The Emerging Markets Podcast by Tellimer

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May 2026

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Tellimer operates an AI-powered platform providing unique data and analysis on more than 170 Emerging and Frontier economies. Listen to leading global experts' perspectives on a variety of issues in emerging markets. For more information on Tellimer's services, see tellimer.com Host: Duncan Wales Artwork: Kristian Klamar Editor: Fabian Hodge

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May 27, 2026Episode 5652 min

Geopolitics, AI, and the End of Cheap Stability: A Strategy for Permanent Friction

Dr Mohamad Al-Ississ, Macro and Geopolitical Strategist and former Finance Minister of Jordan, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to examine how a new era of geopolitical fragmentation is fundamentally reshaping the calculus for emerging market investors, sovereigns and corporations. Drawing on Mohamad's decade of leading Jordan's fiscal and economic policy, and his subsequent work advising boards and institutions on macro strategy and sovereign risk, the conversation examines why the world has shifted from optimising for efficiency to competing on resilience, and what that means for sovereign differentiation across emerging markets. They explore how AI is less a software story for EMs than an infrastructure and human capital imperative, and why energy policy has become inseparable from industrial and defence strategy. The episode also covers the corridor economies of Turkey and Azerbaijan, the risks of fiscal short-termism, and why career-safe index investing is increasingly a dangerous bet.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

April 29, 2026Episode 5542 min

Why Investors in Emerging Markets Remain Invested

Alaa Bushehri, Head of Emerging Market Debt at BNP Paribas Asset Management, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to examine why investors in emerging markets remain invested through successive waves of global volatility. Drawing on Alaa's more than two decades with the BNP Paribas Group, the conversation examines how improved asset class fundamentals, stronger central bank credibility and diversified financing channels have kept spreads contained and sustained investor confidence. They explore the divergence between emerging market and developed market monetary cycles, with EM central banks demonstrating an unprecedented willingness to ease independently of the Fed. The episode also covers the structural case for local currency over hard currency, the outlook for de-dollarisation, idiosyncratic opportunities from Brazil and Colombia to Egypt, and how EM policymakers are better positioned to deploy fiscal tools ahead of monetary ones in navigating inflationary pressures.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

April 23, 2026Episode 5444 min

Emerging Markets at an Inflection Point: AI, Energy Transition, and the Case for Active Investing

Mike Gush, Partner at Baillie Gifford, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to examine why the investment case for emerging markets has fundamentally shifted. Drawing on Mike's two decades managing emerging market equities at Baillie Gifford, the conversation examines how the asset class has matured beyond its reputation for volatility, with stronger fiscal foundations and a new generation of world-class companies. They explore emerging markets' central role in the global AI supply chain and energy transition, from chip manufacturing and battery technology to critical minerals. The episode also covers the contrasting opportunities in China and India, digital leapfrogging across Latin America and Southeast Asia, and the renewed case for active stock selection over index exposure.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

April 16, 2026Episode 5354 min

Rethinking Development Finance: Mobilising Private Capital for Emerging Markets

Frederique Dahan, Director of the Development and Public Finance Programme and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to discuss the evolving role of development finance in mobilising private capital for emerging markets and developing economies. Drawing on Frederique's two decades at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and her research at ODI Global, the conversation examines why the promise of turning billions into trillions through blended finance has largely failed to materialise, and what a more credible mobilisation agenda looks like. They explore how development finance institutions are rethinking their models, from originate-to-distribute strategies and risk-transfer mechanisms to closer integration with national development banks and local capital markets. The episode also covers the tension between bespoke deal-making and the standardisation required to attract institutional investors at scale, the implications of shrinking official development assistance, and how a shifting balance of global economic power is reshaping the relationship between DFIs and the countries they serve.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

April 9, 2026Episode 5239 min

Political Risk Insurance as an Enabler of EM Investing

Natalie Chiaramonte, President of Sovereign Risk Insurance, joins Tellimer Founder & CEO Duncan Wales to discuss how political risk insurance functions as a critical enabler of long-term investment and lending in emerging markets. Drawing on Natalie's expertise in sovereign credit and trade finance, the conversation examines how underwriters assess sovereign creditworthiness beyond the numbers, weighing political stability, institutional quality, and policy credibility alongside the hard data. They explore how the business approaches multi-year financing commitments in volatile environments, why remaining a consistent and reliable partner through periods of stress is central to the sovereign risk model, and what distinguishes disciplined underwriting from opportunistic risk taking. The episode also covers how emerging market resilience has structurally improved since 2022, the role political risk insurance plays in mobilising private capital into otherwise uninvestable markets, and why the product is increasingly seen as a foundational tool for sustainable EM investment.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

March 17, 2026Episode 5145 min

Tested by Fire, Emerging Markets Come of Age

Phoenix Kalen, Global Head of Emerging Markets Research at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking, joins Tellimer Founder & CEO, Duncan Wales, to discuss the investment implications of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and what the conflict means for emerging markets across the short and long term. Drawing on Phoenix's deep expertise in sovereign debt, credit, and EM strategy built across institutions including RBS and JP Morgan, the conversation examines which economies stand to win and lose from elevated oil prices and supply disruption, why the market reaction has been notably more contained than the Russia-Ukraine shock of 2022, and what that tells us about the structural maturation of emerging markets as an asset class. They also explore the ongoing shift away from dollar-denominated assets, whether EM carry trades can recover, the growing case for local currency bond markets on their own merits, and why the old framework of treating emerging markets purely as a spread product over US Treasuries is increasingly difficult to defend.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

March 9, 2026Episode 5043 min

Iran, Oil and the Global Economy: How This War Could Reshape Markets

Hasnain Malik⁠, Head of Investment Strategy at ⁠Tellimer⁠, joins ⁠Tellimer⁠ Founder & CEO, ⁠Duncan Wales⁠, to discuss the rapidly escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, and the potential consequences for global markets. Drawing on Hasnain’s three decades of experience in MENA and analysing geopolitics and emerging market investment strategy, the conversation explores whether the war could expand across the region, what a destabilised Iran might mean for Middle East politics, and why a collapse of the Iranian regime could open the door to even greater instability. They also examine the risks to global energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz, the political pressures facing leaders in Washington and Tel Aviv, and how investors should think about positioning in emerging markets if oil prices and geopolitical risk remain elevated.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

February 3, 2026Episode 4946 min

Sovereign Credit Risk: The Challenges for Investors

Dr. Lupin Rahman, leading sovereign debt expert and author of The Sovereign Debt Investor, joins Tellimer Founder & CEO Duncan Wales to discuss why sovereign credit risk is no longer confined to emerging markets, and how the EM playbook is increasingly shaping global fixed income. Drawing on Lupin's experience at PIMCO, the IMF, and the World Bank, the conversation explores how rising debt burdens in advanced economies are turning sovereign debt into an active driver of market volatility, challenging traditional assumptions around the risk-free rate. They also examine the importance of policy credibility, geopolitics and scenario-based risk pricing, the growing role of ESG as a core component of sovereign analysis, and how digitisation, tokenisation, and stablecoin adoption could transform sovereign issuance and investor access as global markets enter a more complex and differentiated phase in 2026.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

January 19, 2026Episode 4842 min

Stablecoins, Sovereignty, and Settlement Speed: Why 2026 Could Be the Year of Adoption

Tanner Taddeo, CEO and co-founder of Stable Sea, joins Tellimer CEO, Duncan Wales, to discuss how stablecoins are moving from the crypto periphery into the core infrastructure of global payments. Drawing on Tanner’s background across humanitarian finance, investment banking and enterprise fintech, the conversation explores how stablecoins help businesses hedge currency volatility, bypass USD liquidity constraints and speed up cross-border settlement in emerging markets, particularly across Global South–to–Global South trade corridors. They also examine the geopolitics of digital financial rails, the rise of non-USD stablecoins and on-chain FX, the role of regulation and reserve transparency, and why stablecoins are shifting from SMB savings tools to mid-market trade solutions and, increasingly, Fortune 500 treasury operations as the market moves from 2025’s legitimacy moment into a broader adoption phase in 2026.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

December 16, 2025Episode 4744 min

From Tariffs to Tight Spreads: 2025 in Review for Emerging Markets

Maria Jose Alvarez, Client Success Manager at Tellimer, joins CEO Duncan Wales for a special year-in-review episode, revisiting what the team got right — and less right — in their 2025 emerging markets outlook. They unpack the impact of Trump’s second term and “Liberation Day” tariffs, the weaker US dollar and its outsized boost to EM local debt, hard currency bonds and equities, and why frontier markets like Vietnam and Indonesia quietly benefited from trade re-routing. The conversation also covers a more complicated-than-expected geopolitical backdrop, the absence of new sovereign defaults, the role of elections in shaping policy credibility, and why local rates, idiosyncratic restructurings and selected high-yield stories remain central to the EM opportunity set going into 2026.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To get access to our top picks for 2026, please contact sales@tellimer.com.The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.