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Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

Democracy at Work, Richard D. Wolff
Capitalism
Socialism
United States
China
Inequality
Trump Administration
Tariffs
Climate Change
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Karl Marx
Economic Inequality
Housing Crisis
BRICS
Gaza
Elon Musk
Communism
U.S. Economy
Feudalism
Democracy

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff is a weekly nationally syndicated program produced by Democracy at Work and hosted by Richard D. Wolff. The program explores complex economic issues and empowers listeners with information to analyze not only their own financial situation but the economy at large. Beyond focusing a critical eye on the economic dimensions of everyday life - wages, jobs, taxes, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes596Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for Economic Update

Latest Episodes

This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on the California nurses fighting A.I.-dictated treatment plans, the mass movements happening among Europeans against their governments, a critique of this year's Nobel Prize in Economics... more

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In this week's episode of Economic Update, Professor Wolff delivers updates on two labor union victories (in Canada against Walmart and in Maine against a big U.S. hospital chain), billionaires' continued efforts to restrict democracy in California, ... more

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This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff discusses how the recent upsurge in socialist politicians and interest in socialism raises the question: why did socialism fade after its last surge in the 1930s Great Depression? The New Deal was a kind ... more

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This week on Economic Update, Professor Wolff explains why the wars in Ukraine and Iran are driving higher interest rates in the U.S., affecting the diesel oil crisis, American inflation, and even the price of a Big Mac. The second half of the show f... more

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Recent Guests

Harriet Fraad
Mental health counselor and hypnotherapist in private practice, and left activist
Episode: Capitalism and Cornell's Rape Scandal
Steve Mellon
Photojournalist and co-founder of the Pittsburgh Progress cooperative newspaper
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (former), Pittsburgh Progress cooperative
Episode: From Strike to Worker Co-Op
Dave Zirin
American political sportswriter, author, and cultural commentator
The Nation; Edge of Sports
Episode: On The Edge of Sports
Francesca Fiorentini
Journalist, comedian, activist, political commentator
Bituation Room podcast; various media roles
Episode: Millennials Speak
Kshama Sawant
Revolutionary socialist; co-founder of Workers Strike Back; former Seattle City Council member
Workers Strike Back / Seattle City Council
Episode: Revolutionary Socialism in the US Today
David Cobb
Coordinator of the US Solidarity Economy Network; organizer of Resist and Build conference; host of Redneck Gone Green
US Solidarity Economy Network; People's Network for Land and Liberation
Episode: Activism in the U.S. Now
Alissa Quart
Founder of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project; author and journalist
Economic Hardship Reporting Project
Episode: Economic Hardship Reporting Project
Lucas Wilson
Ford Foundation Professor of Economics and Critical Race and Political Economy at Mount Holyoke College; restorative and transformative justice circles facilitator
Mount Holyoke College; Ford Foundation
Episode: The Resurgence of White Supremacy
Wilmer J. Leon III
Political scientist and host of Inside the Issues with Wilmer Leon on Sirius XM Radio
Sirius XM, Morgan State University, Howard University
Episode: DSA Revives Socialism in U.S. Politics

Host

Richard Wolff
Host of Economic Update, expert in Marxist economics and democratic workplace organizing

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3k ratings
  • Great podcast. But they've gone video and i cant listen while i work without having my screen on.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    booger mcsugar
    5 months ago
  • My favorite

    Professor Wolff is one of my absolute favorite people. He explains complex concepts so well. He is also humble and personable and trustworthy. So glad he’s out here educating us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Acyl
    United States6 months ago
  • Spittin Truth by Doc Wolff!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    RuminatingStoic
    7 months ago
  • Bias

    Our capitalist system gets stronger when natural disasters hit. Think of the tax raised from the overtime to repair workers, the materials ordered from factories (more income tax to those workers), the shelters, emergency food, etc.

    What if we decided to design a more resilient infrastructure that could sustain without the need for repetitive maintenance. We are far behind on the maintenance, raw sewage and water pipes burst or leak across the nation. Destroy the planet, make a dollar.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilderLead
    United States9 months ago
  • Required Liatening

    This podcast continues to impress. Clear concise and fair presentation of important topics. Don’t miss “understanding capitalism”. It is required reading and should be a part of any exploration of democracy, capitalism, and economics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigErkki
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Dialogue is consistently accessible yet intellectually rigorous.
Shows clear explanations of complex economic ideas.
Some listeners feel the host's perspectives are strongly opinionated at times.
Guests are highly knowledgeable and bring diverse perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#236
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#241
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#249
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#34
Finland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#67
Russia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#81
Finland/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Capitalism and Cornell's Rape Scandal
Q: How can this keep happening year after year, institution after institution? What is the psychology that allows this?
Fraad says rape is enabled by bias against women, victim-blaming, and laws and institutions that can protect powerful organizations. She links these patterns to hierarchical capitalist cultures that encourage people to pursue their own gain at others' expense.
Capitalism and Cornell's Rape Scandal
Q: What happened in the Cornell University case?
Harriet Fraad recounts that a former student alleged she was raped by multiple men after being given alcohol and ketamine, leaving her semi-comatose. She describes a fraternity member's note inviting others upstairs and the subsequent dismissal of charges by the district attorney.
On The Edge of Sports
Q: Why did you write a book about Howard Zinn?
Zirin explains that Howard Zinn's life as a movement activist offers rich lessons for 2026, illustrating how to maintain political optimism rooted in history, especially amid rising tyranny and ongoing social movements.
Activism in the U.S. Now
Q: What should listeners take away and how does it relate to the Denver conference?
Listeners should engage in building local democratic institutions—worker cooperatives, community land trusts, mutual aid—while pressing government for policies like public banking; the Denver conference is about mobilizing those efforts and linking them to broader systemic change.
Activism in the U.S. Now
Q: What happened in America over the last 50-75 years that brought us to this point?
Capitalism and Empire, the neoliberal push to privatize profits and socialize losses, and the deliberate neglect of wage stagnation and debt, have eroded faith in institutions and fueled a perception that leadership serves elites rather than working people.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Economic Update

What is Economic Update about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous, theory-driven show that repeatedly analyzes capitalism through historical context, labor dynamics, and public policy. Episodes frequently explore wage stagnation, unemployment, housing precarity, and the distribution of wealth, often proposing democratic, worker-centered alternatives to traditional corporate governance. A standout trait is its willingness to connect macroeconomic trends to everyday life, using guests who contribute scholarly, activist, or practitioner perspectives to challenge conventional economic orthodoxies. Listeners may find dense but accessible explanations of complex concepts, along with practical discussions about organizing, policy reform, and democratic ownership models that aim to reimagine production... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Economic Update?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Economic Update:

1. The Socialist Program
2. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
3. The Chris Hedges Report
4. Geopolitical Economy Report
5. The Intercept Briefing

How many episodes of Economic Update are there?

Economic Update launched 11 years ago and published 596 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 Economic Update?

Recent guests on Economic Update include:

1. Harriet Fraad
2. Steve Mellon
3. Dave Zirin
4. Francesca Fiorentini
5. Kshama Sawant
6. David Cobb
7. Alissa Quart
8. Lucas Wilson

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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