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The MOST Important Thing

Ivan Yates & Dr Alan O'Sullivan
United States
Gold
Portfolio Construction
China
Artificial Intelligence
Central Banks
Finance
Debt
Inflation
Iran
Private Debt
Russia
Oil
Interest Rates
Demographics
Investing
Uranium
The Middle East Conflict
Post-Covid Economy
Geopolitics

The world is full of noise, distraction and now dis-information. How do we extract the truth and become better informed? Join broadcaster Ivan Yates and finance expert Dr Alan O’ Sullivan as they meet the best and brightest minds in finance, investments, economics, and geopolitics. The Most Important Thing reveals what really matters.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes53Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingBusinessEducation

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Latest Episodes

Will artificial intelligence transform economic growth—or are expectations running far ahead of reality? And what does the rise of AI mean for graduates, white-collar professionals and the future of work?

In Part 2 of his conversation with Dr Alan O... more

Is gold the ultimate portfolio insurance — or has its extraordinary rise made it too risky? And could a changing global monetary order reshape how we invest?

In this episode of The MOST Important Thing, Dr Alan O’Sullivan and Ivan Yates examine gold... more

Professor Robert J. Gordon, one of the world’s leading economists on productivity and long-run economic growth, joins Alan O’Sullivan to examine why the extraordinary gains of the past two centuries may be becoming harder to repeat.

In Part 1, Gordo... more

In Episode 2 of The Long & Short, Ivan Yates and Dr. Alan O'Sullivan examine three of the major forces shaping economies, markets and long-term investment decisions: debt, demographics and sustainability.

The discussion moves from the global sustain... more

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Recent Guests

Robert Gordon
Professor of Economics, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: Will AI Replace White-Collar Jobs? The Future of Growth | Robert Gordon — Part 2
Lacy Hunt
Economist discussed in the episode
(not specified)
Episode: The Long & Short Ep. 2 | Debt, Demographics & Sustainability
Ivan Yates
Former government minister, entrepreneur, broadcaster, author
Author of The Game of Life and How to Win It
Episode: Ivan Yates: The Game of Life – Success, Failure & Reinvention | The Most Important Thing
Mike Bell
Investment strategist with focus on economics, politics, financial markets and history
Independent/Self-employed
Episode: Gaining an edge in Financial Markets with Mike Bell, CFA - Part 2
Anne-Marie Curtin
finance/regulation professional with leadership experience
Bank of England / EY / other roles mentioned in episode
Episode: Make Yourself Heard: The Career Lessons Nobody Teaches You
AnnMarie Curtin
Finance professional who worked across Merrill Lynch, AIB, Central Bank of Ireland, Bank of England
Central Bank of Ireland / Bank of England / Bank of America / EY (various roles)
Episode: A "Front-Row" seat to the crises that have defined the last 20 years - AnnMarie Curtin
Justin Huhn
Founder and publisher of Uranium Insider, leading research service focused on Uranium markets and nuclear energy investing
Uranium Insider
Episode: Uranium’s Long Runway: China, Scarcity & the Nuclear Investment Opportunity
Michael Lewis
Head of ESG Research at DWS, asset manager specializing in sustainability and energy transition research
DWS
Episode: The Grid Is the New Oil: Michael Lewis (DWS) on Electrification, Critical Minerals & Energy Security
Sebastian Page
Investment strategist and author of Beyond Diversification
T. Rowe Price
Episode: The Biggest Lie in Investing Is Diversification

Hosts

Ivan Yates
Host of The Most Important Thing
Dr. Alan O'Sullivan
Co-host/finance expert; described as chief market skeptic

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Cs

    So happy to have Ivan to listen to again. Good luck with new show with Alan

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cs✅
    Ireland6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong host dynamic and practical takeaways for investing.
Engaging, accessible macro insights from top guests.
Thoughtful, sometimes contrarian perspectives that challenge mainstream views.
Guest variety keeps coverage broad and credible.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#175
Australia/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#8
Ireland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#18
Ireland/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will AI Replace White-Collar Jobs? The Future of Growth | Robert Gordon — Part 2
Q: What books or resources would you recommend for students and practitioners looking at long‑term economic growth?
Gordon suggests Brad DeLong's Slouching Towards Utopia as a recommended read for understanding the U.S. economic history and context, plus other works that illuminate the long arc of growth and the world wars.
Will AI Replace White-Collar Jobs? The Future of Growth | Robert Gordon — Part 2
Q: How should graduates and young workers adapt in an AI‑driven economy?
He cautions that there will be a surplus of college graduates for some roles while high‑demand trades like plumbing and roofing remain robust; he also emphasizes the importance of recognizing which tasks are hard to automate and pursuing paths with durable demand, while noting the potential for policy to influence outcomes.
Will AI Replace White-Collar Jobs? The Future of Growth | Robert Gordon — Part 2
Q: What would you pick as the most crucial headwind to study in terms of deflationary forces or plateauing of growth?
Professor Gordon identifies demographics—specifically the aging population—as the single most important headwind, arguing it will shape labor markets, retirement norms, and long‑term growth trajectories more than AI alone.
Ivan Yates: The Game of Life – Success, Failure & Reinvention | The Most Important Thing
Q: What advice would you give to someone facing a crisis or bankruptcy?
Take total responsibility, assess the situation, avoid personal guarantees, and use crisis as a boot camp to strengthen mind and strategy.
Ivan Yates: The Game of Life – Success, Failure & Reinvention | The Most Important Thing
Q: How did you approach building listener value when transitioning to radio presenting?
I created a provocative, entertaining mix of content and personal viewpoints that stood out from the competition, engaging listeners through controversy and relevance.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The MOST Important Thing

What is The MOST Important Thing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- The show features deep-dive conversations with leading minds in finance, economics, technology, and geopolitics, hosted by two seasoned Irish broadcasters. Across episodes, recurring themes include macro policy, debt dynamics, asset allocation, and how innovation (like AI) intersects with markets. Notable twists include contrarian investing perspectives, cross-disciplinary analogies (sports, history), and practical takeaways for investors and professionals navigating evolving regimes. The format blends rigorous analysis with accessible storytelling, sponsor integrations, and real-world implications for portfolios, careers, and policy. This mix of guests and topics is likely to appeal to finance professionals, policy-minded listeners, and ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The MOST Important Thing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The MOST Important Thing:

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

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The MOST Important Thing launched 8 months ago and published 53 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 MOST Important Thing?

Recent guests on The MOST Important Thing include:

1. Robert Gordon
2. Lacy Hunt
3. Ivan Yates
4. Mike Bell
5. Anne-Marie Curtin
6. AnnMarie Curtin
7. Justin Huhn
8. Michael Lewis

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