Bästa Planet Money podcaster (2025)

1
How specialization can lead to burn-out 9:28

2h ago9:28

9:28

Half of all workers are showing signs of burnout according to a survey of international workers. Burnout can come from feeling detached from your work's purpose, having too much work, or ... from specialization. Today on the show, we speak with Shigehiro Oishi, author of Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fu…

1
Can we just change how we measure GDP? 22:16

7h ago22:16

22:16

There's one statistic that rules them all when it comes to keeping track of the economy: gross domestic product (GDP). It's the sum of all final transactions, so all the goods or services bought and sold, in an economy. GDP tells us how hot the economy is running, or how cool — like if we might be heading into a recession. And it's an important too…

1
The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank. 59:42

24d ago59:42

59:42

Send us a text The Freedman's Bank, established in 1865, aimed to empower newly freed slaves through financial literacy and economic opportunity. However, mismanagement and exploitation led to its devastating collapse in 1874, robbing many of their hard-earned savings. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Professor Justene Hill Edwards, author of 'Th…

1
A new-ish gold rush and other indicators 9:29

3d ago9:29

9:29

It's Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at interesting numbers from the news. On today's show, we welcome back co-host Adrian Ma. We also have the price of gold going up, German defense stocking up, and U.S. mergers and acquisitions slowing down. Related episodes: NPR's Adrian Ma remembers girlfriend, Kiah Duggins, who died in D.C. plane crash…

1
What's this about a crypto reserve? 9:29

4d ago9:29

9:29

In 2009, Bitcoin launched as the first cryptocurrency. Just under two decades, President Trump has signed an executive order to create the "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile." On today's show, we look at what the U.S. government plans for this new strategy, plus who benefits from a crypto reserve. Related episodes:…

1
Why there's no referee for the trade war 9:16

5d ago9:16

9:16

Thirty years ago, the U.S. helped create the World Trade Organization, a group of countries linked by a common set of free trade agreements. But then the U.S., starting with the Obama administration, turned against the WTO. This leaves a void where there should be a referee to settle trade disputes between countries. On today's show, how American g…

1
Escheat show (Update) 22:42

4d ago22:42

22:42

Note: This original episode ran in 2020. Walter Schramm did everything right as an investor — at least according to the philosophy of Warren Buffett. So how come he lost a small fortune? In this episode, we look into an obscure government program that slurps up forgotten money. We hunt for money we might have left vulnerable and we try to figure ou…

1
What might save China's economy 9:07

6d ago9:07

9:07

China has set out its target for economic growth this year: around 5 percent. That's a hefty goal for a nation coming off a painful real estate slump. But leaders have their eyes set on other industries to help its economy grow. Today, we dig into the headwinds and tailwinds facing China's economy. Related episodes: The mess at the heart of China's…

1
Why is the federal government still killing coyotes? 8:51

7d ago8:51

8:51

The federal government spends millions of dollars each year on wildlife damage management, a program that includes killing thousands of coyotes. Yet this program may actually have the opposite effect on the coyote's population. Today on the show, why the government keeps spending money on a problem it can't fix. Related episodes: Shooting Bambi to …

1
How Tupperware took over our homes, with Decoder Ring 28:26

9d ago28:26

28:26

Tupperware is the stealthy star of our modern homes. These plastic storage containers are ubiquitous in our fridges, pantries, and closets. But the original product was revolutionary. So was its breakthrough sales strategy: the Tupperware Party. Led in part by a charismatic housewife turned business innovator, Tupperware pioneered more than the par…

1
Southwest surprises, tariff guac shock, and fraud flourishes 9:25

10d ago9:25

9:25

It's Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at interesting numbers from the news. On today's show, we have Southwest Airlines changing course on their free checked bag policy, skyrocketing fraud, and Americans' insatiable appetite for avocados. Related episodes: More fraud, higher bond yields, and faster airline boarding For sponsor-free episodes …

1
How many times can you say uncertainty in one economic report? 8:56

11d ago8:56

8:56

Uncertainty. That's the word-of-the-moment with tariffs, market swings and lots of economic volatility. It's also showing up in the Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book, featuring anecdotes across the U.S. economy. On our latest edition of the Beigies, what can a farmer from the Mississippi Delta tell us about uncertainty? Related episodes: How USAI…

1
The last time we shrank the federal workforce 27:20

11d ago27:20

27:20

If you cut every single federal job President Donald Trump wants to cut, how much money would that save? A president has tried to massively shrink the size of the federal government before. It was in the 90s, under a Democrat. Today on the show: Where they found waste the last time we really looked. (Hint: it wasn't jobs.) And why the pace of firin…

1
The stock market is down, but you don't need to be 8:12

12d ago8:12

8:12

Government cuts. Tariff uncertainty. Sticky interest rates. These are not helping the tumbling stock market. There's a sinking feeling among some Americans that a crash is imminent. But ... should we all be so worried? Today, we brush away the cobwebs of stock market fear and confusion, and bring some long-held facts to the surface. Related episode…

1
Can you take government spending out of GDP? 8:29

13d ago8:29

8:29

The Trump administration has some nits to pick with government spending: They don't think it should be counted as part of the country's GDP, that it should be counted separately. In today's episode, we look at why government spending is part of the U.S.'s GDP and we speculate why Trump's administration might want to take it out ... and what that co…

1
What Bad Bunny teaches us about Puerto Rican tax law 9:29

14d ago9:29

9:29

Bad Bunny's new album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS laments how Puerto Rico is changing. We look at whether tax breaks to newcomers contributed. Related episodes: The battle for Puerto Rico's beaches We Set Up An Offshore Company In A Tax Haven For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at …

1
How to start a bank 25:52

16d ago25:52

25:52

In some ways, starting a bank is a lot like starting any other business. Who will you hire? Where will you be located? What color will the couches be? But it's also way more complicated. There are tons of regulations on banks–and you can understand why. Lots of new businesses fail. But if a bank fails, it can have ripple effects for the entire econ…

1
Can ... we still trust the monthly jobs report? 8:45

17d ago8:45

8:45

Between the Trump administration wanting to change how GDP is calculated and DOGE accessing sensitive government information, statistical agencies are under the microscope. Can we still trust official numbers like the monthly jobs report? A former Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner shares her worries about the future integrity of government da…

1
What to make of the Ukraine minerals deal 9:21

18d ago9:21

9:21

Even after Monday's pause on military aid to Ukraine following the Oval Office blow-up, it looks like a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine is back on the table. We dive into what this potential deal would actually look like and whether Ukraine's minerals really live up to the hype. Related episodes: An end to China's rare earth monopoly? (A…

1
The Parable of Peanut the Memecoin 34:44

19d ago34:44

34:44

Memecoins are having a moment. Everyone from Hawk Tuah to President Donald Trump to animal influencers like Moo Deng the pygmy hippo have been turned into cryptocurrency. But what are the costs of all the hype? On today's show — a modern parable. How an orphaned baby rodent became a world famous animal influencer, became a political martyr, and was…

1
Is the Panama Canal a rip-off? 9:23

19d ago9:23

9:23

Who pays to use the Panama Canal and how much? These questions are part of the tensions between the U.S. and Panama after President Trump threatened to take over the canal. We look at the global shipping lane's fee structure in light of the president's claim that the U.S. is getting ripped off. Related episodes: A drought, a jam, a canal — Panama! …

1
Can the Federal Reserve stay independent? 9:32

20d ago9:32

9:32

President Trump has been on an executive order-signing spree since returning to office, with 76 so far. Today we look at two of them. Can the Fed really split up independent and non-independent roles? And what does DOGE's cost-cutting streak add up to? Related episodes: Slender Starbucks, Medicaid at risk, and the gold card visa (Apple / Spotify) W…

1
How tourist destinations recover after terrorism 8:10

21d ago8:10

8:10

Mardi Gras is in full swing. It's a crucial time for the New Orleans' economy, but the celebrations are cast behind the shadow of the recent terrorist attack. Today on the show, we talk about how terrorism impacts tourism and why some places recover faster than others. Related episodes: Do dollar store bans work (Apple / Spotify) For sponsor-free e…

1
The Memecoin Casino 28:11

23d ago28:11

28:11

What do Moo Deng the pygmy hippo, social media sensation Hawk Tuah, and the President of the United States all have in common? They've all inspired highly valuable, highly volatile memecoins. The humble memecoin began as a sort of satirical send up of speculation in the crypto world. But it was a joke that soon became very real. In the decade since…

1
Slender Starbucks, Medicaid at risk, and the gold card visa 9:17

24d ago9:17

9:17

It's Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at interesting numbers from the news. On today's show, we have potential cuts ahead for Medicaid, Starbucks goes back to basics and gold card immigration. Related episodes: How Magic Johnson's Starbucks created new neighborhood businesses (Apple / Spotify) What's missing in the immigration debate (Apple …

1
Europe's NATO members take an economic hit 9:27

25d ago9:27

9:27

When it comes to defense, one thing looks certain: European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are going to have to pay more. Countries that are struggling economically will soon need to spend hundreds of billions of dollars. Can they do it? Related episodes: Can Europe fund its defense ambitions? (Apple / Spotify) The weapons…

1
The controversy over Tyson Foods' hiring of asylum seekers 25:03

25d ago25:03

25:03

Last year, Tyson Foods shuttered a meat processing plant in Perry, Iowa. The company said it made the decision because the plant was old and inefficient. But the closure was devastating for the residents of Perry. The plant had employed some 1200 workers in a town with a population of only 8000. At the same time, Tyson was also busy hiring workers …

1
A polite message from Canada to the U.S. 9:23

26d ago9:23

9:23

President Donald Trump has said that Canada should be the 51st state... and Canadians? Well, they're furious about it. The nation's former finance minister is calling Trump the biggest threat Canada has faced since World War 2. So today on the show, we dig into what lessons Canada can teach the US, and how the two North American nations are already…

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What's the long-term cost of federal layoffs? 9:29

27d ago9:29

9:29

The personal story of how an energetic lawyer got knocked off from her dream career and what she thinks that might mean for whether the government can attract talented people in the future. Related Episodes: A 'Fork in the Road' for federal employees (Apple / Spotify) Bailing out the FAIR plan, broligarchs beef, and CFPB RIP? (Apple / Spotify) For …

1
What if our income was taxed ... totally differently? 9:28

28d ago9:28

9:28

We are back to answer YOUR listener questions. This time, we answer why bananas can be considered the 'unbothered fruit', what a flat income tax would actually look like, and how extended-hours stock trading works. If you have your own question about the economy, please email us at [email protected]. Related episodes: My Favorite Tax Loophole (Appl…

1
The rise and fall of Long Term Capital Management 27:36

1M ago27:36

27:36

There's this cautionary tale, in the finance world, that nearly any trader can tell you. It's about placing too much confidence in math and models. It's the story of Long Term Capital Management. The story begins back in the 90s. A group of math nerds figured out how to use a mathematical model to identify opportunities in the market, tiny price di…

1
Chicken meat, Gulf of Mexico lawsuit and Social Security beyond the grave 9:23

1M ago9:23

9:23

Surprisingly stable chicken meat prices, a lawsuit threat against the Gulf of Mexico's name change, and the Trump administration's false claims about Social Security beyond the grave are all under the microscope on this edition of Indicators of the Week. Related episodes: What the cluck is happening with egg prices? What does the next era of Social…

1
What happens when billions of dollars in research funding goes away 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

Federal funding from the National Institutes of Health has driven the biomedical research industry in cities across America including Birmingham, Alabama. It's helped support research into life-saving treatments for cancers, strokes and Parkinson's. But, the Trump Administration says the NIH is getting ripped off in how those grants are calculated.…

1
Can the president override Congress on spending? 22:14

1M ago22:14

22:14

So the president can't spend more money than Congress has agreed and voted to spend. But can the president spend less money than Congress wants? It all comes down to something called "impoundment" and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which controls when and how a president can take away money Congress has appropriated. President Trump followed …

1
How USAID cuts hurt American farmers 8:13

1M ago8:13

8:13

The ties between U.S. foreign aid and American agriculture run deep — or at least used to. The U.S. International Agency for Development, or USAID, is the largest provider of humanitarian food aid in the world. Much of that aid comes from U.S. farmers, whose corn, wheat and rice is sold in bulk to the government for USAID's programs. What happens n…

1
What the cluck is happening with egg prices? 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

We visit a local egg farm and talk to an industry analyst to get to the bottom of why the prices of eggs are soaring so quickly and when they might come back to earth. Related episodes: Egg Prices: States Cry Foul Indicators of the Week: tips, eggs and whisky Go ask ALICE about grocery prices For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet M…

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WWE, a very expensive banana, and a quiz contestant 9:19

1M ago9:19

9:19

It's time for The Indicator Quiz! We test you, dear listener, on your knowledge of topics that we've covered on The Indicator. Today's quiz is an economic smorgasbord, ranging from the WWE to the silver tsunami. Play along with us and see how you do! Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Email us your name and phone n…

1
The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze 25:52

1M ago25:52

25:52

There has been chaotic uncertainty around billions of dollars allocated by Congress. The Trump administration ordered a pause on — and review of — certain types of federal assistance. A judge blocked that freeze. But reports continue to emerge that certain parts of the government were not getting their money. As a result, hundreds and hundreds of p…

1
Bailing out the FAIR plan, broligarchs beef, and CFPB RIP? 9:25

1M ago9:25

9:25

What's going on with the FAIR plan in a post-Eaton and Palisades fires California? What's the backstory to the frozen Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? And why are the two tech bros very publicly going at it? Indicators of the Week explains! Related episodes: How a consumer watchdog's power became a liability For sponsor-free episodes of The In…

1
The gutting of USAID 9:25

1M ago9:25

9:25

The United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, has funneled humanitarian aid to countries around the globe for over six decades. Today on the show, people familiar with USAID's work describe the fall-out from the Trump administration's sudden dismantling of the agency, and what that means for the country's longstanding use of for…

1
Exposing Charles Ponzi 9:31

1M ago9:31

9:31

The name Charles Ponzi immediately recalls the financial scheme that bears his name. But what of the man who helped expose Ponzi's scheme? Today on the show, the incredible, little known story of Simon Swig, who upended Boston's financial and banking world in the early 20th century before crossing paths with the notorious scammer. Related episodes:…

1
The Plunder of Black America: How The Racial Wealth Gap Was Made. 1:00:25

1M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

Send us a text Why do some 3.5 million Black American families have zero or negative wealth? 💰 Jack "Calvin" Schermerhorn, Arizona State Professor of History and author of The Plunder of Black America will join Planet Wekeza to share his insights from "The Plunder of Black America: How The Racial Wealth Gap Was Made" ! 📚✨ Schermerhorn traces 400 ye…

1
The 'Crypto Wizard' vs. Nigeria 22:34

1M ago22:34

22:34

The trip that changed Tigran Gambaryan's life forever was supposed to be short — just a few days. When he flew to Nigeria in February of 2024, he didn't even check a bag. Tigran is a former IRS Special Agent. He made his name investigating high-profile dark web and cryptocurrency cases. Some colleagues called him the 'Crypto Wizard' because of his …

1
The U.K.'s tariff balancing act 9:28

1M ago9:28

9:28

President Donald Trump has already made noise with tariff threats against the United States' North American trading partners. And soon, the United Kingdom could become another target which has a chance to drive a wedge between the U.K's trade relationship with the EU. Today on the show, we explore what the U.K. could possibly offer the United State…

1
How the memecoin game is played 9:23

1M ago9:23

9:23

Memecoins are having a moment, but who's making money off them? On today's show, how a dearly beloved internet squirrel found an afterlife as a cryptocurrency and how others, including President Trump, are trying to capitalize on online fame. Related episodes: Is government crypto a good idea? (Apple / Spotify) WTF is a bitcoin ETF? (Apple / Spotif…

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The fight for a legendary shipwreck's treasure 23:29

1M ago23:29

23:29

The San Jose was a marvel of 17th century technology. The Spanish galleon weighed more than a thousand tons, was made of wood reinforced with iron, and featured three masts and 64 cannons. In its cargo were gold, silver, silk and porcelain. But in 1708, it sank after a battle with an English ship near what is now Colombia. For centuries, the shipwr…

1
A 'Fork in the Road' for federal employees 9:12

1M ago9:12

9:12

The job security of government employees has been in the spotlight since President Trump took office with big plans to slash the federal workforce. About 2 million employees were given an offer to quit their jobs. The government says those who resign can collect pay and benefits through September without working. But is this offer even legal? Today…

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How would a US sovereign wealth fund even work? 9:29

2M ago9:29

9:29

What is a sovereign wealth fund? President Trump's executive order calling for a plan to start a U.S. sovereign wealth fund is not a new idea. But it remains a topic of much debate among economists and policymakers. So is a national sovereign wealth fund a good or even viable idea? A version of this episode originally aired Oct. 1, 2024. Related ep…

1
How the scratch off lottery changed America 29:42

2M ago29:42

29:42

Americans spend more on scratch lottery tickets per year than on pizza. More than all Coca-Cola products. Yet the scratch ticket as a consumer item has only existed for fifty years. Not so long ago, the idea of an instant lottery, of gambling with a little sheet of paper, was strange. Scary, even. So, how did scratch lotteries go from an idea that …

1
Trump's tariff role model 9:09

2M ago9:09

9:09

President Trump speaks fondly of William McKinley, the 25th U.S. president who was a strong advocate for tariffs. He's credited with helping to protect the fledgling tinplate industry in the late 19th century. But did the tariff work? We take a closer look at McKinley's tinplate tariff and if it was worth the cost. Related episodes on tariffs: Trum…

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