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Works in Progress Podcast

Works in Progress
Economic Growth
Urban Development
HIV
Insulin
Nuclear Energy
Lenacapavir
Public Health
Cost Disease
AIDS
Diabetes
Protein Design
Nuclear Reactors
PEPFAR
Housing Affordability
Technological Progress
Public Policy
Civic Cohesion
Transportation Infrastructure
Nimbyism
Dishwashers

Works in Progress is an online magazine devoted to new and underrated ideas about economic growth, scientific progress, and technology. Subscribe to listen to the Works in Progress podcast, plus Hard Drugs by Saloni Dattani and Jacob Trefethen.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes40Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyHistory

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Latest Episodes

In the nineteenth century, cities often grew a thousandfold while increasing wages, the size of homes, and delivering great public goods like electricity and plumbing to their people. What made them so extraordinary? They had a hybrid of laissez-fair... more

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Malaria is caused not by a virus or bacterium, but by a complex, shape-shifting parasite that has evolved alongside us for millennia. This has made vaccine development a brutal challenge.

In this episode, Jacob and Saloni are joined by Katharine Col... more

The Trump administration wants to bolster traditional art. Their attempt to revive sculpture, a mass statue-building program, is doomed. America doesn’t have the sculptors, foundries, and workers to make hundreds of bronze or marble sculptures. North... more

YouTube

Generations of microbes evolve in hours, not millennia. By speeding up Darwin’s clock, scientists have watched evolution happen in real time, and it’s changed how we understand natural selection. You can see the images, graphs and read the article at... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Katharine Collins
Co-invented the second malaria vaccine during her PhD
Coefficient Giving / Jenner Institute (Oxford)
Episode: Inventing the second malaria vaccine with Katharine Collins
Atalanta Arden Miller
Art director of Works in Progress who trained as a sculptor
Works in Progress
Episode: Where did all the good sculptors go?
Judge Glock
Judge specializing in local government and public policy
Episode: What is local government good for?
Erin Braid
Author of Washer Woman
Works in Progress
Episode: Washer woman: The invention of dishwashers
Ruxandra Teslo
Fellow at Renaissance Philanthropy
Renaissance Philanthropy
Episode: How to speed up clinical trials
Gavriel Kleinwaks
Co-author of The Death Rays That Guard Life
Authors, Works in Progress
Episode: The death rays that guard life: We can use ultraviolet light to disinfect public spaces
Karam Elabd
Co-author of The Death Rays That Guard Life
Authors, Works in Progress
Episode: The death rays that guard life: We can use ultraviolet light to disinfect public spaces
Samuel Hughes
Co-editor at Works in Progress
Works in Progress
Episode: Did status signaling ruin architecture?
Daniele Visioni
Co-author of Sunscreen for the Planet
Works in Progress magazine
Episode: Sunscreen for the planet: Geoengineering a cooler planet

Hosts

Ben Southwood
Editor/Host focusing on economics, technology, and policy discussions.
Saloni Dattani
Co-host covering policy, health, and technology discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 40 ratings
  • Superb

    It’s that rare mix of big ideas and clear storytelling, very smart without ever feeling heavy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TimothyJHoward
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Great podcast!

    One of the best interview shows today

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sam black
    United States9 months ago
  • I always learn something new

    Terrific podcast — information dense but still easy to listen along to. The hosts do a great job and the guests are always fascinating! Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eamo Eamo
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Well worth a listen

    Properly interesting interviews. Always look forward to a new one coming out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PhoebeAL
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • My favourite podcast

    I’m a little biased here but this is quickly becoming my favourite podcast to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ben Southwood
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently fascinating and the hosts maintain a smart on-air dynamic.
Listeners praise the show for synthesis of big ideas with clear storytelling and accessible delivery.
Content is information-dense yet easy to follow, with strong historical and practical context.
Episodes are considered rigorous, insightful, and solution-oriented by many listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#164
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#194
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#74
Italy/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#208
France/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#96
Ireland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#173
Russia/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Inventing the second malaria vaccine with Katharine Collins
Q: Would you participate in a challenge trial?
I would love to, but I really hate needles and I might faint; otherwise I would consider volunteering.
What is local government good for?
Q: What lessons do special districts teach about funding big projects?
Special districts work well for targeted projects when there is a clear, limited mandate, but they can become bloated 'fiefdoms' without accountability if not reintegrated or supervised at a higher level.
What is local government good for?
Q: Why do you think de-bundling services could improve governance?
Debundling allows voters to optimize their local mix of services and taxes, reducing spillover harms from universal bundling and enabling competition among local providers to improve efficiency.
What is local government good for?
Q: What makes local governmental delivery of water more effective than central authorities?
Local commitment to public goods, driven by citizen demand, creates a willingness to invest and innovate, often outperforming centralized mandates that can impose one-size-fits-all standards.
How to speed up clinical trials
Q: What reforms could meaningfully speed up trials without sacrificing safety?
Adopt platform trials, increase regulatory staff and clearer guidelines, promote safe harbors for certain reforms, improve IRB processes, and leverage international first-in-human data pathways to short-circuit unnecessary delays.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Works in Progress Podcast

What is Works in Progress Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, idea-driven show that pairs deep-dive discussions on technology, economics, science, and public policy with historical and contemporary context. Episodes span germicidal ultraviolet tech, egg freezing and migration policy, geoengineering, urban planning, longevity, statins, inflation, Europe's innovation dynamics, and energy transitions, often featuring researchers, policy analysts, or writers as guests. The program tends to blend historical arcs with forward-looking questions, emphasizing practical implications, governance, and the trade-offs of major tech and policy decisions. It likely appeals to curious, intellectually engaged listeners who enjoy rigorous, multidisciplinary conversations and are comfortable with data-heavy... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Works in Progress Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Works in Progress Podcast:

1. Conversations with Tyler
2. Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)
3. EconTalk
4. Odd Lots
5. 80,000 Hours Podcast

How many episodes of Works in Progress Podcast are there?

Works in Progress Podcast launched a year ago and published 40 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 Works in Progress Podcast?

Recent guests on Works in Progress Podcast include:

1. Katharine Collins
2. Atalanta Arden Miller
3. Judge Glock
4. Erin Braid
5. Ruxandra Teslo
6. Gavriel Kleinwaks
7. Karam Elabd
8. Samuel Hughes

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