Best Overpaid Podcasts (2025)

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Gilded Age 2.0? (Encore) 9:43

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10m ago9:43

9:43

To hear President Trump tell it, the late 1800s, i.e. the Gilded Age, were a period of unparalleled wealth and prosperity in the U.S. But this era was also marked by corruption and wealth inequality. Sound familiar? On today's show, is history repeating itself? This episode originally aired June 5, 2025. Related: Trump's tariff role model For spons…

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Episode 493: My boss one-ups my negativity and football engineering 21:01

15h ago21:01

21:01

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey Guys, long time listener, first time asker! At my BigCorp Co., whenever I talk to my skip level about my concerns, it seems we are playing the ‘Gloom Olympics’ every time we meet. I’ll mention I worked late, and he’ll counter with, ‘That’s nothing, I haven’t slept in three days!’ This re…

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The cautionary tale of a recovering day trading addict (Encore) 9:24

1d ago9:24

9:24

Seasons greetings from the The Indicator! On today's show, the story of a man who started buying and selling stocks as a hobby — and got seriously addicted. We also speak with a neuroeconomist about the human brain on day trading. This piece originally aired Jan. 25, 2025. Related episodes: The young trolls of Wall Street are growing up Invest like…

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The economic challenges facing men without college degrees 24:12

6m ago24:12

24:12

Many men in the U.S. feel like they're not doing as well as their fathers. But what does the data say? This episode, we're sharing an extended conversation between Darian Woods and Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men. They discuss what's really going on with men's wages. Richard also argues economic and cultural…

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Santa's Sunday Ticket 1:04:01

4h ago1:04:01

1:04:01

Send us a text The holidays didn’t just bring wall-to-wall games—they brought judgment day. We break out a ruthless naughty and nice list across the NFL, NBA, and MLB, spotlighting who grew up under pressure and who handed out coal. On the bright side, Caleb Williams erased ghosts with a walk-off moon ball, Drake May steadied New England with road-…

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The secret to Nintendo's success (Encore) 10:33

4d ago10:33

10:33

For the next week, we're running some of our favorite shows from this year. On today's show, a brief history of Nintendo and how a small playing card company in Japan became a gaming juggernaut. This piece originally aired June 16, 2025. Related episodes: Inside video game economics Forever games: the economics of the live service model The boom an…

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Why every A-lister also has a side hustle (Encore) 9:23

6d ago9:23

9:23

Happy Holidays from The Indicator! For the next week, we're running some of our favorite shows from this year. On today's show, why celebrities are increasingly investing in their own brands. This piece originally aired August 14, 2025.Related episodes: The celebrity crypto nexus The Olympian to influencer pipeline (Apple / Spotify) For sponsor-fre…

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The worst year of Warren Buffett’s career 10:16

2d ago10:16

10:16

As Warren Buffett aged, he became a different sort of figure. He transformed from short-term investor into long-term builder. He used Berkshire Hathaway to start buying companies and build an empire. Today on the show, how did Buffett’s fame become an investment tool and how did he handle the biggest crisis of his career? Related episodes: Planet M…

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Episode 492: Fresh grads and startups or the goog 33:30

3d ago33:30

33:30

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Listener AWS multi-region is not real multi-region, ask me how I know asks, We’ve recently acquired some bright-eyed and bushy-tailed new grads. What have you found to be the most effective way to onboard new grads into development roles? How has it changed (if at all) since the advent of LL…

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The spite acquisition that launched Warren Buffett 9:03

3d ago9:03

9:03

With an unprecedented decades-long run of success, Warren Buffett is retiring on December 31, 2025. Buffett’s turning point began with the acquisition of a failing textile mill called Berkshire Hathaway. What began as a “terrible mistake” became the foundation for his empire. Today on the show, how did Buffett become this legendary figure? Related …

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Lottery Tickets & Lost Seasons 1:26:11

6d ago1:26:11

1:26:11

Send us a text We sort the chaos of December sports: Jets and Giants frustration, why tanking is a myth, the NFL’s shifting power, fantasy semifinal traps, a pragmatic Week 16 betting card, the Knicks’ NBA Cup and how to make it matter more, plus a Mets therapy session and college QB stock watch. The throughline is simple: you can’t game the future…

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Tariffs. Consumer sentiment. Cape Ratio. Pick The Indicator of The Year! 9:03

6d ago9:03

9:03

2025 was a wild year for the U.S. economy. Tariffs transformed the global economy, consumer sentiment hit near-historic lows, and the stock market hit scary, spooky, blood-curdling new heights! So … which of these economic stories defined the year? Our hosts from Planet Money and The Indicator duke it out during our annual … Family Feud! Tell us wh…

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Catching up with a fired federal worker, a shrimper and a fraudster 10:25

12d ago10:25

10:25

After a firehose of economic news in 2025, we wanted to check back on some of the people we’ve heard from on our show. Today, we check in with a former federal employee caught in the Trump administration's wood chipper, a Louisiana shrimper on Trump’s tariffs and an update on a financial aid scam. Related episodes: Why do shrimpers like tariffs? Wh…

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The ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future 8:40

8d ago8:40

8:40

Absent a holiday miracle, premium subsidies for the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of this year. This will greatly increase the cost of health insurance for many who rely on the marketplace for their coverage. Today on the show, we are visited by the ghosts of Obamacare past, present and future to learn what’s next for this landma…

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Will new loan limits lower the cost of grad school? 9:38

9d ago9:38

9:38

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made a lot of changes to the federal student loan system. One of those changes put a new cap on the amount of loans students in graduate school can take on. Today on the show, we explain the theory behind this change and how it could impact the broader labor market going forward. Related episodes: The Market For Stude…

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Episode 491: Re-arranging deck chairs on the Titantic and my boss leaks private info 36:48

10d ago36:48

36:48

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I handed in my resignation this past Monday. During the conversation, my manager confided in me that this coming Wednesday, 25% of the workforce is being laid off. For context, this is the second round of layoffs. The first round happened a year ago and was a disaster. It was announced via a…

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Can American cities grow AND stay affordable? 9:09

10d ago9:09

9:09

Cities like Austin and Atlanta used to top lists of places people moved to looking for relatively affordable places to live. Until, one day, they weren’t that affordable. On today’s show, how a low cost of living is threatened by growth, and how one sunbelt city in Alabama is planning ahead. Related episodes: Why Americans don’t want to move for jo…

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Nvidia chips for China, frozen Russian funds, and a lot of self-checkout stealing 9:06

18d ago9:06

9:06

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: Nvidia chips OK’d for China, a sticky frozen Russian asset situation, and a lot of you seem to be stealing from self-checkout. Related episodes: The tower of NVIDIA How to get Russia to pay Ukraine Why the U.S. cut Chin…

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How to make $35 trillion ... disappear 10:35

14d ago10:35

10:35

You may be familiar with the AI-fueled stock market boom. Well, former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Gita Gopinath warns it could mirror the dot-com boom of the late 1990s. But worse. She calculates a similar crash could erase $35 trillion in global wealth. Today on the show, what would that mean for the US and global economies? Relat…

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Who Actually Has a Plan? 1:09:09

14d ago1:09:09

1:09:09

Send us a text We ask a simple question and chase it across the NFL, MLB, and college football: who actually has a plan and who is running on vibes. From Jets quarterback chaos and Giants’ post-bye stakes to Mets departures and Notre Dame’s bowl exit, we follow decisions, not slogans. • Jets effort test in Jacksonville and the cost of QB roulette •…

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Bitcoin miners are betting on AI over crypto 9:08

15d ago9:08

9:08

If you want to make Bitcoin, you need powerful computers and a lot of energy. Well, it turns out the same infrastructure needed for Bitcoin mining is pretty valuable in the era of AI. Today on the show, why some miners are starting to throw in the towel on crypto in favor of supporting AI infrastructure. Related episodes: Whose financing Meta’s mas…

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How a former Fed vice chair would approach rate cuts 9:15

16d ago9:15

9:15

Federal Reserve is meeting to make its interest rate decision after the government shutdown delayed key economic data. Today on the show, we talk to the former Vice Chair of the Fed, Lael Brainard, about what she would do with interest rates in this critical yet foggy economic moment. Related episodes: A little doomsday feeling is weighing on the e…

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Episode 490: How do I break into software dev from QA automation and underselling 26:14

17d ago26:14

26:14

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hi Dave and Jamison, I’ve been in QA/QA automation for 13 years now with a CS degree, and I’ve been trying to change my role to a software developer for a while. My only issue is that every time I brought my career aspirations to my managers they seemed to “not care” or give vague answers to…

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Take a penny, leave a penny, get rid of the penny 9:11

17d ago9:11

9:11

In November, the U.S. stopped production of the humble penny after 232 years in circulation. On today’s show, a former U.S. Mint director shares the fiscal math that doomed the penny, and an artist pay tribute to this American icon. View more of Robert Wechsler’s artwork here. Related episodes: What’s the deal with the platinum coin? For sponsor-fr…

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Decision Season 59:36

25d ago59:36

59:36

Send us a text December has a way of stripping the excuses. We kick off by framing the NFL’s prove-it month, from Bills vs Bengals as Buffalo’s window check to the Steelers’ Tomlin question and Chicago’s identity test at Lambeau. Closer to home, the Jets’ culture looks real while quarterback purgatory lingers, and the Giants juggle a fearless young…

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Chips up, rent down, and are people really skimping on holiday gifts? 9:24

25d ago9:24

9:24

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: A big goshDRAM memory problem, a holiday spending mystery, and apartment rental prices … decline?! Related episodes: The highs and lows of US rents Taking the temperature of the US consumer We Buy A Lot Of Christmas Tre…

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A little doomsday feeling is weighing on the economy 9:03

21d ago9:03

9:03

It is a special edition of the Beigies Awards where one regional Federal Reserve Bank will receive lifetime achievement recognition. Today on the show, we speak to its President about the value of economic anecdotes. Related episodes: What keeps a Fed president up at night Using anecdotes to predict recessions For sponsor-free episodes of The Indic…

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How Japan’s new prime minister is jolting markets 9:28

22d ago9:28

9:28

Sanae Takaichi was sworn in as Japan’s first female prime minister a little over a month ago, and she’s already making waves in the East and West. The first priority for the people of Japan is if her government can fix the country’s cost-of-living problem. Today on the show, we break down what Sanaeonomics could mean for the Land of the Rising Sun.…

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What would it mean to actually refund the tariffs? 9:05

28d ago9:05

9:05

Tariffs are bringing in some serious cash into the US Treasury’s pocket. The problem with that money is that it may need to be refunded. A case in front of the Supreme Court could declare several of Trump’s tariffs illegal, which would prompt a return of billions of dollars. Today on the show, we look at how that would work and why the process will…

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Episode 489: Ethical dilemma for a gambling app dev and ethical employers 34:57

24d ago34:57

34:57

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey Jamison and Dave, love your show! A question for you guys coming all the way from the Netherlands 🧀 I’ve started as a software engineer in a gambling company lately and the moral aspect of it bothers me a bit. And while listening to you talking about the importance of accessibility in th…

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Why the US chose not to have a passenger train system like Europe 9:02

29d ago9:02

9:02

Why can't the US be like Europe, Japan or India—countries that all have extensive passenger train systems? On today's show, why the US chose not to. We learn why, despite this, US railroads could still be worth bragging about. Related episodes: What happens when railroads get hitched How three letters reinvented the railroad business For sponsor-fr…

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Thankful for the Chaos 1:08:42

1M ago1:08:42

1:08:42

Send us a text We dig into a Thanksgiving week that holds two truths at once: these teams drain us and we’re still grateful to feel it. Jets and Giants chaos, a national slate with real stakes, fantasy edges you can use today, a measured betting card, Knicks defense therapy, and a lively hot stove. • Jets show effort, penalties and turnovers erase …

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Moochers, monopolists and market-based poverty help 9:07

29d ago9:07

9:07

Public sector economics is a fundamental piece of the discipline. So we wanted to give our hosts an opportunity to put their knowledge to the test in a game we’re calling Indicator Quizbowl. Today on the show, Wailin and Darian go head to head to see who the bigger public policy nerd is. Related episodes: Could cash payments ease recessions? A trap…

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Who's financing Meta's massive AI data center? 9:12

1M ago9:12

9:12

In a rural pocket of northeastern Louisiana, Meta is building a $30 billion data center called Hyperion. But it’s not being completely financed with Meta’s own money. Today on the show, the opaque system of AI data center financing and why it’s fueling fears of a bubble. Related episodes: OpenAI’s deals are looking a little frothy No AI data center…

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Episode 488: How do I survive in a culture of optics and jira slacker 30:38

1M ago30:38

30:38

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey Dave and Jamison, Big fan of the show — listening from Portugal! (Proof that even across the Atlantic, software politics are universal.) I’m a tech lead, and lately I’ve noticed a culture where people seem to care way more about how things look than what actually gets done. It’s like the…

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Who’s buying all the beef? 9:05

1M ago9:05

9:05

President Trump has said he’d try to get more Argentine beef into the U.S. So who would actually do the buying? That’s a general theme with a lot of these trade deals — big numbers but vague details. When China says it’ll buy more soybeans, is it the government or companies that does the buying? When South Korea promises to invest in American shipy…

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Pay transparency. The WhatsApp and Instagram decision. Our beef with screwworms. 9:13

1M ago9:13

9:13

It’s … Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today’s episode: the effects of pay transparency, Meta’s big win, and freaky flies and beef. Related episodes: Are we entering a new dawn for antitrust enforcement? Why beef prices are so high For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator …

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Prove It Season 1:03:17

1M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

Send us a text A coast-to-coast identity check collides with Week 12 stakes: Jets pivot to Tyrod, Giants chase growth amid discipline drama, heavyweight NFL matchups sharpen truths, the Knicks rediscover their closer, the Mavs unravel, and MLB owners show their colors with fresh TV money. We break down what’s real, what’s noise, and where the betti…

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How to avoid scammers after a natural disaster 9:24

1M ago9:24

9:24

When people lose their homes to wildfire, hurricanes or flooding, they're eager to rebuild. But scammers are also ready to take advantage. On today’s show, the lucrative business of contractor fraud and advice on how to avoid them. Related episodes: An indicator lost: Big disaster costs When insurers can’t get insurance Selling safety in the fight …

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Looking for love in the auto supply chain 8:59

1M ago8:59

8:59

Foreign automakers already have huge assembly plants in the U.S., but lots of parts and materials come from overseas. To avoid costly tariffs, they gotta buy American. But … How does one meet those suppliers? How do you build a new relationship with them? The answer: Speed dating. Related episodes: The old trade war that brought foreign carmakers t…

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How to make switching jobs not terrifying 9:25

1M ago9:25

9:25

The U.S. labor market is stagnant right now, with little hiring and lots of people holding onto their jobs for dear life. In Denmark, there’s a different kind of labor system where it’s easy for employers to hire and fire, but at the same time people have a strong safety net in-between jobs. Today on the show, we learn how “flexicurity” works throu…

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Episode 487: My manager ignores me during 1:1's and I am required to work in an empty office 36:18

1M ago36:18

36:18

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: “My manager insists on a weekly 1:1 with me, but he rarely pays attention. He’s often on his laptop, texting, checking email — basically anything but listening. I’ve tried sending agendas, rescheduling, reducing frequency, waiting until he’s less busy — nothing helps. I’ve even started sitti…

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Why you overpaid at that online auction 8:59

1M ago8:59

8:59

Ever put in the winning bid for something on an auction site only to realize you significantly overpaid? Yeah, there’s a phrase for that. On today’s show: the winner’s curse. Richard Thaler’s new book with Alex O. Imas is The Winner’s Curse: Behavioral Economics Anomalies, Then and Now. Read Planet Money’s newsletter on the winner’s curse. For spon…

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Day Late, But Not a Dollar Short 53:07

1M ago53:07

53:07

Send us a text New York sports lit up like a switchboard this week, and we dig straight into the chaos. The Giants finally pulled the plug after another blown lead, and we map what that decision really says about the Jackson Dart bet, the draft capital math, and the kind of coach this roster actually needs. Over in Florham Park, a split city wrestl…

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50-year mortgages, falling real wages, and doing your rideshare due diligence 9:29

2M ago9:29

9:29

It’s … Indicators of the Week! We look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news and bring them to you. On today’s episode: The cost of living is outstripping wage growth for most of us, the math behind the Trump administration’s proposed 50-year mortgages, and how we’re just giving Uber and Lyft free money. Related episodes: T…

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Where the US got $20B to bail out Argentina 9:10

2M ago9:10

9:10

The U.S. is committed to bailing out Argentina to the tune of $20 billion using a little known mechanism called the Exchange Stabilization Fund. On today’s show, what is this fund, why was it created and does Argentina have any hope of paying it back? Related episodes: Dollarizing Argentina For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Mon…

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Trump's backup options for tariffs 8:46

2M ago8:46

8:46

The U.S. Supreme Court may soon rule on President Trump’s favorite tariff law. It could render them moot, but that doesn’t mean the end of tariffs. On today’s show, we explain the president’s back-up options for imposing tariffs. Related episodes: Are Trump’s tariffs legal? Worst. Tariffs. Ever. Three ways companies are getting around tariffs For s…

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Who is the World Cup for anymore? 9:22

2M ago9:22

9:22

The World Cup is coming up, and it’s going to cost a pretty penny if you are hoping to attend. Today on the show, we talk to NPR Senior Business editor and World Cup superfan about why the 2026 World Cup will likely be the most expensive in history and why even finding a ticket is more difficult. Related episodes: Peacock, potassium and other Paris…

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Episode 486: No one on my team talks and skip level meetings 29:19

2M ago29:19

29:19

In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I work at a big tech company on a remote team of about 10 people, and most of them have been here for 5+ years. I’m in the “newer” half of the team with 4 years here. My problem is, in group meetings, absolutely NO ONE talks. I mean zero small talk, they have trouble responding to simple yes…

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How the French pensions débâcle is a warning to us all 9:18

2M ago9:18

9:18

France has one of the most generous pension systems in the world. But several governments there have collapsed over questions about how the government will fund it. All over the world, aging populations are forcing governments to rethink their assumptions. Today on the show, what France’s political fiascos teach all of us about the economics of an …