Podcast Episodes
Back to Search568. Why Are People So Mad at Michael Lewis?
Episode 568
Lewis got incredible access to Sam Bankman-Fried, the billionaire behind the spectacular FTX fraud. His book is a bestseller, but some critics say he went too easy on S.B.F. Lewis tells us why the cr…
Published on 2 years ago
567. Do the Police Have a Management Problem?
Episode 567
In policing, as in most vocations, the best employees are often promoted into leadership without much training. One economist thinks he can address this problem — and, with it, America’s gun violence…
Published on 2 years ago
513. Should Public Transit Be Free? (Update)
Episode 513
It boosts economic opportunity and social mobility. It’s good for the environment. So why do we charge people to use it? The short answer: it’s complicated. Also: We talk to the man who gets half the…
Published on 2 years, 1 month ago
566. Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) to Build Anything in America?
Episode 566
Most industries have become more productive over time. But not construction! We identify the causes — and possible solutions. (Can you say ... “prefab”?)
RESOURCES:
"The Strange and Awful Path of Prod…Published on 2 years, 1 month ago
Extra: Jason Kelce Hates to Lose
Pro footballer and star podcaster Jason Kelce is ubiquitous right now (almost as ubiquitous as his brother and co-host Travis, who's been in the limelight for his relationship with Taylor Swift). Aft…
Published on 2 years, 1 month ago
565. Are Private Equity Firms Plundering the U.S. Economy?
Episode 565
They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and employees. Can they both be right? (Probably…
Published on 2 years, 1 month ago
480. How Much Does Discrimination Hurt the Economy? (Replay)
Episode 480
Evidence from Nazi Germany and 1940’s America (and pretty much everywhere else) shows that discrimination is incredibly costly — to the victims, of course, but also the perpetrators. One modern solut…
Published on 2 years, 1 month ago
564. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency
Episode 564
Everyone makes mistakes. How do you learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
RESOURCES:
Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Wel…Published on 2 years, 1 month ago
563. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit
Episode 563
Giving up can be painful. That's why we need to talk about it. Today: stories about glitchy apps, leaky paint cans, broken sculptures — and a quest for the perfect bowl of ramen.
RESOURCES
"Data Snap…Published on 2 years, 2 months ago
562. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 2: Life and Death
Episode 562
In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front line, the lab, and the I.T. department.
RESOURCES:
Right Kind of Wrong: The …Published on 2 years, 2 months ago