Today's episode unpacks the geopolitical shocks rattling global markets, with a focus on the Fed’s increasingly constrained response to escalating oil prices. We identify the assets holding steady and explore the cultural shifts needed to unlock AI's potential, while also dissecting a seismic shift in the UK pension landscape. Expect a collision of macro, geopolitics, AI, and blockchain – and a growing sense that traditional economic models are no longer fit for purpose.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:10 - Geopolitical Shocks & Global Markets
9:08 - AI Implementation Challenges & Workplace Transformation
14:30 - UK Pension Evolution: Consolidation & Real Assets
20:11 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Meta Manus Desktop App, Anthropic Enterprise Lead, OpenAI AWS Deal (AI Insights: AI News, Eyewitness Accounts)
Oil-Gas Surge on Mideast Attacks, Fed Holds Rates Steady (Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition)
Bloomberg Surveillance TV March 18th, 2026 (Bloomberg Surveillance)
Iran Vows to Retaliate; Oil and Gas Prices Soar (Bloomberg Surveillance)
295. AI, strategy, and the future of work What business leaders need to know (Inside the Strategy Room)
We're Just Getting Started Bob Elliott on Why The Oil Shock Is Not Fully Priced In To Markets (Monetary Matters with Jack Farley)
Stock Market on Shaky Foundations Blind Squirrel Macro's Rupert Mitchell on IPO Supply, Oil, and Private Credit (Monetary Matters with Jack Farley)
196 Scale, Strategy, and Stewardship Rachel Elwell, CEO, on Border to Coast's Growing Power in UK Pensions (Money Maze Podcast)
Oil Shock Hits the U.S. Consumer (Thoughts on the Market)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode unpacks the unsettling reality that traditional geopolitical risk mitigation strategies are failing, from hedging instruments to predictable central bank responses. We analyze how the dollar's strength, coupled with a surprising resilience in emerging markets, is reshaping the investment landscape—and why a 'business-first' approach to AI implementation is now critical for unlocking real value.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:20 - Global Markets Under Pressure: Geopolitics & Emerging Risks
11:05 - AI Implementation Challenges: Governance, Pharma & Project Management
16:13 - Institutional Investment Evolution: Asset Ownership & Portfolio Strategy
20:08 - The Housing & Credit Crunch: Affordability, Rates, and Alternatives
23:01 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
AI Project Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry - with Sumathi Arcot (AI Today Podcast)
Asia Equities Gain, Trump Slams NATO Allies (Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition)
Single Best Idea With Tom Keene Jason Trennert and Sir Mark Rowley (Bloomberg Surveillance)
Emerging Markets Stirred, But Not Yet Shaken (Exchanges)
How Saudi Arabia's bet on Iran backfired (FT News Briefing)
The Macro Chain Reaction of Oil Shocks Bob Elliott (Forward Guidance)
The Bethlehem Project The housing domino effect (Swamp Notes)
Japan's Bull Market Takes Shape (Thoughts on the Market)
ALO34 Building an Asset Owner Mindset in Modern Pension Investing ft. Dan Mikulskis (Top Traders Unplugged)
Bits + Bips Bitcoin Hits $75K as It Starts Catching Up to Gold (Unchained)
Are the markets right or wrong about Iran (Unhedged)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode unpacks the interconnected risks rapidly unfolding across macroeconomics, geopolitics, AI, and blockchain. We dive into escalating energy conflicts, the capital arms race reshaping the AI landscape, and the surprising resilience emerging in crypto markets—all while questioning whether the dollar’s reign is facing a slow-motion challenge.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:27 - Geopolitical Risk & Energy Markets
9:51 - AI Arms Race: Infrastructure & Investment
14:14 - Crypto's Evolving Role: Resilience & Real-World Utility
18:22 - Credit Cracks & Economic Warning Signs
21:52 - The Future of Finance: Dollar's Reign?
24:45 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Meta to Layoff 20%, AI Cured Dogs Cancer, Nvidia's New Chip (AI Insights: AI News, Eyewitness Accounts)
Travis Kalanick & Michael Dell Live from Austin, Texas (All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg)
Oil Steadies, Trump Seeks Xi Summit Delay (Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition)
Iran Bombs Energy Supplies, Nvidia'a $1T AI Forecast, Market Complacency (Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe Edition)
Meta to Spend Up to $27 Billion on Nebius AI Infrastructure (Bloomberg Intelligence)
Single Best Idea with Tom Keene Joumanna Bercetche and Julian Lee (Bloomberg Surveillance)
Bloomberg Surveillance TV March 16th, 2026 (Bloomberg Surveillance)
Goldman Sachs International's Co-CEOs on Europe's Opportunity, AI, and Market Volatility (Exchanges)
Credit Crunch AGL's Comer on CLOs, Active Management and Growth (FICC Focus)
Markets Confront Iran Risk and Fed Policy Macro Mondays March 16th, 2026 (Macro Mondays)
Neha Narula, Anders Brownworth, and Daniel Aronoff on Understanding Stablecoins in the GENIUS Era (Macro Musings with David Beckworth)
How EdgeX Survived the $18B Liquidation Cascade & Came Out #1 Messari Fully Diluted (Messari's Unqualified Opinions)
How Will It End (Notes on the Week Ahead)
Markets Confront Iran Risk and Fed Policy (Real Vision: Finance & Investing)
Crypto Defies the Doom and Gloom (Real Vision: Finance & Investing)
Global currencies have a rich past and poor future (The Big View)
261. Dire straits Should the Royal Navy end the Iran oil blockade (The Rest Is Money)
AI Startups vs. Big Chatbots - With Olivia Moore (The a16z Show)
Is the Market Correction Ending (Thoughts on the Market)
Top of the Morning CIO Strategy Snapshot - US-Iran conflict Assessing the market & macro impacts (UBS On-Air: Market Moves)
Bits + Bips Bitcoin Finally Acted Like a Hedge. Will It Last (Unchained)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode unpacks the disconnect between escalating geopolitical risks and surprisingly resilient markets, questioning whether current optimism is informed or simply a delayed reaction. We also explore how the AI revolution—driving both deflation and new vulnerabilities—is reshaping the global landscape, and what separates thriving founders from those who falter under pressure.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:09 - Geopolitical Risk & Global Markets
10:51 - The Rise of AI Agents & Future of Work
16:52 - AI-Driven Disinflation & Commodity Opportunities
20:38 - Venture Capital Dynamics & Founder Resilience
23:45 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Oil Pares Gains, Iran War Jolts Global Central Banks (Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia Edition)
Bonus Episode Here's Why the Iran War Could Hinge on Missile Math (Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe Edition)
Artificial intimacy How to fall in love with AI (FT News Briefing)
Hedgeye NexGen Episode 33 Inflation (Iran Conflict Edition) (Hedgeye Podcasts)
War, Oil, and a Market Repricing in Real Time Protect the Pile Episode 8 (Hedgeye Podcasts)
Deflationary Bust A Risk From AI Alex Gurevich's Bull Case on Rates, Perfect Trade Potential in Japan, and The Risk of Artificial Intelligence Poses to Labor Market (Monetary Matters with Jack Farley)
The Power to Shape AI (The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis)
The Coolest Agents I've Built So Far (The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis)
Pro-Worker AI (The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis)
NanoClaw Creator Lands Docker Deal After Six Weeks (The AI Podcast)
What Trump Didn't Know About Iran (The Ezra Klein Show)
Marc Andreessen on the Mindset of Great Founders - with David Senra (The a16z Show)
The Looming Bottleneck for Global Tech (Thoughts on the Market)
SI391 Why Trend Following Works... the Evidence ft. Richard Brennan (Top Traders Unplugged)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode unpacks the growing market repricing driven by a confluence of factors – slowing growth, accelerating inflation, and policymakers earning a 'low grade' on established norms. We dissect the implications of a 'Quad III' environment and explore the systemic risks emerging from geopolitical flashpoints like Iran, alongside the energy demands of AI's rapid development. Join us as we navigate a digital economy increasingly defined by fragile global networks.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:09 - Macro Narratives & Market Repricing
10:36 - AI Agents: From Development to Strategic Scaling
16:34 - Tech Supply Chain Under Pressure: Energy & AI Dependencies
21:10 - Geopolitical Flashpoints: Iran & Global Systemic Risk
25:01 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Pro-Worker AI (The AI Daily Brief: Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis)
The Looming Bottleneck for Global Tech (Thoughts on the Market)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

This week's roundup covers escalating geopolitical tensions following Iranian attacks, revealing critical vulnerabilities in AI supply chains and driving investor flight to real assets. We synthesize the impact of these disruptions on labour markets, financial infrastructure, and US policy, while confronting the growing security challenges of AI’s autonomous capabilities. The week highlighted a fracturing of confidence in established systems and the emergence of systemic risks.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:51 - Geopolitical Disruption of AI Supply Chains & Asymmetric Warfare
7:55 - Flight to Real Assets & Emerging Alternatives
13:42 - AI's Impact on Labor Markets & the Nature of Work
18:05 - Systemic Risks in Financial Infrastructure & Liquidity
22:59 - U.S. Policy Uncertainty & Internal Cohesion Risks
27:23 - AI's Autonomous Capabilities & Security Challenges
31:30 - Conclusion

Today's episode unpacks the interconnected risks brewing in energy markets, geopolitics, AI, and blockchain. We assess whether a global recession is inevitable, or simply the most likely outcome, and reveal a surprising pattern in uncorrelated assets offering a hedge against volatility.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:18 - Geopolitics & Energy: Global Recession Risks
10:29 - AI's Impact on National Security & Defense
16:38 - China's Strategic Position in a Turbulent World
21:07 - Market Dynamics & Trend Following: Beyond Traditional Investing
24:43 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Bloomberg Surveillance TV March 13th, 2026 (Bloomberg Surveillance)
Could the Iran War Cause a New Oil Crisis FT's Chief Economics Commentator Martin Wolf (Monetary Matters with Jack Farley)
Emil Michael Iran, Anthropic and the Future of AI at the Pentagon (The a16z Show)
The Looming Bottleneck for Global Tech (Thoughts on the Market)
SI391 Why Trend Following Works... the Evidence ft. Richard Brennan (Top Traders Unplugged)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode unpacks the converging pressures of escalating geopolitical conflict, persistent energy price shocks, and a private credit market under strain. We examine how the AI buildout—dependent on limited resources and vulnerable supply chains—is simultaneously revealing and exacerbating systemic risks, while institutions cautiously integrate into the crypto space seeking verifiable data solutions.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:14 - Geopolitics & the Global Economy: Shocks, Inflation & Recession Risks
9:51 - AI Agents: Building the Autonomous Future
16:09 - Macro Outlook: War, Monetary Policy & Global Growth
20:08 - Private Credit Market Stress: Defaults, Illiquidity & Regulation
24:15 - Crypto's Institutional Integration: Lending, Tokenization & Regulatory Battles
27:52 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Macro Matters Yield-Curve Scenarios with BNY's Granet (FICC Focus)
Legendary Hacker Matt Suiche on Cyberwar in the Age of AI (Odd Lots)
Palantir CEO Alex Karp on the Zero-Sum AI Race (The a16z Show)
The Chopping Block Erik Voorhees on AI Privacy, Agentic Payments, and Crypto x Memecoin Mayhem (Unchained)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode unpacks the precarious balance between escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the distorting effects on global oil markets. We examine how the price of crude is no longer just a consequence of conflict, but a critical governor on it, and what that means for investors bracing for a potential $100+ barrel shock. Topic timings are added automatically.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:18 - Geopolitical Risks & Oil Market Dynamics
9:36 - AI's Impact on Productivity & Finance
16:48 - AI Infrastructure Investment & Workflow Transformation
19:43 - Leveraged Finance & Emerging Market Strain
22:43 - Tech Stocks & Shifting Safe Havens
25:40 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
AI App Crisis, OpenAI Does Math, Big Nvidia Deal (AI Insights: AI News, Eyewitness Accounts)
Nvidia Invests $2 Billion in Nebius for New Data Center Deal (Bloomberg Intelligence)
294. Goldman Sachs' David Solomon on adapting to economic and technological change (Inside the Strategy Room)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.

Today's episode dissects the escalating conflict in Iran, revealing how a localized crisis is exposing systemic vulnerabilities across energy, supply chains, and credit markets. We unpack the economic fallout, from soaring oil prices and GPS jamming to the precarious state of US household debt, and explore the geopolitical chess game unfolding in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, we examine how the AI race is both a solution to—and a driver of—this growing instability.

Explore the full visual digest at pers-int.com

0:00 - Introduction
1:14 - Iran Conflict & Global Energy Markets
9:42 - AI's Expanding Role: Code, Warfare, and Ethical Boundaries
17:48 - Portfolio Positioning: Macro Headwinds & Credit Risk
21:22 - Conclusion

Referenced sources:
Single Best Idea with Tom Keene Andreas Utermann & Patrick Murphy (Bloomberg Surveillance)

This episode is independent commentary and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the sources listed above.