Debunking Economics Podcast
Hosted by Debunking Economics
An economist and a journalist dismantle mainstream economic theories, explaining why they fail to describe the real world of debt and money.
This is a structured dialogue between a journalist and a heterodox economist designed to make complex, non-mainstream economic ideas accessible. Phil Dobbie introduces a current news topic—like central bank digital currencies, interest rate hikes, or climate policy—and Steve Keen uses it as a case study to dismantle the underlying neoclassical economic theory. The show functions as a recurring, long-form argument for a 'realistic economics' that properly accounts for money, debt, and energy.
“The show's core dynamic—a skilled journalist (Dobbie) systematically drawing out the complex theories of an expert economist (Keen)—is its standout feature. Unlike solo lectures or panel debates, Dobbie's role as a structured interrogator and translator ensures Keen's academic critiques remain grounded and comprehensible, making heterodox economics accessible without oversimplifying it.”
Who hosts this show
The Debunking Economics Podcast features post-Keynesian economist Steve Keen and journalist Phil Dobbie in a weekly conversation. Dobbie, acting as the audience's proxy, questions Keen about the failings of neoclassical economics and its real-world consequences on topics like inflation, climate change, and financial instability. Keen, a long-time critic of mainstream theory, provides an alternative, systems-based perspective rooted in the dynamics of money and debt.
Credentials & credits
- Steve Keen: PhD in Economics, University of New South Wales.
- Steve Keen: Distinguished Research Fellow, University College London (UCL).
- Steve Keen: Author of "Debunking Economics" and "The New Economics: A Manifesto".
- Steve Keen: Winner of the Revere Award for predicting the 2008 financial crisis.
- Phil Dobbie: Journalist and radio broadcaster (BBC, ZDNet).
- Phil Dobbie: Former senior marketing/management at Telstra and OzEmail.
Other ventures
- Steve Keen: Creator of the 'Minsky' economic modeling software.
- Steve Keen: Crowdfunded research via Patreon.
- Steve Keen: 'Steve Keen's Debtwatch' blog.
- Phil Dobbie: Host of 'The Why Curve' podcast.
- Phil Dobbie: Host of 'The Morning Call' finance podcast for NAB.
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01351. Why do central banks want digital currencies?Jun 29, 2026 · 34 min
- 02350. HANK or RANK – how monetary policy works, or doesn’tJun 28, 2026 · 39 min
- 03349. The Fast Road to Net ZeroJun 27, 2026 · 42 min
- 04348. Rate rises and inequalityJun 26, 2026 · 37 min
- 05347. Immigration. Good or bad?Jun 25, 2026 · 39 min
- 06The world’s anti-migration shift to the rightJun 23, 2026 · 47 min
- 07346. What will all this inflation do to us?Jun 23, 2026 · 32 min
- 08345. QE and the bond bubbleJun 22, 2026 · 38 min
Notable episodes
- 01350. HANK or RANK – how monetary policy works, or doesn’t
A prime example of the show's format, where the hosts break down obscure but influential economic models to explain their real-world impact.
- 02349. The Fast Road to Net Zero
Showcases the format with an external guest, where an engineer's optimistic view on climate solutions is debated against the co-host's economic pessimism.
- 03351. Why do central banks want digital currencies?
A timely episode that demonstrates the show's core thesis: questioning the stated motives of central banks and exposing the underlying economic mechanics.
What you'll be asked on this show
The show's primary format is not guest interviews, but rather journalist Phil Dobbie interviewing co-host Steve Keen. Dobbie's style is to pose a broad, topical question, then guide Keen's expansive, theoretical answers back to the concrete and practical. He frequently summarizes Keen's points to ensure clarity before moving to a follow-up question. When a rare external guest is featured, Dobbie moderates, often framing questions by contrasting the guest's perspective with Keen's established views, while Keen engages more as a peer-level debater.
The show is a co-hosted chat where Phil Dobbie acts as the moderator and Steve Keen is the resident expert. Dobbie typically opens with a question tied to current events, which serves as a launchpad for Keen's detailed critique of mainstream economic models. The conversation often uses analogies, such as Monty Python sketches, to illustrate the absurdity of certain economic assumptions.
Questions Debunking Economics keeps coming back to
8 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Debunking Economics reaches for it.
process
2- Q.01
“Can you explain what [economic model/term] means?”
Phil often asks for definitions of jargon like 'RANK and HANK models' to make the technical discussion accessible.
- Q.02
“What would a [hypothetical scenario] actually look like?”
This grounds an abstract discussion in a concrete example, such as asking what a zero-emissions Switzerland would entail.
origin
1- Q.01
“Why are central banks rushing to do [X]?”
This question opens discussions on policy motives, such as the push for Central Bank Digital Currencies.
controversy
2- Q.01
“Doesn't [current policy] have unequal effects on society?”
Used to initiate a critique of the distributional consequences of policies like interest rate hikes.
- Q.02
“Why are we, as a society, willing to take this risk?”
Probes the political and psychological barriers behind what the hosts see as irrational policy decisions, especially on climate.
future
1- Q.01
“Is [stated goal] actually achievable?”
A direct, skeptical question to challenge the feasibility of ambitious projects like a rapid transition to net-zero.
money
1- Q.01
“What is the real-world impact of this, beyond just the numbers?”
This type of question pushes the conversation from abstract theory to tangible effects, like how rate hikes affect mortgage holders.
personal
1- Q.01
“If you were in charge, would you take the job?”
A personal question asked near the end to get Steve Keen's perspective on the possibility of institutional change.
Signature segments
- · Phil Dobbie (journalist) questions Steve Keen (economist)
- · Using analogies to explain complex economic concepts
- · Critiquing mainstream economic responses to news events
- · Intro/outro music with female announcer
- · Connecting modern economic problems to flawed theories
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
When guests appear, they are typically technical experts or scientists, like engineer Harold Desing, who can provide a non-economic, data-driven perspective on a topic. They are brought in to either challenge or provide empirical support for Steve Keen's arguments, particularly on subjects like climate change and energy.
- Harold Desingon 349. The Fast Road to Net Zero
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The evidence reviewed contained no mention of sponsors or advertisements. The hosts note that the podcast was previously supported via Steve Keen's Patreon account.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Debunking Economics
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts?
- The podcast is hosted by economist Steve Keen and journalist Phil Dobbie.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It's a weekly co-hosted discussion where Phil Dobbie interviews Steve Keen, using current events to critique mainstream economic theory. They occasionally feature guest experts.
- What is 'Debunking Economics' about?
- The show critiques neoclassical economics, arguing it fails to account for the crucial roles of money, debt, and energy in the real economy.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, it is an active podcast releasing episodes on a near-daily or weekly basis.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major podcast platforms and has an official website with episode archives.
- Who is Steve Keen?
- Steve Keen is a post-Keynesian economist, author, and Distinguished Research Fellow at UCL, known for his critiques of mainstream economics and for predicting the 2008 financial crisis.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Steve Keen - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [02]About the podcast | Debunking Economicsdebunking-economics.com
- [03]Steve Keen - Institute for New Economic Thinkingineteconomics.org
- [04]Steve Keen Biography | Booking Infoallamericanspeakers.com
- [05]Minsky download | SourceForge.netsourceforge.net
- [06]Phil Dobbie | Meet the Team - ZDNETzdnet.com
- [07]The New Economics: A Manifesto - Politypolitybooks.com
- [08]Debunking Economics - the podcast (Official Site)debunking-economics.com
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