The Econoclasts
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 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 56min
Econoclasts LIVE: Iran and the New World Disorder
A live, wide-ranging deconstruction of post-Cold War geopolitics and why the Middle East keeps erupting. Deep dives on permanent US military spending and whether Israel helps or hinders Western strategy. A sharp debate on Ukraine policy and proposals for a European-led settlement. Close look at China’s industrial rise, education drive, and why Europe’s productivity lags.
27 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 35min
The West’s Iran crisis: Global recession & Russian revenue
They analyze how a prolonged Strait of Hormuz closure could spark a lasting energy shock and global recession. They explore why higher energy costs alter AI investment and monetary policy. They unpack the military and logistical costs of protecting shipping and how regional conflict boosts Russian revenue. They debate strategic choices for Europe and the risks of underestimating adversaries.
32 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 34min
How Iran exposed the West’s military weakness
They argue the West lacks a coherent strategy against Iran and is hamstrung by deindustrialization. Supply chain dependence on China and radar and procurement gaps are exposed. They trace Iran’s regional rise and how Western actions can strengthen its regime. They critique managerial overreach replacing specialist industrial capacity and warn of prolonged conflict and economic fallout.
5 snips
Mar 7, 2026 • 37min
NATO’s hidden agenda & why Europe will fail Ukraine
A sharp critique of NATO expansion and how it shaped Russian responses. A debate on whether Europe will fully back Ukraine or settle for a negotiated stalemate. Discussion of Western moral contradictions in waging cost-free war. Creative proposals for Donbass governance and warnings about Europe’s strategic emptiness.
44 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 27min
Trump’s Iran strikes and the new forever war
A sharp breakdown of how recent US strikes on Iran may signal a shift toward a permanent-war doctrine. A critique of alliances and lobbying that shape interventionist policy. Discussion of weakened European sovereignty and the geopolitical gains for China and Russia. Warnings about regional escalation and the heavy long-term costs of sustained conflict.
10 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 34min
Why Trump will win the tariff war
They argue tariffs and court rulings are a distraction from deeper global shifts. The conversation covers the dollar’s weaponization and parallels with Nixon. Big Tech and cloud services are cast as geopolitical tools that can hold the West to ransom. The rise of AI is framed as a long-term transformation that could upend markets, property and social relations, pointing to divergent political futures.
18 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 37min
Marco Rubio’s new world order & Starmer’s plan to rejoin Europe
Discussion of a perceived US pivot away from Europe after Marco Rubio’s Munich speech. Debate over whether Europe should pool weapons procurement rather than just boost spending. Examination of the UK’s push for regulatory realignment with the EU and risks that alignment poses to biotech, AI and bargaining power. A bleak assessment of Western alliances and political honesty.
19 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 37min
The Starmer-Mandelson-Epstein scandal & Musk’s merger
A fiery debate about whether mergers and buybacks are rigging markets or just market opinion. They use the SpaceX–xAI deal and past mega-mergers to probe how valuations get inflated. A sharp clash over a controversial ambassadorial appointment, ethical links to high-profile figures, and what that reveals about political strategy and leadership.
18 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 34min
Why gold and silver crashed & Trump’s Fed Chair pick
They unpack the sudden gold and silver price collapse and why markets misread it. They link a controversial Fed pick to political and business ties. The conversation explores how QE warped economies, why banks hoarded cash, and how fiscal dominance could replace central bank independence. Futures in money are debated, from debt cancellation to private stablecoins and shifting global financial power.
7 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 39min
“This isn’t over”: Trump, Greenland & the Davos delusion
A sharp takedown of Davos rhetoric and whether calls for a revived multilateral order ring hollow. A debate on whether Europe truly gained leverage in the Greenland spat or remained dependent on US tech, dollars, and security. A clash over fiscal priorities, taxes, and the real limits of monetary policy and interest rates. Discussion of financial sovereignty and how sanctions expose systemic vulnerabilities.
