The Debrief

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...

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...

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...

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 ana...

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 thos...

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 ...

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 han...

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 ...

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 po...

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 ...

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 pl...

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 com...

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 h...

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 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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

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...

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.

See omny...

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...