Hidden Forces

In Episode 99, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Claudio Borio about outstanding sources of financial instability and some of the challenges facing Central Banks as the economy and markets begin to show signs of weakness heading towards the end of 2019. Dr. Borio heads the Monetary and Economic Department at the Bank for International Settlements and has written extensively about some of the longer-term, structural forces bedeviling policymakers since the early 2000’s.

I've taken the next few weeks off for a much needed summer vacation. I'll be releasing a few overtime segments while I'm gone that are normally available only to our Patreon subscribers. This segment was recorded with Senator Bob Kerrey, one of the ten members of the 9/11 Commission. Not only are his comments about the Kingdom's involvement in the attacks provocative and revealing, but the conversation itself is jovial and pleasant in a way that is rarely seen in our politics today. I hope you all enjoy it.

In Episode 98, Demetri Kofinas speaks with famed Hong Kong investor David Webb, an outspoken critic of China’s authoritarian grip over the coastal territory. The first part of their conversation concerns Hong Kong’s political and economic future as an independent territory of mainland China, and the second deals with implications for China itself – specifically, its political and financial stability as the most leveraged economy at scale, in the world.

In Episode 97, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Nic Carter, about the 'essence' of Bitcoin: an experiment in social organization that doesn’t play by the rules of the state or by the conventions of modern society. It is a movement that is likely to grow, especially if governments validate the concerns of Bitcoiners with further debt monetization or preferential bailouts in the event of another global financial crisis. The purpose of this conversation is to help you understand the forces driving that movement.

In this week’s episode of Hidden Forces, I make available the overtime to my episode with journalist Matt Taibbi that aired on February 18th, 2019.  In this overtime, Matt Taibbi shares his experience on the campaign trail with Donald Trump in 2016, as well as his predictions for the 2020 election. Matt and I also discuss the Goldman Sachs 1MDB scandal, which has remained largely out of the headlines. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod

In Episode 96, Demetri Kofinas speaks with investor and media entrepreneur, Raoul Pal about the future of global money in a multi-polar world. This leads to a discussion about Bitcoin, Libra, and alternative forms of money that could outcompete and eventually even supplant the currencies issued by sovereign governments. Additional topics include central bank policies, the business cycle, debt, demographics, gold, and more.

In Episode 95, Demetri Kofinas speaks with investor and author of Epsilon Theory, Ben Hunt, about the power of narrative and how it is used to shape and control our behavior as investors. This episode also includes a series of in-depth discussions about the long legacy of the 2008 financial crisis, identitarian narratives, three-body problems, the challenge of making accurate predictions, and ‘The Great Bitcoin Epic.'

In Episode 94, Demetri Kofinas speaks with author of REBOOT, Jerry Colonna about leadership and the art of growing up. This is a deeply personal conversation, but it is also one that draws upon the common wellspring of human experience. Learning to be a great leader is also about learning how to become an adult, and this requires that we learn how to embrace life in all of its beauty, suffering, and grace.

In Episode 93, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Professor of International Affairs Stephen Walt, about the dismal record of America’s foreign policy elite, how their decisions have accelerated a decline in US primacy, and what can be done to arrest this development. Overtime subscribers will be treated to a twenty-five-minute discussion about the current administration’s stance in global affairs and its impact on the 2020 election.

In this timely Interview, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Hong Kong activist and politician Joshua Wong, who is often referred to by media outlets and the international press as the “leader of the Hong Kong protests.” Joshua shares information about the latest developments on the ground, including ongoing efforts by Beijing and the Hong Kong government to put a stop to the pro-democracy movements and restore order in the coastal territory.

In Episode 92, Demetri speaks with East Asian affairs expert Ho-Fung Hung about the upcoming US-China trade talks taking place at this weekend’s G20 summit, as Xi-Jinping grapples with the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Ho is the Henry M. and Elizabeth P. Wiesenfeld Professor in Political Economy at Johns Hopkins University, as well as the author of two books on China, including the award-winning “Protests with Chinese Characteristics,” published in 2011.

In Episode 91, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Chief Economist and Strategist at Gluskin Sheff, David Rosenberg, about the latest Fed rate decision and his outlook for the global economy. In the overtime to this week’s episode, David provides listeners with a look into his investment strategy and how he is positioning himself and his clients for a global slowdown that he believes may already be underway.

In Episode 90, Demetri Kofinas speaks with former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter about his experience serving under Barack Obama, the unique challenges of dealing with Congress, and the exigencies of protecting the country in an honest and informed exploration about the nature of American power. Additional topics include autonomous weapons, drones, mass surveillance, cyberwarfare, US-China relations, US-Iran, etc.

In Episode 89, Demetri Kofinas speaks with technology futurist and geopolitical expert Jamie Metzl about innovations happening at the cutting edge of genomic science, synthetic biology, and big data. The two also discuss US-China relations, North Korea’s nuclear program, post-Soviet Russian history, Iraq, Iran, and much more.