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Capitalism
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Social Media
Economics
Education
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We investigate how capitalism is—or more often isn’t—working in our world today. Hosted by economist Luigi Zingales and business journalist Bethany McLean, our podcast explains why capitalism can go wrong and what we can do to fix it. Send us your questions or comments by emailing capitalisntpod@gmail.com Cover photo attributions: www.chicagobooth.edu/research/stigler/about/capitalisnt.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes248Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for Capitalisn't

Latest Episodes

Amazon went public three years after it was founded. SpaceX stayed private for 24 years. What changed and why does it matter?

The standard story is that companies avoid an IPO because public markets carry too many government rules and too many lawye... more

The Republican Party is often associated with free-market fundamentalism, deregulation, and tax cuts. But a new faction on the right is challenging that consensus.

In this episode, Bethany and Luigi sit down with Chris Griswold, the Policy Director ... more

Were the foundations of American governance engineered to protect the wealthy? Harvard Law professor Michael Klarman argues that the US Constitution was actually a counter-revolutionary coup to constrain democracy rather than protect it.

This episod... more

Is personal finance rigged against ordinary people? Economists John Campbell and Tarun Ramadorai argue the system rewards the wealthy and financially savvy at the expense of everyone else.

Their book Fixed points to a troubling pattern: the fees you... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Chris Griswold
Policy Director at American Compass
American Compass
Episode: A Conservative's Attack On Neoliberalism - Ft. Chris Griswold
Michael Klarman
Author of Framers Coup, on the Constitution and democracy
Harvard Law School (implied by book author context)
Episode: Was The Constitution An Anti-Democratic Coup? - ft. Michael Klarman
John Campbell
Economist and author of Fixed
University of Oxford? (based on book authoring; research context)
Episode: Our Personal Finance Mistakes Are The Industry's Profits - ft. John Campbell & Tarun Ramadorai
Tarun Ramadorai
Economist and author of Fixed
University affiliation mentioned in the book discussion
Episode: Our Personal Finance Mistakes Are The Industry's Profits - ft. John Campbell & Tarun Ramadorai
Katherine Tai
As Joe Biden's trade representative, she advocated a worker-centered approach to trade
United States Trade Representative (USTR)
Episode: Was Free Trade Ever Really Free? - ft. Fmr. Biden Trade Rep. Katherine Tai
Adam Winkler
UCLA law professor and author of We the Corporations
UCLA School of Law
Episode: Why Corporations Always Win At The Supreme Court - ft. Adam Winkler
Jimmy Wales
Founder of Wikipedia
Wikipedia/Wikimedia Foundation
Episode: You Can't Buy Trust - ft. Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales
Zack Cooper
Associate Professor of Public Health and Economics at Yale
Yale University
Episode: Is Healthcare Making Capitalism Sick? - ft. Zack Cooper
Quinn Slobodian
Professor of international history at Boston University; co-author involved in discussion of Muskism
Boston University
Episode: How “Muskism” Is Changing American Capitalism - ft. Quinn Slobodian

Hosts

Bethany McLean
Co-host with a background in journalism and finance commentary; linked with Capitalisn't and related university/press affiliations.
Luigi Zingales
Co-host with economics background; noted author and professor contributing market and policy perspectives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Sports for entertainment

    The question that was not asked was entertainment for whom?

    Ticket prices are insane And only the oligarchs can afford to actually attend sports games today.

    Shareholder capitalism that only Benefits owners has destroyed the US middle class working class poor.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lee Esq
    United States9 days ago
  • Manifests muddy thinking

    I love some of their guests but the hosts are not worthy. In their unself-critical muddy thinking, everything good in capitalism stems from the system, but anything bad is an externality. They never once question whether the system’s own logics. To the contrary they take the system and ideological supports of it as givens. Also the hosts purport to be experts they often operate from uninformed assumptions: a recent episode on the value of college assumes that STEM majors are better off financial... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    UCgrad
    United Statesa month ago
  • Stakeholder capitalism

    Prior to Ronald Reagan, we followed stakeholder capitalism, which equally benefited labor, shareholders, and the community

    After Reagan, we switched to shareholder capitalism, which only Benefits shareholders ~ the owners. Under this form of capitalism, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

    After Reagan GDP continued to increase and wages flatlined

    See the Robert Reich last semester of economics he taught at Uc Berkeley entitled “ wealth, and poverty“ on YouTube.

    Also, we need to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lee Esq
    United States2 months ago
  • Wiki Truth?

    Enjoy the show. However most recent episode (Wiki) seemed to ignore the bias in Wiki these days. Great example is origin of COVID:

    The virus was derived from a bat-borne virus and most likely was transmitted to humans via another animal in nature, or during live wildlife trade such as that in food markets.

    While other explanations, such as speculations that SARS-CoV-2 was accidentally released from a laboratory have been proposed,such explanations are not supported by evidence.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    UofC Optimistic Sceptic
    United States2 months ago
  • Insightful thinking--thank you!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Janis
    4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The hosts' banter and ability to connect theory with real-world implications keeps complex topics engaging.
Guests are high-caliber experts offering rigorous, evidence-based insights.
The show consistently delivers nuanced, data-driven analyses that challenge conventional wisdom.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#25
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#16
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#31
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#7
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#34
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#39
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Conservative's Attack On Neoliberalism - Ft. Chris Griswold
Q: What is the purpose of capitalism beyond profit?
Capitalism should channel capital toward productive uses that support human flourishing, dignity, and stable communities, not simply maximize short-term profits.
Was The Constitution An Anti-Democratic Coup? - ft. Michael Klarman
Q: What is democratic about the framers' vision, if at all, and how did they balance popular sovereignty with stability?
They believed in a public-interest government but thought that unchecked democracy could threaten stability, so they built mechanisms to filter popular influence (e.g., indirect elections, large constituencies) and to create a republic designed to balance competing interests.
Was Free Trade Ever Really Free? - ft. Fmr. Biden Trade Rep. Katherine Tai
Q: You have said that free trade isn't actually free. Could you elaborate on what you mean by that?
Free trade in practice often operates as capture trade, where rules and dispute mechanisms privilege multinational corporations over workers and the public, undermining the proclaimed benefits of cheaper goods and growth.
You Can't Buy Trust - ft. Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales
Q: How do you resolve disputes in Wikipedia when editors disagree?
The discussion centers on consensus-building, sourcing standards, and a preference to avoid voting; editors aim for a collaborative compromise and rely on a structured process to reflect credible, well-sourced viewpoints.
You Can't Buy Trust - ft. Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales
Q: What is the business insight given that Wikipedia is not-for-profit?
Wales suggests that trust and purpose matter deeply—Wikipedia operates on a model where information is produced through voluntary, reputation-driven contributions and a focus on accuracy and public good, which can coexist with capitalist themes when used as a benchmark for trust and informational integrity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Capitalisn't

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

A data-driven economics-focused show that probes how capitalism operates in today's world, often through the lens of policy, institutions, and power. Episodes frequently feature leading scholars, policymakers, and business thinkers debating topics like healthcare markets, wage dynamics, regulation, technology's impact on society, the role of central banks, tax systems, and the global history of capitalism. Notable strengths include rigorous analysis from prominent academics and practitioners, a willingness to challenge orthodoxies, and a consistent emphasis on practical reforms that could realign incentives in markets and institutions. The format tends to blend empirical evidence with accessible storytelling, and guests span economics, law,... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Capitalisn't?

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1. Big Brains
2. Odd Lots
3. Macro Musings with David Beckworth
4. Conversations with Tyler
5. EconTalk

How many episodes of Capitalisn't are there?

Capitalisn't launched 9 years ago and published 248 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. Chris Griswold
2. Michael Klarman
3. John Campbell
4. Tarun Ramadorai
5. Katherine Tai
6. Adam Winkler
7. Jimmy Wales
8. Zack Cooper

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