Read in December 2021. In this last episode, Noel explores the tangled legacy of liberalism, socialism, and conservatism—and how their modern mutations into ideological extremes like neoliberalism and neo-socialism have distorted their original insights. From the rise of influence-peddling and the monetisation of public services, to the failings of identity-based politics and the urgent need for a renewed focus on equality of opportunity, this is a critique of neoliberal excess and a call for principled, inclusive reform. Featuring reflections on capitalism’s moral case, the corruption of public interest, and the path forward for progressive policy grounded in need—not identity—this episode dives deep into the soul of democratic society.

Read in December 2021. In this episode, Noel explores the intellectual and political revolution of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), tracing its origins from the dominance of neoliberal thought shaped by elite institutions like the Chicago School, Harvard Business School, and France’s École Nationale d’Administration. Economist William Mitchell, a key architect of MMT, offers a powerful critique of the myths surrounding government spending, debt, and deficits. Noel delves into how MMT reframes fiscal capacity, challenges orthodox assumptions about inflation and employment, and presents a transformative vision for economic justice—especially for those excluded by the status quo. From buffer stocks of wool to a universal job guarantee, this is a story about economic truths long hidden, and the need to rethink the purpose of public policy.

Read in December 2021. In this episode, Noel explores the enduring dominance—and mounting contradictions—of neoliberal economic thinking. From the rise of Hayek and Friedman to the persistent ghost of Keynes, Noel traces how economic orthodoxy sidelined democratic debate and humanist values. Drawing on thinkers like John Ralston Saul and Iain McGilchrist, the chapter broadens to a critique of reason's tyranny in Western thought, the financialisation of capitalism, and the collapse of shared prosperity. Is liberal economics at a dead end, and what comes next?