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EconTalk

Russ Roberts
Gaza
Hamas
Israel
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Artificial Intelligence
October 7
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
Middle East
Media Coverage
Zionism
Anti-Semitism
Arab Citizens Of Israel
Public Opinion
Economics
History Of Economic Thought
Letters To My Palestinian Neighbor
Iran
Free Speech
Immigration

EconTalk: Conversations for the Curious is an award-winning weekly podcast hosted by Russ Roberts of Shalem College in Jerusalem and Stanford's Hoover Institution. The eclectic guest list includes authors, doctors, psychologists, historians, philosophers, economists, and more. Learn how the health care system really works, the serenity that comes from humility, the challenge of interpreting data, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1044Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesScienceEducationSocial Sciences

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Artwork for EconTalk

Latest Episodes

What does a lone sailor circling the globe have to do with the fall of empires, the Model T, and the rise of AI? Everything--because maintenance, the quiet act of keeping things going, turns out to be the hidden force behind success and failure in ne... more

Tyler Cowen is bullish on the integration of AI into higher education. He's also not worried about its effects on the future workplace. Listen as Cowen speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the reasons for his optimism, and argues that college cl... more

Why would a group of young Jews who escaped the Holocaust choose to parachute back into Nazi-occupied Europe? How did they become heroes despite the failure of that mission? Author Matti Friedman joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to unravel these mysteri... more

Duke University leaves millions of dollars on the table every year by giving away free tickets to the most sought-after game in college basketball. The bizarre ticket allocation system includes weeks of camping in tents, a 58-question trivia exam, bo... more

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Recent Guests

Stewart Brand
Co-founder and editor of the Whole Earth Catalog; founder of The Well, the Global Business Network, and the Long Now Foundation
Whole Earth Catalog; Long Now Foundation
Episode: The Unseen Work: Stewart Brand on Maintenance and Civilization
Matti Friedman
Author and journalist, returning guest on EconTalk
Author of Out of the Sky
Episode: The Match That Lit the Flame: Hannah Senesh and the Creation of Modern Israel (with Matti Friedman)
Michael Munger
Professor of political science; frequent EconTalk guest
Duke University
Episode: The Economics of Scarcity and the UNC-Duke Basketball Game (with Michael Munger)
Hanno Sauer
Philosopher and author of The Invention of Good and Evil
Author, Philosopher
Episode: How We Tamed Ourselves and Invented Good and Evil (with Hanno Sauer)
Susan Cain
Author of Quiet, The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Author, Speaker
Episode: The Power of Introverts (with Susan Cain)
Karen Elliott House
Journalist and author, focusing on Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Salman.
Episode: The Man Who Would Be King of Saudi Arabia (with Karen Elliott House)
Aled Maclean-Jones
Writer and author of the essay 'The Survival of Swiss Watches'
Works in Progress
Episode: Seiko, Swatch, and the Swiss Watch Industry (with Aled Maclean-Jones)
Andrew Fox
Former British Army officer and conflict researcher
Henry Jackson Society
Episode: A Military Analysis of Israel's War in Gaza (with Andrew Fox)
Daniel Coyle
Author and consultant, known for his insights on learning and growth
Author of 'Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy and Fulfillment'
Episode: How to Flourish (with Daniel Coyle)

Host

Russ Roberts
Economist and author known for hosting in-depth conversations across economics, psychology, philosophy, and current affairs.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 6.4k ratings
  • I was too harsh in my last review

    It’s like Conversations with Tyler but the host is dumber.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bellinater
    United States24 days ago
  • Infinity

    Russ, Datsun/Nissan have a luxury brand in Infinity. Just saying.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    #puppypundit
    United States2 months ago
  • No

    Nononono

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rachelnallen_
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Zionist Israeli propaganda. Every episode is just kissing Israel's butt.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    Kodiak62
    2 months ago
  • A stand out podcast the world needs

    I found Econtalks only recently and have been blown away by the quality and insight. Russ is amazing

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jamez1971
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality, intellectually rigorous conversations that challenge guests and listeners alike.
Some episodes spark strong opinions on current events; audiences appreciate nuance but may crave more explicit stances on hot-button issues.
Thoughtful and wide ranging discussions with strong guests and a calm, open-minded host.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#3
United States/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#101
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Kingdom/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#111
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#123
United Kingdom/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Economics of Scarcity and the UNC-Duke Basketball Game (with Michael Munger)
Q: What broader lessons about markets and institutions can we draw from this rivalry and its ticketing system?
Rivalries concentrated in a single venue create rents in scarcity that communities often internalize through emergent rules and rituals; well-designed, voluntary institutions can harness devotion and social capital to enhance cohesion and financial support, even when formal markets would potentially extract more revenue.
The Economics of Scarcity and the UNC-Duke Basketball Game (with Michael Munger)
Q: What are the main mechanisms economists use to handle scarcity, and what are the trade-offs of each in this context?
The four mechanisms are price, queuing, lottery, and authority. Price signals allocate resources efficiently but may exclude the most devoted; queuing rewards persistence but can be wasteful; lotteries offer fairness in access but may sacrifice some predictable access; authority can lead to biased outcomes but can be used to reflect preferences or social goals. In the Duke case, price is avoided, so the other methods each have distinct deadweight and equity implications.
The Economics of Scarcity and the UNC-Duke Basketball Game (with Michael Munger)
Q: Why does Duke choose to free-allocate the Duke–UNC tickets through a tent-and-exam system instead of selling or using a random lottery?
The system is argued to maximize social value by attracting the most devoted fans, cultivating community, and creating a bonding experience that can translate into long-term support and donations, while still binding participants to a rules-based order that curbs chaos in extremely high-demand circumstances.
The Match That Lit the Flame: Hannah Senesh and the Creation of Modern Israel (with Matti Friedman)
Q: What's her most famous poem, and why is it famous?
The host asks about Hannah Senesh's most famous poem, leading to an explanation that Elie Elie, while well-known, is not the only significant work; the discussion highlights Ashrei HaGafur (Blessed is the match) and its interpretation as a call to action—where the match lights the flame, not merely burns out—embodying Senesh's theme of action over passive victimhood.
How We Tamed Ourselves and Invented Good and Evil (with Hanno Sauer)
Q: What about the role of religion in enforcing morality if one is skeptical about divine command as a foundation?
Religion contributes by ritual, hierarchy, and cohesion that reinforce group norms and cooperation, and even without divine command, beliefs and shared narratives can anchor moral systems and strengthen social cooperation across cities and empires.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About EconTalk

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

A thoughtful, wide-ranging interview show that consistently brings together economists, scientists, philosophers, journalists, and authors to unpack big ideas in economics, behavior, policy, and culture. Episodes frequently explore how systems work—from healthcare and development to technology, education, and international affairs—while inviting guests to share rigorous reasoning, empirical insights, and compelling storytelling. The conversation style tends to be calm, curiosity-driven, and open to challenging assumptions, with a strength in connecting abstract theory to real-world implications. Notable strengths include deep dives with highly credentialed guests and a willingness to tackle controversial topics with nuance, making it a stro... more

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EconTalk launched 20 years ago and published 1044 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 EconTalk?

Recent guests on EconTalk include:

1. Stewart Brand
2. Matti Friedman
3. Michael Munger
4. Hanno Sauer
5. Susan Cain
6. Karen Elliott House
7. Aled Maclean-Jones
8. Andrew Fox

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