Episodes

  • What Iran teaches us about why wars start

    What Iran teaches us about why wars start
    Jun 30 2026
    If war is so costly, why do we keep fighting them? We dig into the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence. Today on the show, the five factors that lead to war.

    Chris Blattman’s book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — The new economic arms race

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    10 mins
  • What you should know about your student loans

    What you should know about your student loans
    Jun 29 2026
    For many of the 43 million Americans with federal student loans, July 1 is a day to mark on the calendar. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is introducing stricter borrowing caps and new repayment plans. Today on the show, we talk with NPR’s Education Reporter Cory Turner about the impact.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — Will new loan limits lower the cost of grad school?

    Connect with The Indicator
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    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?

    GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?
    Jun 26 2026
    It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!).

    On today’s episode: The effect of GLP-1s on women and the workplace; NYC’s once flailing office space is BACK; your boss asking you to come back to the office miiiight be a narcissist.

    Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Corey Bridges.

    Your Next Listen
    —Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs

    Connect with The Indicator
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    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • AI is pumping out books. Are they any good?

    AI is pumping out books. Are they any good?
    Jun 25 2026
    Are all these AI books any good? And by good, we mean are people willing to buy them — not whether the prose is singing. We talk to two researchers who’ve got some answers and a travel guide expert on why AI can’t replace first-hand experience.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — Human certification in the age of AI slop

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • How stock options made him an overnight millionaire

    How stock options made him an overnight millionaire
    Jun 24 2026
    In 2019, Juan Hernandez was laid off from SpaceX. Luckily, he still had the opportunity to buy $50K - $60K of the company’s stock and, years later, it’s safe to say the risk was worth it. Today on the show, how stock options built California as a tech hub.

    Fact-checking by Emma Ferrara.

    Your Next Listen
    — Do traders who make big bets make big money?

    Connect with The Indicator
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    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    10 mins
  • Why the $250 bill would be good … For criminals!

    Why the $250 bill would be good … For criminals!
    Jun 23 2026
    A plan to create a new $250—with President Donald Trump’s face on it—has created a lot of pushback. Who probably won’t be pushing back, though? Criminals. On today’s show, we explain why.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — Trump crypto, Trump ballroom and Trump drones

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
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    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    9 mins
  • An urban planner, infinite scroll, and … what is a public good?

    An urban planner, infinite scroll, and … what is a public good?
    Jun 22 2026
    It’s time for The Indicator Quiz! We test you, dear listener, on your knowledge of topics that we’ve covered on The Indicator. For today's quiz show, we are putting an urban planner from Nevada to the test. Play along with us and see how you do!

    Are you interested in being a contestant on our next Indicator Quiz? Email us your name and phone number at indicator@npr.org and put "Indicator Quiz" in the subject line.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — A trap-loving DJ takes on economics

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
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    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    10 mins
  • How your phone keeps you scrolling ... even when you want to stop

    How your phone keeps you scrolling ... even when you want to stop
    Jun 19 2026
    You pick up your phone to do one quick task, and suddenly 20 minutes have flown by without you even noticing. How do apps do that to you? Today on the show, we bring you an episode of Short Wave that explains how your phone is designed specifically to hold your attention.

    Fact checking by Tyler Jones.

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+

    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins