Radar: Economics Podcasts Special 06.07.26

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What’s going on with the economy and what can be done about it? This seems like a fairly simple question, but it’s one which is particularly salient as I write this halfway through 2026. And as simple as this question might be, the answer, it seems, is anything but straightforward. Hence the focus of this month’s Radar: podcasts on the economy. I’m fascinated (and at times enervated) by the economy, its rises and falls, and what it says about our behaviour as humans and how we are currently inhabiting this place we call earth. The economy speaks of greed on one hand, and hope on the other, events of the past, and possibilities of the future. It’s no wonder then, there are so many podcasts about it, and that so many of them offer such differing views. 

Let’s start with Gary’s Economics, in which Gary Stevenson, author of The Trading Game, relentlessly pursues his thesis: tax wealth not work. It is Stevenson’s belief that the only way the country, nay the world, can get out of its economic quandary is by taxing the super-rich, or uber-wealthy (call them what you will). Having listened to a few of these, and even the interview he did with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart (which I listened to despite these interviewers), I was captivated by this theory, but couldn’t help but feel it’s an incredibly negative perspective, and inherently doom-mongering. He keeps arguing that if we don’t tax the rich, the world will effectively be run by Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, until one deposes the other and there’s nothing left for the rest of us. My problem with it (and I’m not an economist) is that it’s an incredibly punitive and gloomy way to view correcting the economy, and doesn’t really take into account ideas of how we can grow the economy, as opposed to impeding the rich. Surely it doesn’t have to be a zero sum game? I’ll keep listening to his podcasts because he’s passionate and engaging and clearly very bright, even if my view of the human spirit in overcoming greed and not allowing a tiny majority to rule the planet is more hopeful than his. I agree with him that inequality is a huge issue, and maybe there is some place for taxing the rich a bit more, but there have got to be other routes to a more flourishing economy and hopeful, prosperous planet to pass on to our children. And the other big question I have is: is that really his kitchen in the background? Surely he could afford a nicer one with all of his millions, no?

The Rest is Money, with Steph McGovern and Robert Peston is bearable. It’s more topical and discursive in its approach, in comparison to Stevenson’s rather didactic style. Steph McGovern is enthusiastic, if a little too inclined to talk over her guests, and Robert Peston is, well, Robert Peston. As part of Gary Lineker’s GoalHanger enterprise, its left of centre bias is largely well hidden, but comes to the surface every so often. The most interesting one I’ve listened to included Nigel Wilson, the erstwhile CEO of Legal and General, on how he managed to boost investment in regional regeneration, and how the current Labour government has lost its way with that. It’s a well structured podcast with interesting guests; indeed, I’d argue that its success rests on its guests. 

The Econoclasts (the best name for an economics podcast) is right up my street. The two economists intend on debunking myths and challenging the status quo and long held misperceptions of the economy. In the most recent they discuss how, contrary to the BBC’s headlines, Brexit had little impact on the economy, and why Volkswagen is losing the race to incorporate AI into cars to China. I’ve mentioned before the importance of presenters of podcasts having great, listenable voices, and these two, economist Yanis Varoufakis (Greek) and journalist Wolfgang Munchau (German) lend another dimension and point of difference to the other podcasts. 

Speaking of voices, the Scottish tones of Simon Mitchell in The Spectator’s Reality Check are very much in keeping with its no-nonsense attitude, as it, like Econoclasts, also probes the general consensus of the day. We should note that The Spectator and UnHerd (which publishes Econoclasts) have the same owner, so it’s clear there is a sense of continuity and singing from the same hymn sheet here. But, its tune of libertarianism, free thinking and independent thought is one that I could listen to all day long, even if I don’t agree with it all.