Volascope Labs

We want to check in before we hit record on our next podcast:

What does Ayeh think about DOGE? There's a difference between efficiently knocking down a house and efficiently running a construction site. On this episode of Volala: Volatility is the Life of Our Party, we talk sustainable efficiency - opportunities for the government to save while considering the full economic toll of uncertainty– after we touch on the economic throughlines where uncertainty will impact bottom lines: ?? Inflation ticking up has ramifications. We take a look at what’s driving the 3% CPI inflation rate, why it's expected to be sticky longer, potential tax cuts, and why high interest rates amidst tariff-driven inflation could result in stagflation. ?? The economy is re-re-re-readjusting after COVID, WFH, RTW, wars, and a new U.S. presidential administration. Where it lands depends on what risks take up our brainshare in the coming years. ?? Trade policies are changing, but not everything is a crisis. We break down what tariffs, supply chains, and labor markets mean for small business owners, workers, retirees, investors, and entire industries—from agriculture to tech to transportation. ?? Plus, AI ownership and control are up for grabs. We look at how AI policy is being shaped through tariffs, taxes, and even the Sovereign Wealth Fund Trump has floated. We’re still constructing a podcast that’s clear, engaging, and—dare we say—enjoyable. If you have feedback on what you’d like to see in future episodes, email us at [email protected]. ?? Link in comments to listen. #Macroeconomy #EconomicTrends #AI #DOGE? #TradePolicy #Inflation #Tariffs #Podcast

Tariffs have dominated the news for the past three weeks, with new announcements, retaliatory measures, and ongoing negotiations unfolding almost daily. In this "It’s Economic!" edition of Volala, Ayeh Bandeh-Ahmadi dives into the economic impact of tariffs, exploring how companies might adjust their strategies to protect their bottom lines—and yours. Tune in to the clip below. We also made you a cheat sheet of ways U.S. companies could react to tariffs based on the episode so you can follow along (link to a Volala post in comments): #Tariffs #EconomicInsights #ItsEconomic #EconomicTrends

In the time it took to produce, record and post the second ep of our podcast, Volala: Volatility is the Life of Our Party, news cycles shifted fast. The 30-day pause to US tariffs on Canada was announced as we recorded and China’s retaliatory measures were released within a couple hours after we finished. We debated recording inserts as the developments hit our phones. If it’s so hard for us to nail down the big picture trends that matter amidst economic turbulence, we know it’s not easy for most of our listeners either. This episode—and the very ethos behind Volala—is all about showing that meaningful conversations can still happen, no matter your background. Whether you’re in government, tech, finance, or somewhere else, we want to demonstrate that we can engage in discussions that matter, without getting bogged down by political noise. So, if you’re overwhelmed by the news and feeling disconnected about what the future holds, listen as Ayeh Bandeh-Ahmadi shifts the focus to the one question that can keep us grounded in these uncertain times. #itseconomic #EconomicInsights #macroeconomy

We’re Building the Podcast We Wanted to Hear A lot has changed in just two weeks—and if you’re trying to make sense of it all, you’re not alone. Welcome to the “It’s Economic!” edition of Volala: Volatility is the Life of Our Party–where the conversation is lively, the economy is unpredictable, and tariffs are suddenly the main course. Our own Ayeh Bandeh-Ahmadi brings insight from working across more than 20 federal agencies and offices—including managing trillions in U.S. debt at Treasury during the first Trump administration—to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface of today’s big policy and economic shifts. Rather than focusing on political talking points, she looks at how policy, business, and technology intersect—and the second-and third-order effects of tariffs, AI, and government restructuring as they ripple through paychecks, prices, and how business gets done. If you’re looking for a podcast that values different perspectives, focuses on analysis over hot takes, and looks at how policy and markets actually play out over time, this is that conversation. Your economic dinner party awaits! Here’s what’s on the menu: We break down what’s actually changing and what it means—without the panic or the hype: ?? The Fed is stepping back, and policy is stepping in. Tax cuts, tariffs, and trade negotiations are now driving the economy’s next moves. ?? Businesses aren’t just reacting—they’re recalibrating. How companies are weighing investment, risk, and strategy in response to shifting policy and economic uncertainty. ?? AI is shifting, but not in the way headlines suggest. Pricing, adoption, and real business models that are still sorting themselves out will shape our lives. ?? The government is restructuring, with big implications. Federal severance packages, contractors replacing full-time jobs, and Big Tech stepping deeper into government functions. ??A quick, smart guide to tariffs—and all the ways they can play out. With new moves from the U.S., Mexico, China, and Canada, what this means for inflation, supply chains, and business strategy. This is only the second episode of Volala so we’d love your feedback, questions, and what you’d like us to cover on future episodes as we set the table for all of us. ?? Link in comments to listen. #ItsEconomic #Tariffs #Macroeconomy #Podcast #EconomicTrends #TradePolicy

Team Volascope in LA is hanging in there, though there's a lot to process as the wildfires are slowly being contained. Our founder has been reflecting on the intensity of the past couple of days, You can read her thoughts in this note.

?? We're getting ready to record the second episode of our podcast at Volascope Labs. Here's a look at what's on the slate: ?? What to expect with inflation ?? Tariffs in the next six months ?? Trade and interest rates Want us to cover your burning economic questions? Drop a comment below! ???? Also, if you haven't listened to the first episode, this is a good time to catch up. Check out the comments section for the links! ??

As self-proclaimed FRED fans–we’re excited to see that according to the New York Times, we’re not alone in the party. In last week’s team meeting, we geeked out over an NYT piece that highlights this powerhouse of economic data. At Volascope Labs, we’re always tapping into economic datasets to stay ahead of the curve. If you’re a fellow FRED enthusiast, we’d love to hear: which dataset do you find yourself coming back to most often? If you’re also a fan, what autocompletes pop up when you type “fred.stlouisfed.org” in your browser? https://lnkd.in/eFbgMmiK #EconomicData #FRED #Inflation #EconomicTrends #DataDriven

At Voloscope Labs, our approach to building centers on user experience and accessibility. ??? Ayeh Bandeh-Ahmadi emphasizes the importance of listening to our users during the development process. Through comprehensive user interviews, we discovered that many professionals feel overwhelmed by the contradictory financial news bombarding them daily. That’s why we aims to simplify complex economic information, delivering insights that are not only reliable but make people smile. By combining data science with thoughtful design, we create a tool that empowers users to understand economic changes swiftly and effectively. Join us in redefining how we interact with economic data! #UserCenteredDesign #Economics #finance #ItsEconomic

If you’re new to the party, you may be asking “What’s Volascope Labs?” Hit play and let our founder, Ayeh Bandeh-Ahmadi, explain it in less than 90 seconds. Welcome to a new era of economic clarity. #economy #economics