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Artwork for Risky Business

Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova

Pushkin Industries
Donald Trump
Joe Biden
World Series Of Poker
Kamala Harris
2024 Presidential Election
Poker
Decision Making
Risk Management
Climate Change
Home Insurance Industry
Democratic Party
Politics
Cognitive Biases
Ethereum
Sonia Sotomayor
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Artificial Intelligence
Department Of Transportation
Prediction Markets
Sriracha Sauce

Risky Business is a weekly podcast about making better decisions. The hosts, Maria Konnikova and Nate Silver, are both journalists who moonlight as high-stakes poker players. On Risky Business, they bring their analytical framework to everything from politics to poker to personal decisions.

Maria has a PhD in psychology and is the author of several books including, most recently, The Biggest Bluf... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes110Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Risky Business

Latest Episodes

Nate and Maria discuss how and when the government shutdown is most likely to end. Then, they turn to OpenAI’s newest release: Sora 2, an AI video generation app that allows users to create a video from a text prompt. As Maria struggles to think of s... more

Nate and Maria discuss their favorite topic: poker! In this episode, they dive into the nuanced strategy of online poker: how to manage your schedule, how to prioritize information, and whether quantity trumps quality as you strive to improve.

For ... more

YouTube

Eric Adams is out of the NYC mayoral race! Nate and Maria discuss his tenure as mayor, the timing of his announcement, and what this means for the remaining candidates. And — because it can be hard to remember a time before his multiple scandals and ... more

YouTube

The NBA is investigating the LA Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer over allegations that star player Kawhi Leonard accepted a $28 million endorsement as a way to get around the league’s salary cap. The endorsement deal was with the now-defunct sus... more

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Recent Guests

Elie Honig
CNN's senior legal analyst and former federal prosecutor
CNN
Episode: When You Come at the King: Holding Presidents to Account (with Elie Honig)
David Epstein
Brilliant writer, author of The Sports Gene and Range
Episode: Determinative Decisions Before Birth: Genes and Names
Robert Mariano
Reality TV legend and poker player, known as Boston Rob
Episode: The Game Theory of Reality TV (with Survivor’s Boston Rob)
Leo Margets
Professional poker player and the first woman in 30 years to reach the final table of the WSOP main event
Episode: You Play Better When You’re Having Fun (with Leo Margets and Erik Seidel)
Erik Seidel
Poker hall of famer and 10-time WSOP Bracelet winner
Episode: You Play Better When You’re Having Fun (with Leo Margets and Erik Seidel)
David Zweig
A journalist and author, most recently of the book, An Abundance of Caution
Episode: Why did COVID Decision-Making Go So Wrong? (with David Zweig)
Tim Sunstock
A novice poker player from Southern California, looking for tips on tournament play.
Episode: This Year’s World Series Of Poker Is Different
Vanessa Selbst
Former professional poker player and current trader at Jane Street Capital.
Jane Street Capital
Episode: Life After Poker (with Vanessa Selbst)
James Kynge
Financial Times journalist and author
Financial Times
Episode: China’s Race to Dominate: Listen to Global Tech Wars

Hosts

Maria Konnikova
Co-host with a PhD in psychology, author, and poker player with significant tournament winnings, known for her analytical approach to decision-making.
Nate Silver
Co-host and leading election forecaster, founder of FiveThirtyEight, and poker player with extensive tournament success, recognized for his analytical perspectives.

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 552 ratings
  • Time for N.S to fold and walk away

    I've enjoyed Maria Konnikova's books and articles so I was looking forward to this podcast. Unfortunately her co-host, Nate Silver brings nothing to the table, unless saying "right" and "like" a 1,000 times an episode counts. I'd prefer M.K have her own show so we don't have to listen to Nate Silver the windbag pontificate on things he knows nothing about while shilling for his book.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Jake_isn't_real
    United States24 days ago
  • I was a subscriber until the 7-10-25 episode

    The episode from 7-10-2025 made me never trust Nate Silver again. David Zweig is horribly biased and has a terminal case of 20/20 hindsight. To criticise credible scientists like Fauci for the way COVID was handled yet tacitly praise Trump and his sycophants for their false narrative and conspiracy theories is unforgivable. I just unsubscribed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Qswitch
    United States3 months ago
  • Episode 7.10.25

    Man talk about hindsight bias! Nate is it too late to take your blurb back?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    urmom12278
    United States3 months ago
  • Right and Like

    I go as far as I can before the constant “like” and “right” prove too annoying and distracting. Then I’m done.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    AllGoodNicknamesAreTaken2
    United States3 months ago
  • Fantastic - Great insight.

    I love the hosts and their chemistry. Been following Nate’s work for decades and Maria since the first time I read one of her books 6 or 8 years ago. Well worth a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reid C.
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Hosts have strong chemistry, making complex topics accessible and entertaining.
Some listeners appreciate the combination of poker and analytical discussions, while others find the focus on politics repetitive.
Critique of the hosts' communication styles can be polarizing, affecting listener engagement.
Engaging content that offers unique insights into decision-making processes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#151
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#136
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#214
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#80
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why did COVID Decision-Making Go So Wrong? (with David Zweig)
Q: What were the key moments early in the pandemic that indicated the failure of school closures?
22 countries in Europe began reopening schools with no negative consequences, contradicting the prolonged closures in the U.S.
Why did COVID Decision-Making Go So Wrong? (with David Zweig)
Q: Why is it important to talk about the COVID response?
It's one of the most important events infringing on personal liberties in a generation, with significant implications for children's wellbeing.
Cautionary Questions with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova
Q: Is it paternalistic to tell kids they can’t use their phones in school?
Yes, but it's necessary because they're children and need guidance.
Cautionary Questions with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova
Q: What personal experiences or academic theories have shaped your decision making?
Nate and Maria discuss how game theory and psychological theories influence their decision-making processes.
An Elon Musk Report Card
Q: How can we change our current system of government to allow it to make better decisions?
We need to cut the two-party system and have a more pluralistic system with viable third-party options to reduce polarization — akin to parliamentary systems in Europe.

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 Risky Business

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

A unique weekly exploration of decision-making, combining high-stakes poker strategies with insights from various fields such as politics, personal development, and societal issues. The hosts, seasoned journalists and poker enthusiasts, bring their analytical expertise to discuss topics ranging from gerrymandering and AI to mental health and the psychological aspects of competition. With engaging conversations and a mix of personal anecdotes, the content appeals to listeners interested in critical thinking, psychology, and contemporary issues. Notably, the blend of poker discussions with serious analysis of current events sets it apart from traditional news commentary.

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How many listeners does Risky Business get?

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How many subscribers and views does Risky Business have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Risky Business?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Risky Business:

1. GD POLITICS
2. Plain English with Derek Thompson
3. Money Stuff: The Podcast
4. Politix
5. Odd Lots

How many episodes of Risky Business are there?

Risky Business launched a year ago and published 110 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 Risky Business?

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What guests have appeared on Risky Business?

Recent guests on Risky Business include:

1. Elie Honig
2. David Epstein
3. Robert Mariano
4. Leo Margets
5. Erik Seidel
6. David Zweig
7. Tim Sunstock
8. Vanessa Selbst

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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