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Artwork for Who Makes Cents?: A History of Capitalism Podcast

Who Makes Cents?: A History of Capitalism Podcast

Jessica Levy and Dylan Gottlieb
Capitalism
African Americans
Freedman's Bank
Racial Capitalism
Seth Rockman
Gun Capitalism
Racial Wealth Gap
Mass Consumerism
Outdoor Industry
Slavery
Financialization
National Rifle Association
Neoliberalism
Reconstruction
American Capitalism
Frederick Douglass
Antebellum America
North and South
Colonialism
Cold War

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes130Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Who Makes Cents?: A History of Capitalism Podcast

Latest Episodes

So often, when we hear about computing or computers, we think about disruption—some technological advancement that signals a radical break with all that came before.

But what if that's wrong, or at the very least, incomplete? Today's guest, Devin K... more

The story of neoliberal capitalism's emergence in the United States typically begins with Ronald Reagan. By contrast, recent scholarship has emphasized the bipartisan nature of the rise of free market politics. Revisiting the history of mid-century l... more

Rolling Stone: just saying the words conjures a whiff patchouli and pot smoke, flashes of of Jim Morison, Janis Joplin, and Lester Bangs, and strains of the Grateful Dead and Sly and the Family Stone.

But our guest this month argues that the magaz... more

The year was 1984, "The Year of the Yuppie," according to Newsweek magazine. Yuppies may have been a classic 1980s stereotype, but they were also a very real demographic as revealed in this month's episode featuring our very own Dylan Gottlieb. Gottl... more

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

Devin Kennedy
Assistant professor of history at University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Episode: Devin Kennedy on Computing and Capitalism
Danielle Wiggins
Assistant professor of history at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Episode: Danielle Wiggins on Black Excellence and the Making of Modern Liberalism
Charles Ponce De Leon
Emeritus professor at Cal State Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
Episode: Charles Ponce De Leon on Rolling Stone and Hip Capitalism
Dylan Gottlieb
History professor and author of Yuppies, The Bankers, Lawyers, Joggers, and Gourmands Who Conquered New York
Bentley University
Episode: Dylan Gottlieb on Yuppies, Financialization, and the New Inequality
Justin Leroy
Assistant Professor of History and African and African-American Studies at Duke University
Duke University
Episode: Justin Leroy on the Lowest Freedom, Racial Capitalism, and Abolition Democracy
Quinn Slobodian
Co-author of Muskism, historian
Wellesley College / book author
Episode: Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff on Muskism
Ben Tarnoff
Co-author of Muskism, historian
Book author
Episode: Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff on Muskism
Jessica Levy
Author of Black Power, Inc.
Purchase College, SUNY
Episode: Jessica Levy on the Strange Career of Black Empowerment
Sean Vanatta
Senior lecturer in financial history and policy at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
Episode: Sean Vanatta Joins for a Banking Mega-Pod

Hosts

Jessica Levy
Host of Who Makes Cents?; author and scholar
Dylan Gottlieb
Co-host; historian and author

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 153 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 States2 years 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 States2 years 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 States5 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
    5 years ago
  • The ultimate

    The best podcast in existence. Thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Blitz723
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are described as highly informative with deep dives into capitalism's mechanics.
Many appreciate the hosts' ability to make academic content engaging.
Audience notes strong value in historical context and macro-to-micro connections.
Listeners praise accessible scholarship and thoughtful questioning.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#185
Chile/History
Apple Podcasts
#222
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#234
Israel/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Charles Ponce De Leon on Rolling Stone and Hip Capitalism
Q: What is hip capitalism and how does it help explain Rolling Stone's influence?
Hip capitalism is described as institutions and products from the 60s and 70s designed to appeal to shifting tastes and values, allowing countercultural energies to fuel mainstream culture and business opportunities without rejecting those readers.
Dylan Gottlieb on Yuppies, Financialization, and the New Inequality
Q: What lessons or takeaways should readers get from this study of yuppies?
Readers should understand how policies, institutions, and social attitudes created a structural framework that embedded inequality, and consider pathways for coalition-building across professional and working classes to reorient politics toward more equitable urban and economic outcomes.
Dylan Gottlieb on Yuppies, Financialization, and the New Inequality
Q: How does focusing on yuppies help us understand urban changes like gentrification?
Yuppies acted as catalysts and beneficiaries of capital redeploying into urban cores, initiating reinvestment, housing displacement, and the branding of cities via events like the New York City Marathon, which reshaped neighborhoods and the city's social fabric.
Dylan Gottlieb on Yuppies, Financialization, and the New Inequality
Q: What role did this generation of young urban professionals play in financialization?
They became central to finance moving to the center of the economy, driving profits through banking, law, and related services, while also shaping culture, labor practices, and urban life as part of a broader shift toward shareholder value and deregulation.
Dylan Gottlieb on Yuppies, Financialization, and the New Inequality
Q: For those who might not be familiar, what is a yuppie?
Yuppies are the 1980s stereotype of young urban professionals who moved to cities like New York, embodying a shift toward finance-driven growth and new consumer tastes, while also being a real demographic that contributed to the city's transformation.

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 This Podcast

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

This program curates historical and critical perspectives on capitalism, often featuring historians and scholars who trace capitalism's evolution across time and geographies. Episodes commonly examine how race, labor, urban policy, media, and culture intersect with economic systems, highlighting how institutions, markets, and state power shape inequality, governance, and everyday life. Guests are frequently authors or academics who connect archival research to contemporary debates, offering nuanced takes on topics like financialization, imperialism, and the politics of corporate power. A standout trait is the blend of rigorous scholarship with accessible storytelling, making complex history legible for a broad audience. Listeners can expect... more

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1. The Dig
2. Know Your Enemy
3. Jacobin Radio
4. American Prestige
5. Behind the News with Doug Henwood

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this podcast launched 12 years ago and published 130 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. Devin Kennedy
2. Danielle Wiggins
3. Charles Ponce De Leon
4. Dylan Gottlieb
5. Justin Leroy
6. Quinn Slobodian
7. Ben Tarnoff
8. Jessica Levy

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