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The MOST Important Thing

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

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 weeklyEpisodes57Founded9 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
InvestingBusinessEducation

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Latest Episodes

Is the traditional 60/40 portfolio still fit for purpose? What should investors look for in a systematic fund manager? And how is AI changing the careers of people working in finance?

In Part 2 of The Most Important Thing, Alan O’Sullivan continues ... more

Can artificial intelligence outperform traditional fund managers? And how much of successful investing is genuine skill rather than market luck?

In Part 1 of The Most Important Thing, Alan O’Sullivan speaks with Dr. Philip Seager, Head of Portfolio ... more

In this episode of The Long & Short, Ivan Yates and Dr Alan O’Sullivan revisit the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the 2008 global financial crisis and today’s concerns around AI valuations, defence stocks and changing investment regimes. From speculative... more

Are Bonds a Buy?

This episode explores whether bonds are becoming attractive again amid sticky inflation, rising fiscal concerns, and the AI spending boom. Alan argues that bond markets are pricing in deeper risks, but the best opportunity to buy ma... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Philip Seager
Head of Portfolio Strategy at Capital Fund Management with a PhD in experimental physics
Capital Fund Management
Episode: Is the 60/40 Portfolio Broken? AI, Hedge Funds & the Future of Investing | Dr. Philip Seager (Part 2)
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
Russell Napier
Investment strategist referenced in discussion
(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

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 64 ratings
  • Cs

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cs✅
    Ireland7 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.

Spotify
#176
Ireland/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#6
Ireland/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#18
Ireland/Business
Apple Podcasts
#49
Ukraine/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#86
Singapore/Business/Investing
Apple Podcasts
#209
Singapore/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is the 60/40 Portfolio Broken? AI, Hedge Funds & the Future of Investing | Dr. Philip Seager (Part 2)
Q: What should investors look for in relation to who they choose to allocate that bucket to?
Seager recommends understanding a manager's philosophy and investment process, looking for a rigorous and scientific approach, and treating performance as noisy evidence that takes a long time to assess.
Is the 60/40 Portfolio Broken? AI, Hedge Funds & the Future of Investing | Dr. Philip Seager (Part 2)
Q: What were you doing in 2008 that was working and propping up portfolios?
Seager says trend following within CFM's multi-strategy, multi-asset program provided diversification, and that the wider CTA industry demonstrated the approach's potential downside protection during the crisis.
Can AI Beat Fund Managers? Quant Investing, Market Luck & Crisis Protection | Dr. Philip Seager (Part 1)
Q: How do you distinguish between discretionary investing and the systematic element?
Seager described systematic investing as using large datasets to find statistically significant patterns, then combining many lower-conviction bets. Discretionary investors typically make fewer, higher-conviction decisions based on deeper analysis of individual positions and narratives.
Can AI Beat Fund Managers? Quant Investing, Market Luck & Crisis Protection | Dr. Philip Seager (Part 1)
Q: How does somebody that did a PhD in physics, experimental particle physics end up in financial markets?
Seager said a physics job was difficult to secure, and finance offered a way to use the analytical skills he had developed during his PhD. He joined a data-focused firm after meeting its founder while working near Paris.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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. Ask About Wealth
5. The David McWilliams Podcast

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The MOST Important Thing launched 9 months ago and published 57 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. Philip Seager
2. Robert Gordon
3. Lacy Hunt
4. Russell Napier
5. Ivan Yates
6. Mike Bell
7. Anne-Marie Curtin
8. AnnMarie Curtin

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