The David McWilliams Podcast

By David McWilliams & John Davis

The aim of this weekly podcast is to make economics easy, uncomplicated and accessible. With the world at a political, technological and financial tipping point, economics has never been so importa

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FAQs about The David McWilliams Podcast:

How many episodes does The David McWilliams Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 567 episodes available.

The David McWilliams Podcast episodes:

March 14, 2024 2024:22 The Irish Government, as trustworthy as a Kate Middleton photo-album?
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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34min
March 12, 2024 2024:21 Bitcoin is Still Not Money
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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31min
March 07, 2024 2024:20 Why Is China Getting So Rich?
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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34min
March 05, 2024 2024:19 ADHD Nation
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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35min
February 29, 2024 2024:18 Stuck in 1980s
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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33min
February 27, 2024 2024:17 What is Éire Accelerationism and Why Does it Matter? with Will O'Brien
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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42min
February 22, 2024 2024:16 The Joy of Maths with Colm O'Regan
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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37min
February 20, 2024 2024:15 The Murder of Navalny - What's Next for Putin and Europe?
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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35min
February 15, 2024 2024:14 A Climate Warning from the Past
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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33min
February 13, 2024 2024:13 The Return of the Kennedys with Pippa Malmgren
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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37min

FAQs about The David McWilliams Podcast:

How many episodes does The David McWilliams Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 567 episodes available.

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