The Good Oil with Scott Phillips

Hosted by LiSTNR

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Ever feel like those who understand the world of finance know something you don’t? Host and investing expert Scott Phillips brings you the best of business, finance, technology and economics to help you understand the world of money better. He'll chat to entrepreneurs, experts, business leaders and more to find out what it takes to be successful, and what you need to know to stay informed in these key industries.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 19, 202653 min

The 2026 Budget and ‘embarrassing the bastards’, with Chris Richardson

The 2026 Budget (and Budget Reply) gave us one of the more potentially consequential weeks in politics and economics in many years. And the GOAT of Budget economics is Chris Richardson, who returns to The Good Oil. In a wide-ranging chat, Chris and Scott talk deficits, negative gearing, capital gains tax, indexation of tax brackets, the NDIS, tobacco excise (and the Laffer Curve), and how to improve policy outcomes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 5, 20261 hr 1 min

Bluey, housing the gas tax and the size of government, with Cameron Murray

Sometimes, economics is topical. Sometimes, topics give us a chance to delve into economics. Returning guest Dr. Cameron Murray weighs in with his first-principles thoughts on some of the biggest issues we’re facing today, and gives us a ‘How would an economist think about this’ perspective that will help you think about some better solutions, too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

March 3, 202646 min

Rebuilding the WNBL, with Jennie Sager

Women's sport is having its (overdue) time in the sun. And that includes the reborn Women’s National Basketball League. From a standing start just over a year ago, a partial privatisation and a new CEO has the competition thriving, and Sager has big plans for the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 17, 202652 min

The Shortest History of Innovation, with Andrew Leigh

From axes to algebra, and steam to steel, innovation has been at the forefront of our development as a society and improved living standards. Scott chats to Federal MP and Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh, about his new book, The Shortest History of Innovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 27, 20261 hr 1 min

How property has performed, and the outlook for 2026, with Eliza Owen

House prices jumped last year, thanks in part to interest rate reductions. But not that alone. And housing affordability has worsened… but not everywhere. Scott chats to former Head of Residential Research (and now independent property analyst) Eliza Owen about all of that and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 4, 202550 min

Gold, ETFs and investor behaviour, with Gemma Dale

There’s never a dull moment in investing, and right now, gold and rare earths are in the spotlight. Then there’s the longer-term trend towards ETFs and overseas investing, too. Scott is joined by Gemma Dale, nabtrade’s Director of SMSF and Investor Behaviour to unpack just what’s happening, and why.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 21, 202552 min

“What ought one to do?” - the importance of ethics, with Simon Longstaff

How should we make decisions? What frameworks should guide us? And can organisations truly be ethical? The study and application of ethics is at the core of what it means to be human, as Dr Simon Longstaff of The Ethics Centre tells host Scott Phillips.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 7, 202554 min

Breaking the investing rules, with David Gardner

In this special episode Scott speaks with Motley Fool co-founder, co-Chairman and Chief Rule Breaker, David Gardner, about his long term investing success, achieved by breaking many of the accepted investing ‘rules’, a process he’s laid down in his new book Rule Breaker Investing.   (You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Rule-Breaker-Investing-Stocks-Lasting/dp/1804091820/)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 23, 202549 min

The secret of long term investing success, with Rob Millner

What do you get when you have the fourth generation of a family running a business that dates back the the 1870s, is the second-oldest company on the ASX, and believes in doing the right things the right way? Long term outperformance and 122 consecutive years of dividends, the last 27 increasing each year. The company is Washington H. Soul Pattinson, and that fourth generation is the man who’s been there for more than 40 years, executive chairman Robert Millner. Take a listen… you’ll come away a better investor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 9, 202552 min

The way we are (and have become), with Hugh Mackay

There are some trends (disruptions?) impacting our society, and they’re doing us harm. The good news is that we can all be part of the solution. Host Scott Phillips talks to social psychologist and researcher Hugh Mackay AO to understand what’s going wrong and what we can do to improve our lives – and those of others. The good news? It starts in our street.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.