Financial Times

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Channel • 11 Shows

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Politics

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Documentary

Weekly series
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Technology

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Business

Business

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Politics

Politics

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22 APR

How ancient Mesopotamians solved runaway debt

Long before modern economics, rulers such as Hammurabi in ancient Mesopotamia grappled with a political problem that still haunts our economies today: when people’s debts grow faster than their ability to repay them, the entire economic system can start to crack. Hammurabi adopted a radical solution: cancel debts entirely. Amanda H Podany, professor emeritus of history at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and a research affiliate at New York University, tells The Story of Money hosts, FT columnist Gillian Tett and FT Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth, what these debt jubilees say about how the ancient Mesopotamian economy worked and what it might teach us about debt today. To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on the show's dedicated YouTube channel here. Learn more at ft.com/tsom Want more? Check out Dr Podany’s book, Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East Hosts: Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth Producer: Lulu Smyth Senior Producers: Michela Tindera and Laurence Knight Executive Producers: Flo Phillips and Manuela Saragosa Original music and sound engineering: Breen Turner Broadcast engineers: Bianca Wakeman and Petros Gioumpasis Podcast Development: Laura Clarke FT Global Head of Audio: Cheryl Brumley Video editor: Kristen Kenton at Podcast Discovery Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Apr

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43 min
29 APR

Hitting the Buffers: The 1873 railway bust that broke one of America’s greatest financiers

Every now and then a new technology comes along that changes everything – electricity, computers, potentially AI. In mid-19th-century America, that technology was the steam locomotive. It knitted the US economy together, driving the nation’s industrialisation during the Gilded Age. But along the way, it also caused one of the biggest financial crises in American history. FT Alphaville editor Robin Wigglesworth tells his co-host, FT columnist Gillian Tett, the story of the great railway bubble that ended in the Panic of 1873. It’s also the story of the spectacular rise and fall of Jay Cooke, the greatest banker of his day, who lost a fortune betting on a railroad that would eventually span the North American continent – just not in time to repay its debts. Robin and Gillian discuss what lessons the financier’s fate holds for the investors gambling on today’s AI boom. Credits: New York Times Archive, Otto Herschan Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Hulton Archive/Getty Images Further reading: Jay Cooke: Financier of the Civil War, by Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer (1907) Jay Cooke's gamble: the Northern Pacific Railroad, the Sioux, and the Panic of 1873, by M John Lubetkin (2006) Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America, by Richard White (2012) Pop! Why Bubbles Are Great For The Economy, by Daniel Gross (2007) A Fabulous Debt: The Epic Story of How Bonds Built the Modern World, by Robin Wigglesworth (2026 – forthcoming) To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to The Story of Money wherever you get your podcasts, also on the show's dedicated YouTube channel here: Hosts: Gillian Tett and Robin Wigglesworth Producer: Lulu Smyth Senior Producers: Michela Tindera and Laurence Knight Executive Producers: Flo Phillips and Manuela Saragosa Original music and sound design: Breen Turner Broadcast engineers: Bianca Wakeman and Petros Giuompasis Podcast Development: Laura Clarke FT Global Head of Audio: Cheryl Brumley Video editor: Josh Divney at Podcast Discovery Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Apr

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54 min
11 MAR

Wall Street and crypto battle over the future of money

US President Donald Trump handed crypto companies a huge win last year when he signed a piece of legislation to regulate an important part of the digital currency world: stablecoins. But ever since then, Wall Street banks have been fighting to change parts of the law. The FT’s digital markets correspondent Nikou Asgari explains what’s provoked US banks and who might have the upper hand in this conflict. Clips from Bank of America, CBS News, CNBC, CNN, Forbes, Fox 5 Atlanta, JPMorgan Chase, The White House The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For further reading: The stablecoin war: Wall Street vs crypto over the future of money Bitcoin and crypto stocks surge amid relief rally for risky assets Global crypto assets hit $4tn as industry wins backing of US lawmakers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Vote for us! Behind the Money has been nominated for an NYC Podcast Award in the Best Interview Podcast category. It’s an Audience Choice award, which means we need your help to win. Vote for us here. We appreciate your support! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Nikou Asgari on X (@nikasgari), or on Bluesky (@nikasgari.bsky.social). Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11 Mar

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20 min
10/10/2024

Vote for The Retreat in the Signal Awards!

The Retreat has been nominated for a Signal Award in the Health and Wellness category! It's a listener choice award, which means we need your help. If you enjoyed The Retreat, please vote for the show to win here. We appreciate your support! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10/10/2024

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1 min

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times