Time, Fuel, & Money
Time, Fuel, and Money is a conversation for founders, investors, operators, and high-performers who want to understand the deeper forces that shape how we live, build, lead, and make decisions. Hosted by Deborah Moorad, Karim ReFaey, and Vassili Kotlov, the show blends neuroscience, psychology, business, energy, and human behavior—turning complex ideas into practical, emotionally intelligent frameworks.
Each week, we explore what really drives progress: alignment, awareness, relationships, incentives, momentum, and the hidden energy behind ambition. Through stories from biotech, venture capital, government, aviation, engineering, and everyday life, we break down how time, fuel, and money work together—and how they quietly shape careers, companies, and character.
This is not a hustle show. It’s a clarity show.
A place to think deeper, grow wiser, and operate with more intention—without losing your humanity.
New episodes weekly. Join us and rethink the rules.
Time, Fuel, & Money
Donuts, Dopamine & the Devil Wears Prada
How ambition, image & cortisol hijack your values
Episode 13 begins with donuts in New York and spirals into a deep breakdown of how fear, fashion, validation, cortisol, and corruption distort our internal compass. Deb, Vassili, and Karim examine how stress culture glamorizes grind behavior, why identity becomes entangled with image, and how dopamine-driven consumption affects decision quality.
This episode helps founders and leaders stay grounded in environments designed to pull them off center.
Topics:
- Stress culture & identity
- Cortisol, consumption & disconnection
- Ego-driven ambition & corruption
- Image vs. integrity
- Staying grounded in noisy environments