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EconTalk

Russ Roberts
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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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1073Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducationScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for EconTalk

Latest Episodes

Sure, you can use willpower or grit to break bad habits and build new ones. But maybe the key to success is simpler: change your situation. Psychologist Angela Duckworth explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts why the people and places around us shape ou... more

What if you did everything right and discovered on your deathbed that you've wasted your life? Rabbi and author David Wolpe talks about Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich" with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Weaving Rabbi Wolpe's own brushes with mortalit... more

For the first time in human history, we're not having enough children to keep the world's population from falling. And fertility is collapsing fastest not in rich nations but in places like Colombia, Thailand, and Guatemala, upending decades of econo... more

Why do we keep doing things we know we shouldn't? And is that really a failure of will? Author Meghan O'Gieblyn spent years trying to answer that question, first in response to her struggle with alcoholism and her loss of faith, and then by means of ... more

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Recent Guests

David Wolpe
Rabbi, author, and Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi at Sinai Temple
Maimonides Fund
Episode: Lives Wasted and Well-Lived: David Wolpe on The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde
Howard Marks Presidential Professor of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The Great Fertility Collapse (with Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde)
Meghan O'Gieblyn
Author of the memoir Will and Attention
Episode: Addiction, Faith, and the Limits of Willpower (with Meghan O'Gieblyn)
Mike Munger
Professor at Duke University and frequent EconTalk guest
Duke University
Episode: Public Choice and Politics Without Romance (with Mike Munger)
James Marriott
Author of The New Dark Ages; Times columnist; Substack: Cultural Capital
The Times of London
Episode: The Death of Reading (with James Marriott)
Adam Mastroianni
Psychologist, contributor of experimental history
Self, via sub-stack Experimental History
Episode: Incentives Are for Losers (with Adam Mastroianni)
Daisy Christodoulou
Director of Education at No More Marking
No More Marking
Episode: Meritocracy, Exams, and the Knowledge That Matters (with Daisy Christodoulou)
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib
Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council; leads the Real Line for Palestine Project
Atlantic Council
Episode: Hamas and the Future of Gaza (with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib)
Adam Kirsch
Senior editor at The Atlantic, author of We Want to Believe
The Atlantic
Episode: Are We Alone? Cosmic Loneliness and the Longing to Believe (with Adam Kirsch)

Host

Russ Roberts
Host of EconTalk; guides discussion with a focus on humility, clear thinking, and open inquiry.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 6.5k ratings
  • Mike Munger

    Russ and Mike together is simply the best. I wish listeners were getting 52 new episodes every year instead of every 20 years.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr. Ryan Econ
    United Statesa month ago
  • Absolute trash

    I came expecting a analytical discussion of markets in the “emerging order” episode. Rather than an evaluation of supply and demand or discussing principles that could be at play, I received over an hour of bloviation and wonderment amongst three individuals engaged in capitalism worship, almost none of which was disagreement or valuable point/counter point. This episode was merely a platform for anti-regulation (which I am not a fan of by the way). If you’re looking for content aimed at expandi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ChaseReadSomeBooks
    United States2 months ago
  • Ben Sasse

    Perhaps the very best interview of all the many conducted by Russ Roberts. Intelligent, philosophical and humbling.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OBSCOM
    United States2 months ago
  • Superb podcast

    Russ routinely brings interesting guests and does a great job engaging. Truly conversations for the curious. Thanks!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Taptapppy
    United States3 months ago
  • Intriguing topics

    But why not focus on different walks of sociey, for a change, when discussing societal themes. Your target audience can still be the educated and/ well-heeled, but please introduce more anecdotes from and about diverse audiences.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Workforce Consultant
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistent quality and breadth of topics; highly recommended for listeners seeking substantive conversations.
Some listeners feel the discussions can be slow but rigorously reasoned.
Teases out big ideas with thoughtful guests and civil discourse.
Guests bring deep expertise; host guides with curiosity and humility.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lives Wasted and Well-Lived: David Wolpe on The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Q: How can a person keep the seriousness of life and the need for self-awareness front and center?
Wolpe suggests regular prayer, meditation, or silence, including the Jewish practice of solitude, to pause and evaluate one's life rather than letting daily distractions carry it along.
Lives Wasted and Well-Lived: David Wolpe on The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Q: What would you recommend to a young person who does not want to reach their deathbed feeling they did not live as they ought to have lived?
Wolpe recommends choosing close companions who want one to grow, developing a passion beyond work, investing in loving relationships, and exploring interests outside one's routine.
The Great Fertility Collapse (with Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde)
Q: Why should we care if the world population gets smaller?
A shrinking population may ease pressure on crowded cities and the environment, but aging populations can strain welfare systems, public services, public debt, and national defense. Fewer births may also mean fewer future innovators and artists.
The Great Fertility Collapse (with Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde)
Q: What is the total fertility rate?
It is the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime if current age-specific fertility rates continued.
Addiction, Faith, and the Limits of Willpower (with Meghan O'Gieblyn)
Q: Is it possible to make yourself a better person, through attention and various techniques, religion, meditation, reading, great books, therapy?
O'Gieblyn believes people can change, but says inner transformation is slow and indirect. Repeated attention, ritual, and lived experience can gradually shape a person, sometimes with change becoming apparent after the struggle to force it has eased.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About EconTalk

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

Thoughtful, long-form conversations across economics, science, history, philosophy, and public policy. Guests range from economists and authors to doctors and journalists, with a strong emphasis on evidence, critical thinking, and humility in exploring big ideas. The show often blends rigorous analysis with personal storytelling, drawing out policy implications, ethical questions, and practical insights for professionals and curious listeners alike. A standout trait is the host's ability to guide deep, nuanced dialogue while remaining open to opposing viewpoints, making it a likely magnet for listeners who enjoy intellectual curiosity and civil debate.

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How many episodes of EconTalk are there?

EconTalk launched 21 years ago and published 1073 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact EconTalk?

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What guests have appeared on EconTalk?

Recent guests on EconTalk include:

1. David Wolpe
2. Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde
3. Meghan O'Gieblyn
4. Mike Munger
5. James Marriott
6. Adam Mastroianni
7. Daisy Christodoulou
8. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib

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