Peter Heather, a historian specializing in the fall of the Roman Empire, and John Rapley, a political economist, share insights on the collapse of Rome and its parallels to modern Western challenges. They discuss common misconceptions about Rome's fall, the role of governance over mere economic decline, and the shifting dynamics of global power, especially with the rise of China. The conversation also touches on socio-economic issues facing younger generations and the political discontent stemming from broken promises of stability.

John Rapley, an economist and author of "Why Empires Fall," teams up with macroeconomist Philip Pilkington, host of the Multipolarity podcast. They delve into the significant decline in US tech valuations and the disruptive rise of the Chinese AI app Deep Seek. The duo analyzes potential indicators of a forthcoming market crash, debates the contrasting economic philosophies of the Trump era, and discusses the shifting investments of global elites at Davos. With a blend of skepticism and insight, they navigate the turbulent waters of today’s economy.

The podcast explores Canada's economic decline compared to developing economies, debt dynamics over time, origins of debt creation, social contract implications, youth entrepreneurship challenges, and Canada's immigration advantage for future growth.