I used to consider Hidden Forces one of the best podcasts out there for deep, well-researched discussions on topics that few others were covering. Demetri had a knack for bringing on insightful guests and diving into complex subjects with a level of preparation that made each episode feel like a masterclass. Unfortunately, in recent months, the show seems to have lost its way. Episodes now feel much less structured, with Demetri often meandering through discussions rather than guiding them with a clear focus. There’s a noticeable lack of the sharp, well-prepared questioning (and pressure testing of ideas) that once set the podcast apart. That’s not to say there aren’t still good episodes—the quality of guests remains high, and every now and then, you’ll get a glimpse of what made Hidden Forces great in the first place. But more often than not, it feels like Demetri is less prepared and more prone to digressions that don’t add much value. I hope he can recapture the focus and depth that made Hidden Forces such a standout podcast. Until then, it’s hard to recommend it as strongly as I once did

Hidden forces is a decent interview style podcast. The interviews are typically well prepared and conducted. Sadly, recently we have seen and heard here a lot of crazy conspiracy stuff. Unchallenged and seemingly not well prepared. I think Demetri needs a refresher in critical thinking and scientific skepticism. I recommend Dr Steven Novella as guest. That would clear up JFK assassination theories and Alien visitations. Otherwise, this is a good podcast.

I am an early Boomer (more bluntly, an old guy) whose journey through the podcast world has been random at best. I sampled several podcasts along the way, but couldn’t find any that held my interest beyond an episode or two. Until I happened upon Hidden Forces and Demetri Kofinas. All one has to do is scroll through Hidden Forces episode titles to fully appreciate the wide variety of the subjects Demetri tackles. These episodes are more than interviews. They are conversations with people who really know what they are talking about. Demetri continues to amaze me with the breadth and depth of these discussions. I freely admit that some of the conversations are spoken in languages foreign to me (I’m still puzzling over what a meme stock squeeze is), but what I am able to pick up when listening to these episodes sure is interesting. Count me as one of many loyal fans of Hidden Forces and Demetri Kofinas.

Demetri is not one of those podcasters who is just offering a vehicle for his guest’s self-promotion. He is genuinely interested in the conversation, in drawing out his guest and exploring their ideas. He takes the trouble to read their book. He puts in the effort. I have been listening to the podcast for a couple of years. The only reason I have not subscribed to get the additional content is that I fear losing large chunks of my life to this worthy project. I have a suspicion I may have to do so soon though!

Lots of great episodes with lots of depth and interesting people. Kofinas is a well articulated and skilled interviewer who keeps the show on track and really digs to the heart of subject. Hidden forces has broadened my understanding of the underlying “hidden” forces at play around the political and economic landscape.

Great guests and a host who asks the right questions make this a must listen for those seeking to inform themselves about the current state of the world.

Demetri provides a lot of useful information, but he is not a detached observer performing dispassionate journalism: he cares about American and global society and makes that clear in his discussions, without pushing a divisive narrative about who’s in the wrong and how we should hate them (like most of the world affairs podcasters with an explicit point of view probably do).

Huge fan-thank you!

A show that gets to the heart of the most important issues. I was able to unsubscribe from business and international relations channels, saving a lot of time. Demetri and his guests are creative and insightful.

The episodes with people who actually do policy or have actual experience are far better. The host sometimes gets too caught up in narratives and gives them way more credence than they deserve over reality. Just because a bunch of random people say stuff doesn’t mean it’s important, especially in comparison to the actual facts on the ground. I was paying for a subscription because I found enough useful stuff here, but feel like the host could be more critical and fact based. He also uses the words “evil” and “demonic” in ways that show a disconnect from assessing the world on a neutral factual basis. He’s used the word “demonic” to describe transhumanism, for example, along with some strictly scientific endeavors. He dabbles in moral frameworks that make it hard to take him seriously sometimes - I think he’s less far from his history following Alex Jones than he’d like to think.

To much pro establishment - close to neocons and biased views on many issues as well as guests. Otherwise good interviews.

For supposedly heterodox thinkers this program is the most boring and predictable snooze fest on the net. Occasional decent guests but it’s those guests that bring the value not this program.

Hidden Forces is probably my favorite podcast. Smart, articulate, thought provoking... major learnings in every episode. I do wish there was a way to just buy the "premium feed" on a per episode basis. I'm not willing to shell out for the full membership experience but I'd certainly buy full episodes periodically.

Really great interview

Demetri really “hits it out of the park” in this interview with Andy Constan. In a brief amount of time, you’ll receive the equivalent of a college course on how the FED works and what this could mean in the short and long term for investing on the macro level. Great stuff, I’ve listened to it 3 times already! Larry A

Really great interviewer, has a very meta outlook on the world & shows up in his work.

Longtime listener. The range of topics, the expertise of the guests, as well as the dynamism of the conversations is difficult to find in an increasingly bland race to the bottom for simplistic explanations of complex systems. I recommend Hidden Forces to anyone interested in finding the weak spots in our respective echo chambers and are looking for a podcast with smart people talking through hard questions and multi-faceted interdisciplinary topics. Demetri continues to shake the chaff off of the prepackaged, blithely unsophisticated takes we find in most media and cookie cutter news narratives.

Just another boring financial podcast with cringe-level fear mongering to lure in the vulnerable among us. Sadly, it’s most often the older folks who fall for this garbage. They pay for the fears and this guy is happy to dish it out. PSA: If you want “the world is ending” content, you can find plenty of it for free on YouTube. Save your money.

I am a premium subscriber to this show, because it is worth it, hands down. I am a Security Studies student at Georgetown University, and if I had to give up this podcast, or my Foreign Policy magazine subscription, I would give up Foreign Policy first. This podcast is unparalleled in its ability to convey paradigm-changing information in incredible short, dense episodes. Trust me, you won’t regret going behind the pay wall.

This was an incredibly informative interview with David Rosenberg. You asked great questions and he was able to provide fabulous insights that was reflective of his 4 plus decades in the financial sector. Thank you.

I've been listening to Demetri for a good number of years now and I can candidly say that he's by far the best interviewer I've ever heard. He deeply researches and prepares for each conversation, makes his guests feel comfortable, gets deep into the subject matter without ever coming off as particularly biased, and brings it full circle on the philosophy of the human mind figuring out how to operate in such a complex modern world. The topics are thought-provoking, the guests are well published in their specific areas that they're bringing perspectives on, and (importantly) the sound quality is perfect. I highly recommend giving a listen to a few episodes of Hidden Forces, and then when you feel you were just getting into the conversation and want more, subscribe in order to get the overtime segments (which are often better than the first parts). Don’t underestimate just how crucial it is for the content and arguments made in Hidden Forces to be unaffected by any commercial sponsors or advertisers. If you’re looking to start out on a few past episodes, just a few recommendations of one’s that I particularly enjoyed: -Joshua Landis (#106) – US Withdrawal and the End of the Rules-Based Global Order -Tim Grover (#193) – Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness -Shoshana Zuboff (#79) – Surveillance Capitalism in the Age of the Unprecedented -Thomas Reardon (#80) – Neural Interfaces and the Future of Human-Computer Interaction

The most important issues today: science, technology, finance, geopolitics… the topics could be University courses. This is exactly why I subscribe. Demetri’s expert interviews cover complex trends and issues oversimplified by sound bite media. Informed dialogue will satisfy the curious and skeptical, and provide a rich understanding for listeners. This is easily one of the most comprehensive sources of worldly education, and a wonderful investment in life long learning outside of a University classroom.

Demetri is one of the best interviewers in podcasting, and certainly has some of the most interesting, thought provoking guests in the space. I would highly recommend for listeners looking for interesting discussion and insight on topics that are front and center in the national discourse.

I’ve been listening to this podcast for about a year now fairly religiously. Demetri is a great discussion leader and brings insightful collaborators onto the show. My favorite are his episodes with Eric Basmajian. I always learn something about geopolitics, Markets and general economics, interest rates, monetary theory etc Id give a Strong recommendation to anyone looking to get some new content

Varied and interesting guest. Flawless audio. Nobody in the industry prepares more. Totally recommend for a wide variety of insights.

He calls it the "International dollar system" and attributes market moves to higher central powers... it's called the Eurodollar mate and it's private and offshore

It’s incredibly rare to find content of this quality. Demetri asks questions and considers perspectives that very few content creators do, approaching his subjects with seriousness, intellectual humility, and a courageous thirst for knowledge. I wish I had a course like this in college. I have benefitted greatly from the wide range of subjects Demetri covers, and think new listeners will find the show engaging, informative, and challenging (in a good way). I think there are lots of people out there that think something is wrong with the world and our society, and are looking for someone to help them explore questions of what’s wrong, how we got here, and where we’re going. Demetri asks those questions brilliantly and insightfully, and as a result I think Hidden Forces is striking a chord. I look forward to future episodes and thanks for the hard work Demetri.

This is an extraordinary source of information and insight. Demetri is a gifted host who puts everything he has into the interviews. From Doomberg to John Mearsheimer, the amazing Peter Zeihan and Helen Thompson... this show never disappoints. The guests are the brightest minds in their areas of expertise; they span the entire political spectrum and most are so brilliant, they step outside preconceived belief systems and into something with a depth, honesty, and insight that only comes from great thinkers. This show gives me hope.

This podcast always has great episodes with some of the best guests in the field. The podcast has no ads and is entirely supported by listeners. I subscribe to the after episode conversations and it is certainly worth it.

I discovered this podcast a month ago and I’ve been burning through the archive. Every interview has been highly engaging and I learn from each show. Highly recommend.

This is the only podcast I pay for and I’m willing to do so because each episode brings so much value to me in my everyday life.

I’ve been listening to Hidden Forces for a few years now. Demetri is so thorough and the topics are so interesting, if you’re looking for a way to expand your knowledge about foreign affairs, the economy, and politics, this is the best place to go.

As someone who studied IPE and researched for many years the history of how the West has viewed the East and the world at large as well, I have been looking for exactly this podcast. Dimitri is the perfect and well versed host to facilitate Economic and Political conversations that go deeper and beyond the content offered by most podcasts of the like. Spot on and informative, check it out for sure.

Kofinas has interesting, informative guests, and he interview in a very conversational style, allowing guests to make their points in their own ways. But he also offers his own informative views and challenges guests, which helps draw them out. This is a must-listen for investors or those interested in government and foreign affairs.

thanks for sharing these fascinating conversations on youtube as well

This guy has no hidden agendas and what he thinks is the same as what he says. What he says is mostly correct every time.

There are a lot of podcast at out there. This for me is among the very best. Demetri has a curious intellect that he uses to both go deep on issues ranging from politics, economics, finance, then identifies the intersections and links between developments in those areas. That’s a vital skill for the world that is only just starting to come into being. In short, he gets it and shares his insights on Hidden Forces, so check it out if you want some insight into where we may be heading.

so I subscribe to only 12 podcasts. I evaluate each of them based on learning new things or stirring my curiosity about various issues. I thought Hidden Forces was one of these until I listened to the last one with Demetri and the host from "The Realignment". What I don't have time for is two guys saying" "Why doesn't anyone with skills want to run for Public Office anymore?" While completely ignoring events such as the Kavenaugh hearings, the treatment of the Trump Administration, the Russia Hoax, etc. etc. If Obama was such a great communicator and "sound foreign policy" guy, why did we get ISIS? Heck why did we get Trump in 2016? Wasn't that Obama's fault? Does Americas coastal elites have anything to do with it? do 10 Big Tech ogliarchs run the US? Who would want to run against that? The two talk about internal divisions and why they are bad, but don't deal with the fact this is right out of a US political party's playbook: Green New Deal will force people into the the urban onclave where we can contol them,fewer fossil fuel revenues weaken red states, bring in more people who will become dependent and more solid voters fior us, pit one group against another to take their focus off what we are doing. You might not agree with any of this, fime but let's at least talk about the "root causes" Thanks VP Harris rather than : " gosh why is this happening?" Grow a pair Boys!

This show scratches my inquisitive-nature itch. Demetri has an art of interrogating an issue and looking at it from all its most interesting angles. I find my curiosity regularly piqued during the show. Thoughts like “Oh that was a great question” followed up with “this is gonna be interesting” regularly cross my mind. I encourage any intellectual foodie to give it a taste.

Great podcast

highly recommended for those interested in this subject material

I try to follow only news and insight on world news and economic data that is not partisan. This podcast meets the criteria.

Love this podcast. Amazing research & discussion.

First of all, I love Demetri and think he does a great job. However, what I used to love about the podcast was the diversity of topics discussed. More big picture ideas, less current events. It makes the episodes timeless and rips open a thread on the unknown unknowns you may not otherwise have stumbled across. Over the past couple of years it seems like the focus has shifted to a discussion of what is going on in the news and trying understand it and fit it into a grand framework. While that is great, it also doesn’t, at least to me, set the podcast apart. It is why we read periodicals. If you prefer the latter, you will love the podcast. If you are like me, you will miss the Brian Arthur, Geoffrey West, Jim Holt-esque interviews. Either way, it is very impressive what Demetri has done and I plan to continue listening to the free portion.

This review is long overdue. I’ve been a subscriber to The Hidden Forces Podcast for about a year now and it’s hard to overstate how valuable I have found it. From financial markets, to crypto, law, geopolitics, social dynamics…the breadth of new information and knowledge I’ve gained from Hidden Forces is significant, and it’s all well done. The production of the podcast is of the highest quality and Demetri is a skilled interviewer creating one great conversation after another. This is one of the best values I pay for each month and I look forward to continuing my subscription.

Hidden Forces has quickly become a favorite in my feed! I'm consistently impressed by the engaging conversations, insightful content, and big ideas. I truly learn something every time I listen!

I like the show because of its in-depth conversations on diverse relevant topics. What is missing is the moderate balance between the far-right (also called libertarian, yes they are not independent) and left leaning opinions. The main issue is that there is a lack of disclaimer of the political or ideological leaning of the majority of the guests, which tends to be conservative or far right leaning. This lack of disclaimer can appear dubious at best or disingenuous at worst. Overall, intrusive but not balanced enough to educate an audience.

This is a world class podcast which covers economic and macro issues. Often the discussion often, however, ventures into philosophical and political discourse. Every podcast is a gift by Demetri and his team. I look forward to every single episode.

Awesome show!

I’ve been listening to this podcast for about 6 months and have recently been reflecting on how it has positively impacted my world view. I feel that I better understand how the world works and why things are the way they are. I am better able to recognize clickbait or frenzied headlines and avoid getting sucked into it. I have become less partisan and less fearful of fellow Americans. The wide range of topics has brought me to listen to perspectives that I wouldn’t personally seek out or necessarily agree with. But that’s ok. Everything is discussed from the standpoint of curiously and respect vs the this-is-how-it-is-if-you-disagree-you’re-cancelled point of view that seems to be ubiquitous these days.