The Econoclasts

By UnHerd

The Econoclasts is a new podcast from UnHerd hosted by economist Yanis Varoufakis and journalist Wolfgang Munchau. While they don't always agree politically, they are united in one conviction: the

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FAQs about The Econoclasts:

How many episodes does The Econoclasts have?

The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.

The Econoclasts episodes:

December 03, 2025 Europe’s identity crisis: Empty values & defence delusion
This week, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau take aim at Europe's core illusions. Are Europe's 'values' anything more than a slogan when its leaders fail to defend a French ICC judge sanctioned by the Trump administration? And why is Europe fixated on rapidly increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP - is this target a genuine strategy to counter Russia and achieve independence, or is it a doomed exercise that will only funnel money inefficiently and increase Europe's reliance on American arms suppliers?

The Econoclasts is the podcast from UnHerd in which Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau each week pick pillars of the economic orthodoxy – so-called ‘settled facts’ – and shatter them. Why? Because, while they don’t always agree politically, they’re united in one conviction: the consensus is rotten and the establishment’s model is failing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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39min
November 26, 2025 Trump’s Ukraine peace plan & the truth about the crypto crash
This week on The Econoclasts, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau challenge two global orthodoxies: Europe's cynical strategy in the Ukraine war and the alleged freedom of the cryptocurrency world. Are European leaders actively frustrating any Ukraine peace plan to buy time for re-armament? And did last week’s crypto winter confirm that the digital currency universe has been taken over by an unholy alliance of Big Government and Big Finance that will guarantee future global financial chaos? Prepare to see the world's strategic priorities—from Kyiv to Bitcoin—in a new and alarming light.

The Econoclasts is the podcast from UnHerd in which Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau each week pick pillars of the economic orthodoxy – so-called ‘settled facts’ – and shatter them. Why? Because, while they don’t always agree politically, they’re united in one conviction: the consensus is rotten and the establishment’s model is failing.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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37min
November 19, 2025 Should Labour sack Starmer & will Reeves bankrupt Britain?
On this episode of The Econoclasts, in an important week for the British economy, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau debate speculation over Keir Starmer’s leadership and whether political instability is now a permanent feature of Westminster - before dissecting the fatal mistake at the heart of Rachel Reeves’ budget, her reliance on economic “experts”, and why Reeves is paralysed by a crisis of her own choosing.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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40min
November 12, 2025 Palantir's secret pact & the Euro's fatal flaw
This week on The Econoclasts, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau debunk two more establishment orthodoxies. First, Wolfgang challenges the widespread belief that the euro is a safe and permanent currency and investigates the deep structural flaws that were never fixed, exploring whether a new political shock in a major country like France could be the trigger that finally unravels the entire project. Next, Yanis shatters the foundational myth that capitalism is synonymous with free markets, exploring the cozy relationship between big business and the state, and questioning whether the 'free market' is just an ideological smokescreen. Is the system secretly designed to secure monopoly power, and will AI be a force for true competition, or will it be the ultimate weapon for existing tech giants to solidify their control forever?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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48min
November 05, 2025 China vs. the dollar & Europe's far-Right failure
This week on The Econoclasts, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau debunk two more establishment orthodoxies. First, Yanis challenges the widespread belief that China is actively trying to dethrone the US dollar as the world's reserve currency, arguing that while Beijing wants independence from US sanction power, it is strongly opposed to the idea of taking on the burden of the reserve currency. And second, Wolfgang debunks the "cordon sanitaire", or "firewall" orthodoxy that European centrist parties must never form coalitions with the far-Right, exposing how this failed tactic forces centrists into permanent coalitions that deliver only stagnation and ultimately guarantees the rise of far-Right parties
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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46min
October 29, 2025 Should Europe seize Russian assets? Is a crypto crisis looming?
In this first episode of The Econoclasts, Yanis Varoufakis and Wolfgang Munchau debunk two failed economic orthodoxies shaping our world. First, they dismantle the narrative that Europe is helping Ukraine - and striking a powerful blow against Russia - by raiding Russia’s frozen assets. More than this being legally questionable, is it also economically and geopolitically self-defeating? Next, they expose the "battle" between central banks and anti-establishment crypto rebels as a false choice, revealing it as a dangerous illusion that serves the powerful. Far from being revolutionary, are stablecoins turbo-charging financial instability for the next global crash?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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47min
October 24, 2025 Trailer: The Econoclasts
The Econoclasts is a new podcast from UnHerd hosted by economist Yanis Varoufakis and journalist Wolfgang Munchau. While they don't always agree politically, they are united in one conviction: the consensus is rotten. Mainstream economics has consistently failed to predict the events that shape our world, yet this broken orthodoxy still dominates policy and media. Each week, they choose two pillars of the established orthodoxy — the "settled facts" — and shatter them, cutting through the spin to connect the dots between money, geopolitics, and the real forces shaping our future.

Don't forget to rate, like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1min
March 31, 2025 These Times - Trump: the Multipolar President?
This week, Tom and Helen follow on from the previous episode by analysing Donald Trump's response to the multipolar world and its implications, especially for Europe. They dive into Trump's clear actions towards Russia, the complications with China, the broader strategic shifts, European interests, NATO's current state, and rising geopolitical tensions involving Turkey.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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54min
March 25, 2025 These Times - The rise of the multipolar world order
In this week's episode, Tom and Helen zoom out to look at the wider geopolitical world order coming into being in the midst of Donald Trump's second term, and whether American acceptance of a multipolar world is the key thread in Trump's geopolitical ambitions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h
March 18, 2025 These Times - Trump’s Economic Revolution
This week, Tom and Helen discuss the growing American debt crisis and whether Donald Trump's bold political moves can be understood as a response to this escalating financial challenge.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 9min

FAQs about The Econoclasts:

How many episodes does The Econoclasts have?

The podcast currently has 138 episodes available.

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