Best David Ratner Podcasts (2025)

1
Will A.I. Slop Replace the Internet? with Jason Koebler 1:27:21

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5d ago1:27:21

1:27:21

A.I. slop is competing for space all across the web, and it’s starting to edge out actual human creators. The internet, once rife with possibility, is rapidly turning into a depressing wasteland of mind numbing garbage. Despite the massive volume of brain-waste being sludged out every day, there are still some brilliant human minds trying to turn t…

1
From Beijing to Washington: China's Economy with Oliver Melton | China Considered | Hoover Institution 55:06

6d ago55:06

55:06

Host Dr. Elizabeth Economy interviews Oliver Melton, who shares insider perspectives on China's complex economy, drawing from his years as a diplomat in Beijing and his current role at the Rhodium Group. Economy and Melton discuss how China's structural imbalances, high savings rates, and over-investment in real estate have created fundamental econ…

1
Being Funny in Deeply Unfunny Times with Gianmarco Soresi 1:53:11

12d ago1:53:11

1:53:11

Comedy has changed as an art form. On top of social media fundamentally reconfiguring the expectations of the audience for what the role of a comedian is meant to be, we live in deeply unfunny times. Despite these challenges, we still all need to laugh. This week, Adam talks with comedian Gianmarco Soresi about how to adapt to the times without com…

1
What Labubus Say About Our F-d Up Economy 12:56

14d ago12:56

12:56

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Genocide Scholar: I Know It When I See It, with Omer Bartov 1:33:26

19d ago1:33:26

1:33:26

The Palestinian people are being killed en masse, they are being starved, and many are dying of preventable disease. More and more people are beginning to understand that it’s Israel’s intention to eliminate the entire Palestinian population of Gaza. Yet as untold thousands are dying, there are still people who insist that this is not “genocide” de…

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Why Strength Training Kicks Dieting’s Ass with Casey Johnston 1:19:10

26d ago1:19:10

1:19:10

Being in “good shape” doesn’t just mean changing your diet in pursuit of unrealistic standards of thinness; it means challenging your body to be more capable today than it was yesterday. In recent years, weight lifting has been catching on as a primary exercise focus for both men and women who are trying to live healthier lifestyles. This week, Ada…

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How The Naked Gun Saved Comedy 1:34:15

1M ago1:34:15

1:34:15

The world is getting less funny. Not just out there in the geopolitical hellscape of every day life, but at the movie theater as well. While comedy films once dominated the box office, in recent years there’s been a sharp drop-off in theatrical comedies. The communal experience of sitting in a room with people and sharing one of the most fundamenta…

1
Vivian Wilson Bullies Adam Conover for 74 Minutes 1:10:03

1M ago1:10:03

1:10:03

One of Elon Musk’s most insightful critics is his own daughter. Vivian Wilson came into the limelight last year after her father deadnamed her in an interview with Jordan Peterson, and she responded by systematically dismantling Musk in a now infamous post. Having publicly rejected her father, Wilson suddenly found herself as an icon of trans visib…

1
Everything in America is a Pyramid Scheme Now with Bridget Read 1:26:21

2M ago1:26:21

1:26:21

Pyramid schemes have been a comedic punchline for ages now, but they’ve never been more relevant. Not only is there still a thriving culture of multi-level exploitation in this country, but the dark spirit of pyramid schemes has wormed its way into countless aspects of American life. This week, Adam speaks with Bridget Read, writer at New York Maga…

1
Europe's China Challenge with Noah Barkin | China Considered | Hoover Institution 45:14

2M ago45:14

45:14

Host Dr. Elizabeth Economy interviews Noah Barkin, senior advisor with the Rhodium Group, about the evolving EU-China relationship following their July 2025 summit celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties. Barkin traces Europe's awakening to the China challenge and China's designation as a "systemic rival" in 2019, explaining how the EU has develope…

1
What’s Wrong with Capitalism? with John Cassidy 1:16:21

2M ago1:16:21

1:16:21

While we’re certainly in a uniquely bad time for our capitalist society, we’re definitely not the first people to be having the thought, “what if things weren’t quite so terrible for 99% of people?” From the beginning, capitalism has justifiably had critics. Today Adam is joined by John Cassidy, New Yorker writer and author of Capitalism and Its Cr…

1
Zohran Is Teaching the Left How to Win 17:21

2M ago17:21

17:21

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Spotify Is Even Worse Than You Think with Liz Pelly 1:24:00

2M ago1:24:00

1:24:00

It’s no secret that Spotify pays artists extremely poorly, but it turns out they don’t treat their customers much better. Author and journalist Liz Pelly’s new book, Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist, investigates how Spotify has accelerated the collapse of the music industry, along with their shady practices s…

1
We’re not ready for what’s coming. 19:04

2M ago19:04

19:04

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
The Rise and Fall of US-China Engagement with David Shambaugh | China Considered | Hoover Institution 1:04:21

2M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

Dr. Elizabeth Economy interviews Professor David Shambaugh about his new book Breaking the Engagement: How China Won & Lost America, which examines the collapse of America's four-decade engagement strategy with China. Shambaugh argues that China initially "won over" American constituencies during the reform era, but starting around 2010, these grou…

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The Secret Agent Organizer of the Starbucks Union with Jaz Brisack 1:24:57

2M ago1:24:57

1:24:57

Companies are infamous for their union busting tactics, but that doesn’t mean union organizers don’t have their own strategies. This week, Adam speaks with Jaz Brisack, an undercover organizer, or union “salt”, who took a job as a barista in a Starbucks in Buffalo, NY with the explicit intention of organizing Starbucks employees. Thanks to the effo…

1
Is Pride Dead? 20:23

2M ago20:23

20:23

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Lina Khan: How to Fight Corporate Power Under Trump 1:19:42

2M ago1:19:42

1:19:42

Until recently, Lina Khan was the chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Under her leadership, the FTC went after the anti-competitive tactics of tech giants, finalized rules to ban non-compete clauses, enforced the right to repair, and even took on ever-loathsome junk fees. Despite the limit resources of her department, Chair Khan made such undeni…

1
China's AI Breakthrough: DeepSeek vs. American Dominance with Amy Zegart | China Considered | Hoover Institution 39:35

3M ago39:35

39:35

Hoover Fellows Dr. Elizabeth Economy and Dr. Amy Zegart discuss the "DeepSeek moment"— when China's DeepSeek AI model surprised U.S. markets by replicating OpenAI's performance using fewer resources and an open-source approach. The two explore the strategic implications of open versus closed AI models, with there being an argument that the U.S. sho…

1
RFK is Shortening Our Lifespans, with Dr. Eric Topol 1:15:34

3M ago1:15:34

1:15:34

When it comes to medical science, there’s never been a better time to be alive than now… other than maybe a few months ago before the new Trump administration. Americans today are living longer than ever before, and that’s owed in no small part to the National Institutes of Health—a government organization that has been responsible for some of the …

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How Zohran Humiliated the Democrats with David Roth 1:21:09

3M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

Last week, Zohran Mamdani shattered the notion that a New York City mayor has to be some craggy-faced, man-shaped stack of disappointments who’d sooner die than be seen on the subway. The young, energetic Democratic Socialist ran on a platform of making New York City a more livable place for average residents, which—surprise!—went over well with av…

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AI Is Making You Dumber 21:52

3M ago21:52

21:52

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
China, Coalitions, and the Future of Asian Security with Ely Ratner | China Considered | Hoover Institution 49:54

3M ago49:54

49:54

Dr. Elizabeth Economy and Ely Ratner sit down to discuss challenging security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, the specific goals and ambitions of China in the Western Pacific and East Asia, their experiences in the Biden Administration and the state of the alliance system in the region, based off his recent Foreign Affairs Piece, “The Case …

1
The Right is Wrong About Latin America with Greg Grandin 1:14:42

3M ago1:14:42

1:14:42

Trump has long expressed racism and vitriol toward immigrants, particularly those from Latin America. As he deploys the National Guard to Los Angeles to quash pro-immigrant protesters, it’s important to remember that Latin America is still part of the Americas. To understand how we arrived at a moment where the right holds such a bitter and hateful…

1
America Has No Left Wing with Vivek Chibber 1:30:24

3M ago1:30:24

1:30:24

At the No Kings protests this past weekend, millions of Americans demonstrated against the fascist right wing. Despite the staggering number of people willing to take to the streets, why does it still seem like the left is powerless to stop the right on a political level? This week, Adam sits with NYU professor Vivek Chibber to discuss how America …

1
Axis, Rivalry, or Chaos? The US-China-Russia Equation with Michael McFaul 1:00:51

4M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Dr. Elizabeth Economy and Michael McFaul sit down to discuss the relationship between the United States, China, and Russia, the history of US engagement with Russia, his experience as the United States Ambassador to Russia under President Barack Obama, and the increasing cooperation between China and Russia. McFaul begins by discussing early engage…

1
How D&D Took Over Sports Arenas with Brennan Lee Mulligan 1:26:38

4M ago1:26:38

1:26:38

In the past several years, the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons has firmly made the leap from subculture to pop culture. Massively popular “actual play” shows like Dimension 20 now sell out arenas like Madison Square Garden, a feat which would have been unheard of not so long ago. This week, Adam speaks with Dimension 20 creator and gam…

1
The End of Women's Rights with Mary Ziegler 1:10:18

4M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

The Dobbs Decision is one of the biggest blows to human rights in our lifetimes, and it’s just the beginning. Ending access to abortion is only the first step in the pro-life movement’s war on bodily autonomy. This week Adam sits with Mary Ziegler, law professor and author of Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction, to discuss the devastati…

1
Did Elon Tell Grok to Promote “White Genocide”? 15:07

4M ago15:07

15:07

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Lines of Fire: China, the US, and the India-Pakistan Standoff with Šumit Ganguly 44:30

4M ago44:30

44:30

Dr. Elizabeth Economy and Šumit Ganguly sit down to discuss the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, the roots of the conflict between the two nations, and how the United States and China fit into the relationship. Ganguly starts out by giving listeners an overview of the cross-border clashes in early May, where the tension from the two nati…

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A.I. Companies Believe They're Making God with Karen Hao 1:10:13

4M ago1:10:13

1:10:13

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/adamconover Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Silicon Valley has started treating AI like a religion. Literally. This week, Adam sits down with Karen Hao, author of EMPIRE OF AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI to talk about what it means for all of us when tech bros w…

1
Trump and Elon Want to Force You to Have Babies 19:05

4M ago19:05

19:05

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
The Philosophy of Fatness with Kate Manne 1:26:18

4M ago1:26:18

1:26:18

Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/2vjj5nrh #CashAppPod *Referral Reward Disclaimer: As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Science increasingly shows that we have far less control over our weight and body shape than society wants us to believe. Yet people labeled as “overweight” a…

1
5 Star Reviews Are Ruining Your Life 21:21

5M ago21:21

21:21

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
The Negotiator’s Notebook: US-China Trade War with former USTR Susan Schwab 48:21

5M ago48:21

48:21

Dr. Elizabeth Economy and Susan Schwab sit down to discuss the current global trade environment and the outlook for US-China trade relations in the aftermath of negotiations in Geneva. The two discuss the magnitude and reaction to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, along with the motivations and scale behind the actions. Schwab then explai…

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Homeless and Employed in America with Brian Goldstone 1:08:52

5M ago1:08:52

1:08:52

Having a full-time job doesn’t guarantee a roof over your head. While many Americans still equate homelessness with unemployment, the reality is that 40 to 60 percent of unhoused people in this country are working. This week, Adam sits down with anthropologist Brian Goldstone—author of There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America—to ex…

1
Group Chats are Destroying MAGA 17:44

5M ago17:44

17:44

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Electric Empire: China’s EV Takeover with Michael Dunne 41:08

5M ago41:08

41:08

Longtime friends Dr. Elizabeth Economy and Michael Dunne sit down to discuss the transformation of the Chinese automobile industry, the roots of electric vehicles in China, the demand for electric vehicles (EV) both in the United States and globally, and how the United States can best compete in a rapidly changing environment. Dunne details the ear…

1
Why America Can’t Build (Yet) with Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson 1:27:04

5M ago1:27:04

1:27:04

Could many of America’s biggest problems be solved by simply building more? The theory of abundance suggests that from the housing crisis to the climate crisis, we could make real progress—if only we had the will and the systems to build boldly and swiftly. In their new book Abundance, Ezra Klein of The New York Times and Derek Thompson of The Atla…

1
The End of American Supremacy with Mark Blyth 1:21:39

5M ago1:21:39

1:21:39

For over 75 years we’ve lived in a world DEFINED by American economic supremacy. With the chaos of Trump’s tariffs and the rise of China it’s worth asking, is this era coming to a close? Today Adam is joined by Mark Blyth, a professor of international economics at Brown, and coauthor, along with Nicolo Fraccaroli of Inflation: A Guide for Users and…

1
You are not safe. 15:00

5M ago15:00

15:00

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Venture Capital in China with Gary Rieschel 57:13

5M ago57:13

57:13

Dr. Elizabeth Economy sits down with Gary Rieschel to discuss his two decades-plus working in venture capital in China, his experience starting his own firm, Qiming Venture Partners, in the country, and the evolution of the business and entrepreneurial space in the 21st century. Rieschel illustrates the early challenges in the VC sector, from a lac…

1
Quit Your Useless Job with Rutger Bregman 1:13:53

5M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Why does it so often feel like the more society claims to value a job, the slimier it is? Why are so many brilliant minds funneled into the tech industry, only to spend their days optimizing ad clicks instead of solving real societal problems? What if jobs were desirable not because of how much money they pull in, but because they made the world be…

1
The tariffs are just so stupid. 21:47

5M ago21:47

21:47

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
The New Red Scare with Corey Robin 1:28:23

6M ago1:28:23

1:28:23

Just months into Trump’s second term, we’re already witnessing the rapid erosion of fundamental American rights. Legal residents are being detained and deported simply for expressing support for Palestinians. Political expression in the U.S. hasn’t felt this dangerous since the Red Scare—and all signs point to things getting even worse. To help mak…

1
Inside China’s Business World with Patrick Jenevein 50:03

6M ago50:03

50:03

Dr. Elizabeth Economy sits down with Patrick Jenevein to discuss his career in the energy industry in China, the outlook for foreign individuals and companies seeking to do business in the country, and his new book - Dancing with the Dragon. Jenevein, who worked in the country for more than 20 years, recounts a collection of stories ranging from on…

1
There's No Such Thing as "Red States" with Trae Crowder 1:27:15

6M ago1:27:15

1:27:15

Our political system—and the way we talk about it—often flattens the true diversity of American voters, especially in so-called “red states.” But millions of progressives live in places too often dismissed as conservative strongholds, even in the Deep South. Today, Adam sits down with comedian Trae Crowder—best known for his viral persona, the Libe…

1
Former Inmates Reveal Life Inside American Prisons with David Campbell and Jarrod Shanahan 1:16:55

6M ago1:16:55

1:16:55

EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/adamconover Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! The American prison system isn’t just designed to keep inmates locked up—it’s built to keep the rest of us from truly seeing what happens inside. Rikers Island, New York City’s largest jail, has long been notorious for its inhumane cond…

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How Capitalism Killed the Movie Star 24:56

6M ago24:56

24:56

(In addition to your weekly Factually! episode, this week we're bringing you a monologue from Adam. This short, researched monologue originally aired on the Factually! YouTube page, but we are sharing audio versions of these monologues with our podcast audience as well. Please enjoy, and stay tuned for your regularly scheduled episode of Factually!…

1
Rivalry Redefined: US-China Strategy in a Shifting World with Matthew Turpin 58:28

6M ago58:28

58:28

Dr. Elizabeth Economy sits down with Matthew Turpin to discuss his road to becoming a China specialist, the US government’s strategy to compete with China, the role of China and the United States in international institutions, and the likelihood of a deal between President Trump and President Xi over the next four years. Turpin describes how his pa…