordinary scrutiny surrounding the case. He explains how social media transformed the story, why misinformation spread so rapidly, and what happens when millions of online spectators begin treating a real murder investigation like a mystery they can solve.

What if you could create an app simply by describing what you wanted? Vibe coding is the use of conversational AI to build apps, websites, and software. The Debrief is joined by cybersecurity expert Tanya Janca, better known as SheHacksPurple, to explain what vibe coding actually is, and what can go wrong when non-technical creators launch products with vulnerabilities they do not know exist. She reveals what a software “crash” can look like, whether AI will fix the security problems it is helping create, and whether governments can realistically keep pace.

In November 2012, two fishermen set off from the coast of Mexico. Only one came back, 438 days later, having drifted almost 7,000 miles across the Pacific, the longest open-ocean survival in recorded history. The Debrief is joined by journalist Jonathan Franklin, who tracked down survivor Salvador Alvarenga and wrote the book documenting the whole ordeal. Jonathan takes the team through how it began, a routine trip that a storm turned into a nightmare, and what happened to Alvarenga’s young, barely-experienced crewmate out on the water. He explains how he fact-checked a story almost too extraordinary to believe, what kept Alvarenga alive through months of total isolation, and the strange mental tricks that stopped him losing his mind. Then the moment everything changed: after 438 days, land.

Would you wear clothes made out of human hair? Turns out that idea is a lot closer than you might think. The Debrief is joined by Zsofia Kollar, founder of Human Material Loop, who is turning the hair swept off salon floors into actual, wearable fabric. Zsofia walks the team through exactly how it works, from strand to sweater, whether the end result would actually be comfortable against your skin, and how far away we really are from this landing on shelves for millions of people. Dane and Shaan, meanwhile, remain firmly split, somewhere between genuinely disgusted and quietly wondering... hmm, maybe?

You know those boxes. Around 500 dirhams, and suddenly you have every movie, every sport channel, streaming platform, all of it “for free”. But a new report has the FBI tracking down the people who own these boxes, and it is not about the free movies. The Debrief is joined by Ahmed Khanji, CEO of GridWare and one of the cybersecurity’s leading voices, to explain what you are really plugging into your home. He breaks down how a cheap box can quietly turn your internet connection into a proxy for cyberattacks happening on the other side of the world, whether you should actually be worried if you own one, and how far law enforcement will really go to get them off the street. If you have got one of these sitting under your TV right now, this is the one you need to hear.

As Barack Obama's speaking tour puts premium meet-and-greet access on sale, The Debrief digs into what that eye-watering price tag of AED 20,000 per ticket actually buys, and why every ticket comes subject to a background check. Joining the team is Jason Russell, a former US Secret Service Special Agent of eight years. He explains just how big a headache an event like this is when the public is given close access to a former president, what kind of personal history gets someone flagged, and what most people misunderstand about presidential security in general. And the question everyone secretly wants answered: how close are the presidents and their agents really?

The Debrief hears the extraordinary story of Ricky Kidd, sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole for two murders he did not commit. Ricky walks the team through it all, from the fateful day police first made contact to the moment the gavel came down in the courtroom and his life changed forever. He describes what it was like to walk into a maximum security prison for a crime he had no part in, and how, behind three layers of barbed wire, he somehow found his purpose again. It builds to the moment that had all of us in tears on air: being told, at last, that he was free to go.

The Debrief puts Shaan in the hot seat with a live negotiation, then takes it apart - before handing it over to a real expert. Joe Navarro spent his FBI career in counterintelligence and behavioural assessment, and he reveals the tiny signals people leak long before they say a word, and the thousands of behavioural tells hiding in every interaction. He even weighs in on what makes a good handshake (hint - it’s not always strength), and what he makes of the world's most famous grips, including President Trump's.

The Debrief is joined by Nirmal Rajah from Mleiha National Park to get everything you need to know before one of the year's great sky shows: the Perseids meteor shower. Nirmal explains what the Perseids actually are, and why this year's peak, overnight from August 12 into August 13, is set to be especially stunning, with up to 100 meteors an hour. He talks the team through where to watch across the UAE, from Mleiha's UNESCO-listed dark-sky desert to spots away from the city glow, the best conditions for catching those famous fireballs, and just how rare a display like this really is. No telescope required, just a clear patch of sky and a little patience!

The Debrief digs into the storm surrounding Amanda Knox's new one-woman show, Cartwheel, at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. The team looks at why the production has drawn sharp criticism from Meredith Kercher's family, who have called the idea offensive, and how Knox has defended it, insisting the show honours Meredith's memory and confronts the violence done to both women rather than making light of the tragedy. We weigh what the family, what Knox, and what festival-goers themselves make of it. Dane and Shaan then look back to last year's Disney+ dramatisation of the case, and to Dane's own interview with Amanda herself, in which she opened up about everything she has lived through. She told Dane more about how she intends to keep telling her story, and what she makes of the criticism that still follows her, despite being acquitted of the murder twice.

The Debrief is joined by Brandon Maben, category lead for the Adidas Originals business across the MENA region, to get to the bottom of a question dividing pet owners everywhere: should you really be dressing up your pet? With the Adidas pet collection now landing in the UAE, Brandon reveals why the reaction here has been so huge, and how it all traces back to Gen Z and the way they see their pets. He explains why the whole trend started in Asia and what was driving it there, walks the team through what's actually in the collection, from mini Cali Tees to collars and carriers, and names the standout bestseller. And the big question underneath it all: is pet fashion a passing novelty, or a category that's here to stay?

The Debrief is joined by reporter Tim Pulliam, who took part in the new documentary series Squatters: Get Out of My House, to unpack why this has become one of America's most maddening and dangerous problems. Tim explains how complete strangers manage to occupy someone else's home, why they become so difficult to remove once they're in, and how the law can end up working against the very people who own the property. Along the way he shares some of the most jaw-dropping cases he reported on, including one that sent a fraudster to prison for 20 years, in a conversation that will make you look at your own front door a little differently.

The Debrief is joined by Danielle and James Styron, co-authors of The Mile High Club: Confessions of a Private Jet Flight Attendant. For most of us, flying private is a world glimpsed only in films and on social media, but behind the luxury sits a crew managing extraordinary demands, enormous egos and situations most people would struggle to believe. Danielle spent seven years in those crews, and she pulls back the curtain on the wildest requests, the most difficult moments, and the surprisingly kind clients who restored her faith. Danielle and James open up about the pressure to stay silent, to tolerate almost anything, and what all of it taught them about human nature when money strips away the usual limits and consequences.

The Debrief is joined by Guido De Wilde, fresh off an extraordinary journey across Europe. Over 25 days, Guido and 14 other riders cycled 3,333 kilometres from Barcelona to Paris, climbing more than 54,000 metres along the way, all in support of the Al Jalila Foundation’s cancer research and patient care programmes. Guido takes the team inside what a day on the road really looked like, and how tough this challenge was on his body. He also goes into the deeply personal side to this challenge: a stage 4 colon cancer survivor himself, Guido reflects on what cycling gave him when so much felt out of his control.

The Debrief is joined by Dr. Christine Marie, cult psychology expert and author, who did something almost no one would dare: she went undercover inside a dangerous cult to help bring down its leader. Christine reveals how she worked her way into the FLDS group led by Sam Bateman, winning the trust of its members under the cover of filming a documentary. She breaks down the psychological control tactics Bateman used to hold his followers in his grip, and how she quietly gathered the evidence and confessions that would eventually condemn him. It all builds to the tense, high-stakes day the FBI finally moved in, and Christine takes the team right into the heart of it.

The Debrief is joined by Russ Matthews and Idee Matthews Montijo to tell the extraordinary story of how they found the Pan Am Clipper Endeavor aircraft, 74 years after it crashed and sank off the coast of Puerto Rico. Russ and Idee trace the years of painstaking archival detective work that led them to the site, and the moment they finally found the wreck. They detail the unforgettable legacy left by this tragedy that reshaped air travel forever. The safety briefing every passenger hears before takeoff exists in part because of what happened that Friday in 1952, which means every person who has ever flown has been touched by this plane, and almost none of them know it.

The Debrief is joined by Edna Cowell Martin, cousin of infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, and Megan Atkinson, who helped her tell her story in print. Edna takes the team back to a childhood spent alongside a boy nobody suspected, and answers the question that has followed her for decades: were there ever glimpses of what lay beneath? She describes what it was like to remain close to him while the murders were happening, how the family absorbed the news when the truth finally broke, and what passed between them in their final exchanges before he escaped prison for the second time. Megan explains how the writing process forced Edna to revisit trauma she had buried for years, and what it revealed about the toll it had taken on her whole life. It leaves one unsettling question hanging over the whole conversation: if someone close to you was living a double life, would you really see it?

The Debrief is joined by Professor of Aerospace Engineering Dr. Adeel Khalid, to unpack the technology that recently found two lost hikers in a matter of hours, a search that could have taken human teams days. Dr. Khalid explains exactly what he has been building, and what one of these drones is actually seeing when it sweeps over a forest below. The team uncovers the accuracy difference between these machines and old school rescue tech like helicopters or dogs. They also find out how long these machines can stay airborne, and just how much ground they can cover on a single flight. Then the conversation lifts off into the future: what these life-saving systems will look like five to ten years from now, and how many more people they might bring home.

The Debrief is joined by CeCe Moore, the pioneering genetic genealogist who helped turn a hobbyist's tool into one of the most powerful weapons in modern policing. CeCe explains what those consumer DNA tests are really telling you, how far back your family tree can genuinely be traced, and why some parts of the world are far better represented in the databases than others. The conversation digs into the hurdles of unpicking someone's ancestry, and how the same technology that reunites adoptees with birth parents is now cracking cold cases that sat untouched for decades. Then comes the harder question: where does personal privacy end and the pursuit of justice begin, when a distant cousin's spit sample can put a killer in handcuffs? CeCe also looks ahead to where AI takes this next, and reflects on how a career spent inside other people's DNA has reshaped the way she thinks about family, identity and truth itself.

The Debrief is joined by Dr. Steven Hassan, one of the world's leading experts on cults, mind control and undue influence, and a man who knows the subject from the inside. Recruited as a young college student, Steven spent years inside a high-control group before getting out and dedicating his life to understanding how it happened. He explains exactly how skilled recruiters operate, the small steps that pull a person in long before they realise it, and why the people most vulnerable are almost never who you would expect. The conversation turns to the long road back, what it takes to rebuild a life, relationships, and learn to trust your own thoughts again. And with the internet doing the recruiting now, Steven has a warning about how much easier it has become - especially for the younger generation to disappear into one of these groups.

The Debrief is joined by independent cold-case investigator Alex Baber, who believes he may have unmasked the man behind two of America’s most infamous unsolved crimes: the Black Dahlia murder and the Zodiac Killer. Alex makes the extraordinary claim that both were the work of the same man, and explains how he ended up chasing two cases that have haunted investigators for decades. Using AI, historical records, handwriting analysis and a fresh crack at one of the Zodiac’s shortest and most mysterious codes, he lays out how he arrived at his suspect. Alex even reveals the chilling moment he approached the son of the man he believes did it. Correction: This episode includes a misstatement that Alex Baber was hired by Elizabeth Short’s sister.  Mr Baber would like to clarify that he was not hired by anyone to investigate these cases.  He briefly spoke with Elizabeth Short’s sister, and that is the extent of his connection to the family.

The Debrief is joined by Paul Brodsky, a senior analyst at TeleGeography, to pull back the curtain on the physical guts of the internet. Paul explains how the whole system actually works, what people really mean when they talk about “the cloud,” and what happens in those split seconds when you send a simple message. The team gets into how much of the world’s internet traffic runs through undersea cables, what those cables actually look like - especially m just how startlingly thin they are for something the entire planet depends on. Then comes the big one: what happens when it all goes down?

The Debrief is joined by Michael Pachter, one of the most respected analysts in the video games industry, as the countdown to GTA 6 hits fever pitch ahead of its November 19 launch. Michael breaks down just how enormous this release is in pure financial terms, why Rockstar has leaned so heavily into a digital-first approach, and whether fans should brace for the console shortages already being predicted. Plus, the team unpacks the stunt that stopped New York in its tracks, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus scaling the Empire State Building!

The Debrief is joined by Roman Axelrod, founder of Dubai-based deep tech company XPANCEO, which is building what could be the world’s first fully integrated smart contact lens. Roman explains how the lens can merge augmented reality, health monitoring and biosensing into a single device that sits directly on your eye. The team digs into who this technology is actually for, from continuous glucose tracking for diabetics to hands-free data for surgeons and pilots, and how something so small manages to power itself. And with tech that literally touches the eye, the conversation turns to the big question hanging over it all: what does this mean for privacy, and are we ready for it?

The Debrief is joined by Paul Holes, the investigator who helped crack one of the most notorious cold cases in American history. Paul takes the team inside the world of cold case work, where an investigation actually begins, and what Hollywood consistently gets wrong about it. He explains how he became involved in the Golden State Killer case and why the killer managed to stay hidden in plain sight for so long. Then he reveals how a brand new kind of forensic science finally caught up with him, and what really happened on the day it all came crashing down.

The Debrief is joined by Barbara Butcher, who spent more than two decades as a death investigator in New York City, witnessing thousands of crime scenes over her career. Barbara explains exactly what the job involves, how someone ends up in that line of work, and how she mentally prepared to walk into a crime scene. She opens up about the difficulty of delivering devastating news to strangers, and even the times she clashed with police and homicide detectives. It left Dane and Shaan asking: what does our fascination with death really say about us?

The Debrief tackles a tempting question: if money was no object, which franchise would you open, and could you actually make it work? Dane and Shaan dig into the surprising rules, hidden costs and wildly different definitions of "ownership" behind some of the world's biggest names. McDonald's owner-operator Paulina Kostecki joins from Detroit to reveal what it actually costs to run one, what owner really means in her world, the truth about Hamburger University, and the biggest misconceptions people have about life behind the golden arches.

The Debrief is joined by Sima Taparia, the celebrated Indian matchmaker known to millions from her hit Netflix show. Sima shares the inner workings of her business, why she believes dating apps are failing a generation, and where she sees the matchmaking industry heading next. The conversation digs into how young people are finding love today and even her famous philosophy of "compromise and adjust”. What role does romance play in a modern relationship? Sima aunty says, important, but not as front-and-centre as you think!

The Debrief breaks down SpaceX's record-breaking Nasdaq debut, the biggest IPO in history, and what it actually means. Why did this IPO matter so much? What does SpaceX even do beyond rockets? The conversation then drifts off-planet, into what living on Mars or the Moon would really involve: shelter and infrastructure, water, oxygen and food, power systems, and even what sunrise and sunset would look like in outer space. It all comes down to one question the hosts put to themselves: would they actually do it?

It all kicks off with the big question: if you were in a survival show, would you pick fire, hunting, or shelter? The Debrief is joined by UAE-based explorer Kshitish Koorapaty, who is on a mission to climb the legendary Seven Summits. With three already conquered, Elbrus, Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro, Kshitish takes the team through his journeys, the training behind each climb, and what it really takes to reach the top. He opens up his adventure pack to reveal the essentials he carries (he picked fire!), even challenging Dane and Shaan to lift it!

The Debrief is joined by Segolene Stephenson to explore how Hawk-Eye Innovations and the technology behind it has transformed the world of sport. Segolene breaks down how the technology actually works, the precision it delivers, and the ways it has reshaped officiating across tennis, football, UFC and beyond. They even cover controversies in how the tech has slowed down sports and watching experiences. Dane and Shaan also dig into the odd ways the next generation is changing the way sport is watched, followed and consumed…

The Debrief is joined by Le Mans winner Mark Blundell ahead of the 2026 race. Mark takes the team through what it feels like to win the iconic 24-hour race, the physical and mental demands of endurance racing, and even all the drama behind his time in Formula 1. With the current F1 season in full swing, Mark also shares his take on this year's grid and where the championship is headed.

The Debrief digs into the FIFA World Cup and why things haven't exactly gone to plan even before kickoff - from chaos to the complaints, and the new rules shaking up the tournament. The team get into the chants: Dane’s flying the flag for England while Sana has been handed the unenviable task of rooting for the USA!

For over a decade, Martin Pistorius was fully aware but unable to move, speak, or tell anyone he was still there. Misunderstood as unreachable, he lived locked inside his own body until technology finally gave him a voice. In this extraordinary conversation, Martin opens up about the loneliness, the guilt of feeling like a burden to his family, and how he rebuilt a life he once believed was impossible… including finding love when he thought there was no future left for him.

After Hermès faced backlash over alleged background checks on shoppers before allowing access to certain products, serious questions emerged about privacy, exclusivity, and what luxury brands can legally get away with.  IP lawyer Vivek Jayaram breaks down what’s actually legal behind the scenes of high-end retail, how brands protect exclusivity, and where the line is between customer screening and discrimination.

The watch world can’t stop talking: Swatch x Audemars Piguet collaboration but is it hype, history, or a cash machine waiting to explode? The Debrief are joined by a luxury watch content creator Karim Haddad who shares some industry insights, what collectors should expect, the resale frenzy already brewing, and the insider strategies most buyers won’t hear until it’s too late.

How many decisions do you really make each day? According to Professor Robert Sapolsky… maybe none. In this fascinating conversation with the Debrief, the professor explains why he believes free will is an illusion, arguing that our choices are shaped long before we’re aware of them, by genetics, hormones, environment, and biology.

The Debrief in conversation with Anna Lembke from Stanford University School of Medicine who breaks down how dopamine drives our habits and why it is so easy to become obsessed with things from our life. From compulsive scrolling to modern-day dependency, she explains what’s happening inside your brain and how to take back control before it’s too late.

After losing their mum to dementia, brothers Jordan Adams and Cian Adams were hit with the unthinkable truth - they carry the same gene and could develop symptoms in their 40s. Instead of stepping back, they stepped up. Known as the FTD Brothers, they’ve already raised over £1 million and are pushing even harder. This powerful conversation covers genetic testing, running 32 marathons in 32 days and even being recognised with British royals.

What drives someone to run 100 miles every single week… for over 320 weeks straight? The Debrief are joined by Andy Glaze who breaks down the mindset, discipline, and sacrifice behind his unbelievable streak. From injuries and mental battles to documenting it all online they discuss what it takes to keep going.

When a successful creator quits at her peak, people take sides. Is it brave honesty or total disconnect? Influencer relations expert Le D'Souza tells the Debrief exactly what brands really expect from influencers. From burnout behind the filters to the pressure of constant performance, we unpack the realities of an industry that looks glamorous but demands far more than you see.

Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences joins the Debrief live for a fascinating conversation. Ben reveals how scientists are racing to revive species like the woolly mammoth. From cutting-edge genetics to exploring whether de-extinction could reshape ecosystems or rewrite the rules of life itself.

AI expert, James Poulter explains to the Debrief how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, creativity, and the future of work. From real-world applications to ethical dilemmas, he breaks down what AI means for all of us and why understanding it is no longer optional.