He shaped the sound of entire generations - from Diana Ross to David Bowie, from Madonna to Beyoncé.

Nile Rodgers is not just a producer; he is a phenomenon whose work has sold more than 750 million albums worldwide. Yet the man behind “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” Let’s Dance, Like a Virgin and Get Lucky has remained remarkably grounded, almost invisible behind the global icons he helped define.

In this episode of MD MEETS, Nile Rodgers opens up about the creative philosophy that made him one of the most influential musicians of all time. He explains why he plays on every record he produces, how “complex simplicity” became his signature, and why he still feels more like an ensemble musician than a superstar.

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

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Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world - and straining the planet’s power grid. In this episode, Mathias Döpfner talks with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about the explosive AI boom, the massive energy demands of data centers, and what it takes to keep innovation sustainable.

How can technology grow without running out of power - and will Europe keep pace in the new AI era?

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán speaks with Mathias Döpfner about his meetings with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, his vision for a new European order, and why he believes Brussels has turned a “peace project into a war project.”

He calls Trump “the man of peace,” and warns that continued escalation risks a third world war.

“The longer the war continues, the stronger Russia becomes.”

A revealing exchange about power, belief - and the uncertain future of the West.

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

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In this new episode of MD MEETS, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner sits down with Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek for a focused conversation about Europe’s future - what it is, what it could be, and what it must become.

Ek argues that Europe’s challenge is not talent but throughput - too little R&D, too few scaled software companies, and a culture that stigmatizes risk. He points to a simple lever with outsized impact: channel even 1 percent of Europe’s vast savings into innovation, and the continent could double its venture firepower and unlock a new generation of builders. Policy and power matter, too. Energy costs are a brake on competitiveness, while smart regulation in fintech shows where Europe can lead. Ek makes the case for investing in AI and new defense technologies that raise deterrence at lower cost to human life - and for a more confident Europe that can defend itself while deepening the transatlantic alliance.

Can Europe turn world-class talent into world-class scale? And will the next decade be the moment when Europe stops admiring its past and starts building its future?

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

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In this third episode of MD MEETS, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner sits down with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi for a sweeping conversation that moves from the future of transportation to the forces that shape human destiny.

Khosrowshahi reflects on a world in motion - where cars drive themselves, cities breathe easier, and mobility becomes a shared experience rather than a private luxury. He speaks about Uber’s bold bet on electric and autonomous vehicles, air taxis, and delivery drones, painting a vision of cities where movement is frictionless and freedom is redefined.

But the discussion turns deeply personal when Khosrowshahi recounts his journey from Tehran to America after the Iranian Revolution - an immigrant’s story of loss, gratitude, and second chances. He shares his conflicted emotions about his homeland, the lessons of humility from his father, and how those values shaped his leadership through controversy and change.

From artificial intelligence to immigration, from the loneliness of power to the humility of listening, this conversation explores what it means to move - not just through space, but through life itself.

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode of MD MEETS, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner sits down with legendary media mogul Barry Diller - the man who shaped Hollywood, created FOX, and built one of the world’s most powerful internet empires.

From being bounced at Studio 54 on opening night - despite arriving with Hollywood royalty - to discovering John Travolta and producing Saturday Night Fever, Diller recounts the wild rise of an entertainment visionary whose career has spanned every screen, from silver to digital.

In a rare and intimate conversation, Diller opens up about the loneliness of his childhood, the drive that rejection gave him, and how risk - from his sexuality to his career - became his creative engine. He speaks about the glamour and darkness of fame, his lifelong partnership with Diane von Furstenberg, and what it means to build something that truly lasts.

A story of reinvention, risk, and romance - and of one man’s extraordinary journey from Hollywood’s back rooms to the frontlines of media history.

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

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In this premiere episode of MD MEETS, Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner sits down with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for an unfiltered conversation about the promises and perils of artificial intelligence. From the risks of AI-driven warfare, to the threat posed by “bad actors” to freedom and democracy, to the role of journalism in an AI-powered world - and even the age-old question of whether humans should live forever - no topic is off limits.

Altman reflects on freedom, democracy, superintelligence, and his personal dream of becoming a farmer once AI takes over his job. A rare and candid look at one of the most influential voices shaping our future.

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MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

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MD MEETS with Mathias Döpfner brings unedited conversations with the world’s most influential voices. From politics and science to arts and business, each episode dives into the most pressing issues of our time - and sometimes the completely unexpected.

With a minimalist, authentic style and no artificial fillers, the focus is always on the guest and their story. At its core, the podcast is about freedom - of thought, of speech, of creativity - and how these values shape societies in an age of disruption.

High-profile discussions, recorded on location or remote, are released as both audio and video, giving viewers a rare inside look at ideas shaping our future.

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Video: youtube.com/@mdmeets | Web: https://mdmeets.com | Mail: mail@mdmeets.com

MD MEETS is a podcast of Axel Springer SE. Produced by Daniel van Moll. All rights reserved

Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mdmeets

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.