Ben Yeoh Chats

About Ben Yeoh Chats

Ben Yeoh chats to a variety of thinkers and doers about their curiosities, ideas and passions. If you are curious about the world this show is for you. I have extended conversations across humanities and science with artists, philosophers, writers, theatre makers, activists, economists and all walks of life. Disclaimer: Personal podcast, no organisational affiliation or endorsement.

Publisher

Benjamin Yeoh

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Apr 2021

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

93 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Alex Petropoulos: Europe 2031, Can Europe Keep Up with AI?

   What if Europe falls behind in AI? Alex Petropoulos is Chief of Staff at Arq Foundation and co-author of Europe 2031, a speculative story about Europe's future in a world transformed by artificial intelligence. We discuss why speculative fiction might change policy more effectively than conventional reports, whether AI computing power will become scarce or abundant, and how Europe can compete with the US and China while preserving its values. We explore AI risks, scientific breakthroughs, what becomes scarce when intelligence is abundant, and why institutions need to become better at taking risks and measuring progress. Along the way, we discuss what competitive Overwatch taught Alex about teamwork, how he thinks and writes with AI, and what an ordinary Tuesday in a better future might look like. Episode page, links and full transcript: https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2026/10/18/alex-petropoulos-europe-2031-ai-power-and-the-future-we-actually-want (https://www.thendobetter.com/arts/2026/10/18/alex-petropoulos-europe-2031-ai-power-and-the-future-we-actually-want) Contents: 00:00 Europe 2031 and the future of AI 04:01 Why speculative fiction works 10:53 European values and AI competition 20:09 Democracy, speed and institutional reform 25:24 AI catastrophic risks 29:52 Scientific breakthroughs and the limits of AI 36:53 Rethinking a European CERN for AI 43:01 ARIA and ambitious science 48:14 Bottlenecks and comparative advantage 50:40 Overwatch, teamwork and leadership 57:24 Writing and thinking with AI 01:01:22 Overrated / Underrated 01:06:24 A future worth wanting

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Alex Edmans: When Are Markets Really Irrational?

   When is the market genuinely irrational, and when have you simply failed to understand what the market understands? Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School and author of The Madness of Markets, joins me to talk about market psychology, stories, bubbles and what behavioural finance can actually teach investors. Alex explains his research showing that stock markets tend to fall after a country is knocked out of the World Cup, even though a football result should have little effect on corporate profits. From there we ask what really counts as market “madness”, why collective beliefs can sustain the value of assets such as gold and crypto, and how markets can show both short-term momentum and longer-term reversal. We also discuss why investors still struggle to value intangibles such as culture and employee satisfaction; how share prices can change corporate decisions rather than simply reflect them; and whether professional investors are actually less biased than everyone else. Alex is candid about his own mistakes. He talks about a failed investment in a fitness start-up, the one-minute delay he put on his email outbox to counter his tendency to interpret messages negatively, and why he deliberately seeks out people and evidence that challenge what he already believes. We also cover Neil Woodford, cognitive diversity, sustainability and ESG, misinformation, AI, deep work and Alex’s creative process. At the heart of the conversation is a difficult investing question: if you think the market is wrong, what evidence would convince you that it is actually you who is wrong? Contents 00:00 Meet Alex Edmans 00:35 When are markets really irrational? 01:29 Football results and investor sentiment 07:47 Stories, narratives and bubbles 12:33 Momentum, reversal and behavioural finance 16:17 Why markets misprice intangibles 24:07 How prices change real decisions 33:02 Are professional investors less biased? 39:55 Alex’s failed start-up investment 43:03 Rethinking sustainability 47:48 Overrated / Underrated 56:06 Social media and AI 01:00:06 Deep work and creativity 01:03:36 Final advice Transcript, links and key takeaways: www.thendobetter.com/investing/2026/9/18/alex-edmans-the-madness-of-markets-when-are-markets-really-irrational (http://www.thendobetter.com/investing/2026/9/18/alex-edmans-the-madness-of-markets-when-are-markets-really-irrational)

3. 

   4 Sept 2026

   Fuchsia Dunlop: Five Tastes, Chinese Cooking, Flavour and Balance

   Fuchsia Dunlop returns to the podcast to discuss Five Tastes: The Magic of Flavour in the Chinese Kitchen. We explore how Chinese cooking thinks about taste, balance and texture: from běnwèi, the essential flavour of an ingredient, and xiānwèi, umami, to qīngdàn, the light, understated dishes that balance a meal. Fuchsia explains why Sichuan food is about far more than heat, how cooks correct unwanted flavours in meat and fish, why soups and plain dishes matter, and how texture can be as important as flavour. We also talk about cooking by smell, sound and instinct, fermented tofu, wood ear mushrooms, jellyfish, menu planning, and why steaming is still underrated in the West. Plus: hot pot, tasting menus, air fryers, and why Chinese cooking is much more accessible than many people think. Transcript: www.thendobetter.com/arts/2026/9/4/fuchsia-dunlop-five-tastes-chinese-flavour-and-the-art-of-balance (www.thendobetter.com/arts/2026/9/4/fuchsia-dunlop-five-tastes-chinese-flavour-and-the-art-of-balance) Contents: 00:00 Welcome Fuchsia Dunlop 00:30 The Five Tastes and Chinese ideas of flavour 03:53 Balance and layered flavour 06:44 Correcting fishy and meaty flavours 11:34 Xiānwèi, umami and savoury depth 15:08 Guàiwèi: harmony in “strange flavour” 20:21 When to showcase or transform an ingredient 23:40 Qīngdàn: the importance of quiet food 30:15 Why texture matters in Chinese cooking 36:29 How to build a Chinese meal at home 41:37 Creating new recipes and fermented tofu 45:14 Thirty years of food, travel and field notes 49:55 Learning to cook by smell, sight and sound 53:16 Hot pot, steaming and tasting menus: overrated or underrated? 59:37 Chinese cooking needn’t be intimidating Photo credit: (c) Kristin Perers

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

23 ratings

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Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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