Pulse by AlphaWire

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo speaks with Bouchra Danwra, CEO of DHOW Marcom Agency and the founder of You Are What’s Next.

We explore why human connection in an increasingly digital world is more relevant than ever and why Bouchra is bringing young students and CEOs together to share their experiences, to help young people find greater clarity about their futures.

Bouchra also reflects on motherhood and all the experiences that shaped her. 

This is a conversation about passing wisdom from one generation to the next and the power of simply sit...

In this 'Pulse' Episode, Aldo and Dr. Michael Vlerick explore the power of writing, why it sharpens thinking, and how it can create real value for readers and for the writer. 

They also dig into anxiety, social media, AI, and why new technologies should be judged by how well they help people rather than by hype or fear.

Along the way, Michael shares how he structures books, what flow feels like, and why success is only meaningful if it genuinely helps others. The conversation closes with practical advice for aspiring writers and a preview of M...

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sits down with Carol Rafferty, co-founder and CEO of Dentherapy, to explore how dentistry and dental hygiene is shifting from “drill and fill” towards prevention and personalised oral care.

They discuss the fascinating connection between oral and whole-body health, the science of remineralisation, and Carol’s entrepreneurial story behind Tooth Boost.

A fascinating conversation where the takeaway was: “there’s no health without oral health.”

Hope you will enjoy the interview with Carol Rafferty. 

You can find more on Tooth Boost and Dentherapy here:
https://tooth...

In this episode of Pulse, we're talking with Dr. Monika Gostic, geneticist, nutrition consultant, entrepreneur, and teaching fellow at the University of Aberdeen.

We explore why one-size-fits-all approaches to health often fall short, and how genetics, gut health, hormones, nutrition, and exercise can all shape our wellbeing.

Monika also shares her personal experience with endometriosis, her perspective on GLP-1 medications and body image, and her plans for a personalized lifestyle medicine platform for women.

A fascinating conversation about nutrition, women’s health, and why “you are the expert of your own body.”

Hope...

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sits down with Cees Koole, educator and creator of Empty Chairs in the Classroom, a project that explores how history can come alive in ways that profoundly impact both students and communities.

They discuss how a simple discovery in a school archive grew into a powerful initiative that reconnects young people with the lives of students who disappeared during the Second World War. Together, they explore why Holocaust education remains as important as ever, how local history shapes our understanding of citizenship, and what it means to move from being a...

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sits down with Dr. Yassen Abbas, Biology Group Leader at CN Bio, to explore how organ-on-a-chip technology is transforming the future of biotechnology, drug discovery, and personalised medicine.

They discuss how these sophisticated human tissue models are helping researchers predict drug safety and effectiveness more accurately than traditional laboratory methods, why AI is becoming an essential partner in pharmaceutical research, and how advances in synthetic biology and genomics are bringing us closer to truly personalised healthcare.

From the changing regulatory landscape to the promise of multi-organ systems, rare disease...

What if the next great discovery about life doesn't happen on Earth?

In this episode of Pulse, I sit down with Dr. Chris Rose and Dr. Alex Baker, co-founders of Sent Into Space and Diatom Watches to explore how space exploration is changing the way we think about science, innovation, and the possibility of life beyond Earth.

We discuss their incredible work launching experiments into the stratosphere, the discovery of organic microorganisms at the edge of space, and what it could mean for our understanding of life in the universe.

If you...

In this episode of Pulse, I have the great pleasure of sitting down with Jennifer Craw and Jen Scott from Opportunity North East (ONE) to explore how Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland are reinventing themselves for the future. 

We discuss the region's transformation beyond its oil and gas heritage, the rise of life sciences, entrepreneurship, and AI, and how initiatives like ONE BioHub and ONE’s extensive partnership with MIT are helping founders build globally competitive businesses from the North East.

From supporting startups and attracting talent to embracing AI and driving economic div...

Revolutionizing Rare Disease Awareness and Community Engagement with Rebecca Stewart of Rare Revolution

Explore the inspiring journey of Rebecca Stewart, founder and CEO of Rare Revolution, as she shares how personal experiences with rare diseases sparked a movement to improve awareness, advocacy, and community connectivity. Discover innovative approaches including publishing, storytelling, AI technology, and youth engagement aimed at transforming how rare diseases are perceived and addressed globally.

Main Topics Covered:

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sits down with Dr. Vinh Tran, Lead Bioinformatician at NIOME & Researcher at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. 

Together we explore how AI and synthetic data are reshaping the future of genomics and life sciences.

They discuss why data quality remains one of the biggest challenges in bioinformatics, how synthetic genomic data can accelerate research while protecting privacy, and where AI has the greatest potential as well as the greatest limitation. 

Vinh also shares his journey into computational biology and why human expertise remains essential in scientific discovery.

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sites down with Diana Al-Dajani, founder and CEO of Edutechnoz. We explore how AI is transforming language learning and more particularly learning Arabic. 

We discuss why Arabic requires a different approach from traditional language learning apps, how AI can personalize learning while supporting teachers, and how Edutechnoz is building a scalable platform for learners all over the world. 

We also talk about entrepreneurship, resilience, and the habits that have shaped Diana's amazing journey to date. 

Sincerely hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diana Al-Dajani from eduTechnoz. 

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In this episode, Aldo sits down with Janhvi Maheshwari-Kanoria, Executive Director of Innovation Development at Education Above All, to explore what it really takes to expand access to quality education at a global scale.

The conversation moves beyond technology to the deeper questions: How do we create solutions that governments can adopt? What does meaningful innovation look like in education? And why is human connection still the foundation of learning in an AI-powered world?

Items discussed:

In this episode of Pulse, Aldo sits down with Houtan Froushan, the driving force behind UCL EdTech Labs, to explore what happens when research, entrepreneurship, and education meet.

We discuss why founders need evidence just as much as conviction, how educational impact can coexist with commercial sustainability, and why understanding your competition starts with understanding where people spend their time and money.

We also reflect on AI, human agency, and the role universities can play in helping society navigate technological change without losing sight of what makes us human.

Some ideas explored:

In this conversation, Aldo sits down with Dr. Johann Malawana—former physician, founder of Medics Academy and the Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA), and Associate Dean for Innovation at the University of Lancashire—to explore the intersection of healthcare, leadership, technology, and AI.

Together they discuss why innovation often happens outside traditional systems, how AI is accelerating change across medicine, and how longevity advancement informs cancer research.

In this episode:

What happens when mental healthcare becomes proactive instead of reactive? If you're looking for a politically correct summary of AI and healthcare you won't find it here. 

In this thoughtful conversation, psychologist and Reinhart Group founder Emmanuel Stiels joins Aldo de Pape to explore the future of mental health, AI, and preventative care.

From NHS backlogs to wearable health data, from trauma therapy to ethical questions around AI, this episode examines what becomes possible when technology is used to support people before crisis hits.

A thoughtful discussion on trust, human connection, and why t...

In this episode of Pulse, host Aldo de Pape sits down with Conrad Wolfram, Mathematician, Technologist and Author of 'The Math(s) Fix: An Education Blueprint for the AI Age'. 

Aldo and Conrad explore how AI is transforming education, computation, and society itself. From the failures of traditional maths curricula to the urgent need for “computational literacy,” Conrad explains why schools are still preparing students for a world that no longer exists.

The conversation dives into AI hype cycles, Wolfram Alpha’s early role in artificial intelligence, human versus machine thinking, and why adapting education may be...

What happens when researchers, parents, and entrepreneurs ask a deeper question about technology and education?

In this conversation, Aldo sits down with Dr. Viola Liu — learning science researcher, Harvard graduate, and AI-in-education expert — to reflect on our experience at MIT’s Entrepreneurship Development Program and the unexpected journey that led to the creation of Norie. 

Together, we explore:

In this episode of Pulse, host Aldo de Pape sits down with Craig Ritchie, founder and CEO of Scottish Brain Sciences, for a deep conversation about brain health, Alzheimer’s disease, entrepreneurship, genetics, AI, and the future of healthcare innovation.

Craig shares his journey from medical school in Aberdeen to becoming a globally recognized leader in neurodegenerative medicine. He discusses why he left the security of academia to build a startup focused on accelerating breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research and explains why he believes a cure is closer than many people think.

The conversation also expl...

In this episode, Aldo sits down with the award winning Dutch filmmaker Sabine Lubbe Bakker for a deeply personal and reflective conversation about a man whose life resists simple definition. 

Through memory, research, and storytelling, we explore the world of ‘Tony Mafia‘ - a painter shaped by a restless pursuit of freedom - a troubled past, and a legacy carried as much by myth as well as fact.

This conversation is about questioning how we remember, interpret, and ultimately honor the lives of those who leave an imprint through art. 

It is our si...

In this insightful interview from Aberdeen, Aldo sits down with Dr. Karen Czeloth, a Clinical Andrologist and specialist in men's health. She shares her journey from Germany to the UK, her expertise in male health, and her innovative approach to personalized medicine that's challenging how we think about healthcare as a whole.

What begins as a discussion on fertility evolves into something much broader: a reflection on prevention, personalization, and the role technology must play in reshaping modern medicine.

Discover how technology, AI, and a holistic perspective are transforming healthcare and empowering individuals to take...

What if one of the most meaningful shifts in education isn’t visual—but auditory?

In this conversation with Drew Vernon, we explore a deceptively simple idea: that listening—true, focused listening—may be one of the most underutilized tools in childhood development today.

Drew’s work at Tonies began in product and marketing, but evolved into something deeper—rethinking how children engage with content, learn, and connect without the constant pull of screens.

We discuss:

In this episode, Alex Cardon shares his inspiring journey from founding multiple companies to building Limitless, a health-tech platform making preventive blood testing accessible across Europe. Discover his insights on entrepreneurship, health, family, and the Belgian startup ecosystem.

Key Topics

How can technology truly support neurodiverse learners without replacing the human connections they rely on? In this episode, Aldo de Pape speaks with Vijita Patel of the Qatar Foundation to explore how thoughtful tech integration is transforming special needs education. From sensory-friendly innovations to ethical AI use, this conversation dives into what it really means to create inclusive, human-centered learning environments.

If you’re passionate about inclusive education and the future of learning, subscribe, share this episode, and join the conversation on how we can build more accessible, human-centered systems for every student.

Key Topics

In this 'Pulse' interview, Dr. Michael Vlerick explores the profound concepts of happiness, psychological liberation, and the transformative power of ancient wisdom traditions. Discover practical insights on meditation, the nature of emotions, and the future of technology in enhancing human well-being.

Keywords
happiness, psychological liberation, meditation, ancient wisdom, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, technology and AI, personal growth, mental health, spiritual insights

Key Topics
Psychological liberation and its roots in ancient wisdom
The true purpose of meditation and mindfulness practices
Understanding and transforming emotions
The impact of technology and AI on human...

What if the most influential teacher in a child’s life isn’t a teacher at all—but the stories they choose to watch, over and over again? This is a conversation about the power of storytelling—how it entertains, how it educates, and how, when done with intention, it can shape the values of an entire generation.

Aldo de Pape sits down with Aly Jetha at WISE to discuss Big Bad Boo, the children’s media company he founded with his wife.

Key Topics:
Children don’t separate learning from play. The stories they return...

In this episode, tech entrepreneur Aldo de Pape sits down with Laura Minquini, founder of Athena BIO (formerly Athena DAO), to explore one of the most overlooked problems in modern medicine: the massive funding gap in women’s health research.

Laura explains how decentralized science (DeSci) can help fund translational research—the critical stage where discoveries in the lab turn into real treatments and drugs. Despite women driving enormous economic value globally, research focused specifically on female health conditions receives only a tiny fraction of global medical funding.

The conversation dives into why diseases like endo...

Recorded live at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, this episode of the AlphaWire podcast features a fascinating conversation with Paul Atfield, Data & AI Lead at the Education Outcomes Fund.

Paul brings more than 20 years of experience working with data — from building systematic trading platforms in global finance to now applying those same data and AI capabilities to improve education systems worldwide.

In our conversation, we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping organizations, not by replacing people, but by helping them work smarter, faster, and more co...

In this interview, Carmel King, Partner and Head of Digital Assets at Grant Thornton, discusses the evolving landscape of digital assets, the risks of fraud and scams, and the importance of regulation and swift action. She shares expert insights on how law enforcement and private sector can combat digital asset fraud, the impact of AI, and practical advice for victims.

Major trauma, bankruptcy and in some cases even suicide can be the devastating consequences of people who lost a lot by fatally engaging with that one person or organisation who unfortunately did not turn out to be...

This episode underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts among parents, industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to ensure AI benefits children safely and ethically.

In this interview, Anne-Sophie Seret from Everyone.ai discusses the opportunities and risks of AI, especially for children and young people. She emphasizes the importance of proactive regulation, ethical considerations, and parental involvement in navigating the AI revolution.

Keywords

AI, children, regulation, education, technology addiction, ethical AI, parental guidance, AI risks, AI opportunities, international collaboration

Key...