Unscripted with Spencer Lodge

You’ve probably seen Wild Wild Country if you're into Netflix documentaries. My guest on this week’s episode is Jane Stork, a former follower of the Rajneesh movement – led by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Bhagwan is one of the most controversial religious leaders of his time and rose to international fame when he relocated his entire community from India to Oregon in the United States to build his own city. In this episode, Jane - then known as Ma Shanti Bhadra - was one of the members closest to Bhagwan and his counterpart, Sheila, and shares what it was like living in this cult-like community, how she was driven to attempt murder, her time in prison, and how she broke free from the community.   Discussion points   00:03:29 How Jane got involved in the Rajneesh movement 00:10:16 Jane’s first experience with meditation 00:14:53 Jane’s first trip to India 00:19:17 Getting to know Bhagwan 00:22:04 Moving to the ashram 00:25:32 Separating from her husband 00:31:17 How Bhagwan made money 00:34:29 Bhagwan’s ranch in Oregon 00:40:48 Jane’s relationship with Sheila 00:43:55 Jane’s opinions on religion 00:47:22 Bhagwan’s leadership 00:53:15 Jane’s plan to kill Bhagwan’s doctor 01:00:40 Realising Bhagwan’s doctor didn’t die 01:02:27 Jane’s plan to leave the community 01:08:27 Arriving in Germany 01:12:25 Bhagwan leaving the ranch 01:13:40 Jane’s legal battles and prison 01:20:28 Jane’s decision to face extradition 01:24:17 Having the charges dropped 01:26:26 The importance of family 01:27:10 Jane’s take on spirituality 01:28:40 The last time Jane spoke to Sheila 01:29:44 Jane’s relationship with her children   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en]   Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Jane Stork https://www.janestork.eu/BTS_index.html  

Abdurahman, whose original first name was Joel, is one of the most fascinating people I’ve ever met. Boasting almost 2 million followers on TikTok, his content is positive and uplifting and breaks any stigma about being Muslim. Abdurahman converted to Islam shortly after his 18th birthday, and in this episode, he shares this profound experience with listeners. From discovering Islam to learning about the religion, converting, revealing this to his atheist parents, and subsequently being kicked out of the house – Abdurahman’s story is one of bravery, perseverance, and genuine humility. Abdurahman’s life journey is remarkable and will leave you inspired to follow a path that’s true to you.   Discussion points 02:51 Abdurahman’s social media journey 06:00 Making his first video for social media 10:41 Abdurahmam’s upbringing 19:00 Discovering religion 28:38 Converting to Islam 34:55 Abdurahman’s first experience praying 47:55 Telling his parents of his plan to convert to Islam 53:27 Being kicked out of the family home 59:56 Life after converting   01:09:37 Leaving the UK 01:15:55 The importance of kindness 01:20:28 Abdurahman’s message for humanity   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en]   Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Abdurahman Afia https://www.tiktok.com/@abdurahmanafia https://www.instagram.com/Abdurahman.afia/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiocgKhWIFCMfO2eaUjVq4A  

James Smith is one of the most outspoken fitness experts on social media, earning himself millions of loyal followers. Known for his brutal honesty and debunking fitness myths, James has become the world's fastest-growing online personal trainer. In this episode, James shares exclusive insights into his early days as a personal trainer and how he has amassed millions of followers across various social media platforms. We also discuss building resilience, the importance of failure, and James's journey to finding happiness and balance. If you're in Dubai, you can catch James Smith live on his show 'The C Word' on Oct 28, 2022.   Discussion points 02:37 About James Smith 04:54 How most PTs market themselves 08:56 What is happiness? 10:53 James Smith’s Trifecta 13:45 Why James likes calling people out on their BS 18:19 Winning vs losing 21:05 Building resilience 25:19 James’s social media 31:27 James’s first successes 39:29 How James creates content 45:18 The truth about work-life balance 46:58 James’s latest book 53:57 Favourite books 56:40 Favourite podcasts   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en]   Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   James Smith https://www.instagram.com/jamessmithpt/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesSmithPT https://www.tiktok.com/@jamessmithpt?lang=en  

The education system is broken. The entire system needs an overhaul from the outdated curriculum to the teaching staff, schooling structure, and management of pupils. But, there is another way… This week I speak with Dr. Adil Alzarooni – an Emirati leader, entrepreneur, and the driver behind the newly-opened Citizens School in Dubai. The Citizens School is what I imagine the future of school to be: fostering the individual talents of kids, empowering them to make their own choices, having mentors instead of teachers, and learning about entrepreneurship, digital currencies, and mental health. In this episode, Dr. Adil and I discuss some common Emirati stereotypes, entrepreneurship in the UAE, the education system, the idea behind the Citizens School – and towards the end, Dr. Adil and I explore the concept of happiness. If you want to be inspired by a humble and resilient leader, you may want to dive into this episode now.   Discussion points 03:30 Emirati culture 07:57 Career journey 10:56 Entrepreneurship in the UAE 17:00 Acceptance of expats in the UAE 20:55 Is the education system broken? 29:08 About Citizens School 32:59 The inspiration behind Citizens School 37:02 The need for entrepreneurship 43:46 What is success?   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en]   Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Dr Adil Alzarooni https://www.instagram.com/dradilalzarooni/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilalzarooni/ https://www.youtube.com/c/DrAdilAlzarooni

It’s a skill that everybody needs to master: sales. Whether you’re a receptionist, doctor, entrepreneur or mechanic – sales skills are essential to success. This week I am speaking with the King of Sales and a massive role model of mine – Jeffrey Gitomer. Jeffrey is an absolute legend in the industry, and his books are a how-to-sell blueprint for any sales professional. Jeffrey has taught thousands of people how to sell and is one of the top sales experts in the world. In this episode, Jeffrey reveals why sales is a science and how you can master it. We also discuss how switching your mindset to being a value provider will help you close more deals and generate more income. If you want to brush up on your sales skills and learn more about the key to becoming a great salesperson, definitely do not miss this episode.   Discussion points   06:00 Jeffrey’s journey into sales 07:31 Why sales is a science 10:26 Selling VS consulting 12:45 Jeffrey’s upbringing 14:36 Why entrepreneurs don’t learn how to sell 18:11 What salespeople get wrong 21:09 Being a value provider VS salesperson 27:40 How to train salespeople 33:21 Lead generation 36:30 The process of writing a book 40:36 Productivity tips 43:35 Recruiting salespeople 56:56 Jeffrey’s favourite sales story   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en]   Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Jeffrey Gitomer https://www.instagram.com/jeffreygitomer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreygitomer/ https://www.youtube.com/user/BuyGitomer

Most people experience depression or anxiety at some point in their lives. And oftentimes, they don’t know where to turn or how to help themselves feel better. In this week’s episode, I am speaking with Dr Ellen Vora - a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist and yoga teacher that takes a holistic approach to helping her clients. Dr Vora believes in making lifestyle and dietary changes to ease mental health challenges before prescribing medication. In this episode, Dr Vora and I discuss the anatomy of depression and anxiety, and she also breaks down the differences between the two. We dive into how different generations react to mental health, how you can support others who are struggling and Dr Vora’s top tips for overcoming depression.   Discussion points 03:45 What Ellen does 09:15 Moments that changed Ellen’s life 14:30 What is depression and anxiety 25:56 How anxiety differs to depression 29:45 How different generations react to mental health 38:11 Tips for overcoming depression 52:32 Helping others feel comfortable to cry infront of you 57:30 Why others don’t take action to feel better 01:00:09 Why Ellen wrote her book, The Anatomy of Anxiety   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en] Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en] Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Ellen Vora, MD https://www.instagram.com/ellenvoramd/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-vora-md-a89b8a47/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiVEkdGfZmvqfBcPvF9EvJA/videos  

Dating is hard, and it's only getting harder. Apps like Tinder and Bumble have made meeting potential partners easier than ever before, but still, so many people are struggling to find true love. Mat Boggs, one of the world’s top dating experts, joins me this week on the show to talk about all things love and why dating is getting increasingly difficult. In this episode, the best-selling author shares his secrets for finding love and reveals some of the tactics that his clients use to find real, committed love amidst the “disposable dating” culture. Whether you’re a woman or a man – if you’re single, and hoping to change that, then this episode is an absolute must.   Discussion points 02:35 Mat introduces himself 07:49 3 Things happy couples do 16:10 The importance of value 18:41 Challenges women face in dating 27:45 Mistakes people make on first dates 34:20 Dating tips for older people 48:38 More about Mat’s work   Show Sponsors:  Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en] Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Mat Boggs https://www.instagram.com/mathewboggs/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/matboggsfan/ https://www.youtube.com/user/matboggs/featured

The Badi people have been considered the lowest class individuals in Nepal. Others have avoided them at all costs – believing that if they came into contact with a Badi person, their life would be doomed and bad luck would follow them. The Badi people were born into a world of degradation, prostitution and have been exploited in every way possible. This week I speak with Devisara Hannah Badi, an activist born into the Badi community, as well as Sarah Davison-Tracy, human rights advocate, author and speaker. I met both of these lovely ladies during my recent travels to Nepal, where I witnessed firsthand the neglect and discrimination Badi people face. In this episode, we talk about the harsh reality of being a Badi person, the prostitution, rape and sex trafficking most girls experience, and how Hannah wants to be a light in her community and save as many girls as she can from trafficking.   Discussion points 03:50 Introduction to Sarah 04:45 How Hannah & Sarah met 07:14 How Sarah learnt about the Badi community 10:03 The Badi people 13:40 The Badi village 15:44 How Hannah found the courage to say no 24:08 What makes Hannah different 26:01 Where Hannah took the Badi girls she saved 31:36 Laws protecting the Badi community 34:35 What Hannah would change as Prime Minister 37:30 Sarah’s thoughts on writing another book 39:12 What needs to be done to get the government’s attention   Show Sponsors: Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en] Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Hannah Badi https://www.instagram.com/hannah_badi_/?hl=en https://twitter.com/badihannah   Sarah Davison-Tracy https://www.instagram.com/seedsofexchange/ https://seedsofexchange.org/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFE7JC-oRVduOIZSWCcKWQ?view_as=subscriber      

What is money? With everything going on right now – from an impending recession and skyrocketing inflation, I was keen to have Davinci Jeremie on the show again. This time, we are doing a deep dive into the history of money. Leaning on his experience as a software developer and an early adopter of cryptocurrency, Davinci takes listeners back to the beginning of money; we talk about gold and silver, why paper money was introduced, and the start of the banking system. We also discuss the advent of digital currencies, why governments are printing money and the severity of the upcoming recession. If you want to understand money and how the system works, this is an episode you should not miss.   Discussion points 02:30 Why Davinci is back on the show 03:20 What is money? 08:47 Why gold and silver was used as a bartering tool 09:48 The introduction of paper money 13:09 The transition to paper money 14:13 The first recorded bank 15:32 Why the bank system will collapse 19:49 What happened in 2008 28:37 The printing of money 33:29 The start of digital currencies 38:00 Why people still own fiat money 38:38 Scams, fraud and theft 43:27 Fiat money VS digital currencies 50:53 What a bail-in is and how it affects you 54:43 The 1-to-10 rule 59:20 Are we in a recession? 01:01:03 What stocks are good to buy 01:02:25 The safety of crypto trading platforms 01:07:03 Responsibilies of giving trading advice 01:12:11 Web3: uses of the metaverse 01:17:48 BTC and ETH predictions for the rest of the year   Show Sponsors: Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en] Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Davinci Jeremie https://www.instagram.com/davincij15/?hl=en https://twitter.com/Davincij15?s=20 https://www.youtube.com/user/davincij15

Imagine owning only one-eighth of a house. You get many of the benefits of a regular holiday home, except you share the ownership with seven other parties. Would that interest you? This week I catch up with Austin Allison. Austin co-founded a platform called Pacaso which enables second-home ownership through a fractional ownership model. Through this model of home ownership, Pacaso is able to increase the utilisation of a second home from 10-15% to roughly 90%. Within six months of launching, the business scored a $1 billion valuation which skyrocketed the startup to unicorn status. In this episode, Austin and I discuss the fractional home ownership model, how Pacaso acquires properties, the spectrum of buyers, and the purchasing process. We also dig deeper into his entrepreneurial journey and how he's built such an impressive company in just two years.   Discussion points 03:10 What is Pacaso 06:45 Timeshare vs Fractional Ownership 08:20 How scheduling works 14:00 Adoption of the fractional ownership model 17:51 Ways of acquiring properties 19:40 The spectrum of buyers 21:16 Austin’s entrepreneurial journey 25:17 Challenges Austin’s faced 29:00 Raising money for a startup 32:00 Working with investors 34:25 Austin’s expectations 36:00 Family support 38:20 The mechanics of a company like Pacaso 40:00 Benefits of co-ownership 43:07 How Pacaso makes money 45:00 How the homes are sold 46:37 How real estate brokers react to Pacaso   Show Sponsors: Smartkas: Providing food security as a service [https://www.instagram.com/smartkastech/?hl=en]   Najahi Events: The UAE’s leading event promotor [https://www.instagram.com/najahievents/?hl=en]   Socials: Spencer Lodge https://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV   Austin Allison https://www.instagram.com/gaustinallison/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinallison https://mobile.twitter.com/gaustinallison