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
Holidays, Hustle & the Quiet Pressure of Gratitude
How high performers navigate the emotional whiplash of “time off”
Episode 28 sits inside the tension founders feel during the holidays: the brain wants motion while the calendar demands stillness. Deb, Karim, and Vassili unpack why rest feels like anxiety, why gratitude can sting when you’re burnt out, and how dopamine and cortisol shape our seasonal mood. They offer a more compassionate frame for year-end reflection—one that doesn’t rely on performance or forced positivity.
This episode helps high performers rest without guilt, pressure, or comparison.
Topics:
- Neuroscience of rest vs. urgency
- Dopamine, cortisol & holiday stress
- Actual rest vs. paused work
- Redefining laziness for high performers
- Gratitude without performance pressure
- Honoring invisible seasons
- Choosing rest that actually fits you