Happy 2024, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful start to the year. I’m excited to share another episode where I had an insightful conversation with a brilliant educator, researcher, and author, Sebastian Bunney. Seb is the author of "The Hidden Cost of Money," a book that exposes the flaws and dangers of the current financial and monetary system and how it affects our societies, values, and relationships. This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand the nuanced discourse on money, central banks, monetary policy, and global macroeconomics. During our conversation, Seb shared his personal story and motivations that led him to the financial space, as well as some key points from his book, including the dominant narratives he challenges with convincing arguments and counter-arguments. I admire his rigorous research and optimistic vision for the future.

Note: The content of this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

In this episode, we undertake a critical examination of the European Union with accomplished journalist and author Thomas Fazi from Italy. Our conversation delves deep into a meticulous analysis of the EU, carefully scrutinising its historical foundations, evolutionary path, and the intricate nuances of its governance mechanisms and institutional frameworks. This dialogue aims to illuminate the multifaceted impacts of the European Union, challenging its effects on the lives of its citizens and exploring consequential implications for the contemporary global order.

As a seasoned expert in political commentary on European affairs, Thomas articulates incisive critiques and counter-accounts within his distinguished works. Notable among these are "The Battle for Europe: How an Elite Hijacked a Continent – and How We Can Take It Back" (Pluto Press, 2014), "Reclaiming the State: A Progressive Vision of Sovereignty for a Post-Neoliberal World" (co-authored with Bill Mitchell; Pluto Press, 2017), and "The Covid Consensus: The Global Assault on Democracy and the Poor—A Critique from the Left" (co-authored with Prof. Toby Green; 2023).

Join us as we embark on a critical exploration, navigating through the intellectual landscape shaped by Thomas' discerning analysis. Together, we scrutinize the European Union, questioning its dynamics and critically assessing its implications for both its citizens and the broader global community.

Notes:

Fazi, T., 2014. The Battle for Europe: How an Elite Hijacked a Continent - and How we Can Take it Back. Pluto Press. 

Mitchell, W. & Fazi, T., 2017. Reclaiming the state. University of Chicago Press Economics Books.

Green, T. & Fazi, T., 2023, The Covid Consensus: The Global Assault on Democracy and the Poor -- A Critique from the Left. C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd.

In this episode, I had a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Francisco Rodriguez, a distinguished Venezuelan economist. Francisco's extensive career includes key roles such as serving as the Chief of the Economic and Financial Advisor of the National Assembly of Venezuela from 2000 to 2004, leading the Research Team for the Office of the United Nations Human Development Report from 2008 to 2011, and contributing his expertise to the private sector as the Andean Chief Economist at Bank of America from 2011 to 2016. Additionally, his extensive career includes teaching economics and Latin American studies at various institutions and contributing to esteemed publications such as Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times, and The New York Times. Notably, his forthcoming book, "Scorched Earth: The Political Economy of Venezuela's Collapse," set to be published in 2024, promises to be a significant addition to the discourse on Venezuela's complex challenges. In our conversation with Francisco, we'll explore the intricate dynamics of Venezuela, a nation once celebrated for its abundant oil resources but now plagued by a heart-wrenching humanitarian crisis. Francisco will shed light on the pressing issue of de facto oil embargoes and economic sanctions. Francisco's mission is clear: to hold those in power accountable and make a compelling case for re-evaluating the use of economic sanctions against entire nations, arguing that they should be treated with the same gravity as the use of military weapons against civilians.

In the second part of our episode on the political economy of global taxation, we embark on a journey through the role of tax havens, the OECD, and the intricate decision-making processes within the European Union. Our expert guest, Federica Casano from Italy, is a distinguished Ph.D. candidate at Leiden University in the Netherlands. She is at the forefront of research on the EU blacklist of tax havens, meticulously dissecting its mechanisms, transparency, and impact on international taxation. Federica's research shines a light on the EU's decision-making processes while advocating for transparency. Her contributions extend to teaching, where she imparts her knowledge on taxation's implications for governments, businesses, and citizens. Join us as we explore the profound implications of these topics and gain insights from Federica's extensive academic background and valuable experience.

Embark on a journey to unravel the intricacies of the political economy of global taxation in the first part of a two-part episode. I had the privilege of speaking with Siddhesh Rao, ACA, LL.M., from India, a remarkable researcher, lecturer, and doctoral candidate at the Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law, part of the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Our conversation explores the profound connection between global taxation, socio-economic justice, equity, and the development of the Global South. Sid's unwavering passion for fair global taxation systems and his visionary outlook for a more inclusive world economy left me inspired.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Judith Curry, a leading climatologist and global thinker on climate change and public policy discourse with numerous recognitions and awards.

In our discussion, we talk about different climate-related narratives, the current state of scientific inquiry in the field, the politicisation of science in policymaking, her experience of US congressional testimonies, and her personal journey and story.

What I really liked about our discussion was her message of hope, especially for young people, which is also reflected in her latest book "Climate Uncertainty and Risk: Rethinking Our Response".

Notes:

Curry, J., 2023. Climate Uncertainty and Risk: Rethinking Our Response. Anthem Press.

Curry, J.A. and Webster, P.J., 2011. Climate science and the uncertainty monster. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 92(12), pp.1667-1682.

https://www.budget.senate.gov/download/testimony-curry

Bitcoin, as an alternative to traditional currencies, has been a subject of heated debate since it emerged in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 financial crisis. Its supporters argue that it is a ground-breaking innovation that empowers individuals to control their own money and escape the interference, manipulation, and control of powerful institutions, while its detractors warn that it is a risky and irresponsible experiment that harms society and the planet. However, the landscape is evolving fast; for instance, some of the current US presidential candidates are endorsing Bitcoin as part of their platforms and accepting donations in Bitcoin. Then some of the biggest investment firms are seeking approval for Bitcoin ETFs to bring Bitcoin to the mainstream market, and many countries are creating crypto-friendly regulations. In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking to Margot Paez, a PhD candidate who studies the environmental impact of Bitcoin, an environmentalist and activist, and a fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, to shed some light on some of the common misconceptions and realities about Bitcoin and its potential to challenge the status quo from a progressive left perspective.

Notes:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/05/04/4-progressives-working-to-change-the-narrative-around-bitcoin/?sh=54426c9c3634

Ibañez, J.I. and Freier, A., 2023. SoK: Bitcoin, Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact. arXiv preprint arXiv:2304.04578.

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/margot-paez-on-progressive-bitcoin

*Disclaimer:

The content of this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. You should do your own research and consult a professional before making any financial decisions involving Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency.

In this episode, I explore the myths and realities of the flow of foreign aid from developed to developing countries. Is foreign aid a benevolent gesture or a strategic geopolitical tool? How does it affect the foreign policy and sovereignty of recipient countries? Who benefits from foreign aid? And how is foreign aid related to the debt trap that many developing countries find themselves in?

To explore these questions, along with discussing her personal journey and experience, I had a fascinating discussion with Themrise Khan, a renowned development expert and practitioner who has extensive experience and knowledge of the development and foreign aid landscapes of Pakistan and the Global South. Themrise has authored and co-authored several publications on various aspects of aid and development. She is also a member of several prestigious organisations and networks, such as the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID), the Informed Opinions Expert Women's Database, the Cross Migration Database of Experts, the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network, and the Honorary Visiting Professor of The International Institute of Migration and Development.

Links:

Khan, T., 2023. Moving beyond (en) forced North–South collaboration for development: Possibilities from Pakistan. In Reimagining Civil Society Collaborations in Development (pp. 177-189). Routledge.

Aloudat, T. and Khan, T., 2022. Decolonising humanitarianism or humanitarian aid?. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(4), p.e0000179.

Khan, T., Abimbola, S., Kyobutungi, C. and Pai, M., 2022. How we classify countries and people—and why it matters. BMJ Global Health, 7(6), p.e009704.

In this episode, I speak with another courageous individual and brave whistleblower, Johannes Stefansson, from Iceland. Johannes is known for being the whistleblower in the famous "Fishrot Scandal", involving alleged corruption and misconduct by one of the largest fishing companies in the world and senior government officials in Namibia.

Johannes’ story shows why we need to carefully scrutinise the dominant narrative, which is carefully crafted by multinational corporations and big businesses, when they claim that they are heading to developing and poor countries to create jobs, alleviate poverty, and facilitate development. The Fishrot Scandal reminds us to examine these claims critically. As per the BBC (2023), "The scandal has also damaged the wider Namibian fishing industry. Jobs have gone and government revenue has been lost - that money should have been used to assist the poorest in one of the most unequal societies in the world".

It's also a story of how local elites in developing countries sometimes participate in the plundering of their country's resources and must be held accountable.

I hope you find this conversation inspiring - it's a story of conviction, bravery, and passion for socioeconomic justice for the people of Namibia.

Notes:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64526018

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2019/12/1/anatomy-of-a-bribe-a-deep-dive-into-an-underworld-of-corruption

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Liezl Groenewald, who has a remarkable portfolio of both academic and practitioner achievements in the areas of business ethics, compliance, and whistleblower protection. Liezl co-founded the Whistleblower House in South Africa, which exists to provide support and protection to whistleblowers. Here we talked about her personal journey and some of the challenges she dealt with while pursuing her vision. We also discussed some of the hallmarks of an ethical business, where whistleblowing fits into the discussion on ethics and organizational governance, the role of government and media in whistleblower protection, the cultural dynamics of viewing whistleblowing, and the importance of counter-accounts of whistleblowers.

Notes:

https://whistleblowerhouse.org/

Groenewald, L., 2020. Whistleblowing Management Handbook. Ethics Institute, Pretoria.

Groenewald, L. and Donde, G., 2017. Ethics and compliance handbook. Pretoria: The Ethics.