Podcast Episodes

America’s Addiction to Easy Money, with Ruchir Sharma

Season 2 Episode 120

Are bailouts the new “trickle-down” economics? Have government debt and deficits caused capitalism’s collapse—thus ending the American Dream?

Ruchir Sharma is a well-known columnist for the Financial …

Published on 8 months, 4 weeks ago

The Argentinian DOGE

Season 2 Episode 119

A new U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Its goals include administrative reductions, cost savings, regulatory cutbacks, and reducing federal …

Published on 9 months, 1 week ago

The Fertility Crisis: Capitalism's Next Challenge, with Sir Niall Ferguson

Season 2 Episode 118

For years, the world worried about overpopulation and our capacity to sustain ever-increasing numbers of people. Now, the worry is underpopulation—and recent numbers are stunning. Fertility rate is t…

Published on 9 months, 4 weeks ago

Visa's Hidden Tax on Americans

Season 2 Episode 117

While Americans rely on debit transactions for the necessities of life, most are unaware of the networks that drive those transactions, nor are they aware that one company, Visa, has monopolized debi…

Published on 10 months, 1 week ago

How Lobbying Led to Crony Capitalism, with Brody Mullins

Season 2 Episode 116

As the United States elections draw near, everyone is wondering who will take control of Washington next. In this week’s Capitalisn’t episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Brody Mullins reveals ho…

Published on 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Mailbag: UBI, AI, and Does Luigi Believe in "Free Time"?

Season 2 Episode 115

You asked and we answered: Over the last year, we have solicited listeners’ questions via voicemail, email, and social media. In this episode, our producer, Matt, turns the tables on Bethany and Luig…

Published on 11 months, 1 week ago

Harris vs. Trump: Economics Beyond The "Vibes"

Season 2 Episode 114

Last week, United States presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump delivered hour-long speeches outlining their economic policies for the country if they win in November. This week on a …

Published on 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Can Democracy Coexist With Big Tech? with Marietje Schaake

Season 2 Episode 113

International technology policy expert, Stanford University academic, and former European parliamentarian Marietje Schaake writes in her new book that a “Tech Coup” is happening in democratic societi…

Published on 11 months, 3 weeks ago

Universities and Politics: Should They Mix? with Hanna Gray

Season 2 Episode 112

America’s universities have powered its economy by developing an educated workforce and producing transformative technology, including the internet and vaccines. They were seen as vehicles for social…

Published on 1 year ago

Raj Chetty's Surprising New Insights On How Children Succeed

Season 2 Episode 111

Is race a more consequential determinant of social mobility than class? How and under what circumstances do Americans move up the economic ladder?

For years, Harvard economist Raj Chetty has leveraged…

Published on 1 year ago