Who Makes Cents?: A History of Capitalism Podcast

Jessica Levy and Dylan Gottlieb

African Americans

Freedman's Bank

Capitalism

Seth Rockman

Gun Capitalism

Racial Wealth Gap

Outdoor Industry

Mass Consumerism

Slavery

National Rifle Association

Antebellum America

North and South

American Capitalism

Reconstruction

Labor History

Fireports and Domestic Violence

Urban Uprisings Of the 1960S

Gun Control Act Of 1968

Property Tax

Material Culture

Who Makes Cents?: A History of Capitalism Podcast is a monthly program devoted to bringing you quality, engaging stories that explain how capitalism has changed over time. We interview historians and social and cultural critics about capitalism's past, highlighting the political and economic changes that have created the present. Each episode gives voice to the people who have shaped capitalism – ... more

148 ratings

Publishes	Monthly	Episodes	120	Founded	12 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	HistorySociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

Rudi Batzell on Racialized Working-Class Politics in the U.S. and British Empires

This month's episode offers a fresh perspective on an old debate. Jettisoning outdated modes of analysis that emphasize race vs. class, guest Rudi Batzell illuminates the materialist underpinnings of racialized working-class politics in the U.S. and ... more

5 Nov 2025 • 49 min

Leigh Claire La Berge on Why Capitalism Might Be A Joke

If you work at a so-called laptop job, there are moments every day when your work feels silly, pointless, absurd, even fake.

What if you wrote an entire book that tried to inhabit and analyze that very feeling? Leigh Claire LaBerge's new book—which... more

1 Oct 2025 • 36 min

Bench Ansfield on Arson-for-Profit, Insurance Brownlining, and the Bronx

Arson - which frequently involves the destruction of property - and business are not typically thought to be compatible. Indeed, there is a whole industry - the insurance industry - whose stated business is the mitigation of risk, including the risk ... more

9 Sep 2025 • 39 min

Kendra Boyd on Black Business and Racial Capitalism during the Great Migration

Take a moment and picture the average person who came North during the Great Migration.

Chances are good that you conjured someone who was African-American and working-class, bound for a city in search of a job, say, in a factory or in domestic ser... more

4 Aug 2025 • 31 min

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Recent Guests

Rudi Batzell

Associate Professor of History at Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College

Episode: Rudi Batzell on Racialized Working-Class Politics in the U.S. and British Empires

Leigh Claire LaBerge

Professor of English at the City University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community College campus

Episode: Leigh Claire La Berge on Why Capitalism Might Be A Joke

Bench Ansfield

Assistant Professor of History specializing in urban history and economic systems

Emile University

Episode: Bench Ansfield on Arson-for-Profit, Insurance Brownlining, and the Bronx

Kendra Boyd

Assistant Professor at Workers University, Camden

Workers University

Episode: Kendra Boyd on Black Business and Racial Capitalism during the Great Migration

Trish Kahle

Assistant Professor of History at Georgetown University and author of Energy Citizenship, Coal, and Democracy in the American Century

Georgetown University

Episode: Trish Kahle on Energy Citizenship and Coal-Fired Democracy in the 20th Century U.S.

Koji Hirata

Senior Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at Morash University in Australia

Morash University

Episode: Koji Hirata on Steel, Industrialization, and Chinese Socialism

Justine Hill Edwards

Associate professor of history at the University of Virginia and author of the book 'Savings and Trust, The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank'

University of Virginia

Episode: Justene Hill Edwards on the Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank

Erik Baker

Lecturer in the History of Science Department at Harvard University

Harvard University

Episode: Erik Baker on the Entrepreneurial Century

Mary Bridges

Harvard University Belfer Center scholar and author

Harvard University

Episode: Mary Bridges on Bankers and the Dawn of American Empire

Hosts

Jessica Levy

Host and co-producer known for engaging storytelling that connects historical narratives with contemporary issues.

Dylan Gottlieb

Co-host and knowledgeable guide through discussions on capitalism, its history, and societal implications.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 148 ratings

Huge Fan
This show brings academics together in a palatable way for non-academics. I’m just such a huge fan of Jessica and Dylan and their thoughtful questioning and structuring of each episode. Awesome work.
Apple Podcasts
5
teddyconover
United Statesa year ago
Still great
Enjoy the interviews with authors. Good in-depth convos and interesting questions. Keep up the good work!
Apple Podcasts
5
Andrew loves pods
United Statesa year ago
A space to learn (and un-learn)
Who Makes Cents has quickly become a favorite for me! No matter the topic, I gain something from every episode. Really grateful for this resource... keep up the amazing work, Jessica!
Apple Podcasts
5
Arlie K
United States4 years ago
Monthly deep dives on economic and labor issue from a progressive/Left perspective. Typically academic and the interviews are a little too pre-planned but the guests and subjects are usually excellent and that's what's most important.
Podcast Addict
5
curious
4 years ago
The ultimate
The best podcast in existence. Thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Apple Podcasts
5
Blitz723
United States5 years ago

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Listeners Say

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

The program is praised for successfully bridging the gap between scholarly research and general audience understanding.

Some reviewers express a desire for clearer conclusions from guests, indicating a wish for more direct takeaways from conversations.

Many find the depth of interviews with expert guests enlightening and informative.

Listeners appreciate the academic yet accessible approach to discussing complex issues related to capitalism.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts

#197

Norway/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rudi Batzell on Racialized Working-Class Politics in the U.S. and British Empires

Q: What are some particular events, some changing positions that occur in the 1890s in relationship to unions and race that make this decade so pivotal?

The AFL's pivot towards more exclusionary practices, including embracing nativism and whites-only policies, marked a significant shift in union dynamics during the 1890s.

Rudi Batzell on Racialized Working-Class Politics in the U.S. and British Empires

Q: Can you briefly explain what impact slavery had on the US labor movement, particularly during its formative years in the 1870s to the 1920s?

Slavery shaped the US labor movement's narrow focus, influenced by employer hostility and the context of racialized labor, especially in the context of strikebreaking.

Leigh Claire La Berge on Why Capitalism Might Be A Joke

Q: How did your own time in the corporate world shape your own path into the academy?

Leigh shared that her corporate experiences led to a transformation from wanting to be a businessman to wanting to be a writer who investigates capitalism.

Leigh Claire La Berge on Why Capitalism Might Be A Joke

Q: Was it easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism?

Leigh reflected on the capitalist imagination, noting it can envision all kinds of apocalyptic scenarios, yet fails to conceive of its own demise.

Bench Ansfield on Arson-for-Profit, Insurance Brownlining, and the Bronx

Q: Why is arson seen as a thriving business in many US cities during the 1970s?

The economic and political motives behind fire setting became evident as landlords, faced with shrinking profit margins due to white flight and industrial relocation, turned to arson as a means to liquidate assets quickly.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

Focused on the historical development and nuances of capitalism, the content offers insightful discussions that bridge the gap between academic discourse and accessible storytelling. It frequently features expert guests—including historians and social critics—who explore various aspects of capitalism, from its socio-economic implications to its intersections with race and class. Topics often include urban financialization, labor rights, racial capitalism, and historical case studies such as the Freedman's Bank and the impacts of the Great Migration. This podcast stands out because of its commitment to providing a platform for underrepresented narratives, thereby enriching the understanding of capitalism's multifaceted history.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Jacobin Radio
2. Politics Theory Other
3. Know Your Enemy
4. The War on Cars
5. Death Panel

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 12 years ago and published 120 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Rudi Batzell
2. Leigh Claire LaBerge
3. Bench Ansfield
4. Kendra Boyd
5. Trish Kahle
6. Koji Hirata
7. Justine Hill Edwards
8. Erik Baker

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