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Planet Money

Wanna see a trick? Give us any topic and we can tie it back to the economy. At Planet Money, we explore the forces that shape our lives and bring you along for the ride. Don't just understand the economy – understand the world.

Wanna go deeper? Subscribe to Planet Money+ and get sponsor-free episodes of Planet Money, The Indicator, and Planet Money Summer School. Plus access to bonus content. It's a new way to support the show you love. Learn more at plus.npr.org/planetmoney

Episodes

Two crypto crash Indicators

Two stories of consternation from inside the crypto world. Can a crypto crash spread to the wider economy? How does contagion work? And ... why has crypto had such appeal with Black investors? | Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jul 06, 202219 minEp. 1551

Suitcases, secret lists, and Citizens United

On today's show: the Watergate scandal you haven't heard about – that led directly to Citizens United and multi-billion dollar elections. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jul 01, 202226 minEp. 1550

When Subaru came out (Classic)

In the early 90s, Subaru was struggling to stand out in a crowded automobile market. In their greatest time of need, they turned to an unlikely ally: lesbians | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jun 29, 202220 minEp. 1549

Recession referees

Whenever the economic data start to look rough, we're forced to confront a familiar question: Are we in a recession, or about to be? But there are actually only eight opinions in the country that officially matter. Today on the show, we meet the committee that calls recessions. | Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jun 25, 202223 minEp. 1548

The tale of the Onion King (Update)

How one man's quest to dominate the onion market changed commodities trading, and potentially how much you pay at the grocery store, forever. | Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jun 22, 202219 minEp. 1547

The debate over what's causing inflation

The last few months have made us acutely aware of inflation. We all agree that it's making our lives harder, but economists disagree about what's causing it. | Fill out our listener survey: npr.org/podcastsurvey Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jun 17, 202219 minEp. 1546

Let them eat lunch

For many Americans, desk lunches are the norm. You might even be having one right now. But what if it didn't have to be this way? | Fill out our listener survey here Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jun 16, 202222 minEp. 1545

The Gecko Effect

Years ago advertising was dominated by cars and beer. Today on the show, how a simple slogan and a talking gecko helped the insurance industry become one of the most dominant forces in advertising. Now, we're all living with the consequences. | Fill out our listener survey here Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Jun 11, 202228 minEp. 1544

On the case: Recession, formula, and greenbacks

It was just another day at the office. Then the phone started ringing and the caseload kept growing...on today's show, your favorite Planet Money gumshoes investigate your listener questions. | Fill out our listener survey here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jun 09, 202220 minEp. 1543

Homer Simpson vs. the economy

When the beloved Simpsons family made its TV debut in 1989, it squarely represented middle-class America. Today ... not so much. That house, those two cars, those three kids all on one salary doesn't seem so believable anymore. Today we examine the changing reality of what middle-class means in America through the Simpsons. It's a wild, musical journey into the heart of the US economy. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoi...

Jun 03, 202220 minEp. 1542

The bank war (Classic)

In the 1800s, populist president Andrew Jackson went head-to-head with the most powerful banker in America over who should control the country's money. This clash ended in disastrous results. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jun 01, 202220 minEp. 1541

We Buy a Superhero 7: Collectibles (Live Show!)

What transforms a regular object into a collectible? At our live show earlier this month, we went on a journey through collectibles history. And we had a goal: to turn our Micro-Face comic book into the most collectible item of all time. | Bid on our collectible Micro-Face comic book here ! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 28, 202228 minEp. 1540

The NRA's Secret Tapes

Soon after the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, leaders of the National Rifle Association held a conference call to craft their response. Secret tapes from this call obtained by NPR's Investigations team reveal how the NRA developed what would become their standard response after decades of school shootings. | Listen to the original Up First episode: n.pr/nratapes Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 26, 202232 minEp. 1539

Investing in mediocrity

Is the key to success in financial markets a matter of luck or skill? One former bond manager shares his strategy: Win big by avoiding winning. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 20, 202225 minEp. 1538

How the burrito became a sandwich (Classic)

A sandwich is generally defined as something delicious slapped between two slices of bread. New York tax code would beg to differ. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 18, 202216 minEp. 1537

Buy now, pay dearly?

A wave of companies that allow customers to pay for items from their favorite stores in four interest-free installments has taken over the country. But is "buy now, pay later" lending too good to be true? | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 14, 202221 minEp. 1536

A 12-year-old girl takes on the video game industry (UPDATE)

When Maddie Messer was 12 years old, she noticed an unfair dynamic in the video games she loved: playing as a man was often free, but she had to pay to play as a woman. So ... she decided to take on the video game industry. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 11, 202219 minEp. 1535

The day Russia adopted the free market

In the early 90s, American economist Jeffrey Sachs was a part of a team that tried to transform Russia's economy. It did not go as planned. He tells us what he thinks went so wrong. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 07, 202231 minEp. 1534

Escheat show (Classic)

If you're looking for money you've forgotten about, there's a chance the government might have it. The good news is that you can get it back. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

May 04, 202221 minEp. 1533

Planet Money book club

Behind every Planet Money episode is a ton of reading. Today, we share some of our favorite books from along the way. Here are our picks: From Mary, American Bonds: How Credit Markets Shaped a Nation by Sarah L. Quinn From Erika, The End of Globalization: Lessons from the Great Depression by Harold James From Alexi, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 29, 202216 minEp. 1532

Risky business

Two stories on how businesses are using insurance to navigate new kinds of risks. First, how music venues are handling pandemic-related risks. And how Russia's invasion of Ukraine is affecting cyber insurance. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 27, 202218 minEp. 1531

We Buy a Superhero 6: The Comic Book

After many, many delays, the Micro-Face comic book is here! And we answer the burning question: Why did it take so long to make a comic book? | Come see Planet Money Live in NYC on May 10th! One night only. Tickets on sale here . And buy our now-ready Micro-Face comic book . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 22, 202226 minEp. 1530

TikTok to the top

Thanks to TikTok, Tai Verdes went from struggling musician to Top 40 hitmaker. But first, he had to crack the algorithm of how to go viral. | Come see Planet Money Live in NYC on May 10th! One night only. Tickets on sale here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 21, 202222 minEp. 1529

The student loan paaaaauuuuuse

The pause on federal student loan payments was just extended for the sixth time in two years. So...what's that been like for the borrowers, and what's in store for them when the system eventually restarts? | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . | Planet Money TikTok has been nominated for a Webby award! Cast your vote for us here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 15, 202221 minEp. 1528

Peanuts and Cracker Jack (Classic)

Ballpark vendors share their strategies and other secrets to selling the most hot dogs at baseball games. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Apr 13, 202222 minEp. 1527

How manatees got into hot water

While on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, manatees found sanctuary in the warm waters of Florida power plants. Now, they're hooked on fossil fuels. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 08, 202224 minEp. 1526

Turkey's runaway inflation problem

Turkey is facing really high inflation, over 60 percent. Its president is taking an unorthodox approach to dealing with it. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 06, 202221 minEp. 1525

When bricks were rubles

For a brief, strange period after the U.S.S.R. collapsed, "real" money was less valuable than tradeable objects like bricks or towels. We look back at the Russian barter economy and we see the nature of money and value underneath all currency. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Apr 01, 202223 minEp. 1524

The Bond King

Investing legend Bill Gross revolutionized the bond market, built an empire, and lost it all. Our very own Mary Childs talks about her new book, The Bond King. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Mar 30, 202222 minEp. 1523

Fashion Fair's makeover

Fashion Fair was the first big national brand to make makeup for Black women, but it slowly faded into obscurity. Now that it's relaunched, can it compete in an industry it helped create? | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here . Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...

Mar 25, 202224 minEp. 1522
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