Latest Interviews
Showing 1–6 of 6 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist9 min
Peptides are not a miracle drug | The Economist
Natasha Loder, Tim Cross, Jason Palmer
Driven by high-profile endorsements and internet culture, the unregulated global market for peptides bypasses clinical trials to offer performance-enhancing substances riddled with purity risks and unknown long-term health effects. Regulatory bodies in the United States and United Kingdom are attempting to address this crisis through compounding pharmacy oversight and vendor crackdowns, yet enforcement struggles against the speed of online sales and social media promotion. Experts warn that without rigorous scientific validation, the current environment prioritizes profit and self-experimentation over the biological safety required to distinguish beneficial compounds from dangerous contaminants.
- The Economist24 min
It could happen to you: introducing “Scam Inc”
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Su Lin Wong, Simon Rabinovich, Tim Cross
Podcast series *Scam Inc.* reveals a multi-billion dollar online fraud industry utilizing violent coercion, AI-driven voice cloning, and psychological exploitation across the globe. Concurrently, the US administration has aggressively implemented sweeping tariff threats on major trading partners, creating significant market volatility while seeking to revitalize domestic manufacturing through protectionist policies. In the sports sector, Magnus Carlsen and Tim Cross are launching a rebranded Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour that employs randomized starting positions and F1-style broadcasting to transform chess into a mass-market entertainment product.
- The Economist25 min
Bot against America: a Chinese AI jolts markets
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Guy Scriven, Sarah Larniuk, Tim Cross
DeepSeek's cost-efficient AI model triggered a global market sell-off by challenging the expense narrative of American tech giants, while US officials like Donald Trump framed the event as a competitive wake-up call for domestic industry. Simultaneously, Canada's Liberal Party faces scrutiny over unachievable 2030 goals to replace diesel in remote Indigenous communities due to climate-altered logistics and historical trust deficits with local First Nations. In the health sector, major fitness operators are pivoting from cardio to strength training to address metabolic health and counteract muscle loss linked to age and weight-loss pharmaceuticals.
- The Economist28 min
Of peanuts and principles: Jimmy Carter dies
Jimmy Carter, Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, John Prudhoe, Tom Standage, Tim Cross
This episode analyzes the complex legacy of Jimmy Carter by contrasting his troubled presidency with his transformative post-White House humanitarian work, while forecasting a volatile 2025 shaped by Donald Trump's potential return and disruptive forces like solar storms and AI adoption. The discussion further dissects Elon Musk's ideologically driven leadership through recommendations of science fiction and biographies that reveal his fixation on existential threats and multi-planetary colonization. Collectively, these segments offer a multidimensional view of historical reflection, future geopolitical unpredictability, and the personal philosophies driving modern technological power.
- The Economist27 min
Off-side: Georgians reject new president
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Sarah Larniuk, Tim Cross, Maria Vilcek
In Tbilisi, escalating protests driven by democratic demands and opposition to oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili have forced the Georgian government to shift from violent crackdowns to legal intimidation following a contested presidential election and EU accession delays. Meanwhile, the incoming US administration faces complex political inertia in potentially slashing the $93 billion NASA Artemis program, as cost inefficiencies clash with entrenched congressional support for the Space Launch System across multiple states. Concurrently, the classic martini cocktail is experiencing a cultural resurgence due to its historical resilience and adaptability, with modern consumers favoring high-quality, home-mixable versions over declining general alcohol consumption trends.
- The Economist20 min
Dark side of the Yoon: South Korea’s chaos
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Emma Hogan, Ana Lankes, Tim Cross
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to declare martial law for six hours to counter alleged North Korean infiltration, a move rejected by lawmakers who have since united to pursue his impeachment amid claims of an attempted coup. The crisis stems from deep political polarization and could trigger a constitutional trial that would likely shift the nation's foreign policy away from hawkish stances toward engagement. This instability threatens South Korea's regional alliances with the US and Japan while leaving the country's constitutional order vulnerable to further internal conflict.