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Artwork for Tradeoffs

Tradeoffs

Tradeoffs
Medicaid
Health Insurance
Affordable Care Act
Mental Health
Medicare
Health Policy
Health Equity
Public Health
Healthcare Costs
Health Care System
Artificial Intelligence
Abortion
Generic Drugs
Trump Administration
Durham, North Carolina
Mental Illness
Opioid Addiction
Healthcare Policy
Preventive Care
Congress

Tradeoffs explores the toughest choices in health care, diving into issues like the cost of care, health equity, insurance, mental health and artificial intelligence. We connect policy to practice, uncovering the data and personal stories that help audiences understand the stakes — and the potential solutions.

Learn more about us, find transcripts for each episode and additional reporting at https... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes384Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceNews

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Artwork for Tradeoffs

Latest Episodes

The No Surprises Act was designed to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, but nearly four years after the law took effect, many experts say parts of its implementation aren't working as intended. Insurers, hospitals, physician groups and f... more

Hundreds of U.S. courts offer treatment over prison for some defendants with mental illness. But critics say mental health courts have outpaced research on their effectiveness.

Guest(s):

* Grace Hauck, Investigative reporter, Illinois Answers Proj... more

President Trump and other leading conservatives are pushing policies they hope will empower patients to shop more wisely for the health care they need.

Guests:

* Brian Blase, President, Paragon Health Institute

* Sherry Glied, Professor of Publi... more

New research from leading health economist David Cutler explores what’s behind a historic slowdown in health spending, even as millions of Americans struggle to afford their care.

Guest:

* David M. Cutler, Dean of Social Science, Professor of Econ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Brian Blase
Policy researcher; former Trump administration official
Paragon Health Institute
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Sherry Gleed
New York University professor
New York University
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Avik Roy
Health policy expert, conservative thinker
Independent health policy analyst (advocated with conservative circles)
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Tony LoSasso
Economist
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Jason Levitis
Treasury official; former Obama administration official
U.S. Treasury
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
David Cutler
Harvard economist, advisor on health policy, Brookings Institution collaborator
Harvard University
Episode: The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?
Patrice Andrews
Police Chief, Durham Police Department
Durham Police Department
Episode: Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch
Abena Bediako
Clinical Manager, Hart
Hart Team
Episode: Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch
David Prater
Peer Support Specialist, Hart
Hart Team
Episode: Call to Mind: The Fifth Branch

Host

Dan Gorenstein
Host of Tradeoffs

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 506 ratings
  • Elizabeth Kromm’s kid

    Love how you included my mom

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slay Joys
    United States4 months ago
  • Timely health policy

    One of my favorite weekly podcasts. They go in-depth on an important health policy issue in every episode. Tradeoffs’ reporting is particularly important in our current time of uncertainty about insurance costs and coverage. They cover federal policy regularly but also go to the state and even local level when needed. The show has a social justice angle too, highlighting underinsured and/or uninsured populations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aaron Weidman
    United States6 months ago
  • USAID cuts

    The episode on USAID cuts is superb. Every American with a heart should listen to this first-hand explanation of how the cuts are impacting global health now, with implications for future US health. In surgery, a scalpel is more useful than a buzzsaw.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe Pozawokiem
    United Statesa year ago
  • Did anybody bother to read the Oregon paper?

    I went back and actually re-reviewed the New England Journal paper. If you see the population that they enrolled using the lottery, this was a healthy population to start with. They did not have hypertension, and they had no diabetes. It would’ve been very unlikely that Medicaid would’ve made them healthier. Also note they were only 10% African-Americans. This is a bio study from a relatively healthy. Population and should not be used to judge whether Medicaid makes people healthy or not. I woul... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rdswinford
    United Statesa year ago
  • Interesting but biased

    The host is good and the conversations are thought provoking but they are not interested in representing different sides on healthcare issues. They clearly are committed to the liberal/democratic side and not interested in representing alternate viewpoints. They followed an episode on transgendered care which only represented an expert who is pro gender affirming care with an episode with Obama’s former HHS secretary who was highly critical of the new Trump appointees without any pushback. As we... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Joey Ken
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Praise for clear, data-driven explanations of complex health policy topics.
Some criticism about perceived ideological bias in certain episodes, according to a subset of listeners.
Appreciation for coverage of both federal and state/local policy dynamics.
Listeners value deep policy analysis balanced with human stories.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#215
China/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Q: What are ICRAs and why have they struggled to gain traction?
ICRAs give workers a fixed amount to purchase insurance; uptake is low, plans vary in quality, and political/policy headwinds along with data gaps hinder widespread adoption.
The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?
Q: Tell us more David about that disconnect.
He explains that while a trillion-dollar headline looks large, the average person may not feel the savings unless they benefit from lower premiums, better wage dynamics, or more affordable out-of-pocket costs; high-deductible plans still place heavy burdens on many families.
The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?
Q: So you have this new analysis here, David, of healthcare spending that will probably take many Americans by surprise, because it's a rare bright spot.
Cutler discusses that the savings reflect a mix of lower volume in some areas and lower prices in others, driven by more judicious use of imaging, new medications that prevent hospitalizations, and overall shifts in care delivery—though the benefits are not evenly distributed across all income groups.
Should People Who Want GLP-1s Have to Work for Them?
Q: What are the main employer strategies to control GLP-1 costs?
Strategies include lifestyle programs that require engagement, set stipends, and outright denial of coverage; some seek to balance access with cost through targeting, while others push toward broader access with more complex vendor options.
Should People Who Want GLP-1s Have to Work for Them?
Q: What do we know about health outcomes and costs from the Connecticut program?
Nick and peers show substantial weight loss and improved health metrics on program participation, while overall state costs rise more slowly due to targeted access and program design; experts caution that long-term savings are not guaranteed and may be offset by other 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 Tradeoffs

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

Tradeoffs pools serious health policy with human-centered storytelling to illuminate the tough choices in health care. Episodes commonly unpack costs, coverage, equity, and technology, often pairing data-driven analysis with first-person or on-the-ground perspectives from policymakers, clinicians, and researchers. Listeners likely include policy professionals, health economists, and industry stakeholders who want thoughtful context on how policy shifts translate into real-world outcomes. A standout trait is its clear balance between rigorous research and relatable narratives, which can help sponsors reach a policy-minded audience and potential guests understand the show's rigorous yet accessible approach.

Where can I find podcast stats for Tradeoffs?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Tradeoffs. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Tradeoffs and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Tradeoffs get?

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How many subscribers and views does Tradeoffs have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Tradeoffs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Tradeoffs:

1. What the Health? From KFF Health News
2. An Arm and a Leg
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. The Daily
5. Public Health On Call

How many episodes of Tradeoffs are there?

Tradeoffs launched 7 years ago and published 384 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 Tradeoffs?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Tradeoffs?

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What guests have appeared on Tradeoffs?

Recent guests on Tradeoffs include:

1. Brian Blase
2. Sherry Gleed
3. Avik Roy
4. Tony LoSasso
5. Jason Levitis
6. David Cutler
7. Patrice Andrews
8. Abena Bediako

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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