Best Pushkin House Podcasts (2024)

1
Federal Reserve puts on enormous party hat 18:30

43m ago18:30

18:30

In a massive surprise on Wednesday, one of Rob Armstrong’s predictions turned out to be right. The Fed did indeed cut interest rates by half a percentage point. A cut this big is deeply unusual, and normally happens in a crisis. But there are a lot of reasons to think we’re not in a crisis at all. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong t…

1
What is Apollo, anyway? 22:19

2d ago22:19

22:19

Apollo Global Management is publicly traded and one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world. But what does it really do? Today on the show, Rob Armstrong asks reporters Sujeet Indap and Eric Platt to describe the parts that make up Apollo. Also they go long Boeing and long News Corp. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter…

1
How Ireland got too much money 21:52

5d ago21:52

21:52

Forty years ago Ireland had a high number of emigrants and very few multinational corporations. Then it became a tax haven. Today, the country is the headquarters for the European arms of companies such as Apple, Google and Intel. The country also has an €8bn surplus, and is about to get €13bn more following a court ruling with the iPhone maker. To…

1
The Fed: will it be 25 or 50? 20:39

8d ago20:39

20:39

Will the US central bank lower interest rates by 25 or 50 basis points? Fed chair Jay Powell has hinted rates are coming down, but not by how much. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong take sides and argue the case for the expected 25 basis point cut, and a larger 50 basis point cut. Also we short Apple’s new phone, and go long the ama…

1
How to fix the housing market 23:06

13d ago23:06

23:06

By many measures, the US housing market is broken. High demand is causing high prices, and yet, year after year, new supply fails to arrive. What’s behind the mismatch? And is there any way to solve it? Today on the show, Robert Armstrong and Aiden Reiter discuss proposals from the two US presidential candidates, and other ideas. Also, we go short …

1
Boring but sexy (stocks) 18:03

10d ago18:03

18:03

The run-up in the markets over the past year or so has been largely driven by tech companies with outsized returns. But that seems to be changing. Names such as Walmart, Berkshire Hathaway and UnitedHealthCare have been performing strongly while the once-hot tech sector seems to lag. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong ask if this is …

1
Tim's Tolkien Obsession & Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power 45:07

22d ago45:07

45:07

Tim Harford's life has been building up to this moment. In this Cautionary Conversation, he discusses the works of his favorite author J.R.R. Tolkien and the social science at play in Amazon Prime's series The Rings of Power. What do elves and whistleblowers have in common? How can evil hide in plain sight? And where do orcs come from? Season 2 of …

1
The ethics of investing for dictators 23:52

15d ago23:52

23:52

Toby Nangle is a regular contributor to the FT. Before he was a journalist, he was an asset manager for more than 25 years, and many of his clients were sovereign wealth funds. And some of the sovereigns of those wealth funds were doing things that made Nangle uncomfortable. So he quit. Today on the show, we discuss a massive problem faced by the i…

1
The gold rally 21:38

17d ago21:38

21:38

The price of gold reached a record high this week, passing $2,500 an ounce. Market watchers often ascribe a rise like this to inflation, fears about political instability or the endless insanity of the wild-eyed goldbug. But which is it? Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong unpack gold’s rise. Also we go long and short Nvidia. For a fr…

1
What will Jay Powell say at Jackson Hole? 18:08

22d ago18:08

18:08

Why do central bankers gather in the middle of nowhere every summer? And what will this week's meeting in the middle of nowhere mean for markets? Katie Martin and FT economics commentator Chris Giles explain everything you need to know about Jackson Hole. Also, we go long exclusive conferences and short exams. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedge…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 9: A Plague on Both Your Houses. 44:52

1M ago44:52

44:52

In the season finale, we turn back the clock four years, take a side trip to Alabama, meet an extraordinary man named Billy Garland, and ask: What is the right way to reconcile something pure with the messiness of the real world? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Pushkin Industries

1
Markets resume previously scheduled exuberance 19:27

24d ago19:27

19:27

Two weeks ago, investors seemed headed for the exits. Now they’re back in and cash is flooding the markets again. Today on the show, Katie Martin and Rob Armstrong unpack the madness. Also, we go long gold and short social media. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer You can email Robert Armstron…

1
The world’s greatest stocks 22:17

1M ago22:17

22:17

How would you like a 265,528,900 per cent return on your investment? Would you be interested in that? If so, join us as Rob Armstrong and FT Alphaville’s Robin Wigglesworth discuss the results of Professor Hendrik Bessembinder’s massive number-crunching project, which ranks the best stocks of the past century. The number one performer is pretty inc…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 8: “Vater, It is to be Fayetteville” 33:49

1M ago33:49

33:49

In the early 1930s, a young German law student spent a year in Arkansas, studying American “race law.” The fight over the 1936 Games provided Americans with a chance to study Nazi Germany. But it turns out the Nazis were studying us too. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Pushkin Industries

1
30 years of bond investment 24:54

1M ago24:54

24:54

Jim Leaviss started his career in fixed income at the Bank of England, and is ending it 30 years later as the outgoing chief investment officer for fixed income of M&G Investments, which manages more than £100bn in bonds. Today on the show, Katie Martin talks with Jim about what he learned over his long career. Also, the two throw down on the best …

1
What’s up with Bill Ackman? 20:37

1M ago20:37

20:37

Ackman is one of most well-known investors in the US, and one of the loudest. He has more than a million followers on X and isn’t afraid to argue with any of them. But his active social media feed and his fundraising seem to be at odds. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and James Fontanella-Khan dissect the remains of Ackman’s cancelled IPO. Also we…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 7: Long Jump, Tall Tale 44:15

1M ago44:15

44:15

Jesse Owens spent the rest of his life retelling the story of the 1936 games and his encounter with Luz Long. We trace the evolution of a tall tale, discovering the hidden life of one of America’s iconic sports heroes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Pushkin Industries

1
Anatomy of a rout 20:07

2M ago20:07

20:07

On Monday, markets around the world agreed to go into a tailspin. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and guest Nick Megaw try to figure out what drove it all. They cover unemployment, manufacturing, the Japanese carry trade, the Magnificent Seven, and the foolishness of the retail investor. Also we go long Google, and long CNBC at midnight. For a fre…

1
The case for Tesla 16:56

2M ago16:56

16:56

Tesla’s earnings slightly disappointed last week, but its stock is still valued at nearly 100 times earnings. Does this make sense? And what exactly is Tesla anyway? Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and reporter Aiden Reiter take apart Tesla and try to sort out an eclectic basket of electric cars, self-driving taxis, humanoid robots and other grand…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 6: The Jiggle & the Giddy Up 38:11

2M ago38:11

38:11

The most famous athlete in Berlin was the American sprinter Jesse Owens, and one of the most famous stories from those Games was the unexpected, heartwarming encounter Owens had with the German long jumper Luz Long. The friendship between the two athletes would serve as a symbol of how sports can overcome national antagonisms. We wonder: What reall…

1
Why Wall Street picked Kamala Harris 20:34

2M ago20:34

20:34

Wall Street withheld tens of millions of dollars in campaign financing to pressure US President Joe Biden to withdraw from November’s election and endorse Kamala Harris. And it worked. But how did Wall Street get so interested in a public prosecutor from San Francisco? And what do financiers hope she’ll bring to the table? Today on the show, deals …

1
Pushkin Goes to the Olympics 38:40

2M ago38:40

38:40

Legends are made at the Olympics and this summer shows across the Pushkin network are bringing their unique takes to Olympic stories. This special episode includes excerpts from a few: a Cautionary Tale about underestimating female marathoners, a Jesse Owens story from Revisionist History’s series on Hitler’s Olympics, and—from What’s Your Problem—…

1
How to manipulate the US dollar 20:02

2M ago20:02

20:02

Presidential candidate Donald Trump has argued for a weaker dollar in recent interviews. That makes some sense. A weaker currency can increase exports and narrow a trade deficit. But how does one weaken a currency, and is it really a good idea? Today on the show, Rob Armstrong and new Unhedged newsletter reporter Aiden Reiter discuss the options. A…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 5: The Amateur’s Hour 36:25

2M ago36:25

36:25

A German Jewish high-jumper is determined to get her shot at Olympic greatness. And an idealist faces an existential choice. In the fifth episode of Hilter’s Olympics, Avery Brundage faces the reality for Jewish athletes in Nazi Germany and makes a critical decision. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
The Trump trade 22:31

2M ago22:31

22:31

As the election nears, Wall Street is starting to talk more about what a bet on a second Trump presidency might look like. Today on the show, we cover possible outcomes for inflation, long-term bond yields, currency manipulation, corporate taxes, protectionism, isolationism, threats to the independence of the Federal Reserve and even the rally in s…

1
Will a major revision of listing rules in the UK work? 19:36

2M ago19:36

19:36

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority just released rule revisions that are meant to attract new listings on the country’s exchanges. These include legalising shares that move a lot of the power from investors to founders. Will this be enough to restart London as a hub for innovation? Today on the show Katie Martin and UK business correspondent Mich…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 4: Outcast in Olympia 42:45

2M ago42:45

42:45

The cheerleader-in-chief for the American Olympic movement was a brilliant, self-made Chicago tycoon named Avery Brundage. Brundage did more to ensure the success of the Berlin Games than anyone except Hitler. But what exactly were his motivations? We meet the man behind the curtain and witness his secret shame. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv…

1
Investing in green tech 17:39

2M ago17:39

17:39

Last week the FT’s Moral Money writer Simon Mundy spoke with venture capitalist Vinod Khosla about 20 years of making big, long bets on renewable energy. Some have paid off, but most haven’t. Khosla is fine with that, and continues to look for big wins in the very long run on solutions such as fusion. Today on the show, Simon and Katie Martin discu…

1
Paramount, Skydance and the streaming wars 19:52

2M ago19:52

19:52

Paramount and Skydance are merging. That’s a win for David Ellison, whose small studio will join a legendary one with a huge back catalogue and a nascent streaming platform. But is this merger of the old and new enough to compete in the new Hollywood? Today on the show, Robert Armstrong and deals reporter James Fontanella-Khan talk about the Paramo…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 3: Mustache to Mustache 35:44

2M ago35:44

35:44

With the fate of the Olympics on the line, Charles Sherrill travels to Germany to take up the question of Jewish athletes directly with the Führer. We dig through a dusty archive to uncover a long-buried account of their meeting. The wolf met with the chicken. Guess who won? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
What elections in France and the UK mean for markets 23:06

2M ago23:06

23:06

Recent elections have changed politics in Europe, delivering a centre-left Labour government in the UK and shifting seats to a left alliance in the French parliament. Today on the show, Katie Martin discusses this new landscape, and what it means for global markets and finance, with the FT’s economics commentator Chris Giles. Also, we short politic…

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 2: Pangloss, Polonius, Prufrock 32:12

3M ago32:12

32:12

Charles Sherrill was everything a gentleman of his generation was supposed to be: rich, handsome, charming, Ivy-Leagued. He was impossibly well connected and extravagantly mustachioed. He was also the person who, as much as anything, decided whether American athletes would participate in the 1936 Olympics. Faced with one of the great moral dilemmas…

1
Can Morgan Stanley's CEO build a better bank? 16:58

3M ago16:58

16:58

Ted Pick became chief executive of Morgan Stanley earlier this year. In a recent letter to shareholders, he touted “the integrated firm” as a model for the bank's future. But it’s not a new idea, and it’s one that has proven very hard for banks to actually do. Today on the show, Rob Armstrong asks the FT’s US banking editor, Josh Franklin, if it’s …

1
Hitler’s Olympics, Part 1: The Blue-Eyed Tornado 35:39

3M ago35:39

35:39

In the early 1930s, Adolf Hitler granted a rare interview to the American journalist Dorothy Thompson. When Hitler later came to power, and prepared to stage the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Thompson’s warning about the man she’d met would frame the central debate over the games: Should we go? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Are we all protectionists now? 22:21

3M ago22:21

22:21

On Thursday, two candidates for US president will debate each other. They are both protectionists. This is a huge change in US economic policy, and one that may have massive consequences in the decades to come. Today on the show, Robert Armstrong talks with the FT’s chief economics commentator, Martin Wolf, about the past and future of industrial p…

1
Distressed IPOs 18:11

3M ago18:11

18:11

Golden Goose had a simple plan. Mass produce worn out sneakers, get stars to wear them, and sell them to the public. It was going great until the owner announced an IPO, and then pulled it. Today on the show, Katie Martin and James Fontenella-Khan discuss. Also, we go long German football and long sterling. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged n…

1
Hitler’s Olympics 4:29

3M ago4:29

4:29

Adolf Hitler swept to power in Germany in the early 1930s and soon set out to stage the most extravagant and spectacular summer Olympics yet: the 1936 Berlin Games. And countries around the world dutifully put together their teams and made the trip to Germany. Why? In this new nine-part series Hitler’s Olympics, Malcolm Gladwell and Ben Naddaff-Haf…

1
Elon Musk’s big payday 19:48

3M ago19:48

19:48

On Thursday, shareholders of Tesla voted to re-approve a deal to reward Elon Musk with more than $50 billion worth of shares in Tesla, thus making one of the world’s richest men even richer. Also we go long teams without stars and short climate change. For a free 30-day trial to the Unhedged newsletter go to: https://www.ft.com/unhedgedoffer You ca…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Pushkin House Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide