“Make things again” — it’s a powerful slogan. But what does it really mean for Australia’s economy, workers, and national security? Show host Gene Tunny and Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance Chief Economist John Humphreys dig into the heart of the debate, from the politics of nostalgia to the realities of automation and global trade. A thought-provoking conversation about whether Australia can, or should, bring manufacturing back home.

Venture capitalist Aman Verjee joins Gene Tunny to explore whether artificial intelligence is fuelling the next great economic bubble. Drawing lessons from history—from the 1840s railway boom to the 1990s dot-com surge—Aman argues that even frothy markets can spark long-term progress. The conversation also covers AI’s impact on jobs, productivity, and how policy can nurture innovation without strangling it.

Australia’s fertility rate is now at a record low of 1.48 babies per woman. Gene Tunny and John Humphreys discuss the sharp fall in fertility rates worldwide and what it means for Australia’s economy and society. They explore how declining birth rates threaten our economy, government budgets, and social cohesion, and whether migration, pro-natalist policies, or cultural change can reverse this trend.

Shutdowns are back—and Gene delves into the reasons, ramifications, and rhetoric. This episode examines the latest U.S. government shutdown, its potential to outlast previous ones, and whether it could signal deeper structural changes—or just more political theatre.

What does net zero really mean, and what will it take to get there? In this episode, highlights from past guests reveal the full spectrum of views—from urgent calls for climate action to scepticism about costs and feasibility. With perspectives on extreme weather, carbon pricing, nuclear energy, coal, and productivity trade-offs, this episode cuts to the heart of the net-zero debate.

Gene Tunny and John Humphreys unpack the economic troubles brewing in the UK, France, and the US—rising debt, social unrest, inflation, and faltering productivity. They explore why bond markets are sounding alarms, why governments are struggling to respond, and what this all means for Australia. The episode draws urgent lessons from these fiscal failures, with stark warnings for what lies ahead if policy inertia continues. Among other issues, they discuss Gary Stevenson’s proposal for a wealth tax in the UK.

Show host Gene Tunny breaks down why price controls are one of the most consistently failed economic policies. Using vivid historical examples from the 1970s US, the Soviet Union’s command economy, and Venezuela’s toilet paper crisis, he illustrates how interfering with the price mechanism leads to shortages, inefficiency, and unintended consequences.

In this candid discussion, show host Gene Tunny joins a panel to expose the shortcomings of the Australian Government’s August 2025 economic reform summit. Topics include the high cost of energy, tax policy, the ballooning NDIS and big government generally, AI regulation, and Senator Matt Canavan’s rival roundtable, which Gene attended. This episode borrows the audio from Damian Coory’s The Other Side episode broadcast on YouTube on 22 August 2025. The other guests are Graham Young, Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Progress, and Dan Petrie, a data analyst and former editor at Bloomberg.

Professor Chris Berg from RMIT University discusses the transformative potential of AI, likening it to the next industrial revolution. He argues that AI, particularly tools like ChatGPT, can boost white-collar productivity by up to 40%. Governments should cautiously avoid AI regulation to maximise these gains. Berg emphasises AI's bottom-up adoption and its exponential advancements. He also touches on the social implications, including the formation of parasocial relationships with AI and the potential for AI to displace certain jobs. The conversation, with ATA Chief Economist John Humphreys and Economics Explored host Gene Tunny, highlights AI’s dual promise of productivity gains and societal challenges.

Show host Gene Tunny and Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance Chief Economist John Humphreys tackle hot topics in Australian economic policy: the case for a cash flow company tax, the politics and maths of a gas ban, why stamp duty drags the economy, the growing size of government and the cost of living crisis.

Kyle Touchstone, Director of Raleigh Economic Development, shares with us how Raleigh became the top-ranked large city in the US, according to the Milken Institute. Kyle and show host Gene Tunny discuss the city's success in biotech, AI, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing—all underpinned by the world-class universities and innovation ecosystem of North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The conversation also explores Raleigh’s growing role in the gaming industry, including its connection to Epic Games—the creator of Fortnite—and the rise of eSports in the region.

Show host Gene Tunny and colleague John Humphreys dissect Australia’s latest controversial Reserve Bank interest rate decision, debating inflation targeting and central bank independence. They challenge conventional economic thinking, particularly around the NAIRU—the Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment (NAIRU). The episode also tackles the implications of declining fertility rates globally, the controversial Tobin tax on financial transactions, and critiques current climate policies through an economic lens.

Show host Gene Tunny delves into listener feedback on recent episodes regarding the feasibility of tax cuts preceding spending cuts ("starve the beast"), a capital gains tax on property, and the practicality of Georgist land taxes. He explores the complexities behind Australia's productivity challenges and regulatory capture issues raised by listeners.

Rebecca Homkes of Duke Corporate Education and London Business School joins the show to discuss how economic and trade policy chaos is hindering strategic decision-making in global firms. Rebecca shares how to spot the CEOs who are genuinely thinking ahead—those who anchor their choices in beliefs and prepare to adapt as conditions change. We also explore AI’s real value in business: not just saving time, but repurposing it for higher-value work and strategic growth.

Gene Tunny and John Humphreys dissect the causes behind Australia's productivity slump, analysing recent GDP data, labour market policies, and regulatory constraints. They debate whether tax cuts should precede spending cuts and question the effectiveness of central planning and government intervention (i.e. ‘picking winners’) in driving innovation. John is Chief Economist at the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance (ATA). This episode is the audio of an ATA livestream on 12 June 2025.

Gene Tunny and Darren Brady Nelson delve into the gold reserves at Fort Knox, exploring whether the gold is as pure as expected and what the implications might be for the U.S. dollar if it's not. They cover the history of gold confiscation, central bank policies, and the enduring allure of gold in uncertain economic times. This episode was inspired by a question Gene received at a talk he gave to the AusIMM Sydney branch in April 2025. Darren is currently the Chief Economist at Fisher Liberty Gold. This episode contains general information only, and nothing in this episode should be considered as investment or financial advice.

Emmanuel Daniel, founder of the Asian Banker, explains how global economic dynamics are shifting. The discussion covers the decline of multilateral trade arrangements, the strategic blunders in U.S. tariff policy, why a BRICS currency won’t replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency, and the rise of domestic fintech infrastructures that challenge Western dominance in financial services. For example, the challenges Visa and Mastercard face in Indonesia are explored.

Kim Flynn, President of XA Investments, discusses her 25-year career in asset management, focusing on alternative investments. She highlights the challenges faced during the 2008 financial crisis at Nuveen Investments, where she refinanced $15 billion in frozen auction rate securities. Flynn explains the structure and benefits of closed-end funds, particularly interval funds, which offer periodic liquidity. She details XA Investments' three SEC-registered closed-end funds with $900 million in assets, emphasizing private credit strategies with yields ranging from 9% to 15%. Flynn also explores the potential of alternative investments like farmland, infrastructure, and crypto, noting their role in portfolio diversification and income generation. Note: this episode contains general information only and is not financial or investment advice.

Gene Tunny interviews William ‘Bill’ Welser IV, the visionary behind Lotic, an AI startup designed to transform personal data into actionable insights while protecting user privacy. Bill discusses how Lotic’s AI-powered digital companion is designed to help users make better decisions, improve mental health, and understand their behavior patterns. The episode dives into ethical considerations, data security, and the economic implications of widespread AI adoption.

Kevin Kennon, an award-winning architect, discusses the future of cities, housing affordability, and the role of architecture in urban life. He emphasizes the importance of smarter density, mixed-use developments, and integrating residential, commercial, and community spaces. Kennon highlights the impact of tariffs on housing costs and the need for free trade. He also discusses the benefits of prefabricated components over modular housing and the role of urban transport in housing affordability. Kennon advocates for architects to have a greater role in shaping public policy to improve livability and economic vitality in cities.