Podcast Summary: Optimist Economy

Episode: Retcon on Season One (+ Executive Orderpalooza)
Hosts: Kathryn Anne Edwards & Robin Rauzi
Date: October 21, 2025

Overview: A Reflective Season One Finale

In this special season finale, economists Kathryn Anne Edwards and co-host Robin Rauzi take a step back to recap, reflect, and laugh about their first year making Optimist Economy. Rather than tackling a specific economic policy problem, this episode is a joyful “retcon” (retroactive continuity), revisiting lessons learned, the podcast’s origins, and the evolution of their mission to empower and inform Americans about building a stronger, fairer economy. The final third features listener-submitted “executive orders”—quirky, practical, and wishful policy ideas, read and discussed with warmth and wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Podcast’s Origin Story and Early Days

• Kathryn recalls calling Robin to pitch the podcast:

  "It's been almost exactly a year since you called me out of the blue and said, hear me out." (01:35)
  Robin admits she’s “still at ‘I’m not saying no,’” while Kathryn jokes that season two’s goal is to get an enthusiastic “yes.”

• Their original vision was highly prepared, “tight” episodes—contrasted with current, looser, sometimes chaotic but heartfelt shows.

Memorable Moment:

"As opposed to our advanced amateur podcasting days." – Robin (04:20)

Timestamps:

• Podcast beginnings: [00:53]–[02:29]

2. Learning and Growing with Listeners

• Both hosts are surprised and moved by listener engagement—from social media DMs to detailed emails and voicemails, especially after sensitive episodes like paid family leave.

• Kathryn shares the delightful disruption of economic jargon entering her friends’ conversations:

  "When we said we wanted to inform people and help them talk about the economy, it was just to ruin their language as much as mine is ruined." (08:24)

• Robin is tickled that high school friends “caught up” on the podcast road-tripping, blending it into real-life discussions.

Timestamps:

• Listener reactions: [06:28]–[12:16]

3. The Podcast as an Anchor During Turbulent Times

• The show started just after Trump’s return to the presidency, amidst “hard news days”—which turned out to be near daily.

  "We knew there would be hard news days ahead... I don't think we knew it would be every single one of them." – Robin (04:59)

• They reflect on their intent to create a “safe space” for optimism, even as political events (firings of federal officials, attacks on institutions) became deeply personal. Kathryn notes:

  "You just put it in a box and just, like, lock it up… Actually, most therapists will tell you repression is a really good technique and you should do it more often." (14:40)

• Robin credits the show with helping her process news and resist paralyzing despair:

  "Despair is paralysis… Grief is something that you go through, you don’t just stop at. But despair is paralysis.” (14:05)

Timestamps:

• Processing Politics & Pessimism: [04:29]-[18:10]; [12:43]-[14:27]

4. The Power of Optimism and Looking Forward

• Both hosts are motivated by focusing on the future, not just reacting to negativity. Robin shares:

  “Think about what you want, don't think about what you don't want.” (16:08)

• There’s ongoing discussion of balancing realism and optimism:

  "I feel like, oh, I am an eternal optimist. Like, in my soul. It's not a persona I put on..." – Kathryn (29:16)

• Kathryn also highlights the podcast’s value for economists—not every “sciencer” wants to be a public communicator, but the show brings specialist knowledge into the mainstream.

Timestamps:

• Optimism and forward thinking: [17:05]-[22:29]; [29:16]-[30:49]

5. Behind the Scenes: Building the Podcast & the Non-profit

• Both joke about their amateurism and how much effort goes into each episode; Robin laughs about hearing Kathryn’s voice so much during editing.
• They never anticipated episodes becoming so long (“funniest part… how tight we thought we were…” [19:22]), and moving across the country during the season didn’t stop them from weekly releases.
• Optimist Economy is now a non-profit—not just a podcast, but aiming for broader education and empowerment. Kathryn also teases a forthcoming book.

Timestamps:

• Production & growth stories: [18:38]-[28:34]

6. Executive Orderpalooza: Listener-Submitted "Executive Orders"

A highlight segment features light-hearted, practical, or wishful “executive orders” sent in by listeners (and family members), including:

• Buildings keeping matching paint to cover graffiti (Nicole in Maryland) [34:05]
• Manufacturers required to put barcodes in logical places (Lee in Chicago) [34:30]
• Mandatory service year for HS grads, funded by auditing the military (Sarah in DC) [35:13]
• No more credit card requirements for free trials, instant call-back for customer service (Roman in WA) [38:41]
• Job postings must include compensation and clear process details (Mandy in Georgia) [39:01]
• Mandatory recognition of all podcast producers and team members at the end (Amanda in MA) [39:25]

Notable Quote:
“We were gonna sell our soul to Big Cinnamon. Big Sin plays. I get so many Big Sin comments of, like, Robin, your dislike of the Cinnamon agenda is amazing.” — Kathryn (25:44)

Timestamps:

• Executive Orders: [33:43]-[40:29]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Despair is paralysis. Grief is something you go through, you don't just stop at.”
  — Robin quoting Peter Kalmus (13:31)
• “The only thing that shines through is my love for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
  — Kathryn (25:19)
• “If all you do is respond to what you hate... you're not thinking about what you do want.”
  — Robin (30:30)
• “I try so hard to make sure everything I say is accurate, and I end up listening to the show four times…”
  — Kathryn (20:50)

Final Reflections and Farewell for Season One

• Both express gratitude for their listeners (“original optimists”), their spouses, and their small production team—publicly recognizing staff by name, fulfilling Amanda from Massachusetts’ “executive order.”
• Kathryn assures listeners that season two will be a “disaster” in the most optimistic, growth-filled sense.

Timestamps:

• Closing thanks: [40:21]-end

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This episode captures the heart of Optimist Economy: transparent, vulnerable, witty, and deeply invested in both economic issues and the people affected by them. Expect laughter, candid self-examination, and a contagious sense of hope. It's not just a review of content—it's a window into why the show exists, who it's for, and what might come next.

For more information or to get involved:

• optimisteconomy.com
• Email: optimist.economy@gmail.com