
Enough with the doom and gloom — we’re ready to talk about how America can thrive. Hosted by Washington Post Opinion columnist Megan McArdle, “Reasonably Optimistic” is your weekly conversation about how America can get unstuck and build a better future. Stop feeding your rage and start embracing our possibilities. Episodes drop Wednesdays.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 144 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsNewsNews Commentary | |||

So many influencers, celebrities, billionaires and media personalities seem convinced they can follow President Donald Trump’s path from fame to political power. But are they learning the right lessons from his rise? Host Megan McArdle explores the r... more
Prediction markets are having a moment. But what are they actually good for? Economist Robin Hanson has been thinking about this for decades. Long before betting markets went mainstream, he argued they could do more than forecast the future — they co... more
The hantavirus outbreak has reminded many about the mistakes of covid-19. In this episode, hosts Adam O'Neal, James Hohmann, Carine Hajjar and Kate Andrews discuss whether the confirmed cases on the Hondius cruise ship should cause concern — or if th... more
Zohran Mamdani ran for mayor of New York on a platform of taxing the rich, proposing new levies targeting billionaires. Host Megan McArdle argues we’ve seen this kind of rapid shift before.
In the 1970s, New York spiraled into crisis as rising spen... more
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Unfollowing because of casino ads.
deserves much better production quality on the YouTube side! Did all the video people get fired too??
This show was first presented as a positive spin on news of today. However, after listening to a few episodes, it is quite clear that this show is just conservative talk points being repackaged centrist view. Most of the guests are using bad data, as well as lack of data to Boyster their point of use and really should have no place in the public form or the market of ideas. It is quite clear that this is very much part of the continuum of death spiral of the Washington Post.
It sounded like what I could use… Except one star it’s owned by Jeff Bezos… See you later
I hope this is a real actual attempt at center politics and it would help if the host didn’t use the regular dog whistles to undermine the current admin. You can just say for example trump held schools accountable for becoming racist and politicized in a post 10/7 world based on our countrys civil rights laws. Instead of “ he attacked. Or went after.” It’s just not helpful and doesn’t educate the audience on what actually happened. Kudos for this endeavor I hope the host can actually be center f... more
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This podcast focuses on contrasting narratives surrounding current events and societal progress, often challenging pessimistic views prevalent in media. With engaging discussions spanning a variety of topics from economics and American history to personal growth and the influence of technology, listeners are invited to explore how innovative ideas can lead to a more optimistic outlook on the future of America. The host, known for her perspective and insights, often interviews a range of guests including politicians, economists, and cultural commentators, making for diverse and thought-provoking episodes that aim to inspire hope rather than despair, while addressing significant issues affecting society.
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Reasonably Optimistic launched 2 years ago and published 144 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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Recent guests on Reasonably Optimistic include:
1. Keith Humphreys
2. Lyman Stone
3. Sarah Isgur
4. Damir Marusic
5. Leah Libresco Sargeant
6. Dean Ball
7. Ashish Jha
8. Daniel Diermeier
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