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The Joe Walker Podcast

Joe Walker
Australia
Housing Crisis
Artificial Intelligence
State Capacity
Compulsory Voting
Immigration Policy
Podcast Interviews
Benthamite Philosophy
Covid-19 Pandemic Response
Preferential Voting
Electoral Systems
China
H. Pylori
Data Centers
Inequality
Learning Techniques
Preparation Processes
Public Trust In Government
Jobkeeper
Democracy

Well-researched interviews on ideas, technology, and policy. (Plus a recurring series on Australian public policy.)

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes157Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Joe Walker Podcast

Latest Episodes

Part 4 of a multi-part series: 'Compute in Australia'. More episodes to follow. Series announcement here: joewalker.substack.com/p/compute-in-australia

John Hempton is the founder and chief investment officer of Bronte Capital, a Sydney-base... more

YouTube

This episode is best watched on video, as we often refer to some calculations I wrote on a whiteboard.

[Recorded 30 September 2026.]

Over the past few weeks, I've been trying to work out what it would take, on the energy side, for Australia to b... more

YouTube

This is the second episode in a multi-part series called 'Compute in Australia'. Series announcement here. More episodes to follow over the coming month.

[Recorded 24 August 2026.]

Janet Egan is Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Technology... more

YouTube

This is the first episode in a multi-part series called 'Compute in Australia'. Series announcement here. More episodes to follow over the coming month.

[Recorded 7 August 2026.]

Dr Andrew Charlton MP is an Australian economist, entrepreneur and ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

John Hempton
Founder and chief investment officer of Bronte Capital and short seller
Bronte Capital
Episode: The Most Amazing Technology, the Worst Business in the World — John Hempton [Compute Series]
Tim Nelson
Energy economist, former AGL chief economist and chair of the Nelson Review
Snowy Hydro
Episode: AI Factories in the Outback — Tim Nelson [Compute Series]
Janet Egan
Policy Researcher at the Center for a New American Security
Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Episode: The Geostrategic Case for Compute in Australia — Janet Egan [Compute Series]
Andrew Charlton
Australia's Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy
Australian Government
Episode: Australia's Plan to Turn Compute Into Sovereign AI — Dr Andrew Charlton MP [Compute Series]
Patrick Weller
Historian, political scientist, emeritus professor at Griffith University
Griffith University
Episode: "Just because I consulted doesn't mean I didn't dominate": How prime ministers really govern — Patrick Weller
Danielle Wood
Chair of Australia's Productivity Commission
Productivity Commission (Australia)
Episode: How Can Australia Get a Piece of the AI Action? — Danielle Wood
Mike Pezzullo
Former senior public servant; Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection; expert on immigration and border policy
Episode: How Australia Actually Selects and Integrates Migrants — Mike Pezzullo [Immigration Series]
Mark Cully
Former Chief Economist, Department of Immigration (2009-2012)
Department of Immigration
Episode: "Bigger and Different": The Six Decades That Remade Australia — Mark Cully [Immigration Series]
Martin Parkinson
Former senior public servant involved in Treasury/PM&C and migration review
Australian Government (Treasury/PM&C)
Episode: Why I'm doing an Immigration Series

Host

Joe Walker
Interviewer covering ideas, technology and Australian public policy

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • A deep detailed podcast that explores issues Australian and worldwide

    Podcast Addict
    5
    gregoz
    10 months ago
  • Outstanding

    It’s a privilege to hear these long form interviews between the informed, articulate host and his expert guests, many with decades of analysis and experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Secret Experiment
    Australiaa year ago
  • ross

    Great podcast. Just listened to the Prof Hugh White pod - masterful

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ***&332
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Australian centric

    Great to hear Australian politics told from Australian perspectives. Illuminating in ways unexpected.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mikememike
    Australiaa year ago
  • Most researched podcaster in the game

    Joe’s questions are so well researched they even shock the guests at times. You will become more intelligent and curious just by listening

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gary Moorcroft
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's preparation, incisive questions and ability to draw thoughtful answers from expert guests.
Some listeners find the perspective overly male and want greater representation of women among guests.
The long-form conversations and accomplished guests are valued for making complex topics engaging and informative.
Listeners appreciate the range of subjects and the Australian perspective on politics, economics and public affairs.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#103
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#163
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#234
Singapore/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Most Amazing Technology, the Worst Business in the World — John Hempton [Compute Series]
Q: If you were advising the Australian government on its data center push, what pieces of advice would you give it?
Hempton recommends locating data centers in regional Australia, encouraging them to supply much of their own power, and facilitating private investment without using public funds to subsidize the industry.
The Most Amazing Technology, the Worst Business in the World — John Hempton [Compute Series]
Q: If there is a bubble in AI, where exactly is it located or where is it likely to emerge?
Hempton says the clearest risk is in compute infrastructure, where high capital costs, low marginal costs and competition could create excess supply. He remains less certain about frontier models after seeing Anthropic's reported efficiency.
AI Factories in the Outback — Tim Nelson [Compute Series]
Q: Could data centres be built in remote parts of Australia and powered by behind-the-meter generation?
Nelson says this could work for flexible workloads in places with strong renewable resources and welcoming communities. Whether the sites need grid connections depends on flexibility, reliability requirements, existing easements and the costs of transmission and other infrastructure.
AI Factories in the Outback — Tim Nelson [Compute Series]
Q: What are the biggest constraints to achieving a 10 to 15 gigawatt data centre build-out in the next few years?
Nelson identifies the need to finance new generation through long-term contracting, available transmission capacity and location, and the cost of network upgrades. He says coordinated planning and the review's proposed market mechanisms could help address these constraints.
"Just because I consulted doesn't mean I didn't dominate": How prime ministers really govern — Patrick Weller
Q: What was your key takeaway from studying Fraser's daily routines and cabinet interactions?
That Fraser used extensive consultation not merely to share power but to structure decisions, maintaining control by shaping the process and elevating the institutional framework around Cabinet decisions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Joe Walker Podcast

What is The Joe Walker Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form, research-led interviews examine Australian public policy, economics, technology, history and geopolitics. Host Joe Walker prepares closely for conversations with subject-matter experts, including economists, senior public servants, historians, academics and policymakers. Recurring series organize interviews around major policy questions, such as immigration and Australia's role in AI compute, while other conversations explore how government works and how international tensions develop. The format gives guests room to explain complex ideas and test policy choices through detailed questioning. Its distinctive focus is an Australian perspective on consequential issues, paired with a broad interest in ideas beyond domestic politics. ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Joe Walker Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Joe Walker Podcast:

1. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald
2. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny
3. Grattan Institute
4. 7am
5. The Money Café with Alan Kohler

How many episodes of The Joe Walker Podcast are there?

The Joe Walker Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 157 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 Joe Walker Podcast?

Recent guests on The Joe Walker Podcast include:

1. John Hempton
2. Tim Nelson
3. Janet Egan
4. Andrew Charlton
5. Patrick Weller
6. Danielle Wood
7. Mike Pezzullo
8. Mark Cully

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