elcome back. If you're still with us, you're in the extended segment — the deep dive. This is where we go further and slower. We're picking up right where we left off and I want to start by zooming out geographically, because so far we've been talking a lot about the US context, and the picture looks really different in different parts of the world.

Welcome, welcome, welcome back to Scaleup Stories — the podcast where we dig deep into the stories, the strategies, the stumbles, and the straight-up breakthroughs of entrepreneurs and innovators who are building something real in a world that never stops changing. I'm your host Sakil, and as always I'm joined by my brilliant co-host Marnie. Marnie, how are you doing today?

Episode: 39 Title: How Algorithms Control Consumer Behavior Host: Sakil Guest: Elodie — AI researcher, behavioral economist, founder of an algorithm auditing firm that studies how recommendation systems manipulate human behavior. Built tools to detect algorithmic bias and manipulation. Studied 10,000+ consumers across 50+ platforms. Reveals that algorithms don't just recommend—they control. They predict your desires, manufacture needs, and guide your decisions before you know you're being influenced.

Episode: 38 Title: The New Rich Work From Anywhere Host: Sakil Guest: Isabelle — Location-independent entrepreneur, built three 8-figure businesses from 25+ countries, author of "The Anywhere Economy," studied 500+ digital nomads and location-independent professionals. Reveals that "working from anywhere" is not just a lifestyle trend—it's the economic structure of the future. The ability to earn Western salaries while living anywhere is creating a new class of rich people who operate outside traditional corporate and geographic constraints.

Episode: 37 Title: Why Most Businesses Die Quietly Host: Sakil Guest: Phoebe — Serial entrepreneur who has killed 7 companies, studied 300+ failed businesses, and now helps founders avoid the death traps. Built a $50M company that nearly died, then was saved. Her research reveals that most businesses die predictably and preventably

Episode: 36 Title: Digital Leverage: The New Superpower Host: Sakil Guest: Freya — Founder of three companies valued at $1B+, leverage researcher, and author of "The Leverage Thesis." Built her career understanding how to multiply impact through digital tools and systems. Studies how founders who understand digital leverage scale 10-100x faster than those who don't. Her framework has been applied by 500+ companies. Runtime: ~90 minutes Format: Deep strategic exploration of digital leverage as the new competitive advantage

Episode: 35 Title: Small Teams Will Defeat Big Corporations Host: Sakil Guest: Maeve — Strategy advisor, founder of a company that disrupted a $100B industry with a team of 12 people, and researcher who studied how small teams consistently outcompete large corporations.

Episode: 34 Title: The Creator Economy Is Replacing Traditional Jobs Host: Sakil Guest: Nancy — Economist, creator economy researcher, and founder of a platform enabling creators to monetize their work. Studied the shift from employment to creation across 50+ countries.