Best Michael Cowen Podcasts (2025)

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Ideologies: Marxism 15:51

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2h ago15:51

15:51

Trey & Justin continue their dive into contemporary political ideologies. This week they dive into Marxism. Topics covered include: Marxism’s underlying structure in Hegel’s writings Historical Determinism Democracy and Marxism Lenin’s “fix” to Marxism with imperialism Critiques of Marxism and Neo-Marxism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg…

1
Dan Ivascyn Is Excited About a New Era in Fixed Income 57:57

1d ago57:57

57:57

In the years since the financial crisis, bond investors didn't get much return for taking on risk. With low interest rates and little sign of inflation, investors had to accept lower-quality assets to get any semblance of yield. Now that's changing according to Dan Ivascyn, the chief investment officer of Pimco, one of the biggest bond fund manager…

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How Microsoft Excel Conquered Corporate America 18:19

2d ago18:19

18:19

Excel. If you work in corporate America, that word either inspires laser-focused productivity or pure dread. Over the last 40 years, the spreadsheet software has become synonymous with the best — and worst — of late-stage capitalism. It’s seeped into popular culture and, along the way, made Microsoft one of the world’s most valuable companies.But i…

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Music to Move You! - Episode 100 1:01:50

3h ago1:01:50

1:01:50

It’s Episode #100, and it feels incredible to finally join the triple-digit club! Huge thanks to Working Class Radio for taking a chance on this show from day one, and to every listener who’s emailed, commented, shared, or danced along with us each week. To celebrate, we’re rewinding all the way back to Episode #1—digging out the very first stack o…

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National Guard Members Killed, Hegseth's Narco Strikes, Alina Habba, Tennessee Special Election, Oklahoma University Student's Failing Grade 1:10:34

4d ago1:10:34

1:10:34

Trey and Justin start the show discussing last week’s tragic incident involving the National Guard in Washington DC. Here, both Trey and Justin agree on the terrible nature of the attack. Trey highlights the emotionally charged nature such an episode will have on immigration conversations. Specifically, Trey discusses how media frames impact policy…

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Affirm's Max Levchin Breaks Down How Buy Now, Pay Later Really Works 53:17

4d ago53:17

53:17

Max Levchin probably knows as much about online payments as anyone. He was part of the original "PayPal mafia" before going on to become co-founder and CEO of Affirm, the $22 billion player in the Buy Now, Pay Later industry that's hoping to disrupt the incumbent credit card companies. While BNPL is booming, there is still a lot of confusion about …

1
AI Can Tell Us Something About Credit Market Weakness 44:01

5d ago44:01

44:01

There have been some wobbles in credit markets lately. It hasn't been too dramatic, but we've had some blowups, leading Jamie Dimon to speculate about the presence of other "cockroaches" lurking in the industry. But what do we actually know about the quality and practices of credit underwriting right now? Dan Wertman is the co-founder and CEO of No…

1
Democrats’ Dilemma, Second Thoughts on Sports Betting 19:07

7d ago19:07

19:07

Mike, Tim, and Michael open with the “Deciding to Win” memo and the broader question of how Democrats can reconnect with working-class voters while staying true to core values. Mike argues that Democrats already face structural disadvantages and will lose even more elections if they treat politics as a mass pedagogy project instead of meeting voter…

251
Travis Kavulla Explains Why Electric Bills Shot Up 57:15

8d ago57:15

57:15

There's an incredible amount of focus on the grid this days. That's notable because for a long time, the grid was hardly of any interest. For years, load growth was flat. It was a sleepy market. And in fact, because it was sleepy, regulators and politicians and private companies started focusing on phasing out the dirtier parts of energy production…

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192-Michael Leizerman-How Michael Leizerman Secured an $82.1 Million Win in a Landmark Trucking Case 1:05:08

5d ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Summary In this episode of Trial Lawyer Nation, Michael Leizerman shares insights from his experience winning an $82.1 million verdict in a challenging motorcycle accident case. He discusses the importance of credibility, the dynamics of working with a legal team, and the strategies used to connect with jurors. Leizerman emphasizes the need for com…

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Ukraine Peace Deal, Comey Case Tossed, Military Orders 1:07:47

10d ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Mike, Tim, and Michael open with Trump’s 28-point Ukraine peace plan, built on Russian terms that demand territorial concessions, a NATO ban, limits on Ukraine’s army, and sweeping amnesty. Tim focuses on trading some Ukrainian territory for ironclad security guarantees, including foreign troops on the ground as real deterrence. Mike argues the U.S…

1
This Is Why Credit Card Interest Rates Are So High 44:42

11d ago44:42

44:42

Some people pay off their credit cards at the end of each month. They use the cards as a payment method and collect points and rewards, and never have to pay any interest. For other users, interest can be sky high — way higher than what would be expected simply based on a user's credit or default risk. Why is this? And how do credit card companies …

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Music to Move You! - Episode 99 1:02:02

8d ago1:02:02

1:02:02

It’s Thanksgiving week here in the U.S., and at MtMY! we’re all Doing the Bird with an hour of late-’50s to mid-’70s dancefloor heat. Last year’s Thanksgiving “audio meal” was such a hit that we’re serving up a second helping—nothing but food-themed R&B, Rare Soul, and Mod movers to feed your hungry ears. From Dee Dee Sharp and Little Eva to Jr. Wa…

1
Graham Allison on the Risks of a US-China War 49:10

12d ago49:10

49:10

The US and China are in a "Thucydides Trap," whereby the risk of war is heightened when an established power is threatened by a rapidly rising power. This is the framework that's been popularized by Graham Allison, the Douglas Dillon Professor of Government at Harvard University. Professor Allison has been writing about China and the US-China relat…

1
Comey Indictment, ACA Subsidies, the MAGA Theory of Power 17:36

14d ago17:36

17:36

Mike and Joey open with the spiraling Comey prosecution, where a Trump-aligned U.S. attorney faces judicial scorn for alleged grand-jury missteps that could collapse the case. Mike argues the real play is intimidation and precedent-setting revenge politics rather than a credible legal charge. Joey counters that Comey was central to what he consider…

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Ray Dalio on the Five Forces That Make This a Historical Moment 58:06

15d ago58:06

58:06

You're not imagining it. This really is a moment of tremendous historical change. Various forces are all aligned right now and reshaping how the world operates. That's the view of Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Capital, the world's biggest hedge fund. While Odd Lots has been around for 10 years, Dalio ran Bridgewater for an extraordinary fiv…

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Risky Business Preview 3:45

16d ago3:45

3:45

Here’s a preview of another podcast we enjoy, Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova. Risky Business is a weekly podcast about making better decisions. Hosted by journalist and psychologist Maria Konnikova and data analyst and election forecaster Nate Silver, who both happen to be accomplished high-stakes poker players, the show explor…

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Epstein Files, Trump MBS Meeting, California vs ICE 1:10:16

17d ago1:10:16

1:10:16

Mike and Joey open with the blowback to Joey’s claim that “the hubris of the left” is the biggest obstacle to national unity . Mike frames Trump’s behavior as the more obvious example of hubris, while Joey argues that Trump’s personality is massive but incidental and that the real divide is between people focused on ideas and people hung up on iden…

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Why America's Cattle Ranchers Keep Getting Squeezed 43:20

17d ago43:20

43:20

The country's cattle herd has shrunk to its smallest size in decades and beef prices have been soaring this year, with hamburgers and steaks becoming the latest flashpoints in the political debate over higher food prices. In this episode, we untangle the roots of declining domestic beef supply — from drought and surging feed costs to the lasting im…

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Music to Move You! - Episode 98 1:02:03

13d ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Winter may be rolling in, but we’re turning the thermostat all the way up here at Music to Move You! Before you pack away the scooter and zip the lining back into your parka, step onto your at-home dancefloor and feel the heat. This week’s episode is a fiery mix of R&B, Northern Soul, Garage, Funk, a spark of punk rock, and even a brand-new scorche…

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What Susan Collins Wants to See Before Supporting Another Rate Cut 47:52

18d ago47:52

47:52

In early November, it looked like almost a sure thing that the Federal Reserve would cut rates. Since then, the odds have come in dramatically, as a number of FOMC members have been talking about persistent inflationary pressures. One such voice has been Susan Collins, the president of the Boston Fed. On this episode, she explains her thinking as t…

1
Tyler Cowen on Why AI Hasn't Changed the World Yet 51:38

19d ago51:38

51:38

In many respects, AI technology is already mind-blowing, and can perform many tasks far better than the average person. And yet by and large, its impact has been hard to detect. We haven't seen some huge labor displacement, for example. There's nothing dramatic yet happening in the productivity data. So when will the impact really start to be felt?…

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A.I. in Political Campaigns 50:57

16d ago50:57

50:57

Travis talks with Dr. Michael Cohen, author of Modern Political Campaigns, and Julie Sweet, author of the American Association of Political Consultants’ Deepfake Law Compliance Guide for Political Campaigns, about the role of artificial intelligence in political campaigns. Topics Travis, Julie, and Michael cover include: How campaigns are using AI …

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The Politics of AI Are About to Explode 45:14

20d ago45:14

45:14

AI wasn't much of a topic in the 2024 election. But it will almost certainly be big in 2028, and probably even the 2026 midterms. There are concerns about all the money being spent and whether a federal backstop or bailout will be necessary one day. There are the concerns about energy use and electricity prices. There are concerns about labor displ…

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Federalist Paper No 1 32:23

17d ago32:23

32:23

Trey & Ken begin a new supporter's series on The Federalist Papers. This week's episode includes an overview of The Federalist Papers themselves and introduces Federalist Paper No. 1. Topics covered include: The history behind writing the original essays The attack on the Constitution by Anti-Federalists How Hamilton and Madison became the principa…

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Music to Move You! - Episode 97 59:26

21d ago59:26

59:26

This week’s show is a groove-packed journey through the late ’50s to mid ’70s—an hour of rock, soul, and funk that’s guaranteed to get you moving! From Freddie Tieken & the Rockers to Jean Wells, Black Blood, and The Coasters, every record was handpicked to bring pure dancefloor joy. You’ll also hear fiery energy from Simtec Simmons & Wylie Dixon, …

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Jeffrey Gundlach Says Almost All Financial Assets Are Now Overvalued 59:18

22d ago59:18

59:18

Stocks are overpriced. Bonds are overpriced. And private assets are a powder keg. This is the view of Jeffrey Gundlach, the founder and CEO of DoubleLine Capital. As part of our 10-year anniversary celebration of the Odd Lots podcast, we've been talking to some big names in markets and economics to get a sense of how they see the world and what's c…

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Citi's Dirk Willer on How You Know When the Bubble Is Over 39:52

24d ago39:52

39:52

According to Dirk Willer, the Global Head of Macro Strategy at Citigroup, we are definitely in bubble territory. Per his research, the stock market has been in a bubble since May. Unlike many people, whose definitions of bubbles are a bit more vague or a bit more based on sentiment, Dirk's work focuses on precise timing and price indicators that di…

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191-Trial Series: The Art of Cross-Examining Defense Medical Personnel 32:57

21d ago32:57

32:57

In this episode of the Trial Series, hosts Michael Cowen and guest Malorie Peacock delve into the intricacies of cross-examining defense medical personnel. They share personal anecdotes and strategies for effectively challenging the credibility of defense medical experts in court. The discussion highlights the importance of storytelling in trials a…

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Government Shutdown Ends, Epstein Documents Continue, Tucker Carlson and the Heritage Foundation 1:03:12

25d ago1:03:12

1:03:12

In this episode, Trey and Ken discuss the recent end of the US government shutdown, including the implications for both parties, with a focus on the ACA subsidies. Trey argues that he was ultimately correct, and the shutdown did not benefit Democrats nor lasted into December. While Ken concedes that the shutdown didn’t last as long as he anticipate…

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Why Paul Kedrosky Says AI Is Like Every Bubble All Rolled Into One 47:29

25d ago47:29

47:29

In recent weeks, there's been renewed anxiety about the sustainability of the AI boom. This is partly due to comments from OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar about a possible role for a government backstop in the AI infrastructure build out. We've also seen the stock market wobble, with many major tech names hit hard. But even with all these concerns, we conti…

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Cliff Asness on How Markets Got Dumber in the Last 10 Years 57:17

26d ago57:17

57:17

The Odd Lots podcast has been around for 10 years. Unfortunately, markets have gotten less rational over the same time frame. At least this is the contention of Cliff Asness, the co-founder and CEO of AQR Capital Management, a quantitative investing firm that's been around for nearly three decades. Asness' approach to investing is rooted in academi…

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Jerry Neumann on the Problem With Investing in AI Right Now 48:28

27d ago48:28

48:28

AI has made a lot of people fabulously wealthy. But sorry, it's probably not going to be the thing that makes you rich. And if history is any guide, we don't even know who the real AI winners are going to be. That's the thesis from longtime Venture Capitalist (now retired) Jerry Neumann. Earlier this year, Neumann published an article, "AI Will Not…

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Saving Ourselves From Big Car 51:41

23d ago51:41

51:41

Mike talks with David Obst, a former journalist, publisher, screenwriter, and film producer. He’s also the author of a new book on the automotive industry called Saving Ourselves from Big Car, which is the focus of their conversation. Topics Mike & David cover include: How “Big Car” became a self-perpetuating system The deadly legacy of leaded gaso…

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Ideologies: Conservatism 13:06

24d ago13:06

13:06

Trey & Justin continue their dive into contemporary political ideologies. This week, they dive into conservatism. Topics covered include: The underlying principles of conservatism, including tradition and gradual change The relationship between tradition and conservatism The relationship between religion and conservatism The differences between the…

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How Chinese Real Estate Became the Biggest Bubble in History 47:01

29d ago47:01

47:01

Land is a weird asset. We need it to be affordable because everyone needs somewhere to live. But for many people, real estate is also their biggest store of wealth — a kind of national piggybank that fuels both personal fortunes and broader economies. Nowhere is that tension sharper than in China, where housing affordability remains a major challen…

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The Viral Milk That Helped Set Off America's Protein Boom 43:25

1M ago43:25

43:25

Protein seems to be everywhere these days, with brands from Starbucks to Pepsi jumping on the trend. But the obsession with protein may have started earlier — with a humble dairy product that defied the broader decline in US milk consumption. Fairlife, which uses a specialized filtering process to boost protein and cut sugar and lactose in its milk…

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Democrats Win, Government Shutdown, Senate Filibuster, Nancy Pelosi 1:02:22

1M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Trey and Justin open the show by bypassing the shutdown, at least for a moment, and starting with the 2025 elections. Trey argues that the results are a victory for Democrats, but must be contextualized. His key point is that the economy is becoming an issue for Republicans. Both hosts outline what off-year elections such as this can and don’t mean…