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The David McWilliams Podcast

David McWilliams & John Davis
Ireland
United States
China
Donald Trump
European Union
Russia
Ukraine
Tariffs
Economics
Artificial Intelligence
Immigration
Germany
Dublin
Interest Rates
Housing Market
Federal Reserve
Venezuela
American Economy
Irish Economy
Inflation

The aim of this weekly podcast is to make economics easy, uncomplicated and accessible. With the world at a political, technological and financial tipping point, economics has never been so important to all of us and yet, it’s made inaccessible and complicated by so many.

I’ve always thought what is complicated is rarely important and what is important is rarely complicated.

That will be our motto... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes721Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for The David McWilliams Podcast

Latest Episodes

Canada has appointed the world’s first minister for AI, and Evan Solomon joins us to explain why. Canada invented modern AI through Hinton, Bengio and Sutton, then watched big tech harvest it. Now Ottawa is subsidising up to 80% of compute for home-g... more

Broadcasting from the Aran Islands, where the population has crashed from 48,000 to 3,000, we look at what may be the biggest data point of 2026: for the first time ever, the human race is shrinking. The global fertility rate has dropped to 1.8, belo... more

Live from New York, with a radical idea: treat the Irish diaspora as our greatest soft power asset. Every Irish child costs the state about €500,000 to educate, and America pockets the return when they emigrate. So scrap tax for two years for anyone ... more

Ireland’s budget surplus is €9 billion, but the Department of Finance reckons €23 billion of the €34 billion in corporation tax is transient AI-boom money. Strip it out and we’re looking at a €13-14 billion deficit, heading for €20 billion by 2029. M... more

Key Facts

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The Indo Daily
The Indo DailyIrish Independent

Recent Guests

Yanmei Xie
Chinese economist/analyst coming to Kilkenomics, with family ties to China and experience in think tanks
Think tanks worldwide; Kilkenomics attendee
Episode: Xi vs Trump: Inside the Chinese Economic Machine
Donald Casey
Chief executive of Rory McIlroy Inc for a decade; author of Reflections on a Golden Ball
Rory McIlroy Inc
Episode: Fairway Diplomacy: How Golf Became Ireland's Secret Weapon Against Trump
David Gardner
Co-founder and editor, The Motley Fool; Chief Rule Breaker
The Motley Fool
Episode: The Chief Rule Breaker: David Gardner on Beating the Market
Matt Fenlon
Theoretical physicist, co-founder of the Problem Solving Association
Problem Solving Association (TPSA)
Episode: The €133 Billion Black Hole: Why Ireland Can’t Track Its Spending
Sinead O'Sullivan
Journalist and commentator known for critical analyses of Ireland's public delivery
Irish Times / This Time Is Different
Episode: Rich Country, Broken State
Alan Coleman
CEO of Wolfgang Digital
Wolfgang Digital
Episode: Ireland's Silent Sell Off and the Employee Ownership Solution
Simon Cooper
Financial Times journalist and author on football economics
Financial Times
Episode: Why Social Democracies Win World Cups
Paul O'Callaghan
Founder/CEO of BlueTech Research; expert on water sustainability
BlueTech Research
Episode: The Coming Water Crisis
Noreen Fitzpatrick
Acting Director of Strategy and Communications at Solace
Solace
Episode: Why Trump Is About to Come for Ireland

Hosts

David McWilliams
Host who guides economic narratives and frames topics; frequently anchors episodes with macroeconomic and historical context.
John Davis
Co-host participating in discussion; provides interview-style questions and helps present historical and political angles.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 5.6k ratings
  • Stimulating

    I find this podcast almost always interesting, quite informative even funny and quirky sometimes.

    It’s well researched and most of the topics tackled are fascinating.

    I recommend ditching the Bookmakers sponsorship if that’s what it is.

    Especially Novibet!

    Not a good look.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    selectionbox
    Irelanda month ago
  • Needs Voices Of POC, Women, Working Class & Environment !

    I’ve been a loyal listener for years, but I’m increasingly appalled by the boomer, white-supremacist perspective creeping into the podcast. It also feels overwhelmingly centred on upper-middle-class white Irish voices, with far too few women, working-class voices, left-wing perspectives, or people from different backgrounds. The podcast desperately needs more diverse perspectives and some serious intergenerational self-reflection.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    magdhtng
    Irelanda month ago
  • Don’t fall for an economist sponsored by betting firms

    Loved this podcast for years but had to give up and stop listening due to the sponsorships by gambling companies. Something particularly nasty about someone talking about money then telling you to go bet. Not the only one unsubscribed for this reason.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Shaunajelly
    Ireland3 months ago
  • The Spain/world cup colonialism episode

    “Innovation”? Seriously? As a long time listener, I expected more from you. Your analysis missed about 400 years of history. From gold, silver and plantations to why brown people work at US restaurants misses a lot. Please read historian Greg Grandin’s excellent book “America, América” for a thorough history of the Americas from the time Europeans first came to the present.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Usergdhdu$;
    United States3 months ago
  • Establishment puppet

    Cowardly conformist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lenboy70
    Ireland3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Critiques center on perceived political bias or centrism in some episodes.
Some listeners express concern about sponsorships impacting content or agendas.
Audience often appreciates historical context and clear explanations, with calls for more diverse voices.
Mostly positive feedback about accessibility of economics and engaging banter.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#151
United Kingdom/News
Apple Podcasts
#190
Australia/News
Spotify
#16
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Spotify
#33
Ireland/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#24
Ireland/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#9
Ireland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Peak Humans: Modernity Vs. Tradition
Q: But the big question, though, is why is it falling? And where in particular is it falling?
McWilliams says fertility is declining rapidly in low- and middle-income countries, including among poorer and less-educated women. He links the trend to modernity, including formal institutions, specialized education, the rising costs of children, career pressures, and the weakening of traditional family networks.
Peak Humans: Modernity Vs. Tradition
Q: Like, what's going on there?
McWilliams attributes the rally in bond markets to growing skepticism about whether AI investments can generate profits for everyone. Investors concerned about speculative technology stocks may move money into government bonds, which they regard as a safer investment.
Fairway Diplomacy: How Golf Became Ireland's Secret Weapon Against Trump
Q: Why is golf such a unique platform for diplomacy between Ireland and the United States?
Because it creates a private, multi-hour environment away from the cameras where leaders can discuss sensitive issues, build trust, and align interests through a shared, culturally resonant activity.
The Chief Rule Breaker: David Gardner on Beating the Market
Q: What are the six traits you look for in stocks?
The host asks for the six traits; Gardner outlines them progressively, starting with top dog/first mover, followed by sustainable competitive advantage, past price appreciation, strong management, strong consumer appeal, and finally, a stock being perceived as overvalued by the market, which paradoxically can signal a buy for long-term holders.
The Chief Rule Breaker: David Gardner on Beating the Market
Q: How do you differentiate between macro investing and stock picking for the long term?
Gardner explains that macro arguments can inform a broader context, but his focus is on identifying specific companies with leadership, durable advantages, and the potential to grow for many years, rather than reacting to short-term market moves.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The David McWilliams Podcast

What is The David McWilliams Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show explains big economic and political issues through approachable, story-driven conversations that blend history, macroeconomics, and current events. Topics span Irish and European policy, global finance, currency dynamics, AI-driven productivity, and public spending, all delivered with accessible language and light banter that makes complex ideas feel walkable for non-experts. Notable are the frequent connections across history, economics, and culture, plus site-specific examples and guest perspectives that ground theory in real-world implications. A distinctive element is the hosts' ability to toggle between serious analysis and humorous, relatable storytelling, often tying episodes to wider cultural moments or book festivals and c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The David McWilliams Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The David McWilliams Podcast:

1. The Other Hand
2. Path to Power
3. Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
4. Inside Business with Ciaran Hancock
5. The Indo Daily

How many episodes of The David McWilliams Podcast are there?

The David McWilliams Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 721 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The David McWilliams Podcast?

Recent guests on The David McWilliams Podcast include:

1. Yanmei Xie
2. Donald Casey
3. David Gardner
4. Matt Fenlon
5. Sinead O'Sullivan
6. Alan Coleman
7. Simon Cooper
8. Paul O'Callaghan

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