Best David Sumner Podcasts (2025)

1
The Magic of Tokyo (with Joe McReynolds) 1:09:23

Play Pause

11m ago1:09:23

1:09:23

What drives the seeming relentless dynamism of Tokyo? Is there something special about Japanese culture? Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo, argues that the secret to Tokyo's energy and attractiveness as a place to live and visit comes from policies that allow Tokyo to emerge from the bottom up. Post-war black markets evolved into today's …

1
4.5 - The Battle of Leipzig: A New Dawn 1:05:08

6h ago1:05:08

1:05:08

With the battle over, peace reigns across Leipzig. However, the American occupation forces are confronted with a new set of challenges in the city. The dead must be buried, the destroyed buildings must be rebuilt, and if possible, Leipzig’s return to democracy must be achieved. But whatever challenges the people of Leipzig faced under the Americans…

1
The Influential Oregonian - Don Caverhill (The Kingsmen) 1:21:50

12h ago1:21:50

1:21:50

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, we are featuring one of the original band members of Oregon's very first band, The Kingsmen, Don Caverhill!

1
The Invisible Hierarchies that Rule Our World (with Toby Stuart) 1:13:15

10d ago1:13:15

1:13:15

Status isn't fixed; it's transferred and "bestowed," shaping who gets resources, attention, and opportunity. So argues author Toby Stuart of UC Berkeley in his book, Anointed. He and EconTalk's Russ Roberts explore why hierarchies persist--reducing conflict, allocating scarce resources, and curating our overwhelming choices--and how endorsements, b…

1
Eating with Intelligence (with Julia Belluz) 1:05:49

9d ago1:05:49

1:05:49

Losing weight should be simple: eat less, exercise more. But according to author and health journalist Julia Belluz, it's complicated. Listen as Belluz talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about her new book, Food Intelligence. Belluz argues that a calorie is pretty much a calorie whether it's carbs or fat. Keeping calories under control is often har…

1
4.4 - The Battle of Leipzig: The Last Stand 34:10

9d ago34:10

34:10

American forces have captured most of Leipzig, but key strongholds throughout the city remain in German hands. For example, at the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, a German garrison led by the fanatical Colonel Von Poncet refuses to surrender, leading to a tense stand-off with the Americans… Dates covered: 19th - 20th of April 1945. Map: Here is a map giving…

1
The Influential Oregonian - John Parenteau (Filmmaker & Author) 1:12:28

14d ago1:12:28

1:12:28

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, we have a very special guest, John Parenteau, who has written several books and worked on many films, including Iron Man 2, Hunger Games, and Sin City, and gives us a little bit of an ins…

1
Steven Pinker on Common Knowledge 1:23:20

16d ago1:23:20

1:23:20

Why are Super Bowl ads so good for launching certain kinds of new products? Why do we all drive on the same side of the road? And why, despite laughing and crying together, do we often misread what others think? According to bestselling author and Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, it all comes down to common knowledge, or the phenomenon that happ…

1
4.3 - The Battle of Leipzig: City Under Siege 55:48

16d ago55:48

55:48

With Leipzig surrounded on all sides by American forces, the US 2nd Infantry Division and the 69th Infantry Division launch their assault on the city. In the face of such unrelenting American military strength, one of Leipzig’s leaders tries to surrender the city…with farcical results. Date covered: 18th of April 1945. Map: Here is a map giving an …

1
How Did America Build the Arsenal of Democracy? (with Brian Potter) 1:05:05

1M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

American manufacturing of aircraft during WWII dwarfed that of its enemies. By the end of the war, an American assembly line was producing a B-24 bomber in less than an hour. But that success was far from inevitable. Structural engineer and writer Brian Potter speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the logistical challenges of ramping up product…

1
4.2 - The Battle of Leipzig: The Americans Are Coming 44:55

25d ago44:55

44:55

April 1945: American forces, led by US V Corps, advance across central Germany, seeking to crush the Third Reich once and for all. With Leipzig now clearly within the crosshairs of the Americans, the city's military and civil leadership panic over how exactly to defend Leipzig from the impending American attack… Map: Here is a map giving an overvie…

1
How Teams Succeed (with Colin Fisher) 1:03:22

1M ago1:03:22

1:03:22

What makes some groups thrive while others crash and burn? According to organizational-behavior scholar Colin Fisher, the real villains are rarely individuals, but dysfunctional teams and organizations. Listen as he and EconTalk's Russ Roberts discuss the reasons for the free-rider problem and the importance of meaningful, well-defined tasks to inc…

1
4.1 - Welcome to the Battle of Leipzig 43:05

1M ago43:05

43:05

An introduction to the Battle of Leipzig, including an overview of the importance of the city to the Third Reich’s war effort. In this episode I also outline the military situation facing the Americans in Germany in 1945 - and how that directly impacted the subsequent American decision to assault (and capture) Leipzig. Map: Here is a map giving an …

1
The Influential Oregonian - 1000 Miles Across Oregon 1:11:19

1M ago1:11:19

1:11:19

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, there's lot's of fun banter and stories from the 1000 mile journey that Marcus took around coastal, southern, and central Oregon! From the prehistoric park to the edge of a volcano, learn…

1
Humans Are Overrated (with Christine Webb) 1:10:53

1M ago1:10:53

1:10:53

Are humans the most intelligent species, or just the most arrogant? NYU primatologist Christine Webb, author of The Arrogant Ape, believes that human exceptionalism is a myth that does more harm than good. Listen as she speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about how research has skewed our understanding of animals' capabilities, the surprising inner…

1
Hemingway, Love, and War (with David Wyatt) 1:06:28

1M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

What can Ernest Hemingway teach us today about the morality of war, the eternal and transient nature of love, and how to write a masterpiece? Listen as author and teacher David Wyatt talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about Hemingway's epic For Whom the Bell Tolls. Topics include Hemingway's role in the wars of the 20th century, the book's context …

1
The Influential Oregonian - Ricky Cedillo (Real Estate Ricky) 1:13:46

2M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, we sit down with Ricky Cedillo, a gentleman who grew up in the same town as me and became an icon in his own right. He is more than just a real estate agent; he shows people that their dr…

1
Tim Ferriss on Tim Ferriss (and much much more) 2:06:49

2M ago2:06:49

2:06:49

Cold plunges. Exogenous ketones. Pu-erh tea--but hold the breakfast: it's all par for the morning routine, at least if you're entrepreneur, self-experimenter, and king of the lifehacks, Tim Ferriss. From how he manages the challenges of his celebrity to how he manages to stay in great shape; how he does--and when he doesn't--harness the power of AI…

1
The Influential Oregonian - Floyd Sumner 1:05:12

2M ago1:05:12

1:05:12

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, we sit down with an old friend, Floyd Sumner, to talk about his journey with art, comic con stories, and more! If you like this, you should definitely check out all of our content at www.…

1
Learning to Think Like Someone Else (with David Marquet) 1:03:46

2M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Former submarine commander David Marquet joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to explore how distancing--thinking like someone else, somewhere else, or sometime else--can unlock better choices in business and life. They talk about leadership without giving orders, how to empower teams, and what it means to see yourself as a coach rather than a boss. Along…

1
The Influential Oregonian - Modern Frontiersman 1:18:34

2M ago1:18:34

1:18:34

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, we do a fun, albeit slightly clunky, exercise where we build our own town or revitalize an old ghost town and discuss other frontier communities. If you love this then you should definite…

1
Let Me Be Forgotten (with Lowry Pressly) 1:21:00

2M ago1:21:00

1:21:00

What do we lose when every moment is recorded, every action scrutinized, and every past mistake preserved? Philosopher and author Lowry Pressly joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to discuss why privacy isn't just about secrets or information control, the necessity of spontaneity, the importance of moral growth, and what we need to become fully human. Fr…

1
The Influential Oregonian - Jordan & Katie Wolfe (Exploregonians) 59:11

3M ago59:11

59:11

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week we finally interview the hosts of our newest show on the network: Exploregonians! If you love this then you should definitely check out out website for all of our others shows and content …

1
Read Like a Champion (with Doug Lemov) 1:03:56

2M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Many students graduate high school today without having read a book cover to cover. Many students struggle to learn to read at all. How did this happen? Listen as educator and author Doug Lemov talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the failed fads in reading education, the mistaken emphasis on vocabulary as a skill, and the importance of backgro…

1
3.14 - The Battle of Berlin: The 2nd of May (And Epilogue) 56:20

3M ago56:20

56:20

With defeat now inevitable for the Germans and the Soviet capture of Berlin all but complete, General Weidling enters into final surrender negotiations with the Soviets. In the meantime, the breakout groups continue in their attempt to fight their way out of the capital. Epilogue: Once the fighting ends, the victors, the defeated, and the people of…

1
James Marriott on Reading 1:25:22

3M ago1:25:22

1:25:22

Is long form reading a dying pastime? Journalist and cultural critic James Marriott joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to defend the increasingly quaint act of reading a book in our scrolling-obsessed, AI-summarized age. He urges juggling a paper book and a Kindle, recounts ditching his smartphone to rescue his attention, and shares tactics for finding …

1
3.13 - The Battle of Berlin: The 1st of May 32:20

3M ago32:20

32:20

With the rapidly diminishing Berlin garrison forces trapped in an ever-decreasing pocket in the centre of the city, Goebbels, as the new Chancellor, decides to start negotiating with the Soviets. But rather than delivering a quick-end to the fighting, these negotiations quickly descend into farce. Meanwhile, breakout groups launch desperate attempt…

1
The Influential Oregonian - Gus Frederick (Silverton Historian) 1:10:55

3M ago1:10:55

1:10:55

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week we sit down with our friend and colleague Gus Frederick and listen to him talk about the history of Silverton, primarily the story of Homer Davenport. If you want more awesome stories and …

1
How to Walk the World (with Chris Arnade) 1:14:38

3M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

Skip the Mona Lisa when you visit Paris. Don't tour the Coliseum in Rome. Walk, don’t hurry. Chris Arnade speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about a different way to travel. Listen as Arnade shares what he learned from Istanbul's small community mosques and how Avignon's Congolese-neighborhood cathedrals provided moving moments of spirituality. He…

1
3.12 - The Battle of Berlin: The 30th of April 28:05

3M ago28:05

28:05

The Red Army launches its long-awaited assault on the Reichstag. But all Stalin wants to know is whether or not the building will be captured before May Day… Meanwhile, in the bunker, Hitler bites the bullet. Map: Here is a map giving an overview of the important locations featured in the series. Map: Here is a map of the Soviet assault on the Reic…

1
Full Moon Fever (Tom Petty) 1:31:52

3M ago1:31:52

1:31:52

Support the show Twitter - https://twitter.com/mccartneyin Website - https://mccartneyingoal.com/By McCartney In Goal

1
What Is Capitalism? (with Mike Munger) 1:19:48

3M ago1:19:48

1:19:48

What is capitalism, really? Drawing on Adam Smith, Douglass North, and his own experience as a teacher and economist, economist Michael Munger of Duke University discusses three stages of economic development with EconTalk's Russ Roberts: voluntary exchange, markets, and capitalism. Along the way, the conversation explores the moral and institution…

1
3.11 - The Battle of Berlin: The 29th of April 22:42

3M ago22:42

22:42

Red Army forces brave fire and fury as they launch their assault across the Landwehr Canal, whilst Soviet riflemen establish a foothold in the Diplomatic Quarter after successfully crossing the Moltkebridge. The Reichstag now lies within touching distance for the Soviets… For the Berlin garrison forces, it seems the only thing holding back the Sovi…

1
The Influential Oregonian - Stories From The State #2: Opium Led To Pearl Harbor 1:26:14

4M ago1:26:14

1:26:14

Welcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This week, we are doing Stories From The State, which are episodes all about our favorite stories from the state of Oregon. Our subject today is the story of William Dunbar and Yosuke Matsuoka and h…

1
The Deceptive Power of Maps (with Paulina Rowinska) 1:09:16

4M ago1:09:16

1:09:16

How can the state of Colorado have nearly 700 sides? Why is a country's coastline as long as you want it to be? And how is it that your UPS driver has more routes to choose from than there are stars in the universe? Listen as mathematician Paulina Rowinska talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the mathematical tricks hiding in plain sight with e…