But This Time It's Different

Brought to you by Sinead O'Sullivan and Alex Chalmers
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But This Time It’s Different is where we unpack the truth behind the wrong, late or wilfully blind stories we’re told- about progress, markets, governments, and tech- with apparently sharp analysis and dark humor.

  1. 07/10/2025

    Why Bother Voting? Democracy Has Left the Group Chat

    What is democracy, really—and is it still working? In this episode, Sinead chats to legendary hedge fund manager Eric Lonergan while Alex is on vacation. They poke and prod around the big questions about democracy today. From crumbling institutions to the rise of digital tribalism, they ask whether we’re still living in a democracy—or just a really well-branded illusion of one. It’s a spirited dive into how tech is rewiring politics, why economic power is quietly reshaping the rules, and whether new models of governance could actually work. A conversation for anyone who’s ever asked: Wait… who’s really in charge here?

    58 min

  2. 07/02/2025

    Stocks Up, Spirits Down: What is driving the S&P500 prices

    In this episode, Sinead and Alex dive into the dystopian world of modern finance—where the stock market hits record highs while everyone you know is broke. They discuss the Federal Reserve shenanigans, the quiet power of pension funds, and how passive investing might be propping up a house of cards. From demographic doom-loops to the great Wall Street–Main Street disconnect, this is a look at the global economic twilight zone.

    59 min

  3. 06/24/2025

    The B-2 Spirit: Stealth mode ACTIVATED!

    In this episode, Sinead and Alex unpack the recent U.S. airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities—with a little help from everyone's favorite $2 billion flying triangle: the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. They dive into what makes the B-2 a legend in the skies, why it's still terrifyingly relevant, and how this surgical strike fits into the broader chessboard of modern warfare. Expect radar-evading anecdotes, geopolitical eyebrow raises, and some seriously expensive hardware talk. Also on deck: the economics of war (spoiler: it’s not cheap), asymmetric conflict, and a peek into the sci-fi-sounding but very real future of military tech. It's geopolitics, stealth, and strategy—served hot.

    34 min

  4. 06/19/2025

    Building Nukes... for Dummies

    In this episode, Sinead and Alex cheerfully dive into the totally chill, everyday task of building your very own nuclear weapons program. They unpack the shady dealings of the nuclear black market, explain why "DIY nuke kits" haven’t quite caught on yet, and explore how human incompetence can be both humanity’s savior and biggest liability in nuclear proliferation. Plus, they give a crash course on Iran's totally-not-suspicious nuclear aspirations and sprinkle in some existential dread about what all this means for our already anxiety-ridden geopolitical hellscape. Enjoy!

    32 min

  5. 06/12/2025

    Diamonds Are Not Forever: The Collapse of a Sparkling Empire

    In this episode, Sinead and Alex dig into the collapse of the diamond industry, where natural stones are losing their luster and lab-grown gems are stealing the show.  They unpack how Gen Z’s love of sustainability, customization, and not being scammed by boomer romance marketing is reshaping the market. From De Beers' existential crisis to the downfall of mall jewelers, this is a story of cultural shift, economic reckoning, and what happens when the ultimate symbol of “forever” loses its grip on the collective imagination.

    25 min

  6. 06/10/2025

    How To Smuggle A Diamond: From Blood Mines to Bling Lines

    In this episode, Alex and Sinead crack open the glittering facade of the diamond smuggling world. From mine to market, diamonds are sold as symbols of eternal love and ethical sourcing. But behind the velvet-lined counters lies a murky underworld of off-the-books deals, ghost shipments, and blood-soaked bling. They follow the secret paths diamonds take to dodge regulations, inflate value, and quietly change hands. Along the way, they interrogate the so-called “Kimberley Process” (spoiler: it’s about as effective as a paper umbrella in a monsoon) and explore the economic and human costs of keeping the diamond dream alive. It’s shiny. It’s sketchy. It’s capitalism with carats.

    26 min

  7. 06/05/2025

    A State of Chaos: Yemen Edition

    In this episode, Sinead and Alex plunge into Yemen: a country that's mastered the art of existing without actually functioning. From Ali Abdullah Saleh’s impressive 30-year dance atop a pit of political vipers, to the rise of the Houthis (who built a missile program from spite and Wi-Fi hotspots), they untangle a conflict so messy even the peacekeepers ended up shooting at each other. Expect detours into Saudi coalition chaos, the UAE’s militia-collecting hobby, and Yemen’s ability to launch ballistic missiles without managing to have a working government. Also featuring: a geopolitical ghost story, Iranian DIY drone kits, and why you probably shouldn’t try turning a country into a WhatsApp group. Welcome to Yemen: where legitimacy is optional, dysfunction is guaranteed, and international involvement is like pouring gasoline onto a fireworks show

    27 min

  8. 06/03/2025

    Zero to Zero Margin in 3.8 Seconds: The Rise and Fall of China's Electric Vehicle Market

    In this episode, Sinead and Alex take you on a high-voltage joyride through China’s EV empire: from lithium-fueled ambition to zero-margin chaos. They unpack how China leapfrogged the combustion engine, built a vertically integrated tech stack faster than you can say “subsidy,” and accidentally triggered the world’s most deranged price war. Along the way, they ask: What happens when your new car costs less than your phone? Are Chinese EVs actually Huawei on wheels? And can the West build anything besides white papers and vibes? From robotaxis to battery geopolitics, this is a story about industrial overkill, strategic export flooding, and why your next road trip might also be a national security risk.

    27 min
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About

But This Time It’s Different is where we unpack the truth behind the wrong, late or wilfully blind stories we’re told- about progress, markets, governments, and tech- with apparently sharp analysis and dark humor.

Information

  • Creator
    Brought to you by Sinead O'Sullivan and Alex Chalmers
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brought to you by Sinead O'Sullivan and Alex Chalmers
  • Show Website
    But This Time It's Different