EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
Mona Charen ·
May 16, 2012 at 1:28pm
Thanks to the Ricochet podcast of a couple of weeks ago, I've become a fan -- ok, maybe an addict -- of Russ Roberts and his podcast EconTalk. Actually, there's a podcast on addiction, as there are on nearly all subjects of interest to intelligent and curious listeners. I'm acquiring an economics education by listening every day. Additionally, the older podcasts are available and downloadable on iTunes.
Thanks so much to Peter, Rob, and James for alerting us to this resource. I've got a long car ride today and am loading up my iPod!
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Aug '10
Re: EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
EconTalk was the first podcast I ever subscribed to. I can't recommend it highly enough.
If you're new to economics, or haven't really studied up on the financial aspects of the 2008 crash, it might help to start with the podcasts from back then. It isn't necessary, but over the years Roberts has built up a solid case for understanding the crash in terms of incentives and moral hazard, which he sometimes refers to in shorthand.
Even if you've never been interested in economics, it's still a great listen for the discussions on knowledge, the nature of science, and miscellaneous side topics like nutrition and education. Roberts has one of the best interview styles I've ever heard; after using the generic "tell me about your new book" opener, they become more like conversations and true Socratic dialogue.
(Also, any fans of Nassim Taleb should check out his EconTalk podcast on systemic fragility.)
May '10
Re: EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
Do I have room in my life for another Podcast? Maybe. Coffee & Markets is great, especially with Francis C [last name beyond spelling!]
Aug '11
Re: EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
Owl of Minerva: I started listening back in September of 2008. When the crash hit, I knew I had to know more about economics. Roberts did not disappoint. One thing I particularly like about Roberts is that he's a religious man, so he always assumes that economic growth is good as a means to a happier life. This week's was on the family, and it's a great example of this.
Cafe Hayek should be on everyone's RSS or blog rotation, too! ยท 22 hours ago
Excellent reminder! I've been reading Cafe Hayek's posts daily since my econ professor at Patrick Henry College pointed me to the site in 2007. He was a doctoral candidate at George Mason University at the time, so he was studying under Roberts as well as others from the same school of thought!
Mar '11
Re: EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
All the Econtalk podcasts are great, except that they aren't good for listening to when you're doing anything other than the most mechanical and mindless things. You have to listen or you're wasting them.
I especially recommend two in which Roberts himself is the main speaker. One is a meditation on how much he and others fool themselves as scientists, and the other on the crisis.
Amazing stuff, and extraordinary demonstrations of humility.
And, as someone else noted, the episodes with Mike Munger (the security guard in the second Hayek/Keynes rap video) are hilarious.
May '12
Re: EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
I, too, heard Russ for the first time on the Richochet podcast and have been slowly working my way through the library ever since.
Another good podcast that leads to book-buying is Peter Robinson's Uncommon Knowledge. His interviews of Andrew Roberts (The Storm of War), Andrew Ferguson and Gerard Baker on the conservative newsroom, Matt Ridley ("The Rational Optimist"), Charles Hill ("Grand Strategies"), and Harvey Mansfield, among others, and his regular visits with Thomas Sowell are all tremendous. Some of them I've listened to three or four times.
Re: EconTalk -- A Confession of Addiction
Ultra-high geeks are the best kind.