Ukraine is being carved up—again. This week, Trump and Putin are discussing Ukraine’s future, and the Ukrainians aren’t even invited to the table. We explain why the Congress of Vienna 1815 is the framework through which we should look at the new world order being torn up and rewritten, where might is right and small nations; whether in Eastern Europe or the West of Ireland, are left to fend for themselves. Enter Conor McGregor, backed by MAGA kingmaker Steve Bannon and bankrolled by Elon Musk, ...
Mar 20, 2025•45 min•Season 2025Ep. 23
St. Patrick’s Day diplomacy, a shifting global order, and Trump whispering in Micheál Martin’s ear; he's nursing more than a hangover with his front-row seat to the chaos economy of Trump’s America. This week, we break down the Irish leader’s White House shindig, the Doonbeg-ification of Irish diplomacy, and why Trump sees Ireland as a useful pawn in his battle with Europe. Meanwhile, Brexit is floundering, Germany is rearming, and Britain is quietly edging back toward the EU. Could Keir Starmer...
Mar 18, 2025•40 min•Season 2025Ep. 22
In a week where the U.S. stock market has been rocked by recession fears and escalating trade tensions, we sit down with renowned author Michael Lewis, known for works like Liar's Poker, The Big Short, and Moneyball, to dissect the economic landscape. The S&P 500 plummeted 5.7%, marking its worst week since September, while the Nasdaq Composite saw a 4% drop, largely due to concerns over trade wars and slowing economic growth. Tesla's stock took a significant hit, falling 15% in a single day...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min•Season 2025Ep. 21
For 70 years, Germany kept its head down; an economic juggernaut, but a military lightweight, happy to let America call the shots. Not anymore.J.D. Vance’s off-the-cuff dismissal of Europe as a lost cause, combined with Trump’s America First foreign policy, has done something extraordinary: it’s forced Germany to step up. And when Germany steps up, the whole world shifts. And one of the shifts could well be, the UK running back to the EU and for the first time in 10 years Britain needs Europe an...
Mar 11, 2025•35 min•Season 2025Ep. 20
Neo-imperialism is marching, loud and proud, straight into the heart of global politics. Between Trump’s quiet dealmaking in Riyadh, to his open musings about annexing Canada, the last few weeks have shattered the illusion that the age of empire is behind us. The world order of the last 70 years is crumbling, replaced by raw, transactional power. Trump and Putin are set to carve up Ukraine, billionaires are circling mineral-rich territories like vultures, and Washington’s foreign policy has been...
Mar 06, 2025•34 min•Season 2025Ep. 19
What do DIY stores, French financial bubbles, and Elon Musk have in common? Kicking off with a detour into The Pope’s Children and the perils of being a DIY impostor, we quickly shift gears to the real story: the Trump Dump . As financial markets recoil from the chaos of MAGA economics, we dive into history for a striking parallel: John Law, the 18th-century financial mastermind who convinced France to bet everything on his wild vision of a new economic order. Law promised a dazzling future, jus...
Mar 04, 2025•41 min•Season 2025Ep. 18
Germany’s latest election has sent shockwaves across Europe. The CDU has reasserted itself, but the far-right AfD continues to gain ground, fuelled by economic anxieties and social media echo chambers. Meanwhile, younger voters are breaking in radical new directions, young men shifting right, young women embracing the far left. With NATO under strain, America’s global leadership in question, and the war in Ukraine forcing Germany to confront its historical reluctance to lead, Berlin is at the he...
Feb 27, 2025•42 min•Season 2025Ep. 17
Anxiety is in the air. Trump's latest outbursts underscore America’s shifting economic stance. Who knows if there is a method to the madness? In this episode, we break down the logic of MAGA economics, tracing its roots back to mercantilism; the imperialist trade philosophy that once fuelled global empires. We dissect Trump’s obsession with trade surpluses, the inevitable clash between MAGA and Wall Street, and why Ireland might be enemy number one in the next trade war. Just when you think thin...
Feb 25, 2025•43 min•Season 2025Ep. 16
What if we could start over? What if instead of just stitching the North onto the South, we reimagined the whole country. new flag, new anthem, even a brand-new capital? What if Ireland’s future wasn’t just about unity, but about revolutionising how we run our society? From Swiss-style direct democracy to high-speed rail, from Athlone as a futuristic capital to a redefined relationship with the Commonwealth, this episode dives deep into bold ideas for a Second Republic. We’re talking more than a...
Feb 20, 2025•34 min•Season 2025Ep. 15
The world as we know it is over. The post-Cold War order, the American-led security umbrella, the assumption that Europe will always be protected has been shattered in real time. Trump’s America is walking away. Russia has played the long game and won. Ukraine is the new Ireland, abandoned by its supposed allies. Europe is like a deer in the headlights, unarmed, unprepared, and utterly exposed. From the Swiss Alps to the ghosts of the Flight of the Earls, this episode unpacks the seismic shift h...
Feb 18, 2025•34 min•Season 2025Ep. 14
What can a city built on water teach us about the economics of the 21st century? In this episode, we dive into the economics of Venice, how a tiny republic with no natural resources became one of the most powerful trading hubs in history. From their financial innovations, like double-entry bookkeeping and reserve currency, to their mastery of diplomacy and soft power, the Venetians thrived for centuries by being nimble, opportunistic, and always thinking ahead. What led to their decline? And are...
Feb 13, 2025•43 min•Season 2025Ep. 13
Donald Trump has always been blunt about his transactional view of global politics but has he just accelerated the decline of American soft power? We unpack his latest moves, from tariffs on Canada to his surreal vision for a 'Gaza Riviera,' and explore why his worldview could redefine America's role on the global stage. With USAID shutting down, longtime allies turning away, and economic isolationism on the rise, is the U.S. shifting from a nation of influence to one of brute force? What does t...
Feb 11, 2025•39 min•Season 2025Ep. 12
What do Donald Trump and William McKinley have in common? More than you might think. In this episode, we dig into the economic and political legacy of America’s 25th president, the so-called Napoleon of Tariffs, and explore why Trump sees him as a role model. From trade wars to big business alliances, McKinley reshaped America’s economic landscape through protectionism and expansionism, laying the groundwork for the country’s rise as a global power. But his presidency also triggered a powerful c...
Feb 06, 2025•39 min•Season 2025Ep. 11
Is rapid population growth a sign of economic strength, or the trigger for future crises? This week, we explore how shifting demographics are reshaping economies worldwide, from booming immigration and urban congestion to strained infrastructure and rising political tensions. As governments push for economic expansion, many are running their economies just too close to the sun; fuelling population growth without the capacity to support it. We examine how this plays out in housing shortages, over...
Feb 04, 2025•41 min•Season 2025Ep. 10
China's DeepSeek has done what it does best, it's made a better copy of an American product. Deepseek has disrupted the markets this week and is almost outperforming OpenAI while spending as little as one hundredth of the cost. In a world where Silicon Valley has long operated under a “winner takes all” model, DeepSeek’s breakthrough proves that sheer financial power is no longer the defining factor in technological supremacy. It's more than a story about AI, it's about geopolitics, economic pow...
Jan 30, 2025•41 min•Season 2025Ep. 9
What do Fartcoin, Trumpcoin, and TikTok have in common? They’re all part of the new frontier where memes, tokens, and attention economics collide. This episode dives into how Trump’s $60 billion crypto frenzy is more than just a bubble, it’s a glimpse into a world where narratives create wealth overnight. We explore Schumpeter’s innovation theory, the rise of memeonomics, and how social media oligarchs are reshaping power, regulation, and finance in real-time. Is this the ultimate bubble or the ...
Jan 28, 2025•37 min•Season 2025Ep. 8
Is the UK teetering on the edge of economic chaos? With bond yields now higher than Greece’s and a rapidly weakening pound, we explore why Britain’s financial foundation is cracking. From the historical parallels of past currency crises to the implications of its overreliance on financial services, we break down the risks ahead. Economist Philip Pilkington joins to discuss what’s fueling the current turmoil, the role of international markets, and whether the IMF might be forced to step in. Could...
Jan 23, 2025•44 min•Season 2025Ep. 7
We're diving into the seismic shifts reshaping America and their ripple effects on Irish identity abroad. With the inauguration of Donald Trump marking the ultimate vibe shift in global politics, we explore how Irish America has evolved, from Kennedy-esque liberals to MAGA-loving MMA enthusiasts like Dana White. Joined by historian Niall Ferguson, we discuss Trump’s anti-fragile rise, the decline of woke culture, and how Ireland needs to rethink its relationship with its diaspora in this new era...
Jan 21, 2025•40 min•Season 2025Ep. 6
In this week’s second instalment on bubbles, we dive into America’s tech-driven exuberance and the dangers of the Magnificent Seven. Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, and their pals commanding a third of the S&P 500. Are they truly unshakable titans, or is it the dot-com bubble all over again? As the bubble inflates, Monsignor Joe Rogan is busy offering absolution to the tech bros, preparing them for King Trump’s coronation. But history warns us: bubbles don’t burst gently, and fragility hides behind th...
Jan 16, 2025•34 min•Season 2025Ep. 5
This week, we’re talking risk. From California’s burning insurance markets to the fragile dominance of America’s “Magnificent Seven” tech giants. Are Apple, Tesla, and their crew as unshakable as they seem, or are we teetering on another financial bubble? Meanwhile, over in the confessional, Father Joe Rogan is busy absolving tech bros like Zuckerberg of their woke sins, ushering them into the MAGA fold, complete with MMA moves and chains. Join us as we dig into the psychology of bubbles, the ab...
Jan 14, 2025•36 min•Season 2025Ep. 4
We explore today's seismic changes in media and society, by tracing historical parallels between James Joyce’s The Dead (1907) and today’s digital age. Joyce’s observations on in The Dead about generational divides, the rise of newspapers, and societal shifts echo loudly in 2025, as new gatekeepers like Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos wield unprecedented influence over the flow of information. How did media transform from a tool of advertisement to the battleground for ideas? What can we learn from ...
Jan 09, 2025•34 min•Season 2025Ep. 3
We examine the cracks forming in America’s financial dominance, with $30 trillion in debt—equal to 100% of GDP—making it the largest debtor nation in history. Drawing parallels to Britain’s fall from economic supremacy after WWI, we explore how reliance on foreign creditors, MAGA billionaires, and a dangerously overconfident debt-driven system are pushing the U.S. toward a potential reckoning. With bond vigilantes ready to re-emerge and global markets watching closely, could the U.S. be repeatin...
Jan 07, 2025•33 min•Season 2024Ep. 2
This week, we’re diving into a surprising truth: airports are the most democratic spaces in society. Think about it—everyone passes through them, from business tycoons to backpackers, families returning home, and adventurers chasing the sun. In this episode, we explore what Dublin Airport, a global hub unmatched by any other city its size, reveals about Ireland’s place in the world. With over 50 transatlantic flights a week and connections to places as unexpected as Nashville, Dublin Airport tel...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min•Season 2025Ep. 1
Happy New Year! Join us as we nurse our hangovers and take a ride through 2024’s greatest hits—economic and otherwise. From the explosive surge of Swiftonomics (yes, Taylor Swift boosted Ireland’s GDP!) to the surprising resilience of the Centrist Dad Economy, we unpack the stories that defined the year. Did Apple’s €13 billion tax debacle teach us anything? Are we more Boston or Berlin as we outpace Europe in growth? And how did a housing market on the brink coexist with 160,000 fans belting ou...
Dec 31, 2024•36 min•Season 2024Ep. 106
As the war in Ukraine drags on, how do we untangle the web of money, power, and manipulation at the heart of Vladimir Putin’s regime? In this Christmas special, we revisit one of our most revealing episodes with financier and political activist Bill Browder, recorded in May 2022.From the origins of Putin’s rise to power to the oligarchs’ uneasy pact and the enduring corruption within Russia, Browder offers an insider’s perspective on the forces driving this geopolitical chess game. With haunting...
Dec 26, 2024•35 min•Season 2024Ep. 105
As we hurtle toward an AI-driven future, what’s really at stake? In this Christmas Eve special, we revisit our conversation with Martin Wolf, the Financial Times’ chief economics correspondent, and dive into his predictions for the seismic changes reshaping our world.From the rise of AI and its potential to dismantle the middle class, to the demographic time bombs ticking in the West and sub-Saharan Africa, we explore how technology, climate, and population shifts are redefining economics and ge...
Dec 24, 2024•30 min•Season 2024Ep. 104
Was 2024 the turning point for our economic, political, and cultural future? In this episode, we break down the top 10 seismic shifts that reshaped the world. From Trump’s polarising return and America’s brotocracy taking center stage, to the collapse of the Assad regime and the waning dominance of Germany and France, the global order is tilting. Why is Italy’s Meloni now Europe’s most compelling leader? What does China’s deflation signal for the rest of us? And how has Ireland quietly positione...
Dec 19, 2024•34 min•Season 2024Ep. 103
Ireland’s economy is booming, bolstered by its close ties to the American economic engine. But beneath the shine of GDP growth and high living standards lies a stark reality: a growing gap between standard of living and quality of life. Why are Irish families delaying children longer than any other in Europe? Why hasn’t Ireland used its wealth to solve fundamental issues like childcare, housing, and commutes? In this episode, we explore the divergence between the U.S. and European economies, she...
Dec 17, 2024•35 min•Season 2024Ep. 102
The fall of Assad’s 50-year regime marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history, but what happens next? In this episode, we connect the dots between the collapse of Syria’s government, the geopolitical power vacuum left behind, and the ripple effects across Europe. Drawing from decades of history, including parallels to regime changes from Saddam Hussein to Gaddafi, we examine the roles of Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, and the jihadist HTS in shaping Syria’s uncertain future. Taking notes from Th...
Dec 12, 2024•35 min•Season 2024Ep. 101
Santa exists because the people will it to exist"—a lovely line from The Miracle on 34th Street sets the stage for this episode's deep dive into Bitcoin hitting the monumental $100K mark. But is Bitcoin really money? Or just a speculative asset fuelled by belief and lobbying? As we explore the parallels between wampum shells, tulip bulbs, and digital currencies, we unravel the irony of Bitcoin’s journey from anti-establishment rebellion to Wall Street darling. Is this the dawn of a MAGA-backed f...
Dec 10, 2024•35 min•Season 2024Ep. 100
