Best Michael Sumner Podcasts (2025)

1
1996 Part 2 - Angel Food Cake With 7-Minute Frosting and a Side of Attempted Murder 1:04:04

3d ago1:04:04

1:04:04

Harold takes us on a deep dive into the back issues of Editor and Publisher to tell a dark tale of real life drama that touched the Schulz universe. But it’s not all gloom and doom. Harriet is back and she brought baked goods! Plus: The One Note Samba Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael…

1
The Past and Future of AI (with Dwarkesh Patel) 1:36:44

4d ago1:36:44

1:36:44

Dwarkesh Patel interviewed the most influential thinkers and leaders in the world of AI and chronicled the history of AI up to now in his book, The Scaling Era. Listen as he talks to EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the book, the dangers and potential of AI, and the role scale plays in AI progress. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the a…

1
1996 Part 1- The Strange Death of Tapioca Pudding 1:02:31

10d ago1:02:31

1:02:31

In this episode, the guys have a long discussion about what makes Peanuts work, and how Schulz’s presence is felt in the strip. Can that be the key to understanding Peanuts? Or is it possible we’re overthinking this? Meanwhile, Rerun provides some of the strip’s best moments. Charlie Brown is still up all night. And Spike is still fighting in the t…

1
Why Christianity Needs to Help Save Democracy (with Jonathan Rauch) 1:20:08

11d ago1:20:08

1:20:08

How does a nice Jewish boy who is also a gay atheist have the chutzpah to lecture Christianity on its obligations to democracy? Listen to author Jonathan Rauch talk about his book Cross Purposes with EconTalk's Russ Roberts as Rauch makes the case for what he calls a thicker Christianity.By EconTalk: Russ Roberts

1
1995 Part 3 - The Outer Space Adventures of Woodstock and Spike 48:55

17d ago48:55

48:55

Woodstock goes to the moon and it makes Michael’s head hurt. Cheating is rampant at Peppermint Patty’s school, but no one seems to mind. And Schulz predicts the world of print on demand. Plus: An all time record on the anger/happiness index. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Ha…

1
Rational and Religious (with Ross Douthat) 1:17:31

18d ago1:17:31

1:17:31

How can we explain the world's underlying order? How does consciousness emerge? And why do people from such different cultures have such similar near-death experiences? Listen as Ross Douthat, New York Times columnist and author of the new book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, argues that these and other unanswerable questions underscore …

1
1995 Part 2 - Woodstock is Emotionally Bankrupt! 52:04

24d ago52:04

52:04

Woodstock is at his wit’s end, and all his pal Snoopy can do is muse on Fitzgerald. Rerun shows us more facets of his ever expanding personality. Meanwhile Linus’s struggle for security rages on. Plus: Some Enchanted Evening Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz, an…

1
The Music and Magic of John and Paul (with Ian Leslie) 1:17:48

25d ago1:17:48

1:17:48

At the heart of the success of the Beatles was the creative chemistry and volatile friendship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Listen as author Ian Leslie discusses his book, John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. It's a deep dive into music and friendship as well as a revisionist history about how John and Paul cre…

1
1995 Part 1 - At Long Last, Charlie Brown is the Hero 1:12:56

1M ago1:12:56

1:12:56

When a kid from another neighborhood takes advantage of the guileless Rerun, Charlie Brown steps up to defend him. Elsewhere, Sally is still Sally, Lucy still loves Schroeder, and Schulz fights through his tremor. Plus: Al Capp Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz,…

1
Do All Creatures, Great and Small, and Made From Silicon, Have Rights? (with Jeff Sebo) 1:16:13

1M ago1:16:13

1:16:13

Should monkeys have the same rights as humans? What about elephants, ants, or invertebrates? NYU philosopher Jeff Sebo makes the case for expanding your moral circle to many more beings than you might expect, including those based on silicon chips. Listen as Sebo and EconTalk's Russ Roberts discuss to whom and what we owe moral consideration, how w…

1
Special Episode: Slide, Charlie Brown! Slide! 50:43

1M ago50:43

50:43

Hey, batta batta! It’s baseball time again, and the gang discusses one of Michael’s favorite Peanuts sequences and Jimmy fails to find Harold a favorite team. Join us as we explore the story that inspired the rarely seen “Charlie Brown’s All Stars!” Plus: Here’s a question…Why? Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyr…

1
Bird Brains, Bird Sex, and All Kinds of Beauty (with Matt Ridley) 1:16:45

1M ago1:16:45

1:16:45

Bright colors, long tails, and dances of seduction: they may hurt a bird's chances of survival in the wild, but they seem to increase the chances of reproduction. Is this all part of natural selection or is sexual selection its own force in the bird world? Is there such a thing as beauty for beauty's sake? What can we learn from birds about the hum…

1
With Lynn Johnston, Creator of For Better or For Worse 50:57

2M ago50:57

50:57

The world famous cartoonist of For Better or For Worse drops by to reminisce about her friendship with Charles Schulz, her career as a top syndicated cartoonist, and the time she walked a mile in Sparky’s shoes! It was an honor to have Ms. Johnston on the show, and we are thrilled to share this wide ranging conversation with you all! Plus: I’ll see…

1
How Better Feedback Can Revolutionize Education (with Daisy Christodoulou) 1:27:32

2M ago1:27:32

1:27:32

Feedback on exams and papers--grades and comments--should be more than an assessment. It should point the way to improvement. So argues educational consultant Daisy Christodoulou, emphasizing that actionable feedback has to be more than comments scribbled in the margins of a paper or at its end. Listen as she speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts abo…

1
With Judy "Snoopy" Sladky 53:29

2M ago53:29

53:29

Judy Sladky, champion ice dancer and the person hand-picked by Charles Schulz to portray Snoopy, skates into the Unpacking Peanuts studio. Judy shares stories from her decades of performing as her canine alter ego, and gives us a glimpse into her friendship with Charles Schulz. Plus: Cute Strike Zones Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Un…

1
Will Guidara on Unreasonable Hospitality 58:13

2M ago58:13

58:13

What can the restaurant business teach us about leadership and management? Listen as Will Guidara, the former owner of Eleven Madison Park, explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts how his restaurant became good enough to be named the best restaurant in the world. Foodies will enjoy a look behind the scenes of a restaurant at the very top of its game, b…

1
With Rheta Grimsley Johnson, Author of Good Grief 58:21

2M ago58:21

58:21

We welcome the author of the Charles Schulz biography Good Grief, Rheta Grimsley Johnson, to the show. Rheta discusses working on the book, discovering the real Little Red-Haired Girl, and watching Schulz create the strip. Then, the gang analyses Rheta’s favorite Peanuts strips. Plus: She tells the harrowing story of the attempted kidnapping of Jea…

1
The Unusual World of Israeli Democracy (with Rachel Gur) 1:09:10

2M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East but it seems a lot more alien and chaotic than many of the older democracies of the West. Hear Rachel Gur of Reichman University explain to EconTalk's Russ Roberts how the Israeli political system works and sometimes, doesn't work. The conversation brings into relief the challenges all democracies fac…

1
Wrap Up Season 10: Snoopy and Woodstock, and Calvin and Hobbes 1:21:35

2M ago1:21:35

1:21:35

In the wrap up of our latest season, the guys talk about the many changes to Schulz’s work throughout this period, reflect on the reality of artists aging, and then take a good long look at the differences and similarities between the work of Charles Schulz and Bill Watterson. Plus: Dick Van Dyke Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacki…

1
The Struggle That Shaped the Middle East (with James Barr) 1:18:24

2M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

Until the end of WWI, the Middle East as we know it didn't exist. No Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Iraq. Instead, there was the Ottoman Empire, whose dissolution using an arbitrary line on a map set the region on a course of upheaval that's still with us. Listen as historian James Barr speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the 1916 Sykes-P…

1
1994 Part 4 - Good Ol’ Down in the Dirt Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Comics 51:03

2M ago51:03

51:03

Olaf and Andy are becoming their own unique comedy team. The falling leaf makes its poetic return, and Charlie Brown is possibly hypnotized by Lucy’s trickery. Plus: A Half Inch Blanket of Outing Flannel Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz, and Liz Sumner. Produce…

1
Who Won the Socialist Calculation Debate (with Peter Boettke) 1:21:17

2M ago1:21:17

1:21:17

For more than a century, some economists have insisted that central planning can outperform markets. Economists like Mises, Hayek, and Friedman disagreed. Who won this debate? Is it over? Does AI change how we should think about the power of planning? Listen as economist Peter Boettke of George Mason University discusses what is known as the "socia…

1
1994 Part 3 - Far and Away One of the Great Tries of All Time 56:14

3M ago56:14

56:14

The photocopier makes it’s exciting first appearance in Peanuts! The guys get deep into the discussion of how different readers perceive the art of comics. Michael has a great idea for a Peanuts spinoff strip, and Jimmy gives a complete listing of all the towns in Pennsylvania. Plus: Dick Ayers and Joe Kubert Transcript available at UnpackingPeanut…

1
Minimalists and Hoarders (with Michael Easter) 55:05

3M ago55:05

55:05

Why do we buy stuff we don't need? Maybe for the same reason that some people can't stand stuff at all. Listen as author Michael Easter speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about how two seemingly opposed approaches to our possessions--minimalism and hoarding--may stem from the same impulse to cope with uncertainty. They also discuss the downsides o…

1
1994 Part 2 - Nude Beagle Descending a Staircase 1:03:15

3M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

44 years into his career and Schulz is still breaking new creative ground as a cartoonist. The gang discusses some of the formal innovations Schulz has made, react to a bunch of great strips, and then answer a Sopwith camel’s worth of listener mail. Plus: Kato Kaelin Graphic Novels recommended: Michael: Finder by Carla Speed McNeil Harold: The Dumb…

1
Coase, the Rules of the Game, and the Costs of Perfection (with Daisy Christodoulou) 1:10:25

3M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

Surely perfection is better than imperfection. But applying technology to improve decision-making can backfire. Listen as ed-tech innovator Daisy Christodoulou and EconTalk's Russ Roberts talk about the costs of seeking perfection when technology is used to improve refereeing in sports. They also talk about ways to embrace imperfection and how the …

1
1994 Part 1 - The Smaller the King the More the Talk 53:51

3M ago53:51

53:51

Lucy diversifies her revenue streams. Lydia needs some love letters. Woodstock gets violent. Snoopy goes to the hospital. And Jimmy turns 22. Plus: Spike, and Andy, and Olaf, and Krypto. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz, and Liz Sumner. Produced and edited by L…

1
Why AI Is Good for Humans (with Reid Hoffman) 1:21:03

3M ago1:21:03

1:21:03

Should we worry about the human future in a world of AI? Reid Hoffman is unafraid and even optimistic. He argues that the brave new world that awaits is going to be great for humanity. Listen as he talks about his book Superagency with EconTalk's Russ Roberts and argues that the future is bright not just for AI, but for the people who remake the wo…

1
1993 Part 3 - I Never Knew Life Could Be So Beautiful 1:07:09

3M ago1:07:09

1:07:09

Schulz is revisiting some old scenarios and branching out in new directions. Linus’s snowmen are back, Marcie is desperately attempting to understand football, and the guys touch up John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Plus: Sweet Smug Snoopy In this episode Michael praises The River at Night by Kevin Huizenga. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpa…

1
Weep, Shudder, Die: The Secret of Opera Revealed (with Dana Gioia) 1:18:46

3M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

How can opera, with words we rarely understand, make us cry? Why does opera, filled with melodrama, move us? Listen as poet and librettist Dana Gioia explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts why words matter more than we think, in both opera and on Broadway.By EconTalk: Russ Roberts

1
1993 Part 2 - Who Reassures the Reassurer? 1:11:25

4M ago1:11:25

1:11:25

A classic of the nineties is discussed, and we learn Schroeder is still the most highbrow catcher going. Roy Hobbs’ Great Granddaughter is revealed because… sure, why not? But know this, Sally is not going to camp. Plus: Streaks of Glory Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold…

1
Will DOGE and Musk Make a Difference? (with Michael Munger) 1:04:21

4M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

Can Musk use DOGE to reduce the size and power of the bureaucracy and big government? Michael Munger of Duke University thinks not, but EconTalk's Russ Roberts isn't so sure. Listen as they discuss the risks of empowering bureaucrats to rein in other bureaucrats and whether change can really happen given the power of the political forces operating …

1
1993 Part 1 - Nobody Told Me Life Was Going To Be This Hard 1:01:05

4M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Sally has to butter her toast with chunky butter. Snoopy is attending school with Charlie Brown, and even the local mailbox is rejecting Chuck now. Also, Michael shares the story of the first ever comic book price guide. Plus: Cheesy teeth Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Haro…

1
Understanding the Settler Colonialism Movement (with Adam Kirsch) 59:07

4M ago59:07

59:07

Under settler colonialism, you're either a settler or indigenous and the sin of the founding of America, Australia, and Israel, for example, is not just a past injustice but a perpetuating mistake that explains the present. Listen as poet, author, and literary critic Adam Kirsch explains how an academic theory helps us understand the protests again…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Michael Sumner Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen