Podcast
Make Me Smart
Hosted by Marketplace · EN
Each weekday, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams makes today make sense along with her Marketplace colleagues, breaking down happenings in tech, the economy, and culture. Because none of us is as smart as all of us.
65episodes
Episodes
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The TikTok-ification of music marketing
6d ago00:18:02Tap to summarizeRecent controversy surrounding the rock band Geese and a digital marketing firm Chaotic Good Projects has sparked debate over the tactics firms use to drum up hype for artists online. How can we tell if online hype is real or fake? And does it really matter? Trapital founder Dan Runcie joins Kimberly to break it down. Plus, a final thank you from Kimberly.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Geese psyop debate: Rock band raises questions about music marketing" from Fast Company"Fake Fans" from Eliza McLamb"The Fanfare Around the Band Geese Actually Was a Psyop" from Wired"If Geese are a psy-op, so is everything else" from Dazed "Are Chaotic Good’s marketing practices bad for listeners?" From CBC Arts“Make Me Smart” is a public media program. Show your support with a donation today and keep economic news available to everyone. Donate now: https://bit.ly/mkp_mms_pod
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The highs and lows of the global art market
1w ago00:15:39Tap to summarizeAfter a pandemic-era boom, the fine art market is going through something of a bust. Many galleries have closed due to climbing overhead costs and sales just aren’t what they used to be. Author and freelance journalist Julie Belcove joins Kimberly to demystify the inner workings of the global art market and what a slump could mean for the those who work in the arts.
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Kimberly's final cheers on "Economics on Tap"
2w ago00:36:25Tap to summarizeAs Kimberly gets ready to step into her new role as the host of “Marketplace Morning Report,” her predecessor David Brancaccio joins her to talk about his years on the morning shift and what he’s looking forward to on his new beat covering future effects for Marketplace. Plus, the two swap summer reading recommendations and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis"Number Go Up" by Zeke Faux"Pattern Recognition" by William Gibson "The Sum of Us" by Heather McGhee"Public pools used to be everywhere in America. Then racism shut them down." From Marketplace"Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI" by Ryan Rolansky and Aneesh Raman"Want to make new friends? There's an app for that" from Marketplace"Why online courses sold by influencers have become so popular" from Marketplace"The Roomba Guy’s Second Act: A Robot You’ll Want to Snuggle" from The Wall Street Journal "The Spirit Airlines Comeback Story No One Saw Coming" from Inc.“Make Me Smart” is a public media program. Support “Make Me Smart” with your donation today and keep economic news available to everyone. Donate now: https://bit.ly/mkp_mms_pod
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How the new WNBA CBA transforms player pay
2w ago00:19:07Tap to summarizeThe WNBA’s 30th season tips off tomorrow. This year, things look a lot different for players after the league and players union recently signed a landmark collective bargaining agreement (CBA). On today’s show, The Athletic’s Annie Costabile joins Kimberly to break down how the deal has transformed the way players are paid. Plus, has women’s basketball ever really been given the chance to maximize its earning potential?
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The new fight for states' rights under Trump
2w ago00:14:10Tap to summarizeThe power struggle between the states and federal government is as old as the U.S. itself. But under the second Trump administration, that struggle has become particularly fraught. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy joins Kimberly to explain how the president is wielding federal funding as a tool to expand his authority, and how states are fighting back.
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From "This Is Uncomfortable": Wait...where did my retirement money go?
3w ago00:36:59Tap to summarizeHey Smarties! There won’t be a livestream for “Economics on Tap” today. But don’t worry! We’ll be back next week. For now, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Enjoy!What happens to your retirement savings when you leave a job? And if you’ve forgotten about an old 401(k) account, how do you track that money down? That’s the mystery Reema is trying to solve this week, as she confronts her own financial anxiety and goes searching for retirement accounts left behind at previous jobs.Along the way, she talks with retirement expert Geoffrey Sanzenbacher about just how common this is -- only about 15% of people roll their retirement savings over to a new employer's plan! And she asks behavioral economist Katy Milkman why this kind of chore feels so hard. Plus, brain hacks that will help you get through that daunting financial to-do list.Here at Marketplace, we’re celebrating Public Media Giving Days on May 1 and 2. Help us keep the conversations going. Donate now: https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn
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It's tough out there for new college grads
3w ago00:19:17Tap to summarizeWe’re approaching graduation season for this year’s crop of college seniors. But along with all the celebrations, there’s an extra dose of uncertainty hanging in the air around new grads, as they face an extra-tough job market and the rise of AI. On today’s show, Kimberly talks to New York Times labor and workforce reporter Noam Scheiber, whose new book “Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class” digs into the historical context for the environment today’s seniors are graduating into. Here’s everything we talked about today:”Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class” by Noam Scheiber”Young Graduates Face the Grimmest Job Market in Years” from The New York Times”The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates” from The Federal Reserve Bank of New York ”College Graduates Are Struggling to Find Jobs. AI is Partly to Blame.” from CNBC”U.S. Worker Thriving Declines as Job Market Pessimism Grows” from GallupWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
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How second chance employment is lowering recidivism in the U.S.
3w ago00:17:58Tap to summarizeIn the United States, recidivism rate, or the likelihood that a criminal re-enters the prison system after being released, is among the highest in the world. The state with the highest reincarceration rate (within 3 years) is Delaware at 55.9 percent. While the lowest is Virginia at 17.9 percent. Earlier this month, Kimberly moderated the 2026 Second Chance Forum at Georgetown University on the importance of second-chance employment programs to lowering recidivism rates in the United States. She sat down with two top law enforcement officials from across the aisle: Delaware Attorney General and Democrat, Kathy Jennings and Pennsylvania Attorney General and Republican, Dave Sunday.Today’s podcast is an edited version of their conversation. To listen to the full panel discussion, click the link below:2026 Second Chance Forum: Barriers to Breakthroughs — How Second Chances Are Driving SuccessWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
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The economic outlook of the great outdoors
4w ago00:22:33Tap to summarizeAre you team camping or glamping? On today’s show, we’re checking in on the outdoor recreation economy in the Western United States. KUNC’s Mountain West News Bureau reporter Rachel Cohen joins Kimberly to unpack the pressures facing the industry, from climate change to Trump administration policies. Plus, will President Trump’s new $100 foreign tourist fee hurt national parks?Here’s everything we talked about today:"The Mountain West’s outdoor economy continues to grow – but pace may be slowing" from KUNC"Ski resorts gain year-round adaptability in Forest Service rule" from KUNC"Visits to national parks dipped slightly in 2025—after a record-breaking year" from KUNC"Forest Service plans to move D.C. headquarters to Salt Lake City" from KUNCWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.
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Mass deportations don’t lead to more jobs for Americans. Why does the myth persist?
4w ago00:13:54Tap to summarizeThe labor force participation rate in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level it’s been since 1977 (aside from the during the height of the pandemic). One reason for the decline? President Trump’s immigration crackdown. University of Colorado Boulder economist Chloe East joins Kimberly to break down the unexpected ways restrictive immigration policies affect the labor market, and trends she’s paying attention to during this second Trump administration.
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