James O'Brien meets Gary Stevenson | LBC

At 21 years old, Gary Stevenson joined Citibank as its youngest trader. Three years later, he became the bank's most profitable trader by betting on the collapse of the economy. He went from living in his parents' two-bed terrace in east London to earning millions. But it didn't feel right making money by betting on disasters. So, he quit, leaving his dream job in the City to campaign on the issue of wealth inequality. He tells James why our obsession with money is destroying the things that matter. Gary's new book, The Trading Game: A Confession is out on 5th March.
@garyseconomics
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[@martinrobinson9061]

One of the most powerful and meaningful interviews. Gary is a force and James O’Brien needs to have him on his radio show every time there’s a budget, every time there’s news on economy, and every time a Government makes decisions on wealth and Tax. We all need Gary’s voice heard.

[@lynnhickinbotham3784]

Absolutely

[@juliewake4585]

That sounds like a great idea. All those people that the BBC etc interviews after budgets and economic crises always look as though they live in a very wealthy background and Gary comes from the sort of area and income that many people do.

[@fang_xianfu]

@@juliewake4585 The way he describes being in the trading floor with a bunch of millionaires and learning if you want to learn about the economy, go out there and ask normal people about it... makes total sense.

[@juliewake4585]

@@fang_xianfu it really does

[@davelab6]

Love that, 100%

[@51maineroad]

One of the best interviews I’ve ever sat through and I’m 74, should be mandatory in schools.

[@davidalderson7761]

Should be mandatory at labour conference too ✅

[@David-gi6nv]

Labour and the Tories follow the same path. That's one of Gary's points.@@davidalderson7761

[@lenwilkinson672]

@51maineroad. Interview ? Really.

[@perrymason866]

@@lenwilkinson672yes. “A conversation between a journalist or radio or television presenter and a person of interest, used as the basis of a broadcast or publication…” In what way does this not meet that definition?

[@paullegend6798]

@@perrymason866 I am guessing he would like to see more searching questions. JoB doesn't have the intellect to challenge anything Gary says. For example: 6:04 "We know the government makes a loss here".... which underpins his assumption the rich must have made a profit. But by his own description, the government printed the money via the BoE and made no loss. The loss was to anyone that held cash as the value of the cash was reduced by the subsequent inflation caused..... its not the poor who have large cash saving btw. 8:34 Enormous increase in house prices down to inequality....... but house prices keep rising purely because of a mismatch between supply and demand. We haven't built enough houses to keep up with the massively increasing population. FYI Around 65% of people own their own home. Then there is the bit where he is saying luxury goods were the only ones shut down...... but people couldn't go to their local pub, go to the cinema, watch sport etc..... it's just not true that the effect of lockdown was to shut down only luxury goods. It shut down anything that involved physical/social interaction. Yes, we need less inequality. But the real problem is every growing government. Government is captured by the rich and powerful. The rules of markets and laws are written in their favour for their benefit. We don't live in a capitalist system with true competition anymore. That's your real problem. And yet the public are demanding bigger and bigger government because they think it will protect them, govt doesn't work for the people. If you read this far well done :)

[@alisonbailey7518]

The world needs more Gary Stevensons

[@keithmcdougall4893]

I am one of those people who begged you to interview Gary after listening to him for the last year and a half. I knew you would really enjoy talking to him. 😊 You're welcome.

[@ReeM-wz7bs]

me too

[@user-hu1yi8ox9z]

In one of these interviews, can you please get the interviewer to ask. How would the government fund its self if it can't borrow or inflate.

[@EyebrowsGaming]

@@user-hu1yi8ox9z I could answer that for you - that's what taxes are for. When the government promises to cut taxes to appease voters, what it's actually doing is cutting its own budget, therefore offering to make your public services and public sector departments actively worse. And people vote for this because they think 20p in their pocket a week is worth losing bus and hospital services. Maths GCSEs are obviously not forthcoming

[@crynne66]

Glad to see you interviewing Gary. He speaks a huge amount of sense

[@ppate8]

The most sense compared to these corrupt Economists

[@maria8809ttt]

Professor of macroeconomics William Mitchell (Bill) is one of the world's leading hexerodox economists. He has been writing about this for years. He warned about the 2008 GFC and many more, he has always been right. He is warning again just like Gary. The problem for decades has been group think concerning neoliberel policies that have shaped our economy. Reclaiming the State is an excellent book that I would recommend both for students of economics and the general public for further understanding in this field. It's purposely written for the ease of general understanding. (no mathematical skills are required, it's more like a story of how we got here and how to change for the better.) A great accompanying book for Garys. The history would help traders to understand the whole economy and it's complete structure. I would recommended both.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

@@maria8809ttthe writes about MMT right? MMT makes the economy make so much sense

[@maria8809ttt]

Totally, it is the framework that government policy is applied to globally. It shows all possibilities with in that framework, like there is no need for unemployment, there is no need for austerity. It's great that Gary has provided a platform were economic truth is not removed. ​@@HistoritorJimaldus

[@MikusMusik]

The problem is if a politician ever manages to break through and try to reverse inequality (most recently Corbyn) public school boys in the media like O'Brien do everything in their power to stop it happening. Hypocrisy of James nodding along here is maddening

[@ups1art]

This guy seriously knows his onions.. Even though we’ve all played Monopoly, he’s one of the very few people that seem to remember how the game ultimately comes to an end.

[@bluebadger8811]

Did you know monopoly was originally a game to preach against capitalism, lol 😆

[@tmarritt]

What with my mum getting bored half way through and me and my cousins drunkenly shouting at each other😂. Actually that does sound a lot like the current situation

[@pnw86]

When I was a kid it usually ended with me getting angry and flipping the board over. Anyone up for revolution?

[@annabelcleare138]

@@pnw86Yes me too! And I think the current situation is heading in “that” direction…

[@clipkut4979]

After the end of the game, there ultimately is a wealth redistribution to start a new game. That's the only way to keep people playing.

[@johnfromconnecticut]

James: As an American who listens to you live almost daily, I want to thank you for your work and especially for interviews such as this. LBC is my portal to the world away from the mainstream US media and you and your colleagues are simply brilliant. Gary: I'm 62 years old, studied finance in university, worked in banking, and have spent the last three decades of my life trying to make sense of this world; these sixty-three minutes have just made everything crystal clear. I am now a follower and believer! Can't wait to read your new book (and also hear it in your own voice.) Bravo!

[@HandleWithCare37]

Finally Gary in the mainstream 🎉

[@voidwraithprime8521]

We need interviewers to bring Gary on for multiple interviews. Everyone spends all of the time going over his origin story trying to understand how the unicorn they're talking to exists, meanwhile I'm sure he has more to say if there was just more time to say it. Great interview, but everyone who wanted you to bring Gary on already understood how smart and special he and his message are. Bring him back on ASAP.

[@casteretpollux]

Great messages are usually simple , at least at first hearing. People with no capital must organised together to radically reduce inequality.

[@comicmorphiclong-boxevolut4773]

The unicorn that you mention is predictably obsessed on by James O'B! I love him, but he loves mentioning his own financial privileges, often in delightfully humorous and naive opinion, but it becomes a little annoying here! More time for Gary!!

[@mikecard7913]

He's going on Novara media for the second time tomorrow so might get you wish

[@simonparker4701]

Wish they'd focus on what happens next and how ordinary people can influence things. Who do you vote for????

[@bcitral]

I suspect there is no answer to that point just yet. Firstly get corruption out of control of the economy then work on changing the system to something that is fit for purpose

[@designbus]

Big respect for Gary, he genuinely cares about society

[@jjboswell5043]

You bought it? Wow. Come heads can talk anyone round.

[@perrymason866]

@@jjboswell5043do you disagree with his message?

[@stephengreen9720]

I would say he cares about wealth inequality to be specific. Which i hasten to add is a noble cause. I like him, he seems genuine, which is more than I can say for james 😂

[@franklingoodwin]

@@jjboswell5043 Let me guess you're one of those people who that thinks anyone who preaches against wealth inequality should give all their money away.

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

​@@jjboswell5043 More cutting than I would have put it but I get you. Whilst I can listen and nod along to a lot of what he says, at the same time it's the same system that's allowed him to become a millionaire (potentially at others expense or hard times). Now he's telling everyone it's bad. All very well, but he's got his hasn't he.

[@bcitral]

I've been watching Gary for a few years now. His message is repeated again and again but somethings need repeating. Respect.

[@raljix1566]

Whats more amazing here is the fact that Gary didn't drop the F word - Anyone who watches him knows xD

[@marinamarley956]

lol true

[@pmin5554]

That was very refreshing!

[@emanueleziglioli499]

He drops them carefully

[@rosiegreenwood8060]

Every other f King word.. 🤣

[@annaj7058]

Thrilled to see this interview. Gary is worth his weight in gold. I really hope his message can reach as wide an audience as possible.

[@CLAUDIAMORT]

Brilliant as always Gary. If only more people would listen to you. Thank you for the interview James.

[@LukeFlegg]

Jesus Christ. This was about 12x more thought provoking, moving and educational than I expected. So glad to have stumbled upon this.

[@MikeStillUK]

12x? Not 10x or 15x? 😂

[@Natty183]

I'm excited that there seems to be movement to actually defend ourselves against the destabilization of wealth disparity to our system!

[@BeachFishingAnticsUK]

Gary is probably one of the most important people of our age. Everyone needs to listen to what he has to say, particularly those on the left of politics who could be in a position to make change happen.

[@darriendastar3941]

Easily one of the best (possibly even *the* best) episodes of Full Disclosure I've listened to - and I've listened to a lot. What Stevensn has is *insight* - he's got the ability to see something and explain it so it becomes obvious to other people. An incredibly rare ability. Thank you so much for this interview.

[@Anigmama]

I agree!

[@kdpunshon3073]

I agree.

[@birdinthebush]

There he is, an extremely intelligent young English guy who openly declares how he benefitted massively from his closeness to immigrants. Some idiots won't even have them as neighbors

[@Anigmama]

He also predicted that rising inequality would mean a rise in the Far Right and racism.

[@jamesfoong9252]

​@christopherdresser8061 and yet with an aging population, living longer, we literally won't have enough tax payers to be able to pay for retirees pensions or have enough health care workers to look after them without immigration. Where are your figures to prove there's too many people for the amount of jobs available? If that's true, in an aging population, then there's something fundamentally wrong with the economy and it probably has something to do with what Gary's saying about wealth and assets increasingly being concentrated up, in fewer hands, stifling growth

[@bloodyandsweaty]

I’m Sorry to break it to you - but he’s not English. But yeah he’s not brown basically.

[@perrymason866]

@christopherdresser8061over 250,000 adult social care positions available right this second, through out the UK. I’ve been a recruitment manager in 3 sectors and “30 applicants per job” was rarely the case and, when it was, 20+ of those applicants would not be adequately qualified to do the job.

[@Nick-kb6jd]

@christopherdresser8061 Did you watch the interview? You'll find the answer to your question there.

[@Skylark_Jones]

"In this culture we give to young people especially young men but not just young men that tells them "You are the money you make" and if you don't make money you're a failure, and if you make money you're great, and simultaneously gives them virtually no realistic chance of making money, you are kind of training a psychopathy into these guys because you put them in an impossible situation." To me the most profound statement in the interview that Gary has said.

[@tested211]

That is both insightful and frightening

[@brunolopez1990]

I loved these, but for me it was also "if they had won they would stop" when referring to the motivations of the rich... Wow that's so true about the mentality of these people. At that moment I realized that much like Gary was at his lowest, they are mentally ill. I don't mean that in a disparaging way, I think they literally have emotional deficiencies that require treatment... Yet we've idolized them and put them in charge of everything instead. 😮

[@neenaj365]

What a lovely lad. He’s laying himself bare. He really cares about society. We need him and more like him, who have clout and will speak out against the social injustices that are growing.

[@WhoWroteTheseLegs]

I’ve been following Gary for quite some time, and it is refreshing to hear a refined definition of what we all suspect to be the reasons behind our declining living standards. He is relaying a simple and compelling message to anyone who has the sense to listen, that is, that unless we end the overbearing burden of wealth inequality, our children and grandchildren will continue to experience ever worsening standard of living. However, each time I listen to him I’m filled with despair, because I understand that none of the people who could actually bring about a change in direction are paying any heed to what he presents as the patently obvious. Even Labour, a party born from the desire to create a more equitable society, cannot bring itself to detach from the pervasive scourge of Thatcherite neoliberalism, and stem the flow of wealth from the masses to the engorged few. I will trudge into the polling booths this year in a bid to oust a Tory party in its death spiral, but there will be be not an ounce of hope going into that x against any candidate that can rid us of our Tory MP. The next Labour government will merely better manage the decline that we will continue to endure until the world comes to its senses and listens to the likes of Gary Stevenson and acts upon his sensible and practical suggestions.

[@aries6776]

Exactly. His message resonates so well because it's the truth we are living.

[@BlyatimirPootin]

Very well said and I have to agree with everything you've said.

[@Donkeater1]

100% agree except there’s no way I’m debasing myself by voting for Labour and endorsing this duopoly further than I already have.

[@stuartbritton4811]

Mrs Thatcher was never neoliberalist, neither was she a scourge. She believed in peace and freedom, prosperity for those who earn it, family values and a small government . We need her back.

[@WhoWroteTheseLegs]

@@stuartbritton4811 she was instrumental in unleashing the hands-off deregulation of the financial sectors, which ultimately led to the banking crash of 2007/8. She is not coming back, due to the fact that she is long dead. We continue to deal with her ongoing legacy of the impoverishment of the middle and working classes, while a select few take an ever larger share of the stagnant and often shrinking national cake.

[@Lemonie76]

Gary is a voice that needs to be heard! Share far and wide!

[@Mark-jb1fj]

It's all lies. You don't give up a job trading.

[@Lemonie76]

@@Mark-jb1fj you do if you have a soul 🤷‍♀️

[@willielarsson9651]

​@@Mark-jb1fjI'm a bit suspicious too

[@BlyatimirPootin]

​@@Mark-jb1fjwhat exactly is the lie?

[@fanfeck2844]

@@Mark-jb1fjhe still trades. Not sure why this contradicts what he says

[@waynecoxdrums]

Excellent interview. Gary is one of those rare people who benefited from the loaded game, but still sees the injustice and wants to change it.

[@queensberryrulez5306]

Still making his money off us though.

[@daveshearsby]

Enlightening genius. Can't wait to read the book. Why can't Gary be Chancellor?

[@jakefarronmerlin7963]

What exactly is genius about him?

[@alan_davis]

​@@jakefarronmerlin7963 he understands the economy better than 99.9% of people... he is exceptionally intelligent (i.e. a genius). You speak as if he's some half-assed door jockey for a nightclub.

[@Anigmama]

Finally O’Brien talks to Gary Stevenson!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@darrenadair6733]

Let's hope Gary's views can translate into meaningful change within our political system.

[@MalcolmMXTaylor]

wow gary and james! what a top notch interview!! EVERYONE needs to follow Gary, he has a heart thats in the right place, and has the motivation with help from us all to make REAL change to make it happen!!

[@neilwhitehead166]

A breath of fresh air. Someone who finally speaks the truth! If only Gary could be the next PM he would get my vote. His solution to make Britain great again by addressing inequality makes absolute common sense. The issue is that govt and wider elites do not want the hard workers of this nation to see or understand it! If we continue down this road no one wins - we must demand better of our politicians.and demand it now.

[@David-le7jy]

I could have listened to Gary for another few hours - what an interview, what a guy!!

[@ansa336]

Agreed!!!

[@user-hu1yi8ox9z]

But how would the government fund itself, without making huge cuts, because it shouldn't borrow or inflate ?.

[@fanfeck2844]

Subscribe to his channel

[@Alex-cw3rz]

So great to see James and Gary in a room together

[@infinitel00p94]

Nope

[@alan_davis]

Yep.

[@talesfromrosie852]

What a powerful & captivating story told with passion - 100% behind Gary’s movement & hope his message breaks through ❤

[@fionaetienne296]

I am surprised they said they can't think of any MPs who are talking about rising inequality - what about, Corbyn, MacDonald, Yanis Varoufakis?

[@troyd384]

Yet they are ostracized and villified. They have to be perfect on everything cause everyone around them wants to protect this system tha tbenefits them.

[@umayusu]

They are proof this system cannot be changed. How much money are the 1% going to pour into convincing everyone else that these people are a danger to world order? I’d encourage everyone to check out things like the Zeitgeist movement. Ultimately what Gary describes is a somewhat inevitable consequence of Capitalist Market economies

[@hovefactually7505]

Varoufakis isn't an MP!

[@TimSma111]

Gary is extraordinary. He gets it. Thank you both.

[@Bambotb]

First if all i get a vibe he does this for personal gain, second what is inequality even ? Nobody is entitled to anything, 50% tax is already super criminal what else did you want

[@matthewwatt2295]

​@@BambotbWhat 50% tax are you referring to? Top income tax rate in the uk is 45% for £150k and over. Income taxes don't do much for inequality anyway, it's the accumulated wealth we need to address.

[@James_36]

he gets what? I dont see him helping the poor, I see him helping himself by peddling his phoney book onto people poorer than him, some care that. Are people better off financially buying his book or are they now poorer? so he is the largest hypocrite known to man

[@Bambotb]

@@matthewwatt2295 what is inequality even ? how about we apply inequality in school everyone get an A then :D the best student have to give grades to the less privileged students :D also how about passport inequality africa should have same passport power as the UK :D

[@Bambotb]

@@James_36 he is a liar he said in one video he made 11 millions off japan eartquake then in another 6 hahaha clearly an evil pos in it for himself, you can never trust anyone who lies about such things

[@peteroneill2991]

Glad I decided to watch this, on a par with Bernie's interview. Thank you James and Garry. Will make an effort to watch Gary's channel.

[@pruntyportraits]

Hands down the best interview with Gary I've watched out of many. James conducted a masterclass in how to interview someone to gain maximum insight into who they are. Brilliant job

[@aries6776]

I just wanted to say. THIS is what Jeremy Corbyn was advocating. Tax the super-rich more to address the wealth inequality. But he got destroyed by the label of anti-semitism and behind that were the media. Would you rather be like the USA or Norway?

[@michaelrch]

Not that O'Brien would ever credit Corbyn. He got what he wanted when Corbyn was defeated in 2019. Despite his complaints, the value system of the likes of O'Brien prefers Tory rule rather than anything like democratic socialism.

[@aleph8888]

USA and Norway extract huge amounts of hydrocarbons. It was the left that demanded during Covid that everyone stays at home dependent on government subsidies.

[@curmudgeon1933]

@@michaelrch . I wonder if his views could be changed from his conversations with people like Bernie and Gary? After all, he is the product of his environment...as are we all. Rather than just blaming O'Brien for his opinions, it may be better to explain where his blind spots are, and how changes could be made which would create a better society. Listening to his radio show, it appears that he would welcome a more equitable distribution of wealth, if only to improve the lives of more people. The most successful societies are those where wealth inequality is the lowest.

[@gosforthdrivers7720]

@@curmudgeon1933 no, these people never change. They are big and bold and radical when there is zero chance of any change (like now), yet when the establishment is not entirely safe and there is a risk of it being challenged then they suddenly full fully behind the establishment to destroy the threat.

[@Automat2]

One of the reasons JC was defeated so badly - even though if only a few thousand people had voted Lab things would have been very different, is that even seeing JC as fundamentally right, there was always something that didn't feel quite right with him, media bashing apart. BJ was the opposite. He knows how to use the media for his profit, and he did. All his mandate was pure propaganda and posturing for self-serving only goals.

[@50043211]

Welcome to the 2024 edition of "Das Kapital". Nothing has changed because the game has not changed.

[@darrylbradshaw216]

100%

[@damiangillan3071]

I am going to save this interview for when my nephew is a bit older to listen to. Brilliant thanks

[@reginaldamoah8608]

So glad you got round to interviewing Gary been following him for a while he's the only one really talking about the economy and the serious outcomes from inequality.

[@NigelFudge]

I'm so glad these 2 have met. Gary deserves a lot more recognition for he's insight into the economy. 👏👏👏

[@ThatGuyThanus]

Thanks for this! Gary is brilliant..!

[@chhitijpahari1011]

One of the best interviews gary has done

[@InspireCast]

As a human being. Gary's transparency, honesty and perception of the realities of the environment is brilliance.

[@elainesanders5450]

What an amazing man Gary is. Not a fan of James O 'Brien but you conducted this interview so well. You should do more of these .. I feel Gary's pain he is still so vulnerable . I wish all the best for him. ...

[@Hithrae]

Love James, Love Gary. Perfect interview!

[@CEO786]

You missed me ❤

[@mohanadalatoum2585]

Great interview , James O’Brien you one of the best honest journalist out there in Uk respect bro

[@michaelrch]

He really isn't honest. He defends his liberal capitalist establishment views, come what may.

[@dauterive]

When I was homeless, I realised that there was only me that could change. Gary speaks the truth and gives hope in a hopeless world. So happy you interviewed him.

[@user-hu1yi8ox9z]

If Government can't borrow or inflate, how does that help the homeless.

[@dauterive]

When you are homeless, your friends, family and network don't help you. Well, not long term. You can live by blaming others, especially when it's actually their fault. The point is that Garry and James mostly focus on the practical reality rather than the fiction out there. @@user-hu1yi8ox9z

[@SimothyInOz]

Wow, you changing made housing cheaper? How did that work then?

[@dauterive]

I think you have missed the context of my comment and added on according to your viewpoint. I cannot reply to your headvoice@@SimothyInOz

[@SimothyInOz]

Not at all. Most people have housing issues because of the housing cost..they cannot "change themselves" to make it cheaper@@dauterive

[@annegraham9339]

This is a really great interview. James O'B asking great questions to get the best out of Gary and his insights and personal story. I've been watching and following both of these guys since covid times and I'm truly delighted to see them both together at last.

[@jasonporteous9722]

Great to see Gary being heard on this platform ☀️

[@metalhead2550]

Fantastic interview with Gary! He's been doing a great job and more people need to hear more about what he's attempting to highlight

[@sholness85]

This is exactly the interview I wanted to watch, thanks so much!!

[@nevillestimpson475]

Gary Stevenson needs to be protected. I was so happy to hear that James O'Brian was finally going to interview him, he should have a regular slot on LBC or something.

[@americo7965]

Smart guy. Made some very salient points that make a lot of sense

[@CloudyGhost]

Two of my favourite theory testers together for an hour. Love it. ❤

[@ianwilliams4255]

Two of the most sensible people on the planet. Great interview.

[@MikeStillUK]

Really impressive that James has thoroughly read and digested Gary’s book. Demonstrates great respect for his guest.

[@Steventrafford]

Oh wow… this is a turn up. I’ve been listening to him since lockdown

[@5UM0N3]

Clearly even more time is needed to talk to someone as interesting and insightful as Gary, cheers anyway! Great conversation, I can't wait to read the book

[@joelgarf]

Best interview yet. Gary needs to be heard and heard loudly!!!!

[@Gph0367]

Gary you are amazing. We all need to take a stand, we must demand economic/worker's rights, and a fairer distribution of wealth!

[@r.i.p.volodya]

Thank you so much for this program. This is something to which I really wouldn't have paid much attention in the past and I've had my eyes opened to certain things.

[@rickparkinmoto]

Wow - that was something quite special! I'll definitely be following Gary's KZbin channel now.

[@rsky812]

Best interview I have listened to on you tube. The interviewer was not afraid to ask hard questions and the down to earth fellow was brave enough to answer them. Honesty and integrity. A1

[@Hambo04]

OMG, so glad this interview happened, one of the best interviews without doubt.

[@richierich7609]

This guy is brilliant and this is a great interview. He's so right in so many ways - I would just love to have a pint with the bloke.

[@danfirth2678]

This was astounding. Easily the best one yet.

[@danprice447]

YES!!! This is the content we want and need!

[@ninjadudeofficial]

Nice seeing a really solid interviewer like James chat to Gary and try to get some interesting new thoughts and perspective out of it, I think saying how the social contract is broken kinda nails the state of things tbh

[@cosbro5389]

Housing should be a human right and systems , education should be built around this , Instead of politics being about the distribution of suffering as it is at this time

[@rizbotube]

Nothing is a 'right', we only have privileges.

[@gazjonze]

Who pays for your human right to housing?

[@gazjonze]

Who pays for the housing? Come on, answer the question.

[@hayleyxyz]

Gary has more charisma and knowledge than the entire houses of Parliament

[@chrishardy3473]

This is the one we've been waiting for....

[@amarmetla3565]

As a brown kid from Hounslow, who went on to study Econ at Warwick and then all that came after, the concept of abstraction of wealth ( 13:24 ) was a huge revelation for me.

[@karenM4340]

Excellent interview, thanks, just pre-ordered 😊

[@blakebrown534]

Thanks for having Gary on. I'm American and had never heard of him before so I appreciate the introduction. That was weird to hear about LSE and many Brits not knowing about it.. I'm just a regular middle-class guy and I've known since I was much younger that the London School of Economics was basically the British version of something like Wharton Business School over here in terms of it being a ticket to any high paying job in finance / business etc.

[@BigHenFor]

1. The Finance Industry is more embedded in American society than in British society. For much of our history, most working class people didn't even have a bank account, until relatively recently. So likewise, investing was something rich people did. 2. Most ordinary British people aren't even aware of the LSE, unless they are exposed to economic ideas. So, many wouldn't even consider it as an option. And Class is still behind a lot of the social inequality here. Middle class kids have the network knowledge that supplies such information. Working class kids are being segregated, and unless Mum and Dad have it, or if they're lucky to get someone who wants to foster their talent, they're ending up stuck at the bottom. 3. I found out about the LSE because my only outlet was education, and I have clung to that most of my life. But being born poor of illiterate parents, and, as I have discovered, neurodivergent, I can honestly say that the Education system in the UK is more akin to The Sorting Hat in Harry Potter now, than an arena to foster individual talents. I had to motivate myself to do that, because opportunity is often implicitly and explicitly rationed. And our culture is schizophrenic. They talk about meritocracy, but for that to work, you need a confident society. And instead, it's crippled by anxiety and insecurity. So, "I'm alright, Jack. Pull up the ladder" is interspersed with destructive, often needless crises of confidence amongst our elites, based on fear and insecurity, who then turn to social darwinism to massage their egos and to destroy the competition. Hence the rationing and fixation on scarcity. (Perhaps Hobbes has been too influential in some ways). The bright kids discarded as a result of this process don't get a chance to shine, so they find it in other means. Many ultimately in unsustainable, unhealthy, and self‐destructive ways. Gary knows the cards fell right for him. That's why he's a mix of arrogant self assertion and humility. He's been back home to where he grew up, and he's seen the results of people not being allowed to have enough. It's bad. And there's even less opportunity now, than there was before.

[@seymssogood]

​@@BigHenFor I'm saving your response. Excellent explanation 👌🏿

[@davidc4408]

You can get into high finance from any decent STEM or economics degree from a top Russell group university , combined with internships

[@MaxMisterC]

Gary. What a thoroughly lovely guy! Gifted, genuine, gregarious.

[@harrybbbb]

Possibly the best podcast interview I’ve ever listened to

[@Mark-Haddow]

Gary is getting around.

[@tersecwalsingham5778]

It's the ol' book tour.

[@juliewake4585]

Not frequently enough, but hopefully that will change.

[@Alex-mj5dv]

Got things to sell.. ! All while saying the dynamism and innovations that capitalism yields is well and truly over and that it should be.. (but comes up with no rigorously tested other concept/solution). 🥧 in the 🌌 thinking

[@holycannoli64]

I honestly fail to see what all the sycophants are so excited about with this guy. He's hypermaterialistic and rather boring to listen to. He's got a big chip on his shoulder from growing up poor. He constantly refers to "the rich" without ever defining them. Presumably, he's one of "the rich" now himself?

[@m00plank90]

When work doesn’t pay, work becomes devalued in the mind of the worker. Productivity is holed below the waterline. You do as little as possible, because if it doesn’t materially benefit you, what’s the point? . I think the lockdowns and the whole Covid thing showed people how little they actually need, and how enriching spending time with your family is.

[@Humanity101-zp4sq]

Brilliant interview. This man goes up in my estimation every additional minute I see.

[@user-gd6qm9qs6n]

Great interview James with Gary.Gary, poverty is traumatising and the struggle without a safety net, however talented is terrifying because it is a long way down.The underlying injustice of innequality eats away at the heart.

[@Chilam.]

We love Gary!

[@lissy4852]

Absolutely brilliant as always Gary and great interview by James. Could so relate to what Gary said about not knowing what your options were or certain uni's etc. I'm 37 and only found out what erasmus was a few years ago. Don't not remember any guidance from school or college about options and ended up doing a degree I didn't enjoy and with a huge student loan. Now it's too late to be able to do another degree or training as it's so expensive. Its almost like they don't want working class kids to do well 🙃

[@philwells4341]

Student loans are another way of embedding inequality. If you have to borrow to get a decent tertiary education, it limits your ability to progress at the same rate as someone whose parents were wealthy enough to pay for you. In the last 14 years, funding has been reduced to further adult education ( different to tertiary education) to limit any chance of advancement for those who wish to improve their lot in life while you work elsewhere so as not to fall into significant debt . Both methods are to reduce competition between those who were lucky enough to be born with privilege against those who have ability. The system is rigged against those who didn't win the genetic lottery of who your parents were.

[@poopinlumpy]

Brilliantly captivating. Thanks for this. Gary has switched me on to trying to understand fundamental inequality in my country.

[@bobhawxwell1606]

I've read literally hundreds of comments about Gary Stevenson and never a dissenting voice or criticism. The establishment can't ignore him for too much longer . If he ever gets on Question Time he will take the roof off .

[@CloudyGhost]

Loved this episode. I only have one point to challenge. Everyone can see how the Tories use playground tactics to hide their malicious intentions. "Sorry gov, it wasn't me". "I didn't know that not testing OAP's with COVID before putting them back in a care home would be so damaging". So here is my take on the whole economic situation. No one done an analysis of where the wealth would go when £400 billion got used for furlough. Which to me raises a serious conclusion. Analysis is used to find something out. So for Government and opposition to have never carried out an analysis leads me to think that they KNOW where the wealth would go. Having been in government for 12 years prior, I would argue that the UK Government had shaped the economy into a certain and specific way. There for when furlough was introduced, the design of our economy would enrich the rich. Over the Conservative government there is one important pattern. No matter what they claim to do, wealth inequality gets worse. Fact. So I would argue that the UK Government knew that the furlough scheme would have the economic result as it did and they were happy about it because they can benefit from it. The apparent ignorance or lack of understanding of the system is just a guise to help stop a revolution from kicking off. Imagine what would happen if the UK public were told specifically the whole economy is rigged to make the wealthy richer and the poorer even more poor. There would be riots the next day. The guise of "not knowing" its the mechanism used to prevent riots. So long as the secret stays secret, no one will revolt against the action. It can be seen since David Cameron. Wealth inequality started to get progressively worse and ever since, it's been accelerating. I would argue thats no coincidence, thats design. The reason its accelerating is because the longer you do it, the greater a chance of the people noticing and taking action to fix the situation. Something everyone except the rich will have to do. As the rich will fight to keep this system in place as they are benefiting from the situation in thee most egregious of ways. Well, thats my observation.

[@keithrodgers1030]

Excellent interview, working class people with talent excelling. Poor obsession with money, the rich are blind to wealth inequality.

[@universalnav-mylifemywork9670]

A fantastic interview. It’s not just Gary’s depth, the quality of his content and analysis, his sincerity and the relevance of his story, but also, James, your incisive and empathic questioning as the interviewer. Excellent.

[@nickisaini576]

Excellent interview. Everyone needs to watch this.

[@TheBlade1977]

Great interview! Can’t wait to read the book.

[@leerobson6809]

Every day a school day with Gary around. 👍

[@robinj6137]

Knowing Ilford well, I was interested to hear Gary's experience of the South Asian community. Never heard him talk about it before

[@jopo8281]

Love this guy. Thanks Gazza ❤

[@stauroulla]

Go Gary go! The fact politicians don't get it says it all.

[@adamtelsayer]

Fantastic interview

[@mooremoneymakin]

Such a powerful interview and message, especially the last 10 mins

[@charliecamb]

Thank you. I will revisit this a few times as I’m sure others will.

[@billykotsos4642]

This needs to have 10x the views

[@thomaspowell2043]

He's on Novara this evening too. The interview he already did with them is one of the best, most informative interviews I've ever seen. Really looking forward to the follow-up.

[@Challenger160]

After following Gary for some time now, after listening to LBC and James saying he's interviewed him, I just had to watch. This is the first full disclosure which i've tuned in to because of this. Gary almost speaks my reality and asks the questions i've been asking about wealth inequality and why it's all happening, but he actually gives us the answer instead of dancing around semantics and lying to us like politicians do. So happy that this message is beginning to get out there and i hope more people understand how serious this matter is. That man gives me hope in this reality of dread which im living.

[@mikemalone1282]

What an amazing guy,thanks for having Gary on James,certainly food for thought