In our first-ever virtual episode, Professor Bernard Haykel, Director of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, breaks down the powerful forces reshaping the Middle East today. From Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 transformation to the decline of ideological movements across the region, Prof. Haykel offers sharp insight into where things are headed—and why it matters.We dive into rising tensions involving Iran and the United States, the future of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) security, and the ongoing crisis in Palestine.Finally, we explore what could define the region’s future, from greater regional unity to why human capital may be the Gulf’s most important long-term advantage.

0:00 What’s Really Happening in the Middle East?

1:27 The Biggest Shifts Reshaping the Middle East Right Now

3:20 The Deep Divides Defining the Region

5:10 What Sparked the Rising Tensions with Iran?

7:18 How the Gulf Cooperation Council Is Being Impacted

8:46 Saudi Arabia’s Balancing Act: Stability vs Transformation

11:28 Inside Saudi Arabia’s Massive Economic & Social Overhaul

12:51 The Surprising Rise of Women and Social Change

14:02 A New Book That Explains Saudi Arabia’s Transformation

17:42 Inside the Vision of Mohammed bin Salman

21:09 Will a Palestinian State Ever Become Reality?

23:10 Why the Gulf Must Unite on Defense Now

26:13 Are United States Bases Still Protecting the Gulf?

27:40 What Gives Real Hope for the Middle East’s Future?

29:03 Final Thoughts, Book Release Update

The Mo Show

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Her Excellency is a Saudi tech-diplomat shaping the future of the global digital economy. As the founding Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), she leads international efforts to bring governments, innovators, and institutions together to ensure technology becomes a force for inclusive and sustainable growth. In doing so, she also made history as the first Saudi woman to lead the secretariat of an international organization. On this episode, we discuss what it took to build the DCO from the ground up during the uncertainty of COVID, often with limited resources but a clear global vision. The conversation explores Saudi Arabia’s rapid digital transformation and how it has become a real-world case study for modern government services, digital payments, and improving quality of life. We unpacked the idea of “tech diplomacy”, why digital governance, standards, and cross-border cooperation are now critical as technology reshapes economies, politics, and the global flow of information.

0:00 Intro

4:43 What Is the Digital Cooperation Organization

7:49 Building DCO from Scratch

9:02 DCO’s Global Momentum

11:34 Why Technology?

12:31 Empowering Women Through E-Commerce

14:16 The Origin of Women Spark

17:24 Training, Incubators, and Angel Networks for Women in Tech

19:57 Working at Microsoft

23:09 What Is a Tech Diplomat

27:59 Social Platforms Influence

29:22 Why Self-Reliance in Tech Matters

34:14 Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Transformation

36:12 Why Connectivity Alone Is Not Enough

38:59 Saudi Digital Systems and Global Readiness Gaps

42:46 Advice to Young People in the Digital Economy

46:31 Career Advice: Focus on the Step in Front of You

50:01 Why Digital Prosperity for All Is Achievable

51:21 The Next Big Challenge: AI and a New Digital Divide

55:34 Closing Reflections

Dr. Mark Hyman and Mo get into the revolutionary shift toward functional medicine and how the modern, ultra-processed diet is driving an epidemic of chronic disease, particularly in the Middle East. Dr. Hyman breaks down the power of treating the body as an interconnected ecosystem, the urgent need for aggressive food policies, and how a simple 10-day dietary reset can reverse insulin resistance and eliminate daily symptoms. They also explore the future of AI-driven health tracking and the profound, often-overlooked impact of community and social connection on human longevity.

A big thanks to the team at Zenos Health Summit for setting this episode up for us.

Dr. Mark Hyman

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Saudia

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Noon

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Brew 92

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IWC

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Lexus

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The Mo Show

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Email info@themopodcast.com