The David McWilliams Podcast

The Next Global Recession?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:00:00 GMT

What does Muhammad Ali’s Rumble in the Jungle have to do with the next global recession? In this episode, we go back to the 1970s oil shocks, when a geopolitical crisis sent energy prices soaring, wealth flooding into oil states, and Western economies into deep recession. The pattern is striking: in 1973, 1979, 1990, and even before the 2008 crash, surging oil prices were followed by collapsing growth, falling trade, and rising unemployment. The numbers are brutal. Global growth fell from 6% to 1.4% in the mid-1970s. Trade swung from double-digit expansion to contraction. In Ireland, inflation hit over 20% and recovery took years. Each time, even when oil prices fell back, the damage stuck, factories closed, jobs disappeared, and economies never fully reset. Now it’s happening again. Another oil shock, another geopolitical crisis, and the same underlying vulnerability: we are still deeply dependent on fossil fuels. Ireland is now among the most energy-dependent countries in Europe, with some of the highest electricity costs in the EU. If every oil shock in modern history has triggered a recession, why would this time be any different? Who’s on the ropes now, and who’s about to take the hit?

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Did Big Tech Ruin the Internet? with Cory Doctorow

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:00 GMT

What happened to the internet? Why did the platforms that once felt useful, fun and liberating become manipulative, cluttered and hostile? In this episode, we talk to writer, activist and digital theorist Cory Doctorow, the man who coined the term enshittification, about how tech platforms decay: first they are good to users, then they are good to business customers, and finally they become good only to shareholders and executives. From Facebook and Instagram to Amazon, ad fraud, app lock-in, monopoly power and the slow death of the high street, this is a conversation about how digital capitalism corrodes the things we rely on. But it is also about what can be done, why regulators failed, how political will may be shifting, and why the fight against corporate power is suddenly back on the table.

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Is the West Losing Africa to China?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

South Africa is one of the places where the 21st century is being made in real time. Against the backdrop of war in the Middle East, we ask what rising energy prices mean for countries already struggling with poverty, unemployment and fragile infrastructure. If you want to see the decline of American influence and the rise of Chinese power, Southern Africa is where it’s happening. Along the way, we get a street-level feel for modern South Africa, from the fading grandeur of central Joburg to the sprawling reality of Soweto, where apartheid’s legacy still shapes daily life, but where democracy has also held in ways many once thought impossible. We talk about inequality, migration, religion, corruption, black economic empowerment, and the strange new elite of “slay queens,” all as windows into how power and money now move through South African society. With exploding population growth, vast mineral wealth, and huge renewable energy potential, the continent is becoming central to the global economy. China understands that. The West, increasingly, does not.

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Why Some Countries Create Jobs and Others Export People

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Broadcasting from South Africa, a country of huge energy, huge potential, and brutally high unemployment, we use that lens to ask what actually creates jobs? From there, we go back to Ireland in 1990, when employment had barely moved in forty years and emigration still felt like the national destiny. So what changed? We unpack the extraordinary shift that turned Ireland from an economy exporting its young people into one of the strongest job creators in Europe: devaluation, falling interest rates, the Berlin Wall dividend, peace in the North, American investment, and a transformed national mood. Politicians love talking about “job creation,” yet jobs are not created by speeches, slogans, or government press releases. Jobs come after demand, after sales, after risk, after somebody decides to build something, sell something, and back themselves. In other words: jobs are derived from entrepreneurship.

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Shedonomics: Can Europe Survive China’s Manufacturing Machine?

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we unpack the new China shock, as exports to Europe surge nearly 30% in just two months and a €359 billion trade deficit keeps widening. From electric cars to fast fashion, Chinese firms are flooding markets with cheaper, faster, and increasingly better products, and Europe is struggling to respond. The real story is actually stranger. We dive into the rise of the “parcel economy,” where billions of low-value packages bypass traditional retail, and the even more surreal “shed economy,” where informal logistics networks are quietly distributing Chinese goods across Europe. Can Europe still produce anything at all? If one country can make everything cheaper, what’s left for everyone else? And if trade stops being two-way, does free trade itself break down? Was Trump right all along?

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St Patrick's Day Special: Who Exactly Are The Irish Americans?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

On St. Patrick’s Day, we go beyond the parades and pints to ask: what does the Irish diaspora actually mean for Ireland today? From the Presbyterian migrants who helped shape revolutionary America, to the famine generation who built the unions, churches, police forces, and political machines of the great US cities, this episode traces the long economic story of Irish emigration and Irish America. However, this is also about the present, is there still such a thing as a coherent Irish America, or has it dissolved into the wider American mainstream? If the old bonds are fading, should Ireland be doing far more to reconnect with the tribe abroad? On a day when Ireland celebrates itself to the world, we ask what the diaspora gave us, what remains of that identity now, and how a small country might think much bigger about one of its greatest global assets.

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The Economics of War

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

What happens to the global economy when a war erupts at the world’s most important energy choke point? In this episode, we trace the economic shockwaves already rippling out from Iran: surging oil and gas prices, rising shipping and insurance costs, higher food and fertilizer bills, and the growing threat of a 1970s-style stagflation shock. This is the old nightmare back again, prices rising while growth slows. We explain why the Straits of Hormuz matters so much, why Europe is far more exposed than America, how energy shocks feed into mortgages, inflation and consumer confidence, and why even countries with no direct trade with Iran will still feel the pain. From Beirut to Dublin, from jet fuel to grocery bills, this is the economics of a war that could redraw the Middle East as well as the global economy too.

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America's Road to Tehran - Part 2

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In part two of our history of Iran and the Middle East, we move from the 1979 Iranian Revolution to the bombing of Tehran today. This is the story of how America’s Cold War obsession with the Soviet Union mutated into something else entirely: the gradual Israelisation of U.S. policy in the region. Along the way we trace the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, America’s backing of the Mujahideen, the rise of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Iran-Iraq War, the Iran-Contra scandal, the Intifadas, Oslo, Netanyahu, Hamas, and the long collapse of any serious Palestinian settlement. What began as a struggle over oil, empire, and superpower rivalry became a different kind of conflict altogether, one driven by proxy wars, sectarian alliances, occupation, and political miscalculation. If part one explained how the West lost Iran, part two explains how the region was remade in the decades that followed, and how all of it leads directly to the crisis we are watching now.

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How the West Lost Iran: Oil, Coups, and the Road to Revolution - Part 1

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Iran didn’t suddenly become the geopolitical flashpoint it is today, the roots go back decades. In this first part of a two-part series, we trace the economic and political history that reshaped Iran from the 1940s to the 1979 revolution. From Britain’s oil empire and the CIA-backed coup against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh to the rise of the Shah as America’s key ally in the Cold War, we explore how oil, empire, and superpower rivalry transformed Iran into a strategic battleground. Along the way we look at the choke points of global energy, the Suez crisis, the birth of the CIA’s regime-change playbook, and the corruption and inequality that ultimately ignited revolution.

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Can Democracy Survive an AI Economy?

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we ask what happens when economic evolution moves from human speed to machine speed. Fresh from an off-the-record discussion with a Nobel Prize–winning AI pioneer Demis Hassibis, we unpack how AI is reshaping medicine, productivity, profits, and power, and why markets are now rewarding mass layoffs as a sign of progress. From Schumpeter’s idea of creative destruction to Jack Dorsey’s AI-driven job cuts and the explosion of “buy now, pay later” debt, we trace how AI is intensifying inequality, short-termism, and financial fragility. Is this the next great leap forward, or the beginning of a techno-feudal economy where a small elite extracts value at scale? We explore why equilibrium economics no longer makes sense, why evolution never waits for permission, and whether democracy can keep up with machines that learn faster than society can adapt

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Can Europe’s “Hidden Continent” Finally Break Free?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Broadcast from Serbia, this episode dives into the Balkans, the most misunderstood, most underestimated corner of Europe, and one with the biggest upside if it can ever stop tripping over its own history. We look at why Serbia sits so close to Russia, why Kosovo still blocks the country’s European future, and how war, sanctions, hyperinflation, and decades of bad leadership turned a natural crossroads into an economic cul-de-sac. A new generation is pushing back against corruption and state capture, and culture may be moving faster than politics, from packed derby stadiums in Belgrade to a runaway rom-com hit about a Croat-Serb wedding that’s quietly rewriting the story. If the Balkans can turn rivalry into cooperation, it could become one of Europe’s great comeback economies.

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Can You Prosper Without Building Proper Cities?

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This episode begins at the ancient seven-arch bridge in Killaloe, the crossing point where Clare, Tipp and Limerick collide, and jumps to Višegrad in eastern Bosnia, where Ivo Andrić’s The Bridge on the Drina uses one structure to tell a five-century story of tribes, trade, love, and conflict. Back in Ireland, the row over closing the old Killaloe bridge is about suburban sprawl swallowing once-separate towns and turning them into commuter satellites. Ireland has built a low-density model that forces people into cars, clogs villages with traffic, and makes the whole system fragile. Just 13% of Irish people live in apartments, compared to 46% across Europe, and the gap between where jobs and services are concentrated and where people actually live is now being paid for in time, congestion, and quality of life. So where do you look for a better model? Japan. We end in the Tokyo–Yokohama mega-region, 38 million people living densely, safely, and efficiently, and ask why Ireland keeps choosing a “rainbelt” version of American car sprawl, instead of building compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods that let people live near where they work, study and socialise.

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Revenge of the Nerds

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

For forty years, the software engineer was the hero of the modern economy. That era may now be ending, fast. In this episode, we argue that software engineers are becoming the horses of the 21st century. Just as the steam engine replaced animal labour, AI is now eating the lunch of human coders, automating what was once seen as elite, technical, and irreplaceable. Stock markets are already reacting, wiping value from software-heavy firms as investors realise that AI’s economic value will be measured the same way steam engines were: by how much labour they eliminate. We trace this moment through history, from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of the nerd after 1984, and ask what happens when an entire generation’s promised career suddenly looks like drudge work dressed up as genius. As 'vibe coding' replaces programming languages, and English replaces hieroglyphic code, technical skill is being commoditised at speed. AI is also stripping the human element out of markets, trading, and commerce itself, replacing noisy, emotional trading floors with silent machines trading in milliseconds. As technical skills lose their mystique, the economy may swing back toward the very things machines can’t replicate: empathy, creativity, comedy, poetry, and human judgment.

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What Happens to an Economy When Credit Stops Flowing?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Credit is the lifeblood of a modern economy. When it expands, ideas turn into companies, small builders become employers, and innovation compounds. When it contracts, the damage is slower, quieter, and far harder to see. In this episode, we trace what happens when banks stop lending and money stops doing its real work. Using Ireland as a case study, we show how domestic credit has collapsed since the crash, from banks lending 160% of deposits at the peak of the Celtic Tiger to barely 40% today, and why that matters far more than headline GDP figures. Drawing on history, from the silver mines of Potosí to Spain’s long decline, we explain why money is never neutral, why credit fuels growth in ways governments cannot replicate, and how multinational windfalls can mask a dangerously hollowed-out private economy. The result may look like prosperity, but it behaves more like stagnation.

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Can the New Fed Boss Shrink QE Without Crashing Everything?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

If central banks “control money,” why do we still get credit booms, banking crises, and bubbles, and what can a new Fed chair actually do about it? Who actually controls money, the central bank, commercial banks, or the markets? We break money into two parts: currency and finance . Once you see that split, a more unsettling reality appears: central banks can set the price of money (interest rates), but they don’t directly control the quantity, because commercial banks create new money every time they approve a loan. From fractional reserve banking and the “pull” model of credit creation, to why Treasuries sit at the centre of the whole machine, we explain what central banks actually do Can Kevin Warsh tighten and cut at the same time? Markets moved on a single sentence. The politics want low rates. The plumbing wants discipline. Only one of those can win.

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Why Did Bitcoin Crash Again? The Scam That’s Been Around Since Dante

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:02:00 GMT

Not even “thermodynamically sound energy through time and space” makes Bitcoin money. In this episode, we take another hammer to the sacred cow of crypto and ask a simpler question: what does money actually have to do to count as money? We revisit our infamous chat with Michael Saylor at peak crypto-poetry, then go where all good monetary debates should go; back to the original forgers and the original punishments. Dante put counterfeiters near the bottom of hell for a reason: mess with money and you mess with civilisation. We break down why Bitcoin’s fixed supply is exactly what stops it functioning as a currency, why volatility turns it into a hoarding game, and why “stablecoins” are less innovation than rebranded old finance. Crypto generates no income, finances no productive activity, and gives you no legal claim on anything, it’s a tradable gamble powered by belief, momentum, and the greater fool theory. We start with Dante, detour through Archimedes, and end with Isaac Newton, and the madness of crowds.

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Swipe Left on Society: Singledom, Sexless Men, and the New Politics of Loneliness with Aideen McQueen

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

We think the biggest cultural shift of the last 15 years is inflation, immigration, or housing. It isn’t. It’s singledom, a shockwave moving through Western societies since the smartphone slid into our pockets and quietly rewired how we meet, desire, commit, and build a life. On today’s episode, we unpack the numbers that should make policymakers sit upright: around half of men and 43% of women aged 25–35 now have no partner, and the trend has worsened sharply in just the past decade. If coupling rates had simply held steady since 2017, there would be tens of millions fewer single people across the West. When the basic social unit shifts, everything built on top of it shifts too, housing demand, tax systems, politics, even how communities function. To explore the lived reality behind the data, we’re joined by comedian Aideen McQueen, whose hit show Waiting for Texto captures the emotional truth behind the statistics: the fatigue, the marketplace logic of dating, the compromise dilemma, and the strange modern paradox where people deeply want partnership, yet struggle to find a path to it.

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Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference with Rutger Bregman

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In a world where “might is right” is having an ugly little renaissance, Rutger Bregman returns as the perfect antidote: a stubborn, data-backed case that humans are cooperative, that culture is malleable, and that your career doesn’t have to be a slow-motion betrayal of your ideals. We talk about his new book Moral Ambition, and the “Bermuda Triangle of talent” of consulting, finance, and corporate law. Along with the quietly shocking stat that one in four people doubts their job is socially meaningful. We revisit the 1970s Irish banking strike, when the banks shut for months… and the economy kept moving on trust, IOUs, and community glue. If trust is money, and stories shape human behaviour, what happens when we start telling a better story, and actually act on it?

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Ireland’s American Problem: The Jockey, the Horses, and the End of the Easy Money Era

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Ireland has spent the last two decades riding a unique position: European by treaty, American by economics, a “bridgehead” for US multinationals into the EU, and a country whose prosperity has quietly depended on America’s outsized pull on global capital. But if the US and Europe drift into a real rupture, Ireland becomes the uncomfortable jockey straddling two horses heading in opposite directions. In this episode, we map the cold numbers behind Ireland’s exposure, exports, FDI, and the corporate tax windfall, and then pivot to a genuinely optimistic idea: using the last of the US windfall not just to cushion the future, but to build it. Think infrastructure now, and a Schumpeter-style startup fund that turns the country into an innovation machine before the sugar daddy’s money slows down.

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The Great Global Rebalancing: How Trump's America is Losing its Grip on the World's Capital with Sony Kapoor

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Everyone watched Trump at Davos and thought they were seeing American power. We think they were seeing something else: a flashing warning light. The core idea of this podcast is simple: diversification is the oldest rule in investing, and the world has ignored it. We’ve funnelled a staggering share of global capital into the United States, treating U.S. markets and Treasuries like the default “safe” option. But now, with Trump openly threatening tariffs on anyone who dares to sell U.S. assets, the message is out in the open: America knows capital flight is the real threat. We start with an origin story, Henry Lowenfeld, the overlooked pioneer of diversification, and use it to decode what’s happening now: a long-overdue global rebalancing. Then we’re joined by financial strategist Sony Kapoor, who makes the case that U.S. assets are increasingly being priced not as a safe haven, but as a political risk, and that a weaker dollar, new hedging demand, and a search for opportunity outside America could reshape markets for a generation.

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The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy!

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

This episode is a deep dive into a simple claim: This is the year the mask slipped. The United States has decided that the grand bargain it presided over since 1945 is finished, and the consequences are immediate for markets, alliances, and Europe’s security. We begin in Japan, where a sharp move in long-term government bond yields is forcing a rethink of the global carry trade, and shaking risk assets worldwide. Then we go to Davos, where Mark Carney frames the moment as a “rupture, not a transition,” arguing that integration has become a weapon: tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities. We unpack the post-war deal: America as global policeman, underwriting security in Europe and East Asia, and what America got in return. Then we examine the new reality: tariffs on allies, closeness to rivals, and a Europe that may no longer accept subordination, with Greenland/“the Battle of Nuuk” emerging as the flashpoint that could make the break irreversible. Part one ends with the biggest question of all: if the unipolar world is over, what replaces it? Part two next week looks at Ireland, a country with a profound vested interest in the status quo, now facing its end.

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Trump vs. The Fed: Sabotage, Showdown, or Economic Revolution?

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Donald Trump is taking aim at the most powerful, and most opaque, institution in the global economy: the Federal Reserve. By moving to oust Jay Powell through a criminal investigation, Trump has triggered a battle that cuts to the heart of who really controls money in America, and by extension, the world. Is this an unprecedented act of economic sabotage? A dangerous authoritarian power grab? Or is Trump simply calling the bluff of a self-regarding central banking elite who’ve been pulling the levers of the economy from their marble citadels for 40 years? In this episode, we go deep on interest rates, the dollar, and the political economy of money, from Nero and Henry VIII to Lenin and Hitler, to explain why powerful leaders have always wanted to control the currency. We explore what “financial repression” really means, why Trump wants rates at 1%, and who wins (and loses) when money is made cheap. What if the central bankers aren’t the neutral technocrats they claim to be? What if independence has been more myth than reality, and quantitative easing has already blurred the lines between the Fed and the government?

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The Great Uncoupling & Fiscal Crisis: America, Europe & the Bond Market Reckoning

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

America and Europe are drifting apart, not just politically, but philosophically. In this episode, we dig into the consequences of that split, comparing today’s transatlantic rupture to one of the most overlooked geopolitical divorces of the 20th century: China’s break from the Soviet Union in the 1960s. We explore how competing worldviews, liberal restraint versus autocratic power are reshaping global alliances, leaving Europe disoriented and exposed. Drawing on history, geopolitics and economics, we ask whether this moment marks the true end of Pax Americana, and whether it’s permanent. Then we turn to the other pressure building quietly beneath the surface: debt. With sluggish growth, soaring deficits and rising bond yields, are the bond vigilantes about to make a comeback? From France to the US, we unpack why fiscal stress, not inflation, may be the real economic story of the next two years.

Bonus segment: In partnership with IBEC, we look ahead to Ireland’s EU presidency and ask how Irish business can position itself in a world defined by geopolitical fracture, fiscal strain and intensifying competition, from AI and infrastructure to talent, trade and resilience.

History, power, money, and the fault lines that matter next.

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The Bipolar Economy: Trump, Oil & the End of Balance with Carole Nakhle

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In a single week, Donald Trump goes after the Federal Reserve, criminalises Jerome Powell, and shakes the idea of central bank independence, the quiet pillar holding the global financial system together. At the same time, two oil superpowers, Venezuela and Iran, slide into fresh instability. Coincidence? Not quite. We unpack a world that feels wildly out of balance. In the U.S., markets are booming while consumer confidence collapses. The top 10 stocks now make up 40% of the S&P 500, profits are rising six times faster than wages, and young unemployment is running at 8.5% while older workers stack second jobs. GDP says “fine.” Lived reality says otherwise. Then we turn to energy, the thing that still prices everything. With oil hovering around $60 a barrel, sanctions wobbling, OPEC under strain, and Iran emerging as the real wildcard, we ask what happens next. Oil expert Carol Nackley joins us to explain why Venezuela’s reserves don’t mean cheap fuel, why Iran could flip the market overnight, and why political chaos makes long-term energy investment almost impossible. This episode is about imbalance, in money, markets, power, and psychology, and why when trust in institutions cracks, the consequences show up everywhere: in your wages, your bills, and the price you pay at the pump.

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Venezuela Falls, Cuba Trembles with Marla Dukharan

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington moved on Venezuela, and the shockwaves are racing across the Americas. Oil, refugees, collapsed regimes, back-room deals: this may spell the beginning of the end for Cuba’s 65-year experiment, and the most dramatic geopolitical reset in the region since 1989. We head to the Caribbean to ask who wins, who loses, and who has been quietly complicit all along. Economist Marla Dukaran joins us from Trinidad with jaw-dropping numbers: Caribbean states racked up debts to Venezuela worth 20–50% of their GDP, many of them “off the books,” even as 8 million Venezuelans fled their country. While leaders preached morality, they were bathing in subsidised oil. If Venezuelan oil disappears, and U.S. power reasserts itself, Cuba loses its lifeline. Could that trigger regime collapse? Could stability finally return to Venezuela? Or are we entering a new era where great powers carve up weak states and call it humanitarian? Think Monroe Doctrine 2.0, only faster, harder, and happening right now.

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After Maduro: Who Really Runs Venezuela Now? with Juan Tokatlian

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 08:46:28 GMT

Broadcasting from the streets of Medellín, we dive into Latin America’s reaction to the stunning removal of Nicolás Maduro, and the strange new reality taking shape in Caracas. Is this regime change, an oil grab, or something far more experimental? We’re joined again by Latin America analyst Juan Gabriel Tokatlian, who argues this is the birth of something unprecedented: a U.S.-managed protectorate where Washington negotiates directly with whoever actually holds power,the military and the Chavista elite, while keeping a “second round” of force on the table. From China’s billions now stuck at the back of the queue, to the return of 17th-century-style capitalism where corporations and states move as one, we explore what Venezuelans, Colombians, and the wider region fear comes next. If Maduro is gone… who’s really in charge now — and for how long?

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What If 2026 Is the Year America Leaves Us Behind?

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:00:00 GMT

It’s 2026, and Ireland is skating on a thin economic edge. With the US retreating from Europe, American industry is stalling here, no new labs, no new factories. Our entire model of tax-light, job-rich multinational growth might be reaching its sell-by date. The housing crisis rages, younger people emigrate, and a risk-averse political class hides behind admin. We break down the "known knowns" for Ireland’s year ahead, from capacity crunches to a society shaped by contentment, not ambition. And what if Troy Parrott brings us to the World Cup, could football give us the only real growth story this year?

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What's Really Going on In Venezuela? Oil, Empire & the Next Proxy War

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Venezuela once rivalled Switzerland in wealth, today it’s produced more refugees than Syria. What happened? We go straight to Buenos Aires to talk to leading Latin American analyst Juan Gabriel Tokatlian about how a petrostate collapsed without a war, why US policy is pushing the region to the edge, and what might really be behind American naval deployments off the Venezuelan coast. Is regime change in the air? And if Venezuela falls, is Cuba next? Latin America may be Washington’s backyard, but it’s about to become the world’s front line.

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2025: China’s Year

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

For 2,000 years, China has played a different game. While Europe fragmented, fought, and conquered outward, China focused inward, on standardisation, stability, and turning a vast empire into a single nation. In this episode, we explore why China emerged from 2025 stronger than any other power, why it has no interest in ruling the world, and why that restraint may be its greatest strength. From the invention of a shared written language to state exams, from imperial bureaucracy to modern supply chains, we trace how China built power by consolidating at home while quietly extending economic influence abroad. This is a story of conquest, of control, and why the West still struggles to understand a system that values internal cohesion over imperial adventure.

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Was Genghis Khan the World’s First Globalist?

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

We usually remember Genghis Khan as history’s ultimate destroyer but what if he was also its first great economic integrator? In this episode, we rethink the Mongol Empire not as pure terror, but as the largest continuous free‑trade zone the world has ever seen, stretching from Korea to Ukraine. By reopening the Silk Road after a thousand years, the Mongols allowed ideas, technologies, and capital to flow from China to Europe; paper, gunpowder, money, insurance, trade associations, even early globalisation itself. The same networks that spread innovation also carried the Black Death, halving Europe’s population and accidentally laying the economic foundations for the Renaissance. From biological warfare to free movement of people and goods, this is the story of how a nomadic empire reshaped the global economy, and why globalization is far older, darker, and stranger than we like to admit.

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Can Wind Power Make Us Rich Again?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Ireland controls seven times more sea than land, and with the Atlantic blowing 25% stronger winds than the North Sea, we sit on one of the greatest untapped energy jackpots on Earth. This episode dives into the staggering 600 gigawatt potential of offshore wind off Ireland’s coast, enough to power every home and factory in the EU, several times over. So why haven’t we built a new offshore wind farm in 20 years? From floating turbines to fiscal unions, Dutch perpetual bonds to data centres in the Burren, we break down how wind could be Ireland’s next IDA moment, if we can overcome our engineering phobia and stop thinking like a museum.

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Europe Under Threat: Can the Centre Hold?

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Europe is under pressure militarily, economically, and politically. NATO spending is up 45% since 2014. Germany’s exports to China have dropped 11% in a single year. France is bracing for a possible far-right presidency. Here in Ireland, neutrality suddenly feels less like a principle and more like a liability. In this episode, we ask: is Europe still a power bloc, or just a museum with great croissants? From Russian disinformation to Chinese green tech dominance, we break down the numbers behind Europe’s strategic decline, and what Ireland needs to wake up to before it’s too late.

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The Great Affordability Lie?

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Around the world, people feel poorer, even when the numbers say we’ve never been richer. In Ireland, GDP is soaring, household wealth has more than doubled since 2014, and yet most families are pinned to their collar. Why? Because the official poverty line is €33,600, but it now takes at least €52,000 a year just to stay afloat. That’s a 40% gap between what’s measured and what’s felt. Rent has passed €2,000 a month, groceries are up 16% in a year, childcare can cost over €1,000 monthly, and still we’re told the economy is “booming.” Inspired by Michael Green’s viral Substack and Kyla Scanlon’s “vibecession,” we unpack the growing chasm between income and cost, and how it’s fuelling backlash, burnout, and political blowback from New York to Newbridge.

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Petty Lines in the Sand

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

We’re diving into the economics of borders, the lines we pretend are ancient but were mostly scratched into the earth by soldiers, surveyors and empire-builders with rulers. From Ukraine’s shifting frontlines to Dublin’s Herzog Park, to Northern Ireland’s uneasy edges, we trace how geography becomes politics. Then we go back to the original culprit: William Petty, Cromwell’s cartographer, the man who mapped Ireland in 13 months and turned land into an asset class. His Down Survey redrew Ireland and created the blueprint for colonialism, capitalism and the straight-line borders that still ignite conflict from Central Asia to the Middle East. We follow the rulers, the rebellions, the dispossession and the economics behind every “line in the sand.”

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China Explained with Dan Wang

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 04:00:00 GMT

We talk to writer and analyst Dan Wang, whose book Breakneck argues that China is an engineering state, run by people who build, while America, Ireland and the wider Anglosphere have become lawyer states, run by people who litigate. China lays highways and high-speed rail at warp speed; common-law countries file objections and environmental reports. Europe, meanwhile, risks turning into a mausoleum economy with great croissants, beautiful cities, and a shrinking industrial base. We ask does China’s engineering mindset can deliver both stunning bridges and harsh social controls? Does a world of tariffs, security fears and cyber-fragility forces us to rethink who we let run the show: the builders or the barristers?

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Is Central Asia the Next Front Line of Global Power? with Peter Frankopan

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Leaving the US after weeks on the road, we zoom out from New York and Washington and asks a question we almost never ask in Europe: what if the real future of geopolitics isn’t in Brussels, Beijing or DC, but in Central Asia? To get there, we bring in historian Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads, to map the region we lazily call “the Stans”; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, plus Afghanistan, Iran and their neighbours. Together we unpack why this vast strip of land, once the beating heart of the Silk Roads, is suddenly back at the centre of the global game: home to huge reserves of oil, gas, uranium, rare earths and critical minerals, a young and growing population, and wedged between Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Iran. We hear how Central Asian states are learning to play everyone off against everyone and why the new Great Game isn’t a neat East vs West story at all. If the world is getting more dangerous, more digital and more fragmented, what does it mean that Ireland is the EU’s weak link on defence, with tiny cyber budgets, under-protected seabed cables and a very cosy version of neutrality?

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Why Can’t the West Build Anymore?

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Reporting from New York, with a Bitcoin slump at his heels and the Hollywood-launch buzz of Money: A Story of Humanity still in the air, we dive into one of the most important economic questions of 2025: why can America, Ireland, and Britain no longer build the infrastructure that made them great? From the riveted, soot-stained genius of the New York subway to China’s ability to throw up a hospital in ten days, we explore a new way of understanding global power: engineers vs. lawyers. Guided by Dan Wang’s Breakneck, we trace how China’s engineer-run state builds at breakneck speed while lawyer-dominated America litigates itself into paralysis, and how Ireland, with a Dáil stuffed with talkers rather than doers, finds itself in the same boat. We dig into the numbers, the politics, the personalities, and the quiet collapse of Western state capacity. If the people running your country don’t know how to build, how can the country itself ever hope to?

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Is $4,000 Gold the First Crack in the Fiat Era?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Broadcasting from under the Hollywood sign in the middle of a rare Californian downpour, we follow the water straight into the gold. Starting with LA as a city built on pure imagination, we jump back to the original gold rushes that reshaped the map: California in 1849, the Australian fields, the Klondike, and the deep shafts of South Africa. We meet Johann Sutter and the prospector who accidentally ruined his carefully built New Helvetia, the pioneers who turned empty coasts into booming economies, and the engineers and chemists who turned raw gold into the backbone of the 19th-century gold standard, global trade, and the first great age of financialisation. More recently, we ask why is gold nudging $4,000 an ounce? Why are central banks loading up on bullion again? Is this a bet against the dollar, a sign of geopolitical jitters, or the start of a new monetary era as fiat money and the old globalisation order creak? From mudslides in Malibu to vaults in Fort Knox, this episode is all about gold, what it did to the world before, and what its new surge might be telling us now.

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Hollywood, Soft Power & Ireland’s Anti-American Left?

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Reporting from West Hollywood, in a rock ’n’ roll hotel with no parties and no drugs as house rules. We take a walk down Sunset Boulevard and into the strange engine of L.A.: a city built almost entirely on imagination, storytelling and constant reinvention. From Mulholland’s aqueduct to the studios that wrote America’s myths, we asks: what does a place like this tell us about capitalism, churn and the Uber-ised, gigged-out modern economy? From there, we fly back into something touchier: Ireland’s relationship with the United States. We lay out just how dependent Ireland is on U.S. investment, jobs and tax, and then ask why so much of the Irish left, especially what he calls the “presidential left”, is reflexively anti-American. We unpack third-worldism, neutrality as moral performance, climate politics as a Trojan horse, and the growing gap between Áras rhetoric and how ordinary Irish people actually live, work and travel in a world where America is still our best friend

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Vibecession, AI Mania & The New Casino Economy with Kyla Scanlon

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Live at Kilkenomics, we welcome Roscommon's own economics star Kyla Scanlon author of In This Economy for a fast, funny, and razor-sharp tour of where money and mood collide. We get into her “vibecession” idea on why feelings beat spreadsheets, the AI splash that’s propping up markets, and why America is drifting from a work economy to a casino economy. Why are unprofitable companies dominating the stock market? What happens when a whole generation treats the economy like a casino? And how did social media become both the marketplace and the message? From America’s leveraged bet on tech to Ireland’s own Gen Z drift, we follow the vibes, the volatility, and the very weird definition of adulthood emerging in 2025.

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The Tech Crash, The Demographic Time Bomb, and Ireland’s Future 40

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

A tech bubble always feels rational until it doesn’t, as Wall Street fuses with Silicon Valley and the entire American economy becomes a single hyper-leveraged bet on AI, we trace the early tremors: falling job numbers, concentration of risk, a market propped up by story over profit. The real shock comes at home, Ireland’s new Future 40 report quietly maps out a country sleepwalking into decades of slower growth, soaring age-related costs, and a housing crunch that will outlive an entire generation. The proposed solution currently is to import more workers into a market that can’t house the people already here. We break down the numbers, the politics, and the intergenerational showdown now shaping Ireland’s future, a collision of tech mania, demographic reality, and a state betting tomorrow on the backs of the young.

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The Pope’s Children at 20: How Ireland Grew Up

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Twenty years ago, The Pope’s Children changed how Ireland saw itself; a country high on credit, confidence, and Celtic Tiger ambition. Two decades later, we’re back where it all began: the suburbs, the shopping centres, the bouncy castles and breakfast rolls that built a new middle class. We revisit the characters who defined an era, Decklanders, RoboPaddy, Breakfast Roll Man, and the forces that reshaped Irish life: class, credit, and cultural reinvention. From boom to bust to boom again, we ask what really changed, and what just got a rebrand.

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Australia, Argentina & Ireland: A Tale of Three Economies

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Australia is the country Argentina should’ve been, and the country Ireland could become. Seventy years ago, Argentina and Australia stood side by side as the world’s great hopes, rich in land, resources, and ambition. Today, one is a model of steady prosperity, the other a warning wrapped in inflation and political theatre. We dig into how two nations with the same starting line took radically different paths: Australia’s pragmatism versus Argentina’s populism. From Perón to protectionism, from housing booms to resource riches, it’s a lesson in how economic choices shape destiny, and why Ireland should listen carefully before history starts to rhyme again.

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The Life Raft for Billionaires: Why Tech Titans Are Buying New Zealand

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

As Ireland square up to the All Blacks at the weekend, we are all New Zealand this week, podcasting from the edge of the world, Richie McCaw's old stomping Christchurch, New Zealand. We explore why the world’s richest men are turning NZ's quiet and beautiful South Island into their apocalypse insurance policy. Peter Thiel has bought hundreds of acres near Lake Wānaka, joining a wave of tech billionaires building bunkers at the bottom of the planet. They call it resilience; it looks a lot like retreat. From Victorian settlers fleeing moral decay to modern tech evangelists escaping the society they built, New Zealand has always drawn utopians convinced the world is ending somewhere else. We trace the country’s shift from colonial outpost to libertarian life raft, unpacking The Sovereign Individual, the book that shaped Silicon Valley’s doomsday economics. A journey through empire, ideology, and the strange new faith that the future belongs only to those who can afford to escape.

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The AI Bubble: Boom, Bust & Baked in Nimbin

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Somewhere between a biker bar in Nimbin and a data centre in Virginia, we try to make sense of the biggest capital boom in history. The AI revolution has garnered $400 billion of spending this year alone, nearly half of all US growth. What if it’s all built on industrial lettuces, tech that expires faster than it earns? From NVIDIA’s chip race to Meta’s debt-fuelled data farms, the same story keeps repeating: speculation first, profits later. Live from Australia, we trace how bubbles drive innovation, and destruction, from railroads to radio to AI. They ask who really benefits when Silicon Valley welcomes the bubble, Wall Street fears it, and democracies are left to clean up the crash.

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The Lost Sailors: From Aboriginals to Schumpeter

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Deep in an Australian rainforest, surrounded by birds older than any cathedral, We unpack one of the greatest mysteries in human history, how the first people to sail across open seas, 60,000 years ago, became a civilisation that forgot how to sail. The Aboriginal Australians, the oldest continuous culture on Earth, arrived when Europe was still under ice. They built languages older than Latin, mapped deserts the size of continents, and thrived for 99.7% of Australia’s human history before a single European set foot here. Then, in just decades, 90% of them were gone, wiped out not by conquest, but by microbes. From this collision of worlds, we explore what makes societies innovate, why isolation freezes progress while connection multiplies it. Drawing on Harvard anthropologist Joseph Henrich’s idea of the collective brain, they trace how collaboration fuels invention, from the first tools to AI. The episode arcs from the Aboriginal sailors who crossed 100 miles of open water before anyone else, to the Nobel Prize winners studying the alchemy of innovation, and ends with Ireland’s own late awakening from creative isolation.

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The Land of Opportunity Down Under: Australia

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Cycling through Brisbane in the heat, we've found a country that hasn’t had a recession in nearly half a century; a statistical miracle in modern capitalism. Australia’s economy has grown steadily since the 1980s, powered by the luck of geography and the grit of immigration. Iron ore alone earns more than €100 billion a year, and one in three residents were born abroad, making it the most immigrant-driven economy in the rich world. Its central bank floats the currency to stay competitive, its politicians spend sparingly but smartly, and its cities remain among the most liveable on Earth. Yet beneath the sunshine and swagger lies a tension: record house prices, soaring costs, and a nation riding two horses at once, one facing Washington, the other Beijing.

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Saudi the Kingmaker: Gaza, Trump & a New Middle East with Andrew Maxwell

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Live from Christchurch, literally tomorrow, we bring on Andrew Maxwell, fresh off stage in Riyadh, to ground-truth the social shift you won’t see in think-tank PDFs: 8k-seat comedy arenas, mixed audiences, and a culture moving at startup speed. With approximately 17% of the world’s proven crude reserves, a sovereign fund near $900bn, and a population that’s 65% under 35, Riyadh can bankroll outcomes, including a Gaza deal. Female labour-force participation has doubled since 2016, internet use is near-universal, and Vision 2030 is pointing trillions in capex at tourism, sport, and tech. We dig into how a Saudi–Egypt–Pakistan triangle (money, manpower, nukes) changes the bargaining set, why normalisation with Israel would be a geopolitical earthquake, and what a “phase two” looks like. We also hit the shelved India–Gulf–Med trade corridor, Qatar’s broker role with Hamas, and why Europe’s mostly a spectator in a multipolar game.

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The Behavioural Budget: How Tax Shapes Us

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We promise this isn’t another boring budget breakdown! This week, we’re asking a bigger question: what if taxation isn’t really about raising money, but about changing behaviour? With Ireland awash in corporate tax revenue, the old logic of “tax to fund spending” doesn’t quite hold. So, should we start using taxes to shape how people act, from derelict sites to carbon emissions, and borrow the money we need instead? We explore how Ireland’s unique position in global finance could make it a testing ground for a new kind of economic thinking, one where the budget becomes less about arithmetic, and more about incentives, behaviour, and human nature.

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The Art of Creation with The Edge - Part Two

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We’re back with The Edge for part two of our conversation. This time, on the creative mind itself, we talk about what connects the artist and the entrepreneur: the instinct to imagine something that doesn’t exist and make it real. From James Joyce’s Volta Cinema to U2’s Berlin reinvention, we explore how creativity and risk are two sides of the same coin, and why failure, not success, is what really drives innovation. The Edge opens up about reinventing old songs, finding confidence in chaos, and what it means to stay curious for decades. We also dig into AI and the future of music, asking whether algorithms can ever truly create something new, or if the human imagination will always win out.

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The Art of Creation with The Edge

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Live from the basement, we sit down with The Edge, the musician who wanted to be a scientist, to talk about the spark that connects rock bands and startups. From U2’s early ambition to his work with Endeavour, The Edge shares how curiosity, mentorship, and a willingness to fail can turn creativity into success. We explore why Ireland can’t rely on multinationals forever, how to build a real culture of innovation, and why begrudgery has held us back for too long.

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What is Radical Politics?

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We like to think of the centre as steady, sensible, and grounded, but what if the “centre” is actually the most radical place in politics right now? The real fault line in modern politics isn’t about tax or spending, it’s about culture. Onn those cultural questions the political class has drifted miles away from the people they claim to represent. In Britain, nearly 9 in 10 people think immigrants should adapt to local customs, yet most MPs don’t. In Germany, it’s the same. In Ireland, the gap is smaller but still real. On economics, tax, spending, capitalism, the public and politicians broadly agree yet on culture, they’re worlds apart. With Financial Times' John Burn-Murdoch, we dig into the numbers from Ireland, the UK, Germany and Denmark, and ask: if the centre has abandoned the centre, who’s really radical anymore?What is Radical Politics?

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Culture Wars in the West, Alliances in the East

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

While the West burns itself out on culture wars, the East is quietly stitching together something bigger. This is the age of geo-economics, where oil, factories, and sheer population size matter more than headlines. On Russia’s border, the numbers tell the story: 4.5 million Russians facing 107 million Chinese. Add India into the mix and you see the outline of an alliance with the power to redraw the map. Meanwhile, Europe feels tired, America feels divided, and the old certainties of Pax Americana begin to fade. The question isn’t just who holds the power now, it’s whether we’ll even recognise the world that emerges next.

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Who Owns the Flag? From the American Revolution to Charlie Kirk

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We’re in New York this week, celebrating my mam’s 90th birthday and launching The History of Money in the U.S., but the backdrop is America’s deepening culture war. With the 250th anniversary of the Revolution looming, both liberals and MAGA are fighting to “own” the flag, the story, and the soul of America. We dive into Ken Burns’s new PBS series The American Revolution, the forgotten role of General O’Hara (an Irishman who surrendered for the British), and why 75% of Black troops fought for the Crown. We reflect on Monica Lewinsky’s powerful talk on shame in the internet age, before turning to the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s killing, how one event is being weaponised to fuel division, echoing darker moments of history like Kristallnacht. And we look ahead: could the 2026 World Cup become the liberals’ unlikely answer to MAGA pageantry?

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The Economics of Golf

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 12:48:55 GMT

What does golf tell us about money, power, and the way economies work? From billion-dollar sponsorship deals to the rise of LIV Golf, from Tiger Woods to Trump’s golf courses, the fairways of golf are lined with lessons about globalisation, soft power, and the business of status.

In this episode, we tee off on the economics of golf, how a game that looks leisurely on the surface is actually a high-stakes arena of geopolitics, big business, and class.

Along the way we explore why Ireland punches above its weight in the sport, why golf courses matter for land use and housing, and why golf has always been about more than chasing a little white ball around a field.

This is a special bonus episode from Sky Sports. Watch all 3 days of The Ryder Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports. Upgrade today or Stream live with NOW - Available without a contract

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From Cod to Culture: What Inishmore Teaches Us About the Experience Economy

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Between 250,000-300,000 tourists land on the island every year, 2,500 a day in summer, and yet it still feels authentic, alive, and deeply Irish. In this episode, we ask: how do remote places like Inishmore thrive in today’s economy, while once-wealthy regions like France’s Île de Ré struggle with emptying out? We dig into the wild history of cod and salt (the currency of empires), why Ireland salted beef instead of fish, and how the Aran Islands are now punching above their weight in the global experience economy. From lobster-pot pubs to the death of distance, we explore what makes people pay not just for goods and services, but for memory, tribe, and authenticity.

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Could the GAA Solve Ireland’s Housing Crisis?

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

What if the solution to Ireland’s housing crisis has been sitting on our doorstep all along? We dive into the Danish model of cooperative housing, where 7% of Danes live in co-ops, and a full third of Copenhageners do too, and explore how the GAA, with its 2,200 clubs and pristine community pitches in every village, could spearhead something similar here. Forget developer margins and speculative bubbles: in Denmark, a co-op share might cost €70–100k, with monthly housing costs around €800, compared to a private flat at €400k and €1,200 rent. We talk about the power of collective ownership, intergenerational communities, and why housing is really about dignity, not speculation. Along the way, we get into Jim Gavin’s presidential bid, Fianna Fáil’s GAA connection, and why our presidency has become more like Ireland’s Got Talent than a serious constitutional role.

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Deepfakes, Big Tech, and the Coming AI Crash?

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

AI investment is exploding: the “Magnificent Seven” of Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, and NVIDIA, are ploughing almost 7% of US GDP into AI and data centres. That’s the same scale as the US housing boom in 2006, and greater than the dot-com bubble at its peak. Today, just seven firms make up 34% of the S&P 500, the highest concentration in history. Earnings per share in these companies grew 37% last year, compared to just 6% in the rest of the index. But history warns us, RCA in the 1920s, dot-coms in the 1990s, that transformative technologies can change the world while destroying fortunes. The question now: is AI the next revolution, or the next bubble waiting to burst?

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France on the Brink: Debt, Drama, and a Possible Sixth Republic

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Broadcast from Île de Ré, we dive into France’s mounting fiscal mess and political paralysis. With Macron a lame-duck, bond markets charging Paris more than Athens, and a nationwide strike looming, we ask: could Europe’s cornerstone become its weakest link? We unpack France’s towering state-and-semi-state debts, why Japan can print and Paris can’t, the ECB’s “will they/won’t they” backstop if Le Pen takes power, and how a sovereignist turn could trigger a rewrite of France’s constitution, goodbye Fifth Republic, hello Sixth. Along the way: Anglo-Saxon doom-mongering, De Gaulle’s Jupiterian legacy, contagion math, and why life in “paradise” can still feel like purgatory. Big stakes, bigger history, and a very French cliff-hanger.

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Economics in a Tent: Live at Electric Picnic 2025

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We took economics to a music festival, and somehow packed the tent. In this Electric Picnic highlights episode from Mindfield, we rock up bleary-eyed and buzzing, then dive straight into the big stuff: what Trump’s assault on America’s institutions means for money, markets, and the rest of us. We map the new super-cycle from post-war social democracy to Reagan-Thatcher finance, to today’s populist reboot, and why we think the US is flirting with a fiscal, monetary, and dollar crunch. Closer to home, we ask why Ireland looks rich on paper but feels poor in reality. In between, we tell the story of the 1992 currency crisis, a lo-fi mission to the Dorchester, and accidentally swapping the Central Bank for UBS and because we were literally in a field surrounded by stages, we tackle the music economy: streaming’s winner-takes-all logic, Daniel Ek’s “music costs almost zero,” algorithms that feed nostalgia over novelty, and why culture only renews when the young can afford to create.

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Is America The Richest Third World Country?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Is the US drifting into Peronism? We trace the playbook, tariffs and import substitution, national champions, censorship-by-intimidation, and a war on independent institutions, and map it onto Trump’s America: sacking a Fed governor, menacing J-Powell, firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, deploying the National Guard, and the Treasury taking a slice of Intel. Along the way, we tell the family story that makes the point better than any chart: two Italian brothers leave Lombardy in 1950, one goes to Argentina (then the world’s 7th-richest country), the other to the US. Eighty years later, identical genes, opposite outcomes. Why? Institutions. We uncover why “markets” aren’t a moral compass; why an emerging-market test now applies to America; what Turkey teaches about politicos capturing central banks; and how a weaker, politicised dollar would rattle Bretton Woods, push allies away, and turn a stock market priced for perfection into kindling. It’s part musical, part macro: from Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina to Don’t Cry for Me, Oklahoma. We’ll explain how it starts, how it ends, and what the rest of us in Europe should do while the richest third-world country in history experiments on the global monetary system.

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Germany, 10 Years After “Wir Schaffen Das”, What Really Happened? with Katja Hoyer

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Ten years ago, Angela Merkel opened Germany’s doors to more than 1.1 million asylum seekers in a single year with the words “Wir schaffen das” (“We can do this”). Today, Germany has over 3.4 million asylum seekers, about 4% of its population, and politics, society, and culture have been transformed. In this episode, we dive into what really happened over the last decade. We talk with historian Katja Hoyer about the numbers, the culture clashes, the rise of the AfD from a fringe party to polling at 25%, and the everyday realities in towns where the refugee population doubled overnight. From schools where 80–90% of kids now have migrant backgrounds, to half of Germany’s welfare claimants being non-Germans, the story is as much about economics and integration as it is about politics. We pull it apart: the hopes, the backlash, and the future of immigration policy.

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The Nationalisation of the New Home Market

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:00:00 GMT

The state has quietly become the biggest buyer of new homes. In fact, builders like Cairn Homes now have forward sales of nearly €946 million, much of it locked in by government deals. That means up to 80–85% of new builds are being bought by the state, at an average price of €382,000 per unit, while wages lag far behind rising house prices, which jumped 7.8% last year. So who’s being pushed out? First-time buyers. Instead of solving the housing crisis, the state is inflating prices, nationalising the property market by stealth, and creating what could be the most expensive council houses in the world. In this episode, we join the dots between Dutch disease, tax windfalls, political PR, and the future of Irish society. Why are nurses, teachers and young couples emigrating when billions are gushing into Ireland? And how did estate agents, once kings of the market, become an endangered species? We break it all down, numbers, history, and politics, to show why the government itself is now the main culprit behind Ireland’s housing mess.

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Ukraine at the Crossroads: From Donetsk to the Garrison State

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

After nearly 11 years of war, Putin’s maximalist demands have shrunk to a sliver of land in Donetsk, a pyrrhic victory after countless lives lost and millions displaced. But while the Kremlin clings to a symbolic scrap of territory, we explore whether Ukraine’s true future lies not in NATO membership but in becoming what political economist Harold Laswell once called a “garrison state.” What does that mean? Think of countries like Israel, Taiwan, South Korea, or even Finland in 1940: highly militarised, heavily armed by allies, but able to survive and rebuild under constant threat. Could this be Ukraine’s path, a nation of 40 million people with a vast agricultural base and heavy industry, rebuilt under an American security umbrella and billions in European aid? We pull apart the history: from the Treaty of Moscow (1940) that fixed Finland’s borders for decades, to Eisenhower’s warning of the military–industrial complex, to the Peloponnesian War’s clash of Sparta and Athens. Can democracy thrive in a garrison state? Is Europe ready to bankroll Ukraine’s reconstruction? And will turning Ukraine into a military bulwark finally secure peace, or only prepare the ground for the next war?

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Ireland is a Hostage to Fortune

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Have we caught a case of Dutch Disease? Ireland’s dependence on foreign multinationals looks less like a golden goose and more like Japanese knotweed, invasive, overwhelming, and slowly strangling everything around it. Yes, the jobs are plentiful and the tax coffers are bulging, but the hidden costs are piling up: small businesses being elbowed out, rents spiralling, public spending ballooning, and a state increasingly captured by the very companies it courts. We trace how multinationals now pay almost 90% of our corporate tax, how graduates are sucked into big tech rather than start-ups, and how housing and wages are being distorted in the process. Ireland’s economy, once sold as nimble and entrepreneurial, is bending instead to the whims of boardrooms in California and Basel rather than Leinster House. Along the way we draw comparisons to the Premier League eclipsing Irish football, Trump’s short-term deal-making on the world stage, and even brothel keepers in Saigon.

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America’s Dutch Disease: How Debt Became the World’s Hottest Export

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We’ve always known Dutch Disease as what happens when a country strikes oil or gas and accidentally hollows out the rest of its economy. But what if the United States’ great “resource discovery” wasn’t energy, it was debt? This week we talk to Brendan Greeley about his brilliant framework for understanding America’s political economy: the world’s insatiable appetite for U.S. Treasuries has turned debt into a commodity tap Washington can turn on at will. We explore how this constant borrowing props up the dollar, guts manufacturing, swells Wall Street, and fuels a political scramble for control of the spigot, with eerie parallels to Ireland’s own multinational tax windfall. Along the way, we ask why old economic theories can’t explain the dollar’s resilience, why quality of spending matters more than quantity, and what history says about how this all might end.

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From The Godfather to the Blockchain: How Easy Money Seduced Wall Street (and the White House)

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We’ve always said to understand the economy, you have to understand human nature, and nothing reveals that better than watching the biggest players do a Godfather-style U-turn for easy money. In this episode, we connect the dots between Marlon Brando’s Don Corleone and Jamie Dimon’s pivot from calling crypto “a fraud” to using it as loan collateral, all while the President of the United States holds stakes in coins of his own. We unpack how the $2 trillion crypto market has morphed from anti-Wall Street rebellion to one of the most powerful lobby groups in America, funnelling cash to Congress to rewrite the rules. Along the way, we lift the lid on stablecoins, explain why money is a public good (not a private printing press for the TikTok age), and ask what happens if the dollar’s last line of defence, the Fed, gets taken out. Life imitating art imitating life… and the ending might not be pretty.

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Japan: Lost in Translation Part Two

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We all love a boom story, until it turns into a 40‑year hangover. In 1995, Japan’s nominal GDP hit its high‑water mark. It took until the 2020s to get back there. Debt has exploded to 250% of GDP. The population is shrinking so fast that by 2070, one in three Japanese will have vanished, down from 128 million in 2010 to just 87 million. What went wrong? A bursting property bubble, a banking system in denial, and a culture where shame trumps change. For four decades, Japan has been the economic equivalent of a superstar striker refusing to retire; still wearing the jersey, but stuck on the bench.

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Japan: From Feudal Isolation to Economic Superpower

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and we’re taking a deep dive into Japan’s extraordinary economic story. In part one of our two-part series, we explore how Japan went from a feudal, isolated society to one of the most powerful economies in the world. With our guest Russell Jones, a brilliant economist and my old boss, we look at the Meiji Restoration, post-war reconstruction under America’s wing, and the wild property and stock market bubble of the 1980s. Along the way, we chat about Trump’s war on economic statistics, a touch of Cold War nuclear tension, and even a special Electric Picnic-related announcement!

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Generation Rent: How Housing Costs Are Exporting Ireland's Future

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week we talk to Matthew Ruddy, a young Dublin entrepreneur who did everything right - built his first business at 17, worked alongside the lads at Dogpatch Labs. Except he's now living in Brisbane, not Dublin. Matthew's story captures what's happening to an entire generation. These aren't traditional emigrants heading to London building sites, they're highly educated risk-takers who desperately want to stay home but can't afford to take entrepreneurial risks when rent costs two grand a month. The statistics are staggering: home ownership among 25-34 year olds has fallen by 48% since the mid-90s; the highest decline in the world. This housing catastrophe is causing a mental health crisis among young adults in English-speaking countries, with Ireland leading the pack. It's creating a vicious cycle where young talent either takes safe multinational jobs or emigrates entirely, starving Irish startups of the people they need. Meanwhile, we're left wondering where all the young entrepreneurs have gone. They're everywhere but home.

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Did Europe Just Surrender to Trump?

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Not so fast! We unpack the surprise EU-US trade deal that has everyone shouting sellout but we see it differently. In this episode, we take a deeper look at what really went down in the Trump-triggered tariff negotiations. The headlines scream defeat: Europe folds, Trump wins, 15% tariffs slapped on all EU goods while the US gets full access to the European market. But is that the full story? We break it down, the EU runs a $200 billion trade surplus with the US. So why would they agree to this? Because sometimes in poker, the smartest move is folding a bad hand to fight another day. We also lift the lid on the civil war brewing within Europe: the Commission vs. the member states, nationalism vs. federalism, free trade idealism vs. geopolitical realism. Germany wants to protect its cars. France its booze. Ireland? Our pharma sector’s now hanging in the balance. We talk street-fighting Trump vs. rulebook Europe, why this deal might actually be good news for investment in Ireland.

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When the West Woke Up: How Yugoslavia Fell Apart

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 02:00:00 GMT

This week, we take you back to the final years of Yugoslavia, a country that exploded into one of the bloodiest wars Europe has seen since WWII. We trace how ethnic tensions, decades of suppressed rivalries, and opportunistic leaders tore the region apart, while Europe watched on, paralysed. We explore how the Serb army launched brutal assaults across Croatia and Bosnia, committing acts of ethnic cleansing that left over 100,000 Bosnians dead, often at the hands of their own neighbours. For years, the West hesitated. But after a dramatic shift in Washington, the U.S. stepped in, arming the Croats, launching air strikes, and ultimately brokering the Dayton Accords to end the war. In this episode, we follow the story from Vukovar to Sarajevo, from Belgrade backroom deals to Clinton’s White House. We explain how Croatia won the war but lost nearly a million people to emigration, how Serbia suffered the worst hyperinflation ever recorded, and how Slovenia quietly became the EU’s success story, set to overtake the UK in GDP per capita within five years. We also reflect on the strange persistence of empire: Russia still backs Serbia, Turkey stands with Bosnia, and the West never really forgot its favourites.

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Why Ireland Must Rethink Its Economic Future; Fast

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

In this week’s episode, we dive headfirst into the economic storm clouds gathering over Ireland, and the urgent need to act before we get soaked. We explore how U.S. tariffs, Trumpian MAGA economics, and a Europe shrinking on the global stage all combine to put Ireland in the danger zone. We break it down simply: Trump’s $50 billion in new tariffs? Instead of hurting China, they’re taxing Americans. If America turns fully inward, the knock-on effect for Ireland could be devastating. We're the most U.S.-adjacent economy in Europe, and with 150 billion euro sitting in Irish bank deposits and 80% of our corporate tax coming from foreign companies, we're dangerously reliant on the goodwill of multinationals who may not stick around. So we ask: what’s Ireland’s Plan B? We look back to the IFSC and Ardnacrusha, bold, nation-shaping moves that changed our future. We ask why we’re not doing the same now. We speak to Patrick Walsh from Dogpatch Labs, who tells us that we’ve got the ingredients for an innovation boom, talent, capital, multinational know-how, but not the policies to unlock it. Right now, France has taken the lead on AI. Meta's accelerator is in Paris, not Dublin. Why? Leadership. Focus. Vision. Meanwhile, Ireland dithers over housing and passes symbolic laws that could alienate our biggest economic ally.

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The Ghosts of Yugoslavia: Borders, Bankers & Balkan Ghosts

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of Europe’s most brutal and under-discussed chapters: the collapse of Yugoslavia. Live from Croatia, where the scars of that war still linger, and where, 30 years on, the economic, political, and human fallout continues to echo across the continent. We explore how hyperinflation, sparked by debt-fuelled mismanagement and ethnic tension, helped tear the country apart. At one point, Yugoslavia’s army was the largest in Europe. Today, its people make up the single largest intra-EU migrant group. In Ireland alone, over 40,000 Croats were issued PPS numbers in the last five years. We walk you through the tangled roots of nationalism, the rotating presidency that doomed a federation, and how the ghost of Tito, who told Stalin to feck off in 1946, still haunts the region. We also talk Jamie Dimon, who popped up in Dublin last week declaring “Europe has lost,” and we break down what that means in GDP terms: 25 years ago, US and EU GDP per capita were neck-and-neck—now the US is 25% ahead. We trace that back to 1995 and ask: What if Yugoslavia was the first warning shot?

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Can We Cope With This Level of Immigration?

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week on the podcast, we take on the two biggest issues shaping our future: immigration and housing. We begin with the looming threat of U.S. tariffs, which could hit by August 1st. A 30% levy would be catastrophic for Ireland, the most open economy in the world, with nearly €600 billion in imports and exports annually. While China retaliates in unison, Europe squabbles over wine, cars, and Big Tech. Meanwhile, Ireland, so dependent on U.S. multinationals, stands massively exposed. We then dive into the far knottier issue: immigration. Between April 2022 and 2023, 141,000 immigrants arrived in Ireland. Only 30,000 houses were built in the same period. You don’t need a PhD to see the problem, demand has tripled, while supply has collapsed. House prices are up 7% in the last three months alone, now approaching half a million euros. Construction is down, despite a 47% increase in government spending since COVID. We break the numbers down: of the 141,000, roughly 90,000 arrived via active government policy; visas, asylum, humanitarian aid. With only two people per home on average, we’d need to build 80,000 houses per year to keep up. We’re building less than half that.

We’re not arguing against immigration, we need it. But policy without planning leads to crisis. If we don’t start managing immigration with data and foresight, we’ll drift into chaos.

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Who Wants to Live Forever? The Economics of Immortality, Tech Bros & Tír na nÓg

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week, we start with Oasis and end in Silicon Valley, via Tír na nÓg. We’re talking about the economics of not dying, and how tech billionaires are pouring billions into that dream. From Oasis belting Live Forever to Irish mythology’s take on eternal youth, we ask: why are we so obsessed with dodging death? We explore the surreal story of Brian Johnson, the tech bro spending $2 million a year trying to reverse ageing. Vegan diet, 100 supplements a day, teenage blood transfusions… all in an effort to achieve his goal of slowing his biological clock by 7.5 months every year. Meanwhile, he's founded a Don't Die movement with Discord channels, Blueprint protocols, and longevity summits. We dig into the money behind it all: the anti-ageing industry is already worth $70 billion and is projected to hit $140 billion by 2034. Google’s Calico Labs, Bezos’s $3 billion bet on Altos Labs, and a biotech unicorn called Cambrian Bio (valued at $1.8 billion) are all racing to crack the longevity code. What kind of world are we building? Is this the new Tír na nÓg, a fantasy only for the rich? We imagine a world where ageing is optional… but only if you can afford it.

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Trieste and the City of the Future

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Trieste is a city that’s belonged to everyone, and no one. This week, we go walking through a place that’s been Austrian, Italian, Yugoslav, and, at one point, technically run by the United Nations. It's a port city without a hinterland, a European crossroads where empires once collided, and identities blurred. What if this strange, stateless city is actually a glimpse of the future? Trieste thrived when borders were open and trade was fluid. It declined when nationalism took hold and lines were drawn. In a world now swinging back toward protectionism, identity politics, and hard frontiers, Trieste’s story becomes a warning. We explore how the city gave rise to Freud, Joyce, and Svevo, why it drove Mussolini mad, and what it teaches us about globalisation, ambiguity, and the power of being in-between. It’s a story about ports, poetry, and politics, where geography becomes destiny, and liminality becomes strength. As cities everywhere wrestle with who they are and who they serve, Trieste might just be the original global city: chaotic, contradictory, and decades ahead of its time.

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Who Killed the Living City?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

After travelling through Montreal, Bilbao, and Vilnius, cities alive with colour, sound, and soul, I returned home and felt the contrast sharply. Dublin, like many cities across the developed world, feels hollowed out. Despite booming economic growth and over €150 billion sitting idle in savings accounts, our capital is crumbling. Streets are lifeless, dereliction is everywhere, and policy seems paralysed. So what went wrong? This week, we explore how bad incentives, not bad people, kill cities. Drawing on historical revivals like Temple Bar, we propose bold 21st-century solutions: tax breaks to bring buildings back to life, amnesties to release hoarded property, and a new savings product that lets the public invest directly in urban renewal. If the private sector won’t build, let the public fund it. Then we turn to global markets, where Trump is gearing up to fire Fed Chair Jay Powell and slash interest rates. But he may learn the hard way: the bond market, not the White House, sets the tempo. If confidence cracks, long-term interest rates could skyrocket. Urban decay and global volatility are two sides of the same economic coin. Can we change course in time?

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Content, Culture & the Bottom Line: How Finance is Killing the Avant-Garde

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Are we living through the death of innovation? We’re back in HQ asking a tough question: has culture stagnated, and if so, is economics to blame? We explore the twin juggernauts of our age: financialisation and tech. From Florence under the Medicis to Hollywood in 2023, we trace how once-risky bets on the new have been replaced by spreadsheets and streaming algorithms. In 2023, all of the top 10 highest-grossing global films were sequels, spin-offs, or remakes. Back in 2005, 40% of top films had original scripts; now it's less than 10%. Meanwhile, only 27% of all streamed music is new, and catalogue music made up 70% of US consumption by 2021. We ask: who owns culture now? What happens when Spotify, Marvel, and private equity become the A&R men of our era? And could the rise of AI, which looks backwards by design, make this even worse? Join us as we unravel how economics may be drowning out the avant-garde.

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Has the Balance of Global Power Just Shifted to Israel?

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Has Israel just become the undisputed power in the Middle East? After a lightning-fast 12-day conflict, oil prices fell instead of spiking, Iran backed off with symbolic missile strikes (after giving the U.S. a heads-up), and Russia is suddenly too nostalgic about its expats in Tel Aviv to pick a side. We unpack how this war, short, sharp, and stunning, shifted the entire balance of power in the region. Why didn’t the Strait of Hormuz crisis materialise? Why are markets pricing in peace while Gaza burns? And what does this all mean for Iran’s regime, which now looks more cornered than combative? We also take a surprising detour through France, exploring how language is shaped by power, and why the poor speak more languages than the rich. Is this the start of a new Middle East? Or just the next chapter in a permanent struggle?

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The Dollar, the Ape & the End of an Empire

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Live from a packed GAA hall at the Dalkey Book Festival, this episode tackles one of the wildest questions in economics: how did humans, flimsy, anxious apes, end up running the world, and why did we invent money to do it? We dig into the evolution of money as a collective hallucination hardwired into our psychology. Along the way, we unpack how 90% of dollars exist only digitally, how the pandemic rewired our sense of value, and why the dollar’s global dominance might be nearing its final act. From Mesopotamian beer tabs to the Fed’s modern firepower, we trace the story of money as a force that built empires and could just as easily unmake them.

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Memoirs of an Arab Jew

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

In this powerful episode recorded at the Dalkey Book Festival, we sit down with Israeli historian Avi Shlaim, whose memoir The Memoirs of an Arab Jew weaves together the personal and political. Born in Baghdad and expelled to Israel, Shlaim dismantles the dominant Zionist narrative and shares a forgotten story: that of the Arab Jews, rooted in the Middle East for millennia, fluent in Arabic, and often alienated in the state built in their name. Shlaim explores British colonial meddling, the legacy of the Holocaust, and what he calls Israel’s transformation from a refuge into a settler-colonial project. He also offers explosive insights into Mossad’s alleged role in the exodus of Iraqi Jews. This is a conversation about historical amnesia, and why the trauma of the past can’t justify injustice in the present.

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The Islamic Enlightenment

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Tensions in the Middle East are escalating, following Israel’s surprise attack on targets across Iran on Friday, and ensuing strikes between the two powers continued over the weekend. The Muslim world has often been accused of a failure to modernise and adapt. Christopher de Bellaigue disagrees and charts the forgotten story of the Islamic Enlightenment – the social movements, reforms and revolutions that transformed the Middle East from the early nineteenth century to the present day. Modern ideals and practices were embraced across the region, including the adoption of modern medicine, the emergence of women from purdah and the development of democracy. We look behind the sensationalist headlines in order to foster a genuine understanding of Islam and its relationship to the West.

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The Hanseatic League: Europe’s First Free Trade Zone

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Forget Brussels, the first European Union was built by medieval merchants, not politicians. This week, we dive into the Hanseatic League: a loose alliance of 200 city-states that dominated trade across the Baltic and North Seas for 500 years. They pioneered free trade, built Europe’s first banking networks, and forged a multilateral model that still shapes today’s EU. Their story is also a warning. The League eventually lost out to land-based nation-states, a tension that’s alive again in today’s battles between globalists and nationalists, city-states and populist powers. Along the way, we also explore the unlikely African roots of Russia’s greatest poet, medieval slave routes linking Dublin to Iran (!), and why the architecture of Lutheran cities tells the story of global trade.

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Will America’s Debt Crash the Global Economy?

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

When Jamie Dimon warns that the U.S. bond market could "crack," it’s time to listen. This week, we dive into America’s mounting debt crisis, with U.S. debt now surpassing $34 trillion, deficits running at $2 trillion a year, and interest payments exceeding military spending. We unpack how Trump’s tax cuts, tariffs, and spending splurges are pushing the system to breaking point, and why a bond market crack could trigger a global dollar crisis.

Then we turn the lens to Ireland, where the economy is running too hot: clogged roads, soaring rents, and an influx of investment we can’t absorb. Should Ireland slow down before the next global downturn forces us to? From bond yields to blocked-up Westland Row, this episode connects the big macro shifts to the everyday pressures you feel on your commute.

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From Bolsheviks to Bolt: The Tallinnovation Nation

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We’re on the road again, this time reporting from Vilnius, Lithuania, in the heart of Europe’s Bloodlands. Don’t be fooled by the history of war and trauma, this episode is all about how the Baltics are sprinting into the future. Estonia, with just 1.3 million people, has produced 10+ tech unicorns and collects 99% of its taxes online. Lithuania, home to 50,000 people living in Ireland, is building Rail Baltica, a €6 billion high-speed line connecting Finland to Poland. We chat with economist James Oates to unpack how these small nations became some of the most advanced societies on earth, all while keeping one wary eye on Moscow.

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Creativity in the Cul-de-Sac: Why the Suburbs Won

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Back home at HQ, we stretch our legs and dive into something huge hiding in plain sight: Ireland is now the most educated country in the world. But what does that really mean? From the Inhaler gig in St. Anne's Park to the brilliance of Roddy Doyle and camogie skirts, this episode celebrates the often-overlooked power of the suburbs, not just as a creative hotbed, but as the epicentre of Ireland’s education revolution. We trace how the children of small farmers became the middle class, why suburban snobbery is intellectually bankrupt, and how “kitchen table capital” helps some students stay the course. With fascinating data on dropout rates, international comparisons, and that ever-looming brain drain, this is a fresh and hopeful take on the biggest shift in Irish society since free education was introduced in 1967. Plus: why middle-class people think in years and working-class people are forced to think in minutes, and what it means for building a better Ireland.

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Spain’s Miracle Economy: What They Got Right (That We Didn’t) with Joe Haslam

Thu, 29 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We're back in Spain, and I’ve got questions. Why is Spain growing faster than Germany, France, and even the US? Why can they build high-speed rail for a fraction of the cost, and why are they the only major EU country where immigration is boosting GDP without blowing up politics?

This week, we talk to Professor Joe Haslam in Madrid about what’s being called Europe’s miracle economy. Since COVID, Spain’s growth has outpaced every major European economy, driven by smart immigration (nearly 1 million working Latin Americans), a tourism boom (especially in the cooling north), and €160 billion in EU funds that they’ve actually used. But it’s not all cerveza and sunshine. Spain’s power grid recently collapsed for nine hours, revealing the fragility of the green energy transition. Despite the boom, Spain’s productivity and housing market are heading the wrong way. Public servants now outnumber private sector workers, and even El Guapo himself, PM Pedro Sánchez, is afraid to touch buy-to-lets. We also dig into what Spain’s infrastructure success says about Ireland’s failure. Is it Napoleon vs. Wellington all over again? Because if you inherited the Napoleonic state, like Spain did, you can build metros, fast trains, and affordable housing. If you inherited British common law? You get planning objections and overpriced shoeboxes in Drimnagh.

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The Bilbao Blueprint

Tue, 27 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We're in Bilbao this week, and it’s got us thinking. How does a football club that refuses to sign non-Basque players manage to qualify for the Champions League, raking in close to €100 million from TV rights, match days, and UEFA money, while Dublin’s best bet is a few fivers from the Conference League? The answer is in economics. The Basques were Europe’s forgotten industrialists, the only region in Spain to undergo a full-blown Industrial Revolution, powered by local iron ore, steel production, and a shipbuilding boom that made Bilbao Spain’s biggest port by 1900. Then they lost it all. Globalisation, China, and the EU opened the floodgates. Unlike post-industrial towns in the UK or Ireland, Bilbao didn’t roll over. They moved the port. They built the Guggenheim. They chose ambition. And they proved that even a small, isolated, ancient people, who speak a pre-Ice Age language with no known relatives, can build a modern economy with global reach. What’s our excuse?

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The Moody Blues: No More Finance Bros in LA

Thu, 22 May 2025 01:00:00 GMT

This week, we’re keeping one eye on Wall Street and the other on a canal in Dublin. Moody’s just downgraded the United States' credit rating, a move that quietly confirms what most won’t say out loud: America’s debt-fuelled growth is unsustainable, and interest payments are now outpacing military spending. Meanwhile, back home, a row of cottages literally collapsed, not abandoned, but owned by the very people lobbying to fix Ireland’s housing crisis. In a country where average rents just passed €2,000. In this episode, we tie it all together: the real consequences of debt, the performative hypocrisy at the top, and how property in Ireland has become a parasitic asset, not a social good. From Donald Trump’s inflationary tariff plans to the Irish State’s inability to enforce basic upkeep, we’re watching the scaffolding of credibility, financial and moral, fall away.

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The Battle for Africa with Pumi Mashigo

Tue, 20 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

From wine valleys to White House stand-offs, we’re in South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy finds itself caught between China, Russia, and a sulking Uncle Sam. Reporting from Franschhoek, we trace the Huguenot legacy, the Dutch East India Company, and how South Africa became the West’s favourite refuelling stop, until now. With President “Cupcake” Ramaphosa headed to the White House this week, US aid frozen, and Afrikaner “refugees” granted asylum, tensions are flaring. South African podcaster Pumi Mashigo joins us to unpack the realignment: BRICS, Palestine, misinformation campaigns, and why the Global South is finally saying: enough.

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Trump’s New Enemies: Billionaires, Big Pharma & Bibi?

Thu, 15 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Trump is stealing Bernie’s manifesto. In this episode, we dive into why Trump is suddenly talking about taxing the rich and slashing the cost of prescription drugs, policies lifted straight from the progressive left. Is he turning on the billionaire donors funding his campaign? And is Israel, long a pet cause of those donors, being quietly edged out of Trump’s new MAGA calculus? We unpack a flurry of recent deals, from a largely meaningless UK–US trade agreement , to an urgent truce with China after Chinese exports to the US through the Port of LA fell by 50%. Behind the white smoke: a looming summer of empty shelves, rising inflation, and a reminder that America’s economic dominance isn’t what it used to be. Meanwhile, Ireland exports more to the US than the UK does, despite being 12 times smaller, but could soon find itself caught in the crossfire if the US starts attaching China-related conditions to EU trade.

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A Letter from Africa with Simon Kuper

Tue, 13 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week I'm in South Africa on a book and speaking tour and am chatting at the Franschoek Literary Festival, so we are all South Africa today. A country of contradictions, rich in resources, vibrant in culture, yet S.A. is held back by inequality, corruption, and the long shadow of apartheid. In this episode, we explore its uneasy present and remarkable past: from Mandela’s legacy to Elon Musk’s childhood, from empire and race to why Donald Trump has fixated on white Afrikaners. We travel through Cape Town and Johannesburg, unpacking it all with FT journalist Simon Kuper, and along the way, we encounter pencil tests, Springboks, slabs of the Berlin Wall, and the political ghosts of the Cold War. Is South Africa being used, once again, as a pawn in someone else’s game?

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Inflation for Losers with Mark Blyth

Thu, 08 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Broadcast from a wine-soaked table in Italy’s Valle di Comino, ancestral home of Ireland’s chipper dynasties, this episode covers everything from Irish-Italian football matches and Elvis impersonators to the far more serious threat inflation poses to liberal democracy. We chat to political economist Mark Blyth about his new book Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers, unpicking why prices stay stubbornly high, who inflation hits hardest, and how it quietly fuels everything from MAGA to Farage. Is inflation just economics, or is it the force tearing apart the political centre ground? And is the UK a basket case… or just ahead of the curve?

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How Canada Became the Anti-Trump Blueprint

Tue, 06 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week, we talk about the most unexpected political shift of the year, Canada’s sudden transformation into the liberal world’s new playbook. We unpack how Mark Carney, once a Davos technocrat, won an election by turning it into a referendum on Trump… and won big. Along the way, we explore nationalism (the decent kind), what Trump gets wrong about trade, and why standing up to bullies actually works. Plus, we chat with Evan Solomon, now an MP in Carney’s new government, about what Canadians really want, what’s next for their economy, and how sometimes, all it takes to wake up a country is a common enemy.

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Slowing Down in an Age of Acceleration with Elif Shafak

Thu, 01 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

This week, we take a breath. In a world spinning faster than a speedcubing final, we step away from bond yields and geopolitics and lean into something more human: imagination. We swap global crises for quiet joys, from a Rubik’s cube competition in Wicklow to the power of storytelling in uncertain times. As we always say, economics is about life and today we are joined by bestselling novelist Elif Shafak, to explore how fiction helps us make sense of chaos, how literature bridges the political and the personal, and why sometimes the most radical act in a crisis-ridden world is to imagine differently.

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The Art of Taxation: How a Crisis Could Save Your City

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Trump’s global chaos might just offer an opportunity. if we’re bold enough to take it. In this episode, we dive into how a crisis can give countries the political permission to reshape their economies, starting with how we tax, who we tax, and why we desperately need to rethink urban financing. From Roman emperors funding the Colosseum with "toilet taxes," to why Dublin (and most Irish cities) are economic engines shackled by a broken funding system, we explore how cities around the world are grabbing the purse strings and financing their own futures.

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Popeonomics?

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We mark the passing of Pope Francis by asking: is there such a thing as "Catholic Economics"? If so, what is it, and what strain of Catholic economics did the Pope represent? We start with a lad stopped by the Italian cops on a Vespa in Rome, and a most unusual and uplifting conversation with the Pope, Bono, and yours truly. Yeah, for real. We explore liberation theology, the roots of Franciscan banking, and the common and deeply embedded DNA of Catholic social teaching in the economic policy of Catholic countries, despite widespread secularism. By the way, I did pay the fine!

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The New Great Game?

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

The world shifting under our feet and US financial markets remain in turmoil. We explore whether Trump’s economic war with China is backfiring, and might push Europe closer to Beijing, not Washington. We detail a likley monetary scenario for the US over the coming months which will be the backdrop to any geo-political moves. For example, could France, weighed down by debt, turn to China as creditor? Are we entering a new global “Great Game,” where America’s threats drive its allies into the arms of its rivals? If Europe stops financing the U.S. bond market, what happens next? A podcast on grand strategy, with a few French wines, altar boy memories, and Machiavellian moves along the way.

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Paris, Power & Picking Sides: Europe’s Awakening in a MAGA World

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Broadcasting from Paris, we bring a bottle of wine and a warning: the transatlantic honeymoon is over. As America turns inward under the MAGA banner, Europe, led in thought (and theatre) by France, is starting to ask tough questions: Can we still rely on the US? Should we even try? From Macron’s eerily prescient Sorbonne speech to the wild moves in the US bond market, this episode explores why France feels vindicated, why Ireland might soon have to pick a side, and why the real battlefield isn't Normandy or NATO, it’s the balance sheet. With detours through wine laws, de Gaulle in Connemara, and why Nike’s Vietnamese workforce matters more than you'd think, this is a global economic story told with Gallic flair and geopolitical bite.

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The Molly Bloom Model: Why Economies Should Say Yes

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Yes has always been more of a worldview than a word. In this episode, we channel the spirit of Molly Bloom’s iconic soliloquy from Ulysses to explore how saying “yes” can reshape economies. From Joyce’s sensual metaphor for self-abandon to the economics of openness, growth, and transformation, we dig into what it means to embrace change. Why does resistance stagnate nations? What happens when a country dares to say yes to innovation, to risk, to the unknown? This isn’t your average econ chat—this is a literary, philosophical, and economic exploration of transition, agency, and the power of possibility. Yes? Yes. Yes!

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The Nike Economy: Why Vietnam Is America’s Hidden Factory Floor

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

What do Nike runners, IKEA furniture, and half a million Vietnamese workers have in common? They’re all caught in the crossfire of Trump’s tariff tantrum. This week, we trace the hidden supply chains behind the global economy, from Vietnam’s rise as a manufacturing powerhouse to how a sneaker company now employs more people abroad than Ford and GM do at home. We break down how the MAGA tariff regime threatens to crater entire economies, sour U.S. relations in Asia, and hand China the long game. Plus, what it all means for Ireland, Africa, and the American empire itself. Are we witnessing a pivot, or a pullback from the world stage?

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Tariffs & Other Fantasies

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 06:39:27 GMT

This week, we watched the world’s biggest economy base its entire trade policy on a formula so dodgy it wouldn’t pass the Leaving Cert. We break down how Trump’s tariffs are chaotic, as well as economically illiterate, dangerously populist, and could have slammed Ireland with more than a 39% hit if not for the EU. This isn’t just bad maths. It’s billionaires mistaking personal instinct for macro strategy, and a White House mistaking nationalism for economic policy. We’re talking supply chains, tanking markets, flying cars in China, Trump channeling FDR, and why the U.S. might be about to run the world like a family business, forever. Strap in.

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The Economics of Employee Ownership

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 23:00:00 GMT

What if the future of capitalism isn’t tech or tax, but trust? This week, we’re talking about Employee Ownership Trusts: a radical rethink of who gets to own the companies we work for. We’re joined by Alan Coleman of Wolfgang Digital, the first Irish company to take the leap and hand ownership to its staff. It’s a story about building businesses that are more productive, more democratic and maybe even more human. From colonial corporations to AI takeovers, we trace why this small idea could be the start of something huge. And if you're a digital marketer who wants to own where you work, Wolfgang is hiring. Head to wolfgangdigital.com/careers to find out more.

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Jeffrey Goldberg Has Entered the Chat

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:54:14 GMT

On Wednesday, we watched in real time as America’s trade policy devolved into a parody of itself. Trump’s Liberation Day was part Caesar, part Mattress Mick, all empty bluster. A dodgy chalkboard of made-up numbers, a crowd in high-vis, and a president who thinks tariffs are just theatre. You may also have heard that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic and friend of the pod, was accidentally added to a Signal group chat planning actual U.S. airstrikes. He joins us to talk about what it revealed: a deeply unserious administration where war, trade, and global diplomacy are being handled like a lad’s WhatsApp group. We break down the chaos, the consequences for Ireland and Europe, and why standing up to this kind of performative thuggery might be the only option left.

And by the way you can get $20 off a digital sub to The Atlantic at theatlantic.com/dmwpod.

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Did Ferris Bueller Predict the Trade War?

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 03:00:00 GMT

What do tariffs, the Laffer Curve, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off have in common? More than you’d think. This week, we dive into the world of trade policy, culture wars, and deflated middle-aged fatherhood, all from the basement. From Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" of tariffs to secret WhatsApp groups planning military strikes, this episode examines how America’s trade war is about identity, masculinity, and a long-festering grudge against Europe. With a history lesson on Smoot-Hawley, Reaganomics, and the ghost of Arthur Laffer, we ask: if America is only barely exposed to global trade, why the war on Europe? And is this all just economic policy reimagined as culture war th

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Why Do Good People Make Bad Decisions?

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

From Dublin’s housing crisis to stalled metros and blocked wind farms, this week’s episode explores how well-meaning people, and governments, have tied themselves in knots. We ask the simple but provocative question: if we could build Ardnanacrusha in three years a century ago, why can’t we build homes or rail lines now? Blame over-regulation, hyper-democracy, and good intentions gone rogue. Whether it’s zoning laws, environmental red tape, or endless consultations, we’ve made it nearly impossible to build anything at scale or speed. Drawing on lessons from China, Spain, and Dublin 1, this episode is a call for a Second Irish Republic, one that resets the country to make allow it to achieve its potential.

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Trump's First 65 Days

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Trump is back, and in just 75 days, he’s issued half as many executive orders in two months than Biden did in four years. Beyond the chaos, there’s a bigger story: what happens when a country, like Ireland, finds itself up against a global heavyweight? From Trump’s tariffs and economic incoherence to America's shift toward isolationism, We argue it’s time for smaller nations to find their rope-a-dope—a strategy borrowed straight from Muhammad Ali’s legendary win over George Foreman - who just died. Meanwhile, are we looking at a US recession? Markets slumping, second-hand designer gear is flooding resale apps, and dreadful survey data hint at a looming Trump Slump. Plus: a trip to Wales, the wisdom of Gus O’Donnell, and why Foreman’s grill might have more to teach us than we think.

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Trump, Putin & McGregor: Ukraine & the New World Order with Olesya Khromeychuk

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Ukraine is being carved up—again. This week, Trump and Putin are discussing Ukraine’s future, and the Ukrainians aren’t even invited to the table. We explain why the Congress of Vienna 1815 is the framework through which we should look at the new world order being torn up and rewritten, where might is right and small nations; whether in Eastern Europe or the West of Ireland, are left to fend for themselves. Enter Conor McGregor, backed by MAGA kingmaker Steve Bannon and bankrolled by Elon Musk, McGregor’s potential bid for the Irish presidency is no joke. It’s part of the same global chaos strategy that has seen Trump cozy up to Putin and turn on America’s allies. The playbook is simple: disrupt, distract, divide. In this episode, we speak to Ukrainian historian Olesya Khromeychuk about what’s really happening behind closed doors in Washington and Moscow, why European leaders are scrambling, and what it means when small nations lose their voice. If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu, and right now, Ukraine is the main course.

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The Doonbeg Doctrine: Trump and the Chaos Economy

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

St. Patrick’s Day diplomacy, a shifting global order, and Trump whispering in Micheál Martin’s ear; he's nursing more than a hangover with his front-row seat to the chaos economy of Trump’s America. This week, we break down the Irish leader’s White House shindig, the Doonbeg-ification of Irish diplomacy, and why Trump sees Ireland as a useful pawn in his battle with Europe. Meanwhile, Brexit is floundering, Germany is rearming, and Britain is quietly edging back toward the EU. Could Keir Starmer be the man to undo Brexit? And why does Trump’s economic vision for America sound suspiciously like Ireland in the 1970s; low-wage, low-productivity, and stuck making three-in-one stereos? From the horse whisperer to the Trump whisperer, from NATO to Naas Road manufacturing, this one has it all.

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Is America the Next Big Short? With Michael Lewis

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In a week where the U.S. stock market has been rocked by recession fears and escalating trade tensions, we sit down with renowned author Michael Lewis, known for works like Liar's Poker, The Big Short, and Moneyball, to dissect the economic landscape. The S&P 500 plummeted 5.7%, marking its worst week since September, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a 4% drop, largely due to concerns over trade wars and slowing economic growth. Tesla's stock took a significant hit, falling 15% in a single day and marking a 50% decline from its all-time high in December. Michael Lewis shares his insights on how trust, or the lack thereof, shapes financial markets, especially under the unpredictable policies of the Trump administration. We delve into the psychology driving economic decisions and explore whether America's current trajectory mirrors the conditions that led to previous financial crises. So, is the U.S. economy teetering on the edge of another "big short"?

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Germany Wakes Up: Britain Breaks Out

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 04:00:00 GMT

For 70 years, Germany kept its head down; an economic juggernaut, but a military lightweight, happy to let America call the shots. Not anymore.J.D. Vance’s off-the-cuff dismissal of Europe as a lost cause, combined with Trump’s America First foreign policy, has done something extraordinary: it’s forced Germany to step up. And when Germany steps up, the whole world shifts. And one of the shifts could well be, the UK running back to the EU and for the first time in 10 years Britain needs Europe and Europe need Britain. The great reconciliation is next!

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Casement, Congo & the Comeback of Empire: Is Trump Reviving Imperialism?

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Neo-imperialism is marching, loud and proud, straight into the heart of global politics. Between Trump’s quiet dealmaking in Riyadh, to his open musings about annexing Canada, the last few weeks have shattered the illusion that the age of empire is behind us. The world order of the last 70 years is crumbling, replaced by raw, transactional power. Trump and Putin are set to carve up Ukraine, billionaires are circling mineral-rich territories like vultures, and Washington’s foreign policy has been reduced to a simple equation: If you have resources, we’ll take them. This episode draws an eerie parallel between Trump’s tactics and one of the most brutal imperial heists in history; King Leopold’s reign of terror in the Belgian Congo. Just as European powers once justified plunder with the rhetoric of “civilization,” today’s resource grabs are wrapped in the language of “economic deals.” And at the heart of exposing that brutality was Roger Casement, a man who paid with his life for revealing the truth.

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The King’s Gambit: DIY Declan, Trump’s Market Meltdown & Musk’s 18th-Century Twin

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 GMT

What do DIY stores, French financial bubbles, and Elon Musk have in common? Kicking off with a detour into The Pope’s Children and the perils of being a DIY impostor, we quickly shift gears to the real story: the Trump Dump. As financial markets recoil from the chaos of MAGA economics, we dive into history for a striking parallel: John Law, the 18th-century financial mastermind who convinced France to bet everything on his wild vision of a new economic order. Law promised a dazzling future, just as Musk does today, but his empire of speculation collapsed, taking the French monarchy down with it. What happens when the richest man in the world gets inside the head of a leader hungry for power? Are Trump and Musk unwittingly following the script of Law and the Duke of Orléans? Are we on the brink of a modern-day financial reckoning? With markets tanking, Bitcoin crumbling, and the spectre of stagflation looming, we explore the dangerous dance between speculative hype and economic reality. Will history repeat itself, first as tragedy, then as farce? Buckle up.

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Deutschland Dilemma: Voting Blocs, Power Shocks & the Bundeswehr Rocks with Katja Hoyer

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Germany’s latest election has sent shockwaves across Europe. The CDU has reasserted itself, but the far-right AfD continues to gain ground, fuelled by economic anxieties and social media echo chambers. Meanwhile, younger voters are breaking in radical new directions, young men shifting right, young women embracing the far left. With NATO under strain, America’s global leadership in question, and the war in Ukraine forcing Germany to confront its historical reluctance to lead, Berlin is at the heart of an unfolding geopolitical realignment. As German arms manufacturers see their stock prices soar, the Bundeswehr prepares to fill the security vacuum left by the U.S. withdrawal from Europe. Will Germany finally embrace its role as the continent’s dominant power, or is it doomed to remain an economic giant but a political pygmy? Historian Katja Hoyer joins us to break down the election results, the shifting tides of power in Berlin, and what it all means for the future of the European project. Is this the moment Germany finally steps up, or is Europe heading for a deeper divide?

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MAGA, Mercantilism & Mass Extinction: The Economics of a Shifting World Order

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Anxiety is in the air. Trump's latest outbursts underscore America’s shifting economic stance. Who knows if there is a method to the madness? In this episode, we break down the logic of MAGA economics, tracing its roots back to mercantilism; the imperialist trade philosophy that once fuelled global empires. We dissect Trump’s obsession with trade surpluses, the inevitable clash between MAGA and Wall Street, and why Ireland might be enemy number one in the next trade war. Just when you think things can't get more chaotic, we explore the looming "mass extinction event" set to shake Silicon Valley and the tech elite. From tariffs to TikTok bans, economic history to geopolitical strategy, this is a no-holds-barred deep dive into the forces reshaping the world, whether we like it or not.

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The Second Republic: Reinventing Ireland for the Future

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

What if we could start over? What if instead of just stitching the North onto the South, we reimagined the whole country. new flag, new anthem, even a brand-new capital? What if Ireland’s future wasn’t just about unity, but about revolutionising how we run our society? From Swiss-style direct democracy to high-speed rail, from Athlone as a futuristic capital to a redefined relationship with the Commonwealth, this episode dives deep into bold ideas for a Second Republic. We’re talking more than a united Ireland, instead an Ireland that actually works. With special guest Paddy Cullivan, this is a no-holds-barred conversation on history, identity, and the radical ideas that could shape the next decade. Whether you think a united Ireland is inevitable or impossible, one thing’s for sure: the way we do things now is broken. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a way to fix it.

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The End of the Affair - Europe and America's Nasty Divorce

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

The world as we know it is over. The post-Cold War order, the American-led security umbrella, the assumption that Europe will always be protected has been shattered in real time. Trump’s America is walking away. Russia has played the long game and won. Ukraine is the new Ireland, abandoned by its supposed allies. Europe is like a deer in the headlights, unarmed, unprepared, and utterly exposed. From the Swiss Alps to the ghosts of the Flight of the Earls, this episode unpacks the seismic shift happening beneath our feet. Who holds power now? What happens when small nations, like Ireland, wake up to the reality that they’re on their own? And why are we sleepwalking into a world where the rules are being rewritten without us?

Buckle up, this is the moment history turns, and you don’t want to be left behind.

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The Economics of the Merchant of Venice: Lessons from an Empire of Trade

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

What can a city built on water teach us about the economics of the 21st century? In this episode, we dive into the economics of Venice, how a tiny republic with no natural resources became one of the most powerful trading hubs in history. From their financial innovations, like double-entry bookkeeping and reserve currency, to their mastery of diplomacy and soft power, the Venetians thrived for centuries by being nimble, opportunistic, and always thinking ahead. What led to their decline? And are there parallels between their story and modern Ireland’s role in global trade? Join us as we walk the eerie alleyways of Venice, explore its hidden economic history, and ask: what does it take to stay ahead when the world is constantly changing?

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Hard Liquor, Soft Power: The Death of Proportionality

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Donald Trump has always been blunt about his transactional view of global politics but has he just accelerated the decline of American soft power? We unpack his latest moves, from tariffs on Canada to his surreal vision for a 'Gaza Riviera,' and explore why his worldview could redefine America's role on the global stage. With USAID shutting down, longtime allies turning away, and economic isolationism on the rise, is the U.S. shifting from a nation of influence to one of brute force? What does this mean for global power dynamics? Is Trump simply playing for attention, or are we witnessing a true transformation in America's foreign policy? We dive into it all with Evan Solomon, examining how trust, trade, and tariffs are reshaping the world, and whether the U.S. is burning down the very system it built.

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Trump, Tariffs & the Gold Rush: The McKinley Playbook

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

What do Donald Trump and William McKinley have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, we dig into the economic and political legacy of America’s 25th president, the so-called Napoleon of Tariffs, and explore why Trump sees him as a role model. From trade wars to big business alliances, McKinley reshaped America’s economic landscape through protectionism and expansionism, laying the groundwork for the country’s rise as a global power. But his presidency also triggered a powerful counter reaction, one that led to the breakup of monopolies, progressive reform, and a seismic shift in U.S. politics under his unexpected successor, Teddy Roosevelt. How does McKinley’s era mirror today’s America? What lessons does his legacy hold for Trump’s economic vision? And how did a single gold discovery in the Yukon change everything? Tune in as we trace the hidden connections between past and present in America’s political and economic supercycle.

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The Population Paradox: Growth, Crisis, and the Global Economy

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Is rapid population growth a sign of economic strength, or the trigger for future crises? This week, we explore how shifting demographics are reshaping economies worldwide, from booming immigration and urban congestion to strained infrastructure and rising political tensions. As governments push for economic expansion, many are running their economies just too close to the sun; fuelling population growth without the capacity to support it. We examine how this plays out in housing shortages, overwhelmed public services, and the widening gap between GDP figures and real quality of life. What happens when a country outgrows its own ability to function?

From Europe to North America and beyond, we look at the consequences of failing to plan for demographic change, and what lessons history has to offer before today’s booming economies become tomorrow’s cautionary tales.

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DeepSeek, Deep State or Deep Pockets? Karen Hao on China’s AI Power Play

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

China's DeepSeek has done what it does best, it's made a better copy of an American product. Deepseek has disrupted the markets this week and is almost outperforming OpenAI while spending as little as one hundredth of the cost. In a world where Silicon Valley has long operated under a “winner takes all” model, DeepSeek’s breakthrough proves that sheer financial power is no longer the defining factor in technological supremacy. It's more than a story about AI, it's about geopolitics, economic power shifts, and how constraints fuel innovation. As the U.S. scrambles to maintain dominance, pouring billions into AI infrastructure and tightening restrictions on China, has it inadvertently made its biggest competitor stronger? What does this mean for Nvidia, OpenAI, and the entire American tech ecosystem? And if AI can now be built cheaper and faster, why are U.S. companies still demanding more money, more energy, and more control?

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From Fartcoin to Trumpcoin: How Memes and Tokens Are Redefining Power and Wealth

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

What do Fartcoin, Trumpcoin, and TikTok have in common? They’re all part of the new frontier where memes, tokens, and attention economics collide. This episode dives into how Trump’s $60 billion crypto frenzy is more than just a bubble, it’s a glimpse into a world where narratives create wealth overnight. We explore Schumpeter’s innovation theory, the rise of memeonomics, and how social media oligarchs are reshaping power, regulation, and finance in real-time. Is this the ultimate bubble or the future of economics? Tune in to connect the dots and find out why the attention economy is eating the real economy alive.

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The Coming IMF Bailout of Britain!

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Is the UK teetering on the edge of economic chaos? With bond yields now higher than Greece’s and a rapidly weakening pound, we explore why Britain’s financial foundation is cracking. From the historical parallels of past currency crises to the implications of its overreliance on financial services, we break down the risks ahead. Economist Philip Pilkington joins to discuss what’s fueling the current turmoil, the role of international markets, and whether the IMF might be forced to step in. Could this spell the end of Labour’s new government, and even reshape Britain’s political landscape?

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The MAGA Era: Irish America’s New Identity

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

We're diving into the seismic shifts reshaping America and their ripple effects on Irish identity abroad. With the inauguration of Donald Trump marking the ultimate vibe shift in global politics, we explore how Irish America has evolved, from Kennedy-esque liberals to MAGA-loving MMA enthusiasts like Dana White. Joined by historian Niall Ferguson, we discuss Trump’s anti-fragile rise, the decline of woke culture, and how Ireland needs to rethink its relationship with its diaspora in this new era.

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King Trump and the Bubble Economy

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this week’s second instalment on bubbles, we dive into America’s tech-driven exuberance and the dangers of the Magnificent Seven. Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, and their pals commanding a third of the S&P 500. Are they truly unshakable titans, or is it the dot-com bubble all over again? As the bubble inflates, Monsignor Joe Rogan is busy offering absolution to the tech bros, preparing them for King Trump’s coronation. But history warns us: bubbles don’t burst gently, and fragility hides behind the façade of strength. Join us as we explore irrational exuberance, FOMO, and why the "next big thing" always feels unstoppable, until it doesn’t.

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Monsignor Joe Rogan and the Tech Bro Confessions: Risk, Bubbles, and MAGA Tailwinds

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 04:00:00 GMT

This week, we’re talking risk. From California’s burning insurance markets to the fragile dominance of America’s “Magnificent Seven” tech giants. Are Apple, Tesla, and their crew as unshakable as they seem, or are we teetering on another financial bubble? Meanwhile, over in the confessional, Father Joe Rogan is busy absolving tech bros like Zuckerberg of their woke sins, ushering them into the MAGA fold, complete with MMA moves and chains. Join us as we dig into the psychology of bubbles, the absurdity of concentrated risk, and why diversification isn’t just for your stock portfolio, it’s a survival strategy.

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The Epiphany: What Joyce, the Dead, Musk and Twitter Teach Us About Economic Power

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 04:00:38 GMT

We explore today's seismic changes in media and society, by tracing historical parallels between James Joyce’s The Dead (1907) and today’s digital age. Joyce’s observations on in The Dead about generational divides, the rise of newspapers, and societal shifts echo loudly in 2025, as new gatekeepers like Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos wield unprecedented influence over the flow of information. How did media transform from a tool of advertisement to the battleground for ideas? What can we learn from Joyce’s depiction of societal upheaval in 1907 as we navigate the tribalism and cultural revolutions of today? Join us from a snowy Ireland - as it was in The Dead - while we unpack history’s lessons, from the industrial age’s middle-class explosion to the rise of modernism and today’s chaotic digital landscape. Are we witnessing a similar hinge moment, and what does it mean for the future?

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America’s $30 Trillion Gamble: How Debt Could Rewrite the Global Economy

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 04:00:46 GMT

We examine the cracks forming in America’s financial dominance, with $30 trillion in debt—equal to 100% of GDP—making it the largest debtor nation in history. Drawing parallels to Britain’s fall from economic supremacy after WWI, we explore how reliance on foreign creditors, MAGA billionaires, and a dangerously overconfident debt-driven system are pushing the U.S. toward a potential reckoning. With bond vigilantes ready to re-emerge and global markets watching closely, could the U.S. be repeating the mistakes of past empires? Join us as we unravel the hidden fragilities, bold financial tactics, and the high stakes of America’s economic future.

P.S you can check out Elizanomics here, I'll be posting at least weekly in 2025: https://elizanotaro.substack.com

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Runways to Reality: How Airports Reflect the World Around Us

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 04:00:40 GMT

This week, we’re diving into a surprising truth: airports are the most democratic spaces in society. Think about it—everyone passes through them, from business tycoons to backpackers, families returning home, and adventurers chasing the sun. In this episode, we explore what Dublin Airport, a global hub unmatched by any other city its size, reveals about Ireland’s place in the world. With over 50 transatlantic flights a week and connections to places as unexpected as Nashville, Dublin Airport tells a fascinating story about how interconnected and diverse Irish society has become. Airports aren’t just gateways—they’re barometers of economic growth, diversity, and even innovation. Why is Ireland exporting microchips instead of machinery? And what does all this mean for a country that’s striving to avoid the perils of economic monoculture?

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Swiftonomics and Centrist Dads: 2024 in Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 04:00:25 GMT

Happy New Year! Join us as we nurse our hangovers and take a ride through 2024’s greatest hits—economic and otherwise. From the explosive surge of Swiftonomics (yes, Taylor Swift boosted Ireland’s GDP!) to the surprising resilience of the Centrist Dad Economy, we unpack the stories that defined the year. Did Apple’s €13 billion tax debacle teach us anything? Are we more Boston or Berlin as we outpace Europe in growth? And how did a housing market on the brink coexist with 160,000 fans belting out Anti-Hero in Croke Park? It’s Ireland’s year of contradictions, featuring corporate tax quirks, and the existential debate about whether we’re Connecticut with bad weather or the EU’s cheekiest tax haven. We’re diving deep into the economics of everything that happened this year.

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Putin’s Empire, the West’s Game: Revisiting Bill Browder’s Insight on Russia

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 04:00:14 GMT

As the war in Ukraine drags on, how do we untangle the web of money, power, and manipulation at the heart of Vladimir Putin’s regime? In this Christmas special, we revisit one of our most revealing episodes with financier and political activist Bill Browder, recorded in May 2022.From the origins of Putin’s rise to power to the oligarchs’ uneasy pact and the enduring corruption within Russia, Browder offers an insider’s perspective on the forces driving this geopolitical chess game. With haunting parallels to today’s events, we explore the enduring dynamics of Russia’s kleptocracy, the Western response to the war in Ukraine, and the grim calculus of prolonging conflict to pursue regime change. What’s the West’s real endgame? Can sanctions and military aid shift the balance, or are we destined for years of grinding stalemate? And what does it say about global power when wars are dictated not just by ideology, but by who controls the money?

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AI, Feudal Overlords, and the Fight for the Future: A Conversation with Martin Wolf

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 04:00:59 GMT

As we hurtle toward an AI-driven future, what’s really at stake? In this Christmas Eve special, we revisit our conversation with Martin Wolf, the Financial Times’ chief economics correspondent, and dive into his predictions for the seismic changes reshaping our world.From the rise of AI and its potential to dismantle the middle class, to the demographic time bombs ticking in the West and sub-Saharan Africa, we explore how technology, climate, and population shifts are redefining economics and geopolitics. Are we headed for a new era of prosperity, or a feudal system ruled by techno-overlords? And what role does socialising the means of production play in protecting democracy? Happy Christmas!

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The Bro-tocracy Rises: Top 10 World-Changing Events of 2024

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 04:00:19 GMT

Was 2024 the turning point for our economic, political, and cultural future? In this episode, we break down the top 10 seismic shifts that reshaped the world. From Trump’s polarising return and America’s brotocracy taking center stage, to the collapse of the Assad regime and the waning dominance of Germany and France, the global order is tilting. Why is Italy’s Meloni now Europe’s most compelling leader? What does China’s deflation signal for the rest of us? And how has Ireland quietly positioned itself as a winner in the chaos? These are the moments that matter, and this is the year that changes everything.

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The Prosperity Paradox: Ireland’s Boom, Europe’s Bust, and the Price of Success

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 04:00:27 GMT

Ireland’s economy is booming, bolstered by its close ties to the American economic engine. But beneath the shine of GDP growth and high living standards lies a stark reality: a growing gap between standard of living and quality of life. Why are Irish families delaying children longer than any other in Europe? Why hasn’t Ireland used its wealth to solve fundamental issues like childcare, housing, and commutes? In this episode, we explore the divergence between the U.S. and European economies, shedding light on why Ireland is an economic outlier. Drawing on research from Money: A Story of Humanity, we discuss the driving forces behind American innovation, Europe’s struggles with productivity, and how Ireland’s successes mask deeper societal challenges. From satellite images of city luminescence to Belgium’s clever solutions to vacant housing, this is a conversation about the paradox of prosperity—and what happens when governments fail to plan for the future.

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What's Next for Syria?

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 04:07:28 GMT

The fall of Assad’s 50-year regime marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history, but what happens next? In this episode, we connect the dots between the collapse of Syria’s government, the geopolitical power vacuum left behind, and the ripple effects across Europe. Drawing from decades of history, including parallels to regime changes from Saddam Hussein to Gaddafi, we examine the roles of Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, and the jihadist HTS in shaping Syria’s uncertain future. Taking notes from The Great War for Civilisation by Robert Fisk for historical insights into Middle Eastern geopolitics, unpack the complexities of migration patterns, and analyse how rising far-right movements—from Marine Le Pen in France to the AFD in Germany—could destabilise Europe's political landscape further. With millions displaced and Europe bracing for another wave of desperate migrants, this episode explores the intersection of history, politics, and human resilience.

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The Economics of the Miracle on 34th Street

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 04:00:15 GMT

Santa exists because the people will it to exist"—a lovely line from The Miracle on 34th Street sets the stage for this episode's deep dive into Bitcoin hitting the monumental $100K mark. But is Bitcoin really money? Or just a speculative asset fuelled by belief and lobbying? As we explore the parallels between wampum shells, tulip bulbs, and digital currencies, we unravel the irony of Bitcoin’s journey from anti-establishment rebellion to Wall Street darling. Is this the dawn of a MAGA-backed financial revolution, or a precarious bet on an apocalyptic future where the dollar falters? And what happens when speculative euphoria meets institutional leverage? From New York’s vibrant streets to its historical roots as a trading hub, we examine how faith—whether in Santa Claus, Bitcoin, or the dollar—has always been the driving force behind the world’s currencies.

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National Capitalism: A New Era of Economic Survival?

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 04:00:29 GMT

As the global financial system shifts under the weight of geopolitical tensions and Chinese economic policy reversals, Russell Napier introduces a concept that could redefine the next decade: National Capitalism. This podcast unpacks the startling implications of a system where governments force domestic savings to fund national priorities, effectively ending the free flow of global capital. With 57.2 trillion USD in U.S. assets owned by foreigners and 77% of U.S. GDP reliant on external creditors, the stakes are higher than ever. Could rising Chinese inflation, a faltering U.S. debt system, and Europe’s internal pressures spark a new financial architecture? From how Ireland might adapt to a national savings mandate to whether young people could finally claw back wealth from older generations, this episode dives into the economic, generational, and geopolitical ripple effects of a post-globalist world.

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Syrian Warnings,Irish Limitations, Japanese Solutions

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 04:00:09 GMT

As Ireland inches toward a new government, the housing crisis dominates the agenda. But what if the solution lies not in political reshuffling, but in taking inspiration from unexpected places—like Japan? With Tokyo building 145,000 homes in a single year compared to London’s mere 38,000, we explore how rethinking urban density, bulldozing outdated planning laws, and embracing modular innovation could transform Ireland's housing landscape. Why are Anglophone nations stuck at 400 homes per 1,000 residents, while their European counterparts boast 560? We dive into the cultural shifts, global comparisons, and the collective effort required to address this disparity—arguing that it’s time to abandon our obsession with old, draughty houses and embrace a bold new vision.

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From Beijing to the Box Room: The Global Forces Locking Out a Generation

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 04:00:38 GMT

On the eve of Ireland’s election, we shift focus to the global forces shaping our lives. Why can’t today’s youth afford homes like their parents could? The answer lies far beyond Ireland—in decisions made in Beijing in the 1990s, the mechanics of global monetary systems, and the ripple effects of China’s currency strategies on interest rates and property prices worldwide.Join us as we connect the dots between China's rise, America’s spending habits, and how these forces turned Irish homes into financial assets rather than affordable shelters. Plus, hear from monetary historian Russell Napier about what the unraveling of these 30-year trends could mean for the future. It's a deep dive into money, power, and policy you won’t want to miss.

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The Octagon Versus the Putting Green

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 04:00:15 GMT

In this week's episode, we tackle Ireland's election season, where policies are less about vision and more about swapping slogans. We explore how a lack of imagination in housing and infrastructure could undermine one of the world’s wealthiest nations. From Dublin's derelict buildings to Finland's solutions for homelessness, we dive into how local councils can learn to self-finance and finally address Ireland's housing crisis. We zoom out to examine the global context: Trumpism's shadow over Ireland's economic model and how a looming U.S. civil war—between corporate boardrooms and MAGA ideologues—might reshape foreign direct investment and Ireland’s reliance on American multinationals. As history shows, great decisions often emerge in hard times. Will Ireland rise to the occasion, or settle for short-term thinking?

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Immigration, Housing & Trump's Shadow

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 03:00:19 GMT

This week, we're connecting the dots between the Irish electoral cycle, immigration, and the global aftershocks of Trumpism. Ireland’s housing crisis, surging immigration, and emigration of young talent all tell a story of a country grappling with rapid change—but are the political elites ready to face the challenge? We discuss how immigration fuels innovation and economic growth but also sparks social tension. With over 149,000 immigrants arriving this year alone and rents skyrocketing, is Ireland equipped to balance supply with surging demand? Plus, we explore how Trumpism is reshaping the world order and challenging elites globally—posing a question for Ireland’s leaders: can they rise to the occasion or will they repeat the mistakes of the past?

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Mars Bar-isation of the Irish Electorate & Other Yarns

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:43 GMT

This week, we're tackling two seismic shifts in politics: Ireland’s sugar-rush election and Trumpism’s ripple effects across Europe. As Irish politicians shower voters with freebies—from energy credits to student grants—are they ignoring the storm clouds brewing overseas? Meanwhile, Germany is picking up the phone to Russia, reshaping the geopolitics of Europe as Trump’s influence pushes allies to rethink old alliances. What does Ireland’s obsession with giveaways say about its political class, and how will Trumpism challenge Ireland's economic model? From Olaf Scholz to selection boxes, and from bounties (both the chocolates and political ones) to balanced budgets, join us as we explore how the world—and Ireland—may be on the cusp of monumental change.

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What's Happening in Germany?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:00:06 GMT

This week, we’re diving into Germany's political shake-up as the country heads for a snap election this February. Beyond coalition drama, there’s a deeper story here: Germany’s cultural obsession with saving and fiscal restraint—a "fetish for frugality" that hasn’t always served them well. Seen as both a national virtue and a strict economic doctrine, balanced budgets are gospel, and spending is often viewed with suspicion. How will this election impact Germany's economic direction? And could a new leadership shift the country's stance on growth, flexibility, and spending? Join us this week to find out.

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The Trump Epoch: Entering a New Supercycle

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 04:00:57 GMT

Live from Kilkenomics, we unpack the ‘Trump Epoch,’ a transformative shift that’s reshaping America and reverberating across the globe. From disrupting political dynasties to setting the stage for a new supercycle, we dive into how Trumpism is redefining the world’s economic and political landscapes. Expect a deep dive into the rise of disaffected voices, shifting priorities like immigration and cost of living, and the lasting impact of this new era. If you’re curious about where America—and by extension, the world—is headed, this episode maps out the road ahead.

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The Trumpquake: Power, Divisions, and a New World Order

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 04:00:17 GMT

The unthinkable has happened: Donald Trump has swept the Presidency, Congress, the Senate, the popular vote—even the Supreme Court stands behind him. In today’s episode, we dive into the five emotional stages America seems to be racing through, from denial to acceptance, as a the Trumpquake sends shockwaves across the world. With Bitcoin soaring and alliances shifting, what does this all mean for the globe—from an empowered Netanyahu in Israel to an isolated Europe led by a wary Berlin? We’ll explore the billionaire backers pulling strings, the curious coalition of Bitcoiners and evangelicals in Trump’s camp, and the simmering question of whether this mandate signals peak plutocracy. Tune in as we confront the realities of this bold new era—where old rules don’t apply, and power takes on a whole new meaning.

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Power and Plutocracy: Have we Reached Peak Billionaire?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 04:00:59 GMT

In this episode, we delve into the essence of power ahead of the American election. What happens when the warrior, priestly, and merchant castes converge—and who ends up on top? We explore how the modern United States exemplifies this ancient struggle through its billionaires, technocrats, and military-industrial complex. With billionaires investing nearly $700 million into the election, we ask: does this solidify their dominance, or could we be nearing a tipping point, a "peak billionaire" era? From McKinley's front-porch politics to Roosevelt's crackdown on the robber barons, history has lessons for today's plutocrats. Could the pendulum swing against them again?

Pre-order the new book Money: A Story of Humanity now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Trump 2.0: Should Ireland Be Worried?

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:00:04 GMT

We’re in the final minutes of one of the most consequential American elections ever—and the stakes are high. We're back with Mark Blyth to explore what a Trump victory might mean for the world. Picture this: the return of 19th-century tariffs, mass deportations, and a push to bring American multinationals back home. What’s at risk for global trade, jobs, and even the power of NATO itself? With 14% of Ireland’s jobs tied to U.S. companies, the world could be on the verge of a seismic shift. So here’s the question: if Trump wins, how ready is the rest of the world to play by a new set of American rules?

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Scotland The Brave

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:00:12 GMT

I'm up in Glasgow and we're devoting this podcast to all things Scottish, kkicking off with the amazing Scottish Enlightenment. Why did 18th-century Scotland emerge as a crucible for radical ideas, drawing intellectuals, inventors, and innovators alike? The Scottish Enlightenment marked an era where thinkers like David Hume and Adam Smith thrived amidst newfound economic growth, sparked by an influx of wealth from trade routes and ventures (like Scotland's ill-fated attempt to build a canal in Panama). But unlike France, where revolutionary fervor overthrew established order, Scotland’s intellectual revolution developed under the stability of the British Empire, with Scots integrating into its growing power. As thinkers flocked to Glasgow's and Edinburgh’s salons and Masonic lodges, they fostered advancements in empiricism, economics, and even steam technology, laying foundations for the industrial age. With Ireland facing a similar boom today, we explore whether prosperity will again inspire an era of transformative thinking.

Buy the new book here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Is Your City Dying?

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 03:00:42 GMT

In this episode, we dive into the decline of Dublin’s inner city, a reflection of urban decay across the English-speaking world. Drawing on Jane Jacobs’ urban theories, we explore how cities like Kreuzberg in Berlin and Hackney in London turned around from dereliction to thriving hubs—and ask whether Dublin can do the same. We discuss the importance of repopulating cities with residents, not just tourists, and why mixed-use spaces are crucial for community vibrancy. Can initiatives like “meanwhile use” transform dead zones into lively areas again? Or is Dublin—and cities like it—stuck in a cycle of neglect and decay? Join us as we explore the future of urban living and what it will take to revive dying cities.

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America at a Crossroads: Trump, Power, and the Future of U.S. Democracy

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 03:00:54 GMT

As the U.S. election looms, we take a hard look at how this pivotal moment could reshape the country. With Donald Trump pulling ahead in key swing states while working at McDonalds, the stakes are higher than ever. Joined again by Tom Frank, we dive into the potential consequences of a Trump victory—authoritarianism, economic upheaval, and the erosion of America's institutions. How could Trump’s policies and the cult of personality around him impact the U.S. economy and democracy? Will the billionaire-backed push for tariffs and mass deportations lead to a recession? As America edges toward a defining moment, we explore the unsettling parallels with other failed states and ask: Can U.S. institutions withstand another Trump presidency?

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Are Strong Institutions Enough? Unpacking the Nobel Prize in Economics

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 04:00:12 GMT

In this episode, we break down the Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to Darren Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson for their work on development economics. Their central claim? Strong institutions are the key to national success. But is that the whole story? With the richest 20% of countries now 30 times wealthier than the poorest 20%, we ask if focusing solely on institutions ignores deeper issues like geography, culture, and historical legacy. From South Korea’s meteoric rise to Jamaica’s recent turnaround, we explore whether stable institutions are enough to solve the world’s growing inequality. Are these Nobel winners missing something critical, or is this a blueprint for global prosperity?

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Could Sanctions Against Israel become a Reality?

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 04:00:49 GMT

In this episode, we dive into a rising question: could the European Union impose economic sanctions on Israel if the conflict continues to escalate? As Israel’s largest trade partner, the EU holds significant economic leverage, and with public opinion across Europe shifting, sanctions could become a powerful tool to apply pressure. Drawing on historical examples like South Africa and Russia, we ask: could Israel be the next nation to face international economic isolation? What would that mean for the region, and could it actually stop the bloodshed? As the ground shifts quickly in global politics, we explore whether what seems impossible today could become reality tomorrow.

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Culture vs. Economics: The Battle for America's Political Soul with Thomas Frank

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 03:00:42 GMT

This week, we’re stepping away from the usual economic focus to dive into the culture wars dominating U.S. politics as the election looms. Despite strong job growth, voters seem more driven by cultural identity than economic gains. With Thomas Frank, author of What’s the Matter with Kansas, we explore why the working class has shifted towards the Republicans, while Democrats have embraced the highly educated elite. Frank breaks down how these cultural divides are playing out in key swing states, revealing how identity, not economics, has become the driving force behind voter decisions. As we head into one of the most consequential elections in recent history, we have to ask—will culture continue to overpower economics at the ballot box?

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Fuelling the Fire: Middle East Tensions and Ireland's High Cost-Energy Crisis

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 03:00:16 GMT

As tensions rise between Israel and Iran, the global energy market is feeling the strain. Oil prices have jumped from $72 to $78 per barrel, and any further escalation could disrupt key producers like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, pushing prices even higher. With Israel attempting to provoke Iran into a wider conflict, the U.S. is caught in a delicate balancing act, trying to avoid being drawn in while managing domestic inflation and rising gas prices. For Ireland, already suffering from the highest energy costs in Europe, this adds a dangerous layer of pressure. With 80% of its energy imported and an overburdened grid, the country is highly vulnerable to global shocks. Despite Ireland’s potential for wind and wave energy, slow adoption of renewables leaves households and businesses exposed to soaring costs. This geopolitical turmoil could deepen Ireland’s energy crisis, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades and a more serious commitment to energy independence. The question remains whether Ireland will take decisive action or continue to bear the brunt of an unstable global market.

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Middle East on the Brink: Where are the Adults?

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 03:00:54 GMT

In this episode, we're diving straight into the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. As missiles fly and regional powers realign, we break down what’s really happening on the ground and why the Middle East is more volatile than ever. With Hezbollah in the mix, and Iran’s influence spreading across Lebanon, Gaza, and beyond, we’re looking at how Israel’s aggressive strategy could lead to something much bigger. We'll also dig into how the U.S. and Europe are responding, or not responding, and why falling oil prices are shaping this crisis in surprising ways. Stay with us as we unravel where this all might be heading and what it means for the future of the region.

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The Tragedy of the Middle East: A Letter from Lebanon

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 03:00:15 GMT

In this episode, we turn our focus to the Middle East, specifically Lebanon, a country currently at the epicentre of political and economic turmoil. Joined by Lebanese economist Carole Nakhle, we dive into the complexities of Lebanese society, a nation shaped by hyperinflation, war, and a delicate balance of religious and ethnic factions. Carole shares her personal experiences growing up in Beirut, and we explore how the economic crisis, worsened by years of corruption and political instability, has led to one of the worst financial collapses in modern history. From the ongoing conflict with Israel, Hezbollah's role in Lebanon, and how the broader geopolitical tensions in the region—especially between Israel, Iran, and the U.S.—are shaping Lebanon’s future. Carole provides invaluable insight into the Lebanese diaspora’s impact, the dynamics of Hezbollah’s social and economic influence, and why the current situation is so critical. A must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the Middle East through the lens of Lebanon’s tragic yet resilient story.

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Can Draghi's €800 Billion Plan Save Europe from Decline?

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 03:00:59 GMT

In this episode, we continue our European mini-series, moving from Germany to the broader continental landscape. Europe faces mounting economic challenges as Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank and technocratic Italian prime minister, issues a bold €800 billion investment proposal aimed at closing the gap with the U.S. and China. Is Europe falling behind due to overregulation, fragmentation, and a lack of innovation? We discuss Draghi’s call for massive investment, the continent’s economic stagnation, and why the gap between Europe and America has widened over the past two decades. Is the European dream of a unified, prosperous continent slipping away, or can Draghi’s vision revive the old-world dynamism that once defined it?

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Germany on the Brink: Economic Fragility, Immigration Tensions, and the Rise of the Right

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 03:00:06 GMT

In this episode, we take a hard look at Germany’s current crossroads, where economic fragility and political tensions collide. Once the bedrock of European stability, Germany now faces challenges like the rise of the far-right AFD party, factory closures at Volkswagen, and energy crises driven by its dependency on Russian fuel. We explore the deeper cultural and historical factors at play, diving into the uneasy relationship between East and West Germany, the legacy of Angela Merkel’s policies, and the country's strained stance on immigration. With the help of historian Katja Hoyer, we unpack why Germany’s once rock-solid economy and political center are starting to crack—and what that means for the future of Europe.

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The Vinyl Comeback: How Records Survived Streaming

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 03:00:22 GMT

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating resurgence of vinyl and its surprising resilience amidst the digital age. We explore the economics of vinyl, the history of the music industry’s evolution, and how formats like CDs and streaming disrupted the landscape. Vinyl, once thought to be on the brink of extinction, has made an extraordinary comeback, and we're here to find out why. From independent record shops keeping the flame alive to the unique cultural experience vinyl provides, we look at how this format has redefined the music experience across generations. We speak with Graham Jones, author of The Vinyl Revival and the Shops That Made It Happen, to get his insight into the ongoing revival. Graham takes us through the vinyl resurgence, Record Store Day, and how independent record stores played a pivotal role in keeping vinyl alive.

Buy the new book here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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An Apple A Day Keeps The Taxman Away

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 03:00:51 GMT

This podcast episode dives deep into the complexities of the Apple tax ruling and its broader implications for Ireland's economic model. We explore how Ireland's low corporate tax strategy, which began in the mid-20th century to attract foreign capital, evolved into a cornerstone of its economic growth. The discussion touches on Ireland's historical emigration issues, the soft power of the Irish diaspora, and the country's role as a bridge between American corporations and the European market. We also unpack how Apple’s tax dealings with Ireland resulted in a €13 billion windfall, the legal challenges involved, and the potential reputational risks for both Ireland and multinational companies. With a focus on Ireland’s current housing and infrastructure crises, the episode argues that now is the time for bold political decisions—especially how best to spend the Apple windfall to address urgent public needs. Get ready for a mix of economic history, policy analysis, and insights into what lies ahead for Ireland.

Buy the new book here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Hitler’s Plan to Destroy Britain with Counterfeit Money – from Money: A Story of Humanity

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 03:00:11 GMT

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the wildest stories in the book, involving none other than Adolf Hitler. Can you imagine money falling from the sky? That's what Hitler had planned—he wanted to defeat Britain by literally dropping millions of counterfeit pounds across the country. He believed that if he could flood the British economy with fake money, he could induce a Weimar-style hyperinflation and collapse the British war effort. It’s a story of forgeries, secret concentration camp operations, and a plot to cripple an entire nation with counterfeit cash.

Want to know how this insane plan almost worked? Well, grab your copy of Money: A Story of Humanity, and find out. Trust us, it’s not just about Hitler, there’s so much more—stories of people, civilizations, and how money shaped the world we live in today.

Buy the new book here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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From Poetry to Punches: Ireland’s Journey from Michael D. to McGregor

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 03:16:44 GMT

This week, we delve into a fascinating hypothetical for Ireland’s future: could Conor McGregor really be our next President in 2025? From the quaint leadership of Michael D. Higgins, to McGregor’s brash, larger-than-life personality, the shift would be nothing short of dramatic. But what does this say about modern Irish politics and the world we’re living in? As global politics continues to throw us curveballs, we’re not ruling anything out. Beyond the political theatre, we turn our focus to a more grounded topic—progress. Sean Keyes from Progress Ireland joins us to discuss how his think tank is dedicated to solving Ireland’s infrastructure challenges, tackling the country's underperformance despite its huge potential. How can Ireland overcome its stumbling blocks and unlock a future filled with opportunities? We look at the bigger picture of what it really means to move forward in an increasingly complex world. Tune in for a discussion that spans politics, progress, and everything in between.

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A Letter from America with Jim Chanos

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 03:00:28 GMT

This week, we dive into the shifting tides of the U.S. economy and its global impact on smaller countries like Ireland, who are deeply tied to American trade and investment. With the Fed’s balancing act of boosting stock markets while trying to control inflation, are we heading into another bubble? As inequality deepens, we ask what the upcoming U.S. election could mean for the global economy. Legendary short-seller Jim Chanos joins us to discuss why he believes we’re living in a “Golden Age of Fraud” and how investors are ignoring red flags. Are we returning to a 1970s-style economic era, but with new players like China and the rise of social media-driven distrust? We explore it all in this week's episode.

Pre-order the book or get podcast tickets here: https://linktr.ee/davidmcwilli

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What Taylor Swift & Oasis Tickets Tell Us About The Economy!

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 03:00:11 GMT

This episode, we dive into the world of Taylor Swift to explore a Delicate issue—why Ireland’s housing market is stuck in a Blank Space. We’re taking a page from the Leaving Cert’s economics exam, using a question about Taylor’s ticket frenzy to understand the bigger picture of why we can’t seem to build homes, schools, and hospitals on time. It’s not just Bad Blood that’s holding us back—it’s a fundamental supply problem. Tune in as we break down how Ireland’s infrastructure could use a dose of Swift’s Style to get things back on track.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity Now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Arab Disunity: From Ancient Rifts to the Gaza Conflict

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:00:56 GMT

In this episode, we kick things off by exploring the deep divides within the Arab world, tracing the roots of these fractures back to the early 19th century when two competing visions for Arab unity emerged. One vision, anchored in religious conservatism, sought to unify Arabs under the strict interpretation of Islam, as seen in the rise of the House of Saud and Wahhabism. The other vision, driven by figures like Muhammad Ali Pasha in Egypt, looked forward—envisioning a modern, secular, and industrialized Arab world. As we delve into these historical tensions, we connect them to the present day, questioning why Arab nations struggle to present a united front in times of crisis, like the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Alongside this, we touch on the broader geopolitical implications, from the influence of outside powers to the challenges of creating a cohesive Arab identity. It's a conversation that sheds light on the complex interplay of history, religion, and modernity in shaping the Middle East today.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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A Kick In The Jackson's Hole

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 03:00:39 GMT

In this episode, we kick things off by delving into the secluded world of Jackson Hole, where central bankers and economic elites gather in a remote Wyoming enclave, musing over the fate of global economies while casting their lines into serene rivers. It's a world of high-stakes policy decisions and economic riddles, wrapped in the calm of the American wilderness. But while these powerbrokers debate interest rates and inflation, we take a hard look at the other side of the global economic coin. In the Mediterranean, once-thriving wine and olive farms are now casualties of globalisation, with local agriculture outpriced by industrial farming giants from Northern Europe. Meanwhile, tourism, driven by cheap flights and the Airbnb boom, has transformed these rural communities into seasonal hotspots—leaving them deserted for much of the year. It's a clash of worlds, from the plush isolation of Jackson Hole to the abandoned farmlands of Southern Europe, as we explore the very real human costs of our modern global economy.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity Now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams !

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Economics of Trust: What's Next for the UK?

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 03:00:04 GMT

In this episode, we dig into the UK’s recent social unrest with Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist at the Bank of England and now head of the Royal Society of Arts. We explore the deeper economic and social fractures that led to riots in marginalised communities and highlight the critical role of social capital—trust, community, and cohesion—as vital as roads and railways. Andy reveals how the breakdown of trust, fueled by social media and inequality, has left communities vulnerable. We challenge conventional economics, questioning whether governments are truly leveraging their financial power to fix these systemic issues. From Brexit to the erosion of trust in institutions, we discuss how countries like the UK and Ireland can rebuild through smarter public investment and stronger social connections.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity Now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Can Ireland Fix Its Infrastructure Crisis Before It's Too Late?

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 03:00:16 GMT

In this episode, we're kicking off with a classic Irish disaster—a ladder, a man, and gravity having a scrap, but then we're diving deep into something even more painful than a sprained ankle: Ireland's shocking inability to build anything on time or on budget. We're talking about the Children's Hospital fiasco, the never-ending MetroLink saga, and why, despite having buckets of cash, our state just can’t get the job done. But here’s the kicker: while Ireland is dragging its feet, places like Serbia are throwing up high-speed rail links in a few years, all thanks to the Chinese. And it’s not just them. Italy and Spain have cracked the code on getting infrastructure done without bankrupting the country. So, is it time we swallow our pride, bring in the experts, and let the Italians or Chinese sort out our mess? Maybe it’s time to accept that while we’re world-class at building pubs, we might need a little help with building, well, everything else. Let’s get into it!

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How to Destroy a Country: Venezuela with Noah Smith

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 03:00:01 GMT

In this episode, we explore the dramatic downfall of a once-wealthy nation that is now one of the poorest: Venezuela. How does a country with vast natural resources find itself in such dire straits? We delve into the devastating effects of misguided economic policies, rampant corruption, and the political missteps that led to hyperinflation, mass poverty, and the collapse of basic services. Join us as we examine how Venezuela’s leaders, blinded by ideology and short-term gains, destroyed a thriving economy, and what lessons this holds for the rest of the world.

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Can Dublin Avoid the Donut Effect?

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 03:00:45 GMT

This week, we delve into the growing crisis facing Dublin’s city center, exploring the troubling "donut effect" where the heart of the city becomes hollowed out due to rising crime, unaffordable rents, and a lack of residential footfall. Drawing parallels to the decline of once-thriving cities like San Francisco, we examine how Dublin’s vibrant center is at risk of becoming a ghost town. With commercial property vacancies on the rise and locals increasingly avoiding the city, the stats paint a worrying picture: a 2.5% decline in hospitality spending, 40% of people cutting back on visits, and a nightlife sector that’s half the size of New Zealand’s. The discussion highlights the urgent need for bold, strategic interventions—like the tax-driven revitalization of the 90s—to prevent Dublin from slipping into irreversible decline. Without decisive action, the vibrant, living city we know could soon be a thing of the past.

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The Downward Spiral of Upward Social Mobility

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 03:00:09 GMT

This week, we delve into the unsettling reality that this generation in Ireland might be the first in two generations to be poorer than their parents. We explore the ripple effects this could have on career choices, social class, and societal structure. For years, class snobbery in Ireland has intrigued us, from the rigid social hierarchies of the past to the dramatic social uplift during the Celtic Tiger era. However, the end of this upward mobility could bring about significant changes. Drawing parallels with the U.S., where only 50% of those born in 1980 earn more than their parents compared to 90% of those born in 1940, we examine what this means for Ireland. The discussion includes the fascinating idea of "kitchen table capital," the influence of family environment on success, and how immigrants often fill critical roles in an economy. As Ireland potentially faces stalled social mobility, we foresee increased tension and division, similar to the culture wars in the U.S. This episode provides a compelling look at the future of social mobility in Ireland and the possible societal shifts ahead.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Inside the Head of the FED

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 06:36:21 GMT

With financial markets on edge, the world is anxiously awaiting the Fed’s decision on whether to cut or maintain historically high interest rates. In this episode, we dive into the profound impact these choices have on commercial property, exchange rates, and stock markets. We explore the 'wealth effect' of these rates, now around 5%, and what it means for the real economy. A sharp drop in non-farm payrolls to 115,000 jobs from an average of 250,000 raises concerns about the U.S. economic trajectory—could a recession be on the horizon? We also bring the discussion home, examining how these shifts impact Ireland, especially given our reliance on multinationals like Intel, which recently saw a 30% stock drop. The Fed's data-driven decisions are not unlike ancient Assyrian stargazing, blending science with a dose of guesswork in shaping our economic future.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Inheritance Tax & The Curse of the Silver Spoon

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 03:00:12 GMT

This week, we dive into the issue of inheritance tax in Ireland, asking if it's time for a rethink. With house prices skyrocketing by 62% since 2012, many middle-class families find themselves unexpectedly asset-rich but cash-poor, facing significant tax bills on inherited homes. We explore potential adjustments like increasing the tax-free threshold or adjusting tax rates based on asset types, such as land and property. Could these changes ease the burden on families while fostering a more dynamic economy? Should inheritance tax exist at all, or is it crucial for maintaining economic equality? We also delve into the history of inheritance, exploring post-colonial influences on the Irish psyche and the surprising alignment of libertarian and Marxist views on wealth distribution.

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The Napster of Finance: A Revolut-ion

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 03:00:41 GMT

This week, we delve into one of the most transformative shifts in economics and finance: the rise of e-banking, spotlighted by Revolut's meteoric growth. Revolut, a Lithuanian-born company now boasting 2.7 million Irish customers—nearly three-quarters of the adult population—has quickly transitioned from a simple travel card service to a major banking player. With recent licenses from the European Central Bank and the UK, Revolut is set to enter the mortgage market, leveraging its 45 million global users and disrupting traditional banking models with no physical assets. This digital upstart, now valued at around $45 billion, challenges established banks like AIB and Bank of Ireland, demonstrating how quickly the financial landscape is evolving. We explore how Revolut’s model compares to the historical development of money and banking, questioning the mainstream understanding of money creation and the role of banks. Tune in as we discuss how this 'Napster of Finance' is reshaping the industry and what it means for the future of money.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity Now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Kamala's Cash, Vance's Chance, and Biden's Big Exit

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 03:00:57 GMT

What a week! The attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Joe Biden's unexpected withdrawal from the race, and Kamala Harris setting a fundraising record has thrown the U.S. political landscape into disarray. Dubbed a Gen X woman with Gen Z vibes, Harris has energized young voters, reminiscent of the Obama era. As Trump names J.D. Vance as his VP pick, we delve into the implications. Vance, a complex figure with a history of criticizing Trump, now embodies a unique mix of Elon Musk's innovation and Bernie Sanders' populism. His anti-corporate stance, advocacy for wage increases, and controversial views on immigration and foreign policy could redefine the MAGA movement. We explore how these shifts might impact Ireland and Europe, especially if American multinationals are pulled back home, potentially destabilizing the global economy. Tune in as we dissect these political upheavals and their far-reaching consequences.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity Now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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Ireland's Population Boom: Opportunity or Crisis?

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 10:00:19 GMT

The Central Statistics Office predicts Ireland's population could surge to 7.5 million by 2057, mostly due to inward migration. What could this mean for Ireland's future? Are we already at maximum capacity as it is? We argue for boosting local industries to match the high productivity of multinationals, crafting a vibrant and resilient economy for the future. We kick off by examining the recent Microsoft outage, exposing the fragility of our hyper-connected global economy. Without a strategic economic plan to harness Ireland's impending growth, we risk social and economic upheaval.

Pre-order Money: A Story of Humanity Now: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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A Day In The Life Of Abed Salama with Nathan Thrall

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 03:00:12 GMT

I read Nathan Thrall’s book last year before the Gaza and October 7th massacres. I couldn’t put it down. It tells the true story of a young Palestinian boy, a tragic accident, his family and the daily humiliations of the Palestinian people. There is much cruelty but there is much love, too, and courage, resolve and tenderness. For everyone who is interested in Palestine and Israel, listen to this - this is a conversation for you.

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Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History Of Germany’s Wealthiest Dynasties

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 03:00:15 GMT

The true story of how Germany’s wealthiest business dynasties amassed untold money and power by abetting the atrocities of the Third Reich — and how America looked the other way. Many of them continue to control swathes of the world economy, owning iconic brands whose products blanket the globe, brands like Daimler-Benz, Allianz, Porsche, Volkswagen, and BMW. David de Jong shows how these tycoons seized Jewish businesses, procured slave labourers, and ramped up weapons production to equip Hitler’s army – and how they got away with it.

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Beyond The Wall; Life In The GDR With Katja Hoyer

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:00:41 GMT

In 1980, Dalkey United went on a football trip to Germany which ended up in East Berlin. A certain economist, festival director and once under 13s centre half was on that schoolboy trip and so began a lifelong fascination with all things East German. Less than ten years after that Dalkey Utd. trip, the country vanished. In her wonderful book, Katja Hoyer argues that amid oppression and frequent hardship, East Germany was home to a rich political, social and cultural landscape, a place far more dynamic than the Cold War caricature often painted in the West. This is one for cold war anoraks, communist nostalgists and the odd few intrepid ones who always know there’s more to the story of any country than first meets the eye.

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From Millers to Influencers: Navigating the New Economy

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 03:00:42 GMT

In this week’s episode, we’re journeying from the bustling docks of 17th-century Amsterdam to the modern gig economy, all through the lens of Rembrandt and his old man. Rembrandt’s dad wanted him to have a “real job” – sound familiar? Today’s parents are just as anxious about their kids’ unconventional careers. We dive deep into how technological upheaval has always disrupted legacy jobs, from millers and merchants to telephone operators and typists. We’ll unravel the anxiety driving modern politics, why some jobs vanish while new ones appear, and how this relentless change is both a challenge and an opportunity. Join us to see why every generation fears the future, and why there’s a bit of a Rembrandt in every new wave of change.

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A young Irish economist and a Nobel prize winner walk into a bar....

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 03:00:53 GMT

In May 1991 I walked into Keenan's Bar in Crossmaglen, South Armagh with a superstar American economist who would go on to win the Nobel Prize for a chat about global monetary policy. Joe Stiglitz and myself must have cut two odd figures for the locals...this was South Armagh, at the height of the troubles after all, maybe not the normal chat in Keenans but the barman didn't bat an eyelid. Against the background noise of British Army helicopters taking off from the largest and most fortified base in the North, that conversation changed my professional life. Thirty years later we picked up the discussion where we left off. I hope you enjoy the chat. Maybe it's time to head back to 'Cross for another natter.

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Blazers Vs. High Viz Jackets

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 03:00:04 GMT

In this episode, we dive into the Aer Lingus strike, putting it in the context of the larger global economic landscape. We ask if this strike is the beginning of a new era in industrial relations. By exploring the historical shifts in labour and capital dynamics, we question whether we're seeing the pendulum swing back in favour of workers after decades of shareholder dominance. We connect the dots between these labour actions and global economic and political trends, offering an analysis on how these disputes might shape future economic policies. Join us as we unravel what these industrial actions mean for the future of work and wealth distribution.

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The Economics of Irish Restaurants

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 03:00:02 GMT

We have a very special episode for you today, courtesy of The Bear, Season 3 which is streaming on Disney+ from today, June 27th!

We're digging into what makes an Irish restaurant tick and the hidden contributions that a vibrant restaurant industry adds to our economy. We also talk with Ross Lewis from Chapter One and discuss the dedication and culture required to build up a fine dining scene in Ireland. And we ask if a Michelin star is worth the investment or if a sandwich shop is the better entrepreneurial route.

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Sold Down the River

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 03:00:33 GMT

This week, we dive deep into the nitty-gritty of the commercial property market, highlighting its glaring vulnerabilities and the dramatic plunge in values since the pandemic. Using the vivid historical metaphor of being "sold down the river," we unravel how economic cycles often start with a displacement moment, sparking widespread financial speculation and leading to eventual market chaos. Drawing parallels between the flatboat era of early American history, where pioneers navigated the vast Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and today's real estate woes, we illustrate how fundamental changes can trigger significant economic shifts. We look at the patterns that repeat across time. This episode sheds new light on the dynamics of the commercial property market and its historical underpinnings.

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Common Sense is Coming Home!

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 03:00:10 GMT

Could Common Sense be Coming Home? We dive into the unexpected shift where Britain now seems like the island of sanity amid European radicalism. We explore the surprising fragility of German infrastructure and the looming chaos in European bond markets, particularly focusing on France's political and economic challenges. By contrasting the historical legacy of Leon Bloom's socialism with today's political climate, we highlight how Britain, with its emerging centrist stability under leaders like Keir Starmer, stands in stark relief against the backdrop of European turmoil. This episode promises a fascinating journey through the complexities and nuances of history, politics, and economics, shedding light on Britain's newfound role as a beacon of stability in an unpredictable world.

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Christiane Amanpour in Conversation

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 03:00:18 GMT

Join us for a special live recording of the podcast at DBF 2024, where David interviewed the renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour. As CNN's chief international anchor, Amanpour brings unparalleled insights into global affairs, making this session an unmissable highlight of the festival. The conversation covers Amanpour's journey from the Iranian Revolution to her pioneering role at CNN, reflecting on pivotal moments such as reporting from the Gulf War and Bosnia in the 90s, where she witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of conflict. Amanpour's experiences underscore the critical role of journalism in uncovering human rights abuses and shaping global narratives. Her reflections on current events, including the Ukraine crisis and the challenges to democracy, offer profound insights into the pressing issues of our time, emphasizing the importance of a free press and international solidarity in safeguarding democratic values worldwide.

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A Live Podcast Straight from Dalkey!

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 03:00:48 GMT

Join us for a live recording of the podcast! We dive into the fascinating rise of Gaelic Games live from Cuala in Dalkey - we delve into the incredible impact of free education in Ireland. Discover how the daughters of small farmers seized educational opportunities, sparking unexpected social mobility. We'll also give you a sneak peek into my upcoming book, "Money: A Story of Humanity," out September 12th, where we explore how money has shaped human history. Expect a mix of personal anecdotes, historical deep dives, and economic insights. Don't miss it!

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Decoding Global Markets with Dave Tilson

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 03:00:59 GMT

This week, we're diving deep into the rollercoaster world of global financial markets. From the wild highs of cannabis stocks crashing down to earth to the ECB's first interest rate cut in five years, we're unpacking it all. Ever wondered why 2% inflation became the magic number for central banks? Spoiler: it’s as arbitrary as it sounds. Joining us to make sense of the chaos is David Tilson, Head of Capital Markets for Cantor Fitzgerald, who’ll give us the lowdown on everything from US job growth and the curious case of immaculate disinflation to the surprising rise of India over China. Whether you're baffled by bonds or curious about why Germany’s economy is having an identity crisis, this episode is packed with insights. So, is it time to rethink everything we thought we knew about money? Tune in and find out!

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Neoliberalism, my arse!

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 03:00:21 GMT

During the European recent elections, you might have heard lots of people defining Ireland as a "neoliberal" country, governed by the ideology of neoliberalism. Neoliberalism is a political and economic philosophy which emphasises free markets, deregulation, and reducing the role of the state. This episode dives into the myth that Ireland is a neoliberal state, a story often perpetuated but rarely challenged. By examining Ireland’s progressive tax system and vast social welfare network, we reveal a very different narrative. If Ireland isn't neoliberal, why does this myth persist, and what does it say about our understanding of politics and economics?

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Tomorrows World: Living With AI

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 03:00:24 GMT

This week, we're diving into the fascinating world of AI economics with the brilliant Professor Eli Noam from Columbia Business School. This episode is a special treat as we're kicking off a series of AI events at the Dalkey Book Festival next week. We're talking about how artificial intelligence is shaking up industries, transforming job markets, and reshaping the entire economy. There's a lot of fear out there about AI taking over jobs and the ethical headaches it brings, but it's not all doom and gloom. We'll explore how smart policies and clever strategies can turn AI into a force for good, sparking new opportunities and driving economic growth. Tune in for a deep dive into the future of AI and what it means for all of us.

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Enemies to Lovers: The Conversation We Really Should Be Having Ahead of The European Elections

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 03:00:43 GMT

This week, while navigating a mid-life crisis and an intensive French course in the south of France, we've decided to reflect on the importance of Franco-German relations and what they mean for the future of Europe and the euro. We delve deep into how centuries of rivalry and reconciliation between France and Germany have shaped the continent, leading to the creation of the European Union. From the devastating conflicts of the World Wars to the visionary treaties that established economic and political integration, we explore the pivotal moments that have defined this partnership. So tune in as we examine the current state and future prospects of the euro, discussing its strengths, challenges, and the role it plays in maintaining European stability.

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Independence Day for the UK, again?

Thu, 30 May 2024 03:00:15 GMT

Is Rishi Sunak's announcement of a snap UK election the answer or a political gamble? Joining us to unpack this is Robert Shrimsley of the Financial Times. Can the Tories pull this one out of the bag? And, away from the political drama, on the economic side, we examine the UK's persistent productivity issues, its triple inequalities and the lack of novel macro-economic or strategic model from the major parties. This election, the absence of one old friend is conspicuous - Brexit, no on wants to talk about it. The UK is a house divided, could this election offer the solutions the UK desperately needs, or will it deepen the existing fractures and uncertainties?

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Recognise Palestine, Now What?

Tue, 28 May 2024 03:00:38 GMT

The Irish government stands with the Palestinians, as does most of the country. A moral foreign policy is a sign of what the country believes in but where does it take us beyond that? Will Ireland sanction Israel ? Many doubt it given the more than 5 billion euros in trade between both economies. Both economies are tied together by the global multinational tech industry, umbilically linked by corporate America. We paint the likely end-game in the Middle East, and conclude there are two broad ways forward. The first is the South Africa model where a pariah Israel changes tack and Ireland's gets first mover advantage - moral and ahead of the game. The second is the Jihad/Settler dystopia, where an ongoing jihad/settler war mutates constantly with no peace and Palestine becomes a ward of Hamas. This scenario means Irish foreign policy gets bogged down with consequences way beyond our control.

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The Price is Wrong with Brett Christophers

Thu, 23 May 2024 03:04:19 GMT

This week, we delve into the economics of climate change with acclaimed author Brett Christophers - who has previously illuminated the pervasive influence of investment funds in our daily lives through books like "Our Lives in Their Portfolios". This time, he turns his analytical lens to the urgent issue of climate change. We'll explore why economic incentives alone may not be the solution we envision. Christophers critically examines the low investibility of wind and solar industries, questioning why big companies would pivot to renewables if they aren't profitable. So what can be done? Tune in for a compelling conversation that challenges conventional wisdom and seeks alternative strategies for effective climate action.

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Can the Premier League Teach Us About the Future of the UK Economy?

Tue, 21 May 2024 03:00:34 GMT

The British are down on themselves, yet one thing they do well is repackage popular culture and the Premier League is a great example of this. Last year, its commercial revenues hit £4.4 billion, with TV rights increasing by 30%. Despite high revenues, 80% goes to player wages, highlighting a unique financial model where the 'workers' benefit most. This global phenomenon mirrors the 'Wimbledon model' where hosting top-tier events doesn't require domestic dominance. It underscores the UK's talent for repackaging and exporting culture as they have always done with entertainment. The UK economy could thrive by embracing globalisation, attracting global talent, and focusing on innovation and cultural export.

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2024:40 The Opium Wars

Thu, 16 May 2024 03:00:39 GMT

In this episode, we dive into the harrowing impact of the opioid epidemic in North America, recounting firsthand observations of addiction's toll in cities like Ottawa, Quebec, and Vancouver. How did a nation like Canada, with its extensive welfare and health systems, become engulfed in such a crisis? We explore the roots of the crisis, attributing it to the aggressive marketing and misinformation by pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma, driven by unchecked greed and profit motives. Poverty and homelessness exacerbate addiction, creating a sobering reflection on the complex interplay of corporate malfeasance, regulatory failures, and social vulnerabilities that fuel this devastating epidemic. Is Ireland next in line for an opioid epidemic?

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2024:39 Letter from America with Evan Solomon

Tue, 14 May 2024 03:05:52 GMT

As we delve into America in this pivotal election year, grappling with its geopolitical challenges, culture wars, and internal conflicts, Evan Solomon makes a crucial point: discussing America as a monolith is a common mistake—it's simply too vast and diverse. In today's infotainment era, narratives are no longer neatly collected but instead compete and diverge. This week, we're exploring the connections between nativism in the 1850s, the ongoing religious and cultural struggles, and the current display of nativism within the Republican Party. Tad Homer Dixon's definition of culture as a set of instructions passed from one generation to the next resonates strongly here. Once, those in power dictated cultural norms, but today, the power to shape discourse and culture is distributed among everyone. This dynamic shift is palpable in America, where we've moved from a uniform cultural landscape to one defined by diverse narratives. We're witnessing this shift firsthand with the rise of Christian Nationalism, which is being imported from Russia and fusing with nativism. The question now is whether this represents a new force in the US or merely a passing trend. Let's watch closely to see where this leads.

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2024:38 Rich in Poor Houses

Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:05 GMT

Why do wealthy people live in houses originally built for the less affluent? Despite vast improvements in living standards over the years — lower infant mortality rates, faster access to life-saving drugs, and increased life expectancy — today, even modest homes are un-affordable for many. Consequently, wealthy individuals find themselves competing for properties originally intended for lower-income families. This trend not only highlights the scarcity of suitable housing but also deepens social stratification, as the affluent outbid others, driving up prices and displacing those with fewer resources. Is there an easy fix?

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2024:37 The Rwanda-isation of Ireland

Tue, 07 May 2024 03:00:43 GMT

The Tories are seeking revenge for Brexit by exploiting immigration policy. Having been out-foxed, out-thought and out-gunned by Dublin on Brexit negotiations, they are extracting a price- that price is the framing of the new Irish election. By encouraging the relocation of asylum seekers to Ireland, the Tories are effectively using Ireland as a bargaining chip to pressure France into accepting a deal on immigration, all while avoiding responsibility for asylum seekers themselves. They are playing Ireland like a pawn against the EU, as revenge for their humiliation during Brexit negotiations. In this complex game of politics, the Tories could emerge as the agenda-setters for the next Irish election.

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2024:36 Cod & Chips: The Story of Irish/Italians

Thu, 02 May 2024 03:00:42 GMT

Last week, the football team I play with went on a trip to Italian organised by one of our lads Camilio Borza a member of the Irish Italian tribe. In the the vibrant tapestry of Irish history, few immigrants have left their mark like the "Eye-talians" with their chippers which have fed generations of Irish people. This week, the podcast explores the captivating journey of Italian immigrants to Ireland, tracing the roots of one of the country's earliest and most successful immigrant communities. Hailing predominantly from three small villages in Lazio, Italy, these immigrants brought with them a rich cultural heritage that has profoundly shaped Irish society. Join us as we uncover the untold tales of resilience, incredible hard work, integration, and the enduring bond between Ireland and Italy. And...most importantly our brilliant researcher on the pod is Eliza Notaro, another Dublin Italian!!

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2024:35 The Political Fallout of Housing

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:00:45 GMT

This podcast delves into the intricate interplay of politics and housing, a phenomenon not unique to Ireland but deeply emblematic there. It examines how the control, or lack thereof, of housing can shape political fortunes. From Ireland to Britain, Canada to Australia, the "politics of housing" is a pivotal and global issue, particularly for younger generations. While Eastern European countries, with reasonable house prices, see happier young populations, Ireland faces a crisis where housing benefits foreign investors over its own citizens. The failure to understand this has left the current political class out of touch and in a precarious position, highlighting the need for a reform. So it may be time to grab your pitchfork!

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2024:34 Istanbul: The Centre of our World

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 03:00:36 GMT

In part two of our mini-series on Turkey, we delve deeper into the electrifying economic history of Istanbul, from the Byzantine to the Ottoman empires and up to today. We explore how these empires sent shockwaves through history, shaping the world as we know it. Without the Ottomans, Columbus might never have discovered America, there'd be possibly no Renaissance, no dominance of Europe, no humanism. And what about Attaturk? The most impressive leader of the 20th century? Hope you enjoy it.

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2024:33 The Future is Turkish!

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 03:00:52 GMT

This is the first of 2 podcasts on Turkey following a quick visit to Istanbul where the inflation rate is currently at 69% annually, and the currency, the Lira, is on a devaluation spiral, but might this financial crisis be the event to kickstart economic, political and regional change. Amidst rising tensions in the Middle East and with Hamas' chief in talks in Ankara with Erdogan, Turkey finds itself in a potentially influential position as a regional powerbroker. Could Turkey be on the brink of redemption? With its strategic location bridging Europe and Asia and its historical ties to the Middle East, Turkey could potentially play a pivotal role in resolving the ongoing conflict. As traditional alliances in the region shift, Turkey's assertive foreign policy and military capabilities position it as a key player in mediating disputes and fostering stability

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2024:32 Humanomics

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 03:00:00 GMT

The majority of my tribe, economists have been getting it wrong for decades, if you go back and look at economic research from the seventies, nobody is talking about coming inequality. Yet inequality afflicts the West, dominating politics. This week, in a not-so-groundbreaking revelation, Ben Bernanke's report on the Bank of England's failures shows us how out-of-touch economists really are. Economists need to get out more, mix a bit, walkabout more! A blind faith in mathematical precision has clouded our judgment. Humans are messy and economics is about humans, so let's be messy.

Pre-order Money:A Story of Humanity here: https://linktr.ee/moneydavidmcwilliams

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2024:31 What Elon's travails tell us about the New Cold War?

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 03:00:07 GMT

Elon Musk is to 2024 what Howard Roark was to 1943. In Ayn Rand's book Fountainhead, her hero Roark was brilliant, single-minded and flawed. Musk is a modern day Roark and yet despite his remarkable entrepreneurial success, from SpaceX to Neuralink, Tesla is on the skids. 10% of its workforce has just been fired and it's share price has dropped 30% since January, and its market share is dwindling in China. Musk's investments in China have also led to wholesale intellectual property theft. Standing back, Tesla's tribulations could be a microcosm of broader geopolitical tensions of trade disputes and intellectual property wars. The world is looking at the Mid East, the China/America rivalry echoes previous clashes

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2024:30 Common Law or Common Sense? Nimbyism's Grip on Housing

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 03:00:07 GMT

In this week's episode, we plunge headfirst into the contentious issue of Nimbyism – should property ownership grant individuals the power to stop developments? We don't think so! Particularly not when contrasted with the backdrop of the housing crises gripping the English-speaking world. Bound by the chains of common law but bereft of common sense, our societies find themselves stuck in a self-inflicted housing crisis. Join us as we dissect how our flawed society has bred Nimbyism, and been perpetuated by the contented classes who turn their backs on their communities. From London to Los Angeles, Dublin to Sydney, we confront Nimbyism and explore potential solutions to reclaim our cities from this self-destructive spiral.

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2024:29 Eat the Rich with Nick Hanauer

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 03:00:22 GMT

Are we truly living in a Plutocracy', where we are governed by the wealthy elites instead of those we voted for? As election season heats up around the globe, we tackle the age-old question: should we tax the rich more? While the wealthy typically oppose such measures, there's one dissenting, wealthy voice: Nick Hanauer, podcaster, venture capitalist, and rich lad himself who thinks that we either force the rich to pay more in taxes, or the streets will revolt, and the pitchforks will come. Hanauer, who famously warned of imminent social unrest should inequality persist unchecked, shares his insights on why taxing the rich is not just a matter of fairness, but a crucial step in preserving social stability. According to Hanauer, we need to reshape our economic policies, or the revolution will come! Listen to Nick here and come to see him and chat with him at Kilkenomics next November.

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2024:28 The Souk Versus The Citadel with Bassem Youssef

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 03:00:18 GMT

Palestine is one of the most, if not the most, tragic national stories of the 21st century. Divided, humiliated, abused, and abandoned by both West and East, the Palestinian nature has been strangled by Israeli occupation, asphyxiated by international indifference, and its children scattered all over the world. Bassem Youssef trained cardiologist turned comedian, talks to us about how the global conversation often reverts back to the less important matters surrounding the war - instead of what actually matters. Israelis may be winning the war but they are losing the battle - they are running out of options. Only the strong can make peace - in this case, that is up to Israel. Would that diminish the idea of the Jewish homeland? They only have four options left - lets delve into them in this episode.

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2024:27 Sam Bankman Fried and Male Over-Confidence with Michael Lewis

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:36:41 GMT

Crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for fraud on hundreds of thousands of customers that unraveled with the collapse of FTX, once one of the world's most popular platforms for exchanging digital currency. We chatted to Michael Lewis recently, who spent over a year with SBF, immersing himself in the universe of crypto-bros, and recently published his book 'Going Infinite' which tracks back the entire story of the crypto-hack that is SBF. We discuss his limited emotional intelligence, male over-confidence, and the Dunning-Kreuger effect. With every new technology, there will be speculation, bubbles, and, most importantly, white-collar crime - SBF was one of the first in the crypto world but won't be the last.

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2024:26 The Curse of Inheritance

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:00:54 GMT

Inheritance is a tricky one. We all want to leave something to our kids if possible, yet inheritance for society makes inequality permanent, favouring the children of the rich. Millennials are about to become the wealthiest generation, which begs the question - should inheritors of wealth play a role in driving social change? What should they give back? A recent Bank of Italy paper reveals the rich stay rich. Tax records dating back to 1427 reveal that the top twenty wealthiest families in Florence remain almost identical to the top twenty richest families in 2008. However, 15th Century Florentines understood that altruistic measures such as building museums, orphanages, piazzas, roads, and more would be their insurance policy to ensure social stability - but today's rich don't quite care. They avoid all responsibility, dodging taxes worldwide. As inequality pisses people off, does this mean violent, catastrophic social change is inevitable, or will democracy do its job more gently?

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2024:25 Should We Copy The Swiss Or Is That Too Cheesy?

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:36 GMT

How best to run an economy and a country, bottom up or top down? A trip to Switzerland got me thinking should we invert power, making the local more consequential than the nation, should we devolve government, introduce fiscal federalism and instead of our "spectator democracy" should we opt for "direct democracy" . Unlike Ireland, where accountability seems elusive, Switzerland's governance is marked by subsidiarity and active democracy. With their frequent referenda, the Swiss distribute responsibility locally, fostering an engaged political system. The influence of Calvinism further shaped Switzerland, cultivating a deeply democratic and pragmatic society. Is it time for us to embrace for 'Protestant Pragmatism', where power is delegated to the people? Could this also be a framework for future Irish reunification?

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2024:24 The Dehumanisation of Curiosity

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:33 GMT

The US House of Representatives has just approved a bill with the potential to ban Tiktok from America. But this story is about much more than corporate America's jealousy over its Chinese rival's more profitable and addictive business? Its about the direction of social media and an increasingly docile, addicted citizen, out-foxed and out-thought by an algorithm. What we are witnessing is an internal power-play within the tech cartel. With its personalised algorithm, TikTok means human curiosity now takes a backseat to endless scrolling. Curiosity is no longer an active endeavour but a preordained path. In this episode, we dissect the shift in our inquisitive nature, as algorithms dictate the content we consume, rendering Google search a relics of the past. Curiosity has been commodified as we enter a digital algorithm world.

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2024:23 The Economics of the Creative Mind with Ed Guiney

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:00:20 GMT

The primary driver of economic growth is the innovative human mind. In this episode, we sit down with Ed Guiney, the visionary co-founder of Element Pictures, the powerhouse behind Oscar winners like 'Brooklyn', "Room" and 'Poor Things', and TV dramas such as 'Normal People'. We delve into the fascinating tale of Ireland's cinematic resurgence, driven by strategic tax incentives and our rich storytelling tradition. Join us as we uncover the secrets to Ireland's rise as a global film hub, from script to screen - it is nothing short of an enlightening discussion on innovation and the economics of filmmaking with one of the industry's leading minds.

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2024:22 The Irish Government, as trustworthy as a Kate Middleton photo-album?

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:14 GMT

No one trusts them, the Irish government or Katie M's doctored photos. For them its part of the national theatre, for us its a national threat. How did the government misread the public and why does the public not believe them? Is Ireland progressive or reactionary? Despite a track record of successful progressive referenda, from gay marriage to abortion rights, there is now a palpable uncertainty regarding Ireland's liberal democratic identity. Is the tide shifting? We argue it is signals the onset of a new era. From the riots in November to this vote, the rumblings of restlessness are everywhere. We stand at the precipice of societal and political change, yet our elite seems oblivious.

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2024:21 Bitcoin is Still Not Money

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT

Bitcoin is being touted as a revolutionary asset, but in reality, it's often the wealthy transferring wealth to unsuspecting individuals, marketed as a stroke of financial liberation. This asset is not money - it lacks many characteristics traditionally associated with money. It functions scarcely as a medium of exchange, lacks stability in value, and operates without regulation. Instead, it predominantly serves as a speculative asset or digital commodity. Despite this, it garners headlines as big tech and the SEC embrace it, ironically contradicting its anti-establishment roots from the cyberpunk era. Currently, the global cryptocurrency market represents less than 2% of the bond market. While every movement of Bitcoin is amplified by its evangelists, other shifts in the bond market typically generate a muted response. Despite Bitcoin's recent surge to a new peak of $69,000, it still lacks intrinsic value, inviting speculation on who ultimately benefits from its volatility - and we're just waiting to see who the greatest fool is. EFTs are just a brilliant way of offloading from the rich to the poor punter.

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2024:20 Why Is China Getting So Rich?

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 04:00:32 GMT

For International Women's Day, we're thrilled to welcome Alice Evans, who is currently immersed in writing a book on gender equality across different cultures. This week, we travel to southeast Asia with Alice, whose storytelling transports us to China - where we explain the rise of China through their love of money, their increasing emphasis on wealth and their Lunar New Year's celebration's focus on monetary gain. Join us as we navigate the fascinating interplay between money, gender dynamics, cultural norms, and societal evolution in Southeast Asia.

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2024:19 ADHD Nation

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 04:00:45 GMT

In this episode, we delve into the concept of black swan events and explore how they resonate with contemporary art & culture. A black swan event, a term popularized by Nassim Taleb, describes an unpredictable event with severe consequences beyond normal expectations. Is the tiktokisation of culture that we are experiencing its own black swan event? Is social media to blame for the shift from authentic creation to derivative works driven by trends? As art becomes increasingly commodified and driven by algorithms, we risk losing the essence of human culture. We examine how art has transitioned from a form of expression and exploration to a tool for education and, more recently, a source of instant dopamine hits. This evolution has led to a proliferation of derivative content, threatening the fabric of creativity.

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2024:18 Stuck in 1980s

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 04:27:50 GMT

This week, we return to the theme of acceleration and confront a stark reality: much of Ireland is stuck in 1984. Despite boasting an economy that has expanded between 20 to 30 times since the mid 80s —earning us the title of one of the world's fastest-growing economies — our public infrastructure remains trapped in the past. We explore the paradox of aggregation becomes apparent: while the aggregate wealth has surged, the benefits have not been equally distributed, leaving our infrastructure lagging behind. The question looms: who is to blame for this stagnation? We travel across the country to Cork, Limerick, and Galway to understand how proper implementation of regional development could benefit these already vibrant cities.

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2024:17 What is Éire Accelerationism and Why Does it Matter? with Will O'Brien

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 04:00:15 GMT

Forty years since its inception, the DART and the lack of substantial progress in transport infrastructure reflects a systemic failure in Ireland's approach to development and progress. Instead of marking a milestone of achievement, the Dart's anniversary serves as a stark reminder of the political inertia and lack of commitment to meaningful change. Despite the economy expanding exponentially, with a growth of 20 to 30 times its size since 1984, the public transport system remains severely underdeveloped. This disparity underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift, one that embraces accelerationism to propel Ireland forward into a future where development matches economic growth and fosters societal advancement - but what exactly is Accelerationism? This week, Will O'Brien, who's proposing we embrace a new idea known as 'Éire Accelerationism' - we delve into what Éire Accelerationism is, its origins, and why Ireland needs to embrace it. We consider its potential to address challenges, but also ask the question, could it really work?

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2024:16 The Joy of Maths with Colm O'Regan

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 04:00:15 GMT

This week, we delve into the perennial question: Why do so few students depart school with a genuine love for mathematics? Is the way we teach maths the crux of the issue? Joining us is Colm O'Regan, host of his own Mathematics podcast, to show us the story behind the numbers. Maths, essential across various studies including economics, embodies the evolution of human thought, guiding us from guesswork to certainty - yet is widely loathed by students. It begs the question, does our approach to teaching often lack the engaging storytelling found in other subjects like history and English? Could this be what's hindering students' connections with maths? From the Ishango Bone to Pythagoras, the history of the subject is worth telling, so that's exactly what we're doing.

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2024:15 The Murder of Navalny - What's Next for Putin and Europe?

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 04:00:52 GMT

Next week, the war in Ukraine enters its third year. and last week Putin's regime murdered its only real political opponent, Alexi Navalny. Putin has transitioned from electoral manipulation to murder. This week, we chat with Alexander Kabonovsky, the podcast's resident go-to for all things Russian. Together, we explore the impact of Navalny's murder, Putin's position, and the uncertain path ahead for the ongoing conflict. As the situation in Russia rapidly deteriorates, drawing unsettling parallels to the dark era of Stalinist terror, we assess what this means for Europe and geo-politics in general.

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2024:14 A Climate Warning from the Past

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 04:00:57 GMT

Amidst the backdrop of the hottest January on record, surpassing pre-industrial averages by 1.6 degrees, join us this week as we embark on a gripping exploration of the economic history and pre-industrial climate change. From the medieval era to the tumultuous 17th century, we delve deep into its profound impacts on society, economy, and religion. We use the poignant saga of the Pont d’Avignon as our starting point. A 13th-century bridge succumbed to the fury of climate-induced mass flooding, while Europe reeled under the devastation of the 17th-century mini-ice age, that claimed over 500,000 lives in Ireland alone. The economy suffered as agricultural yields plummeted and food prices soared, leading to famine. Calamity bred religious fervor, with moralistic prohibitions and the rise of witch-hunts, while war ravaged the continent, targeting religious minorities, driving mass migrations. In the 17th century, climate change wasn't just a matter of inconvenience—it was a catalyst for chaos and conflict. History tells us we ignore climate change at our peril.

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2024:13 The Return of the Kennedys with Pippa Malmgren

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 04:00:11 GMT

With the election year in full swing, we're shining a spotlight on the resurgence of the Kennedys. Joining us to navigate the intriguing rise of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy is the economic and political aficionado Pippa Malmgren. We ponder the origins of this surprising surge and its underreported nature amidst swirling allegations, anti-pharma sentiments, and vaccine skepticism. We contemplate whether RFK could embody a voice that resonates with the American people and discuss what awaits the land of opportunity on the road to November. With tensions escalating and Kennedy finding himself in some polls, polling similarly to Trump and Biden, the drama and anticipation of the 2024 Election will only intensify, prompting us to explore the allure of the underdog.

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2024:12 Unveiling the Drivers of the World Economy with Martin Wolf

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 04:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, we delve deep into the dynamic forces shaping our global economy, from seismic demographic shifts to the transformative rise of artificial intelligence and the ascendance of Asia on the world stage. Once again, we welcome the esteemed Martin Wolf, whose unparalleled insights shed light on the intricate intersections of these pressing global challenges. Together, we attempt to navigate the evolving landscape of demography, examining its implications for societal structures and economic paradigms. Don't miss this episode as we confront the hidden forces driving our world economy.

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2024:11 The Bitter Lessons of Brexit with Martin Wolf

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 04:43:00 GMT

Almost eight years later, we shine a spotlight on Brexit and how it has come to the forefront of public discourse. We explore the destructive impact of populism on stable democracies, as evidenced by the Brexit saga. The discussion delves into the false premises that underpinned Brexit, examining how it damaged the UK's economic relationship and threatened domestic stability. We are joined by economist and Financial Times columnist, Martin Wolf, who offers us a new perspective on navigating UK politics in the aftermath. Don't miss this insightful episode as we explore the pressing issues that make the UK's post-Brexit journey a critical focal point.

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2024:10 The Gen Z Gender Schism

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 09:16:37 GMT

For the second installment in our Milei series, we delve into what's causing the political gender divergence within Gen Z. We are joined this week by John Burn-Murdoch, who shares his insights on what has caused the split. Young men are swinging Conservative and you women are moved Liberal. Across the globe, from the US to South Korea, a profound split has emerged, shaping political affiliations, and societal norms, and even influencing electoral outcomes. We discuss the consequences of this divide, examining its impact on issues ranging from gender equality to immigration. Join us as we navigate the complexities of Gen Z's ideological landscape, shedding light on a trend that could have lasting implications for the future.

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2024:09 Public Sector Productivity, Who Pays?

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 04:00:58 GMT

This week, we explore the intersection between inflation, public sector pay and productivity, or value for money to the taxpayers who pay the public sector salaries. First, we need a good public service, second workers should be well paid, but third, is there any way of linking public sector wage increases to productivity? If not, then let's be honest with society and say so. We look at Baumol's theory of costs, a bit of old-fashioned insider/outsider dynamics, and the role of multinationals in dragging up public sector wage demands, even though there may be a productivity mismatch. Have our services improved at the same rate as overall wages in the public sector? This episode is a national-scale exploration that's sure to leave you thinking.

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2024:08 People Before Bonnet

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 04:00:35 GMT

Dublin, like many cities, needs to make a decision to reinvent itself for the 21st century. It's a battle between the past and the future. There is no urban planning manual anywhere in the world that argues for more cars in towns and cities. In urban transport, cities future is fewer cars, not more.

Dun Laoighaire - my hometown - is a microcosm of every modern town in Western society, and its plans for pedestrianisation could change the town dramatically. Returning the emphasis from the car to the pedestrian is the answer to creating a more vibrant community, but how do we go about it? Can adopting a road pricing mechanism, inspired by innovations like Uber's surge pricing, motivate behavioral shifts and propel Ireland into a forward-thinking future? Cities and towns are sensitive ecosystems, they need to breathe; they can't be choked.

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2024:07 Javier Milei and Understanding the Political Extremes Part One

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 04:00:03 GMT

Last week at Davos, Javier Milei, delivered a fiery speech that spared no one, from Keynesians to Globalists. Despite some controversy, Milei's libertarian ideas are gaining traction both in Argentina and beyond. As people grapple with economic and geopolitical challenges, they are increasingly drawn to solutions that Milei proposes.

In this episode, we explore Milei's speech, which delves into the history of economic growth where he attributes much of it to the principles of free-market capitalism. Regardless of whether one agrees with Milei's thesis, the importance lies in fostering a dialogue around these ideas. Join us as we kick off a series where we dive deeper into the factors contributing to the global explosion in growth, using Milei's speech as a thought-provoking starting point.

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2024:06 The Problem of Success and Why We Need To Change Our Minds

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 04:00:17 GMT

Ireland wasn't ready for the economic success we have experienced over the past 40 years. However, with success comes more social responsibility that the Irish government hasn't been able to meet. We weren't ready for the combination of a population boom, multinational investment, income to rise, and housing demand to increase as a result. We are now at an inflection point. We have no choice but to reframe our society and how we look at housing, the other option is social chaos.

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2024:05 Protecting Global Trade - the Economics of the Houthi Problem

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 04:00:26 GMT

The Houthis - who are they? And why are the US and UK bombing them? What has it got to do with your world? America is keeping shipping routes open and that's exactly what the Houthis seek to destroy. The Houthis occupy one of the maritime world's most sensitive trading chokepoints, and they understand this. 90% of the world's traded goods are shipped by sea: stop shipping and you stop the global economy. This week we talk about all this and the impact on Europe.

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2024:04 How Culture and Language Leads to Economic Growth

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 04:00:27 GMT

Join us as we explore the connection between culture, language, and economic growth. We are joined by John Burn-Murdoch and his data-driven expertise as we discuss how the West could be 'talking itself into decline.' The shift in culture and language that began around the 16th century has become increasingly relevant as books have become digitized - particularly tracking words related to progress and positivity could be another way to explain economic growth trends and cultural shifts.

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2024:03 The End of the Starsky & Hutch Super-Cycle

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 04:00:48 GMT

January if often the time for looking ahead, but all too often, we don’t look far enough. Today’s episode is about looking at the end of a 40 year cycle and the start of a new longterm economic reality!

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2024:02 The Year of Insurrection

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 04:00:59 GMT

2024 is going to be a monumental year - 50% of the planet that is eligible to vote is going to vote! But the real power lies in the media: who tells the stories, who controls the medium and the message. This will be the year of a full on war between micromedia, like podcasts etc, and macromedia, like TV. In this battle there is only one winner. It's called economic and technological disruption.

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2024:01 The Economic Growth Equation & the Great 2023 Book Review

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 04:00:23 GMT

We start today by breaking down the mathematical formula to economic growth before moving to my best reads of 2023… and a sneak peek of a book coming out in 2024!

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2023 in review

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 04:00:20 GMT

What a year it’s been! On the last episode of the year we take a look back at the incredible year (sometimes good, sometimes bad) that 2023 has been across the world.

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The shifting political landscape - a conversation with Naomi Klein

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 04:00:24 GMT

Happy Christmas! Here's a fascinating discussion that I've had with Naomi Klein this year that covers a wide range of political topics - something to ponder on as we all take a well deserved break!

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The economics of imagination

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 04:00:55 GMT

As I spend my last night in Los Angeles, I’ve come to appreciate the drive of this city where so many creative endeavours are born. Hollywood is the core of America’s soft power - What story will it tell next?

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What happens in Vegas!!

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 04:00:45 GMT

Live from Las Vegas we talk about 2024, the upcoming American election, falls in global interest rates, potential American isolationism, the Gutenberg Bible, today’s AI boom - and where it is all taking us!

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Bitcoin is back, why?

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Time to eat humble pie? Despite us saying last year it that Bitcoin was a BS idea, its value has risen over 150% this year! What’s behind the surge? We talk about Notorious B.I.G, Benjamin Franklin, the wisdom of Charlie Munger and the fact that Bitcoin is something, but it ain't money! But where from here? Should we revise our stance on the technology? Joins us to find out!

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The Paradox of Prudence

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Ireland has a massive deficit in public infrastructure and a massive surplus in the public finances. Economists are advising the government to save on the basis that saving is "good". But not spending when we have an increasing immigrant population is a recipe for social chaos. This podcast is celebration of spending. Ireland's tax base is set up to generate surplus, so spend the money.

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Putin's Back!

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 04:00:25 GMT

Putin's back, swanning around the Gulf visiting Saudi Arabia and the UAE, telling the world that he was never really away. Things are going his way. Meanwhile America, is swamped with recurring geopolitical crises and its role as the global top dog is under enormous pressure as we head into an election year. 2024 could be the year of a global infection point, we set out the issues.

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Shane MacGowan, the Diaspora and the coming 2nd Irish Republic.

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 04:00:17 GMT

We mark the death of Shane MacGowan by looking at the Irish Diaspora, particularly in England and its impact on English popular culture. From there we look at Ireland's relationship with its Tribe abroad and from there, we imagine what a 2nd Irish Republic will look like (which will happen because it's necessary) and the role of the diaspora in this thinking.

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Liberal democracy under threat?

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 04:00:10 GMT

Liberal democracy in the western world is all too often taken for granted. But its enemies, nationalists, theocrats, Marxists and isolationists - are rising. Will Israel become a "wedge" issue? Also, why we should defend it and what the erosion of commercial liberalism in China is doing to its economic performance. What does 2024 has in store for the best political idea we've come up with yet, liberal democracy.

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Riots in Dublin and the Power of Crowds

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 04:00:29 GMT

After the riot, the analysis. We look at the power of crowds, why crowds love destruction, why they grow and how they the dissipate. Plus, of course the economics of the Irish far right, we look at the numbers, who are they and why they are here to stay.

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What does Argentina’s U-turn mean?

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 04:00:57 GMT

From tantric sex expert to President, Javier “chainsaw” Melei is a new type of populist - and anarchy-capitalist one! What does this mean, is this guy libertarianism’s answer to Che Guevara? And where will “dollarisation” take this beautiful but profoundly dysfunctional country?

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The Economics of the AI Revolution

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 04:00:10 GMT

The board of Chat GPT may be firing its CEO, but that doesn't mean this revolution is slowing down. A whistle wind tour from the dawn of time with Stanley Kubrick, to Gutenberg in 1453, and up to now, we look at the economics of innovation. With AI are we now facing catastrophe or a creative surge? Listen up, as we explore the economics of AI.

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Why 1923 still Matters

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 04:00:55 GMT

Anti-semitism, inflation, threats to democracy, despotic leaders and fragile governments, if you thought it was today, its is - but hold on. It's happened before... This very month 100 years ago, German hyperinflation peaked, Adolf Hitler announced himself with a putsch and anti-semitism was rife. History is repeating itself, or is it? Join us on this epic journey back in time to see what we can learn and whether we can apply any historical remedies to today's global problems.

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The World in 2024. The NATO-Sphere

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 04:00:39 GMT

Today we kick-off a new three part series that looks at the state of the big economic blocs in the world. Part one is the state of the US as it enters an election year. Plus we scan the UK and the EU, briefly. We call this world the NATO-sphere for obvious reasons. Next up in this series, we will deal with the impact of AI and third we will look at China the link between economics & liberalism. Our first conversation is around US economy, the rate of interest, inflation and the miracle of recent US economic performance, which is challenging our understanding of macroeconomics.

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BiBi Netanyahu - The Most Important Politician in America

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 04:00:03 GMT

How is the Israeli tail is wagging the American dog? America's election is exactly one year from now and Joe Biden is in bed with Netanyahu, but his own party, the Democratic Party is deeply divided by his embrace of Israel. He has given Netanyahu his blessing, but he can't influence the outcome in Gaza. This emasculation, combined with the end of the 0% interest rate days where previous "stars" are falling to earth - WeWork goes bankrupt, NFTs blinds people and SBF gets convicted - and we have a perfect storm, economically and geo-politically, raging. All this before we talk about Donald Trump. Strap up!

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A live podcast straight from Kilkenomics

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 04:00:57 GMT

John and I sat down at the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny and had a natter, covering all classes of topics from economics, to James Joyce, WB Yeats and a whole host of other topics, focussing on Europe's economic policy dilemmas. We chatting about unconventional thinkers, how the artist & the entrepreneur are much more similar than meets the eye, both being unconventional dissenters.

And If you’d like to hear my full TED talk on unconventional thinking, simply click here: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_mcwilliams_the_power_of_unconventional_thinking

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The roots of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict pt4

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:50 GMT

We go way back to 70 AD before coming bak to today. Demography demands a two state solution, and the Israeli's know this. But a trap has been set for America, into which it is sliding. The Kremlin has its "wedge' issue and the battle for the West continues, Putin can't believe his luck.

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We need to talk about the pay gap

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:07 GMT

It's not world shattering to announce that there is a pay discrepancy between men and women - but it's important to note that this gap has been maintained despite numerous laws and financial requirements that have been implemented to remove said gap. So why is is still here? Join us as we talk about the underlying issues that laws can't address!

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The Roots of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict pt3

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 03:00:55 GMT

In the third instalment of our series we explain the period of 1993 to the present in the Middle East. Why the peace accords floundered, the impact of 9/11, why the middle ground gave way to the extremes, and the rise of the Israeli tech industry. Don’t miss it!

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The impending commercial property crash

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 03:00:55 GMT

The commercial property market is struggling to swallow the interest rate hikes aiming to bring down inflation. Can the mass building of the last decade, built on the back of very low interest rate, survive this new economic landscape?

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The roots of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict pt2 (1967-1993)

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:00:47 GMT

Part 2 of our overview of the Israel-Palestinian conflict brings us from the Six Day War to the Oslo Accords. Key things here are the change in the image of Isreal in the world imagination from defiant fighter to oppressive bully and the emergence of Iran, fundamentalism, settlers and economic stagnation. We end with Soviet Jewry emigrating to Israel, the Palestinian Intifada, chaos in Lebanon and the road to, a short-lived, peace.

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When Mantras Replace Hard Thinking: The Case of the Irish Budget

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 03:00:30 GMT

The budget, despite all the posturing, should make you be afraid, very afraid. It reveals a complete lack of Leaving Cert economic thinking. Today we interrogate just one aspect to see if there is any logical and consistent economic heft behind all the political tinkering. We look at housing. Stay tuned for the verdict!

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The roots of the Israel-Palestinian Conflict pt1

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 02:30:19 GMT

To understand where we are, you have to appreciate the history - economic, political and social - and that’s what we’re setting out to do! Starting in Dorset St Dublin in 1904 with Leopold Bloom in Jame Joyce's Ulysses, we explore the history of Zionism and make our way from Bloom to the 6 Day War 1967. Stay tuned for part 2 next week when try to bring events from then up to the the current catastrophe.

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US interest rates: What's driving them?

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 03:00:47 GMT

We're in North America this week thinking about the US economy. How come the USA is creating so many jobs, why are interest rates not biting, does macroeconomics have to have a massive re-think about monetary policy and if so, what does this all mean for you? Is the Fed flunking it?

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Brexit: the cost of reality

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 03:00:16 GMT

Brexit was supposed to be simple, that was the promise! The reality however is a world of complex costs & frictions which has backed the UK into a structural cul-de-sac. Where does it go from here?

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The September Rate Spike - Is it Time to Worry?

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 03:00:43 GMT

Long term interest rates spiked up in September. This will have an impact. Mortgage rates everywhere are up dramatically. Could it be time for the debt crunch? We know that there’s a delay between raising rates and the impact of those new rates, but no one knows exactly how long - while the economy appears to be doing fine, are we missing something, something big? A day of debt reckoning?

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Argentina: An economic and now, political car crash. Its worse than you think

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 03:00:01 GMT

How does one of the richest economy of the 19th century blow it? What are the lessons for the rest of us? As the saying goes, “The road to ruin is shorter than you think”. How does a good country go bad? And now that Argentina has completely come off the rails, can its be saved or is it about to become a "failed state"? If it does, could the Argentinean virus spread to the rest of Latin America?

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Why Ireland should copy Vienna

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 03:00:15 GMT

Vienna, one of the world’s most liveable city, was created through a strong vision for its future and targeted taxes. Today, housing costs in Vienna are a third of its Irish counter part, we should be taking notes!

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Are we at the 4th turning?

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:00:14 GMT

Today’s episode is a unique discussion with the writer Neil Howe about a completely different way to look at history, in chapters over decades and how history tends to repeat itself over given periods of time… and spoiler alert: Neil thinks we’re about to change chapter VERY soon!

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The ECB on Trial

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 03:00:52 GMT

The ECB has raised interest rates ten times in two years but the Euro is not getting stronger, it is getting weaker. What does this tell us about the European economy and inconsistency at the heart of European policy making. We head to Frankfurt and put the ECB in the dock. I rest my case!

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Swedenomics

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 03:00:35 GMT

The euro-tour continues as we dive into what makes Sweden tick - but not before one of our usual tangents on skin differences! Nevertheless, today is about the libertarian/socialist contradiction that is Sweden and how it always manages to punch above its weight.

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Crouch, Bind, Set! & G20 economics

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 03:00:07 GMT

What does the latest G20 accord tell us about the new Cold War and speaking of wars, we examine the Rugby World Cup and more interestingly the Economics of Rugby. Will Saudi Arabia do to rugby what it’s trying to do to football, golf, F1 and probably tennis? Imagine Munster owned by a Sheik? Could it happen? As it spends billions in sports-washing, the RWC is surely a shop window event for potential buyers of the game!

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How India became the coming power

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:00:08 GMT

With the coming G20 summit in India we take a look at how the rise of india came to be, how it went from colonialism, to socialism and now to capitalism. Now a significant player on the international stage, will India succeed at becoming rich before it becomes old? Join us as we find out how its going to try

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The tragedy of state outsourcing

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 03:00:31 GMT

If we are to prepare a future that welcomes 10 million people in Ireland, we need take back control of public infrastructure project costs because these runaway costs are hindering our growth and reducing public confidence in the state.

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Uncovering Portugal

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 03:00:51 GMT

Portugal’s current economic situation can only be explained through its rich & expansive history. As we tease out the various chapters of Portugal we uncover another nation that although is supposed to be rich, feels poor.

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Ireland is a teenager in a geriatric home

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 03:00:13 GMT

Ireland is an outlier within the European demographic, how can it shape it’s growth in a bloc that is going to be managing for an aging population?

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We need to invest now, or face the consequences

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 03:00:10 GMT

The economy has two main levers: fiscal policies & monetary policies. Through these mechanism we have the means to ensure that our infrastructure keeps up with the population growth while simultaneously keeping the “far” parties of politics at bay… if we use them!

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The end of the Chinese financial miracle?

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 03:00:33 GMT

China’s economic growth is far from what it used to be and cracks are currently appearing in a variety of sectors. Has China’s heroic growth in the last decades finally come to an inflection point? Join us as we break down what is currently happening and where it might go.

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Poland rising

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 03:00:09 GMT

The European tour continues, next stop: Poland! An extraordinary country that is rapidly evolving - an evolution that might very well pull the axis of European power towards the East.

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The Easiest Way to Rob a Bank is to Run It

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 03:00:00 GMT

As John returns from Washington DC we take a quick state of that nation before coming home to talk about how the Irish banks are actually stealing their customer's money. Interest income is the income of savers not the banks, if the banks don't pass that on, they are stealing customers income. That's what is happening!

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The Reign in Spain

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Continuing our European tour we arrive in the the Iberian Peninsula. What makes Spain, this most brilliant of countries tick? With many European countries leaning to the right, Spain has been an interesting outlier - the centre has just held! Join us today as we’re joined with Prof Joe Haslam for a “tour de force” on Spain, its economics, politics, industry and future.

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Is the DeGrowth Movement the future?

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 03:00:37 GMT

One of the most talked about global movements is the DeGrowth movement which believes economic growth is the problem and if we can wean ourselves of the economics of growth, lots of good things will flow. Today, we interrogate this notion, is it a brilliant soundbite or a true and practical guideline for a new world?

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The Economics of Oppenheimer

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 03:00:00 GMT

Culture always mirrors, reinforces or leads economics & Oppenheimer has just returned nuclear energy to the center of the energy discussion. Is is the silver bullet to sustainable energy or the next catastrophe waiting to happen?

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Sinead, Music and Stone Age Economics

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT

After a quick top-up on last week’s Italian episode, we talk about Sinead O'Connor before she became Sinead O'Connor. From there we explore why music was always much more than entertainment and how the origins of music might have driven Stone Age productivity and the first economy of the cave man!

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How Italy became anti-fragile

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 03:00:25 GMT

Italy, the cradle of European civilization often gets a bad rap, which I personally think is completely unjustified. Today's conversation looks at where the country stands but also how it's history gave it so much resilience - it's a fascinating discussion!

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Insiders VS Outsiders

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 03:00:34 GMT

How can some countries be doing well on paper but in reality, there is growing frustration and instability from the population, leading to more extremist ideology? The answer is all about insiders VS outsiders…

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The Tyranny of Nostalgia

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 03:00:51 GMT

The UK is a mess. Investment, productivity and GPD per head is all flatlining. Why? How can a once good country go bad. In today’s conversation we’re joined by economist Russel Jones to explore what happens when a people look backwards not forwards.

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Has the FED done the impossible? Is a soft landing coming?

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 03:00:20 GMT

The Americans might have engineered the impossible: a soft landing… which would be an absolute anomaly in economic cycles! While we look at how this might be happening, we also investigate the many camps claiming to have been right on the cycle and the outcome.

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Bastille Day Special: What makes France tick?

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:00:55 GMT

On the eve of Bastille Day we head to France to explore the French economy. Who really runs France, the technocrats, big business or the political class of the people? How have the recent riots changed the country? More to the point, how closer is the Republic to being run by President LePen and what would that mean for Europe? Fascinating one this, hope you like it.

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The Recession that Isn't Happening

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 03:00:02 GMT

We explore why the world is not in a recession despite everything. The US economy simply refuses to buckle under the pressure of high interest rates. A key difference between 2008 and now is that that this time around, the people are not in desperate debt but corporate America is. Companies with lots of debt will struggle. Which big company might go bust first? Look at Twitter and shudder!

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What's happening in Germany

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 03:00:49 GMT

Germany, Europe's most important economy, is at a turning point. It is now a massive industrial economy with no energy. For over one hundred years, Germany has managed this dilemma. But now without Russian gas, and after closing off its nuclear industry, how will Germany power itself? Plus, can its political system handle this transition without a lurch to the extreme?

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Fiscal Incontinence!

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 03:00:25 GMT

What a scandal at the Irish national broadcaster tells us about how the country became the most expensive place to live in Europe. It's all about value for money and how the government's inability to keep down costs, seeps into the wider economy, pushing up all prices, making everyone feel poorer despite having more money than ever.

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European evolution, train tales and the history of mathematics

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 03:00:47 GMT

From a train journey to Ishango bones we talk about Europe’s complicated relationship with Africa before turning our sights (and your ears) to Maths - and how Math has shaped society as we know it!

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A Russian Revolution?

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 03:00:57 GMT

The whole world learned the name Prigozhin over the weekend as the warlord threatened Putin and plotted a course for Moscow. With this failed coup now behind us, let’s analyze what this means for the Putin regime.

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Searching for America with David Brooks

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 03:00:00 GMT

In this intimate conversation, we discuss America - from a political, personal & cultural point of view to understand this land where decisions and policies ripple across the world.

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Why modern cities need to look at the 19th century for inspiration

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:00:00 GMT

Urban living is nothing new, but some decades did it better than others! Let’s look at how people designed cities before the advent of cars and what we can be inspired by as we look ahead.

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The Unionist strategy against Irish Unity: Poverty

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 03:00:40 GMT

Brexit was supposed to drive a wedge between the two jurisdictions of Ireland. In reality it has built a bridge: There's far more trade between the North and the South now. Demography is only going one way and the reaction of the Unionists is immiseration. How else can we interpret the Unionist default position of “the south can’t afford us” other than a strategy to stay poor so that the bill of unity might be too steep for Irish taxpayers? These may be the first political force in a democracy to prefer mass poverty to mass prosperity! Have a listen.

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The Economics of Football seen through the eyes of Logan Roy

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 03:00:53 GMT

Love Football? Love Succession? You're gonna love this one in which we explain the economics of football as Logan Roy would explain it to Shiv, Kendal, Roman and Conor. The game's business model is completely dumb: relegation guarantees bankruptcy and clubs are nothing more than dick waving trophies for bored Princelings. No holding back here, stay tuned to find out more!

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The opioid crisis in America is coming to Europe

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 03:00:30 GMT

America has been fighting through a series of drug epidemics in the last few years, and those drugs are now poised to cross the pond. Today we take a look at what is going on and why Europe should be worried at what's coming from the USA.

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Why more interest rate hikes are coming and Irish census revelations

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 03:00:56 GMT

We start in America, breaking down the impact of the debt ceiling deal & why more bank fallouts are likely on the way before moving to the Irish census to talk about what we can learn from this amazing “day in the life” view of the Irish population

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Follow the money

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 03:00:13 GMT

All criminal enterprises are enterprises, meaning they are businesses…and like every business they leave a money trail. Today we talk to the man who is suing the Wagner Group, hitting them in their deep pocket. Jason McCue has successfully prosecuted the IRA and HAMAS, now he’s going after Wagner. Fascinating stuff!

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Why the Federal Reserve is stuck in a "cul de sac", and what it means for you.

Tue, 30 May 2023 03:00:06 GMT

The American economy refuses to obey the Federal Reserve and things are going to break. We examine the monetary bind facing the world's premier central bank and what it all means.

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What you know about Western civilization is wrong

Thu, 25 May 2023 03:00:13 GMT

The saying goes that there’s a straight line from Plato to Nato - but actually, it’s much more complicated than that. Today we explain why we repeat a story that we know to be untrue and what the real story is.

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The Coming Great Crash?

Tue, 23 May 2023 03:00:32 GMT

They say that history doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes. Today’s discussion is all about what we can take from history as we navigate this slow grinding bank crisis, many years of easy money and still elevated asset prices - all in a time of rising, not falling interest rates

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This is the most important week in the Ukraine war - and global geo-politics as a whole

Thu, 18 May 2023 03:00:33 GMT

The counter-offensive might be underway but the outcomes are still very much up in the air. Let’s look at what’s going on and how the outcomes in Ukraine will ripple across the world

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A Coming US Default?

Tue, 16 May 2023 03:00:34 GMT

Is the US about to manufacture a debt crisis? Don't rule it out. There are enough nut-jobs knocking around Capitol Hill for whom shutting down government is a victory not a catastrophe. And once we’re finished with the Lunes on the Hill, we explains what any Irish sovereign wealth fund (PS: we’re delighted the government is listening to our ideas!) ought to be focussed on. Incidentally, paying down debt is actually the worst use of money possible.

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American Bank Carnage part 2

Thu, 11 May 2023 03:00:54 GMT

The American banking system is experiencing a slow grinding crisis. We explore, why this is happening, why now and why the Fed adopted a completely different attitude to the 2023 banking crisis than the 2008 crisis and what this all means for the economy and the way we distribute money around the 21st century economy. And further out, could Apple - the great disrupter - be poised to disrupt Wall Street?

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How does the UK recover financially?

Tue, 09 May 2023 03:00:54 GMT

The UK is what happens when economic growth stops. So on the week of the coronation let’s look at what is happening in the country and what it takes to right the wrongs of the last few years.

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The Dream Economy

Thu, 04 May 2023 03:00:41 GMT

Arts and culture are associated with many things, but rarely is economic impact cited. This is right, culture is not a spread sheet, but nor too is economics. The economy is a highly sensitive ecosystem of which arts and culture are part. We examine the role of culture in the economy, plus in a special detour, we look at the economics one of Ireland's great revolutionary heroes, Wolf Tone.

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Civilization and the planet

Tue, 02 May 2023 03:00:09 GMT

We seldom hear how the environment affected the growth and collapse of civilizations across the world and history. More than any other factor, the environment has been a defining factor to where we live, how we organize and what we consume. Today we’re joined by the great Peter Frankopan for a masterclass in this untold story.

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The Paradox of Prudence

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 03:00:17 GMT

Having money is only half the battle, deploying it well is the other half. We look at Ireland's financial balance sheet: we're saving far too much! By saving too much, both at the State and the punter level, we are hiding behind the sanctimonious veil of savings rather than involving ourselves in hard thinking, which is what economics is all about. Economists have a bias towards prudence and prudence only, this is highly costly and is an abdication of responsibility. Money is an energy, we have to use it to drive the economy onwards!

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Feed your Brain

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 03:00:12 GMT

I’ve just come back from giving a TED talk in Vancouver. Brilliant experience, lots of amazing speakers, top notch presentations ;which more than anything reveal to us the stories that nations tell themselves. Today we also announce the line up for the Dalkey Book Festival, showing that as a nation of storytellers, we Irish are still second to none. Hope to see you at Dalkey which kicks of with a live podcast!

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Biden, Relationships VS interests & Contemplations from TED

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 03:00:26 GMT

Countries don't have relationships, they have interests - this notion guides us as we reflect on the coverage of Biden's visit to Ireland before tackling the current economic landscape of Canada from my vantage point in Vancouver where I'm preparing to give a TED talk Friday!

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The benefits of longterm thinking in the TikTok age

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 03:00:17 GMT

Future citizens have, by definition, no voice but someone needs to speak on their behalf if we’re meant to build a longterm society. The solution to the global housing crisis requires longterm thinking, creating solutions that will sustain us for at least the next 100 years, not just the next election cycle… and it’s much more affordable than you might think!

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Why negativity took over the news cycle

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:46:28 GMT

Communicating the bad before the good is an evolutionary trait that has helped us survive - but in today’s world, our ancestral instincts and the need to sell media has created a vicious circle that we need to expose and change.

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Global Irish Soft Power

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 03:00:43 GMT

What does Ireland do for the Irish Diaspora? Here's an idea: why not use Ireland as the re-charging battery for the Irishness of the Global Irish Tribe? Let's use Biden’s visit to Ireland this week to think about how we harness the soft power of Ireland's greatest and unique asset: the tens of millions people around the world who identify as Irish. Soft power is the power of imagination, and in the future a country's soft power will become much more important for our economy. Hope you enjoy this one.

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It's Easter, Ramadan, Passover take your pick! We head to Jerusalem, spiritual home of all three religions.

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 03:00:47 GMT

It's Easter, Ramadan and Passover, so let's go to the centre of the three Abrahamic religions, Jerusalem. Many years ago I spent time living and working in Israel which gave me a first hand impression of the country - both good and bad. This week we talk Israel - a country of 9 million people - as that country erupts in anti-government demonstrations, while some in that government talk openly about annexing the West Bank. We also chat to the last Jew in Cork, who emigrated from Cork to Jerusalem, and tells his story. The occupation is an abomination, and the human rights abuses and murder of innocent Palestinians is a stain on Israel, yet Israel isn't going anywhere, nor should it. So what happens next?

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Why a country can be rich on paper, but feel poor in reality

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 03:00:31 GMT

You've never had it so good, but you ain't feeling it. Sound familiar? We explain this dilemma at the heart of a society - in this case Ireland - but its can be applied to many countries. It is one of the reason why politics seems so unstable even in countries where economic data appears robust. Unless economic figures percolate down to how people are experiencing the economy, they are not only unhelpful but worse, they are antagonising.

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China plays chess, while Russia plays poker

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 03:00:21 GMT

Putin has managed to turn Russia into a vassal state of China, a fact confirmed by Xi’s visit to Russia. The Sino/Russo alliance against the West is solidified between them but the alliance is not one of equals. Russia is China’s petrol station, while China provides Russia with manufacturing goods. This is China's moment. This week we discuss politics, geo-strategy and the enduring appeal, despite its failings, of the West. Plus a riff on car seats, Yuri Gagarin and why in 1492, it was European not Chinese ships that crossed the oceans to conquer the New World.

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The Next Global Banking Crisis is Here

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 03:00:54 GMT

The easiest way to rob a bank is to run it. Banks go bad from the inside out. When interest rates shift upward, lots of mistakes and dodgy practices are revealed. We break down where we’re at globally and what comes next - spoiler alert: it ain't pretty.

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Apartment Living Cures Housing Viruses

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:01 GMT

The global housing crisis is significantly worse in countries that speak English. Why? Is it because far few English speakers live in flats? Flats are cheaper to build, creating more dense communities and apartment dwellers object far less than those who live in houses. We explore the joy of apartments today with the expert help of John Burn-Murdoch

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Bank Carnage

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 03:00:11 GMT

You wait for bank failures for years then... three come in a week, one in the home of banking, Switzerland,. This presents central banks with a dilemma. Central banks have two key mandates. One is controlling inflation which, right now, demands higher interest rates, the other preserving the banking system, which right now requires lower interest rates. What gives?

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On St Patricks Day, a US State of the Nation special with Bernie Sanders

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 03:00:59 GMT

On St Patrick's Day we go to the US, home to thirty five million Irish/Americans - there are only 7 million of us on the island. In the country that, more than any other, has been shaped by Irish immigrants, we take the pulse of the US with Brooklyn's finest, Bernie Sanders. We chat about the deep problems that exist in the US, but also the way America can be renewed. Don't miss this one and Happy Paddies Day wherever you are. Plus we've got some brilliant new Irish music for you too.

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SVB Bank Run. Is 2023 a re-run of 2008?

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:00:02 GMT

We explain why SVB went bust, why yield curves matter and what comes next. Banks go bad from the inside out, but is this the first or the last bank crash of 2023?

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The UK is stuck in a political, economical and social cul de sac is there a way out?

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:00:07 GMT

This week we visited the richest and poorest parts of the UK and it didn't feel right. London, so long the dynamo for productivity, growth and taxation is spluttering and stagnating, while up the road in Northern Ireland; the poorest people now have a healthy life expectancy on par with Sierra Leone. Something has to give. What are Britain's options, will it take them or is the national decline now endemic and irreversible?

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The end of economists

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 04:00:13 GMT

AI has really come into its own in 2023 with the mainstream use of ChatGPT - but beyond the headlines and the initial curiosities, what does the ascent of AI mean for our economy and our society?

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Russia - A Giant Hostage Situation?

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 04:00:14 GMT

In the mindset of the West, Russia is a big, significant, military power with significant resources, but is this perception based in reality? Is the reality that Russia is a decrepit state that has failed its people and ransacked its resources? Have the Russians done what they've done for years, which is lie and spin about its real potential, taking hostages and threatening all around them? In truth it's a large, leaky petrol station with nukes. As we go into the 2nd year of the war, lets examine, the reality of Russia.

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Addressing land capture and the new face of the world bank

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 04:00:07 GMT

The way out of the housing crisis, both in Ireland and abroad is going to require us to think as a collective and reject individualistic, speculative instincts. Let’s look at what can be done to create better cities and communities, it’s actually pretty simple.

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In defence of Democracy

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:00:32 GMT

On the eve of the invasion of Ukraine, we examine how fragile this idea of liberal democracy, where the individual is valued and protected, has become. Yes it has its problems and yes, on a number of fronts, it has not delivered for all, but would you change the combination of liberal democracy and capitalism? There are alternatives out there, I'm not sure I'd like to live in any.

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The housing fix might be here - if we hold strong

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 04:00:50 GMT

It’s finally happening, the government is going to tax vacant land! Or at least, they’re thinking about it. As a listener to the podcast, you'll be aware that taxing land to bring it into use has been a cornerstone of what is necessary to bring about a more efficient use of land. Not surprisingly, those with most to lose - major landowners/speculators are pushing back. This fight is the future of housing in Ireland (and everywhere). The State must hold the line and win.

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The great China/USA breakup

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 04:00:25 GMT

This week's Chinese balloons are only the latest sign of tension between the two superpowers. The relationship between China and the US has deteriorated drastically in the last decade - what happened? Today we explore how China transformed itself from a simple producer to a high-tech producer, how that impacts their relationships on the global stage and why microchips are the epicentre of a trade and technology war that will define the coming decades.

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Immigration Part 2: Is immigration a class issue?

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 04:00:45 GMT

On last week’s episode we discussed the fact that immigration is good for the economy in the aggregate, but is it good for everyone? As with most things, poorer people and richer people experience life and its challenges differently. Poorer people compete with new immigrants in the housing and jobs market, as well as for public services. This creates tensions. We examine these social tensions, and look for some solutions.

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Bonus episode: Why prices fluctuate - the impact of interest rates on our lives

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 04:00:00 GMT

This bonus episode is brought to you by Done Deal Motors.

Price and value don't exist in isolation - everything is relative. Join us for this bonus episode as we look at our social lens on value and the profound impact of interest rates on our lives

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Why are some countries more successful than others?

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 04:58:13 GMT

Economic growth is not distributed evenly. Why are some societies richer than others? What is the impact of economic growth? let's look at the very essence of economics today and explain how successful economic growth has a profound impact on our daily lives.

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The case for immigration

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 04:00:08 GMT

Immigrants are used to having it hard, both in life an in the public eye where they are often vilified. This lambasting though is based on nothing more than lies - the truth is that immigrants helps society grow and prosper. It’s time to set the record straight.

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Creating a new Currency

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 04:00:43 GMT

Argentina and Brazil are currently undertaking the herculean task of creating a new currency based on the Euro model. Let’s discuss why they’re attempting this and how the Euro, the model they are following, came to be. The currency is the most important price in most economics, so getting this right is hugely important.

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In Praise of Cathedral Thinking

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 04:00:07 GMT

The people who build Europe's gothic cathedrals knew that they wouldn't be around to see them completed. They were building for people yet to be born. This is what we need to build liveable cities right now. Looking at John Gray the 19th century architect of Dublin's water system, we apply Gray's thinking and planning to the of the biggest urban dilemma of the 21st century: housing and urban planning. To execute urban vision, we need to take on some vested interests and think about future generations, not yet here, as our equals

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Things Learnt Half way up the Alps

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 04:00:34 GMT

Davos’s World Economic Forum, although often maligned for it’s ultra-wealthy attendees - and understandably so - is still an event that outlines, and in some cases, shapes the economic priorities of the world for the year ahead. Today we go right to the source to understand what is on the mind of this year’s speakers.

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Around the world, 30 year olds are getting screwed

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 04:00:28 GMT

It's never been more expensive to be 30 something. The old social contract used to be, work hard, study, get a degree, keep your beak clean and soon enough your income will rise and you will end up richer than your parents. That's no longer the case. The conveyor belt of upward social mobility has stalled. The Millennials are falling behind, while their parents are surging ahead. And what about the generation coming behind them? Inter-generational warfare is not pretty but if we don't do something about it, who can blame the young (and youngish) for not being loyal to a system that has been so disloyal to them?

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The view from Kyiv - Part 2

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 04:00:09 GMT

Listen to the view of the region from my travelling companion to Ukraine, Sasha Kabanovsky, born and bred in Kyiv. We covered a lot of ground, historic, political, social and economic. Hope you enjoy it.

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Letter from Kyiv

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 04:00:40 GMT

As a student I first went to the Soviet Union in 1987. Then spent months in the Russian countryside trying to learn the language in 1991. Since then, I have worked and travelled in both Russian and Ukraine. I was first in Kyiv in 1998, working in the Ukrainian economy. So I've spent many years in that part of the world and have friends from both countries. Last week, I went back to Kyiv with an old Ukrainian mate. Here are the observations.

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Unmasking cryptocurrency from both a financial and technological standpoint

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 04:00:51 GMT

2022 saw many ups and downs - and one notable "down" was the fall of crypto-mania. While the madness feels behind us, most still don't understand this "currency" that is shrouded in myths and lore - today, we're going to make sense of it all.

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The story of money

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 04:00:12 GMT

Like fire, money has profoundly impacted our species. So much so that it’s development has shaped how we organize together, how the world was discovered and who innovated first (and best!).

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Reframing the housing crisis

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 04:00:31 GMT

Let's start the new year with a fresh perspective on housing - because looking at it differently can create new ideas to solve the problem!

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A hard look at the return of Inflation - and why it hasn't been transitory

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 04:00:10 GMT

With inflation still very much present at the end of the year and various unions fighting to maintain their real world wages, some through strikes, let's take a look at why inflation hasn't been transitionary and how China has been able to hold it at bay for so long.

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Irish Argentine

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 04:00:01 GMT

Messi apart, the player that caught most people's eye was Alexis McAlister. But how did his Irish family end up in the Pampas? Today we tell the story of the Irish Argentineans. More than 500,000 Argentineans are Irish-Argentineans, who are they and when did they leave Ireland. The most famous of course is Che Guevara Lynch. In February 1889, the largest single transport ship of immigrants ever to dock in Argentina was "The City of Dresden" and it came from Cork. Even Borges, Argentina's chief bard, wrote about Irish gauchos.

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The UK’s transformation in 2022

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 04:00:35 GMT

This year has been a turbulent one, across Europe, one of the countries that has felt this the most is the UK: 3 prime ministers in a year, a bank crisis and rising Scottish nationalism. Let’s explore how we got there and what might come next

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Bonus episode: The economics of movies

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:06:31 GMT

This bonus episode is brought to you by NOW.

Where did movies come from? What costs and expenses are involved in making them? How has streaming platforms changed the types of movies being made? All this and more answered in this episode!

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Ukraine economics - Before & after the war

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 04:05:13 GMT

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The new phase of the economy and short trading explained

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 04:00:18 GMT

With the latest macro-economic cycle coming to an end, let’s look at what’s next on the horizon and how to spot companies that are over-value with the help of the legend himself: Jim Chanos

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The end of competence

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 04:00:50 GMT

As we near the end of 2022 let’s look at the year that’s been, identify takeaways of what has passed and have a chat about what might be on the horizon for 2023

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Adam Smith was wrong: we need to diversify, not specialize

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 04:00:47 GMT

The crazy things about economics is that so much of what we’re taught growing up is actually wrong. Today we take a look at the myth about specialization by talking about Fitzcarraldo, biology and the impact that diversification has had on Ireland

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The End of a 14-year Bull Market

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 04:00:40 GMT

The credit cycle is an unforgiving master, as interest rates rise, different questions are asked about both companies and investments. We examine the new world of positive interest rates and what it means for the global economy. With more than $3.4 trillion wiped off the value of tech companies, far more than the entire GDP of the UK, we assess the impact. Are you ready for the next phase of this cycle?

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Finding Russia’s Remote Killers

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 04:00:05 GMT

As the war between Russia and Ukraine grinds into winter, Putin's new strategy is to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure. What it couldn't achieve on the battle field Russia aims to achieve in the living room, by trying to freeze ordinary Ukrainians. Today we have a fascinating chat with European Investigative Journalist of the Year Christo Grozev of Bellingcat on how he identified the poisoners of Alexi Navalny and how, using the same techniques, he has identified the Russia's remote killers, the civilian men and women, computer programmers, software engineers and data specialists living normal lives in Russia, who actually push the buttons and program the missiles raining down on Ukraine. It's fascinating and chilling.

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The great crypto collapse

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 04:00:35 GMT

We've always been "Doomcoiners" - yes, you guessed it, not fans of crypto. Now you know why. A passing understanding of monetary economics and monetary history would have warned anyone to be very careful. One of the biggest crypto exchange has filled for bankruptcy and across the board crypto currency valuation is in free fall - How did we end up here? And more critically, what sort of frauds will be unearthed when the dust settles.

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Planning for 10 Million people

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 04:00:11 GMT

Ireland's population is set to grow rapidly. Like a parent buying a-size-too-big-clothes for a teenagers, the State needs to be building infrastructure for an island population of 10 million. We explore this critical issue, plus musings of Toto Schilacci, the economic equivalent of playing keepy-uppies with Maradona and lots more.

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The nature of money

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:51:52 GMT

Join us on this wide ranging conversation on the nature of money that might change. the way you look at central banks, investments, spending and much more!

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Letter from America

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 04:00:07 GMT

I'm in NYC this week and caught up with Jeff Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine. With the American midterm elections, the collapse of FTX exchange and Ukraine's victories in the field, we discuss the State of the Union, the American mindset as revealed in the elections, and America's role in the world.

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Tech Feudalism with Yanis Varoufakis

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Is Capitalism dead? There’s a new media and retail ecosystem that is controlled by a select few who use algorithms to curate what we consume and how we shop… sounds like Feudalism!

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How the world changes with interest rates - Live from Kilkenomics

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 04:00:48 GMT

Taking a look at the long-term economics shifts we breakdown how everything has changed since the pandemics - from international allies to cost of living crisis, it’s all here!

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Is Ukraine a distraction for a Taiwan takeover? - With Angelica Oung

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 04:00:15 GMT

With the world’s eyes turned to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia - are the Chinese about to make a move on Taiwan while the world is distracted? Today we’re joined by angelica Oung to talk about increased tensions between China and the island.

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Housing market shifts and tech stock carnage - With Katie Martin

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:00:41 GMT

Is a buyer’s panic being followed by a seller’s panic in the housing market? Plus, what is happening in the tech sector? This week, the market valuation of tech stock went down by almost a Trillion dollars - let’s figure out what’s happening.

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Bonus episode: How to thrive in these turbulent times

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 03:00:38 GMT

This bonus episode is brought to you by Square.

Retail has been changing drastically over the last few years, on this pod we take a look at the history of trade, the current disruptions from Covid and Ecommerce and where it might go next!

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The house price horror show - With Vinjeru Mkandawire

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 03:00:07 GMT

There’s a wind of change in the air, globally house prices are falling by double digits? What’s happening? Why now? We’re joined by The Economist’s global property correspondent: Vinjeru Mkandawire to answer all that and more!

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The UK’s fall from grace, it's not about politicians, it's about policy.

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:00:33 GMT

Economic stability is no laughing matter - and quite a bit more fragile than people believe. The UK may have a new PM but does it have a new vision? What’s its business model? And critically how does it address the economic, political, social and regional inequalities?

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We might already be in World War 3 - it’s just not what you thought it would look like - With Pippa Malmgren

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 03:00:54 GMT

Pippa joins us today to talk about about the state of global geopolitics and makes a case for the world being in a third global war - just not on land but rather at sea and in space. It’s fascinating stuff and might change the way you see the world!

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London Calling! - With Mark Blyth

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 03:00:59 GMT

The UK is in a mess, how did it get there and how does it get out, or can it? It's much more than Truss. It's a decade of shite decisions. Lots going on in this episode, chatting to the brilliant Mark Blyth but the upshot is what is happening in London can happen anywhere and if the UK, for years the global centre of finance, can't stabilise its markets, what hope for the rest? With US interest rates heading towards 6%, buckle up for a rocky ride.

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Why central bankers want higher unemployment

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 02:00:08 GMT

When your mate loses his job it's a downturn, when you lose your's, its a recession. And you know what, the world's central bankers will not juts be cheering you losing your job, they'll be causing it. Economic policy all over the world is now aimed and bringing about a recession to bring down inflation. What this means in plain English is job losses, leading to widespread unemployment. Tighten your belt.

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The new energy reality

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 02:30:41 GMT

OPEC+ has announced that it will reduce its production quota by 2 Million barrels per day - something the west has seen as OPEC+ siding with the Kremlin. What does that mean for. your life? For our economy and cost of living? Join us as we talk all about it

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UK experiments & Irish stability

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 02:00:52 GMT

When the Tories lose the trust of the financial markets you know that something has gone incredibly wrong. History tells us that people need to trust the governments for them to succeed - let’s look at what Germany did post WW2, what Ireland is doing and what’s going on over in the UK

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The crucial link between the planet and your pension

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 02:30:03 GMT

In partnership with Irish Life , we bring you: The crucial link between the planet and your pension - because making the right investments can end up being more environmentally friendly than taking the bus!

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UK chaos and bond doom loop

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 02:30:27 GMT

The global financial markets, particularly the bond markets are in bad shape, and the UK was the first to show how bad it can get, but this is not a UK problem - its a global problem.

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Endgame for Putin?

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 01:30:50 GMT

With the "mobilization" Putin reveals that he is running out of road. He is doing what he always does, escalating. To make sense of this escalation, and living with this regime, we talk to a Russian insider to guide us through these new developments. If you are interested in Russia, don't miss this.

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Is Liz Truss the leader of a Doomsday Cult?

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 01:30:55 GMT

The UK, already the most unequal country in Western Europe, just got more unequal. We start by breaking through the internet noise with tangible facts about inequality and standard of living, comparing Ireland, UK. US and Norway. Then we examine the madness of the UK's budget, Sterling collapsing, gilts tanking and a country unhinged over there, before settling down to the predictable stability and calm of the Irish budget!

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Populism might not be what you think

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 01:30:20 GMT

Populism is often vilified - but it’s origin is far more noble than you might think - and we might all need a bit more populism moving forward!

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With interest rates going up, housing market is heading down

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 01:30:51 GMT

Housing is a global asset class now and now that rates are rising, lots of leveraged property funds are likely to go bust. How is this going to play out and what does it all mean?

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How inflation in the 1970s brought us to our current situation - and what we can do about it

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 02:30:25 GMT

The economy is full of unintended consequences - and those ripple through time for decades. How the world stopped inflation in 1970 brought on our current world view - but this time we’re fighting inflation radically differently…

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The Queen is dead. What now for her kingdom?

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 02:30:32 GMT

A few months back we talked about 1922 being the year the 20th actually began, in terms of modernism, ideology, politics and economics. We mused whether the same would be said of 2022, that this momentous year -with everything that is happening - would be the year the 21st century actually begins. There is nothing more 20th century than the British Empire and their monarchy. Is this the end of that road and what does that mean for the UK? Can the UK outlast the Queen?

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Lizz Truss: Friend or Foe? And the state of the UK nation

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 02:30:35 GMT

The rotating cast of Torie leaders continues, this time it’s Lizz Truss’s time in the spotlight. What exactly is going on in the UK, and where is the nation headed?

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How it all came down: The story of the last leader of the USSR

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 02:30:08 GMT

More than a few years back, I got the chance to sit down and chat to the most consequential politician of my life, Mikhail Gorbachev, the last President of the USSR - the very antithesis to Vladimir Putin in every way, politically, intellectually and emotionally. We look back at his life and a leader who drastically changed the course of the world.

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The Chinese property bubble has just burst, here’s what you need to know

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:30:57 GMT

Many in China have stopped paying their mortgages - what happened to this once golden goose of investment? And perhaps more importantly: how does this end?

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With Euro/dollar below parity, lets talk exchange rates

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:30:55 GMT

Within the Euro, given the vastly different economic structures and stage of economic development, some countries, like Ireland, have undervalued exchange rates and others, like Croatia/Italy/Greece have overvalued exchange rates. This means that Ireland experiences massive supply problems, in housing, transport, too much inward investment etc, while the others experience severe deficient demand problems, unemployment, emigration etc. This represents a permanent flaw at the heart of the system; will it be fixed in the next crisis? The solution is fiscal federalism, like Canada, USA or Australia, but who in Europe wants that right now?

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Weedenomics

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 02:30:44 GMT

The war on drugs has failed and the public perception of marijuana is changing rapidly, here's some numbers that underscore why legalization is long overdue!

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Financing a Revolution: The economics of Michael Collins

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 02:30:04 GMT

New countries start with no money. The departing colonists take everything with them, including capital. Like all former colonies, the New Ireland had no money. Micheal Collins, revolutionary leader and Minister of Finance, as well as head of the army, laid out a plan. From crowd-funding the 1916-1921 revolution, to setting up a national bank and a new national insurance company, designed to stop capital flowing to London, from marketing Ireland abroad, to rejecting state socialism and focusing on investment both national and foreign, Collins' economic vision for Ireland was the direct opposite to either the conservatism of the first 1920s governments or twisted radicalism of De Valera. What might have been - had he not been assassinated at 31, 100 years ago this week. Here’s his incredible story and how money & economics played a pivotal role in it.

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The Economics of Music

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:30:23 GMT

Today an Irish artist needs to get around 4000 streams an hour or about 300,000 per month to earn the minimum wage which we know is far below what is needed to pay the rent. How can someone survive trying to be a musician? Today we explore the "new" economics of music, what is the financial reality for young and not so young musicians, the history of the music industry and why the economic of our old friend Joseph Schumpeter is behind it all.

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Why the housing crisis can undo 30 years of economic growth

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:30:52 GMT

All over the world rent prices are skyrocketing and bringing unbearable pressure on the young and the most vulnerable. let’s talk about how this comes about and what can be done to fix it.

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How behavioural economics and personalization shapes your life

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:00:00 GMT

In partnership with Liberty Insurance, we bring you: Nudges, choices and personalization - today's episode is all about the countless small decisions we make everyday and how those choices are being influenced in new & various ways.

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The Return of Malthus?

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 03:30:00 GMT

Droughts in Europe, resource-wars and global warming got us thinking about Thomas Malthus and his observations about population. Can we square the world's finite resources with the demands of 7 billion wannabe consumers? We talk positive checks, why hunter gathers were taller and ate better than the first farmers, plus the big Malthusian warning from the past, the Irish Famine. In the past two hundred years ,the world prized itself free of the Malthusian Trap via technology; could we be about to fall back into the grip of Malthus?

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Taiwan and the Global Economy (With Angelica Oung)

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 02:30:00 GMT

Taiwan was all over the news this week. We explore why this small island will be the most sensitive geo-strategic location for the coming showdown between the USA and China. The global economy can survive a conflict with Russia, with China all bets are off.

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Is Putin winning?

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 02:30:19 GMT

The War in Ukraine is entering its 6th month, many predicted it wouldn't last 6 days. As time drags on and Russia's energy strategy begins to pay off, can the West remain united? What does phase 2 of the war look like - and who is the most likely winner?

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Why Manufacturing Matters

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 02:00:22 GMT

Ireland is a manufacturing powerhouse, producing half as much as the UK per year, despite having a population that is 13 times smaller. With 1% of EU's population, Ireland produces 5% of total EU industrial output. 30 years ago, Ireland had practically no manufacturing base to speak of. How was this transformation achieved? Can it be sustained? Can a strong manufacturing base explain a countries political and social outlook and what else can developed from manufacturing prowess? If Ireland can build a manufacturing base from scratch, can other countries follow suit?

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Why the Italian government crumbled

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 02:30:18 GMT

Draghi is out and the Italian government is heading for yet another election - what is happening with this country that seems to be in constant political turmoil?

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How & why recessions happen

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 02:30:28 GMT

Starting with a Chinese example before moving to Ireland, we breakdown how exactly recessions happen, how one person’s behaviour spreads through society and what the current signals are saying about the winter to come

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The Coming Currency Crises. Are you safe?

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 02:30:01 GMT

Bit of a macroeconomic-fest this one. We examine currency crises and why currency collapses could become contagious. We are heading into strange economic times, expect far more currency crises than the mainstream expects. Watch this space in the Autumn. Expect debt forgiveness ahead. Plus this week we have a new slot: my answers to your questions on Patreon.

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What China’s shock recession means for you!

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 02:30:37 GMT

China is hurtling towards recession. This is a dramatic shift in the global economy which will have huge unforeseen consequence for the economy. Plus, last week Sony Kapoor outlined why the economically, financially and politically next ten years won’t be any like the last two or three decades.

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The new financial era is here for a coming world where there will be more Nigerians than Europeans

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 02:30:42 GMT

For financial markets, the last three decades of easy money is officially over. Sony Kapoor joins us to tease out the world economy at this inflection point. Fascinating, wide ranging, optimistic and urgent. You'll love this one!

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The end of Boris Johnson and the British Inconsistent Triplet

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 02:30:01 GMT

It’s finally happening! The "chaos monkey" is gone, but the chaos remains. We look at the trilemma facing the next British leader or as I prefer to call it the "inconsistent triplet" at the heart of UK policy making. What comes next for the UK?

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In conversation with Gary Shteyngard

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 02:30:54 GMT

Today’s pod is going to be slightly eccentric, we’re going to look at the world’s big events of the last year through the eyes of one of the world’s best satirist: Gary Shteyngard. In this wide ranging interview we’ll cover everything from Russia to Covid - and everything in between!

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People have the Power

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 02:30:12 GMT

As Patti Smith sang, People have the Power. The economic pendulum is swinging from capital to labor, from profits to wages, and these shifts never happen smoothly, markets - previously priced profits -freak out, central banks no longer support companies' P/L and we are in for a tumultuous few months, as the world digest what is happening. Economies, demographics, realpolitik & technology always change the face of our society, so are we now at the moment where the worker reclaims his and her pricing power?

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The future of the internet with Tim O’Reilly

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 02:30:48 GMT

Metaverse, web 3.0 and NFTs have been appearing everywhere online in the last year - but what exactly are they? And perhaps more importantly, what do their arrival mean for our daily lives? Today we try to simplify it all with the help of Tim O’Reilly

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The transformation of Ireland and what comes next

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 02:30:05 GMT

Today’s episode looks at the long & the short of Ireland’s transformation. Through a series of choices we have carved a unique place within Europe - where do we go next?

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We don’t know ourselves - A conversation with Fintan O’Toole

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 02:30:34 GMT

Have things really changed? Is Ireland really that different than it was? What are the personalities that have marked our history? Through a wide ranging conversation with Fintan O’Toole we explore these topics to bring the spirit of Ireland to life in an unexpected way.

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The future of the internet economy with Stripe co-founder: John Collison

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 02:30:22 GMT

Today we’re bringing you a unique conversation that I had with John Collison over the weekend where I got to ask him a wide variety of questions covering innovation, crypto, macro-trends for the internet and even flying cars!

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The 2nd Atomic Age

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 02:30:06 GMT

With markets gyrating all over the shop, it's easy to forget the big picture. The price of energy is the foundational price in any economy. Right now it's too high, but it will come down. And, getting it down, plus achieving net zero on carbon emissions are two of the most critical objectives for the entire globe. So how do we get enough clean energy to power the world, and bring down pollution? Nuclear has to be on the cards and in the mix. Let's explore.

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Inflation returns (kinda), what would James Joyce think?

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 02:30:35 GMT

Inflation is back. Don't panic....unless you bought Bitcoin in the past year. Inflation will abate as the policy and the economy adjust, but it may take a bit of time. Plus Bloomonomics - the economics of Ulysses and it's hero Leopold Bloom - what it tells us about creating and fostering civic, mixed living cities - which are the font of most innovation, and economic growth.

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Platinum Jubilee, Sordid Slavery

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 02:30:15 GMT

As the UK celebrates the Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee, we forget that monarchies have historically sat on top of an economic system with slaves, colonies and extractive settlements, the objective of which was to steal wholesale from the colonised countries and peoples. The legacy of the colonialism runs deep in many parts of the world. This week we focus on the Caribbean, its traumatic legacy and how the money taken from there fuelled the capital markets of the 18th century and the industrial revolution. Even today, these countries are still seen as colonies in all but name. We explore the difference between "settler" states and "extractive" states and how these ideas still determine how countries progress.

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What hairdressers and Lobster Thermidor tell us about the economy, employment and inflation

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 02:30:59 GMT

The economy is changing rapidly, we are seeing challenges everywhere, almost all have to do with an excess of demand and deficient supply. This is, in the context of the past hundred years economic history, a brilliant to place to be! is But we might be looking at big developments, not just for policy, but for the coming conflict between public sectors and the governments - everywhere.

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Putin and the long game against the West

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 02:30:32 GMT

Last week president Zelensky addressed Davos asking the WEF to help Ukraine rebuild, we talk being at Davos, and why in many ways Davos Man has been involved with Russia long before the Ukraine war came along. We also hear from Bill Browder about the nature of dealing with Putin and question as to whether the West will hold strong against Putin's long game.

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Brexiternity - the only way the Tories to stay in power

Tue, 31 May 2022 02:30:14 GMT

We focus on our closet neighbour the UK today as it turns its back on the metric system. Yes, true, you believe it? We explore why the Tories have to keep Brexit going. It's their only electoral meal ticket. Expect more "false flag" operations, more weaponizing of Northern Ireland and more jingoistic nonsense about imperial weights, miles, furlongs and the like. You never know, if we wait long enough decimalization might be gone and they'll be back to the half-crown, farthing and shilling!

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There's great dryin' in that wind!

Thu, 26 May 2022 02:30:24 GMT

Economics is energy and energy is economics. Imagine a country blessed with renewable energy, able to power itself and export electricity, faced with the opportunity to completely transform its economy and society and contribute positively to eliminating carbon emissions? That country is Ireland; and outcrop in the north Atlantic buffeted by maritime winds. When Mammy said there's great drying in that wind, she was talking about the transformative opportunity that living in a constant gale affords. Are we going to seize the wind energy chance or are we going to blow it? Listen and find out.

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A Global Perfect Storm

Tue, 24 May 2022 02:30:26 GMT

Markets are suffering from global contagion. Stock markets are down 22% this year. Bonds are tanking too. There are at least four if not five proximate reasons as the global economy heads towards coordinated recession. China (17% of the global economy) is at a stand still due to zero covid, the US is fighting inflation. Europe's real incomes have been squeezed by "Putinflation" and emerging markets are running out of dollars. We tease out the big picture and what it means for all of us.

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Living with inflation, the story of Turkey

Thu, 19 May 2022 02:30:30 GMT

Today’s episode is going to be exploring the intersection between Turkey and inflation, a country that has been living for many years with what traditional metrics would call “out of control” inflation for the last few years.

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Coins and Crypto Carnage

Tue, 17 May 2022 02:30:19 GMT

Digital assets are crashing across the board, something that we’ve warned about across various episodes. Today’s chat is about what is happening & why its happening - is this going to be like the .com crash or like the sub-prime crisis (much worse).

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Scandinavian Models

Thu, 12 May 2022 02:30:33 GMT

Swanneying around Gothenburg this week, the thought stuck me how do these people do it? Why do the Scandinavians do this so well economically, from income, to health, to women feeling safe walking alone at night, Scandinavian countries lead the way, why? Starting from a car wash analogy, we interrogate wage equality, why higher wages at the lower-end are critical to innovation and creating a more fair society - something the Scandinavian countries seem to have figured out ahead of everyone else! This week, let's take some Swedish lessons.

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The coming interest rate crusade against inflation?

Tue, 10 May 2022 02:30:23 GMT

Imagine mortgage rates at 8%, inconceivable possibly but when you think about it not completely out of the question. Historically we've been here before. We examine the last time the interest/inflation cycle turned, what happened, who paid most and what were the long-term consequences? Buckle up for the ride.

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The Death of Distance - direct from Inis Meain

Thu, 05 May 2022 02:30:54 GMT

This one’s a special one: we’re coming to you from Inis Meain, the middle island of the three Aran islands to discuss how Covid and connectivity has enhanced our ability to thrive in remote locations, how going upmarket is the way forward and how this small Irish-speaking community is preserving its (and our) roots while at the same time, adjusting to this new modern reality. Ultimately we are witnessing the death of distance, and, in the future, the more distant you are, the more you will benefit.

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What can the Reformation tell us about Twitter, Martin Luther, Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin?

Tue, 03 May 2022 02:30:29 GMT

What is power? How is it acquired and who owns it? We look at the economics of power, the power of networks and the "strength of weak ties" and the constant historic tension between vertical power, the type deployed by Putin, and horizontal power the type sought by Musk. Plus we explore what they can both learn from the master "influencer" of the early 16th century, Martin Luther.

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The Biggest Question in Economics - How exactly does and economy grow or contract?

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 02:30:55 GMT

Economies weren’t always focused on growth, as weird as that might sound now, growth, is a relatively new concept. Today we’re joined by one of the greats: Mark Blyth, who talks to us about past & future growth rates… and how the planet plays into it.

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The centre just held in France, but with houses prices out of control, will it here?

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 02:30:51 GMT

Today’s episode covers a wide range of economic headlines, from the Inis Meain 10k, the critical roll of credit unions, Macron's win, to Irish housing and what the dysfunctional markets for cars in Cuba can tell us about the equally dysfunctional Irish housing market. Hope you enjoy it...if that's the word!

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The third world debt crisis is going to affect you

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 02:30:53 GMT

One continent has been missing from the headlines lately - Africa: they’re going through a severe debt crisis and with the current state of globalization, what happens there is going to ripple here. Join us as we break it down with David McNair

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231 - Germany's dreadful choice & Elon Musk's “Chaos monkey” moment

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 02:30:54 GMT

Today’s episode is split in two - we start by looking at what German cowardice & its refusal to sanction Russian gas means for both the war and the western alliance. Then we talk Twitter with Mark Little who helps us breakdown the issues thrown up by Musk's bid to take over Twitter and what it tells us about the economics of the internet.

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230 - How to save democracy

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 02:30:34 GMT

Democracy is often accepted as a given - but it is anything but. Today we tackle the myths about democracy and immigrants to hopefully lay the blueprints for a more resilient society.

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229 - Pipes, Pumps and Putin. The Energy Crisis is here.

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 02:30:36 GMT

Europe usually has a 14 day supply of diesel, which is currently down to 4 days. In the coming days Russia might cut off Europe or Europe might decide to stop buying from Russia - what happens then?

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228 - The uncomfortable reality of our energy future

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 02:30:32 GMT

Today we’re joined by Doomberg to talk about the way out of our energy crisis - because energy is quite literally life.

The way out of this mess might necessitate us coming to grips with the fact that we’re going to have some imperfect allies to survive.

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227 - Crunch Time for Energy

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 02:30:19 GMT

This week is all about energy - Putin’s betting Europe won't stand firm, if diesel begins to run out. The next few weeks will be crucial. We've have not seen an energy crisis like this since 1973. With inflation set to rise further and output slumping due to our ill-conceived dependence on Russian energy, it's crunch time for Europe!

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226 - REITs and the possible end of Russia

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 02:30:29 GMT

We start with a breakdown of what exactly is a REIT before the conversation turns to Russia - and more specifically the multi-faceted population of Russia. Are we nearing the point where the population reminds Moscow that it doesn’t speak for the whole country?

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225 - The economics of energy

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 02:30:07 GMT

Economics has always been about energy. When the price of energy rises, everything follows. We go to the Gulf to understand the politics of energy and Putin's calculation that an energy war will cause a Western recession, just like 1973, may well come off.

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224 - The Resurgence of the Liberal order

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:33:16 GMT

Putin has weaponized global capital and because of that action I believe that we will see investment flow towards liberal democracies, which is a massive economic opportunity for the countries that will present themselves as a safe place to use business - but we have to get inflation under control!

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223 - China at a tipping point

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 03:30:48 GMT

China looks to have made its choice for now, and it is with Russia. This might be the most consequential decision for the world economy since the fall of the Berlin wall. Globalization is in the balance and a bipolar world of us and them, now looks likely. Why would China risk everything to bail out Putin? Thats the question.

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222 - Odessa - the vibrant symbol of urban irreverence and why it irritates Putin so much.

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 03:30:17 GMT

As the war in Ukraine continues, we focus on an extraordinary city which could well be the next Russian target, Odessa. A product of commerce and an effervescent example of urban economics, Odessa is cosmopolitan, tolerant, self-reinventing, brimming of various ethnicities, home to Russian intellectual greats Pushkin, Babel, Eisenstein and Jabotinsky. Today this great city is on the frontline. We explore its economy and history, and why destroying this city is akin to destroying an idea, which is why it will be impossible. We also highlight one of the darkest and least well known atrocities of the Holocaust.

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221 - Why climate change is an investment, not a cost

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 01:30:00 GMT

To reach the global climate goals in 2030, we need to half our emissions, so speed is the name of the game! Join us as Eric Lonergan & Corinne Sawers talk about the steps and mindset that we need to adopt to save the planet.

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220 - Russian sanctions explained with Sony Kapoor

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 04:30:37 GMT

Let's look at the next stage of sanctions, how they're designed and how the whole world is reacting to their implementation.

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219 - Women in economics

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 01:30:37 GMT

The celebrate international women’s day we ask why are women still so underrepresented in economics?

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218 - Russian sanctions & Wartime speculations

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 02:30:35 GMT

The west is fighting a new type of war - an economic war instead of a ground war. Let’s investigate what is going on & wether or not its going to work.

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217 - The Economics of the War

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:30:00 GMT

Today we frame the invasion of Ukraine as a war against the "idea" of the EU. For Putin, Ukraine is only the start. The big prize is destabilizing the EU. So far he has miscalculated, but it's early days. We examine the Ukrainian economy, who will stand up to Putin and we chat to the brilliant Norwegian economist, Martin Sandbu of the Financial Times.

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216 - Russia/Ukraine and where we go next

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 02:00:33 GMT

Russia has amputated a chunk of Ukraine. War is now looming in Europe. How did we end up here? Where did diplomacy go wrong? What is coming next? Today’s episode aims to simply explain the whole situation and provide some thoughts about what might happen next.

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215 - Are interest rates the solution to inflation?

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 03:30:42 GMT

The most talked about solution to fight off inflation is interest rates - but is that blunt instrument really going to fix such a complex problem? Join us as we bring in Dario Perkins to give us his point of view.

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214 - Are the central banks working for you? Or big money?

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 03:30:41 GMT

Today’s episode is a fascinating interview with Christoper Leonard who walks us through his latest book and brings to life how the FED and central banks around the world have rarely been on the side of the little guy.

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213 - How do we solve the inflation problem?

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 03:30:11 GMT

All around the world people are feeling their purchasing power shrink: as inflation rises the cost of living - and indeed your real wealth - goes down. What is causing this? Is this going to continue? How do we make it go away? All that & more in today’s episode.

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212 - The full shilling? The case for crypto as a speculative asset - but a currency, eh no!

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 03:30:18 GMT

Crypto has captured the imagination of many as way to get rich quick - but few are able to agree or even explain what it actually is. In today’s conversation we are joined by Michael Saylor, one of the biggest bitcoin holder, to explain what it is and how you might be using it - spoiler alert: he doesn’t think it’s a currency either!

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211 - Understanding inflation through the man behind the FED in America

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 03:30:07 GMT

Behind every decision is human beings, who they are, how they act & where they’re from is critical to understanding the context in which any given decision is taken. In light of the announced interest rate hikes we attempt to pull back the curtain and understand who is Jerome Powell (besides the chair of the federal reserve of the United States) - because his actions in the coming year will ripple across the world

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210 - Russian tensions explained & pub economics

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 03:30:18 GMT

Russia has been dominating headlines as of late and clickbait titles want you to believe that World War 3 is on the horizon - What is really happening in Russia? Join us as we hear from people living there what news they are hearing and how they see this large scale posturing play out.

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209 - If global warming is the question, free public transport is the answer

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:30:11 GMT

With the return to office happening all around the world, we’re seeing old problems come back; namely, traffic and congestion in cities. This is something we can, and should, solve - join us as we look at how we make it work for everyone. Plus on the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses, what would Leopold Bloom have to say about traffic, land tax and urban economics.

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208 - Breaking down the metaverse & why we we need to disconnect

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 03:30:27 GMT

There’s massive amounts of money being thrown around by people who are trying to invest in the metaverse… so what exactly is it? And perhaps more importantly: is it a necessary or even a desirable future that these companies are setting up for us.

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207 - What's happening in finance, why all the crashing? Plus, the key to unlocking the Irish economy

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 03:30:02 GMT

We breakdown what is happening with the falling stocks in the tech sector by talking about bonds, inflation and returns on investment before looking at the state of the Irish economy as we emerge from lockdown. Spoiler alert: Housing is involved!

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206 - Is it Last call for Boris Johnson?

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 03:30:26 GMT

Today is about the UK: as Boris Johnson fights for his political life we breakdown the timeline of events that brought us here, when & how this all might end and finally: what is legacy might be.

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205 - Can the centre hold?

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 03:30:47 GMT

WB Yeats in his poem "The Second Coming", described a world, 100 odd years ago, where the forces of economics and politics meant that "things fall apart" and "the centre cannot hold". In many ways he was right. In 1922, the centre didn't hold, not in Ireland, not anywhere. Things did fall apart. Today we look at the complexion of Irish society as it is, not as sloganeers might want it to be and ask the same question. Are we on the path of seismic change or something more gradual? The figures might surprise you!

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204 - The Origin of Covid. Where precisely did it come from?

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 03:30:02 GMT

Where exactly did Covid come from? Today’s episode tackles the origin of Covid, where did it come from, the food chain or a lab leak? A lab leak opens the door to all sorts of questions, geo-political, scientific and ethical. In fact, its one of the most important questions surrounding the pandemic and yet, it is the question few have asked? Conventional wisdom says it jumped from bats to animals in a Wuhan market, what it this is not true?

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203 - Is this the year crypto crashes?

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 03:30:58 GMT

I've no idea whether crypto and Bitcoin in particular will crash, double or stay where it is. No one does. In economic terms, cryptocurrency is definitely SOMETHING, but at this stage, it is patently not money. Join us as we explain how Bitcoin is clearly an asset, but its is definitely not money. Why a good way to look at money is to imagine it is like language and why money is a technology not a commodity. Could 2022 be the year to be cautious around the speculative asset that is crypto or time to double down despite recent declines?

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202 - The Washington Putsch - One Year on

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 03:30:05 GMT

Let's talk America one year to the day after storming of Capitol Hill. Some warn the US is moving towards civil war, certainly the place is divided, what of the early Biden optimism and just when you though it was safe to dream again, he's back, more orange than ever. All this a discussion on productivity, wages and growth in Ireland.

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201 - The World at a Tipping Point

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 03:30:37 GMT

The New Year and a new credit cycle. In 2021 the world was awash with money, but will this continue in 2022? If not what will it mean for the economy, for you, and for confidence? All credit cycles follow similar paths, we trace these cycles. Also what about European and Irish tech in the next 12 months and how John is becoming a drummer.

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200 - The economics of Nighttime. Why we need more not less, socializing!

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 03:30:15 GMT

Happy Christmas! Hope you had a good one! Weird that this week we are talking about more boozing, more socializing, more venues, more events, more late nights, more entertainment just when things are closing down, but the best gift we can give the social economy, is open up everything, no more Victorian licences, and embrace the night time economy. For a city to live, it has to be 24 hours, for those who want to go out, where they like, when they like. All this plus, a framework for making better predictions in 2022 with the help of strategist Viv Chambers. Hope you enjoy and wishing you a Happy New Year!

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199 - the Central banks have spoken… what does it mean?

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 03:30:37 GMT

Around the world the central banks have announced their vision for what 2022 will look like - How will these announcements affect your Daily budget and your ability to make biggest purchases? Join us to find out!

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198 - The economics of Football

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 03:30:00 GMT

There's an extra episode this week!Thanks to the folks at NOW we're bringing you the economics of football to understand clubs really work, what are the incentives driving their behaviors and how in many ways they mirror our broader economy as a whole.

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197 - The changing political landscape in Ireland & the UK

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Today is all about politics as Kevin Cunningham joins us to breakdown the latest numbers for Ireland and the UK

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196 - The Russian crisis that nobody saw coming

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 03:30:00 GMT

The rising tensions between Russian and Ukraine has flared up faster than anyone could have predicted and we're now at the edge of what could be the biggest story of the year - so let's break down exactly what is happening and more importantly, WHY its happening

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195: The economics that made America

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Today’s episode we get all historical and look at economics of Alexander Hamilton, the man who forged America and got murdered for his troubles. Through his eyes we tackle hyper-inflation, financing revolution, central banking, government borrowing and trade and wonder why it all still feels so contemporary.

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194 - What happens now?

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 03:30:00 GMT

As we go into another quasi-lockdown, what does it mean for the economy. What as Covid done to our understanding of the economy, why is this so different and what is likely to happen to the economy and in financial markets which are already expensive.

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193 - Comparing innovation between the US and Europe with Michael Fertik

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 03:30:00 GMT

As we begin to take stock of the year we’re looking at how the pandemic has changed the working landscape through the lens of innovations and entrepreneurship.

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192 - Movement: markets, people and viruses

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 03:00:00 GMT

In the span of a single week, a bright outlook for 2022 is now starting to look quite bleak as the new South African Covid variant enters our communities & media cycles. Today’s episode is all about how movement works, across people, financial markets & of course… COVID

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191 - China and America's latest Sputnik moment

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Today we talk about China: its growth, its dominance and perhaps most importantly; its future

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190 - The housing crisis solution is going to be imperfect

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Today’s start is about the way out of the global housing crisis, how some well intentioned ideas have unfortunate unexpected consequence and why the way out of this problem is going to require us to accept some imperfect solutions.

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189 - When money dies: Notes on hyperinflation, currency manipulation and Ponzi schemes, plus who is with who in the new Middle East

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

We explain precisely how exchange rate, interest rate and monetary policy actually interact and work - all within the first 30 mins! While inflation is grabbing headlines across the world whats hiding behind the headlines is fragile currencies: today we look at Beirut to understand what lessons we can take from a country when money dies.

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188 - Lessons from Oslo: How to create green innovation

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Following last week’s conversations on climate change we wanted to talk about the real, tangible ways that we can create this better, greener future through public initiatives. The race to 2030 is on - and the finish line is closer than we might think!

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187 - The return of inflation

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

It’s no secret that we’ve been living in inflationary times, but inflation is always the harbinger of higher interest rates and if they were to go up, what happens? Lessons from Zillow, the problem of tomorrow's big data, yesterday's invented barter, and the amount of debt out there and a central banks that gets spooked. Fascinating stuff. Its all about inflation, transitory or temporary? Today we’re joined by Rob Armstrong in New York to explore.

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186 - The myths of dereliction - and how to fight back

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

When it comes to dereliction there's many myths that people tell to accept the status quo - "that's just the way it is" "the council is doing its best " - "It's a problem with planning permission". To put it bluntly: most of these are simply not true. Let's break them down and talk about what we can do to create a better future.

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185 - Inflation, leverage and the ecological warning from the vikings

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Today’s episode explores two topics: we begin by looking at what the market thinks of potential interest rate increases - is there a bear market coming? Then we continue to focus on climate change through a warning from the Vikings regarding how civilizations choose to collapse.

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184 - The Climate Change Opportunity

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 03:30:00 GMT

We are running out of time, it's now or never. The world needs to stop burning fossil fuels. That's the challenge. It’s not all doom & gloom. We explore about the massive economic opportunities of renewables for those who are ready to seize them!

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183 - What’s next for Germany and why it matters; plus the life of journalist Robert Fisk

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 02:00:00 GMT

Today’s podcast is split in two: we explore the changing of the guard in Germany and a massive undocumented shift in German policy, before exploring the legacy of a great journalist and writer: Robert Fisk

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182 - Why now is the time to go for a wage rise!

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Why now is the time to strike for a higher wage. Wages are going up, don't get left behind. Also, a quick follow-up on last week’s chats on inflation & crypto, we ask the question what does crypto/Bitcoin do in a crisis? The Great Depression was caused by dumb-ass attachment to the gold standard, why would digital gold be any different in another slump? Plus wages, the Great Resignation and what it means for your job & your salary? And why switching jobs now makes complete sense.

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181 - Is Cryptocurrency the silver bullet to inflation?

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We’re continuing our conversation on inflation, this time through the lens of cryptocurrency to understand if it actually is the safe haven to inflation that many seem to think it is

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180 - Money and inflation - What to make of the current rising costs

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 23:30:00 GMT

From the Greek Goddess Maia, to the Roman God Mercury, and the Lord Edward Pub in Dublin, this week's chat on inflation takes an eclectic turn. We’re seeing price increases across various aspects of our lives - how worried should you be? Today we breakdown how these price increases came to be and how long they might last.

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179 - The crossroad between a Mad Max or a Star Trek Future

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 02:30:00 GMT

This week we connect with Alec Ross, the author of the Raging 2020s to talk about the fight for our future, how share-holders rose to power and the way that society can take back control for a better future for all.

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178 - Tinder for ideas and the new corporate tax rate implications

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We kick off the week with the launch of our new international trade and money course which aims to bring economics to everyone! We start the chat with a quick overview of the course before talking about the new corporate tax rate, what's happening and how we can use this new reality to make Ireland a more entrepreneurial place for our youth.

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177 - Is China the new Japan?

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 02:00:00 GMT

We examine the similarities between China in 2022 and Japan in 1990. The trajectory of huge export-led growth, dragging Japan in the 1950s, 60s, 70s out of the post-WW2 morass, and China in the 1990s, Noughties and Teens out of the post-Mao torpor, leading to an internal domestic bubble, fuelled by property, real estate speculation and excessive bank lending.

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176 - Britain's coming Winter of Discontent

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 02:30:00 GMT

"A spectre is haunting Britain—the spectre of stagflation". It's not always the podcast paraphrases Karl Marx, but when it comes to ideology, there are few better examples of "the one size fits all" trap as Marxism or Brexit. Now the consequences of Brexit and the end of the pandemic are pushing the UK, one of the most inherently inflationary economy in the West, towards stagflation where growth slows at the same time as prices rise. In the week where the Brexit jihadis of the Tory Party gather, we have a gander across the water. Lots in here economics, politics, culture, nostalgia and the economics of panic!

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175 - Conversation with the brilliant behavioural economist Dan Ariely

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

From the experience economy, to the economics of meaning, the psychology of Covid deniers, what happens when you are too committed to on idea, the perils of Facebook, the economics of internet bullying and what happens when we don't see the downside of our own bad behaviour. Brilliant stuff, fascinating insights. I think you will enjoy it.

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174 - The Housing Price Theory of Everything

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We kick off with a jammy deal in Dublin and why it tells you everything you need to know about what's wrong with Ireland's housing market. Plus the hidden costs of house price increases everything from obesity, climate change, wealth inequality and even fertility!

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173 - Evergrande implosion and the economics of Colonialism

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Today we start in China to talk about Evergrande, the real estate empire that is on the brink of collapse before talking about the history of colonialism and linking it to current day economics

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172 - The Economics of Casement, Carson, Congo and Colonialism

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

As Michael D Higgins, Ireland’s President gets into a scrap, we have a hot take on rubber booms, Apocalypse Now, Roger Casement, King Leopold and Oscar Wilde! Enjoy!

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171 - Inflation: why it's personal

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

With headlines around the world talking about rising inflation its well worth the time to break down what it is, why yours might not be like anyone else’s and why, in time, this too shall pass.

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170 - A few thoughts from Dubai and what Sally Rooney and the points race can tell us about the elite and elite overproduction?

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

This week, we're in Dubai, giving a quick run down of what the region looks like to the visitor, then we head back to Europe in order to look at the dilemma of elite overproduction, how our new meritocracy is turning sour an what it means for the economics, politics and society.

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169 - The great Chinese closedown

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

China has been making huge policy changes in the last few weeks - it’s laying out a clear vision for what it wants the country to look like for the decades to come. We join Angelica Oung in Taiwan to help us breakdown the latest events

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168 - Thoughts on the new Irish housing plan

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

The Irish governments has finally laid out a vision to tackle the ongoing housing crisis and while it’s far from perfect, it is a step in the right direction. Join us as we go over what was proposed and what kind of impact it might have.

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167 - Education for the brave new world

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 02:30:00 GMT

As the 4th industrial revolution has converged with a global pandemic creating seismic shifts in various aspects of our lives, how will the future of work look like?

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166 - Taliban Tremors

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

What is the implication of the Taliban's takeover of Kabul? The author of "The Silk Roads", Peter Frankopan shares his wisdom with us, and explains what all this means for the region and the globe. Plus, the odd riff on August, Louis Walsh and Jimmy Carter.

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165 - Afghanistan, from the perspective of people who are & have been there with Nelofer Pazira Fisk

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Afghanistan is unraveling in front of our eyes, and while many stories are making headlines, few talk about what it currently feels like for the regular folks living there. We’re bringing you a unique perspective from real Afghans about what it feels like right now as well as what might come next.

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164 - Russia after Putin with political dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

It's not always you get to chat to a man who survived 10 years in a Siberian Gulag, Mikhail Khodorkovsky is such a man, so this is a real treat. Who better to discuss Putin than the man Putin was so afraid of that he put him in prison? The handover from the Putin regime will be an huge geo-political event and it has the potency to go very badly wrong. Like most autocrats, Putin hasn't picked a successor and is said to step down in 2024, What will then become of Russia?

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163 - The Edge & Brian Cox go beyond the music

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Today's episode is a unique blend of music, creativity & quantum physics between two masters of their respective fields. From Brian Cox's early brushings with music to tips on being a good ancestor - this is one you don't want to miss!

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162 - The politics of catastrophe with Niall Ferguson

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We’re bringing you another conversation from the Dalkey Book Festival where we explore nationality, sports, history, the pandemic, and most importantly why the incentives to implement preventive measures are non-existent in our society!!

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161 - Sitting down with Bernie Sanders

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

This week we want to bring you a great conversation that I had with Bernie Sanders at the Dalkey Book Festival a few weeks ago. Senator Sanders touches on the current economic climate of politics in the states, the Biden agenda and where he wants to push the budget committee.

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160 - The economics of love (Best of)

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

It's August - We're taking a moment to go through our archives and surface a few "best of"' to keep you company on your summer holidays. This week we're revisiting one of our all-time favourites: the economics of love! Hope you enjoy!

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159 - Dante and the economics of the 14th century

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

This week we dive back into Florence and Dante to explore how this extraordinary writer’s lessons and insights are still as relevant today as the day they were written

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158 - Economics at a crossroad with Mark Blyth & Eric Lonergan

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Eric & Mark walk us through the vacuums in politics and the different types of anger that has brought on the rise of populism globally and how they’ve used this anger to create a new economic framework

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157 - Mid-year review with Paul Donovan

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Everyone has tried to make the year that’s passed fit into classic boom/bust models but the truth is that there’s nothing classical about 2020 - so let’s assess what really happened to the economy and what we’re heading into now.

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156 - Get on board with ESG or else!

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Brands spend millions to represent something that consumers want to be associated with. The tricky part is that culture is always changing, always evolving. The latest cultural change is the rise of ESG in people’s decision making - not understanding this shift can significantly impact bottom lines!

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155 - Is Cuba in the middle of a regime change

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 01:30:00 GMT

There is a wind of change in the Cuban air. The Castro family is no longer running the country and there are whispers among the locals that this might be a tipping point for the country. Let’s breakdown the current situation & the different ways that this can play out.

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154- The economics of climate change, the coming resource wars and what we can do about it.

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 01:30:00 GMT

Economists are dangerous, so says this week's guest iconoclastic economist,Professor Steve Keen and this is particularly the case if we think about climate change. What can we do to avoid a climate catastrophe? Carbon credits could be the answer, but we have to act quickly. Plus, why Ireland could be to renewable energy what Saudi Arabia is to petrol and thrifty five years after Chernobyl, why the return of nuclear is on the cards.

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153 - Follow the Money: Why is the government selling the Bank of Ireland cheaply and why now?

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

The Irish government is trying to sell its stake in the Bank of Ireland at a half price. Selling cheap and buying expensive is never good business. We head back to the West Lower to explore the nexus between selling Bank of Ireland cheaply and the dreaded Davy Stockbrokers, that entity that is under investigation by the State. Could there be a link? If so what does it say about corporate culture in Ireland?

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152 - The NYtimes is wrong - Ireland is not a tax haven

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Last week the New York Times took a swipe at Ireland by calling it a tax haven - which it most definitely is not. Using taxes is central to any nation's economic policy. A tax haven is understood to be a place where a company puts a brass plate up, has few if any employees and proceeds to wash money through this shell company. That is not what is happening in Ireland. We explore the transformation of the Irish society and the Irish economy, against the background of a small country fighting the limitation of size by embracing globalization and importing much needed capital over a thirty year period.

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151 - Reimagining cities post COVID

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

The world is changing and nowhere is that more apparent than in urban areas around the world. Today’s episode looks at the transformations happening in our podcast home of Dun Laoghaire and use it as a template to discuss what might happen around the world.

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150 - Rich Man/Poor Man with Stephanie Kelton & Marla Dukharan

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Up here, in what used to be called the "1st World", the pandemic has focused economists' minds on what can be done to change our thinking after Covid has passed. M.M.T. sets out new economic opportunities available, for example, to the the US. But not all countries have the luxury of this approach built up over decades of wealth and stability. Countries in what is now termed the "Global South" do not have these possibilities. Yet they are the ones that need a break most. Today’s episode contrasts what new economic frameworks meant for countries who are already rich and compares that to the experience from countries who remain poor.

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149 - Let’s talk Pride, is there a gay economy?

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 02:30:00 GMT

When I was a kid, being inclusive or accepting of gay people was regarded as the death knell of commerce. Today it’s an essential attribute of a successful economy or company. This week we talk about the change

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148 - Is the political centre back?

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We examine recent political trends and ask the question: is the centre, written off by the extremes, back in the game & And if so, what does it mean?

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147 - The housing market by the numbers

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We're slowly but surely coming to the boiling point of the housing market, but as we do so it's important to step back and understand the magnitude of the mess we're in. Join us this week as we quantify the booms & busts of the last 2 generations in Ireland.

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146 - The Great Caste War

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Elections all over the world are now power struggles between "castes", not so much classes, ideologies or even economics. We look at economic history as being one on going struggle between three castes, the priests, the warriors and the merchants. Each traditional caste has evolved from their historical origins, but they are essentially unchanged in the modern. Today's politics is still dominated by this fascinating three-way struggle, economics is also determined by the winners of this battle. From the Pharaoh, to the Red Branch Knights, the disappearance of Prussia, right up to Brexit and the next Irish election we trace this illuminating way at looking political, power and position. It explains why the relatively rich have swung to the Left, while the relatively poor have swung to the Right in the biggest political re-configuration of our age.

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145 - Kamikaze Kapitalism

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

History is a great teacher - so this week we turn to the 1980s in Japan to learn how one country who had seemingly figured it all out - lost its way!

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144 - What is Money? With Eric Lonergan

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Money is so deeply engrained in our lives that we sometimes forget to think about it at all. With the rise of alternative currencies it's worth taking a step back and thinking about what exactly is money?

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143 - G7, global corporate taxes & Disrupting the building sector

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Every country has the right to use the tools at their disposable to make the lives of its citizens more prosperous - even the tax code. With the G7 underway and it’s headlines about a common tax rate we’re going to explore what that could mean for Ireland before moving to another key global issue: Disrupting the construction industry to achieve affordable housing.

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142 - Value is created in the mind with Rory Sutherland

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Why gold may have started with prostitution, why wine makers take the mickey, why economists only see half the picture and what Naomi Osaka tell us about decision-making and why the so-called hard sciences are actually easy and the soft one, hard. We’ve always opened the podcast by saying that you need to understand human nature to understand the economy, so today instead of interrogating a specific topic, we look at value & value creation - because economics has to be more open to marketing & psychology to see the big picture and be materially better at creating a better future.

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141 - Is Bitcoin a bubble or the currency of the future - or can it be both? Part.2

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Bitcoin’s value has gone from 10 000 USD to a whopping 60 000 USD in the last 6 month - before going down to about 35 000 USD now. But what is it? Is it money or an asset? Can a currency so volatile be a reliable replacement to fiat money? Is it even a currency? Or something else entirely? This week we’re doing a 2 part series that aims to untangle all the noise around coins and cryptocurrency.

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140 - Is Bitcoin a bubble or the currency of the future - or can it be both? Part.1

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 02:30:00 GMT

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139 - Boring but radical: How Biden is getting it done

Thu, 27 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

After a quick hit on Bitcoin we join Harvard economist Megan Greene for a deep dive on why MMT is rising in America, how Biden is embracing this new vision of monetary policy and what he’s trying to achieve with these massive infrastructure plans - all while watching out for the inflation risk!

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139 - The UK’s new economic approach

Tue, 25 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Brexit has created a new economic environment for the UK. Robert Lind joins us to untangle what the new business model might be moving forward, how it might diversify the UK economy & how it might affect London and beyond.

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138 - Global panic buying & inflation

Thu, 20 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

If you know anyone in their 20s or 30s, no matter where in the world you are, you’ve been talking about housing. By all accounts the pandemic has turned an underlying condition into a fatal diagnostic for most millennials. Today we look at how the world’s housing markets in a variety of countries before moving onto the return of inflation - its always important to keep things in perspective

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137 - Israel and Palestine, explained, put into perspective and hopefully made more clear with Tom Friedman

Tue, 18 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Through a unique Broadway analogy, the fascinating three times Pulitzer Prize winner, New York columnist Times Tom Friedman helps us navigate the bigger picture behind the terrible headlines that we've been reading for the last week regarding the conflict in the Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank.

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136 - What the Pope told Mack!

Thu, 13 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

As wages stagnate but house prices rise, a new class will emerge, beneficiaries of the housing boom, an inheritance class. As the younger generation falls behind, they will become more dependent on inheriting wealth, normally via parent's houses. This will create a drone class without the get up an go of previous strivers. We are already seeing it in some countries: you can go backwards. Also a conversation I had with the Pope, yes Francis himself about exactly this!

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135 - Vultures, cuckoos, pigeons - what's with all these avian funds?

Tue, 11 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Can you feel it in the air? The wind is changing for property funds in Ireland, people are realizing how rigged the system is against them and they’re deciding to do something about it. The first step of any battle is to understand what you’re up against. This week we’ll try to breakdown these funds to better understand what they are & how we got here.

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134 - Lessons from the Great Depression

Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it - or so the saying goes. This week, with the help of IG, we’re looking at what happened in the Great Depression and comparing it with Biden’s current economic approach to see if we’ve learned anything from the past economic cycles…

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133 - The beauty of discovering numbers

Thu, 06 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Some argue that great civilized societies are measured by culture, literature or art but what about the idea that real sophistication is statistics? Truly self-confident societies reveal, expose, shine a light and measure. Calculation is purity. Data matters and to fully understand anything it’s often essential to understand numbers. Why do we use a base 12 for months? 60 for seconds? How do we make sense of the latest political stats? The answer: it's all about context.

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132 - Pulling up the drawbridge

Tue, 04 May 2021 02:30:00 GMT

The biggest barrier to progress is the contented class, driven by their C.A.V.E philosophy: Citizens Against Virtually Everything, they want things to slow down now that they have risen up. they object to almost everything, gumming up the planning process, driving up house costs and house prices. These Cavemen, consumed by the anti-social behavior of serial objecting, are lifting the ladder behind them it in an attempt to further their economic status at the expense of the next generation. We contrast this static, dysfunction with the thrusting dynamic of the tech sector which is creating the future in front of our eyes.

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131 - What will your Spotify Moment look like? Learning from the music industry

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:06:43 GMT

The music industry has been the most iconic example of disruption in the modern age, but if Will Page is right (former chief economist of Spotify) - it might only be the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come. Join us as we explore what happened to the music industry and how the same disruption is coming for many more categories, maybe including your own!

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130 - The end of Neo-Liberalism & economic super-cycles explained with Dario Perkins

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Through the super-league we look at what might be the impending end of neo-liberalism: it's all about the background noise!. From there we tease out what economic super-cycles are, why they might be a breath of fresh air for the next generation and how we’ve come to an inflection point in macroeconomic thinking

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129 - No one is safe until everyone is safe

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Yesterday was the worst day to day for new cases of COVID 19 globally since the pandemic started. WE may feel safer, but the world is a dangerous as ever. To combat it, and any future variants, we must respond as a united planet: the reality is we can only open if rich countries pay for the vaccines of poor countries. In 1918 after WW1 we had the League of Nations, in 1948, after WW2 the UN, World Bank, Marshall Plan and the WHO. Maybe this crisis will provide the catalyst for a global response, because vaccine nationalism isn't the answer. Planetary response to a planetary pandemic. Money is not the problem, vision is.

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128 - Clinging to power, what's the next move?

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

We head down the West Lower to look at the fallout from the KBC move to leave Ireland, plus in the week that the new more muscular USA slaps sanctions on Russia, we look at the geo-strategic options for Russia, including a tacit alliance with the USA against China in Siberia. Also, there's a Russian/American summit coming up, why doesn't Ireland host it and use out neutrality actively?

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127 - By 2030 there will be more female millionaires in the world than men. Change is coming.

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

One of the most significant changes influencing our world is the feminization of the economy. It's been a long time coming, and the fruits of many battles- contraception, free and inclusive education, divorce, abortion. Finally, in the West, woman are catching up with men, in income and wealth. This trend will profoundly affect the society and the economy. Candice Bushnell, writer of Sex in the City, remarked that, "Women with money is a notion that our society is uncomfortable with". Well we'd better get used to it. In the global south, it's a different story; as Marla Dukharan reminds us, the fight is far from over

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126 - The end of the road for the Irish corporate tax advantage?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Over the last few decades Ireland has been growing by leaps & bounds, catching up with most of our European neighbours in almost every measurements, social and economic. Part of that story has been the dramatic improvement in the countries' capital base as a result of US MNC investment. Ireland has received more US corporate investment that China, Russia, India and Brazil combined! Now the Biden administration wants to harmonize global corporation tax - do we need to come up with a new strategy?

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125 - When China flexes. Is Taiwan Asia's Berlin wall?

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

China is changing. Relations with the US have plummeted Taiwan is the ground zero for the new China. What happens in Taiwan will affect the global economy for decades to come. We head to Taipei for an explosive local view of regional and global. Also what doe the US's new 20% corporation tax mean for Ireland and the world economy.

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124 - Where is the "lockdown dividend"? Joe Biden the economic revolutionary - plus its Vespa time!

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Ireland has been in lockdown for 231 days - by far the most stringent lockdown in the EU, so where's the dividend? Could 1950s/60s Irish emigration to the UK explain far more about Ireland and Covid than we care to admit? Plus, it's all changed in the USA. Paul McCulley talks about the tectonic shift in economic policies that is shaking up the United States - how Biden calls time on Reagan's economics and why we are looking at a bear market for bonds.

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123 - Our hyper-integrated world. Suez canal, supply chain fragility & the death of traditional recessions!

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 06:38:33 GMT

Yes, the canal is unblocked, but the ramifications of the events should not be understated: the fragility of our global supply chain has been exposed and people are starting to awaken to the inter-connectivity of our global lives. Join us as we talk with the brilliant historian Mr Silk Roads himself, Peter Frankopan about what all this will mean for the future of globalization.

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122 - Its time for a buyer’s strike

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 02:30:00 GMT

Any free trade has 2 sides: a buyer & a seller. After today’s conversation with one of our Patreon: Ciaran Mulqueen - who runs the crazy house prices instagram page it seems that buyers are going to start taking major steps to change the course of the housing market, in Ireland and globally!

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121 - The Psychology of the Far Right

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 07:06:58 GMT

All European countries have seen increases in far-right parties in the last decade. This political affiliation will not just disappear as most people hope it will. This week we look the far-right straight in the eyes and try to understand the underlying sentiments & motives behind the political affiliation. History has shown us the risk of letting it run free. Withe the help of Kevin Cunningham we don't just look at economics and social issue, but personality types & deep human characteristics, inherited from our hundreds of thousands of years as hunter gatherers which unwittingly dictate how we see the world. We also examine a previous period of rapid technological change, how it created both modernism and its counter reaction "blood and soil" nationalism.

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120 - Cease and desist. Get out of the housing market right now, plus the 5 fundamental ways cities are changing

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 03:30:00 GMT

The global seller’s market for housing is hitting new levels of madness - its time for buyers to take a stand and decide that they’re not going to take part in this madness - at least until the supply comes back to its pre-pandemic levels. In the same vein, it’s important to consider how the world is changing as people look to buy new homes. We break down five major urban trends with Simon Kuper. Plus John's Cheltenham blues.

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119 - The Economic Revolution is here

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 03:00:00 GMT

Joe Biden unveils a $1.9 trillion package and is saying he will spend more. This is a massive change - almost a revolution against economic orthodoxy - and we are on our way to MMT (Modern Monetary Theory). We talk to the main proponent of MMT: Professor Stephanie Kelton about this brave new world. We are in a transformative age. Welcome to the future!

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117 - Learning from the master innovator Johannes Gutenberg

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 07:19:08 GMT

Learning used to be hands-on, trail and error, mentors, mistakes & real world experience. Gutenberg is the model. Could going back to the old ways be the key to unlocking the innovators within our youth?

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116 - White collar crime, why vaccines are destiny, & the miraculous resurrection of Boris Johnson

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Why vaccine is the only game in town. What Michael should say to Joe on St Patricks Day, plus crimes in the “West lower”..... then off the London talking with Robert Shrimsley of the Financial Times on Boris Johnson’s surprising resurgence in popularity

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115 - The War on Drugs has failed, stop it.

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The War in Drugs is a spectacular failure. It is time to end it and begin to have an adult conversation about legalizing drugs. If you went out to set up a better way to enrich a violent criminal class, it would be impossible to find a better way. We explain the economic case for the legalization of drugs, tax them and use the proceeds to help those small amount of recreational drug takers who become addicts. Treat addiction not as a crime but a health issue. Also don't fear the rise in global bond yields. It's a sign of success and please don't listen to the "austerity hyenas" screeching about large deficits, thats what's supposed to happen.

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114 - Building back better

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 03:30:00 GMT

The markets are getting their knickers in a twist over inflation and maybe even deficits, we explain why the economics of the 1990s no longer applies and the big shift in global policy is the bias now is towards inflation not deflation for the first time since the 1970s. Plus, the brilliant economist Noah Smith from San Fransisco on three brilliantly practical ideas to make housing work better for everyone. Plus, what happens to an economist trying his hand at radio presenting for the craic gets a bit tongue-tied live on air with the British Foreign Secretary!

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113 - Bidenomics, why we should not worry about inflation and embracing economic heres

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

The USA is embarking on the biggest change in economic policy in decades. Biden is using the economics of the 1930s to avoid the 1930s. This is a big deal. We speak to renowned economic heretic and former Fed economist, Claudia Sahm about Biden's New Deal, being bullied by 1970's thinking and America creating 10 million new jobs. Also, we talk about economic heresy. When only one Federal Reserve economist out of 406 is black, economics has a problem. We discuss about the coming Reformation in economics with Claudia, the woman who called it out!

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112 - How Ireland really works!

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

The upcoming sale of Ulster Bank will reveal how Ireland actually works. We give you the "collars up" view from the West Lower Stand at the Aviva stadium - where deals are done. This corporate finance 101 podcast breaks down the likely carve-up of Ulster Bank amongst the Insiders, and explains why as long as the banking system is joined at the hip to the property market, Ireland will always be a boom/bust economy driving up mortgage rates and down competition. Also why data is important. We break down the demand for housing in Ireland for the next thirty years. we need to build 55,000 housing units a year not 25,000 per year as the government maintains.

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111 - The future of the City

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

What will our cities look like after Covid? We talk to renowned urbanist Richard Florida, the man behind the concept of the Creative Class and Creative Cities about what next for our cities. We also outline three "must do's" for cities. The first is a directly-elected Mayor with proper taxation/spending powers, second a tax on land hoarding to make land useful again and third, cities need to issue municipal bonds to finance everything, from housing to great public works, with the aim of making our cities beautiful, livable and magnificent.

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110 - Going Dutch, London's Brexit losses and what's the story with Bitcoin?

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Hundreds of years ago, the Dutch were Europe's moneymen and it looks as if they are at it again. We look at new alliances & digital trade routes emerging in the post-Brexit era. Looking at Hindu parables, what's the elephant in the room? What's the story with Bitcoin, digital Gold or digital Tulips, plus the logic in Elon Musk's big bet. If Bitcoin is a hedge against catastrophe, are we missing something?

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109 - The fallout from economic mania & the conventional thinking trap with Tom Bergin

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

we start off by taking a look at the fallout of the Gamestop fiasco before tackling the bigger issue: Conventional thinking. In many ways the world is still pushing “zombie” ideas - ideas that have been proven to be false but that are still being pushed as policies. With the help of Tom Bergin we look at a few conventional ideas and explain why they’re nothing more than a popular myth.

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108 - How to fix the housing market

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Public housing should be addressed with the same urgency as public health. If we can close down the economy, borrow billions, furlough millions and stop the world in the name of public health, we should be able to tear up the rule book when it comes to housing. The property market in Ireland and the rest of the English speaking world is a scam, rigged to push prices upwards, indenturing working families and exacerbating the wealth divide. Here's how to fix it.

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107 - Wall Street and the Short Selling Revolution Part 2

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

We take another look at the "day-trading" insurrectionists to examine who is actually in control, what human emotions are unleashed by the markets and what it all means for politics and economics. We are joined by the authors of the wonderful book Angrynomics political scientist Mark Blyth and hedge fund manger Eric Lonergan. Things are rarely as they seem to be!

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106 - Wall Street, Game Stop and the Short Squeeze Revolutionaries!

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Something unusual is happening in the stock market: the little guy - or in this case, guys - are beating up the big multi-billionaire hedge-fund managers. This is in stark contrast to the usual market hegemony and might signal a deep change: the little guy is slowly recognizing their power in numbers. If short selling, margin calls, put options, short squeezes are all Double Dutch to you, fret now we have you covered. Join us as we explain it all with Twitter comedy sensation Avalon Penrose & the markets editor of the Financial Times, Katie Martin

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105 - The Rentier Economy

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 07:14:57 GMT

Ireland, like many economies is hostage to the rentiers, companies that sidle up to governments to get a licence to provide some product or service that the government used to provide. This is a licence to print money, because the rentier company has a monopoly to hoover up rent rather than make anything. They dominate the property market, utilities and have led to the infantilization of the public sector. At every stage prices rises because these are the opposite of competitive companies. Given that rentiers drive up property prices, sanctioned by government, is it any surprise the young are voting radical?

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104 - Doughnut Economics

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

The arrival of Joe Biden has led to a profound change in tone, with America quickly re-signing back up to the Paris Accord. The planet is back on the agenda and the mantra of growth at all costs irrespective of the environmental costs, is being reappraised. We talk to Kat Raworth, author of "Doughnut Economics" about a different way of looking at the world, the economy and how we understand our relationship to the world around us, our priorities and the need to re-frame economics for the 21st century.

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103 - Doc Martins, the financialization of the global economy, IPO's, inequality and Joe Biden's political agenda

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

We explain by way of the SFX and Doc Martins how financial markets create inequality. Late stage financial capitalism generates super normal profits for owners of capital and debt by way of IPOs, and forces wage moderation on ordinary workers. We explain how understanding the credit cycle is key to understand the modern economy through the prism of the glorious Doc Martin, focusing on trickle down economy, opportunism and leveraged profits and market booms and busts. What does this mean for the economy? Unfortunately: most likely - further wealth division.

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102 - The last day of Trump

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Trump is gone but what next for Trumpism? The saga is far from over. While the armed Boogaloo boys are mobilizing across the United States we talk with Professor William Black to get a thorough understanding of what’s going on in America and what the future holds for Donald J. Trump. Also a quick hit on how China has emerged unassailable from both Trump and Covid, plus America's first internal rebellion and the vision of Alexander Hamilton.

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101 - How to end this Lockdown for good!

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

We still have time to do a New Zealand, with the vaccine roll out going so slowly, can we do a Taiwan and be out and about my St Patrick's Day? We talk zero Covid with Prof Aoife McLyset: How we can administer an economic vaccine while we wait with a bit of imagination, plus what the new biotech revolution - ushered in by the mRNA vaccine - means for all of us.

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100 - American Carnage and its radicalized Middle

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Trump is over, Trumpism is not. The great American experiment is only starting, as the Republicans become the party of the anxious while, the Democrats - the party of the satisfied. As the world's economic power shifts to Asia, we should try to understand people's real fears. Also, why the world need fewer "blackboard" economists and more "kitchen table" economists and will America's next president, Joe Biden lead the charge of change? All that teased out with the help of the extraordinary writer, thinker & author of "The people, no" - Tom Frank!

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The Brexit Dividend - for everyone bar Britain!

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Interesting times! As the US is engulfed by a culture war, we look at a culture war closer to home. Here’s why Brexit provides a once in a generation opportunity and how we can seize it. Brexit is a change and change is the one thing that is constant. Embrace it. Economically, there’s huge upside. Politically, it makes constitutional change on this island more likely. We are chatting to Andrea Catherwood on the future of Ireland, how to avoid our own culture war and how we best negotiate it from here.

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Every Day is Crucial!

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 03:30:00 GMT

Welcome back to the podcast 2021! During the height of the civil rights campaign when people were dying needlessly, Martin Luther King deployed this expression “the extreme urgency of now” to describe the urgency of achieving civil rights immediately, not sometime in the future. Precisely the same can be said about the vaccine. Every day is crucial and the roll out of the vaccine will be the litmus test for how serious your country is! . Join us as we kick off the year by talking about the importance of moving fast, trusting institutions and learning from other parts of the world in order to get our economy (and life!) back on track

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Christmas Podcast

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Thanks for your support all year. This week we take stock of Ireland after the year we’ve just had and how your view on COVID actually tells much more about who you are and what you think than you might originally think. Happy Christmas!!

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Investor or Speculation? Tech, market madness & the cost of mistakes

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Technology changes the world - but not everyone who bets on technology wins. With the recent boom in tech IPOs we take a look at what the market with the help of FT’s John Thornhilll and explore a short history of market mania, from AirBnB, to canals, railways, Irish Navies, Homer Simpson plus a cameo from Ken Clarke late night in bar in Hong Kong Halloween night 1997. A few thoughts on global monetary policy too! What’s not to like?

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When Scotland Rises

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 03:30:00 GMT

The first casualty of Brexit will be Britain. Scotland is on its own path for the first time since 1707. When Scotland becomes independent, it will trigger enormous economic and political changes up here in the North West Atlantic. Mark Blyth, Professor at Brown University helps us to tease out the economics of Scottish Independence and what’s ahead for Scotland, Ireland and England.

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Beyond Brexit. What does the post-Brexit world look like?

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:30:00 GMT

The British are gone - well almost - and the EU will change. The face of that change is likely to be Emmanuel Macron. So we examine France, by way of a small tour of European monetary history, French diplomacy, a quick trip to Paris, a bit of Albert Camus, the Cure, Algeria, Sudenten Germany and Ireland’s coming “Viking Alliance” with Scandinavia. Lots to marinade on.

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Meritocracy - Scourge or Salvation

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:09:52 GMT

Today we review our Tuesday conversation with Andy Haldane and go through some of the most interesting aspects of the discussion, including the merits and pitfalls of meritocracy.

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Brexit and much more with Andy Haldane, Chief Economist of the Bank of England

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 03:30:00 GMT

It’s Brexit week, last throw of the dice allegedly, so what better week to talk to the man from the Bank of England - an institution that will have to deal with the economic, financial and political fallout of leaving Britain’s leaving the EU? You will love this chat with Andy, talking about Brexit, inequality, the tyranny of meritocracy, why banks fail, crypto currency, Roy Keane’s man management skills and the future of Sunderland FC!

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The end of the car park

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 07:58:51 GMT

Not all ideas are timeless - this week we look at how we can take dead space and turn it into living spaces through economic incentives

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"Hand of pod" - The Maradona Generation

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:30:00 GMT

We go to Argentina to gauge the reaction to the death of the Diego. Plus we explore with the former economics minister of Argentina, Martin Lousteau, what went wrong in Argentina - a country that was once the richest in the world to now being the 77th richest. Its a cautionary lesson on how good countries can go bad, how strong economies can become enfeebled and ultimately why good economics matters!

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The World in 2021

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

On Thanksgiving, with the Dow hitting 30,000 and Janet Yellan taking over at the US Treasury, we examine the short and medium terms health of the US economy with David Rosenberg - Warning: it doesn’t look too pretty. We also look further out to assess the demographic, budget and debt arithmetic for the US and the West and how China goes from strength to strength. All this, plus a bit of Leviticus and Deuteronomy if you are feeling all biblical!

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the fallout from COVID

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

There’s light at the end of the tunnel - for the first time it seems that people are starting to see the end of this mess. As we look to the return of some level of normality, we know that the new normal won’t look like the old normal: both companies & cities will have to adapt to the end of business travelling.

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Show me the money

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Optics and execution are two profoundly different things. All over the world politicians talk and entrepreneurs walk. Small businesses have been promised help by people who have never taken a risk in their lives, who don't understand the game because they’ve never had skin in the game. The result is a mess, good firms will shut, their loans bought by vulture funds and the process of the financialization of our economy, governed by spreadsheet spivs will take one further big step forward. We care about this. So should you!

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“Don’t cry for me Great-Brit-Annia” - to be sung imagining Boris Johnson channelling his inner Elaine Page

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

“Is Boris Johnson England’s Eva Peron? All through my wild days, my mad existence…..and all that stuff, anyway we get to this point following an amazing conversation with economist Adam Posen about the USA. imperial delusions, NASCAR and the commercial fairytale that is Brexit. There’s lots in here from economic gravity, the “Great Patriot/Shit Citizen” dilemma & Northern Irish football melodies to a bit of Picasso, Joyce & early 20th century modernism.

Don't forget to join us on Patreon for exclusive weekly Q&As, tutorials and more - all ad free! patreon.com/DavidMcWilliams

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Lets talk about unemployment

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Behind every statistic is a person and a family. As unemployment sky-rockets, we need to put employment front and centre for the economy in 2021. We look a trends in employment, what type of companies are creating jobs and why the rise long term unemployment in the middle aged and older workers could support populism here. Plus lots more!

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Outside it’s America!

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

What Joe Biden’s victory means and what it does not. We examine the US economy with a former US cabinet member and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors. Plus what can be done and what won’t - why the Democrats have won the popular vote in six out of the last seven elections but have more or less shared the Presidency with the Republicans!

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Orange is the new Red

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 08:21:26 GMT

Biden just about, but Orange is the new Red. The Trump family business has taken over the GOP. What does this mean? Why the Democrats need to find their inner Roosevelt and why pollsters give economists a good name.

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A Good Day to hide Bad News!

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 03:30:00 GMT

We’re avoiding America, (well mostly) today as we can’t add much more. We’re going all Covid. There might not be a right answer for how to tackle the pandemic, but there’s certainly a wide array of approaches. We head to Israel, who are about seven weeks ahead of Western Europe, just lifting a successful Lockdown and Sweden, a country that has had no Lockdown at all! Two countries, two scientists, two different conclusions.

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Market & Politics - Why Who Wins Matters & Why It Doesn’t

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 09:00:00 GMT

In this special episode, we look at the relationship between politics and money through the lens of the US elections.

We try to make sense of what you should be looking out for and what each candidate is signalling - hope you enjoy!

The episode is brought to you in partnership with IG.

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Skin in the Game

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 03:30:00 GMT

3 Mile Pubs, why public servants don’t get business, why cashflow is King, the Grantocracy, Hydraulic economics, and what Flann O’ Brien had to say about PhDs

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The Funeral of Austerity & the Return of Brexit, plus when an Opel Jersey walked into the Tate Gallery!

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This was the week austerity died. We explore the timely end of a bad idea and look forward to a new era for economics. Plus what the Modh Coinníollach tells us about economics . Also, an in-depth conversation on what the latest Brexit drama means (spoiler alert: there will ALWAYS be a deal), plus uncomfortable jockeys and lots more!

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A gem of a Letter from America with the brilliant Tom Frank

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 02:30:13 GMT

Why dereliction is vandalism in Ireland and then off to Kansas with the author of NYT’s mega best-seller, “What’s the Matter with Kansas”, American journalist and historian Thomas Frank. This conversation is critical if you want to understand the American culture war and how the Republicans and Democrats flipped sides, delivered with great humour and humanity. Speaking of humour an humanity, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw, and why Wilde told Shaw that socialism will never catch on!

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How will Trump getting Covid affect the campaign, and why Ireland’s youth should determine the budget.

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 02:30:00 GMT

The legend that is Professor Bill Black on the USA. This is the man who put more white collar criminals behind bars than any other. He’s an economist, lawyer and criminal psychologist and he brings this laser-like clarity to the US, four weeks from the election. We talk economics, Proud Boys, abortion and the culture war. Plus, back home why Ireland should use the budget to build houses, show vision and understand that we have the highest young population in the EU, make the budget about them.

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Economics at a tipping point

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Economics is at a tipping point, as we lockdown again, how can we remain solvent, avoid national and international bankruptcy and deploy all the possible economics tools at our disposal. We are facing a 1930s style Depression and need 1930s style policies to get us out. Listen to one of the best macroeconomists in the world: Paul McCulley navigate the path to prosperity.

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How the UK breaks up….lessons from the Balkans, plus Trump’s possible road to victory

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 02:30:00 GMT

It’s been a monumental week - with the help of American policy analyst Pippa Malmgren - we look at what might be the unintended consequences of Boris Johnson’s action and why all eyes are on African American women for a second Trump term.

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Back to Brexit

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Once again the British government uses Ireland as a hostage in its Brexit theatre with the EU. The record is on repeat. Brexit has now returned and this time its even more mental. We breakdown the latest carryon, talk about the implications for the future. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder, it does!

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The American divide and the Vaticanization of the ECB

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Less than 2 months away from what will inevitably be a historic election we take a look at the American landscape - how we got there and what might happen depending on election results. We then move on to talk about Eurozone, and how the rising tensions between Germany and Italy could potential reshape the fundamentals of how the zone operates.

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Cryptocurrency & the future of money

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we tackle one of the most requested topics: Cryptocurrency. We’re going to try and explain what Bitcoin is, where it came from and what it might mean for the future of money. To help get to the bottom of this topic, we enrolled the help of Peter McCormack, host of the podcast “what bitcoin did” to guide us on some of the more technical aspects of this new monetary movement.

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How history shapes current policies

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we ignore the political shenanigans in Ireland (as it’s so pathetic) and look at what we can learn from ancient Mesopotamia and its approach to pandemics. Plus, staying in the region: how to make sense of the Middle East by understanding a coup in Iran in 1953 and how it set the tone for everything that came after!

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The 15 minute city

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Cities are at a crossroads. The decisions we take now will dictate a new urban future. The office as we know it is over and its main enemy is not COVID, it’s Zoom. This can lead to a renaissance of our urban centres and a repopulation of our rural towns - the choice is ours! Hope you enjoy!

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Angrynomics - Why its okay to be mad about the current economic crisis and what we can do about it

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we talk with two brilliant economists Mark Blyth and Eric Lonergan on this fantastic new book - Angrynomics. We analyze why people are angry, how it's affecting economics and politics and what we can do about it. There are some obvious solutions and this conversation sets them out. You’ll love it!

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How bonds not bombs liberated Ireland

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we mark the death of John Hume, a great Irish patriot. We explore one of his unheralded achievements, the Credit Unions and how these small “community banks” transformed Ireland and led to the success of the Derry punk band the Undertones. However, in using financial innovation, Hume was part of a long tradition in Ireland of financing social and political reform. We explore the “magic of the bond market” in making the impossible, possible.

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Living in interesting times and how best to think of it

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Four massive economic changes are going on right now under our noses, yet we are unaware of their magnitude because we increasingly value short-term thinking at the cost of long-term thinking. Today we explore those changes, make a case for thinking long-term and tease out how we can escape “the tyranny of now” with the help of Roman Krznaric, Author of: “The Good Ancestor”.

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Taxes, urine & wealth creation

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we take a rather unconventional look at the Apple ruling - taking the time to look at the many ways that countries around the world have created wealth. We follow that chat with another conversation with Luke O’Neill who gives us a breakdown of the medical breakthroughs that COVID has accelerated and a quick update on what might be on the horizon from a vaccine point of view

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From "the craic economy" to the annexation of the West Bank

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Another week, another episode where we look at the world and try to make sense of it. This week we explore how language evolves, the idea of "the craic economy" and have a chat with Stav Shaffir, the leader of the green party in Israel

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Black Swans & Black lists

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we explore black swans and black lists. First, we explain why the economy behaves more like a complex adaptive system rather than a giant machine. This means we, in the West are exposed to “black swan” events which disrupt the economy. From black swans we move on black lists and black lives with Trinidadian economist Marla Dukharan talking about EU racism, neo-colonialism, bullying and double standards when dealing with small, largely non-white countries.

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The enormous potential of free money and the illusion of a V shaped recovery

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 02:30:00 GMT

How the ECB is turning into the Fed. What Austria issuing a 100 year bond means for Irish economy policy. Why a new EU philosophy is changing the rules of the game! We also talk with Harvard economist Megan Greene about the United State’s future, outlook and why a V shaped recovery might not be on the horizon!

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Addressing generational wealth inequality

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we talk about the youth & money - because if you lose the youth, you lose the future - something our new government doesn’t seem to be giving much thought to. We also have a chat with renowned international diplomat and former Under Secretary-General of the UN Shashi Tharoor about Ireland winning a seat on the Security Council

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Skin deep

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we discuss options for a New Ireland, building sovereign wealth finders to underwrite a start up nation and why the evolutionary battle between two vitamins explains a lot!

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Tribal voices

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Dispatches from a Pulitzer Prize winner on the LA frontline, why the 1980s ain’t coming back, who are ’The Jews who Booze”, why networks matter more than guns and how the economy could recover quickly. This one’s got you covered! Enjoy it.

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America burns, Ireland’s potential reset and the end of Fianna Fáil?

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 02:30:00 GMT

When Rappers deploy the language of Presidents and Presidents deploy the language of Rappers, you know America is in trouble. Plus, why commercial property is over, Fianna Fails slow demise and a new election in Ireland?

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Unconventional thinking: its enemies & why it is important

Tue, 26 May 2020 02:30:00 GMT

While it seems that the peak of the cases are now behind us we’re still facing its economic repercussions. The Pandession is here. This week we talk about the social economy, and crucially why it is critical to think unconventionally in times of crisis…..plus lots more, including where the expression “not worth a continental” comes from!

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We are living through a Pandession

Tue, 19 May 2020 02:30:00 GMT

Language is important, in fact its is essential. If you can’t describe it, you don’t understand it. So, today we coin the expression a “Pandession” - a recession brought about by a pandemic. Plus, how in the new Cold War between America and China, the economic theatre of battle will be supply chains and why Ireland can benefit. Plus, what next for the EU?

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Leaving Cert - the Irish equivalent of national service. Covid in the Caribbeans & what Judy Garland tells you about monetary economics.

Tue, 12 May 2020 02:30:00 GMT

From Leaving Cert cancellation to understanding the impact of COVID 19 in other countries and wrapping things up by reframing what you thought about the Wizard of Oz, plus the economic origin of the expression Dixie for the South of the USA - and why its all relevant to the world in 2020. Jam packed episode this week. Hope you enjoy!

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The extreme urgency of now

Tue, 05 May 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week, why Corona will spark huge changes in economic thinking. We explore the coming a revolution in monetary economics with the woman who may well be the most important economist in the USA in the 2020s, Professor Stephanie Kelton. Also, why small businesses are the beginning, middle and end of the economy and the small matter of how we save the economy now. Plus, we have our first winner of our Schumpeter Slot!

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Why economics is not a cult, negative oil prices, Newcastle United, Altar boys, America’s reckoning and gay hit men! Whats not to love?

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we cover a wide array of subjects: from new Irish government to possible recession fixes (no disinfectant involved) and then talking to Frank Kane to get to the bottom of negative oil prices. All this and some history and craic along the way, hope you enjoy!

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What’s Next? Lessons from the Great Depression, avoiding bad economics, reading the markets’ tea leaves & the youth surge.

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 02:30:00 GMT

These are the times when change happens - not incremental change, drastic changes - the type that can completely change the face of a nation. In this week’s episode we talk about how monetary policy is the key to what happens next. Hope you enjoy!

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What’s Next? The frugal four, antibody testing and post-COVID changes

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 02:30:00 GMT

It’s been another packed week. On this week’s episode we talk about what’s next for the economy, we talk to Prof Luke O’Neill on the next science steps, and anti-body testing; and the short and longer term economic and geo-political consequences of COVID. Plus, we tell you about a time when the Irish were accused of being plague carriers. Take care of yourself.

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The Anatomy of a Pandemic

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 02:30:00 GMT

This week we explore what’s happening in Ireland and Europe’s crucial reaction, plus we focus on the catastrophe enveloping the developing world. We explore why COVID 19 will change global relations between rich and poor, why we need a new Bretton Woods and an optimistic lesson from the Black Death of 1347! All this, and thoughts on the economics of washing machine, Italia 90 and learning economics in the lockdown. Enjoy!

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Macroeconomics for a Globalized World

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 08:26:01 GMT

Now that we all have more time on our hands, why not use this time to learn economics? I've devised a new macro economics course based largely on the course I teach in Trinity College Dublin. The audio course comes with detailed notes and reading lists. Here's the introduction free. Join me on Patreon.com/davidmcwilliams for weekly classes and let's master economics, together.

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The economics of the possible

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:30:00 GMT

We are looking at the complete rethinking of economics. So much is possible, from mortgage rates plummeting here immediately, to ensuring that taxes never have to rise to pay for our corona spending. All this and what Rihanna can tell you about the long term, unforeseen consequences of pandemics. Also, why not use the lockdown to learn economics with me over the next few weeks? Lets do it together!

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Beyond money - Why livelihoods matter most

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT

Capitalism as we know it has been suspended. The most important thing now is to minimize unemployment and see beyond the crisis. Unemployment isn’t just economical, it’s psychological and emotional. We have an economic vaccine, we explain what it is and how it can be used. But we need to move fast. Take care, stay apart, stay safe and be strong.

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Lockdown, Herd immunity & helicopter money

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Happy St Patrick's Day. The strangest, most eerie one I've ever experienced. Make no mistake about it, this Coronavirus will change our world profoundly. Nothing, not economics, not politics, not sociology will be the same again. This week we focus on the path of the disease and what central banks should do about it.

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Corona goes Global

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 03:30:00 GMT

With markets collapsing, oil prices plummeting and the West about to be put in lockdown, we examine the dramatic consequences of Corona for economics and politics. Plus in geo-politics what the showdown between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil means for all of us. Hope you enjoy it

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Got you face mask yet?

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:30:00 GMT

This week we talk viruses with the brilliant Professor Luke O’Neill and as I’m in New York - and no one does panic better than this shower- we explore the similarities between pandemics, financial markets, manias and investor freak-outs! Enjoy and don’t panic!!!

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Germany is changing - and Europe should take notice

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Germany is going through a fundamental change - the alt-right is rising, Angela Merkel’s reign is coming to an end and Germans are aging… how will the steady hand of Europe’s metamorphosis impact the EU and the world? Join us and find out!

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The battle for the soul of Fianna Fail (if there is such a thing) and are we witnessing China’s Chernobyl?

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Napoleon once said “to govern is to choose”, Fianna Fail has to make a choice, will it be SF or FG in coalition? Plus as the Corona Virus spreads are we witnessing China’s Chernobyl, a tipping point moment after with the Middle Kingdom will never look the same again - and are the financial markets pricing this in? Hope you enjoy!

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Storm Shinner

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:30:00 GMT

Vladimir Lenin once said “there are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen” - this was one of those weeks. We explain what has happened, we explain what the Sinn Fein vote is not, and what it is. Why it could be positive and what are the possible pitfalls, what it means for NI and whether the shift to the Left is permanent or temporary. New Ireland is up for grabs, who’s going to seize it.

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Stats, polls & elections

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 03:30:00 GMT

A leap in the dark or the bright shining light of change? SF - for the first time ever - lead the polls. We welcome Kevin Cunningham - the sharpest pollster in the country - to the podcast in order to help us get a reading on the upcoming Irish elections from a statistical point of view - discussing the pitfalls and opportunities with stats and polling along the way.

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The Giant Global Housing Swindle

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 03:30:00 GMT

From Davos to balance sheet recession this week is all about economics. Join us as we explain how the wealthy get rich in bust economies and how regular people become poor in boom economies

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Why traffic is like gas, not liquid

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 01:00:00 GMT

This week we tackle the problem facing many cities: congestion. We look at why historical thinking isn't working and what could be a possible way forward. Hope you enjoy!

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Irish elections and the differences between Fine Gael & Fianna Fáil

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 03:30:00 GMT

With an election coming and the RIC debate still raging, we examine the deep differences between FF and FG, what our grandfathers did in 1920, the class basis for 1916, Leinster Rugby and the Christian Brothers Revolutionaries and why Irish politics might be more sophisticated than you imagine. Hope you like it!!

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USA, IRAN and the 3 M’s that precede wars

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 03:30:00 GMT

This week has been dominated by news of the rapidly escalating conflict between Iran and the United States - today we breakdown where it came from, what it means and what might be coming in the future - including the 3 M’s that usually precede wars

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Special episode: Welcome to the Third Decade of the 21st century

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This week we’re going to be taking a look at our 2019 episodes, trying to find out what you liked best and touch on what is coming from the podcast in 2020

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The economics of love

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Money, assets, yield and dividends - all table stakes of economics, but what if there was something underlying all these? This week we talk about the crucial but all too often overlooked aspect of economics: love

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Boris Johnson, the last PM of the UK?

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 03:30:00 GMT

The elections are over, Boris Johnson has won a massive and the UK is changed utterly. What does it all mean for all of us, where are we now heading and could Boris Johnson be the last PM of the UK? This week we invite the brilliant economist Diane Coyle, to tease out the issues.

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Why the British election is about so much more than who will be the next PM. It’s about the very fabric of British society - explained with FT chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley - one is the sharpest political minds covering the UK right now

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 03:30:00 GMT

On Thursday the United Kingdom will vote once again - and its choice will have a drastic impact on the future of the country, most notably with Brexit hanging in the balance. Robert Shrimsley joins us to demystify what lies ahead and then we look at how Argentina can teach us lessons about bad management and how those lessons can be applied to the UK

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Populism and the evolution of Ireland - Live From Vicar street

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Here it is! Our first ever live show tackling the rise of populism around the world, the evolution of Ireland and so much more, hope you enjoy!

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Impeachment explained and the polarization of US politics with professor Bill Black

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This week in a break from tradition, John and David are joined from the States by Prof Bill Black, scourge of the white collar criminal, to explore impeachment, where might it end and the fractured nature of American society and politics

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A hard look at the human impact of the housing crisis

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Rising housing costs are not new news - but all too often the human element of the problem is overlooked. Today we discuss the very real human aspect of the problem, how it has impacted society and where it might go from here. Hope you enjoy!

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Economics and the law of unintended consequences

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Economics rarely behaves the way decision makers intended it to - From the Berlin wall to the rise of populism we look at the unintended consequences of economic and political decisions that have impacted history and that are occurring as we speak

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What does a post-meat world means for society and the economy?

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 03:30:00 GMT

When Burger King goes veggie - you know something whopper is stirring. This week we take a look at the rapid shift in global meat consumption, how different areas of the world are reacting and the deep ramifications that our eating habits have on the economy. Hope you enjoy!

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Is the age of the job over?

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This week’s episode is a rollicking Joycean trip around the world from Morocco to Buffalo, focusing on why great artists like James Joyce and great business people are the same sorts, generating commercial and intellectual energy through curiosity and their own skin in the game; in addition, why openness, tolerance and liberalism, are the key to a dynamic economy. Plus Hemingway, Bloom, the Erie Canal and the Ice Age! Hope you enjoy!

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Brexit - are we there yet? Plus, how the map of the Mid East has been redrawn in the week - all brought to you from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This weeks podcast brought to you from high up in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco aims to explain the latest Brexit Boloxology and from the Arab world, how lines in the sand written by colonialists one hundred years ago continue to haunt the Kurds, Iraqis, Turks and the Irish!

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Brexit endgame: a plot summary

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 03:30:00 GMT

What have Coleen Rooney, Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar all got in common? Tales from the Brexit end game, a bit of economics and the political twilight for the 400 year old Project Britain

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We need to fix the root problem: wealth inequality

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Here’s the latest episode on the overarching political/social/economic issue of our day, wealth inequality. How has it happened, why is it profoundly worrying and how we can solve it - enjoy

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How to get ready for globalization 3.0

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Small countries live and die by the quality of their strategic thinking. This week’s podcast focuses on how small countries can truly transform themselves, clutching victory from the jaws of defeat, by completely re-thinking the relationship with multinational companies. Globalization 3.0 here we come!

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Out of Africa

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 03:30:00 GMT

I’ve just come back from Kenya, this week we are discussing poverty, relentless entrepreneurialism, the role of technology in transforming Africa and why it will be the site of the next battle between America and China

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A future warning from past cities!

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This week we tackle the matter of future cities - as urban living becomes financially impossible for the middle class around the world how can we find a way forward that accommodates everyone? Through the lens of history we try to make sense of it all and propose a path forward

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Boris Johnson is not a politician, he’s a gambler

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This week we analyse why Boris Johnson is not a politician, how different societies react to democratic struggles and why bottom-up societies is a better way forward than the traditional top-down structures many of us have today.

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Curious minds - Discussing Turkey and losing democracy with Ece Temelkuran

Thu, 05 Sep 2019 04:30:20 GMT

For this month's curious minds episode we talk with Ece Temelkuran, one of Turkey’s best-known journalists and political commentators about her latest book- How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship, her own personal experience in Turkey and what the world should understand from it.

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The Fragility of democracy and why winner takes all economics has led to the rise of populism

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Democracy is often taken for granted and many countries are currently testing its resilience right before our eyes. On this episode we break down how we ended up in this political/economic/social mess

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Trade wars, amazon fires & the unexpected consequences of economics

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Economic decisions impact many facets of our lives - often in unexpected ways. This week we connect the dots between seemingly unrelated events and explain how economics decisions are at the core of it all. Plus why countries need to grieve and learn how to adapt from loss of power & influence

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Ireland, Brexit and the Great British Breakoff, from Britsplaing to Explaining and lots more in between!! Enjoy

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 03:00:00 GMT

As Brexit moves towards the endgame and the UK government’s new policy appears to centre on inflicting as much economic damage as possible on Ireland to change the “backstop”, we explore why the Brexiteers are so ignorant about Ireland, how come Ireland is now considerably richer than the UK, more globalized and more resilient. In short, when so-called “Global Britain” exports 1.5 times more to “little” Ireland than it does to China, you know the Brexiteers are living in an economic la la land!

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Are we heading towards a global economic slowdown?

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 03:30:00 GMT

With the central bank cutting interest rates last week we thought it would be a good idea to analyze the current market signals and try to breakdown what might be looming in the future for the global economy

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Trying to untangle Iran and the Middle East relationships

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 03:30:00 GMT

This week we dive into the Middle East as tension have currently been ramping up between the United States and Iran - How did we get here, what do we need to know to understand the middle east and why is Turkey the wildcard? That’s what we’re going to attempt to explain.

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Curious minds - Discussing the evolution of journalism and technology with Tom Friedman

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 02:00:00 GMT

Today we’re introducing a new monthly segment to the podcast that I’m calling curious minds. These are going to be a series of 1-on-1 conversations with various personalities offering unique viewpoints that I want to share with you. I’m kicking things off with the legendary American correspondent Tom Friedman, 3 times Pulitzer winner and New York Times columnist talking about the evolution of journalism, the position of the United States and technology’s impact on all of us.

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China's unique approach to foreign influence

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 03:30:00 GMT

In 2100 four out of ten people on the plant will be African. What does that mean for economics, politics and geo-political relations. While the West hasn't been looking, China has made a huge bet on Africa, lending billions to African countries. Will this bet come off and if it does, what will it mean for all of us

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The next phase of Brexit through its history, its psychology and its economics

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 03:00:00 GMT

Boris Johnson's rise to MP marks a new chapter for Brexit. As we enter this next phase, we tease out how we got here: Looking at where the movement started. Attempting to understand what are the driving forces of Brexit (its not economics!). And finally, looking at what the future holds for the UK’s economy if Brexit goes the way Boris Johnson wants (and why Leo Varadkar has Johnson by the balls)

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Why healthy economies are inherently unstable not inherently stable!

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 03:30:00 GMT

What do you get when you cross Donna Summer, David Bowie, Bitcoin, Joseph Schumpeter, creativity and innovation? You get the essence of the modern capitalist economy, something called “creative destruction” - the most potent force in economics. In this podcast ,we explore the role of disruption in the economy from 1970s disco beats to 21st century blockchain technology. Hope you enjoy it and tell us about what you thought!

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The failed war on drugs

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 03:30:00 GMT

It’s time to face the facts - the war on drugs has been a failed experiment. Anyone with a basic knowledge of economics and supply and demand will know that prohibition drives prices upwards, drive profits into the hands of criminal gangs and those very profit coaxes more gangs into the business, leading to more and more violence. It's time to call time on the war on drugs and apply common sense economics to this global issue.

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Understanding China's trade wars, Brexit and Tianammen Square through the lens of Japanese history

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 03:30:00 GMT

In this episode, we examine today’s geo-politics, the China vs America showdown and related economic threats through lessons from Japan’s Meji Restoration, plus Soviet and Chinese history. Remember, those who forget their economic history are condemned to repeat it. Enjoy

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A guide to understanding Germany

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Why has Germany, the most important country in Europe, not had the political sway that matches its economic dominance and how that might change in the future.

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Why it’s time to move Dublin Port

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 03:30:00 GMT

Dublin Port is 600 acres of prime residential land, beside the sea, close to all transport links and it should be developed in a new city on the water. The rest of the world is moving their ports, even Cork is, yet in Dublin, the legacy of a time when ports had to be at the mouths of rivers because rivers were a country’s key transport links, dominates our urban thinking. It is time to move the port, reimagine the city, reconsider the gateway to the capital and reorientate our city to face the sea, Dublin’s best natural resource, rather than turning our backs to it.

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International property cycles

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 03:00:00 GMT

The global markets have never been so connected, and economies tend to be cyclical - what does that mean for Ireland as we face the real possibility of a global economic slowdown?

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Trump’s tariffs explained & the new tech cold war

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 03:30:00 GMT

As Trump lands in Ireland this week, we examine his trade war with China, his tariff policy and who it really hurts, plus why China and the US are heading for a major conflict and why the new Cold War is in truth a tech Cold War which the US believes it has to win and the implications of all this for politics, Silicon Valley and the world economy.

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Exploring the ramifications of a united Ireland

Tue, 28 May 2019 09:50:03 GMT

There's a wind of change in the air and its nationalism, you can feel it - it's in France, in the UK and even in Ireland. For the first time in a long time, Brexit and demographics in Northern Ireland have opened a real possibility of a united Ireland. But what would it mean, culturally, politically and economically?

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Special episode: A sit down with Bernie Sanders

Thu, 23 May 2019 20:53:58 GMT

This is going to be a bit of a different one - back in 2017 I had a chance to sit down with Bernie Sanders for a wonderful conversation - and as some of the topics discussed then are still making headlines now, we wanted to share this amazing conversation with you.

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US politics, the fed, AOC & quantitative easing

Tue, 21 May 2019 05:35:51 GMT

It’s time to join the dots. We explore why the shift to the left from younger voters is simply a logical reaction to policies that were put in place to save the baby boomer’s way of life, what that means for politics & for the economy now, and in the future.

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Shadow banks & Dublin's crane epidemic

Tue, 14 May 2019 05:35:11 GMT

Is Dublin about to experience a commercial property crash? For some, the skyline with swarms of cranes signals prosperity, to others it signals risk. Which one will it be?

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Black Irish & European elections

Sun, 12 May 2019 08:10:19 GMT

They say history repeats itself. Economic history certainly does. In this podcast, we are going to look at the upcoming European elections and in particular, the rise of populist parties, through the lens of Irish history and specifically, what happened in American politics in reaction to 1000 Irish emigrants a day arriving, poor and destitute into New York in the 1840s and 1850s. The story the Irish in the ghettos of New York and “nativist” political reaction to mass migration will help us understand what is going on in Europe right now. I hope you enjoy it.

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Is Brexit good or bad for Ireland?

Mon, 06 May 2019 14:49:09 GMT

How can Ireland make the best of Brexit? Join us as we explore the potential benefits and pitfalls of Brexit through soccer anecdotes, comparisons with Yugoslavia, and childhood bar stories to outline Ireland's path to success post-Brexit

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