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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
Heat Waves

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 weeklyEpisodes116Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Risky Business

Latest Episodes

Nate and Maria sit down with the elite amateur runner Nicholas Thompson (who also happens to be the CEO of The Atlantic) to talk about his new book The Running Ground. They discuss what running can teach about productivity and fulfillment, his favori... more

We have a special episode for you today! In which Nate and Maria join their fellow Pushkin hosts to dive deep into the art of failure.

Tim Harford of Cautionary Tales shares stories of minor mistakes with massive consequences. Jonathan Goldstein of... more

Over the weekend, some 5 million people across the United States marched in ‘No Kings’ protests. Nate and Maria sit down to talk about why this matters, the psychology of protests, and how Democratic strategists can build on the momentum going forwar... more

The 2025 Nobel Prizes have now been announced, and Maria convinces Nate to learn about the winners. They discuss the selection process, the economic award for research on “creative destruction,” and what prizes they should be considered for.

For ... more

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

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Recent Guests

Sheila Heti
Author and writer, best known for her book Motherhood
Episode: The Canal, the Crash and the Ketamine - Pushkin's Reign of Error
Jonathan Goldstein
Host of Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Episode: The Canal, the Crash and the Ketamine - Pushkin's Reign of Error
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

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 568 ratings
  • Great Show

    I really enjoy the show. I like both hosts individually and I think they do a great job together covering decision making topics. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MattOlleck
    Canada9 days ago
  • Maria doesn’t want a co-host

    Interesting topics and some discussion, but Nate cannot get a sentence in without Maria telling him to wait and then monologuing for 10 more minutes. So much potential but frustrating to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JayW NC
    United States9 days ago
  • Nate, pls find free thinking co-host

    Maria emotes about Bari Weiss for god knows how long, basically a regurgitation of Bluesky talking points of the day, Nate tries to jump in and gently push back, she cuts him off “you’re not even engaging with what I’m saying, you’re picking one little thing”…well yeah, you just said 100 things and you’re already cutting him off after like 5 words, how could he have already addressed all of the points you read online and are now repeating? Nate, this was a good experiment, but you have a lot to ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    m081542
    United States14 days ago
  • 3 minute ad breaks is too long

    Update: You stopped having as many 3 minute ad breaks, so I’m changing my review from 1 star to 5 stars.

    Original Review: Seriously, why 3 minutes per ad breaks? No other podcast does ad breaks longer than 2 minutes. It’s disruptive and greedy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Great With Money
    United States16 days ago
  • Interesting

    Brings otherwise overlooked opinions to interesting discussions

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jawney Desparado
    United States22 days 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
#107
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#78
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#123
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#87
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#174
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#29
Mexico/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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Risky Business?

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How many listeners does Risky Business get?

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What are the audience demographics for Risky Business?

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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. Against the Rules: The Big Short Companion
3. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
4. Politix
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Risky Business are there?

Risky Business launched 2 years ago and published 116 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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Risky Business?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Risky Business from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Risky Business?

Recent guests on Risky Business include:

1. Sheila Heti
2. Jonathan Goldstein
3. Elie Honig
4. David Epstein
5. Robert Mariano
6. Leo Margets
7. Erik Seidel
8. David Zweig

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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