Best Alex McHugh Podcasts (2025)

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Episode #22: Marta Regn on “Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom” by Ted Chiang 1:23:33

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3d ago1:23:33

1:23:33

"Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom" on Wikipedia - note the fan art book cover Read "Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom" on Medium Or buy Exhalation: Stories, the collection containing this story The Weathering Podcast – More discussions of Earth systems, chaos, and the meaning of life from Marta, Marshall, and Alden Kierkegaard's The Concept of…

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Episode 14: The Robot and the Winding Woods by Brenda Cooper 40:28

6d ago40:28

40:28

For many years, Grace and John have maintained the Winding Woods Campground, where visitors are few but life is comfortable, quiet, and happy. Out of the blue, a robot shows up on mysterious business, testing infrastructure and examining solar generators. It demands that Grace and John leave the camp they’ve called home for thirty-two years. Discov…

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Episode #21: George Dyson on The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle 53:59

1M ago53:59

53:59

George Dyson – historian, boat maker, and volunteer Staff Historian at Radiant Earth – returns to discuss Fred Hoyle's The Black Cloud. We discuss the cultural conflicts that arise between scientists and politicians, the limits of human language, human-incomprehensible modes of communication, the inevitable benefits of creating new observing instru…

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When Real Estate Results in Total Losses: the Weird Case of Yieldstreet (Willow Wealth) 40:07

1M ago40:07

40:07

In this solo episode, George Aliferis explores the complexities and risks associated with high-yield investment platforms, focusing on Yield Street, now rebranded as Willow Wealth. Through personal investigation and a detailed case study, he uncovers how Yieldstreet’s business model potentially leads to significant losses for investors, despite att…

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Echoes of ETFs: The Coming Fixed Income Revolution 36:04

1M ago36:04

36:04

We discuss the transformative developments in the fixed income market with Blake Lynch from IMTC. Advancements in cloud computing and automation are streamlining the traditionally manual processes associated with fixed income investments, allowing for customized portfolios at scale. This has made SMA wrappers (Separately Managed Accounts) a lot mor…

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Episode 13: Lady Ballistic: Fast and Accurate Cleaning by Alex Jablokov 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

Sirina is a house cleaner who’ll take care of your typical dust, cobwebs, and all other varieties of filth, but if you’re dealing with anything that’s spilling over transdimensionally, she’s the one you’ll want to call. When a local real estate agent asks Sirina to take on her latest project, Sirina happily obliges, but quickly finds herself in a s…

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Episode #20: Mark Chambers on Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 1:36:52

2M ago1:36:52

1:36:52

Mark Chambers – my friend from high school (and former Chief Sustainability Officer of DC and NYC among other things) – joins us to discuss Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. We talk about the collision between money and science, the illusion of control, dignity, public service, how many humans there should be, why it may or may not be ok to grill, …

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Episode 12: Last Dam Standing by Dawn Vogel 17:29

3M ago17:29

17:29

Dr. Cara Blake is a retired engineer who’s been out of work for about two decades. She lives in the mountains, alone, well above the overflowing rivers that have ravaged human society, with an electric vehicle she hasn’t started in five years. During her last major project, she retrofitted an old, local dam to prevent it from collapsing under the e…

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Episode #19: Matt Price on Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 1:32:37

3M ago1:32:37

1:32:37

Matt Price – technology historian and dedicated educator – joins us to discuss Susanna Clarke's Piranesi. We talk about egos, ego death, cults, academia, Christianity, Buddhism, and psychedelics. No insights, only more questions. Show notes: Susanna Clarke's official website Piranesi on Goodreads Very Bad Wizards on Piranesi Giovanni Battista Piran…

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Agentic AI 2.0: from Efficiency to Alpha 50:08

4M ago50:08

50:08

Marco Aboav, CEO of Etna Research, delivers a contrarian take on the current state of AI and automation in financial services. The real challenge now is not technology, but change management, for operational efficiency. But not as a magic bullet for generating alpha. The real edge comes from domain expertise, data selection, and sophisticated model…

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Episode #18: Noah Iliinsky on China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh 1:13:06

4M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Noah Iliinsky – most-esteemed information visualization expert, speaker and author – joins us to discuss Maureen F. McHugh's China Mountain Zhang. We talk about what matters, heavy furniture, sensible defaults, the burdens created by unnecessarily "innovative" design, pace layering, humans as instruments, and the double diamond bike. Show notes: Bu…

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Diary of a Quant Hedge Fund - Dr Richard Saldanha 18:15

4M ago18:15

18:15

A deep dive into the inner workings of hedge funds and quantitative investing, with Dr. Richard Saldanha, a seasoned quant, former hedge fund manager, and now an academic and consultant.Richard shares stories from his career, including cautionary tales of fraud, and offers a contrarian take on the democratization of finance. Learn why adaptability,…

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Taking the Drama out of Estate Planning to Deliver More Holistic Wealth Advice - Gene Farrell, President & CEO, Vanilla 42:12

5M ago42:12

42:12

I love referring to the HBO show Succession, it’s one of the greatest dramas, I would go as far as to compare it with my all-time favourite, “The Sopranos”. And… it truly is a masterclass in how NOT to handle estate planning. Family feuds, intense legal battles, and being reckless with your assets are great for drama, but you don’t want any of that…

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Hyper-trained AI agents for private markets data | Andrea Carnelli Dompe - Tamarix Technologies 26:52

5M ago26:52

26:52

My chat with Andrea Carnelli Dompe, the founder and CEO of Tamarix Technologies, about the intersection of private market investing and AI technology. We discuss the usefulness of AI agents in helping institutional investors, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals escape the operational chaos of private markets investing. It’s also a …

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Democratizing Private Market Knowledge | Leyla Kunimoto - Accredited Investor Insights 37:41

5M ago37:41

37:41

I spoke with Leyla Kunimoto, the writer behind the Accredited Investor Insights Substack, and I finally got what it takes to “democratize private assets”. One approach is to incentivize financial advisors to distribute evergreen funds and enroll them in a 'university' established by one of the dominant firms in the market. Alternatively, you can em…

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Episode #17: Daniel X. O'Neil on The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot 1:14:15

5M ago1:14:15

1:14:15

Daniel X. O'Neil, the worldwide entertainment juggernaut of the 21st century, joins us to discuss T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land. You will learn almost nothing about The Waste Land from this discussion, but you will learn about poetry, modernism, truth, hypermedia, (the "end" of) America, and enjambment. Show notes: [T.S. Eliot reads *The Waste Land* …

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Is it possible that we're better off without ESG investing? [Remix & Reflect: Alex Edmans X James Lawrence] 16:06

6M ago16:06

16:06

Once a celebrated investment concept amassing over $50 trillion in assets, ESG is now facing criticism and skepticism. George Aliferis reflects on ESG, recalling previous podcast conversations with two experts: Alex Edmans, an academic and author, and James Lawrence, Head of Investment at Smart Pension. If it's end of ESG, is this the beginning of …

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A New Era of Wealth Management | Ross Milward - Quantifeed 38:25

6M ago38:25

38:25

I chat with Ross Milward from Quantifeed about moving beyond product sales towards a future where technology empowers investors. Today’s investors need more than a list of products—they need guidance. By integrating software solutions, the wealth management industry can align itself with the long-term goals of clients, build better portfolios and e…

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Episode #16: Alex Merose on Convenience Store Woman 1:07:45

6M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

Alex Merose extols the virtues of lazy action and calls on us to embrace Duchamp into our hearts through discussion of Sayaka Murata's Convenience Store Woman and Maurizio Lazzarato's essay "Marcel Duchamp and the Refusal of Work." We explore themes of conformity, work, resistance, lazy action, and whether or not Duchamp was right that "language wa…

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Better Outcomes For Investors with Data Management Technology | Thomas McHugh - Finbourne 39:12

6M ago39:12

39:12

Tom McHugh, the CEO and co-founder of Finbourne, shares how they are transforming financial data management to deliver better outcomes. Tom shares the complexities of managing diverse financial data sources and how Finbourne's technology aims to simplify this landscape. He explains how their unique approach helps firms maintain gross margins, reduc…

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Rethinking Pension: Income as an Outcome | Doug Brodie - Chancery Lane Income Partners 45:06

7M ago45:06

45:06

Redefining Retirement Income: Insights from Chancery Lane's CEODoug Brodie, CEO of Chancery Lane, a firm specializing in retirement income planning, discusses the evolving landscape of pension schemes. Brody critiques the industry's focus on pension pots rather than sustainable income and offers an outcome-driven approach. We also explore the mecha…

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Episode 11: It Eats Metal by Mark Ferguson 38:15

7M ago38:15

38:15

Missing dogs, bushes growing metallic berries, and university researchers vanishing without a trace. These are but some of a few incidents surrounding a swamp in northern British Columbia, where a local man believes he might be able to solve the mystery behind these strange phenomena. This is “It Eats Metal,” read and written by Mark Ferguson…

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Tech-enabled Investment Innovation for Workplace Pensions | James Lawrence - Smart Pension 38:34

7M ago38:34

38:34

How technology enables new investment strategies, the role of trustees, the impact of ESG considerations, and the role of private markets in pension portfolios. A comprehensive conversation with James Lawrence of Smart Pension about the future of pensions and how smart technologies and innovative investment practices are shaping better outcomes for…

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WTF is an Investologist? Channel Trailer 2:30

7M ago2:30

2:30

One of my previous guest (Alex Edmans) told me that this "Start with Why" (Simon Sinek) is b******t, so I didn't start with that... but I wanted to explain what I'm doing here. What's my purpose? What's unique about my approach? And what you will find on this channel?Subscribe to the newsletter: https://investorama.substack.com/Prefer audio only? h…

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Helping Employers Deliver Better Retirement Outcomes | Eve Read - Smart (pension tech) 43:20

7M ago43:20

43:20

How to address the pressing challenges facing the pension industry with technology. George Aliferis and Eve Read from Smart Pension explore the technological advancements and practical policy recommendations to improve pension outcomes. From UX, to education, communication, or "micro interventions" tune in to understand how Smart Pension is helping…

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[Reposted on 1 May 2025 as Vanguard turned 50] The Bogle Effect: How John Bogle and Vanguard Turned Wall Street Inside Out and Saved Investors Trillions - Eric Balchunas 46:24

7M ago46:24

46:24

We uncover the massive impact Jack Bogle, the titan of the investing industry, had in reshaping the investing landscapes for the better, with Eric Balchunas author of the book 'The Bogle Effect.' From revolutionizing low-cost index investing, the birth of the RIA movement, to setting the stage for the future of asset management – learn how Bogle ha…

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Episode #15: Johnny Rodgers on A Pattern Language 1:25:09

7M ago1:25:09

1:25:09

Johnny Rodgers, my friend from Tumblr (among other things), joins us to discuss Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language. We explore how Alexander's design philosophy has endured and influenced not just physical infrastructure, but also the software and algorithms that increasingly encroach on our built environment. Show notes: A Pattern Language…

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Ex-CAIA CEO Bill Kellly on Democratization, Due Diligence & that Larry Fink Letter | William J. Kelly, CAIA- Educational Alpha 41:22

8M ago41:22

41:22

Bill Kelly, CAIA former CAIA CEO, returns to discuss his new venture, Educational Alpha. Bill and George explore the importance of financial education, the perils of democratizing investment products, and the role of long-term thinking in retirement planning. Bill also shares insights into his podcasting journey and highlights the significance of d…

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Episode #14: George Dyson on Childhood's End 1:25:30

8M ago1:25:30

1:25:30

I had the pleasure of recording this on-site with George in his Bellingham workshop (a former tavern). I experimented with having Claude write shownotes for this episode, and it proposed this as a "key theme" of our discussion: "The parallels between Clarke's Overlords and modern artificial intelligence as agents of human transformation." This is a…

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The Business of Financial Markets Data | Matt Ober - General Partner, Social Leverage (ex-Bloomberg, ex-HF, now VC) 39:48

8M ago39:48

39:48

Matt Ober, CAIA shares his journey from data scientist at Bloomberg to becoming the head of data strategy at a hedge fund, and later transitioning into venture capital with Social Leverage. We discuss into the expanding role of data in financial services, the strategies employed by hedge funds, and the future of alternative data. A rare opportunity…

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A Reality Check on AI: Hype & Applications | Dr. Richard Saldanha - ex. Hedge Fund, University Lecturer in Machine Learning, Board Member & Adviser 30:13

8M ago30:13

30:13

A reality-check on the AI hype, with a world-renowned Ai and Machine Learning specialist, mathematician, academic and ex-hedge fund manager: Dr Richard Saldanha. "I don't believe that artificial intelligence exists at this precise moment in time, but that's a hard definition." LINKS Richard on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oxquant-richard-s…

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[REPOSTED: Nvidia GTC special] AI in Investment Management | Pahal Patangia - Nvidia (recorded in March 2022) 40:32

9M ago40:32

40:32

A conversation between George Aliferis and Pahal Patangia, Global Developer Relations Lead, Consumer Fintech at NVIDIA recorded at the same time as Nvidia's 2022 GTC conference Pahal explains how fintech startups can evolve their data science program. We also go through various applications with real-life examples from Square, Venmo, Ping An, Allia…

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[Finovate Special 4/4] Navigating Financial Promotions in the Finfluencer Era with AI | Sage Franch - PromoComply 10:27

9M ago10:27

10:27

Explore the evolving landscape of financial promotions and the challenges faced by companies in staying compliant with stringent regulations. A discussion with Sage Franch, CEO and Co-founder of Promo Comply at Finovate Europe. Discover how AI tools can streamline marketing efforts, mitigate compliance risks, and foster trust among investors and re…

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[Finovate Special 3/4] Create Investment Memos in Minutes with your own AI | Sachin Rege - Moonjelly AI 8:39

9M ago8:39

8:39

We discuss how generative AI platform empowers businesses to harness their data and algorithms securely and facilitate the investment research process. It's also a broader reflection on AI fintech startups. LINKS Moonjelly AIhttps://www.jellyfishlabs.ai/ 📩 George's Investment Management Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3AxnyTY (Free) 🎧 Audio Podcast: htt…

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[Finovate Special 2/4] A New Era of AI-Powered Wealth Managers | Arianna Colombo - MDOTM 8:05

9M ago8:05

8:05

Discover how a modern tech platform integrates traditional market data with AI to provide investment signals, optimize investments, and automate reporting in wealth management. Learn about the impact of generative AI in transforming the financial industry and why confidence in AI has surged, enabling rapid growth and better adaptation within firms.…

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[Finovate Special 1/4] AI Agents to Fight Financial Crime (and Reduce the $200bn Compliance Bill) | Darren Douglas - Regsearch AI 11:44

9M ago11:44

11:44

Darren Douglas, founder and CEO of RegSearch AI, explains the challenge of regulatory compliance, which costs over $200bn to the financial industry and the role of AI regulatory compliance agents. Darren explains the need for AI proprietary models that ensure data security and transparency and explains how AI agents can read, understand, and map re…

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Episode #13: Keith Garrett on The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling 1:25:29

9M ago1:25:29

1:25:29

Keith Garrett, coy technologist, father, and former marine, comes on to discuss Ted Chiang's masterful "The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling." We talk about the benefits of forgetfulness, the limits of attention, the difficulty of assessing the benfits of cognitively affecting technologies, biases, colonialism, religion, and traffic. Show notes:…

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Quant Trading: from Data to Alpha | Marco Aboav, Etna Research: Marco Aboav - Etna Research 53:39

9M ago53:39

53:39

An exploration of how quant hedge funds strategically source and use data to fulfil their ultimate goal of alpha generation. Marco Aboav, ex-hedge fund manager and CEO of Etna Research unveils how the most sophisticated asset managers build a sustainable trading advantage. USEFUL LINKS Etna Research: https://www.etnaresearch.com/ Marco on Linkedin:…

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The Tech Connecting Pensions to the Assets they Need | Hugh Cutler, Mobius Life 42:09

10M ago42:09

42:09

We explore the tech that improves pension outcomes behind the curtain with Hugh Cutler, CCO of Mobius Life. In this episode, Hugh shares his journey from actuary to investment management, the role of technology and regulation in pensions, and how Mobius Life is making efficient, cost-effective, and diversified investment solutions accessible for be…

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Understanding the Pension System: an Investment Management Perspective- with Alyshia Harrington-Clark from the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association 46:13

10M ago46:13

46:13

I will updat this laterExplore the evolving nature of the pension system, the impact of demographic changes, and the role of technology in making pension management more efficient. Discover how the pension landscape in the UK is adapting to new challenges and opportunities, and what the future might hold for workers and retirees alike. With Alyshia…

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Episode 10: Second Chance by Sakinah Hofler 15:19

10M ago15:19

15:19

After Toya Smith is killed by police during a traffic stop, doctors at a unique facility manage to preserve her consciousness and transfer it to a new body that should resemble her old one. Only her new body isn’t the one she expected or wanted. How will Toya adjust to her new life in a body so different from the one she’d lived in her whole life? …

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Episode #12: Gina Trapani on Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow 1:21:10

10M ago1:21:10

1:21:10

Gina Trapani, exemplary human and champion of good things on the web, comes on to talk about Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. We talk about creating universes, friendship, parenthood, all kidns of relationships, play, vulnerability, loving the web, the beauty of being bad at doing things, blank white boards, and learning a l…

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The End of ESG - with Alex Edmans (author of Grow The Pie & May Contain Lies) 8:10

11M ago8:10

8:10

Welcome to the podcast that’s now called Investology. This new name reflects the changes that I felet were needed for 2025 onwards. A new year that feels like a new era in the investment world based on the news this January probably not the era we want, but we can learn to adapt and thrive. Many investment podcasts, that talk about macro, micro or …

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Investing in a Post Truth World - with Alex Edmans (Author of May Contain Lies) 14:28

11M ago14:28

14:28

How stories, statistics and studies exploit our biases as investors — and what we can do about it. Tune in for an enlightening discussion with Alex Edmans, on enhancing your critical thinking skills applied to investing. Alex's website: https://maycontainlies.com/ Alex Edmans is Professor of Finance at London Business School. His TED talk ‘What to …

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Episode #11: Nathaniel Raymond on Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation 1:11:20

12M ago1:11:20

1:11:20

Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, joins me to talk about Francis Ford Coppola's masterful 1974 film, The Conversation. Nathaniel makes a compelling argument that the movie was a history of the future – with Coppola accurately documenting the profound shift that surveillance t…

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Episode #10: Mark Coatney on A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin 1:31:27

1y ago1:31:27

1:31:27

Mark Coatney, long-suffering digital media pioneer (Time! Newsweek! Tumblr! Al Jazeera!), gets me to finally read a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin and I loved it. Topics include our changing world, what the world is for, preindustrial longing, why we should maybe recognize that media companies are ephemeral things, the pitfalls of power, lame AI, float…

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Pension Reform Dreams & Investment Realities (recorded prior to the UK Chancellor Mansion House Speech announcing a UK pension overhaul) 9:19

1y ago9:19

9:19

We dive into the intricate world of pension funds, featuring an insightful discussion with Alishya Hartington Clark, a DC (Defined Contribution) specialist from the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association. The conversation, recorded on November 11th, precedes a major announcement by the new Chancellor regarding significant pension reforms. We expl…

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Every company CAN become a fintech company | Lars Markull - Embedded Finance Review 32:29

1y ago32:29

32:29

In this rebirth of the FinTech Files podcast, George Aliferis speaks to Lars Markull about embedded finance, discussing its progression, challenges, and potential future developments. The conversation covers notable examples such as Shopify and Starbucks which show successful integration of financial services to enhance customer value. Lars touches…

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Episode #9: Esther Dyson on Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and Spike Jonze’s Her 1:20:49

1y ago1:20:49

1:20:49

Esther Dyson, whose bio defies summarization (and who happens to be sister of previous guest George Dyson), discusses Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and Spike Jonze's Her. We discuss the substance of life, bioethics, why our senses aren't always reliable, institutions and culture, predatory business models, child labor, mortality, building commu…

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Episode 9: Bad Cop, No Donut - by Ryan Hunke read by Glen Melin 30:07

1y ago30:07

30:07

When two South Philly cops walk into a Nepalese bakery, one starts grilling the owner, Missus Singh, about rogue robots that might be helping her, while the other can’t stop thinking about how good a bear claw would be right about now. Will this good cop/bad cop duo discover the secret behind Missus Singh’s scrumptious sweets? Tune in to hear the c…