Under The Spell

thespell
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The answers to most questions are driven by the grand narratives that dominate human thought the world over. Without us even realising it. Narratives that emanate from the human need to navigate an overwhelming and contradictory world. By making stories to frame the chaos. By storytelling itself. Under the Spell is a podcast series designed to provide a new lens from which to interpret our chaotic world. Hosted by renowned journalist, Michael Avery, this series looks to unpack the stories and themes from David Buckham and Robyn Wilkinson's eye-opening book, The Spell: A story of human progress and how the West lost its soul.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Under The Spell: Lending or Leverage? The World Bank and the Architecture of Modern Debt | S2 E2

    In the second episode of Under the Spell season 2, host Michael Avery and Professor Manoel Bittencourt peel back the layers of global finance to examine the true legacy of the World Bank. For decades, the World Bank has presented itself as a moral guardian of progress and a champion of poverty reduction. However, as the global South continues to grapple with the weight of "conditional" finance, we must ask if these institutions were designed to foster independence or to secure a specific brand of Western technocracy. In this episode, we explore: The Birth of Conditionality: How the 1950s shift from short term stability to long term development changed the relationship between lender and borrower forever. Technocracy vs Reality: The uncomfortable gap between policies designed in comfortable Washington DC offices and the abject poverty found in remote areas like the Karoo. The Language of Modernisation: Why the narrative of "growth" often masks a far more complex system of population management and financial control. The Ghost of the Cold War: Understanding the historical roots of the World Bank as a tool for geopolitical alignment rather than purely economic aid. Who Really Holds the Power: A look at whether development loans shape thriving economies or simply entrench the dominance of the creditors. This isn’t a podcast about balance sheets. It is a deep dive into the stories that dictate how the world is governed and who is left behind. Join us every week as we go UNDER THE SPELL.

    33 min

  2. 2 FEB

    Under The Spell: Is AGI the new Frontier, or the ultimate grand narrative? | S2 E1

    Is AGI the new Frontier, or the ultimate grand narrative? In the premiere episode of Under the Spell season 2, host Michael Avery and author David Buckham dive beneath the surface of the AI frenzy to ask the questions the tech world is too breathless to answer. At the start of 2026, the global economy is effectively a giant bet on Artificial General Intelligence. But as we race toward a world of "emergent minds" and "machine rights," are we witnessing a genuine scientific breakthrough or a recurring civilizational habit of choosing power over principle? In this episode, we explore: The Myth of Emergence: Is consciousness truly a byproduct of "scaling" neurons, or is this a convenient assumption used to justify a $300 billion gamble? The 1929 Parallel: Why the current intermingling of government and big business feels hauntingly similar to the eve of the Great Depression. The Geopolitical Stakes: How the hunt for AGI is driving radical manoeuvres, from the "Greenland play" for rare earth minerals to the existential arms race with China. The "Spell" of Narratives: Understanding how a few billionaires and "high priests of AI" are shaping a reality that may be heading for a massive bailout. This isn’t a tech podcast about model updates; it’s a series for those who still value the uncomfortable discipline of thinking. Join us every week as we go UNDER THE SPELL.

    38 min

  3. 15/12/2025

    Ep 11: Under the Spell. David Buckham

    There are many who would argue that humanity is at the apex of it’s progression. However, when you dig deeper into those narratives, as David Buckham did while writing The Spell, you start to realise there are several flaws to that logic. Find out more at thespell.co.za

    32 min

  4. 12/12/2025

    Ep 10: Under The Spell. Prof. William Gumede

    Professor Gumede shares his thoughts on South Africa’s need to innovate – and how reading books like The Spell can help us to think more innovatively. Visit thespell.co.za for more

    28 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    Ep 9: Under the Spell. David Buckham

    The problem with apocalyptic thinking. David Buckham, co-author of The Spell, unpacks the cognitive dissonance of so many common day narratives, from climate change to AI. To learn more visit thespell.co.za.

    30 min

  6. 10/12/2025

    Ep 8: Under the Spell. Tim Richman

    'The Spell' publisher, Tim Richman, shares his thoughts on a fascinating question: "is the story more powerful than the facts?" He offers a publisher's perspective on the core themes of 'The Spell', the journey of what goes into making a book like this, and the delicate line between history and the truth. To learn more visit thespell.co.za.

    24 min

  7. 09/12/2025

    Ep 7: Under the Spell. Simon Brown

    Hypocrisy, contradictions, polarisation, opposing narratives – we ask established journalist, Simon Brown, how he makes sense of the world and whether reading The Spell helped. To learn more visit thespell.co.za.

    21 min

  8. 08/12/2025

    Ep 6: Under the Spell - Zolile Zikode

    'The Spell' gives a narrative on how humans make sense of themselves through stories. Zolile Zikode notes how the book traces Western thought from the Ancient Greeks to the present day. It shows how politics, religion, and science try to answer one question: What does it mean to be human? This is a read for anyone curious about why societies repeat mistakes and how narratives control human destiny. To learn more visit thespell.co.za.

    12 min
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About

The answers to most questions are driven by the grand narratives that dominate human thought the world over. Without us even realising it. Narratives that emanate from the human need to navigate an overwhelming and contradictory world. By making stories to frame the chaos. By storytelling itself. Under the Spell is a podcast series designed to provide a new lens from which to interpret our chaotic world. Hosted by renowned journalist, Michael Avery, this series looks to unpack the stories and themes from David Buckham and Robyn Wilkinson's eye-opening book, The Spell: A story of human progress and how the West lost its soul.

Information

  • Creator
    thespell
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Under The Spell