Facing Death (with Sebastian Junger)
In this episode, Russ Roberts talks with author and former war correspondent Sebastian Junger about his new memoir, *In My Time of Dying*, which recounts his near‑fatal pancreatic artery aneurysm and his lifelong encounters with death. Junger reflects on how his upbringing, extreme journalism assignments—from Sarajevo to Afghanistan—and physically demanding jobs like tree‑felling shaped his relationship to risk and fear. He describes the harrowing night he lost half his blood in a remote Massachusetts cabin, the frantic rescue, and the existential questions about mortality and the afterlife that the experience sparked. The conversation also touches on the role of responsibility in combat, the importance of storytelling, and how confronting death can deepen our appreciation for life.
Thinking Inside the Box (with David Epstein)
In this EconTalk episode, author David Epstein discusses his new book *Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better*, arguing that modern life overvalues unrestricted freedom while undervaluing the creative boost that smart boundaries provide. He illustrates this with historical...
Golfing Alone (with Gary Belsky)
In this episode, Russ Roberts talks with author and former ESPN Magazine editor Gary Belsky about his new book, *Solo Golf*, which explores the practice of playing golf alone and its meditative, introspective benefits. Belsky contrasts solo golf with the...
Claude, War, and the State of the Republic (with Dean Ball)
In this EconTalk episode, Dean Ball discusses the escalating dispute between Anthropic, creator of the Claude large‑language model, and the U.S. Department of War over contractual usage restrictions. The conflict centers on Anthropic’s refusal to allow domestic mass surveillance and...
Adam Smith's Warning About Wealth, Fame, and Status (with Ross Levine)
In this EconTalk episode, host Russ Roberts talks with economist Ross Levine about his "From the Hand of Adam Smith" project, a series of modern letters written in Smith’s voice that critique today’s obsession with optimization, productivity hacks, and status‑driven...
The Man Who Built NVIDIA (with Stephen Witt)
In this EconTalk episode, host Russ Roberts talks with author Stephen Witt about his book on Jensen Wang and NVIDIA, tracing the company’s rise from a modest 1993 startup focused on 3‑D graphics chips for video games to the world’s most...
AI, Employment, and Education (with Tyler Cowen)
In this EconTalk episode, host Russ Roberts and economist Tyler Cowen discuss how AI will reshape the labor market and higher education. Cowen argues that AI will create new sectors—energy, biotech, law, and consulting—while also increasing leisure time, but he...
The Man Who Would Be King of Saudi Arabia (with Karen Elliott House)
In this episode, Russ Roberts talks with journalist Karen Elliott House about her new book on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, examining the Saudi leader’s drive to modernize the kingdom while consolidating political power. House outlines MBS’s motivations—economic diversification, geopolitical influence, and...