Made in Dubai with Spencer Lodge

Securing a groundbreaking $3.9 billion deal with Wynn Resorts and recording over 1.13 million visitors in Ras Al Khaimah, Raki Phillips is the mastermind who is helping the UAE's tourism sector shatter records.  As a natural risk-taker and the CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), Raki boasts an impressive background with Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont Hotels. He's named one...

The World Economic Forum warns that gender pay parity won't be achieved until 2277 — an undeniable and shocking reality. To address this, I'm speaking with Emma Burdett, Founder & CEO of WILD: Saudi Arabia's first and only women's network, championing growth, leadership, and empowerment for women. As a UN advisory board member in Saudi Arabia and SDG5 Ambassador, Emma brings her expertise in media...

Dating apps can be overwhelming, with many people growing tired of the repetitive swiping. But for the ultra-wealthy seeking love, there's a solution: Christiana Maxion, founder and CEO of Maxion, Dubai's top matchmaker for high-net-worth individuals.  With a database of over 40,000 singles worldwide, Christiana expertly matches people based on their specific preferences and lifestyles. Her matchm...

Do you want to generate loads of opportunities for your business online? Today's episode is an absolute MUST for anyone serious about building a business ! Daniel Priestley, a visionary serial entrepreneur and bestselling author breaks down how to build a B2B business from scratch, master client conversions, and dominate LinkedIn with a clear, step-by-step guide to success. As the founder of Dent...

Personal branding is more than a buzzword – it's the way to establish yourself and drive business results. Yet many people don't know how to get started or have a fear of oversharing, so they simply don't take the steps to being more visible. That's where the incredible Maha Abouelenein comes in. She is a strategic communications powerhouse and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience, and th...

It's the 300th episode of "Unscripted With Spencer Lodge" and I'm thrilled to have British adventurer Ant Middleton joining me in the studio for a very special recording. Renowned for his extreme adventures and mental resilience, Ant is someone I've wanted to have on the show for a very long time! From joining the UK's elite forces at 16 to becoming the chief instructor on 'SAS: Who Dares Wins,' h...

They say that no one leaves a war without scars, and this week's guest can attest to that. Get ready to be shaken to your core by the story you're about to hear. Meet Lurata Lyon, who, at just 17, became a victim of human trafficking and an organ-harvesting gang during the split of former Yugoslavia. Held captive in a dark, tiny room for six months, she endured solitary confinement, abuse, beating...

Imagine being repeatedly bullied in an environment that you love. This week, I am joined by former Yorkshire cricketer Azeem Rafiq, whose courageous stand against systemic racism has sent shockwaves through the sporting community. Born and raised in Karachi, Azeem relocated from Pakistan to England in 2001, making history as Yorkshire's first Asian-origin captain and leading the team to victory in...

If you think taking drugs will improve your mental health, stop right there. It's time to debunk common health myths with the leading authority in Behavioural Change Dynamics, Eric Edmeades. This remarkable entrepreneur went from being a homeless teenager to a successful business leader, and is now empowering entrepreneurs globally with his initiative 'Business of Freedom'. His passion for improvi...

If you're a business owner and you want to secure your family's future, you might be surprised by the steps you need to take. The bad news is building a successful business alone won't cut it. Folks, get ready for a thought-provoking conversation with Carlton Crabbe – the CEO of Capital for Life, a leading financial services firm specialising in international life insurance and estate planning sol...

The world is moving faster than ever, and only those who master advanced technologies stand a chance to succeed. Meet Piers Linney, the disruptive entrepreneur and former Dragon investor on BBC1's Dragons' Den, who's on a mission to empower, educate, and inspire people to pursue their goals by using technology. As the Co-founder of 'Implement AI,' the next generation technology partner, he's focus...

Healing, chakras, meditation, emotional mapping – these topics may seem a bit 'out there' for many, but my guest on today's show just might change your mind. Meet Shayoon: healer, fashion influencer, model, author, and founder of The Lightforce Center. After surviving a catastrophic car accident, Shayoon was told she would live with chronic pain and be unable to have children. However, a serendipi...

Achieving peak performance in your business is possible if you apply the Formula 1 Mindset. But don't take it from me, folks. This week, I am joined by Marc Priestley , who brings more than a decade of experience with the World Championship-winning McLaren pit crew. Today Marc is a successful speaker, broadcaster, and author, co-presenting the widely acclaimed Wheeler Dealers television show. He i...

Exceptional leaders create a nurturing work environment that prioritises well-being and trust, without compromising on productivity. With over two decades of experience in human resources, Ghenwa Habbal understands this concept, and offers her insights from the unique perspective of a business psychologist. In her role as Regional Talent Management Lead at Ford Middle East & Africa, Ghenwa has ded...

To measure a company's potential, simply ask its employees if they enjoy coming to work every day. Someone who follows this ethos is Emma Davies, a distinguished HR leader with over 25 years of experience driving cultural change and fostering people-centric organisations. Her exceptional people skills drove transformation in multibillion-dollar companies, earning her a 97% employee satisfaction ra...

If you think your favourite social media influencers are living their dream, think again. What you see is just a fraction of their reality. Join me as I sit down with one of Dubai's most famous content creators, Khalid Al Ameri. From making lighthearted and humorous videos for the past seven years, he has garnered a massive fan base of over 15 million followers. On top of being a comedic genius, h...

As the Vice President of Human Resources Middle East and Africa at Hilton, she's driving the company's award-winning people and culture strategy, overseeing close to 30,000 team members across 120 regional hotels. Meet Marie-Louise Ek, a dynamic leader with an impressive track record of over 23 years. With her groundbreaking initiatives at Sandvik and influential leadership roles at APM Terminals,...

In the face of rising global divorce rates, this week's guest on Unscripted With Spencer Lodge challenges conventional beliefs about why marriages fail, arguing that it's men who have a bigger role to play than women. Saif Al-Yasi, a highly esteemed fitness and personal trainer in Dubai comes armed with a medical background in biology and biotechnology, an MBA, and a Master's Degree in bodybuildin...

This week, my youngest ever guest is in the hot seat! If you've ever wondered what leadership looks like through the eyes of a child, then get ready for some pretty epic leadership insights from an 11-year-old. Meet Finley Suchley, the son of my business partner, Danielle, and the Head Boy of Kings' School, Dubai. In this episode, Finley takes the mic to share the remarkable wisdom he has learnt s...

Success doesn't wait around for excuses; it only responds to effort. Meet Rebecca Yarros – the #1 New York Times bestselling author and the literary genius behind more than twenty popular novels. Her most recent publication, 'Fourth Wing,' is set to be transformed into a series by Amazon. As a military wife and mother of six children, she serves as living proof that chasing dreams beats making exc...

Neuroscience continues to be one of the most complex subjects, but Dr David Eagleman is here to decode it all. As a renowned neuroscientist at Stanford University and a best-selling author, he's best known for his ground-breaking research on brain plasticity. David co-founded two venture-backed companies, Neosensory and BrainCheck, and is also the author of two books that have inspired millions of...

As thrilling as adventurous survival shows appear on screen, do they truly deliver the same excitement in real life? Meet Tom Williams – the unstoppable winner of Channel 4's Alone, Season One. Imagine being stranded in the Canadian wilderness, armed with just a handful of tools – that was Tom's reality for 35 days! He was left in total isolation and had to source his own food, build his own shelt...

Leadership is not about your title; it's about inspiring, guiding, and empowering others to achieve their full potential, and Tomaso Rodriguez is a prime example of this philosophy. He is the CEO of Talabat, the UAE's fastest-growing food delivery platform, boasting 5,000+ employees and 80,000 riders. However, unlike most CEOs, Tomaso is not one to stay confined to his desk; his approach to leader...

He's one of the most outspoken people of our time, and after being deplatformed on YouTube for publishing a controversial interview with conspiracy theorist David Icke, Brian Rose refuses to be silenced. A former Wall Street banker-turned-podcast host, Brian is the Founder and Host of London Real which has broadcasted over 1,000 long-form conversations, garnering over a billion views. He is on a m...

Imagine investing $1 in Bitcoin in 2013 and watching it skyrocket from mere cents to tens of thousands a few years later! That's exactly what happened to Davinci Jeremie — the guy who, in a YouTube video back in May 2013, urged viewers to invest a single dollar in Bitcoin when it was trading around $100. That video later went viral, amassing over 4.4 million views. Fast forward to today, Davinci i...