Joining Phila and Simo today is the Head of Consumer Education of the FSCA, Mr Lyndwill Clarke. They discuss consumer education, and financial literacy of the consumer

Joining Phila today is Lelané Bezuidenhout and David Kop. Lelané is the CEO of the Financial Planning Institute (FPI), and David is the FPI's Head of Policy and Engagement.  They join Phila to talk about the financial planning profession in South Africa.

Joining Phila and Simo today is Professor Johan Fourie. Professor Fourie attained his PhD in Economic History from Utrecht University. He currently lectures economics at Stellenbosch University. He joins Phila and Simo to unpack his book, "Our long walk to economic freedom: 100 000 years of human history". Phila begins by explaining how a previous podcast which he recorded with a previous guest, Professor Stan du Plessis, motivated him to reach out to Professor Fourie. Swiftly thereafter, Professor Fourie proceeds to unpack why he wrote the book and why a new edition is on its way. Further, Professor Fourie unpacks the choice of words in the title of the book, and explains why the word "Our" in the title, is the most important. He further explains what he means by "economic freedom", using his Monopoly/Settlers of Catan anecdote to elucidate this. Further still, Professor Fourie talks about how Trust and global cooperation has led to the prosperity we see today, stressing that autarky only leads to poverty. The conversation then proceeds to the contents of the book; highlighting a few chapters that Simo and Phila found most attractive to them. These chapters include, "Why do Indians have dowry and Africans lobola?", "Who was the richest man in history?", and "Why should we cry for Argentina?". " In addition to conversation with Prof Fourie, have a listen to the podcast with Professor Stan du Plessis titled, titled "Sound and unsound money" (https://nmonline.co.za/en/professor-stan-du-plessis-on-sound-and-unsound-money/).  Professor Johan Fourie's website link : (https://www.johanfourie.com/) 

With Kristan and Simo in the studio today, is one Mr Unathi Kamlana, Commissioner of the FCSA.  Joining Kristan is Nocturnal Unwrap's newest co-host, Simo Zulu.  They begin by touching on Mr Kamlana's time with the FSCA, as its first Commissioner. They proceed to discuss the FSCA's transformation strategies and how it has been subject to public consultation before its interim period. Kristan discusses the regulatory burden on intermediaries, and Simo talks about criticism from the Freedom Market Foundation during the introduction of the Twin Peaks model. Lastly, Mr Kamlana elaborates on the financial literacy drive that has been launched and general consumer education, before they round off with how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his first year at the helm.  Tune in to listen to what they had to say. Have a listen to Phila's previous podcast with Mr Unathi Kamlana as well: https://anchor.fm/novamentis/episodes/12-Unathi-Kamlana-Commissioner--Financial-Sector-Conduct-Authority-on-the-Twin-Peaks-Regulatory-Model-e17g2es

Joining Phila today, to discuss the differences between collectivist and individualist modes of social and economic thinking, is the Chief Operating Officer of Stellenbosch University, Professor Stan du Plessis. Prof du Plessis attained his Master of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Cambridge and his PhD in Economics from Stellenbosch University. Professor du Plessis begins by telling us about his own intellectual development - about how he went from "an extremely committed Marxist" to a pro-market economist. He carefully annunciates what led him the way of Karl Marx and how, as a first-year student in 1991, the prospect of a new South Africa excited him. He goes on to talk about his time in London; about studying Marx and Ricardo, under one of the great Marxist scholars of the world at the time, John Eatwell. Yet despite this, it was a short, 140-paged Dostoevsky novel, Notes from Underground, that left him a "very confused ex-Marxist". Phila and Professor du Plessis proceed to unpack the contents of "Notes from Underground" and discuss briefly, the core idea of the book. In addition to this, they explore the valuable contributions contained in Adam Smith's "The Theory of Moral Sentiments", Karl Popper's "The Open Society and its Enemies" as well as Friedrich Hayek's "Constitution of Liberty". Tune in to hear what they have to say. Professor du Plessis' Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUEVZEbNW1g Phila and Prof du Plessis' previous podcasts: Sound and unsound money: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6S8jtduWKC2HDDn28JahuL?si=8gA4u5MfSjah0Wbtkl6yCQ Monetary policy and money printing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5iBu4V1snVdOnneyRs2TYI?si=W552aJmwRIG-6-e_fOxxfg

Joining Phila today is Nick Hudson. Nick, in addition to being one of the co-founders of PANDA - as well as its spokesperson - is an actuary, investor and private equity specialist. He joins Phila today to, firstly, talk about his ban from Twitter. Briefly thereafter, Nick opens up about some of the books that had a lasting intellectual (and moral) impression on him. Foremost among these books is David Deutsh's "The Beginning of Infinity".  Nick talks about what he found appealing about the book and how it has helped him conceptualise and properly ground his own scientific reasoning. To expand on the Popperianism found Deutsch's book, Phila and Nick talk about how religion fits into this paradigm, with references made to CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity". Lastly, Nick talks about how the pandemic has reminded him of the insights found in Alexandr Solzhenitsyn's "Gulag Archipelago" and why telling the truth is so important to him. Nick goes on to explain why he thinks speaking up against what one believes to be wrong is a moral obligation and that going along with what one is deeply suspicious of only works to aid and abet the corrupt. Tune in to hear what Nick and Phila have to say.

Joining me today - and making a second appearance on the podcast - is the Chief Operating Officer of Stellenbosch University, Professor Stan du Plessis. Prof du Plessis attained his Master of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Cambridge and his PhD in Economics from Stellenbosch University. He joins me today to explore the concepts of sound and unsound money. We explore the evolution of money and the societal changes that have accompanied it. We talk about how technological advancements have changed the way we think about money and have caused the usurpation of what Saifedean Ammous - the author of The Bitcoin Standard - referred to as "primitive moneys". Furthermore, we explore some of the contributions made by some of the biggest and most influential names in economics, which include but are not limited to John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek. In discussing inflationism, we zoom in on Hayek's "A tiger by the tale" allegory as well as Keynes' "The economic consequences of the peace" about which Prof du Plessis says "is one of those cases where an economist really nailed it. He really got it exactly right". Moreover, we talk about the need for - and rationale of - economic decentralisation, as laid out by Hayek in "The use of knowledge in society" and then segue into a brief discussion about cryptocurrencies and the opportunities - as well as the problems - it introduces.

I am joined today (albeit virtually) by the Democratic Alliance's Head of Policy, Gwen Ngwenya. We talk about the effects of the covid-19 pandemic and the response to it, which has compounded, and now threatens to push over the edge, South Africa's fragile economy. We zoom in on the unemployment crisis described by some economists as a "bloodbath". Further, we talk about what can be done in the meantime to ameliorate this bleak outlook. Moreover, we briefly talk about the pending local government elections and what they mean (and do not mean). Gwen clarifies and distinguishes local government elections from national government elections and gives pointers about what to look out for. She further responds to questions posed about the DA and its governance record

If you have been following the news over the past few months, you will - in all likelihood - have heard about, or witnessed your own organisation enforce, mandatory vaccinations. Joining me to discuss this is Nick Hudson. Nick is an actuary, investor, as well as the co-founder of PANDA. We talk about the distinction (or the lack thereof) between vaccine passports and vaccine mandates as well as whether these are commensurate with liberty. We moreover talk about the consequences of lockdowns and mask mandates, as well as the "lives vs profit" foundation upon which they find fertile tinder. Nick offers his thoughts on this.

Joining me for today's conversation is the Commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Unathi Kamlana. We talk about the twin peaks regulatory model, what gave rise to it, as well as the purpose that it serves. We first zoom in on the Prudential Authority - in which Unathi did some time - and then later, the FSCA. Unathi explains the necessity of banking requirements - which are both qualitative and quantitative in nature - and why they are necessary "barriers to entry".  "Banks are systemically important", he argues. Barriers to entry in a sector as fragile as banking is necessary. Unathi further expands on the FSCA's mandate that is centred around the protection of consumers. He explains the FSCA's decision to fine Viceroy, citing market integrity as one of the main reasons. Moreover, he talks about the funding model of the FSCA. Furthermore, we talk about the FSCA's drive for financial education. South Africans generally have a bad relationship with money. This, in part, can be laid at the lack of education on the subject matter. Unathi argues that this leaves people susceptible to scams. It was at this point that the subject of Bitcoin came up.