

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

Feb 26, 2025 • 14min
Putin & Trump’s Plan for Ukraine
On this week's MACRODOSE James Meadway unpacks: Trump and Putin’s plans for Ukraine – and the geopolitical stakes for Europe (1:29), why new research debunks the myths about working from home (7:50), and our top economics reads for beginners (12:08).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.Post-Work: What It Is, Why It Matters and How We Get There - by Helen Hester and Will StrongeCEP LSE: Not incentivized yet efficient: Working from home in the public sectorOur Macrodose Reading List 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.

Feb 19, 2025 • 12min
Stagflation, Gas Prices & Techno-Feudalism?
In a new show from Macrodose:The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley break down the week’s biggest economic stories and what they mean for all of us.In this excerpt, they discuss the Bank of England’s interest rate cut and its forecast of 3.5% inflation- are we seeing the return of stagflation? (0:40) In the full episode, James and Grace examine why Britain’s gas prices are soaring, and tackle a listener question: where do they stand on the hotly debated notion of techno-feudalism?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.

Feb 12, 2025 • 19min
The UK Economy's Gloomy Road Ahead
On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: the Bank of England’s gloomy forecast for the UK economy (1:08), new warnings about just how water-hungry Britain’s data centres will be (6:23), and how the rising price of eggs is the fresh political headache for US president Donald Trump (13:57).Red Shadow - 'Stagflation'Jo Michell - 'Rate cuts won’t save us: why Rachel Reeves must do more to fix the economy'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.

Feb 5, 2025 • 19min
Trump's Tariff Wars
In the first episode of The Curve, James Meadway and Grace Blakeley dive deeper into the economic stories hitting the headlines and what they mean for all of us. First up is US President Donald Trump announcing a slew of tariffs that have provoked reaction globally.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.

Jan 29, 2025 • 18min
Did ChatGPT Just Lose Its Job to DeepSeek?
On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: how China’s new DeepSeek AI model is sparking chaos in Silicon Valley (0:38), a look back at the first 10 days of Trump 2.0 and the early economic trends emerging (6:53), and a listener question: what the hell is Trump coin, and why is it now worth millions of dollars? (13:18).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.

Jan 23, 2025 • 51min
The Break Down: Economic Legacies of Empire w/ Kojo Koram
Legal scholar Kojo Koram, author of "Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire," dives deep into the enduring economic impacts of colonialism. He argues that discussions about empire shouldn't be relegated to the past, highlighting its role in shaping global inequality and climate crises. Koram reveals how historical ties between corporations and empire continue to perpetuate exploitation, emphasizing the need to confront the legacies of debt that affect poorer nations today. An insightful examination of how past injustices echo into modern economies!

Jan 22, 2025 • 22min
[Excerpt] On Grief and Struggle w/ Sarah Jaffe, Camille Barbagallo and Asad Rehman
Join acclaimed labor journalist Sarah Jaffe, known for her powerful writings on grief and activism, alongside Camille Barbagallo and Asad Rehman. They dive into the unspoken connection between grief and social movements, advocating for a more empathetic approach to activism. The discussion highlights how personal loss shapes political engagement and builds community resilience, especially in the face of systemic neglect and racial violence. Discover the urgent need to address collective mourning in our fight for justice.

Jan 16, 2025 • 43min
The Break Down: Capitalism Without Growth? w/ Hans Stegeman
Hans Stegeman, Chief Economist at Triodos Bank, shares his insights as a thought leader in post-growth economics. He challenges the conventional wisdom that perpetual economic growth is the answer to crumbling public services and inequality. The conversation dives into the degrowth movement, advocating for a sustainable economy that respects ecological limits. Hans discusses the myth of green finance and the urgent need for a financial system overhaul, promoting social equity and innovative approaches to international finance for sustainable development.

Jan 15, 2025 • 25min
Wildfires, Smoke, and Inequality
On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: the wildfires in California and their potentially catastrophic economic fallout (1:20), a New York Times piece on the politics of climate change and whether it’s time for a new “green populism” (11:54), and the financial mess Keir Starmer’s government is already finding itself in (17:00).Biden Left us Behind with a "Prius Economy": https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/opinion/electric-vehicles-tax-credits.htmlSubscribe 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.

Jan 8, 2025 • 18min
India's Climate Crossroads
On this week's MACRODOSE, James Meadway unpacks: India’s economic slowdown and how climate change is transforming traditional models of development (0:48), Trump’s bid to buy Greenland and the geopolitical race for Arctic resources (8:00), and the surprising economics of olive oil, with prices finally expected to fall this year (13:08).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.


