Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchAre You Ready for a Fresh Start? (Update)
Episode 455
Behavioral scientists have been exploring whether a psychological reset can lead to lasting change. In this update of a 2021 episode, we survey evidence from the London Underground, Major League Base…
Published on 10 hours ago
Are the Rich Really Less Generous Than the Poor? (Update)
Episode 288
A series of academic studies suggest that the wealthy are, to put it bluntly, selfish jerks. It’s an easy narrative to embrace — but is it true? As part of GiveDirectly’s “Pods Fight Poverty” campaig…
Published on 4 days ago
657. Whose “Messiah” Is It Anyway?
Episode 657
All sorts of people have put their mark on Messiah, and it has been a hit for nearly 300 years. How can a single piece of music thrive in so many settings? You could say it’s because Handel really kn…
Published on 1 week, 4 days ago
Who Pays for “Messiah”?
In the 18th century, Handel relied on royal patronage. Today, it’s donors like Gary Parr who keep the music playing. In this bonus episode of our “Making Messiah” series, Parr breaks down the economi…
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago
656. How Handel Got His Mojo Back
Episode 656
When he wrote Messiah (in 24 days), Handel was past his prime and nearly broke. One night in Dublin changed all that. (Part two of “Making Messiah.”)
SOURCES:Charles King, political scientist at Geor…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
655. “The Greatest Piece of Participatory Art Ever Created”
Episode 655
Why does an 18th-century Christian oratorio lend such comfort to our own turbulent times? Stephen Dubner sets out for Dublin to tell the story of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. (Part one of “Makin…
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Dying Is Easy. Retail Is Hard. (Update)
Episode 613
Macy’s wants to recapture its glorious past. The author of the Wimpy Kid books wants to rebuild his dilapidated hometown. We just want to listen in. (Part two of a two-part series, first published in…
Published on 1 month ago
Is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Its Most Valuable Asset? (Update)
Episode 612
The iconic department store calls the parade its “gift to the nation.” With 30 million TV viewers, it’s also a big moneymaker — at least we think it is: when it comes to parade economics, Macy’s is f…
Published on 1 month ago
654. Is the Public Ready for Private Equity?
Episode 654
A Trump executive order is giving retail investors more access to private markets. Is that a golden opportunity — or fool’s gold?
SOURCES:Elisabeth de Fontenay, professor of law at Duke University.St…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?
Episode 653
Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody want…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago