Sam Bankman-Fried was the poster child for effective altruism. Before his arrest, he had done more than anyone to promote the movement. Today, no one has done more damage. Yet, in Silicon Valley, EAs (as adherents are known) are everywhere. Should you worry that a philosophy that inspired the man behind one of America’s largest frauds has taken root in the world’s most important firms? We ask Bankman-Fried himself. We also speak to one of the founding fathers of the EA movement.

Guests and hosts:

• Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of FTX
• Toby Ord, co-founder of Giving What We Can
• Shera Avi-Yonah, The Economist’s US business correspondent
• Ethan Wu, co-host of “Money Talks”
• Alice Fulwood, co-host of “Money Talks”

Topics covered:

• Effective Altruism
• AI
• Silicon Valley

Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.

For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.

It’s that time of year again. An economist gets a call from Sweden–and we then badger them to speak to us. We’re pleased to say Michael Woodford, who shared the award with Robert Hall, returned our call. The prize committee credited the duo with rebuilding macroeconomics on “microfoundations”: representing economic outcomes as the result of the behaviour of individuals and businesses. On this week’s show, Mr Woodford explains his theory.

Guests and hosts:

• Michael Woodford, Columbia University
• Henry Curr, The Economist’s acting business affairs editor
• Alice Fulwood, co-host of “Money Talks”
• Ethan Wu, co-host of “Money Talks”

Topics covered:

• Nobel prize for economics
• Economic theory
• New Keynesian economics

Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.

Investors have a big problem. Their sharpest tool, diversification, is getting blunter. And one possible culprit may surprise you: Donald Trump. A growing number of investors blame populist politicians for upending the world order and ruining the logic behind their most important strategies. Are they right?

Guests and hosts:

• Ed Cole, of Man Group
• Josh Roberts, The Economist’s acting Britain editor
• Alice Fulwood, co-host of “Money Talks”
• Ethan Wu, co-host of “Money Talks”

Topics covered:

• Populism
• Investment strategies
• Inflation

Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts.

Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.