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
Bureaucracy, Bandwidth & the Energy You Can’t Waste
A survival manual for the slow, political, frustrating parts of the system
Episode 20 tackles the invisible drag on founders: slow decisions, broken communication, and emotional bandwidth leaks.
Karim shares the sting of being strung along by VCs; Deb unpacks post-exit politics; Vassili reframes bureaucracy as an energy system that can either channel or drain momentum. This episode provides practical tools for getting clarity, protecting energy, and avoiding the slow death of forced traction.
Topics:
- Clarity vs. false hope in fundraising
- Bureaucracy as an energy system
- Emotional bandwidth & slow decisions
- Tactical follow-up vs. force
- Protecting momentum under chaos