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Make Me Smart

Marketplace
NATO
Gaza
Anime
Congress
Al Ahly Hospital
Biden
Alexei Navalny
Chinese-Made Cranes
Gen Z
Streaming Services
Mitch Mcconnell
Russia
Interest Rates
National Debt
Israel
Humanitarian Aid
In Vitro Fertilization
Reproductive Rights
U.S. Ports
Alabama Supreme Court Ruling

Each weekday, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams makes today make sense along with her Marketplace colleagues, breaking down happenings in tech, the economy, and culture. Because none of us is as smart as all of us.

PublishesDailyEpisodes260Founded9 years ago
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Latest Episodes

Doorbell cameras, license plate readers, and social media platforms are just a few of the tech products that make up an ever-growing surveillance network in the United States. ICE’s use of surveillance tools as part of its immigration crackdown has b... more

This week’s launch of Artemis II marked the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years. This time around, the spaceflight industry looks pretty different, with private companies playing a more dominant role. On today’s show, Kimberly gets into... more

Happy first tariff-versary? Despite the fact that many of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were recently struck down, small businesses across the country are still dealing with the aftermath. On today’s show, Kimberly talks with two small b... more

Last week, at a time when the war with Iran has been roiling global energy markets, executives from energy companies all over the world gathered for CERAWeek, the “Super Bowl” of energy conferences. But as Marketplace’s Elizabeth Trovall tells us, co... more

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Recent Guests

Tim Lim
Democratic strategist, president of Lim Consulting Services
Lim Consulting Services
Episode: The super PAC spending flooding the primaries
Michelle Cho
Researcher of East Asian pop cultures
University of Toronto
Episode: The economics behind the rise of BTS and Korean culture
Justin Hendrix
CEO and Editor of Tech Policy Press
Tech Policy Press
Episode: Who gets to set limits on AI?
Chris Neubert
Deputy Director of the Sweet Center for Sustainable Food Systems
Arizona State University
Episode: How the farm bill became the everything bill
Ben Fritz
Entertainment reporter for The Wall Street Journal, author of The Big Picture, The Fight for the Future of Movies
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Can Hollywood make a comeback?
Dana Ferguson
Political correspondent for Minnesota Public Radio (MPR News)
Minnesota Public Radio
Episode: The economic ripple effects of ICE in Minnesota
Daniel Scott
Professor at the University of Waterloo, expert in sustainable tourism
University of Waterloo
Episode: The ski industry squeeze
Blaise Gainey
Texas politics reporter for KUT and Texas Newsroom
KUT Austin
Episode: The big money in the Texas primaries
Amy Scott
Marketplace's senior climate correspondent; host of Climate Solutions podcast How We Survive
Marketplace
Episode: The Trump administration scrapped the endangerment finding. Now what?

Host

Kimberly Adams
Host with Marketplace; frequent on-air contributor across episodes; focuses on economics, policy, and culture.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 6.5k ratings
  • Use so much content from this pod in my work.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jdrinkwine
    a month ago
  • Thanks!

    Oh Kai. Come home! Kimberly is so wonderful. The magic of the two of you just isn’t matched by anyone else.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Palmarosa33
    United Statesa month ago
  • Not what it used to be

    This show has far exceeded its shelf life. Molly and Kai really made the show what it was, with detailed analysis and perspective on tech, economy, and culture. The show just doesn’t have the same energy it used to. The current hosts are great reporters, but this show just doesn’t make sense anymore.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Cdschultz
    United States2 months ago
  • The end?

    Was just intending to send a question/review regarding student loans. Not quite sure I understand the reasoning -wouldn’t the plan just be to pay off your loan? If I don’t pay off they just repossess my home or my car. We don’t need programs for that! when you take out a loan you’ve made a financial commitment to pay it back- failure to do so results in consequences not forgiveness.

    Last Friday’s EoT was a buzz kill. Water and whining⁉️ Not to hr way we want to end the week

    See reviews from: j... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CGK in PDX
    United States3 months ago
  • Interesting Information

    I started listening to MMS at the beginning of COVID and enjoyed the daily show. The information was timely and interesting. The banter between Molly and Kai was entertaining! When Molly left and Kimberly took the spot, there was a slight change to the character of the show but it was a good change! After Kai left, Kimberly is doing very well but the character of the show has changed for the worst by not having a consistent co-host with Kimberly. I find I miss the point/counterpoint of two known... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Carl Fago
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently useful for understanding economic and policy issues, though some episodes feel heavy.
Guest variety is strong; deep dives are balanced with accessible explanations.
Some listeners miss prior co-host dynamics and spontaneity.
This show is informative with strong reporting; energy and banter have shifted with host changes.
Overall praised for credible journalism and timely topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#180
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#140
Argentina/Business
Apple Podcasts
#169
Belgium/Business
Apple Podcasts
#227
Hong Kong/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The economics behind the rise of BTS and Korean culture
Q: What role did global platforms play in spreading K-pop?
Streaming and social platforms lowered barriers to entry for Korean content, enabling rapid dissemination and consumption by a worldwide audience, which amplified the economic impact.
The economics behind the rise of BTS and Korean culture
Q: How did the Korean government view its cultural exports as an economic strategy?
It treated cultural content as a critical economic asset, using policy support and investments in IP to promote cultural exports after recognizing their potential to stabilize the economy.
How the farm bill became the everything bill
Q: So if they did form that coalition, why have we not been able to have a new farm bill since 2018?
The main barrier is money and the pressure to fund SNAP and other titles without increasing taxes, which has led to fractures in the coalition and made a broad, budget-neutral package difficult to pass.
Can Hollywood make a comeback?
Q: How do streaming and home viewing affect theatrical revenue and audience behavior?
Streaming has reduced the willingness to pay high ticket prices for new releases, especially since perks like pausing and accessibility lower the perceived risk when watching at home, which makes studios cautious about investing in original theatrical releases.
Can Hollywood make a comeback?
Q: What would it take for the movie business to make a comeback in theaters?
A combination of a cultural shift toward cinema as a social experience, willingness to support more experimental and original filmmaking, and a move away from overreliance on remakes and sequels, paired with a broader willingness from studios to take creative risks despite higher costs.

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 Make Me Smart

What is Make Me Smart about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A analytically driven weekday show that breaks down tech, economy, and culture with accessible, conversation-forward style. Episodes cover housing crises, tariffs, rural health, AI in dating, Paralympic sports, education costs, and policy debates, often pairing sharp reporting with thoughtful context and occasional light banter. Notable strengths include high-caliber guests across policy, economics, and technology, plus a track record of translating complex issues into practical takeaways for listeners and sponsors seeking informed, engaged audiences. The format often features live or on-location reporting and a balance of data-driven analysis with human stories, making it useful for listeners who want clear explanations of how big issues a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Make Me Smart?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Make Me Smart:

1. Marketplace
2. Marketplace Morning Report
3. Marketplace All-in-One
4. Marketplace Tech
5. The Indicator from Planet Money

How many episodes of Make Me Smart are there?

Make Me Smart launched 9 years ago and published 260 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 Make Me Smart?

Recent guests on Make Me Smart include:

1. Tim Lim
2. Michelle Cho
3. Justin Hendrix
4. Chris Neubert
5. Ben Fritz
6. Dana Ferguson
7. Daniel Scott
8. Blaise Gainey

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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