UnHerd

The Econoclasts

News EN ↓ 170 episodes

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 t...

Author

UnHerd

Category

News

Podcast website

unherd.com

Latest episode

Jul 7, 2026

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Episodes

These Times - How the US Controls the World 06.05.2024

In this week's episode Tom and Helen explore the power of the US dollar, and why in a more multipolar, economic and political world, it remains king... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - The Future of the City, with Bim Afolami and Francesca Carlesi 02.05.2024

In this bonus episode sponsored by Revolut, Tom and Helen talk about the geopolitics of the city of London, before Tom chats to MP Bim Afolami and CEO of Revolut, Francesca Carlesi about the future of the city... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Can Britain Afford More On Defence? 29.04.2024

After Rishi Sunak announced that Britain will increase its defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030, Tom and Helen explore the history of Britain's defence, and whether it will be able to align what it can spend on defence with a changing geopolitical world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - The Next Oil War? 22.04.2024

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, and explore what it means for the rest of the world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Crisis: Iran Attacks 15.04.2024

Tom and Helen turn to the crisis unfolding between Iran and Israel, and explore the likelihood of US intervention after they were forced to take direct military action in defence of Israel for the first time in their history... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times Live: War and Peace in the Middle East 11.04.2024

From Houthi ship attacks to the spectre of Iranian aggression, the Middle East seems set to become the next front for violent conflict. Could the turbulent history of the region tell us something about what its future holds? Join These Times’ Tom McTague and Helen Thompson for the first live recording of their hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - The Return of ISIS 08.04.2024

As the dust settles in Moscow, Tom and Helen ask from where did Isis come, and why are they still here... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Paul Morland: The Power of Population 01.04.2024

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen chat to demographer Paul Morland about the geopolitics and economics of demography, and why population matters... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - We Need to Talk About Turkey 26.03.2024

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to Turkey, the country at the crossroads of global geopolitics, and ask why it is so important to the future of the 21st Century... Please join us at the UnHerd Club on 8th April for our first live event "War and Peace in the Middle East", where Tom and Helen are diving deeper into the geopolitics of the Middle-East... Don't miss it! Tickets below https:/...

These Times - What’s the Matter with Western Europe? 19.03.2024

After their extensive analysis into the economic binds of France and Germany, Tom and Helen explore why the geopolitical world has become so much harder for Western Europe to navigate over the last decade... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - What's the Point of Emmanuel Macron? 12.03.2024

This week, Tom and Helen turn to France's divisive leader, Emmanuel Macron, and explore whether there is any strategic substance behind the grand speeches, declarations and interventions.... Elsewhere at UnHerd, we have launched our new Spring Sale which gives subscribers unlimited access to our articles, subscriber-only app, and ability to join the conversation in the comment section, and that’s...

These Times - Britain's Lethal Economic Bind 05.03.2024

In this week's episode Tom and Helen explore what has happened to the British economy over the past 20 years, and why is it becoming increasingly difficult for it to adjust to the new economic and geopolitical world.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Germany's Economic Reckoning 27.02.2024

In this episode, Tom and Helen turn to Germany, and ask why it was last year's worst performing major economy, and what those difficulties reveal about the present economic and geopolitical world... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Europe’s Reckoning with Ukraine 20.02.2024

In this week's episode, Tom Mctague and Helen Thompson look back at Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, and explore why it has been so difficult for the United States and the European Union to protect Ukraine's independence... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - The War for Ukraine: How History Came Roaring Back 13.02.2024

In the wake of Putin's fast and loose interview with Tucker Carlson, Tom and Helen turn to the history of Ukrainian independence, and ask what it means for the future of Ukraine, Europe and NATO... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Biden Resumes America’s Forever War in Iraq 06.02.2024

In the wake of recent US/UK led bombings of Iraq and Syria, Tom McTague and Helen Thompson ask why America continues to embroil itself in the Iraq quagmire, and whether further escalation lies on the horizon... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Trump, the Borderlands, and a Global Crisis 30.01.2024

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen turn to the current border crisis unfolding in Texas, and explore how a set of global and domestic crises, from the drug cartels in Mexico, to the situation in Ukraine, might play into Trump's hands come the end of the year... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Iran Lashes Out, with Ali Ansari 23.01.2024

In this week's episode, Tom and Helen talk to Ali Ansari, director of Iranian Studies at St Andrews University, about the history of Iranian power - from the 1979 Islamic revolution, to the most recent exchange of airstrikes with Pakistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - The War for Taiwan 16.01.2024

With the new anti-Chinese President elected in Taiwan, Tom and Helen turn to the most important body of water in the world: the Western Pacific, and explore what's at stake there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - The War for the Red Sea 09.01.2024

This week, Helen and Tom explore the geopolitical history of the Red Sea, from the erection of the Suez Canal, to the waring Houthi Rebels patrolling the waters, and what it all tells us about where power lies in the world today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - New Year, New World 03.01.2024

Tom McTague and HelenH Helen Thompson look back at the major events that took place in 2023, from Ukraine's stalled counter-offensive and the Israel Hamas War, and ask what they mean for the year ahead... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Europe’s Lost World: The Radetzky March and The Leopard 26.12.2023

For this Christmas Special, Tom and Helen discuss two of their all time favourite novels that share the same themes of empire, nationalism and loss - Joseph Roth's The Radetzky March (1932) and Giuseppe Tommasi, The Lampedusa's The Leopard (1958). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Europe’s Civilisational Turn? 19.12.2023

This week, Tom and Helen sit down with Hans Kundnani to discuss the domestic politics of European countries and the reshaping of Europe's collective future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Ukraine's Dark Winter Ahead 12.12.2023

Tom and Helen sit down with Shashank Joshi to ask why supporting Ukraine has been so politically difficult in many Western countries, and what are the consequences for Ukraine, the EU, NATO, and the geopolitical conflicts around the Middle East? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These Times - Europe's Bet on Net Zero 05.12.2023

As world leaders meet in Dubai for COP 28, Tom and Helen turn to one of the most important political issues of our age - Net Zero, and ask where Europe's ambition to be the first carbon dioxide free continent comes from, and whether it can succeed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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