Best Brain In A Vat Podcasts (2025)

1
Living The Philosophical Life | Agnes Callard 55:21

2d ago55:21

55:21

In this episode, Brain in a Vat is joined by public philosopher and author Agnes Callard to explore the relevance of philosophy in everyday life. Drawing from her work on Socrates, Agnes makes a case for why philosophical inquiry matters, now more than ever. From the pig farmer analogy to Socratic love, this conversation is a deep dive into how phi…

1
One of the cheapest ways to save a life is going away 9:30

2h ago9:30

9:30

What's the price to save a human life? We examine the monumental legacy of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with journalist Jon Cohen, who traveled to Eswatini and Lesotho to learn how cuts under the Trump Administration are hitting people at the clinic door. Related episodes: The gutting of USAID How USAID cuts hurts fa…

1
Will Iran block the Strait of Hormuz? 9:27

22h ago9:27

9:27

The world has held a close eye on the Strait of Hormuz lately with Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran. Nearly a quarter of the world's seaborne oil passes through the narrow waterway, and many are worried Iran could shut the strait down. Today on the show, we explore what it would mean for Iran to close off the strait, and what insurance could tell u…

1
You told us how tariffs are affecting you 9:18

2d ago9:18

9:18

Americans like to spend money. In fact, we spend more per person than almost any other country in the world. So, we wanted to know how an uncertain economy is affecting that. Today on the show, we hear from consumers directly on how their spending habits have changed the past few months. Related episodes: How's ... everybody doing? (Apple / Spotify…

1
SALT-n-pessimism 8:50

5d ago8:50

8:50

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today's episode: the Senate passes the GENIUS Act, the SALT cap might be DOA in the OBBB, and a gender split on the state of the economy. Related episodes: How stable is Stablecoin? (Apple / Spotify) Feeling inflation in the grocery s…

1
Why the 30-year bond matters 9:16

7d ago9:16

9:16

Last week, the U.S. Treasury held an auction for 30-year bonds. Some were worried no one would show up to buy these things! That didn't happen, but the 'long bond' isn't exactly thriving at the moment. Today on the show, we look back at why we have such a long maturity bond and why it might be a good idea to start paying attention to it going forwa…

1
Mixing family business with US trade policy in Vietnam 8:44

8d ago8:44

8:44

Last month, Eric Trump, executive vice president at The Trump Organization, attended a ceremony in Vietnam to break ground on a $1.5 billion residential development and golf course. This comes as Vietnam's government is in trade talks with the administration of Eric's father, President Donald Trump. Today on the show, we look at how the Trump famil…

1
The secret to Nintendo's success 9:25

9d ago9:25

9:25

Nintendo has been a titan in the video game industry for decades, but that wasn't always the case. At its very core, Nintendo sees itself as a toy company which is evident in its products from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to the Nintendo Switch 2. Today on the show, we explore Nintendo's history and examine how a small playing card compa…

1
The Israel Palestine Conflict | David Benatar 59:21

10d ago59:21

59:21

Are Jews entitled to their own homeland? Is the Israeli response to the massacre of civilians perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th justified? Should there be a ceasefire? David's Article in Quillette: https://quillette.com/2023/10/21/its-not-the-occupation/ Raja Halwani wrote to us about Jason's exposition of his view at 33:06. Here is Raja's clarif…

1
Trump's parade, FEMA phase out, and Warner Bros. Discovery divorces ... itself? 8:46

12d ago8:46

8:46

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today's episode: the monetary cost of Trump's military parade, looks like FEMA could be phased out, and another change to Warner Bros. Discovery. Related episodes: Coyote vs. Warner Bros. Discovery (Apple / Spotify) Gilded Age 2.0? (A…

1
The hidden costs of healthcare churn 8:48

13d ago8:48

8:48

Healthcare churn—when people switch insurance plans—is particularly bad in the US. In today's episode, why Americans switch healthcare plans so much, and how that can cost a lot in money ... and in health. Related episode: How doctors helped tank universal health care (Apple / Spotify) Healthcare And Economic Despair For sponsor-free episodes of Th…

1
The secret tariff-free zone 9:19

14d ago9:19

9:19

There's something interesting happening at the Port of Baltimore. On today's show, we explore the hidden world of bonded warehouses, where you can stash your imported Latvian vodka or Dutch beer tariff free (for a while). Related episodes: Tariffied! We check in on businesses (Apple / Spotify) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet …

1
What's a revenge tax? 9:28

15d ago9:28

9:28

For four decades, the US has maintained a consistent policy position: money should be fairly free to come and go in and out of the country. That's changing. Two sections in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would add friction. First is a 3.5% tax on immigrants sending money home, commonly known as remittances. Second is what's known as Section 899 or,…

1
#206: Data-Driven Supply Chain Transformation with Ruth Beadle of Sanofi 30:32

15d ago30:32

30:32

*Hosted by Stéphanie Moles-Rota* In this compelling episode, I interviewed Ruth Beadle, the Head of Supply Chain at Sanofi, where we talked about her transformative leadership journey across various industries and geographies. Ruth shared pivotal moments that shaped her career, the challenges of leading large-scale ERP and AI-driven initiatives, an…

1
How doctors helped tank universal health care 9:26

16d ago9:26

9:26

A debate has been raging over universal health care in the U.S. since the 1940s. Back then, a formidable opponent emerged to dump a lot of money into ensuring it wouldn't happen. That opponent was doctors. Today on the show, Sally Helm, a Planet Money reporter, comes to us in her capacity as the host of HISTORY This Week to detail how doctors helpe…

1
The Ideal State: An AI Debate - Plato vs Nozick 47:59

17d ago47:59

47:59

In this episode of Brain in a Vat, we examine two competing political visions through an AI debate between Plato and Robert Nozick. Plato defends rule by philosopher kings and a unified society, while Nozick argues for individual liberty and a minimal state. Following our previous episode featuring Mill and Kant, we continue investigating major phi…

1
Why U.S. workers keep getting more productive 9:29

19d ago9:29

9:29

For the last couple of years, U.S. labor productivity has been on the rise. And economists don't know exactly why. So today on the show, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago plays economic detective and helps us investigate some different theories about why U.S. workers seem to be more productive than in prior decades. Related episo…

1
Gilded Age 2.0? 9:30

20d ago9:30

9:30

To hear President Trump tell it, the late 1800s, i.e. the Gilded Age, were a period of unparalleled wealth and prosperity in the U.S. But this era was also marked by corruption and wealth inequality. Sound familiar? On today's show, is history repeating itself? Related episodes: Trump's tariff role model (Apple / Spotify) Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (App…

1
An indicator lost: big disaster costs 9:26

21d ago9:26

9:26

The U.S. government has tallied the economic impact of major natural disasters going back to 1980. State and local governments used this data for budgeting and planning. But last month, the administration retired its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters disaster database. Today on the show, we speak to Adam Smith, the architect of the progr…

1
Who should get mom's ring? 9:18

22d ago9:18

9:18

By 2048, more than $100 trillion is expected to be inherited, or passed down from one family member to another. But a lot of the time, the money doesn't end up where it's intended. On today's show, we navigate the thornier questions in estate planning. Related episodes: What women want (to invest in) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from …

1
#205: How Unilever’s Ice Cream Division Became the $8.5B “Magnum Company” with Sandeep Desai, CSCO 31:28

22d ago31:28

31:28

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* Unilever is turning its iconic ice cream business, home to Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s, into a standalone powerhouse. What does it really take to spin off an €8.5B global business? Sandeep Desai, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Unilever Ice Cream, takes us inside the transformation. From leading 9,000+ employees across 38 fact…

1
Why Gen Z is feeling 'money dysmorphia' 9:06

23d ago9:06

9:06

A significant portion of young people feel like they aren't on solid financial footing. And yet, the numbers show Gen Z adults on average actually earn more and have more wealth than previous generations did at their age. This phenomenon has been dubbed (by the internet) as 'money dysmorphia'. Today on the show, we chat with a neuroscientist who co…

1
Organ Markets | James Stacey Taylor (Rebroadcast) 1:13:57

24d ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Should we be allowed to sell our organs on the open market? Would the poor be exploited under such a system? And does organ donation impose an unfair burden on the relatives of those that need a transplant? Check out FeedSpot's list of 90 best philosophy podcasts, where Brain in a Vat is ranked at 15, here: https://podcast.feedspot.com/philosophy_p…

1
Let's 'TACO' 'bout General Motors gassing up V-8s and golden shares 9:29

26d ago9:29

9:29

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating numbers from the news. On today's episode, we examine: General Motors invests big in V-8s; U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel flirt with the Golden Share; Trump's tariffs just got more unpredictable. Related episodes: Dealmaker Don v. Tariff Man Trump (Apple / Spotify) The te…

1
Are Trump's trade deals the real deal? 9:13

27d ago9:13

9:13

Top Trump advisers have been boasting about 'awesome' trade deals the administration is negotiating with other countries. But are these deals real? Today on the show, we ask a former U.S. trade negotiator whether these agreements hold up. Related episodes: Dealmaker Don v. Tariff Man Trump (Apple / Spotify) Why there's no referee for the trade war …

1
Why are college coaches paid so much? 9:26

28d ago9:26

9:26

If you had to guess, would you say the president of a university usually makes more money than the football coach? Well, you may be wrong. A college's football coach is often their highest paid employee. The University of Alabama pays its football coach on average close to $11 million. Today on the show, why are college football coaches paid so muc…

1
How to build abundantly 9:02

29d ago9:02

9:02

Why is building affordable housing so hard these days? We talk to author Derek Thompson about his new book with Ezra Klein, Abundance, about what they believe is keeping affordable housing out of reach in high-income cities. Related: How big is the US housing shortage? (Apple / Spotify) How California's speed rail was always going to blow out (Appl…

1
The dawn of search engines 9:51

1M ago9:51

9:51

Today on the show, we bring you a special episode from the Understood feed at CBC podcasts. It's an excerpt from a series called Who Broke the Internet hosted by Cory Doctorow. The four part series details his criticisms on the state of the modern internet and what we can do about it. From his conversations with Eric Corly the publisher of 2600, an…

1
Academic Freedom in Universities | Eric Sampson and Rebecca Tuvel 1:07:23

1M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Eric Sampson and Rebecca Tuvel explore the contested issue of academic freedom. They discuss the tensions that emerge when universities try to balance the promotion of diverse intellectual perspectives with concerns over potential harm to community members, as seen in controversies involving figures like philosopher Peter Singer. Drawing on debates…

1
Target, Klarna and Sesame Street's new addy 9:26

1M ago9:26

9:26

Can you tell me how to get... how to get to Indicators of the Week? This week's econ roundup looks at Target's sagging sales, Klarna's pay-later problem, and Sesame Street's new streaming address. Related: When do boycotts work? (Apple / Spotify) Buy now, pay dearly? For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet …

1
How Trump is making coin from $TRUMP coin 9:23

1M ago9:23

9:23

Just before Trump began his second administration in January, he and his business partners launched the $TRUMP coin. It's a meme coin that quickly raked in hundreds of millions of dollars. And there's a lot of earning potential still left on the table. Is any of this legal? Today on the show, we examine how the $TRUMP coin works and talk to an expe…

1
The old trade war that brought foreign carmakers to the U.S. 8:58

1M ago8:58

8:58

President Donald Trump wants more products made in America, and he's not afraid of a few trade wars to make it happen. Back in the 80s, a different trade dispute brought new manufacturing to the U.S. Today on the show, how former President Ronald Reagan used the threat of trade protectionism to bring car-making stateside, and why the same strategy …

1
The rise of the credit card airport lounge 9:28

1M ago9:28

9:28

We are back to answer your questions, listeners. Today on the show, we tackle three big questions: Are airport lounges worth it for credit card companies? How effective have carbon taxes been for Canada? Why is gasoline getting more expensive over the last few months as the price of crude oil has sunk? If you want to submit your OWN question to be …

1
The Art of the Deal ft. Beyoncé 8:22

1M ago8:22

8:22

All of us negotiate — whether it's accepting a job offer, buying a house or working out who does the dishes. Economist Daryl Fairweather has a new book out: Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work. It's all about the negotiation lessons she's learned through the research, her own career and Destiny's Child. Related episodes: Wh…

1
#204: Tariffs and Global Supply Chains with Brian Nemeth of AlixPartners 29:50

1M ago29:50

29:50

*Hosted by Radu Palamariu* In this episode, I interviewed Brian Nemeth, Managing Director at AlixPartners, where we talked about the ripple effects of tariffs on global supply chains. We dived into real-world case studies, the resurgence of the bullwhip effect, and the strategic decisions supply chain leaders must make under pressure. Brian shared …

1
Children's Rights and Parenting | Connor Kianpour and Ella Coleman 1:02:09

1M ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Connor examines involuntary commitment, substance abuse disorders, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding parenting and children's welfare. Should children be allowed to transition genders? When is the state justified in removing children from harmful environments? And what is the role of non-parental caregivers in a child's life? Join us for this th…

1
Brain-controlled iPhones, a Japanese asset buy-a-thon, and Trump tax cut debt 8:59

1M ago8:59

8:59

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today's episode: Japanese asset buyers make it rain, an iPhone ... powered by the brain?! And, how are we going to pay for these Trump tax cuts? We explain! Related episodes: What's going to happen to the Trump tax cuts? (Apple / Spot…

1
Bond market nightmares 9:29

1M ago9:29

9:29

In early April, the bond market gave people a scare. Investors began selling off their historically secure U.S. Treasuries in large quantities. It reportedly encouraged President Trump to pause his flurry of liberation day tariffs. These jitters offered a glimpse into what could go wrong for U.S. Treasuries if economic uncertainty gets worse. On to…

1
What we misunderstand about gun violence 9:29

1M ago9:29

9:29

The U.S. is known around the world for its problem with gun violence. The vast majority of murders in the U.S. are committed using guns. But what leads one person to shoot another? The "conventional wisdom" says gun violence is usually the act of calculated criminals or people acting out of desperate economic circumstances. But economist Jens Ludwi…

1
A brief history of NPR funding 9:32

1M ago9:32

9:32

Where does NPR get its funding? Today on the show, we open our books and share a brief history of public radio. And we learn what's at stake with President Trump's executive order to cut off federal funding to NPR. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly…

1
It's actually really hard to make a robot, guys 9:26

1M ago9:26

9:26

Robots have been a thing for a long time, but they've never quite met expectations. While AI has changed the game for chatbots, it's not quite so clear for robots. NPR science desk correspondent Geoff Brumfiel spoke to our colleagues over on our science podcast Short Wave on how humanoid robots are actually developing with the help of artificial in…

1
Are Conspiracy Theories Right? | Jared Millson and Ella Coleman 58:01

1M ago58:01

58:01

Jared Millson delves into the intriguing world of conspiracy theories, exploring well-known cases like Pizzagate and lesser-known but historically significant events such as the COINTELPRO. The discussion spans the definitions and philosophical debates about what constitutes a conspiracy theory, the criteria for evaluating these theories, and the p…

1
What's in YOUR wallet? 10:04

2M ago10:04

10:04

It's ... Indicators of the Week! Our weekly look at some of the most fascinating economic numbers from the news. On today's episode: China bulks up for a financial chill, how much Americans should save for a rainy day, and the price of used cars goes up. Related episodes: America's small GDP bump, China's big stimulus dispersal, and a Monkey King (…

1
It's hard out there for a Fed chair 9:04

2M ago9:04

9:04

President Trump has flirted with firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell since returning to office, but can he legally do that? Not without good cause. Today on the show, the danger of Trump's amped up attacks on Powell and the Fed's independence. Follow Chris Hughes on Substack. Related listening: A primer on the Federal Reserve's Independence …

1
Why do shrimpers like tariffs? 9:54

2M ago9:54

9:54

Many businesses are scared of what President Trump's tariffs will mean for their industry. However, the shrimping industry is one that doesn't seem to be worried. In fact, shrimpers say they welcome them. On today's episode, why shrimpers are embracing the tariffs and whether economists agree that this tariff is good for Americans. Related episodes…

1
What do farmers do in a trade war? 9:44

2M ago9:44

9:44

Two American farmers tell us how they're feeling about a trade war that targets the soybean industry's biggest customer: China. Related episodes: How many times can you say uncertainty in one economic report? (Apple / Spotify) Why Trump's potential tariffs are making business owners anxious (Apple / Spotify) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicat…

1
Trump's cuts come for food banks 9:06

2M ago9:06

9:06

The Beigie Awards are back to recognize the regional Federal Reserve Bank with the best Beige Book entry. On today's episode, we shine a spotlight on a Midwest food bank. Related episodes: Why Midwest crop farmers are having a logistics problem (Apple / Spotify) How many times can you say uncertainty in one economic report? (Apple / Spotify) For sp…

1
Animal Liberation Now | Peter Singer (Rebroadcast) 1:05:15

2M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Peter Singer delves into difficult ethical questions regarding animal rights, the morality of factory farming, and difficult human-related ethical dilemmas. Singer discusses his views as a consequentialist, examining the impact of our choices on animal suffering, the ethical considerations around organ donation from anencephalic children, and the b…

1
American science brain drain 9:31

2M ago9:31

9:31

President Trump's federal cuts and scrutiny of academic institutions are forcing some U.S. scientists to head for the border. On today's show, an entomologist keeping America's farms safe from pests reconsiders America. And a CEO of a Canadian hospital explains how they are benefiting from the exodus. Related episodes: How much international studen…

1
How much international students matter to the economy 9:29

2M ago9:29

9:29

Many international students are rethinking their education in the United States as the federal government revokes visas, often over minor infractions. A shift away could carry a heavy economic toll, as international students contributed $44 billion to the U.S. economy last school year. So what happens when a generation of bright-eyed scholars decid…

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