Most arguments in favour of freedom are positive: the correlation between freedom and human development goals is, generally speaking, pretty strong. But actually, the most powerful arguments in favour of freedom are negative: if you live in a place where freedom is limited and autocrats, your chances of ending up dead are pretty high. South Africa celebrated Freedom Day this week, and in this podcast, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen discuss the famous - and famously cryptic - line in Kris Kristofferson’s song Me and Bobby McGee, “freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose”. And we conclude, actually, it isn’t.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Pope Francis, not for nothing the namesake of St Francis of Assisi, died on Easter weekend, a wonderful coda to a remarkable career. Francis was a compassionate reformer who tried to modernise the church, and it was a mark of his humility that he appeared in public to deliver Easter blessings less than 24 hours before his death. In this podcast, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor-at-Large Tim Cohen discuss his legacy, lessons for those outside the church, and, would you believe, the significance of his passing at the age of 88. Barnes also has an idea that could obviate the VAT increase: a new office in government - the office of fair market value. Enjoy! Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

The stock markets around the world are in a funk following the decision by US President Donald Trump to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on more or less all the US's trading partners - except they weren't reciprocal, they were punitive. Then, there was a rumour that the tariffs would be put on pause. The markets went up. But that was denied. The markets went down. Then, they were put on pause. The markets went up. This is why, according to entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor at Large Tim Cohen, the word "tariffs" ends in the letters FFS.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

A while ago now, a Twitter post called “My f** Marelize!” went viral. The pathos, the humor, and the undercurrent of frustration were all captured in an 18-second video of a mother trying to teach her hapless daughter (we assume) how to ride a bicycle and avoid the only obstacle in miles: the goal posts. That short video is oddly a great representation of our current moment as a country, faced as we are with both internal and external calamities. In this podcast, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen discuss the Trump Tariff Tantrum and the possible end of the Government of National Unity. The conclusion? We need to learn how to ride the bike, but properly this time.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Government is always looking for money to take rather than money to make, says entrepreneur Mark Barnes in this discussion over the news of the week with Daily Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen. Which leads us to the delicate issue of the Nappy Law of Politics - and business, as it happens. With the GNU on the brink (again!) over the budget, we discuss its successes and failures, and the futility of tariffs. But why, then, are they so popular? See nappies above.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

In this episode entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen discuss branding - and that's not the kind you do to the cow. How important are brands (very), how do you work out what a brand is worth (complicated), and most importantly, how is Brand South Africa doing? (Even more complicated). Conclusion: SA’s brand has taken a knock, but it's holding up, and potentially could be a lot better. How? Listen up.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Let's get some things straight. There are only three (expletive deleted) sources of capital; debt, tax, and foreign investment. Well, actually there are more, but as entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor at Larger Tim Cohen discuss, these are the main three, and SA needs to focus on the third because SA’s debt is too high and its taxes too onerous. We also discuss diplomacy and swearing; you might not think the two go together, but they do.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

SA’s Government of National Unity is trying to get its budget passed for the second time this week, but there is something missing in the mix: growth. Entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Maverick Editor at Large Tim Cohen discuss the lack of transformative projects and - since our podcast is now over a century old - how age plays into the process of a growth mentality. Also, Johannesburg.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

Like much of the world, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen were mesmerised by the Oval Office showdown between US president Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy which ended in name-calling, finger pointing, and no deal. It's tempting to extrapolate too far, but it's clear a rift has developed between the post-war diplomatic reality. In this podcast we discuss this issue and how it affects South Africa, particularly our delayed budget discussions. TL;DR - self-sufficiency is the new global watchword.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.

What was that phrase, “Vat hom!”? Well, I think we can all agree that suggesting a two percentage point increase in VAT, was really going for it. The budget and the proposed VAT increase was, somewhat inevitably, the main topic of conversation between entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen. One question remains: what about looking at a few savings here and there? Just asking. We also cover other issues of national and global importance, like investments, sovereign wealth funds and smelly feet.Production and Editing by Tevya Turok Shapiro.

Music & Design by Bernard Kotze.

Created by Mark Barnes, Tim Cohen, Bernard Kotze & Branko Brkic.