Best Point Counterpoints Podcasts (2026)

1
Our Year Ahead views – points and counterpoints 41:01

Play Pause

20d ago41:01

41:01

Year ahead themes and where we could be wrong Earlier this month, BofA Global Research published a note with 10 of the key views outlined in 2026 macro Year Ahead reports. This podcast features seven strategists and economists discussing certain of those themes and offering the primary risks to the views that they foresee. We start with our view on…

1
US labor market 20:14

2h ago20:14

20:14

Please join Ralf Preusser in conversation with Aditya Bhave and Mark Cabana after the US labor market report. The team will discuss the US payroll print in detail and give their thoughts on what this is likely to mean for the Fed and the US rate market. We will also elaborate on what we have learnt about the US economy over the holidays and why thi…

1
Lithium still charged even as US EV ambitions fade; getting to know phosphate 23:31

1h ago23:31

23:31

Eyes off US roads to understand lithium demand It may have seemed as though 2025 would have been a challenging year for lithium but North American electric vehicle production accounted for only about 10% of the global total, even prior to the expiration of the $7500 subsidy. That's one reason that equities tied to the metal have fared well. Chinese…

1
ICYMI | Twitter Is Dead (Really, We Mean It) 51:42

8d ago51:42

51:42

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by The Atlantic staff writer and host of the Galaxy Brain podcast, Charlie Warzel. Charlie has been following the demise of Twitter, now called X, since Elon Musk took over in 2022. While many of Musk’s decisions have prompted people to declare the end of the app, the introduction of a new location fe…

1
ICYMI | Encore: Jubilee Is Making Debating Worse 51:19

18d ago51:19

51:19

On today’s encore episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by Slate staff writer Aymann Ismail to discuss the controversial YouTube channel, Jubilee. A video of political commentator Mehdi Hasan debating 20 far-right republicans has gone viral, but as Ismail argues in his piece for Slate, it also crossed a line. When political disagre…

1
ICYMI | Side-Eyeing at H Mart 46:58

17d ago46:58

46:58

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by comedian and writer Youngmi Mayer to talk about a controversy that’s divided TikTok: How should Asian people feel about white people in Asian grocery stores? That’s the question creator Madeline Qi didn’t even mean to ask when she posted her now-viral video, which resulted in call-outs, doxxing, an…

1
Technicals for 2026 16:22

17d ago16:22

16:22

Please join Ralf Preusser in conversation with Paul Ciana. Paul will talk through his views for 2026 across rates, FX, commodities and equities. Paul will also outline how to use technical analysis and leverage multiple indicators, methodologies, tools, sentiment, and positioning to come up with his high conviction views. You may also enjoy listeni…

1
Central Bank Bonanza 18:49

24d ago18:49

18:49

Ralf Preusser is joined in discussion by Adarsh Sinha and Mark Cabana. We will review the outlook for US rates and the US dollar after this week's FOMC meeting. We also analyse the motivation and implications behind the Fed’s new Reserve Management Purchases. Finally, we will also discuss the dramatic repricing of the policy outlook for the RBA, pr…

1
No sunset for solar in powering data centers 24:54

25d ago24:54

24:54

Solar, Storage, and Nuclear: The Next Clean Tech Wave Surging AI demand is creating volatility and speed-to-power challenges, while grid delays push onsite generation forward. Our Clean Tech Symposium highlighted a major shift in data center power strategies, with the percentage of facilities using onsite gas potentially doubling in the short term.…

1
ICYMI | Shopping on Etsy Sucks Now 53:13

27d ago53:13

53:13

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by senior reporter at Bloomberg Businessweek, Amanda Mull, to talk about how the enshittification of online shopping came for Etsy. The platform used to be a thoughtful reprieve from the cheap, mass-produced products on Amazon, but now it’s plagued by a number of the same problems. With cheap junk and…

1
Year ahead in global inflation markets 17:00

28d ago17:00

17:00

Mark Capleton (Global Head of Inflation Linked Strategy) and Meghan Swiber (Senior US Rates Strategist) join for a discussion on what to expect for inflation markets next year. In the US, we see value in real yield with inflation is still above Fed target and cuts expected. Cross market, we think the spread between Euro and US inflation priced too …

1
ICYMI | Okay. Let’s Talk About "Everyone" Getting Skinny 59:14

1M ago59:14

59:14

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by culture writer Mikala Jamison to talk about the rise in online concern about celebrities’ bodies. Mikala writes the newsletter Body Type, and her forthcoming book The Forever Project details her recovery from an eating disorder. Following the premiere of movies like Wicked: For Good, fan concern an…

1
ICYMI | Everyone Online Is Going Analog 50:33

1M ago50:33

50:33

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by creator and social media manager Carmen Vicente to chat about the rise of offline hobbies, and how crafts, DVDs, and something called an “analog bag” are being used as acts of rebellion against an overly plugged-in society. But does this really mean the beginning of the end of social media? Probably…

1
Spiffy new bag for some, shaggy couch for others – latest wage and spend trends 19:39

2M ago19:39

19:39

Overall spending remains resilient, lux. spend rebounding David Tinsley, Senior Economist at the Bank of America Institute (not part of BofA Global Research) joins to discuss the latest Institute employment and spend data. The Institute data suggests payroll growth held steady in Sep and Oct, though it has clearly slowed since early 2025. David off…

1
US labor market edition 17:23

2M ago17:23

17:23

The longest ever US government shutdown has ended after 43 days. The reopening sees the resumption of US data releases, with the September labor market report released on Thursday. We review what we have learnt from the report, as well as the claims data that is also now being published. We discuss what this means for the US rates market and the US…

1
ICYMI | AI Is Changing How We Have Sex 48:54

2M ago48:54

48:54

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by porn historian Noelle Perdue, author of the Porn World newsletter. OpenAI announced that they’d allow adult users to have erotic conversations with ChatGPT, just one more way AI and porn are becoming intertwined. As sex becomes more online, not only does it become more solitary, but also more survei…

1
Paging Doctor Disruption. . . AI attending over healthcare transformation 25:43

2M ago25:43

25:43

Healthcare's need for efficiencies clear, finally happening AI has held promise within the healthcare industry for a few years, but Alec Stranahan suggests that the rate and breadth of AI adoption across the industry is growing at a faster pace than ever before. As users of the U.S. healthcare system can attest, there are many inefficiencies and we…

1
Efforts to make rare earths less rare domestically bulldoze ahead 20:46

2M ago20:46

20:46

Investments from the US gov't make this time different The recent US-China agreement may secure short-term access for rare earth elements, but it doesn't alter the strategic need for domestic supply chains. Lawson and Michael highlight the complexity, cost, and time required to build out mining, midstream, and magnet-making capacity, highlighting t…

1
ICYMI | The Two Internet Villains Staging a Comeback 49:04

2M ago49:04

49:04

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by New York Magazine feature writer, Rebecca Jennings, to discuss the two internet villains currently trying to get back in the internet’s good graces. First, there’s former Try Guy Ned Fulmer, who was ousted from the group after having an affair with an employee, and has now relaunched his YouTube cha…

1
UK budget 16:26

2M ago16:26

16:26

The budget is the main event risk for the UK market. We discuss what we expect Chancellor Reeves to deliver, what this means for the Bank of England, Gilt issuance, rate markets and the currency. You may also enjoy listening to the Merrill Perspectives podcast, featuring conversations on the big stories, news and trends affecting your everyday fina…

1
ICYMI | Yes, Having a Boyfriend Is Embarrassing 49:21

2M ago49:21

49:21

On today’s episode host Kate Lindsay is joined by writer and content creator Josh Lora, who also goes by TellTheBees. Josh’s Substack essay, Boyfriendland, was cited in the viral Vogue article written by Chanté Joseph, “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” Many women are hiding their boyfriends online, or losing followers if they hard-launch. S…

1
IEEPA and Refunding 17:04

2M ago17:04

17:04

Tariffs imposed under the International Emergency and Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) account for about 9.5pp of our estimated 14.7pp effective tariff rate after the reduction in fentanyl tariffs on China. Therefore, the Supreme Court's decision could have important implications for activity, inflation, deficits, debt, interest rates, and the dollar. W…

1
FOMC, ECB Meeting Takeaways 17:45

2M ago17:45

17:45

We discuss the FOMC rate and QT decisions. US front-end rates now look much more fairly priced. QT decision disappointed us and we remain concerned about US funding markets. ECB meeting was a non-event, but Euro Area data surprises on both activity and inflation mean that the hawks will likely retain the narrative into the December meeting. We outl…

1
ICYMI | TwitchCon’s Sexual Harassment Problem 50:40

3M ago50:40

50:40

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by writer and streamer Laura Kate Dale to talk about what happened to Emiru at this year’s TwitchCon. The streamer was assaulted during a meet-and-greet, after a number of female streamers had already dropped out of the convention in fear for their safety. What is it about TwitchCon that makes creator…

1
Reconciling stingy labor markets and generous spend 16:45

3M ago16:45

16:45

Years of equity gains has wealth effect bolstering spend Aggregate consumer data remains solid despite signs of a slowdown in labor markets. Declining labor supply accounts for some of the labor weakness but other metrics, including the ratio of job vacancies to unemployment, suggest softness in demand as well. We examine why consumption has held u…

1
ICYMI | The Streamer and the Shock Collar 42:11

3M ago42:11

42:11

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate staff writer Luke Winkie to talk about Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who some viewers have accused of shocking his dog on his livestream. Winkie spent time with Piker and his dog, Kaya, for Slate earlier this year, and helps debunk the misinformation currently being spread by cloutchasers and …

1
ICYMI | Stop Trying To Make A.I. Trendy 42:20

3M ago42:20

42:20

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay get into tech’s latest effort to turn A.I. into a status symbol. Anthropic has been pushing “Thinking” caps into the trendy streets of New York. OpenAI has been handing out awards for power users akin to YouTube subscriber plaques. But one of the worst offenders is Friend, a $129 wearable necklace that spent a million d…

1
Yellow gold faces flashing amber; black gold eventually sees green 23:03

3M ago23:03

23:03

Electrification requires copper but supply picture is dim The outlook for oil prices is bearish in the near term owing to excess supply, but beyond that, prices should firm as supply growth slows. Between geopolitics, economic growth and the dollar, there are plausible scenarios for both higher and lower oil, which Francisco discusses in some detai…

1
ICYMI | Podcaster Theo Von Is A Manosphere Mystery 48:16

3M ago48:16

48:16

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by culture writer Aja Romano to try to make sense of Theo Von. Von was one of the podcasters credited with helping Donald Trump win the election, but in recent months, he’s deviated from the administration when it comes to his views on ICE raids and the war in Gaza. Who is Theo Von, …

1
ICYMI | Taylor Swift Is Rewriting Her Internet History 45:42

3M ago45:42

45:42

Kate Lindsay and Candice Lim wade through the negative reactions to Taylor Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl. From outdated meme references to clunky shots at other female artists, Swift’s album indicates an oddly distant relationship with the internet. However, is she a devious online mastermind or a blundering millennial? Plus, why it’s import…

1
APAC markets; AI not yet boosting profits today, helps structural case tomorrow 21:03

3M ago21:03

21:03

Takeaways from our inaugural APAC Conference BofA Global Research hosted its inaugural APAC Conference earlier this month. Timing was opportune. The Chinese CSI 300 Equity Index has outperformed the S&P year-to-date, following years in which the opposite was true and that's helped to pique investor interest. Over 1,200 investors and 300 corporates …

1
ICYMI | Jimmy Kimmel & The Death Of Free Speech Online 52:27

4M ago52:27

52:27

On today’s episode, hosts Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay are joined by Spitfire News writer Kat Tenbarge to discuss how reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death are prompting us to reexamine free speech. In her piece, “Is anyone going to defend free speech online?” she explains how this right has long been under threat. From legal challenges to biased algor…

1
ICYMI | Hank Green Started a War With Knitters 45:09

4M ago45:09

45:09

Candice Lim and Kate Lindsay break down the drama between Vlogbrothers star Hank Green and the online knitting community. Earlier this month, Green posted an educational SciShow episode about the knitting community’s contribution to physics. What the SciShow team didn’t expect were almost 30-minute long reaction videos and accusations of belittling…

1
ICYMI | Nobody Wants To Party Anymore 44:50

4M ago44:50

44:50

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by sociologist and content creator Josh Lora, who goes by @tellthebeees on TikTok and Substack. In his viral piece, “The Mainstreaming of Loserdom,” Lora explores how a generation of people is becoming proudly anti-social, often in favor of staying home on their phones. While less and less people may …