The Podcast Browser

Brian Harrison – Yesterday

The United Kingdom from Thatcher to Covid

Interview with Brian Harrison about his book Yesterday: The United Kingdom from Thatcher to Covid. Challenges the notion that 1990-2020 represents Britain’s most transformative period, suggesting previous eras saw more profound change. Highlights the British political system’s continuity, its capacity for compromise, and its ability to absorb extremes. Praises Tony Blair’s success in Northern Ireland and efforts to broaden Labour, while acknowledging the monarchy’s adaptation during crises. Discusses the internet’s impact, immigration’s evolving role, and Brexit’s long-term implications, concluding that Britain’s historical resilience and pragmatic approach to governance provide a hopeful outlook for the future.

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Stephen McBride – Disruption Investing

The Framework to Multiply Your Wealth in Disruptor Stocks

Interview with Stephen McBride about his book Disruption Investing: The Framework to Multiply Your Wealth in Disruptor Stocks, co-authored with Dan Steinhart. Champions investing in disruption, emphasising that optimists make money, whereas pessimists sound smart. Argues that top-performing stocks derive from constant revenue growth, profitability, and platform technologies, often driving physical innovation (atoms) over purely digital advancements. Suggests America, after a a 50-year physical innovation lull, is entering a new renaissance fuelled by founders whose incentives align with long-term growth. Identifying new habits among early adopters and backing companies poised to profit from transformative shifts are key. Outlines an investment process focused on what’s changing, and utilising rules-based selling strategies to manage risk and emotion.

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Stephen McBride is one of the writers on the Rational Optimism Society Substack, which I recommend subscribing to, not least because that is now the way to get the latest writing from Matt Ridley.

John Sellars – Stoicism Is Not What You Think

Interview with John Sellars about his book Stoicism Is Not What You Think. Clarifies pervasive misconceptions about Stoicism, distinguishing the colloquial “small s” stoicism from the comprehensive philosophical system. Highlights how Stoicism isn’t about emotionless repression but cultivating virtues like courage and justice – essential for a good life and self-control over ‘uncontrolled’ emotions such as anger and fear. Though deterministic, the philosophy empowers individuals through rational choice and personal character. Discvusses research finding benefits for well-being, increased agency, and reduced negative emotions.

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Mehran Gul – The New Geography of Innovation

The Global Contest for Breakthrough Technologies

Interview with Mehran Gul about his book The New Geography of Innovation: the Global Context for Breakthrough Technologies. Explores how the geography of innovation has evolved from a US-centric model to a more multipolar landscape. Discusses the rise of Asian economies like China, Singapore, and South Korea, highlighting their diverse innovation ecosystems – from government-led initiatives to resilient conglomerates. Challenges traditional views of US decline, arguing its innovation engine is accelerating, whilst emphasising the critical role of state intervention and global supply chain orchestration in shaping technological leadership. Also touches on Europe’s struggle to retain its best companies and India’s talent paradox.

Joshua Specht – Property Values

The Rise and Fall of the American Homeowner

Interview with Joshua Specht about his book Property Values: The Rise and Fall of the American Homeowner. traces how land ownership became central to American independence, shifting from widespread prosperity to property appreciation. Discusses colonial land speculation, Native American displacement, and the frontier’s closing. Explores Henry George’s critique of land monopoly and visions from Bryan and Addams. The New Deal’s mortgage reforms created an “ownership society”, yet propagated exclusion through redlining and tax limitations like Proposition 13. Homeowners’ associations privatised governance. The 2008 financial crisis exposed financialisation flaws, where individual blame obscured systemic issues. Advocates for regional housing policies and greater density.

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Anand Gopal – No Good Men Among the Living

Interview with Anand Gopal about his book No Good Men Among the Living. Offers a unique perspective on the US intervention in Afghanistan by profiling individuals, both civilian and Taliban, in Khas Uruzgan. Describes his unconventional approach, living remotely and learning the language, revealed complexities often missed by journalists. Highlights how US troop presence destabilised regions, enabling local warlords to exploit them against rivals, contributing to the Taliban’s resurgence. Exposes how many detainees at Guantanamo Bay were innocent victims of these dynamics. Recounts his journey from science to journalism, driven by a desire to understand the conflict beyond mainstream narratives.

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Ian Cassel – Stock Picker

How to develop the mindset, temperament, and strategy to outperform Wall Street

Interview with Ian Cassel about his book Stock Picker: How to Develop the Mindset, Temperament, and Strategy to Outperform Wall Street. Shares his journey to becoming a full-time private investor, emphasising that life and investing are not linear. Discusses why most microcaps should be sold within 36 months – even winners – due to inherent fragilities and concentration risks. Insights include leveraging anger as motivation, the liberating power of forgiveness, and maintaining a competitive yet honest approach to performance, benchmarking against the S&P 500. Touches on personal finance and fund management philosophies.

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Anthony Kaldellis – 1453

The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople

Interview with Anthony Kaldellis about his book 1453: The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople. Challenges prevailing misconceptions, asserting that the ‘Byzantines’ were Romans – a genuine political nation, not a ‘universal sacred empire’. Debunks romanticised narratives, demonstrating the Eastern Roman state was a sophisticated, bounded entity. Highlights the pragmatic defence of Constantinople, not a tragic last stand, and analyses the Ottoman victory as a strategic consolidation for their expanding empire. The city’s fall – a devastating event involving enslavement – also marked a pivotal step in the Ottoman Empire’s ascent. Critiques the tendency to view medieval societies as solely religious, advocating for a nuanced historical understanding.

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