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EconTalk

Russ Roberts
Artificial Intelligence
Israel
Hamas
Economics
Education
Gaza
Happiness
Parenting
Psychology
Decision-Making
United States
Industrial Policy
Intuition
Opera
VAR
Football
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Public Health
Birds
Mohammed Bin Salman

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1056Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducationScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for EconTalk

Latest Episodes

What if the surgery that fixed your knee did no better than fake surgery? EconTalk host Russ Roberts speaks with Dr. John Mandrola about a striking clinical trial in which patients who received sham knee surgery (a real incision, but no actual repair... more

Can a phone be a cow? It could in 1990s Bangladesh. This was the insight of a small number of mobile phone market pioneers who helped catalyze the spread of the greatest technological revolution in human history. Listen as George Mason University eco... more

Skin cancer comes from the sun. But so do many good things, according to author Rowan Jacobsen. Jacobsen talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the health benefits of sunshine and makes the case for prudent sun exposure. Topics discussed include th... more

Finding community can be difficult. But author Luke Burgis thinks the real challenge begins once we've found it and we're subject to social pressures to conform. Listen as Burgis and EconTalk's Russ Roberts trace the tension between individuals and t... more

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Luke Burgis
Author of The One and the Ninety-Nine; discusses social contagion and identity
Author, The One and the Ninety-Nine
Episode: The Self, the Crowd, and Social Contagion (with Luke Burgis)
Benjamin Todd
Founder of 80,000 Hours; author of the book 80,000 Hours, How to Have a Fulfilling Career That Does Good
80,000 Hours
Episode: Making Your 80,000 Hours Count (with Benjamin Todd)
Sebastian Junger
Author and journalist known for The Perfect Storm, Tribe, and In My Time of Dying
Author and journalist
Episode: Facing Death (with Sebastian Junger)
David Epstein
Author of Inside the Box, How Constraints Make Us Better
Author, Inside the Box
Episode: Thinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
Gary Belsky
Author of Solo Golf, former ESPN The Magazine editor
Author, Solo Golf; ESPN The Magazine
Episode: Golfing Alone (with Gary Belsky)
Dean Ball
Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation; Policy Fellow at Fathom; AI-focused writer
Foundation for American Innovation; Fathom; Hyperdimensional
Episode: Claude, War, and the State of the Republic (with Dean Ball)
Ross Levine
Economist, Booth-Durbus Family Edward Lazare Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, co-director of Hoover's Financial Regulation Working Group
Hoover Institution
Episode: Adam Smith's Warning About Wealth, Fame, and Status (with Ross Levine)
Stephen Witt
Author of The Thinking Machine
Author, The Thinking Machine
Episode: The Man Who Built NVIDIA (with Stephen Witt)
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

Host

Russell Roberts
Host of the program, known for guiding in-depth conversations with guests across economics, science, and public life.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 6.5k ratings
  • What’s the appeal?

    I don’t really understand the appeal of this podcast. I’ve tried. But I find the host less intelligent and competent than he seems to believe himself to be. A lot of faux profundity. A misplaced sense of self-importance.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    NicolasAJD
    United States21 days ago
  • One of my favourite episodes

    Podcast Addict
    5
    sean
    a month ago
  • Always interesting

    Always interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C_L3K
    United States3 months ago
  • Used to be

    This used to be a great podcast. Now just pro Israel propaganda media. So sad.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    R3hauer
    United States3 months ago
  • I was too harsh in my last review

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

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bellinater
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host steers thoughtful, authentic conversations with fantastic guests.
Some episodes attract strong critique around perceived political stances and topic choices.
Listeners value the deep, idea-forward discussions and multidisciplinary approach.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#1
United States/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#45
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#2
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#3
United Kingdom/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#62
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#145
United Kingdom/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Thinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
Q: Can you explain the story of Mendeleev and how it illustrates the power of constraints versus the myth of complete freedom?
Mendeleev constrained the problem to make a classroom-friendly, logical organization, which revealed underlying patterns and led to accurate predictions, showing that boundaries can unlock rather than limit discovery.
Thinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
Q: What's the main idea of Inside the Box and what role do constraints play in creativity and productivity?
Constraints focus attention, prompt smarter trade-offs, and guide effort toward meaningful goals, which can boost creativity and efficiency rather than restrict it.
Golfing Alone (with Gary Belsky)
Q: Why is solo golf valuable beyond the sport itself?
It reveals how self-consciousness, expectations, and external judgment shape performance, and teaches being present, forgiving oneself, and applying mindfulness to other areas of life.
Golfing Alone (with Gary Belsky)
Q: So let's begin with solo golf. What is it?
It's golf played alone on a course, a lonesome but transformative practice that can feel like a meditative activity and offers a contrast to the social, performance-driven environment of typical rounds.
Adam Smith's Warning About Wealth, Fame, and Status (with Ross Levine)
Q: Samantha asks through your voice, are you admiring the right people?
The guest argues that admiring the right people is crucial because it shapes prosperity, justice, and societal well-being; admiring the wrong figures can corrupt moral sentiments, undermine justice, and threaten freedom, hence the importance of aligning admiration with virtue and integrity.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About EconTalk

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

Thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations with leading thinkers across economics, science, technology, history, philosophy, and public life. Topics span mortality and consciousness, AI governance and policy, innovation and business history, education and labor markets, and cultural narratives that shape global affairs. The host steers rigorous, often unpacking complex ideas with guests who blend scholarly depth with accessible storytelling, producing episodes that reward careful listening and intellectual curiosity. The show's notable strengths lie in its patient dialogue, willingness to challenge assumptions, and a roster of guests who are both rigorous and engaging, making it a strong fit for listeners who enjoy long-form, idea-forward discu... more

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How many episodes of EconTalk are there?

EconTalk launched 20 years ago and published 1056 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. Luke Burgis
2. Benjamin Todd
3. Sebastian Junger
4. David Epstein
5. Gary Belsky
6. Dean Ball
7. Ross Levine
8. Stephen Witt

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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