The David McWilliams Podcast
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 important to all of us and yet, it’s made inaccessible and complicated by so many.I’ve always thought what is complicated is rarely important and what is important is rarely complicated.That will be our motto.Every week we are going to tease out some big economic or political issue facing us, not just here in Ireland but in Europe and further afield. Globalisation has brought us all together. We all face similar challenges whether you live in Dublin, London, Minnesota or Milan.If you would like to enjoy all of our content ad-free and have early access to episodes, subscribe to DMCW+ on Apple Podcast.Want to join our crew? Join at davidmcwilliams.ie/crew, where you can enjoy ad-free listening, as well as exclusive bonus content such as premium episodes, our macroeconomics course, early access to episodes and pre-sale access to tickets for Dalkey Book Festival & Kilkenomics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 26, 2026 • 40min
Can Europe’s “Hidden Continent” Finally Break Free?
A tour of the Balkans from Belgrade to the football terraces and rom-coms. Conversations about Kosovo’s role in regional politics and Serbia’s deep ties with Russia. Explanations of 1990s hyperinflation, sanctions and wartime memory. Notes on a youthful, pro‑European push against corruption and the region’s comeback potential.
Feb 24, 2026 • 38min
Can You Prosper Without Building Proper Cities?
A journey from an ancient Irish bridge to Sarajevo explores how bridges tell stories of trade, tribes and local life. The conversation tackles Ireland's low-density, car-dependent sprawl and the hidden winners of rezoning. It contrasts fragile, congested suburbs with Japan's dense, transit-first mega-region and asks why compact, mixed-use neighbourhoods aren't chosen instead.
Feb 19, 2026 • 37min
Revenge of the Nerds
A look at how AI may be ending the software engineer’s era by automating coding and turning technical skill into commodity labour. A historical analogy compares AI to the steam engine and programmers to displaced work animals. Discussion on natural-language 'vibe coding', market repricing of tech firms, algorithmic trading taking emotion out of markets, and a pivot toward distinctly human skills.
26 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 40min
What Happens to an Economy When Credit Stops Flowing?
The show explores what happens when banks stop lending and credit evaporates. It traces Ireland’s shift from rapid credit-fueled growth to a cash-constrained economy. Historical parallels from Potosí to Spain illustrate how money supply reshapes trade and innovation. The conversation highlights how multinationals and heavy state spending can mask a hollowed-out private sector.
31 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 44min
Can the New Fed Boss Shrink QE Without Crashing Everything?
They unpack who truly controls money: central banks, commercial banks, or markets. The split between currency and finance gets teased out. How banks create money through lending and why Treasuries sit at the center are explored. The risks and politics of shrinking the Fed balance sheet and unwinding QE are debated in short, lively segments.
39 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 40min
Why Did Bitcoin Crash Again? The Scam That’s Been Around Since Dante
They challenge grandiose claims that Bitcoin is ‘money as energy’ and explain why that rhetoric is hollow. They trace money’s history from Dante and Archimedes to show why counterfeiting undermines civilization. They argue fixed supply, volatility, and mining economics turn Bitcoin into a hoarding gamble. They call stablecoins recycled old finance and compare crypto to historical market manias.
31 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 49min
Swipe Left on Society: Singledom, Sexless Men, and the New Politics of Loneliness with Aideen McQueen
Aideen McQueen, comedian, ex-teacher and musician behind Waiting for Texto, joins to unpack modern singledom. She discusses dating apps, porn and their effects on desire. She describes touring a show about dating fatigue and why people opt out of apps. Conversations hit male isolation, shifting expectations and how these changes ripple through society.
18 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 48min
Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference with Rutger Bregman
Rutger Bregman, Dutch historian and bestselling author who champions an optimistic view of human nature. He discusses wasted talent and 'bullshit jobs' and the career traps of consulting, finance and corporate law. He explores how trust, stories and pragmatism drive social reform and warns about authoritarianism and AI shaping work and meaning.
42 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 38min
Ireland’s American Problem: The Jockey, the Horses, and the End of the Easy Money Era
A look at Ireland’s fragile reliance on US capital and the risks if US and Europe drift apart. Discussion of how concentrated foreign investment and corporate tax windfalls shaped the economy. A provocative proposal to use remaining windfall for infrastructure and a Schumpeter-style startup fund to spur innovation and de-risk lending. Reflections on culture, education, and seizing new capital flows.
77 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 45min
The Great Global Rebalancing: How Trump's America is Losing its Grip on the World's Capital with Sony Kapoor
Sony Kapoor, financial strategist known for geopolitics and capital allocation, explains why global capital is starting to look beyond the United States. He discusses US political risk, Treasuries losing safe-haven status, and a growing push to hedge dollar exposure. He outlines how capital might flow into India, Latin America and Africa as markets rebalance.
