Is freedom just another word for nothing left to lose?

Is freedom just another word for nothing left to lose?

Author: Daily Maverick April 29, 2025 Duration: 20:32
Most arguments in favour of freedom are positive: the correlation between freedom and human development goals is, generally speaking, pretty strong. But actually, the most powerful arguments in favour of freedom are negative: if you live in a place where freedom is limited and autocrats, your chances of ending up dead are pretty high. South Africa celebrated Freedom Day this week, and in this podcast, entrepreneur Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen discuss the famous - and famously cryptic - line in Kris Kristofferson’s song Me and Bobby McGee, “freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose”. And we conclude, actually, it isn’t.

Every week, the complex world of business and current affairs gets a thorough and engaging examination on Stand Up! Business. Hosted by investment banker Mark Barnes and Business Maverick editor Tim Cohen, this podcast from Daily Maverick moves beyond the headlines to unpack the real stories shaping markets and economies. The conversation is grounded in their combined decades of front-line experience, offering a perspective that is both analytical and accessible. You’ll hear them dissect the latest news with a critical eye, often challenging conventional wisdom and exploring the deeper implications of financial and political events. It’s a midweek ritual that feels like listening in on a candid discussion between two experts who aren’t afraid to ask tough questions. Each episode provides clarity on the forces driving change, making sense of the noise for anyone interested in the intersection of business, policy, and society. Tune in for a regular dose of insightful commentary that goes far beyond the surface-level reporting, all delivered with the straightforward approach that defines this essential podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Stand Up! Business
Podcast Episodes
Donald Trump and the problem of having a BEE in your bonnet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:52
The world and its distant relatives have had their say about the theatrical meeting between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump. Is there anything more to say? The answer is, well, yes.…
The inconvenience of knowing the whole truth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:06
For philosophers, the truth is indivisible. But sometimes, there are those among us who think that the truth should not be divided, as such, but … why use it all? Particularly when it's really only necessary to use part…
SA winning international team events, losing local common purpose. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
What a day. The first Afrikaner “refugees” leave for the USA. On the same day, SA topped the tables in the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, winning two and coming third in another, breaking a national record.…
Feasting at the Buffett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:43
When hunger strikes, the fiscally responsible glutton knows what to do: scout around until you find a hotel with a buffet and pile your plate like it’s a game of edible Jenga. Essentially, that is what investors have ach…
The popes legacy and the future of the budget [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:42
Pope Francis, not for nothing the namesake of St Francis of Assisi, died on Easter weekend, a wonderful coda to a remarkable career. Francis was a compassionate reformer who tried to modernise the church, and it was a ma…
Tariffs have two "f"s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:47
The stock markets around the world are in a funk following the decision by US President Donald Trump to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on more or less all the US's trading partners - except they weren't reciprocal, they wer…
My f** Marelize! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:57
A while ago now, a Twitter post called “My f** Marelize!” went viral. The pathos, the humor, and the undercurrent of frustration were all captured in an 18-second video of a mother trying to teach her hapless daughter (w…
The nappy law of politicians and the futility of tariff wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:56
Government is always looking for money to take rather than money to make, says entrepreneur Mark Barnes in this discussion over the news of the week with Daily Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen. Which leads us to the de…
What is the (diplomatic) state of brand SA? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:29
In this episode entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick editor at large Tim Cohen discuss branding - and that's not the kind you do to the cow. How important are brands (very), how do you work out what a brand is wor…
SA sources of capital are (expletive deleted) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:14
Let's get some things straight. There are only three (expletive deleted) sources of capital; debt, tax, and foreign investment. Well, actually there are more, but as entrepreneur Mark Barnes and Daily Maverick Editor at…