

Macrodose
Planet B Productions
Your weekly fix of everything economics. Hosted by James Meadway.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 10, 2025 • 22min
Trump's Second State Visit w/ Nick Dearden & Sarah Jaffe
This week on The Curve, Nick Dearden from Global Justice Now is in the hosting chair, joined by journalist and author Sarah Jaffe. They discuss the upcoming second state visit of US President Donald Trump and the tech bosses that are accompanying him.In the extended episode, available to Macrodose members on Patreon, Nick and Sarah discuss the massive immigration raid at a Hyundai factory in Georgia.Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Sep 3, 2025 • 14min
The Decline of the Bandung Spirit w/ Kevin Ochieng Okoth
Our third guest hosted episode of the summer comes from Kevin O'Koth - author of Red Africa: Reclaiming Revolutionary Black Politics.Reading an extract from his book, he takes a look at the Bandung Conference – a pivotal 1955 gathering of leaders from Asia and Africa, united in their resistance to colonialism and their vision for a new, non-aligned world.

Aug 27, 2025 • 25min
Unemployment Peak w/ Faiza Shaheen & Laurie Macfarlane
This week on The Curve, Faiza Shaheen is in the hosting chair and is joined by Laurie Macfarlane - co-director of Future Economy Scotland. They discuss the latest research on UK unemployment and whether or not we can confidently trust the figures coming out of the Office for National Statistics.In the extended episode, available to Macrodose members on Patreon, Faiza and Laurie discuss Trump's brand of authoritarian capitalism and it's implications for other economies.Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Aug 20, 2025 • 22min
Reeves Considers New Taxes w/ Grace Blakeley and Faiza Shaheen
This week on The Curve, Grace Blakeley is hosting chair and is joined by Faiza Shaheen - executive director of Tax Justice UK and visiting Professor in practice at the London School Of Economics. They discuss the latest rumours of new tax rises being considered by the chancellor Rachel Reeves and what they would mean for the UK economyIn the extended episode, available to Macrodose members on Patreon, Grace and Faiza also discuss whether or not the recent boom in artificial intelligence is actually just a bubble. Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Aug 13, 2025 • 16min
Ricardo's Dream w/ Nat Dyer
Our second guest hosted episode of the summer comes from Nat Dyer - author of Ricardo’s Dream: How Economists Forgot the Real World and Led Us Astray. Reading an extract from his book, he takes a look at how conventional economics developed, and why many of its ideas have wrecked such havoc on society and the living world. Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to planetbproductions.co.uk.

Aug 6, 2025 • 16min
Who Cares? w/ Emily Kenway
Our first guest hosted episode of the summer comes from Emily Kenway, former carer, doctoral researcher and author of 'Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving And How We Solve It', Today she is reading an abridged excerpt from her book which explores why conventional assumptions about solving the so-called ‘care crisis’ are founded on deep misunderstandings. She invites you to rethink your assumptions around care - what kind of care counts, the solutions which are appropriate and how it is organised.Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to planetbproductions.co.uk.

Aug 1, 2025 • 12min
LIVE: State Of The Nation w/ Kwajo Tweneboa & Dalia Gebrial
With James Meadway away this week, we're bringing you another conversation from our State Of The Nation live event earlier this month.Kwajo Tweneboa is a housing activist confronting the worst living conditions people are having to experience in the UK, who sat down with Dalia Gebrial - Lecturer in Geography and Social Justice at Kings College London.Together, Tweneboa & Gebrial explore what's at the heart of Britain's housing crisis, what falsehoods explanations are being peddled by the right, and what change is required to create safe & healthy living conditions for all.Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. As a thank you, patreon supporting will gain access to the full episode. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Jul 30, 2025 • 14min
LIVE: State Of The Nation w/ Gary Stevenson & Kojo Koram
James Meadway is away this week, so in place of THE CURVE we're bringing you this exclusive conversation.Earlier this month, former trader Gary Stevenson joined Orwell Prize nominee Kojo Koram for a discussion on the state of British politics, rising inequality, and how economic decline is reshaping the public sphere.Together, Stevenson and Koram examined Britain’s offshore empire, the roots of global inequality, and the prospects for building real alternatives in a failing system.Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. As a thank you, patreon supporting will gain access to the full episode. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.

Jul 23, 2025 • 19min
John Maynard Keynes: Saving Capitalism From Itself
On this week's MACRODOSE, James continues our economics history series with a look at the life and legacy of one of the most famous economists of the 20th century - John Maynard Keynes.Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.Got a question or comment? Reach out to us at macrodose@planetbproductions.co.uk.To learn more about the work we do at Planet B Productions, head to planetbproductions.co.uk.

Jul 16, 2025 • 15min
China's Economic Future w/ Jane Hayward
This week on The Curve, James Meadway is joined by Jane Hayward - lecturer in China and global affairs at the Lau China institute at King’s College London - to explore the political economy of China.Together James and Jane discuss: whether the supposed coming collapse of China is real; if China's economy can be considered socialist or capitalist; and will the Chinese be able to move their economic model away from relying on an export surplus and towards a domestic market.The extended version of this show is available to Macrodose Patreon members. Subscribe to support the show at patreon.com/Macrodose. Your pledge is a donation supporting free public education; perks are thank-you gifts for your support.