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Artwork for Optimist Economy
Social Security
Labor Market
US Economy
Minimum Wage
Income Inequality
Economic Inequality
Poverty
Health Insurance
Economic Policy
Paid Family Leave
Inflation
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
U.S. National Debt
Fair Labor Standards Act
Housing Affordability
Childcare
Paid Sick Days
Immigration
Economic Growth
Youth Unemployment

Optimist Economy is the anti-doomscroll economics podcast. Work rules, tax fairness, healthcare, housing costs, retirement security — the economic forces shaping American life have real problems. But also real solutions. Each week, economist Kathryn Anne Edwards and editor Robin Rauzi break down one problem and solution with data, history, humor, and a belief that tools to build a better economy e... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes63Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Optimist Economy

Latest Episodes

Nobody has more riding on any changes to Social Security than people under 40. The trust fund is currently projected to run dry in the fourth quarter of 2032, but it could be sooner. Every election, starting in November, selects the lawmakers who wil... more

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It’s the United States’ semiquincentennial … and one of us is not feeling it. The other is literally carrying a flag in her bag — and that’s just her road flag. Kathryn Anne Edwards makes her case for optimism right now: The U.S. is undergoing one of... more

YouTube

We can’t give financial advice. Or feedback on your 20-page tax proposal. But economist Kathryn Edwards did take a run at nearly 20 listener questions in under 60 minutes. Among them: Why care about birth rates if robots are taking all the jobs? What... more

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This might be the most dangerous economic assertion circulating today: the high inflation from 2021-2023 was caused by government stimulus. The talking point on the right goes: the third COVID-era stimulus checks landed in March 2021, prices took off... more

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Recent Guests

Max Tejera
Listener who posed a question about pay transparency laws
Episode: What’s the Skinny on Laws that Make Salaries Public?

Hosts

Kathryn Anne Edwards
Host and economist on Optimist Economy (economist)
Robin Rauzi
Editor and host on Optimist Economy (editor)

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 916 ratings
  • Easy to understand economics

    It’s so common for economic discussion to end up in places that are difficult for the average person to understand. You do a wonderful job of breaking it down for us. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cweston7
    United States2 months ago
  • This podcast is time well dissaved.

    Kathryn and Robin make economics fun and understandable. Love the retcons, terms and conditions, the exec orders, and all the Social Security talk.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trackball
    United States2 months ago
  • 60

    Altruistic, fact based, genuine and real podcast. Will call anyone out for their good or their bad. Best part of my week!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    60 and listening
    United States2 months ago
  • Good podcast

    Fits very neatly into my favorite niche of very wonky and nerdy but also unapologetically empathetic and progressive. Demonstrating that economics isn’t just a tool for the worst people in the world to justify their greed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tatara21
    United States2 months ago
  • Positive

    You two are so positive. It makes me smile.

    Intelligent great discussions.

    Add more history. Maybe add a historian common guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alleydrive
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The humor and personal stories help translate complex topics without losing rigorous analysis.
The show is optimistic, clear, and approachable, with wonky economics made relatable for daily life.
Listeners praise the host dynamic and practical policy ideas, with calls for more diverse historical context.
Audience notes that episodes are thoughtful, data-driven, and accessible even on stubborn economic topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#247
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#46
Germany/Government
Apple Podcasts
#160
France/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Optimist Q&A: The AI Bubble, the Rapture, and Free Lunch
Q: Could a formula like a debt-to-GDP or revenue-based debt cap work to remove the debt ceiling from political games?
They caution against rigid ties to GDP because recessions shrink the denominator and spike the ratio; instead, they advocate focusing on growing the economy and controlling deficits as a share of GDP, while using revenue-raising measures as necessary to maintain fiscal credibility.
Optimist Q&A: The AI Bubble, the Rapture, and Free Lunch
Q: Is keeping the debt under control more about growing the economy than cutting spending, and could the debt-to-GDP ratio be improved without a hard bailout?
Growth is key: if the economy expands faster than debt, the debt share falls naturally. They argue for policies that boost growth (rather than drastic austerity) and note that the absolute debt issue is real, but the relative issue can be managed through growth and sensible revenue measures.
Optimist Q&A: The AI Bubble, the Rapture, and Free Lunch
Q: What are the potential ramifications for the labor market if the AI bubble bursts, and how could workers be affected?
The hosts outline two main channels: a downturn in the stock market could force downsizing and higher unemployment, while a drop in household wealth would reduce consumption and slow growth. The overall impact would depend on how quickly policies respond, including maintaining unemployment insurance and supporting alternative income mechanisms to cushion workers during transitions.
The Optimists Have Questions…
Q: Erin Johnson in New York asks about rent caps as a policy tool to address affordability.
They acknowledge rent caps can distort markets and reduce supply, but discuss nuances about locality, depreciation, and caps tied to inflation or costs so policy is better tailored to different housing markets; emphasize careful design to avoid reducing maintenance or new units.
The Optimists Have Questions…
Q: Sarah McCrory in Eugene asks for explanation of the federal $1,700 tax credit scholarship program and whether it's a good idea.
The hosts describe it as a voucher-like mechanism with potential for fraud and low upfront take-up; they expect Treasury rules to clarify implementation and express skepticism about its short-term viability as a policy tool.

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 Optimist Economy

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

A hopeful, data-driven look at economic policy and everyday life, with a focus on practical solutions to real-world problems like inflation, housing, retirement security, and wage growth. Episodes blend history, statistics, and accessible explanations to unpack how rules, taxes, and public programs shape households and work, while keeping a pragmatic, optimistic tone. Notable for its banter, clear storytelling, and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom with policy levers that could improve outcomes for a broad audience.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Optimist Economy:

1. Planet Money
2. This Is Uncomfortable
3. Marketplace
4. Marketplace Morning Report
5. Freakonomics Radio

How many episodes of Optimist Economy are there?

Optimist Economy launched a year ago and published 63 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 Optimist Economy?

Recent guests on Optimist Economy include:

1. Max Tejera

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