Sounds of Innovation – WSQ 2025

About Sounds of Innovation – WSQ 2025

A curated podcast of the boldest ideas and sharpest insights from Web Summit Qatar. Dive into the key conversations shaping the future of tech, innovation, and business.

Publisher

iHeartPodcasts

Category

business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Feb 2025

Latest episode

2 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Jun 2026

   Qatar’s Tourism Vision: AI, Sustainability & Family Travel with the Chairman of Qatar Tourism, His Excellency Saad Bin Ali Al Kharji

   In this episode, we speak with the Chairman of Qatar Tourism about how Qatar is shaping the future of global travel through AI, sustainability, and world-class events. Following the FIFA World Cup and as host of Web Summit Qatar, the country is positioning itself as a hub for tourism, technology, and entrepreneurship. We explore Qatar’s family-friendly tourism strategy, digital transformation in travel, the Visit Qatar app, and how sustainability is built into destinations like Msheireb Downtown Doha and Khor Al Adaid (the Inland Sea). The conversation also covers major events, creators, and talent attraction, and what truly differentiates Qatar in the global tourism landscape.

2. 

   13 Apr 2026

   The Talent Game in an AI World with Alex Rodriguez, Conal Byrne, and Winston Cheng

   This episode was recorded in January 2026 at the World Economic Forum. Live from Davos, Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group, moderates a dynamic conversation with Lenovo CFO Winston Cheng and Alex Rodriguez, Chairman and CEO of A-ROD CORP, Co-Chairman of the MN Timberwolves and Lynx, and Major League Baseball icon. Together, they explore what it takes to perform at the highest level—whether on the field or in the boardroom. From daily pressure and long-term strategy to the rise of AI, data, and talent, this episode unpacks how leaders adapt, compete, and build winning teams in a rapidly changing world. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Inside the Studio: Dana Al-Meer

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. This special return episode of Inside the Studio finds Jordan Runtagh exploring the intersection of cutting-edge technology and timeless human expression: music. His guest is Dana Al Meer, widely hailed as Qatar’s first homegrown pop superstar — a cultural pioneer who performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and later represented her country at the Innervision Song Contest. Beyond the global stage, Al Meer serves as director of Music Lab Qatar, mentoring the next generation of artists — and in this conversation, she reflects on creativity, identity, and what it means to find your voice in a rapidly changing world. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

4. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Live at Web Summit Qatar: Matthew Frederick in Conversation with Hoda Abdel-Hamid

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. In this episode, Matt Frederick speaks with veteran war correspondent Hoda Abdel-Hamid, whose decades reporting from conflict zones, including Iraq and Gaza, offer a rare, firsthand perspective on the realities of war. Together, they explore what it means to tell human stories from the front lines, the responsibility of bearing witness, and the lasting emotional impact of documenting trauma. The conversation also examines how modern media shapes our understanding of conflict—and why, beyond politics and headlines, the most important stories are always about people. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

5. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Podcasters-on-Podcasters: Jordan Runtagh on Matt Frederick

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. From a basement in the early days of podcasting to one of iHeart’s marquee shows, Matt Frederick has seen just about everything — including, apparently, the road to Area 51. In this episode of our Podcasters-on-Podcasters series, Jordan Runtagh and Matt talk about the origin of Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know, how great co-host chemistry really works, why listeners feel so deeply connected to podcasts, and how one strange-news story can spiral into a full-blown research obsession. Toss in some Tesla, some UFO lore, some Bob Lazar, a cameo from Tom DeLonge, and more X-Files energy than is probably medically recommended, and you’ve got an episode that’s smart, funny, and just conspiratorial enough to keep things interesting. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

6. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Podcasters-on-Podcasters: Matt Frederick on Jordan Runtagh

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. What do you get when you mix an accidental start at MTV, decades of interviewing music legends, and a Beatles-level obsession with storytelling? In this episode of our Podcasters-on-Podcasters series, Matt Frederick sits down with Jordan Runtagh for a funny, candid conversation about how a trivia-loving music journalist became one of iHeart’s go-to narrative storytellers. Along the way: interviews with icons like Tom Morello and Julian Lennon, stories from touring with Ringo Starr, and a behind-the-scenes look at how audio storytelling can bring the past vividly to life. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

7. 

   31 Mar 2026

   TMI: Oops, All Digressions 2 — Live from Qatar!

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. 'Too Much Information' is a new iHeartRadio podcast that gives you the secret history, behind-the-scenes details and little-known fascinating facts about you... Your long-lost legends of long-winded lore are back, reporting live from the 2026 Web Summit Conference in Doha, Qatar! Together they proudly present the second installment of their pop culture anecdote grab-bag: TMI: Oops, All Digressions. This time around, they dive into the origins (and alternate-universe casting) of the James Bond franchise — including the hilariously un-spy-like way Ian Fleming stole the name “James Bond” from a real-life bird expert, plus the many almost-Bonds who nearly wore the tux. From there, the conversation takes the scenic route into how Bond indirectly helped inspire Indiana Jones, why Spielberg never got his 007 shot (but still got the last laugh), and a detour through Terminator lore — from Arnold’s gun-range training to the surprising movie that earned him his biggest payday. Meanwhile, Heigl breaks down the proud, baffling tradition of electric jug music via the 13th Floor Elevators, and Jordan nerds out on the strange history of currency (stone money, cheese wheels as collateral, and why your penny is living on borrowed time) before sliding into the origins of playing cards — capped off by the mind-melter that there are more possible shuffles of a deck than there are atoms on Earth. So strap in for TMI: Oops, All Digressions! No structure. No safety net. Just facts. (Recorded February 2, 2026.) See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

8. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Tech Skepticism, AI and Why China's Innovations Matter - w/ Wired’s Katie Drummond

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. Oz is at the Web Summit in Qatar this week, and he’s taking you with him. This episode was recorded live on stage with Wired’s global editorial director Katie Drummond. Katie and Oz talk about what it’s like to cover this moment, from DOGE and tech titans in the White House to AI’s rapid ubiquity. Katie also shares why Americans need to wake up to what is happening outside the US to discover the future of technology. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

9. 

   31 Mar 2026

   The Next 8 Months in AI Video Will Change Film Forever - The Story

   This episode was recorded live at Web Summit Qatar in February 2026. Cristóbal Valenzuela co-founded Runway to rethink how movies are made, and now his technology is spreading across Hollywood. Cristóbal sits down with Oz to discuss how far AI media tools have come in just the past six years, and why the next leap forward could happen even faster than anyone expects. He also addresses many artists' AI fears, by saying that film has always evolved alongside technological breakthroughs, and that AI is simply the next chapter in that long history. And finally, Cristóbal and Oz explore Runway's next frontier after Hollywood and why video models might be the key to training humanoid robots. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

10. 

    28 Apr 2025

    How to Elevate Your Podcast to a professional Level? With Kate Mansberger

    In this episode of The Creators Cult, I talk with Kate Mansberger, Podcast Development Coordinator at iHeartMedia.We discuss how podcasters can develop their content and the fundamentals of launching a successful podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

11. 

    28 Apr 2025

    Motaz Azaiza: The Man Behind the Lens, and the Grief it Carries

    There are two versions of Motaz Azaiza. There is the one etched into the consciousness of millions, lens slung over his shoulder, eyes bloodshot, not just from sleepless nights, but from witnessing what no one should ever have to.The man who didn't just document Israel's genocide in Gaza, he became a portal, a lifeline, a resistance not of weapons, but of truth.But then there is the other Motaz.The one I met at the web summit in Doha away from the rubble and sirens. The man, not the symbol. Still fierce, still unfiltered, but softer too, honest in a way that hurts. Human, in a way the internet often forgets to allow.We sat down, not to perform grief, but to process it. To talk, not for the algorithm, but for ourselves, about what it means to carry trauma while the world scrolls past. About how visibility is both a lifeline and a wound.This isn't an interview, it's a heart to heart, between two Palestinians, shaped by different histories, speaking from different wounds, but bound by the same longing for justice, for connection, for a future we have never been allowed to imagine. Don't forget to hit subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

12. 

    27 Feb 2025

    Winning the Attention Game with Malcolm Gladwell

    New York Times best-selling author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell sits down with the CEO of iHeartMedia Digital, Conal Byrne to discuss the power of narrative audio storytelling and its ability to move listeners emotionally, build brands, and change the way we all see the world. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

13. 

    27 Feb 2025

    Running in Circles: How the Old Has Become New

    In our rush for innovation, we often mistake novelty for progress, discarding what already works in pursuit of the next big thing. But real solutions aren’t just new—they are intentional, rooted in true human needs, and built to last. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind challenges the cycle of disposable innovation and offers a new lens for entrepreneurs and changemakers: Prioritizing depth over speed, designing solutions that work within systems, and mastering skills that endure beyond trends. By rethinking how we innovate, we can build a future that is both sustainable and meaningful. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

14. 

    27 Feb 2025

    Building Tomorrow’s Media Brand

    What does it take to build a successful media brand in 2025? Join two titans of the industry to find out. Whether you’re one of the world’s leading media companies like The New York Times, or an audio giant with a quarter of a billion monthly active listeners like iHeartMedia, the challenges remain the same: building sustainable revenue models, meeting audiences where they are and competing for attention in today’s competitive media landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

15. 

    27 Feb 2025

    Token Investments: The Outlook for Crypto Funding in 2025

    With funding for crypto startups increasing in the latter part of 2024, what is the outlook for 2025 and will this resurgence of financing continue? Listen to this session as we discuss further. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

16. 

    27 Feb 2025

    How to Stay Ahead in AI

    As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and global competition intensifies, particularly with advancements from China, staying ahead requires more than just keeping up with the latest technologies—it demands strategic foresight, bold innovation, and flawless execution. Join Eiso Kant, CTO and Co-founder of Poolside, Ping Wu, CEO of Cresta & Daniyal Khan Investor at QIA for an engaging conversation on how to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape. They’ll share insights on building competitive advantage, driving meaningful innovation, and implementing AI solutions that deliver real impact in a dynamic and fast-paced world. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

17. 

    27 Feb 2025

    The Cost of Being Dull: Why Distinction Matters More than Ever

    As global ad spends topped 1 trillion dollars for the first time in 2024, it’s never been more important for brands to stand out from the crowd. But amidst such volatility, how exactly do you do that? Join Mark Weinstein, CMO of Hilton Hotels and Omnicom Advertising Group CEO, Troy Ruhanen, as they explore how brands can rise above the noise in times of uncertainty – to own the chaos instead of being owned by it. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

18. 

    27 Feb 2025

    3 Rules for Breakthrough Innovation

    In a world where established firm at times find it easier to play it safe, how do we innovate boldly to stay ahead of the curve? Betsabeh Madani Hermann, Global Head of Research at Philips, reveals the 3 golden rules that have fuelled over a century of groundbreaking innovation—from inventing the lightbulb to transforming healthcare with AI. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

419,108,275

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

54

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

32

Contact Sounds of Innovation – WSQ 2025

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.