Capitalism (Taylor's Version) (25-minute Podcast Version)
Planet Money hands the episode over to Vox's Today Explained to examine how Taylor Swift and other pop stars use album variants and sales strategies to game music charts and monetize superfans. Music reporter Elias Light explains the mechanics and incentives behind physical and digital variants, while critic Ann Powers unpacks the backlash to Swift's latest album, fans' discomfort with her extreme wealth, and how she uses her music to control her public narrative. The episode situates Swift within broader industry practices and compares her autobiographical approach to Beyoncé's more representative storytelling.
Why Scott Galloway Wants Us To Celebrate Masculinity, Not Diminish It | On With Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher interviews Scott Galloway about his book "Notes on Being a Man," exploring the crisis facing young men and his attempt to redefine masculinity as a positive, aspirational code built around providing, protecting, and procreating responsibly. Galloway grounds the discussion in his own upbringing with a single mother, the absence and later partial redemption of his father, his drive to become financially secure, and his evolving role as a father of two sons. They also discuss how politics, culture, education, and policy can better support boys and men without diminishing the progress and rights of women and other marginalized groups.
Jay & Radhi Talk About Icks vs. Red Flags (How to ACTUALLY Know the Difference)
Jay Shetty and Radha Divlukia have a light but probing conversation about "icks"-small, often irrational turn-offs in dating and relationships-and how they differ from more serious issues. They share humorous examples from friends, social media, and their own relationship, then contrast trivial quirks with fundamental behaviors like poor communication, arrogance, immaturity, negativity, and lack of accountability. Throughout, they emphasize not overvaluing minor icks while ignoring core character and compatibility, and discuss how attraction, insecurity, and expectations shape what people tolerate or reject.
How to Communicate With Confidence & Ease (From Harvard Business School's #1 Professor)
Mel Robbins interviews Harvard Business School professor and behavioral scientist Allison Wood Brooks about the science of communication. Brooks explains her TALK framework (Topics, Asking, Levity, Kindness) for improving conversations in every area of life, along with the critical role of listening and perspective-taking. They discuss practical strategies for topic preparation, asking better questions, managing status and group dynamics, handling interruptions and belittling comments, and shifting unhelpful communication patterns in relationships.
Most Replayed Moment: Why Does Commitment Feel So Scary? How to Build a Strong, Lasting Relationship
The host and an unnamed relationship expert discuss whether traditional institutions like marriage and the nuclear family still make sense in modern society, examining both their social functions and personal trade-offs. They explore what actually predicts satisfaction in long-term partnerships, emphasizing individual well-being, resilience, and open-mindedness over rigid value alignment. The conversation also covers gendered dating preferences, evolutionary versus socialized drivers of attraction, and how self-esteem and societal narratives shape who we choose and how we evaluate potential partners.
TIP759: The Art of Spending Money w/ Morgan Housel
Host Clay Fink interviews author Morgan Housel about his book "The Art of Spending Money, Simple Choices for a Richer Life," focusing on how money intersects with happiness, expectations, and independence. They discuss why more money only increases happiness under certain psychological conditions, the dangers of status-driven spending and social debt, and why contentment and autonomy matter more than sheer net worth. In a closing segment, Clay shares his own biggest lessons from the book, including using savings to buy optionality, the power of contrast, and the hidden costs of tying identity to possessions.
Financial Expert: Passive Income Is A Scam! Post-Traumatic Broke Syndrome Is Controlling Millions!
Stephen and Morgan Housel discuss why most financial advice focuses on saving and investing while almost nothing is said about how to spend money in a way that actually improves life. Morgan explains the psychology behind spending, status, envy, trauma around money, and argues that true wealth is more about independence and contentment than income or possessions. They also challenge the myth of passive income, explore inequality and social media's impact on expectations, and examine how to minimize future regret through clearer values and better decisions.
Essentials: How Humans Select & Keep Romantic Partners in the Short & Long Term | Dr. David Buss
Andrew Huberman interviews evolutionary psychologist David Buss about how Darwin's theory of sexual selection explains human mate choice and the different criteria men and women use for short-term versus long-term relationships. They discuss universal and sex-differentiated mate preferences, deception in dating, jealousy and mate guarding, dark triad personalities, stalking, attachment styles, and how people assess mate value in themselves and others. Buss also describes his major books on human mating and sexual conflict.
#482 - Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature
Lex Friedman interviews Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, about his philosophy on freedom, discipline, technology, and the design of secure, scalable messaging systems. Pavel describes his strict lifestyle, his refusal to compromise on user privacy under pressure from powerful governments, and the technical and organizational principles behind Telegram's lean but highly productive engineering team. They also discuss government overreach, Pavel's legal ordeal in France, earlier clashes with Russia and Iran, the economics and crypto ecosystem around Telegram, and broader reflections on human nature, education, abundance, and mortality.
This Shocking Truth About Other People Will Change Your Life
Mel Robbins interviews researcher and author Dr. Todd Rose about how our hardwired need to belong drives conformity and how this, combined with social media dynamics, creates "collective illusions"-situations where most people go along with things they privately don't agree with because they wrongly assume everyone else does. Rose explains data showing that people overwhelmingly value relationships, character, meaningful work, and contribution, not fame and status, and that self-silencing to fit in damages both physical and mental health. They explore how authenticity and the simple practices of "let them" and "let me" can dismantle illusions, rebuild social trust, and dramatically improve individual life satisfaction and societal cohesion.
Tired of One-Sided Friendships? (6 Signs to Know When To Walk Away)
Jay Shetty explores how to distinguish between real and fake friendships by examining subtle patterns such as how people respond to your boundaries, whether they keep score, how they react to your success, and whether they gossip about others. Drawing on attachment theory, concepts from the Bhagavad Gita, and psychological research, he outlines behavior-based signs instead of labeling people as entirely "fake" or "real." He closes by emphasizing that healthy friendships require mutual understanding, honest feedback, patience, and shared values, not just expectations of others.
Secret Agent (Evy Poumpouras): Never Be Yourself At Work! Authenticity Is Quietly Sabotaging You! - Evy Poumpouras
Former U.S. Secret Service agent Evy Poumpouras discusses why over-identifying with past trauma and 'authenticity' can disempower people, arguing instead for radical acceptance of reality, emotional self-regulation, and personal responsibility. She explains concepts like cognitive load, decision fatigue, and the 'iceberg' model of personality, and shares lessons from presidents and law enforcement on confidence, communication, and decision-making under pressure. The conversation also explores victim mindsets, boundaries in relationships and work, the dangers of low-vibration environments, and how online culture and algorithms are amplifying polarization and political violence.