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The Story of Money

Financial Times
Donald Trump
China
Private Equity
Artificial Intelligence
Financial Times
Federal Reserve
US Economy
Elon Musk
Electric Vehicles
Tariffs
Berkshire Hathaway
Northvolt
Palantir Technologies
Mergers and Acquisitions
Investment
Islamic Banking
Wall Street
KKR
Blackstone
Warren Buffett

FT columnist Gillian Tett and FT Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth dig into the ideas, personalities and institutions that have shaped the history of finance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes350Founded9 years ago
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HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Story of Money

Latest Episodes

For 80 years, a currency created by France has remained in use across large parts of west and central Africa - even decades after the countries there gained independence. But is the CFA franc, as it’s called, a tool of economic stability, or a coloni... more

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Hundreds of years ago, across Europe - from Germany to Scandinavia, France to Britain - tens of thousands of mostly women were executed, accused of being witches. The persecution reached its height in the 16th and 17th centuries. But why? And could e... more

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The French Revolution was a bloody fight for liberty, equality and fraternity. But it was also a battle over money.

In part two of our series on the French Revolution, host Robin Wigglesworth tackles the transformation of France’s monetary system wi... more

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The French Revolution was a bloody fight for liberty, equality and fraternity. But it was also a battle over money.

In part 1 of our series on the French Revolution, host Robin Wigglesworth explores the revolution’s economic origins with Rebecca Spa... more

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Recent Guests

Emily Oster
Brown University professor of economics and author of research on the economic origins of European witch trials
Brown University
Episode: Can economics help explain Europe’s deadly witch trials?
Rebecca Spang
Historian and author of Stuff and Money in the Time of the French Revolution
Indiana University
Episode: The French Revolution's disastrous money experiment - Part 2
Greg Steinmetz
Former journalist and historian, author of The Richest Man Who Ever Lived
Independent historian
Episode: Meet the Fuggers: Europe’s richest family ever
David McWilliams
Author of Money, A Story of Humanity
Author, Money, A Story of Humanity
Episode: Why Dante put bankers in hell and James Joyce didn't
Tom Thatcher
Historian of Jesus as a historical figure and ordained church minister
Episode: He expelled the money changers. So was Jesus anti-capitalist?
Liaquat Ahamed
Author of 1873
Author, 1873
Episode: 1873: The year America ditched silver as money and all hell broke loose
Brooke Masters
FT colleague, US managing editor of the FT in America
Financial Times
Episode: The ‘Sheriff of Wall Street’ who exposed bankers’ lies
Benedikt Koehler
Author of Early Islam and the Birth of Capitalism
Institute of Economic Affairs
Episode: Mohammed: prophet, trader . . . and capitalist?
Kim Bowes
Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The hidden financial world of ancient Rome

Hosts

Gillian Tett
Host of The Story of Money
Robin Wigglesworth
Co-host of The Story of Money

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Simply Amazing

    GT and RW do a great job of introducing fundamental finance concepts in a novel view point. Loved the Jessie Livermore episode. GT is defn a great interviewer and asks her guests some intriguing questions for sure.

    I never thought about Jesus and Mohammed in context of money.

    Some of the experts that come on at times the conversation does feel a little dry.

    After unhedged, (enjoy the fun between KM RA) this!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Abhi_Manc
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Fascinating and fun

    I really enjoy this. It’s always fascinating and enjoyable. The guests are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and I always learn something. The hosts are sharp, enthusiastic and able to create a lovely feel to the whole programme.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tushuxxx
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • The bond market

    Very interesting topic - like the the question and answer format. The presenters are excellent at explaining complex historical events and linking them to modern financial instruments.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anjie2605
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Meh

    With interesting topics, the possibility for insightful conversations is there. However, it ends up following the same top level capitalist thinking path each time. Very predictable and hard to finish an episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bfg154
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Jesus times

    I think it’s absurd your guest says we have no idea about how it feels to be taxed at seventy percent. They didn’t endure the pollution we do, from noise to light to information; they had more peaceful lives as did majority of our ancestry.

    Do an episode on the cost of externalities (old growth forest destruction, estuary removal, flood plain dyking, monoculture farming, noise pollution, light pollution, fresh water contamination, air pollution; I bet it is as costly or more costly than entire ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    WilderLander
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, listeners appreciate the depth and historical framing of financial topics.
Some listeners feel the show is biased or repetitive in focusing on certain narratives.
Appeal for serious, evidence-based finance history fans, with some calls for more accessible delivery.
Quality of interviews and production receive mixed feedback, with praise for strong guests but critique of hosting style.
The show is frequently recommended to those who want to understand how past financial events shape today's markets.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#140
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#41
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#130
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#64
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#69
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#86
France/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can economics help explain Europe’s deadly witch trials?
Q: So, I'm curious what you make of that, this kind of retesting of the hypothesis.
Oster says the later study's results were directionally similar but less statistically significant. She welcomes further analysis, noting that new data can change conclusions and that multiple factors likely contributed to witch trials.
Can economics help explain Europe’s deadly witch trials?
Q: Can you tell us what is the central thesis of this paper? And why do you think it might still be relevant for us today?
Oster's paper examines whether deteriorating economic conditions contributed to witch trials in Europe. She says scapegoating people with little power during hardship is a recurring phenomenon across centuries.
The French Revolution's disastrous money experiment - Part 2
Q: What do you think the story of the assignat and its many iterations really tell us about what money is and what role it played in the French Revolution?
Spang says money depends on people trusting and accepting it. When political, social and cultural stability breaks down, people begin questioning the currency, and its backing alone cannot make others accept it.
The French Revolution's disastrous money experiment - Part 2
Q: Do you think the roots of Napoleon's power essentially grew out of all this economic chaos?
Spang describes a chaotic domestic situation and the appeal of Napoleon's military victories and leadership. He returned to France in 1799 and staged a coup, then crowned himself emperor in 1804, though people differed over whether he would restore order or impose a new dictatorship.
The French Revolution's disastrous money experiment - Part 1
Q: What was the Estates General, and why was its summoning such a watershed moment?
The Estates General brought together three estates after a long period without such a meeting, signaling that financial desperation and political reform were converging; it set the stage for a national assembly and revolutionary reordering of taxes and property.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Story of Money

What is The Story of Money about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused finance show that explores how money, markets, and monetary systems evolved through time. Across episodes, hosts illuminate the ideas, people, and institutions that shaped finance—from ancient economies to modern banking, monetary policy, and private equity. Notable strengths include deep historical context, access to renowned historians and economists, and a narrative style that ties together policy, technology, and culture. The format often features expert guests and insightful storytelling that helps listeners connect macro events to everyday financial life. The podcast is likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy rigorous history-led finance analysis and want takeaways useful for understanding today's economic world.

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How many listeners does The Story of Money get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Story of Money?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Story of Money:

1. Unhedged
2. The Economics Show with Soumaya Keynes
3. FT News Briefing
4. FT Tech Tonic
5. The Rachman Review

How many episodes of The Story of Money are there?

The Story of Money launched 9 years ago and published 350 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Story of Money?

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What guests have appeared on The Story of Money?

Recent guests on The Story of Money include:

1. Emily Oster
2. Rebecca Spang
3. Greg Steinmetz
4. David McWilliams
5. Tom Thatcher
6. Liaquat Ahamed
7. Brooke Masters
8. Benedikt Koehler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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