Best Richard Flacks Podcasts (2025)

1
Little Bits of Happiness: With Guests Sally Millington & Ellen Evers 28:27

2d ago28:27

28:27

Were you the kind of kid who devoured all your Halloween candy in one sitting—or savored it daily until, somehow, it was Easter? And when it comes to bad news, do you prefer it all at once or with some time in between? Turns out, the way we bundle or separate life's highs and lows can influence our happiness. In this episode of Choiceology with Kat…

1
#45 Talking with Nelson Lichtenstein about the state of the unions 58:14

4d ago58:14

58:14

Prof. Nelson Lichtenstein returns to talk with us about his new book, an anthology of writings about the labor movement over the last 75 years from the pages of DISSENT magazine, called LABOR'S PARTISANS, that history illuminates the current scene. Nelson shares well informed insights' about the potentials and problems for workers organizing in thi…

1
Cents & Sensibility: With Guests Melina Palmer & Devin Pope 32:49

16d ago32:49

32:49

Would you pay more for a car with 29,999 miles than one with 30,000? The answer should be no—it's a negligible difference, after all—but research shows that people often do pay more than they should for cars that are just short of certain odometer thresholds. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at why a price or an age or a te…

1
Hooked on Streaks: With Guests Chloë Hamilton & Jackie Silverman 31:27

1M ago31:27

31:27

Streaks have long been logged in the world of sports. And for tracking habits, like daily writing. But now apps encourage us to keep streaks going for just about anything. Messaging friends, learning new languages, meditating, exercising, you name it. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we explore the motivational power of streaks. An…

1
Obstacle Illusions: With Guests Daniella McCahey & Tom Gilovich 30:41

1M ago30:41

30:41

First-born children tend to believe that their parents were harder on them than their siblings are willing to grant. Football fans take disproportionate note of the challenging games on their team's schedules. We're wired to interpret our challenges as bigger than our advantages, even if the reality is more balanced. In this episode of Choiceology …

1
#44 Talking with Eric Blanc about how workers are now self-organizing 50:42

2M ago50:42

50:42

Eric Blanc is sociologiste/labor activist whose new book WE ARE THE UNION documents the spreading efforts by workers to initiate and carry forward union organizing without dependence on professional organizers. We explore some key examples and talk about what this might promise for empowering the working class. music: "You are the U in Union" a Si …

1
The Reality Trap: With Guests Ken Adelman & Julia Minson 38:22

2M ago38:22

38:22

Is it ever possible to see the world objectively, as it is? Turn on the news, open social media, engage with that family member at Thanksgiving, and it appears to some the answer is yes. But what if our biggest blind spot is thinking we don't have a blind spot? In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how we can easily be fooled…

1
A Numbers Game: With Guests Linda Chang & Stephen M. Colbert 29:37

2M ago29:37

29:37

Workplaces often rely on numerical ratings for performance reviews. Election debates focus on poll numbers and approval ratings. Your watch counts your steps in a day. Numbers increasingly influence our decisions. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at our very human tendency to fixate on digits even when words or graphs repre…

1
Coming Soon: A New Season of Choiceology 1:35

3M ago1:35

1:35

It’s a new season of Choiceology, an original podcast from Charles Schwab. New episodes arrive every two weeks, so please follow us in your favorite podcasting app. Important Disclosures The comments, views, and opinions expressed in the presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Charles Schwab. Data contai…

1
#43 Talking about Class, Identity Politics & DEI 1:08:27

4M ago1:08:27

1:08:27

#43 Talking about class, race, identity politics & DEI Daraka and Dick critically examine a lot of the talking points and arguments in Democratic circles about how class, race, sexuality and immigration are intertwined--and offer some thoughts about how a\ democratic popular working-class majority can be built and sustained. music 'Black Brown and …

1
#42 Talking with Harley Augustino About Deep Organizing 55:19

4M ago55:19

55:19

After years of legendary success as a labor and community organizer, Harley embarked on a journey to recruit and train organizers and volunteers to reach out to working-class voters in swing states. In this conversation, he reflects on this work, inspired by finding many folk ready to listen and engage. Music: 'Step by Step" Sung by Sweet Honey in …

1
"#41: Starting Season 4: 3R's for Trump Time 47:36

5M ago47:36

47:36

Daraka suggests a 3 R framework for organizing and action in the coming time: REFORM, REALIGNMENT, RESISTANCE--and in this episode we describe what each of these might involve. We promise from now on to strive to be 'Grunny". To find out what we're talking about, click on.. Give us your ideas, suggestions and feedback--and subscribe at: patreon.com…

1
BONUS: Talking About Ethel Rosenberg with her son, Michael Meeropol 54:10

6M ago54:10

54:10

"BONUS: Talking About Ethel Rosenberg with her son, Michael Meeropol For Dick interviewed Michael Meeropol for his weekly radio show 'Culture of Protest". triggered by new evidence that Ethel Rosenberg was executed along with Julius even though the government knew she was not guilty. President Biden is being petitioned to declare her exonerated bef…

1
BONUS: Jeremy Brecher talks about the Green New Deal From Below 52:19

7M ago52:19

52:19

Jeremy Brecher 's books on social change have changed how many activists think about labor and anti-globalization movements. On Dick Flacks' long running radio show he etalksabout his just published book: THE GREEN NEW DEAL FROM BELOW., and we've added this conversation to our podcast series. Do you know about the Liliput Strategy? To comment on th…

1
#40 Dick & Daraka Talk Post-Election 43:59

7M ago43:59

43:59

"n which Daraka and Dick talk about the most important things Left activists should learn from the election results and what we need to figure out. Can we imagine a Democratic Party that's intersectional and working class? Music: 'What We Want" by Joe Hill (on the 109th anniversary of his execution) performed by the Shelby Bottom duo Mixed & Edited…

1
A Hero's Journey: With Guests Ethan Gilsdorf, David Fajgenbaum & Kurt Gray 39:52

8M ago39:52

39:52

Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins, Katniss Everdeen, the main characters of many great stories, they all have one thing in common: the shape of their journey. From answering the call to adventure, to undergoing tests of character and strengths, to triumphantly returning home forever changed. It's a classic narrative structure that's inspired countless …

1
Rebel With a Cause: With Guests Francis Kelly & Christopher Bryan 35:34

8M ago35:34

35:34

Most parents encounter resistance from their children. Perhaps when the kids are young and turning their noses up at vegetables, or when they're teenagers and balking at curfews or dress codes. So what's the best way to encourage good choices in the face of a rebellious kid? Or a rebellious adult, for that matter? In this episode of Choiceology wit…

1
On a High Note: With Guests Maurice Schweitzer & Matthew Polly 38:03

8M ago38:03

38:03

Do you recall the best concert you ever went to? Best trip? Best meal? Chances are good that a few memories come to mind—maybe not every detail of the event, but perhaps a couple great moments. It can go the opposite way, too. Worst travel experience. Worst date. Our memory works in snapshots of particular parts of our experience. In this episode o…

1
#39 Talking About Democratic Prospects with Harold Meyerson 51:25

9M ago51:25

51:25

Harold Meyerson is editor at large of Americn Prospect, Formerly a columnist forrthe Washington Post and the LA Times, a much respected reporter on the labor movement, the Demoratic Partty and California politics. He was one of the founders of DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) and we talk to him abut the Demoratic conventions of 2024, 1968 and…

1
The Truth Is Out There: With Guests Tania Lombrozo & Toby Ball 31:42

9M ago31:42

31:42

Your car breaks down. Must be because you skipped an oil change last month. Or your favorite team loses. Well, that was because of a bad call by a corrupt referee. In reality, many events involve multiple contributing factors. But we tend to gravitate toward single causes. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at our desire to e…

1
To Know What You Know: With Guests David Dunning & Andrew Flack 27:58

9M ago27:58

27:58

In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at the often-misunderstood and surprisingly common Dunning-Kruger effect with an interview featuring one of the researchers who first identified it, David Dunning. But we start with the story of Cecilia Jimenez, the humble Spanish grandmother and amateur landscape painter who took it upon he…

1
The Buddy System: With Guests Max Maeder & Rachel Gershon 29:41

10M ago29:41

29:41

Pursuing a goal alone is convenient. Whether you're training for a marathon or aiming to read 20 books this year, it's convenient to move at your own pace and schedule. But having a gym buddy or a book club pal can make a bigger difference to your goal completion than you think. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at the benef…

1
#38 Talking with Maurice Isserman: Learning from the Tragedy of American Communism 58:26

10M ago58:26

58:26

Historian Maurice Isserman’s new book: Reds: The Tragedy of American Communism helps us think about how the organized left ought to be organized. We talk about the past’s relevance to the present; Maurice, like us, is an activist, vitally concerned with building a Left that’s democratic and effective. The episode ends with the voice of Swedish sing…

1
#37 Talking with Phyllis Bennis 48:23

11M ago48:23

48:23

Phyllis Bennis is a unique left journalist, having dedicated her life's work to reporting from the UN and helping the antiwar movements understand international law and diplomacy. She's a long time activist for Palestinian justice, a fellow at the Institute for Policy 'studies, and international advisor for Jewish 'voice for Peace. And an alumna of…

1
#36 Talking with Vlad and Matthew, leftwing zionists 1:05:50

12M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Daraka & Dick engage with Vladidas Khaykin, anti-semitism specialist with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), abd Matthew Finkelstein, co-founder, Progressive Zionists of California. They spell out their experience of leftwing anti-semitism and we all try to define a common ground for a just peace. closing music: David Broza "Yiyeh Tov (It will be be…

1
#35 Talking with Sherene Sekaily, Palestine Scholar 46:43

12M ago46:43

46:43

#35 Talking with Sherene Seikaly, Palestine Scholar Daraka and Dick converse with one of the leading Palestinian intellectuals in academia. It was an enlightening and heart-wrenching encounter for us--and perhaps you'll feel that as well. Music: Jerusalem Youth Choir: 'A Different Way"By Richard Flacks

1
To Fight Another Day: With Guests Alex Imas & Mary Stockwell 35:55

1y ago35:55

35:55

When you're facing loss—say, in a board game or during a sporting event or with a declining stock—it can be difficult to remember your true tolerance for risk. You're likely to seek risk more than you normally would. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at a tendency to seek risk in the face of losses when those losses aren't y…

1
Choiceology's Guide to Better Decisions: With Guests James Korris, Carey Morewedge & Jack Soll 31:28

1y ago31:28

31:28

Over the years, Choiceology has offered a lot of advice for making better decisions. In this special episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we bring you the story of a video game that is surprisingly effective at reducing decision errors, and you'll hear about a practical checklist for improving choices in many different contexts. Solving fictit…

1
#34 Talking with Rosie, UCSB Protester 54:40

1y ago54:40

54:40

A conversation with Rosie, a media spokesperson for the Palestinian solidarity encampment at UC Santa Barbara. We talk about why and how she's engaged, the impact of the protest on campus, how participants respond to concerns about anti-semitism, and how she defines the movement's goals. We learned a lot. Music: Phil Ochs: "I;m gonna say itn now" D…

1
The Charmer's Playbook: With Guests Wilfred Webster & Daniel Read 34:20

1y ago34:20

34:20

"Don't judge a book by its cover" is an old adage for a good reason. Elegant book cover designs can create a positive impression and make you more likely to judge the writing quality more positively. But these traits—cover art and writing—are separate and distinct features of books. So why do we allow the judgment of one trait to spill over to anot…

1
#33 Daraka & Dick talking about the campus protests 50:23

1y ago50:23

50:23

Daraka and Dick use the current Columbia student protests as a springboard for examining the way efforts to control the student movement are threatening the framework of campus democracy and free expression--and how and why 'anti-semitism' labelling is being weaponized. Are there ways out of this mess? closing song: 'it Isn't Nice" by Malvina Reyno…

1
Recipe for Success: With Guests Simon Rogan & Michele Gelfand 34:12

1y ago34:12

34:12

Are rules made to be followed—or meant to be broken? Often, the answer will depend on culture and the context in which people make decisions. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how carefully people in different contexts follow social norms, rules, and procedures. We'll also see how strict and relaxed cultures affect the qu…

1
Take the Deal! With Guests Daniel Kahneman, Colin Camerer & Luis Green (Rebroadcast) 44:32

1y ago44:32

44:32

In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how framing a decision based on what you stand to lose versus what you stand to gain affects your tolerance of risk. Luis Green was a contestant on the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal. The game is largely one of chance, but there are moments during play where the contestant has an op…

1
Top of Mind: With Guests John Farrell & Manasvini Singh 32:05

1y ago32:05

32:05

When someone asks, "What's your favorite restaurant?" odds are you're inclined to recommend a place you've eaten at recently—even if it's not really your favorite. It's just top of mind. Why do we weigh recent events so heavily? And how does this tendency impact important decisions, like whom to vote for or how to conduct medical procedures? In thi…

1
#32 Talking With Palestinian-American Activist Murad "Moe" Samara 49:07

1y ago49:07

49:07

A conversation with Murad "Moe" Samara, Palestinian American Democratic Party leader, Moe is an envirnmental scientist, ather of five, and a signifiant voice in Sacramento politics. He describes the gap between the Biden adminIstration and Arab American and youth Democratic Party activists, expressing hope for a war ending poicy, and fear if there …

1
Repeat After Me: With Guests Jennifer LeMesurier & Tali Sharot 34:15

1y ago34:15

34:15

Vitamin C is a cure for the common cold. Bats are blind. Sugar makes children hyperactive. All of these statements are false. So why are they so pervasive? And why do they feel so true? In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at a phenomenon that can cause us to believe inaccurate information more than we should, and also lead us …

1
#31 Talking with Meretz Party leader Uri Zaki 1:06:37

1+ y ago1:06:37

1:06:37

He’s one of the key voices of Israel’s electoral left. He defends Israel’s need to end Hamas control of Gaza, while bitterly attacking Netanyahu and his rightwing regime. The conversation illumuinates the grim political frustrations of the situation—while providing rays of hope for change. Music: “Mashup for Change” Jerusalem Youth Chorus…

1
#30 Talking With Jewish Currents Editor Arielle Angel 55:19

1+ y ago55:19

55:19

Jewish Currents is the magazine of the Jewish Left in the US. Arielle Angel is the remarkably thoughtful and engaged editor-in-chief. We talk about Israel's war on Gaza, the possibilities for the future, anti-semitism and its weaponization--and what is to be done. Music credit: 'Sholom, Salaam" sung by Ziggy Marley and the Jerusalem Youth Choir…

1
#29 Daraka & Dick talk about the Jewish Question 49:03

1+ y ago49:03

49:03

This episode introduces a new season focused on the War On Gaza and its ramifications. Daraka and Dick talk about their perspectives on the situation and how their personal life stories shape where they stand--and we preview forthcoming episodes on these matters. The first of these episodes--a conversation with Arielle Angel, editor of Jewish Curre…

1
(BONUS) From What It's Like to Be … a Forensic Accountant 29:03

1+ y ago29:03

29:03

Curious what it would be like to walk in someone else's (work) shoes? Join New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath as he explores the world of work, one profession at a time, and interviews people who love what they do. What does a couples therapist think when a friend asks for relationship advice? What happens if a welder fails to wear safety …

1
A Sticky Situation: With Guests Richard Thaler, Wendy Wood & Susan Budowski 37:36

1+ y ago37:36

37:36

Filling out an overly complicated form or waiting on hold for hours to speak with a customer service rep is a frustrating experience. And sometimes it seems like the process itself is designed to be difficult. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how friction––time, distance, complexity, or anything that gets in the way of y…

1
#28: Wrapping Season 2: What we want you to take away and look forward to! 56:26

1+ y ago56:26

56:26

Episode #28: In which we wrap season 2: 'Socialism and its discontents", and suggest its top takeaways. We also talk about what we hope to do in Season 3: How to re-form capitalist society? The episode closes with a surprise song.By Richard Flacks

1
Jumping to Conclusions: With Guests David Silbey & Ned Augenblick 37:15

1+ y ago37:15

37:15

A train was speeding along the tracks in 19th-century England when a passenger suddenly started smashing windows and waving a pistol in the air. People believed his actions were caused by what was, at the time, a new and unfamiliar form of transportation. Doctors posited the rattling motion and noise of trains could cause passengers to act erratica…

1
No Mean Feat: With Guests Albert Chen & Elizabeth Tipton 33:46

1+ y ago33:46

33:46

It’s halftime at a basketball game. A kid nervously steps onto center court. If he can score a basket from center court, he’ll take home the prize money. He tells the announcer that he plays on his elementary school team and that he has been practicing for this moment. The crowd holds their breath as the ball sails through the air, hits the backboa…

1
A Cup of Knowledge: With Guests A.J. Jacobs & Steven Sloman 30:23

1+ y ago30:23

30:23

Why do ocean waves move the way they do? How does a toaster work? How might ink flow through a ballpoint pen without the help of gravity? You may know the answer to these questions, but explaining them in detail could reveal an unexpected truth. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at why people think they understand things bet…

1
The Golden Misfits: With Guests Gary Lawless & Erika Kirgios 33:49

2y ago33:49

33:49

What is the difference between buying groceries for the whole week versus grabbing something to eat on the way home each day? Grouping choices together so that you make a bunch of selections all at once can seem daunting, but it can actually help you reach your goals faster. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how taking a …

1
Bill Fletcher talks about his new novel and the state of the unions 1:00:13

2y ago1:00:13

1:00:13

Episode #27: In which we talk with legendary labor intellectual Bill Fletcher Jr about writing political mysteries and his hopes and worries about the labor movement right now. Music credit: Ben Harper: 'We Need to Talk About It" Bloodline Maintenance 20221By Richard Flacks

1
An Accidental Experiment: With Guests Steven Levitt, Solomon Ezra & Stephen Spector 32:57

2y ago32:57

32:57

Scientifically sound, randomized experiments can be expensive and difficult to run. But there’s an alternative: It turns out that certain real-life situations can also generate useful scientific data. The trick is finding them. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we look at how events outside of our control can create opportunities fo…

1
#26: What's the Matter With Sweden?: A conversation with Swedish activists" 36:23

2y ago36:23

36:23

"In which Daraka, in Sweden, asks Swedish social democratic party activists to explain why the and how the Nordic model of social democracy has eroded--and what remains strong." song credit: “Arbetets Söner" Swedish workers' song Lyrics: Henrik Menander Composed by: Nils Peter MöllerBy Richard Flacks

1
The Superforecasters: With Guests Leon Panetta, Peter Bergen & Barbara Mellers 37:48

2y ago37:48

37:48

There are moments in life where it seems as though everything is riding on one important decision. If only we had a crystal ball to see the future, we could make those decisions with greater confidence. Fortune-telling aside, there are actually methods to improve our predictions—and our decisions. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, w…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Richard Flacks Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen