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Tyler Cowen engages today's deepest thinkers in wide-ranging explorations of their work, the world, and everything in between. New conversations every other Wednesday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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Latest Episodes

Kim Bowes is an archaeologist at the University of Pennsylvania whose book, Surviving Rome: The Economic Lives of the Ninety Percent, Tyler calls perhaps his favorite economics book of 2025. By sifting through the material remains of Roman life — sho... more

Click here to find Tyler's new generative book, The Marginal Revolution: Rise and Decline, and the Pending AI Revolution!

Arthur Brooks reckons he's on the fourth leg of a spiral-shaped career: French horn player, economist, president of the Americ... more

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Buy tickets for the live Conversations with Tyler recording with Craig Newmark at 92NY!

Tyler calls Paul Gillingham's new book, Mexico: A 500-Year History, the single best introduction to the country's past—and one of the best nonfiction books of ... more

YouTube

Buy tickets for the live Conversations with Tyler recording with Craig Newmark at 92NY!

Few living scholars can claim to have shaped how we read Machiavelli as decisively as Harvey Mansfield. His new book, The Rise and Fall of Rational Control, arg... more

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Recent Guests

Kim Bowes
Archaeologist
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Kim Bowes on the Economic Lives of Rome's Ninety Percent
Arthur C. Brooks
President and scholar focused on happiness, meaning, religion, and policy
Harvard Kennedy School; former president of the American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Arthur Brooks on Reinvention, Religion, and the Science of Happiness
Paul Gillingham
Author of Mexico, A 500-Year History
Author; Professor of History
Episode: Paul Gillingham on Why Mexico Stays Together
Harvey Mansfield
Professor, author of The Rise and Fall of Rational Control
Harvard University
Episode: Harvey Mansfield on Machiavelli, Straussianism, and the Character of Liberal Democracy
Henry Oliver
Research fellow at Mercatus; author of Second Act; co-host of Liberalism Substack
Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Episode: Henry Oliver on Measure for Measure, Late Bloomers, and the Smartest Writers in English
Joe Studwell
Author and journalist known for his insights on Asian and African economies
Episode: Joe Studwell on Africa, Asia, and What Development Actually Requires
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Award-winning journalist for the New York Times and author of the book '1929'
New York Times
Episode: Andrew Ross Sorkin on Market Bubbles, Banking Rules, and the Real Lessons of 1929
Diarmaid MacCulloch
Emeritus professor of the history of the church at Oxford and a senior research fellow at Oxford
Episode: Diarmaid MacCulloch on Christianity, Sex, and Unsettling Settled Facts
Brendan Foody
CEO and co-founder of Mercor, the youngest unicorn founder
Mercor
Episode: Brendan Foody on Teaching AI and the Future of Knowledge Work

Host

Tyler Cowen
Tyler Cowen engages in deep intellectual conversations with a variety of guests, covering diverse topics from economics to philosophy. He is known for his thought-provoking questioning style and expertise in cultural analysis.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4.5k ratings
  • Great podcast

    I learn something (often many things) every time I listen to one of Professor Cowen’s interviews. The guests are interesting and the conversations are great. As a high school social science teacher, there is always something from these episodes that I can use in class. I highly recommend this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Time waster extraordinare
    United Statesa month ago
  • Bad takes, good topics

    I’ll continue to give five stars, but a lot of the time it’s a conservative circle jerk and Tyler either misses the point or is absurdly reductive very often.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bellinater
    United Statesa month ago
  • Joe Studwell on Africa

    What a delightful conversation!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    #*#^#+
    United States2 months ago
  • If only I had started listening sooner

    I appreciate Tyler’s interview style. Maybe the best question asker ever. And so far, excellent guests, some of whom I had not known.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mk6six
    United States2 months ago
  • Walking Cities episode

    Another great episode of this fantastic podcast. There is nothing else like it. I wish more podcast hosts — and journalists — would learn to stay short and to the point, rather than asking long winded, self indulgent questions. One observation on this particular episode: I find it odd that when asked what he thinks the leadership of the CCP’s game-plan is, TC doesn’t include “hanging on to power by any means to maintain their corruption.” TC knows this is the case: it’s a shame he doesn’t feel ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lifeclearout
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There are some critiques about a perceived lack of depth in certain discussions, although overall feedback is overwhelmingly positive.
The diversity of topics keeps each episode fresh and appealing to a broad audience.
Tyler is praised for his ability to ask insightful questions, creating a platform for both the guests and the audience.
Some listeners voiced concerns about the gender balance among guests, indicating a desire for more diverse perspectives.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and intellectually stimulating conversations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#45
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#67
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#76
United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts
#57
Australia/Education
Apple Podcasts
#192
Germany/Education
Apple Podcasts
#28
Ireland/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Harvey Mansfield on Machiavelli, Straussianism, and the Character of Liberal Democracy
Q: How does Mansfield describe the difference between analytic philosophy and Straussian interpretation?
Analytic philosophy tends to strip arguments from their context and seek universal, stand-alone validity, while Straussian interpretation embeds arguments within a dialogue, audience, and text, using irony and context to reveal deeper meanings.
Harvey Mansfield on Machiavelli, Straussianism, and the Character of Liberal Democracy
Q: What is the dominant approach to reading great books according to the conversation?
The dominant approach is to study the original text with attention to its context and purpose, rather than abstracting arguments away from their narrative and audience. This method avoids superficial readings and preserves the author's intended import.
Arthur Brooks on Reinvention, Religion, and the Science of Happiness
Q: How do you view the role of religion in happiness and society?
Religion, especially a broadly accessible tradition like Catholicism for Brooks, contributes a shared framework, community, and ongoing practices that support meaning, belonging, and social cohesion, which in turn support happiness.
Arthur Brooks on Reinvention, Religion, and the Science of Happiness
Q: What do happiest people do every day?
They cultivate four pillars: a personal philosophy or faith, deep reflection on meaning, strong family and close friendships, and productive work that serves others and earns one's sense of merit; these practices create a durable sense of happiness.
Arthur Brooks on Reinvention, Religion, and the Science of Happiness
Q: Where does curiosity fit into your framework?
Curiosity is a fundamental positive emotion that drives lifelong learning, supports wellbeing, and leads to making better, lasting life choices; it should be nourished through practice, education, and sharing knowledge with others.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Conversations with Tyler

What is Conversations with Tyler about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging a diverse array of intellectuals, this podcast explores profound topics related to society, culture, economics, and philosophy. Through insightful discussions with experts from various fields, the show covers a wide scope from historical analysis of economic policy to explorations of cognitive psychology and the implications of artificial intelligence. Each episode uniquely combines rigorous inquiry with a thought-provoking approach, making complex ideas accessible to listeners. While emphasizing interdisciplinary connections, the conversations frequently challenge conventional thought and stimulate critical reflection on contemporary societal issues.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Conversations with Tyler:

1. EconTalk
2. "Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg
3. Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)
4. Odd Lots
5. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

How many episodes of Conversations with Tyler are there?

Conversations with Tyler launched 11 years ago and published 286 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 Conversations with Tyler?

Recent guests on Conversations with Tyler include:

1. Kim Bowes
2. Arthur C. Brooks
3. Paul Gillingham
4. Harvey Mansfield
5. Henry Oliver
6. Joe Studwell
7. Andrew Ross Sorkin
8. Diarmaid MacCulloch

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