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Is capitalism the engine of destruction or the engine of prosperity? On this podcast we talk about the ways capitalism is—or more often isn’t—working in our world today. Hosted by author and journalist Bethany McLean and world renowned economist Luigi Zingales, we explain how capitalism can go wrong, and what we can do to fix it. Cover photo attributions: www.chicagobooth.edu/research/stig... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes222Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Capitalisn't

Latest Episodes

Standard economic theory informs how we think about business strategy and the economy and presumes that people are selfish, have well-defined preferences, and consistently make welfare-maximizing choices. In other words, we are rational. But what if ... more

Every major technological revolution has come with a bubble: railroads, electricity, dot-com. Is it AI’s turn? With investments skyrocketing and market valuations reaching the trillions, the stakes are enormous. But are we witnessing a genuine revolu... more

The Japanese economy was once the envy of the world. By the 1980s, it looked set to surpass the United States in size. Real estate prices were high, the stock market was booming—the entire world was asking if Japan had found a superior model of econo... more

Why does a podcast about capitalism want to talk about science?

Modern capitalism and science have evolved together since the Enlightenment. Advances in ship building and navigation enabled the Age of Discovery, which opened up new trade routes and ... more

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Recent Guests

Arvind Narayanan
Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University and co-author of AI Snake Oil
Princeton University
Episode: What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About AI, with Arvind Narayanan
Takeo Hoshi
A professor of economics at the University of Tokyo and an expert on Japan's financial system and economic stagnation
University of Tokyo
Episode: Why Capitalism Stopped Working In Japan, with Takeo Hoshi
John Ioannidis
Physician scientist and professor at Stanford University, known for his work on research reliability.
Stanford University
Episode: How Profit and Politics Hijacked Scientific Inquiry, with John Ioannidis
Dan Rasmussen
Founder of Verdad Advisors and author of The Humble Investor
Verdad Advisors
Episode: Trump's Great Private Equity Bailout, with Dan Rasmussen
Sal Khan
Founder of Khan Academy, dedicated to providing free education globally
Khan Academy
Episode: Should Chatbots Teach Our Children? With Khan Academy CEO Sal Khan
Ken Rogoff
Influential economist, Harvard professor, and former IMF chief economist.
Harvard University
Episode: Can The Dollar Be Dethroned?, with Ken Rogoff
Chris Hughes
Co-founder of Facebook, Chair of the Economic Security Project, and PhD candidate at Wharton
Economic Security Project
Episode: Revealing the Secret Architects of Capitalism, with Chris Hughes
David Sirota
An award-winning journalist and Oscar-nominated writer, founder of The Lever.
The Lever
Episode: How The Democrats Lost Labor And Found Capital, with David Sirota
Cliff Asness
Founder, managing principal and chief investment officer at AQR Capital Management
AQR Capital Management
Episode: Why Cliff Asness Believes Markets Are Getting Dumber

Hosts

Bethany McLean
Co-host and author focused on financial journalism with expertise in capitalism and its socio-economic implications.
Luigi Zingales
Co-host and renowned economist with a focus on capitalism, financial markets, and corporate governance.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • A must-listen show for today’s times

    Issues around corporate power and democracy are at the center stage of today’s world.

    This show does an amazing job discussing the key topics at the intersection, always with excellent guests, and the hosts are funny and very insightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PHL132l
    United States5 months ago
  • Significance served in dialogue format

    Zingales and McLean adds their unique combined perspective to matters of strategic significance. A must-hear for decision makers with personal involvement in their businesses, humanizes topics, methods, models. Makes you a better leader and participant, whether you agree or not.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A_Andersen
    Denmark6 months ago
  • Content 👍 audio 👎

    Interesting and well argued content (whether you agree or not). But the audio content is terrible. Dogs barking. Notification pings. Ugh.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Andrew O of London
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Essential Listening for Anyone Navigating Business, Brand, and Culture

    As someone who works at the intersection of brand, marketing, and creative strategy, Capital Isn’t is an invaluable resource. Luigi Zingales and Bethany McLean break down the forces shaping our economy in a way that goes beyond theory—it’s about how power, policy, and capital impact the real world, from business decisions to cultural trends.

    In my work, understanding these dynamics helps me think more critically about everything from market positioning to corporate responsibility and the shifti... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eric_Sow
    United States8 months ago
  • A good source to get the Neoliberal perspective.

    Interesting topics, and informative. I don't agree with the hosts' perspective, but I think it's useful to hear what your political opponents have to say.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Royce1629
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the insightful analyses and critical perspectives on capitalism and socio-economic issues.
The combination of humor and serious subjects makes the hosts relatable and engaging.
Reviews highlight that the content is valuable for professionals looking to understand economic and political dynamics more deeply.
Many listeners find the expert guests highly knowledgeable and the discussions thought-provoking, though some criticize audio quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#26
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#28
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#33
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#10
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#62
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#74
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Capitalism Stopped Working In Japan, with Takeo Hoshi
Q: What does Japan's experience and your experience in being wrong tell us about how to think about a world washing debt and the United States washing debt?
Japan's bond market believes the government will eventually take action to fix the situation, justifying the current level of debt, but that expectation can change quickly.
Why Capitalism Stopped Working In Japan, with Takeo Hoshi
Q: How much of what happened over the last number of decades, well, maybe let's confine it to that specific interval then, the 1990s, how much of the failure of Japan's economy to recover broadly was the fault of policy makers?
Most of the stagnation in Japan after the 1990s can be blamed on policymakers for not addressing non-performing loans and allowing banks to continue business as usual.
How Profit and Politics Hijacked Scientific Inquiry, with John Ioannidis
Q: How can you draw a clear line between mistakes that arise from cognitive biases versus those due to bad incentives?
The two categories interact, and transparency regarding conflicts is key.
How Profit and Politics Hijacked Scientific Inquiry, with John Ioannidis
Q: How would you define science?
A process of asking questions and trying to get answers that are falsifiable and can be evaluated.
How Profit and Politics Hijacked Scientific Inquiry, with John Ioannidis
Q: What made you an unorthodox thinker?
My interest was on rigorous methods and the observation of common mistakes and flaws in research.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Capitalisn't

What is Capitalisn't about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show explores the multifaceted nature of capitalism, highlighting both its potential for prosperity and its pitfalls. The hosts engage in-depth discussions on timely economic issues, scrutinizing how capitalist frameworks affect diverse aspects of society, governance, and individual lives. Episodes often feature expert guests who provide unique insights into complex subjects such as private equity, housing crises, educational reforms, and the influence of technology on economics. By combining humor with rigorous analysis, the hosts aim to uncover the underlying truths of capitalism's functionality and failures, making it an engaging listen for those interested in economic theory and its real-world applications.

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Which podcasts are similar to Capitalisn't?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Capitalisn't:

1. The Pie: An Economics Podcast
2. Big Brains
3. Odd Lots
4. Macro Musings with David Beckworth
5. Conversations with Tyler

How many episodes of Capitalisn't are there?

Capitalisn't launched 8 years ago and published 222 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Capitalisn't?

Recent guests on Capitalisn't include:

1. Arvind Narayanan
2. Takeo Hoshi
3. John Ioannidis
4. Dan Rasmussen
5. Sal Khan
6. Ken Rogoff
7. Chris Hughes
8. David Sirota

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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