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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes67Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Optimist Economy

Latest Episodes

Optimist Economy is on break this month, but we know that optimist listeners are interested in tales of economic history, issues of inequality and movements for change. So we thought some of you might enjoy "Occupy!" a six-part narrative series about... more

Nearly 90% of private-sector workers get paid vacation days from their job, but a Pew survey found 46% leave at least some of it on the table. Government survey data also show that the share of workers who are on vacation in any given week has fall b... more

YouTube

About 18% of U.S. GDP every year gets spent on health care. Half of that, 9%, is coming from the government, which is about the whole cost of  other countries’ public health programs. In other words, for what the U.S. spends on Medicare, Medicaid, Tr... more

YouTube

Just-in-time scheduling lets an algorithm decide when — and whether — millions of people work. Surveys find 40% of shift workers (mostly in retail and food service) don’t know their schedule a week in advance. They can also get sent home mid-shift or... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Nalini Stamp
Born and raised in New York; activist and early Occupy participant
Working Families Party (early career)
Episode: Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: The Invitation (Ep. 1)
Sandy Nurse
Active participant in Occupy, humanitarian aide background
Healthcare/humanitarian work
Episode: Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: The Invitation (Ep. 1)
Marisa Holmes
One of the planners of Occupy Wall Street
New York City General Assembly
Episode: Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: The Invitation (Ep. 1)
Astra Taylor
Author and documentary filmmaker; activist organizer
Independent
Episode: Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: The Invitation (Ep. 1)
Nathan Schneider
Journalist covering activism
Journalist
Episode: Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: The Invitation (Ep. 1)
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 of Optimist Economy; economist
Robin Rauzi
Editor and co-host; host of Optimist Economy

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Bright spot

    In a world where news and media can make me feel helpless, it’s nice to hear a view that empowers you to feel that change is possible. Thanks for the great listen and learning experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    la-lars
    United States7 days ago
  • Expertise and explanations that push back on cynicism

    Very enjoyable to learn and hear deep dives into topics with high level overview as well as data. Doses of humor and anecdotes I can relate to. I’m listening weekly and the clear eyed approach keeps a check on my cynicism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Distractedpaying attention
    United States17 days ago
  • Podcasts - not just for the old

    Simply the best podcast around. The mix of humor and fact based economic policies, wrapped in a blanket of offering SOLUTIONS. Brightens my day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave13022011
    United States21 days ago
  • The most engaging podcast I have ever heard

    If you are interested in the economy, money, investing, buying things, and who isn't, then you will love this podcast. Engaging, informative, but also occasionally hilarious,this duo and their team presents...the podcast, and the only podcast I have listened to now for a month since I found it. Wonderful job.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DougClements
    United States22 days ago
  • Thoughtful, fun, and sophisticated

    Kathryn and Anne walk through every topic in a very accessible way and they talk about even serious issues without anger, unlike so many other pundits. They assume their audience is smart but they don't assume everyone has an economics degree. Educational and fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobertobizVA
    United States24 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Genuine optimism paired with data and humor, though some listeners want tighter handling of personal bias during critiques.
Listeners appreciate personal stories and the balance of policy depth with light banter.
Clear, accessible economics with practical policy ideas.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#63
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#7
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#75
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#76
Australia/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 practical, data-driven conversation about economics and public policy, with a focus on real-world impacts like healthcare, retirement security, taxes, and work rules. Episodes blend policy analysis, historical context, and personal storytelling to illuminate problems and concrete solutions, all delivered with humor and optimism. Notable is the hosts' willingness to challenge prevailing narratives while translating wonky concepts into accessible takeaways, and the regular inclusion of diverse guest perspectives that broaden the policy lens while maintaining a pragmatic stance toward reform.

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Which podcasts are similar to Optimist Economy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Optimist Economy:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
3. On with Kara Swisher
4. Let's Appreciate
5. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

How many episodes of Optimist Economy are there?

Optimist Economy launched a year ago and published 67 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 Optimist Economy?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Optimist Economy?

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What guests have appeared on Optimist Economy?

Recent guests on Optimist Economy include:

1. Nalini Stamp
2. Sandy Nurse
3. Marisa Holmes
4. Astra Taylor
5. Nathan Schneider
6. Max Tejera

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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