#255 Grant Williams on the 100-Year Pivot That's Bigger Than Markets

Grant Williams, author of “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…” and host of The Grant Williams podcast, joins Julia La Roche on episode 255 where he discusses what he calls a fundamental "100-year pivot" reshaping the global landscape. Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Monetary Metals. https://monetary-metals.com/julia Williams warns that we've entered an "air pocket" where tariff impacts haven't yet fully manifested in corporate earnings but will soon emerge with significant consequences. He emphasizes a crucial mindset shift from "getting rich" to "staying rich," urging investors to prioritize capital preservation over chasing returns. Williams provides thought-provoking insights on gold's rise reflecting central bank diversification away from US treasuries, the questioning of foundational institutions, and why even his natural cynicism wasn't enough to prepare for the current economic climate. Throughout, he stresses that these changes extend far beyond markets, representing a once-in-a-generation transformation that requires deep reflection. Links: https://www.grant-williams.com/ https://twitter.com/ttmygh 0:00 - Intro and welcome back Grant Williams 0:54 - Big picture macro view question 1:35 - Market uncertainty and volatility discussion 5:52 - Signs of tariff effects appearing in data 7:06 - Return to company fundamentals vs stock pricing 7:35 - Question about holding liquidity 8:18 - Buffett stepping down significance 10:38 - Recent important diplomatic shifts with China and Japan 14:53 - Discussion of "100 year pivot" and generational change 18:01 - Understanding the new world we're navigating 22:03 - Investment vs trading distinction in changing markets 25:00 - Shift from "getting rich" to "staying rich" mindset 27:19 - Gold discussion 34:38 - Future of the US dollar 40:14 - Shift to domestic-focused economic policies 42:22 - Protecting assets vs making money in the new paradigm 48:33 - Risks keeping Grant up at night 52:29 - Not being "cynical enough" realization 57:26 - Problems beyond markets affecting everyday lives 59:56 - Final thoughts