The Jolly Swagman Podcast

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The JSP is a weekly exploration of questions that are both important and overlooked. Joe Walker, a former political speechwriter helping to build a Y Combinator-backed startup, hosts refreshingly in-depth conversations. Topics cover capitalism, science, business, culture and politics. Guests include Nobel laureates, former prime ministers, authors, entrepreneurs, investors and thought-leaders. Australia's best long-form podcast. A space for curious contrarians.

Joe Walker


    • May 13, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 20m AVG DURATION
    • 190 EPISODES

    4.8 from 110 ratings Listeners of The Jolly Swagman Podcast that love the show mention: angus, intellectually stimulating, well prepared, joseph, marc, ranging, joe, terrific, interviewer, fascinating, interviews, thoughtful, depth, guests, deep, review, interesting, insightful, enjoyed, entertaining.


    Ivy Insights

    The Jolly Swagman Podcast is a remarkably good podcast that covers a wide range of topics and features insightful interviews with interesting guests. The host, Joe, is a fantastic and well-prepared interviewer who takes the time to delve into each subject matter in depth. The podcast stands out for its informative and enlightening conversations, allowing listeners to expand their interests and knowledge. Joe's unique questions and his ability to find unusual guests make this podcast a standout in the genre. Overall, The Jolly Swagman Podcast is a high-quality show that I highly recommend.

    The best aspect of The Jolly Swagman Podcast is the breadth and depth of the subjects covered and the caliber of the speakers that appear on the show. Joe brings on experts from various fields such as biology, journalism, economics, sociology, physics, and more. This wide-ranging approach allows listeners to explore diverse topics beyond just investing-related content. The interviews are always well-prepared and thought-provoking, making them both informative and entertaining. Additionally, the host's dedication to research reflects his deep respect for his craft.

    One potential downside of The Jolly Swagman Podcast is that it may not be as appealing to those solely interested in Australian-specific episodes. While there are episodes focused on Australia, some listeners outside of Australia may find these less interesting. However, this small drawback is outweighed by the quality and variety of content offered by the podcast.

    In conclusion, The Jolly Swagman Podcast is a world-class podcast that offers long-form interviews with top thinkers across a wide range of subjects. Joe's passion for learning shines through in each episode as he engages guests in deep discussions that go beyond surface-level conversations. Whether you're interested in investing or simply enjoy thought-provoking conversations on modern issues, this podcast is sure to captivate you with its insightful content and captivating guests. I highly recommend giving it a listen!



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    Latest episodes from The Jolly Swagman Podcast

    Bryan Caplan — The Economics of Housing Abundance

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 110:14


    Bryan Caplan is Professor of Economics at George Mason University. A bestselling author, his books include The Case Against Education, Open Borders, and Build, Baby, Build: The Science and Ethics of Housing Deregulation. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/bryan-caplan-155See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2023 Retrospective — A Listener Interviews Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 107:47


    In this special episode, the tables are turned as I'm interviewed by a listener of the show, DJ Thornton from Sydney. We reflect on the progress of the show in 2023, what I learned from this year's guests, and what's in store for 2024. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    David Deutsch & Steven Pinker (First Ever Public Dialogue) — AGI, P(Doom), & The Enemies of Progress

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 115:40


    At a time when the Enlightenment is under attack from without and within, I bring together two of the most thoughtful defenders of progress and reason, for their first ever public dialogue. Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. I think of him as providing the strongest empirical defence of the Enlightenment (as seen in his book Enlightenment Now). David Deutsch is a British physicist at the University of Oxford, and the father of quantum computing. I think of him as having produced the most compelling first principles defence of the Enlightenment (as seen in his book The Beginning of Infinity). Full transcript available at: https://josephnoelwalker.com/153-deutsch-pinker-dialogue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Shruti Rajagopalan — On Spotting Talent, And Making Sense of Rising India

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 165:00


    Shruti Rajagopalan is an Indian-American economist. She leads the Indian political economy research program and Emergent Ventures India at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She also hosts the Ideas of India podcast. Full transcript available at: jnwpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Monetary Iatrogenesis — Raghuram Rajan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 111:50


    What were the deep causes of the global financial crisis and great recession? Has unconventional monetary policy in the wake of the crisis done more harm than good? And should monetary policy target financial stability? I discuss these questions and more with Indian economist and Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Raghuram Rajan. Raghuram Rajan was chief economist at the IMF from 2003 to 2006, and from 2013 to 2016 he was Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. As RBI Governor, he notably introduced India's inflation-targeting scheme, among many other achievements. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/151-raghuram-rajanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Spice, Straussianism, and the Search for Moral Truths — Peter Singer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 114:40


    Peter Singer is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. He is widely regarded as the world's most influential living philosopher. Full transcript available at: jnwpod.com Episode recorded on 26 April 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #149: Why Societies Fall Apart (And Why the US May Be Next) — Peter Turchin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2023 101:45


    Peter Turchin is a complexity scientist and one of the founders of cliodynamics — a new, cross-disciplinary field that applies mathematics and big data to test historical theories. Full transcript available at: jnwpod.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #148: Constructing the Computational Paradigm — Stephen Wolfram

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 264:06


    Stephen Wolfram is a physicist, computer scientist and businessman. He is the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research, the creator of Mathematica and Wolfram Alpha, and the author of A New Kind of Science. Full transcript available at: jnwpod.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #147: Forging the mRNA Revolution — Katalin Karikó

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 123:50


    Katalin Karikó is a Hungarian-American biochemist. She is one of the inventors of mRNA technology. Full transcript available at: thejspod.com. Episode recorded on 15 February 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #146: The Making of the Atomic Bomb — Richard Rhodes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 222:20


    Richard Rhodes is an American historian and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Full transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #145: An Economic Odyssey — Ken Henry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 275:09


    Dr Ken Henry is an Australian economist who served as Secretary of Australia's Treasury from 2001 to 2011. He was instrumental in helping Australia avoid recession during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis — Australia was the only major advanced economy to do so. Full transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #144: The Fine Line Between Science and Fiction — Palmer Luckey

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 99:19


    Palmer Luckey is an American tech entrepreneur and billionaire. He has founded two companies: Oculus VR (acquired by Facebook for $2 billion in 2014), and Anduril (recently valued at $8.5 billion). He has been described as the real-life Tony Stark. Full transcript available at: www.thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #143: Dyads, And Other Mysteries — Daniel Kahneman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 73:07


    Daniel Kahneman is widely regarded as the most influential psychologist alive. He won the Nobel Prize in Economics (2002) for his work on judgment and decision-making under uncertainty, much of it done jointly with his late collaborator Amos Tversky. He is the author of the bestselling books Thinking, Fast and Slow and Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment (written with Olivier Sibony and Cass Sunstein). Full transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #142: Talent Is That Which Is Scarce — Tyler Cowen

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2022 48:21


    In the long run, talent allocation is almost everything. But as a society, we're not actually very good at it. The question of how to reliably match people with jobs they are well suited for is one of the big unsolved problems of our times.  Joe catches up with return guest Tyler Cowen to discuss the art of identifying talent. Tyler is a professor of economics at George Mason University and host of the podcast Conversations with Tyler. He is also the co-author of a new book, Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World. Full transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #141: Intellectual Exoskeletons — Andy Matuschak

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2022 128:54


    From language and writing to the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, computers and Adobe Photoshop, our species has a history of inventing tools for augmenting our own intelligence. But what comes next? Andy Matuschak is a developer and designer. He helped build iOS at Apple, founded and led Khan Academy's R&D lab, and now works as an independent researcher investigating 'tools for thought' — that is, technologies that can transform human cognition and creativity. Full episode transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #140: Rationality And Its Opposite — Steven Pinker

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 52:32


    How rational are we? How can a species smart enough to set foot on the moon also be prone to conspiracy theories that the moon landing was fake? Joe speaks with Steven Pinker to discuss rationality — and its opposite. Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He is a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, an elected to the National Academy of Sciences and one of Time‘s 100 Most Influential People. Full episode transcript available at: thejspod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #139: Against Bayesianism — David Deutsch

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 99:02


    Bayesianism, the doctrine that it's always rational to represent our beliefs in terms of probabilities, dominates the intellectual world, from decision theory to the philosophy of science. But does it make sense to quantify our beliefs about such ineffable things as scientific theories or the future? And what separates empty prophecy from legitimate prediction? David Deutsch is a British physicist at the University of Oxford, and is widely regarded as the father of quantum computing. He is the author of The Fabric of Reality (1997) and The Beginning of Infinity (2011). Full episode transcript available at:  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #138: The Lessons Of Afghanistan — William Dalrymple

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 58:12


    William Dalrymple is an acclaimed historian and writer. Show notes available at: josephnoelwalker.com/138-afghanistan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #137: The Race That Stopped The Nation — Richard Holden & Steven Hamilton

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 115:16


    Richard Holden is Professor of Economics at UNSW. Steven Hamilton is an Assistant Professor of Economics at The George Washington University. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/holden-hamilton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #136: Ergodicity — Ole Peters

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 129:23


    Ole Peters is a physicist and a Fellow at the London Mathematical Laboratory. Show notes available at: josephnoelwalker.com/136-ergodicity See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #135: The Tyranny Of Merit — Michael Sandel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 66:05


    Michael Sandel teaches political philosophy at Harvard University, where he is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government Theory. His course “Justice” is the first Harvard course to be made freely available online and on television and has been viewed by tens of millions of people around the world. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/michael-sandel

    #135: The Tyranny Of Merit — Michael Sandel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 64:50


    Michael Sandel teaches political philosophy at Harvard University, where he is the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government Theory. His course “Justice” is the first Harvard course to be made freely available online and on television and has been viewed by tens of millions of people around the world. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/michael-sandel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #134: The Spectre Of Havoc — Graham Allison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 52:58


    Graham Allison is an American political scientist and the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government Harvard University. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/graham-allison See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #134: The Spectre Of Havoc — Graham Allison

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 54:12


    Graham Allison is an American political scientist and the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government Harvard University. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/graham-allison

    #133: A General Theory of Catastrophe - Niall Ferguson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 69:52


    Niall Ferguson is one of the world's most renowned historians. He is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of sixteen books, including most recently Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/niall-ferguson

    #133: A General Theory Of Catastrophe — Niall Ferguson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2021 68:37


    Niall Ferguson is one of the world's most renowned historians. He is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of sixteen books, including most recently Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/niall-ferguson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #132: Policy In An Age Of Politics — John Hewson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2021 130:07


    John Hewson is a former Australian politician and was leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 1994. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/john-hewson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #132: Policy In An Age Of Politics - John Hewson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 131:22


    John Hewson is a former Australian politician and was leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 1994. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/john-hewson

    #131: A Practical Guide To Coping With Uncertainty — John Kay

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 35:04


    John Kay is one of Britain's leading economists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Special Shortcast: A Practical Guide To Coping With Uncertainty - John Kay

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 36:19


    John Kay is one of Britain's leading economists.

    #130: Is Science Reaching Its Limits? — John Horgan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 81:06


    John Horgan is a science journalist and Director of the Center for Science Writings at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. He was senior writer at Scientific American from 1986-1997 and is the author of the bestselling book The End of Science. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/horgan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #130: Is Science Reaching Its Limits? - John Horgan

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2021 82:20


    John Horgan is a science journalist and Director of the Center for Science Writings at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. He was senior writer at Scientific American from 1986-1997 and is the author of the bestselling book The End of Science. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/horgan

    #129: Marvellous Melbourne And Australia's Darkest Depression - Graeme Davison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 69:58


    Graeme Davison is Australia's most eminent urban historian. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/graeme-davison

    #129: Marvellous Melbourne And Australia's Darkest Depression — Graeme Davison

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 68:44


    Graeme Davison is Australia's most eminent urban historian. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/graeme-davison See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #128: A Forgotten Genius — Cheryl Misak

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2021 71:57


    Cheryl Misak is a Canadian philosopher and the author of Frank Ramsey: A Sheer Excess of Powers. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/misak See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #128: A Forgotten Genius - Cheryl Misak

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2021 73:11


    Cheryl Misak is a Canadian philosopher and the author of Frank Ramsey: A Sheer Excess of Powers. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/misak

    #127: Progress And Planet — Malcolm Turnbull

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 60:20


    Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/malcolm-turnbull See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #127: Progress And Planet - Malcolm Turnbull

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 62:35


    Malcolm Turnbull was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/malcolm-turnbull

    #126: The Craft Of Comedy And The Art Of A Lasting Partnership - Andy Lee

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 98:23


    Andy Lee is one half of iconic Australian comedy duo Hamish & Andy. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/andy-lee

    #126: The Craft Of Comedy And The Art Of A Lasting Partnership — Andy Lee

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 96:08


    Andy Lee is one half of iconic Australian comedy duo Hamish & Andy. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/andy-lee See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #125: The Reign Of Keynes, Part II — Lord Robert Skidelsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 85:14


    Robert Skidelsky, FBA is a British economic historian. He is the author of a three-volume award-winning biography of British economist John Maynard Keynes. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/skidelsky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    british fba keynes john maynard keynes robert skidelsky lord robert skidelsky
    #125: The Reign Of Keynes, Part II - Lord Robert Skidelsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2021 86:28


    Robert Skidelsky, FBA is a British economic historian. He is the author of a three-volume award-winning biography of British economist John Maynard Keynes. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/skidelsky

    british fba keynes john maynard keynes robert skidelsky lord robert skidelsky
    #124: Recollections Of A Wild Man In The Wings — Noam Chomsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 62:55


    Noam Chomsky is the father of modern linguistics and one of the most cited scholars in modern history. He is also one of the most influential public intellectuals in the world, having written more than 150 books. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/chomsky See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #124: Recollections Of A Wild Man In The Wings - Noam Chomsky

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 64:10


    Noam Chomsky is the father of modern linguistics and one of the most cited scholars in modern history. He is also one of the most influential public intellectuals in the world, having written more than 150 books. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/chomsky

    #123: There Is Such A Thing As Society — Sir Paul Collier

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 68:49


    Sir Paul Collier is a British development economist. He is currently a professor of economics at the University of Oxford and was the Director of the Development Research Group at the World Bank between 1998 and 2003. Paul has authored numerous books, including The Bottom Billion, The Plundered Planet, and The Future of Capitalism. His latest book, co-authored with John Kay, is Greed is Dead: Politics After Individualism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    director university future british society oxford capitalism greed world bank john kay bottom billion sir paul collier development research group
    #123: There Is Such A Thing As Society - Sir Paul Collier

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 70:03


    Sir Paul Collier is a British development economist. He is currently a professor of economics at the University of Oxford and was the Director of the Development Research Group at the World Bank between 1998 and 2003. Paul has authored numerous books, including The Bottom Billion, The Plundered Planet, and The Future of Capitalism. His latest book, co-authored with John Kay, is Greed is Dead: Politics After Individualism.

    director university future british society oxford capitalism greed world bank john kay bottom billion sir paul collier development research group
    #122: The Reign Of Keynes, Part I - Zach Carter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 90:35


    Zach Carter is a senior reporter at The Huffington Post and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy and the Life of John Maynard Keynes. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/zach-carter

    #122: The Reign Of Keynes, Part I — Zach Carter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 89:20


    Zach Carter is a senior reporter at The Huffington Post and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy and the Life of John Maynard Keynes. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/zach-carter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #121: The Doyen Of Behavioural Genetics On Untangling Nature And Nurture — Robert Plomin

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 85:19


    Robert Plomin is one of the world's leading behavioural geneticists. He is currently MRC Research Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    #121: The Doyen Of Behavioural Genetics On Untangling Nature And Nurture - Robert Plomin

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 86:33


    Robert Plomin is one of the world's leading behavioural geneticists. He is currently MRC Research Professor in Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London.

    #120: The Republic Is In Peril — Jack A. Goldstone

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 105:32


    Jack A. Goldstone is an American sociologist and is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts on the subject of revolutions. Full transcript available at: josephnoelwalker.com/jack-goldstone See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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