Best Rock Creek Sound Podcasts (2025)

1
The Wild World of Surveillance Pricing with Lee Hepner 43:06

2d ago43:06

43:06

Ever wonder why the price of your rent or even a bag of frozen potatoes seems to jump for no clear reason? It could be the result of “surveillance pricing”—where companies use your personal data and powerful algorithms to set prices just for you, often squeezing consumers and renters alike. Matt chats with antitrust lawyer Lee Hepner about the rise…

1
The Non-Compete Nightmare 40:48

9d ago40:48

40:48

"I was served papers while picking up my children from school." That was the beginning of Arizona real estate broker Courtney Van Kott's shocking six-year legal nightmare to fight a non-compete. As a young mother just starting in real estate, Courtney tells Matt she was pressured to sign a contract requiring her to pay 75% of commissions earned for…

1
The Corporate Mole On The Supreme Court 43:31

16d ago43:31

43:31

Ever wonder how corporations gained so much power? In this episode, David and Matt explore a pivotal moment in the 1970s when Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell wrote a memo that would reshape American capitalism. Guests David Seligman and Luke Goldstein explain how Powell's legal maneuvering essentially rewrote antitrust rules, enabling corporatio…

1
When Will Consumers Feel the Tariff Tidal Wave? 58:52

23d ago58:52

58:52

We’re diving back into tariffs! This time, David and Matt chat with Mike Beckham, co-founder and CEO of Simple Modern, to break down what the new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports really mean for businesses and shoppers. Mike shares his firsthand stories from the trenches of global supply chains and his efforts to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.…

1
The Tariff Doomsday Scenario 57:52

1M ago57:52

57:52

What’s the real-world fallout of the newly imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports? Matt and David speak to Molson Hart, someone smack in the middle of the current tariff debate. Molson is an entrepreneur and toy company founder with firsthand experience in global manufacturing. He breaks down the step-by-step journey of a product from design to de…

1
Listen Now: Death County, PA 5:32

1M ago5:32

5:32

Lamont Jones leaves Dauphin County Prison for the last time, a free man ready to move on with his life. But when his young cousin dies in that same jail, he learns that this is not the only mysterious death that has plagued Dauphin County Prison. The search for the truth will put him at odds with a reality TV show coroner who claims to speak for th…

1
Antitrust Woodstock: Google and Meta Go to Court 56:15

1M ago56:15

56:15

Today, we go courtside at two landmark tech antitrust trials unfolding in the DC District Court: the Department of Justice’s remedy hearing against Google, and the Federal Trade Commission’s monopolization case targeting Meta (Facebook). David and Matt speak with two lawyers and antitrust experts Laurel Kilgore and Brendan Benedict who are covering…

1
Marketcraft with Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes 58:44

1M ago58:44

58:44

Spurred on by Trump, Covid, and climate change, leaders are taking a more hands-on approach to shaping markets that would be seen as impossible a few years ago—but as our guest today argues, this kind of marketcraft is actually a long American tradition. Today, Matt and David welcome Chris Hughes, one of Facebook's founders, to the show to talk abo…

1
Breaking Monopolies from the Inside with Jonathan Kanter 55:53

2M ago55:53

55:53

Ever wonder what it's like to take on Google with a tiny government team? In this episode David and Matt are back with part two of their interview with Jonathan Kanter, who until recently led the DOJ's antitrust team. Kanter doesn't hold back, sharing what really happens when you sue tech giants, meatpackers, and ticket monopolies while working wit…

1
The Business of Big Law 49:39

2M ago49:39

49:39

Since taking office in January, Trump has issued several executive orders targeting major Democratic-aligned law firms, revoking their security clearances and threatening the government contracts of their clients. These law firms are among the "big law" firms that not only wield a great deal of money and power in Washington but also play a signific…

1
Cheater Sizes and Other Dirty Secrets of Big Grocery Stores 58:35

2M ago58:35

58:35

Why is it that Walmart can sell bananas for less than what an independent grocer pays for it wholesale? In this episode, David and Matt expose how major retailers like Walmart and Dollar Stores use their sheer size to strong-arm suppliers into giving them special deals—while smaller, independent grocers are stuck paying higher prices. They talk to …

1
Trump's Showdown At The FTC with Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya 1:09:32

2M ago1:09:32

1:09:32

On March 18th, the White House sent a letter to the two democratic commissioners at the FTC that they had been fired. Clear Supreme Court precedent reinforces that FTC commissioners cannot be fired at-will by the executive. So what happens next? Today on the show Matt and David talk to one of those commissioners, Alvaro Bedoya, about his attempted …

1
The Enshitification of Big Tech: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow 1:02:57

3M ago1:02:57

1:02:57

How did Silicon Valley's ideology go from utopian dreams to self serving power grabs? David and Matt dive into the power dynamics of Big Tech with author, activist, and anti-monopoly advocate Cory Doctorow. They explore how Silicon Valley’s early ideals of openness and innovation gave way to corporate dominance, leading to what Doctorow calls “ensh…

1
Actually Bob, Corporate America is MORE Wasteful than the US Government 54:42

3M ago54:42

54:42

Are Elon Musk's efficiency strategies brilliant or reckless? David and Matt explore this question with procurement expert Rich Ham, CEO of FineTune, who reveals what efficiency really means in large organizations. They discuss how companies often waste money through inefficient buying of complex services, Rich explains how slashing budgets isn't al…

1
When Government Works: A Conversation with Lina Khan 1:01:27

3M ago1:01:27

1:01:27

What does it look like when government actually works for the people? Matt and David explore this question with Lina Khan, whose groundbreaking tenure as FTC Chair rewrote the playbook for federal agencies. Khan details how she transformed an understaffed agency into the spearhead of a governance revolution - confronting corporate giants, championi…

1
The Pocket Picking Machine 51:12

3M ago51:12

51:12

When it comes to utilities - why are we paying so much for service that can be so unreliable? In this episode, Matt and David expose how a small group of economists and some untrustworthy models have allowed utility companies to inflate rates and spend on dubious projects. Former utility executive Mark Ellis helps explain the "scam" that has misled…

1
The Woman Who Defeated Google 57:54

4M ago57:54

57:54

Former DOJ Antitrust Division head Doha Mekki takes us behind the scenes of some of the most consequential monopoly cases in recent history, including the landmark Google search case. Drawing from her unique experience serving in both the Trump and Biden administrations, Mekki reveals how antitrust enforcement is essentially "policing for white col…

1
It's Not Just Avian Flu: The Hidden Risks in Our Food System 51:52

4M ago51:52

51:52

The recent egg shortages and avian flu outbreaks aren't just hurting our pocketbooks, they reveal how the consolidation of American agriculture has created dangerous vulnerabilities in our food system. David and Matt dive deep into the precarious state of American farming with Jeff Bender, a North Carolina farmer with 40 years of experience. Bender…

1
Vikings at the Gate: The TikTok Sovereignty Fight 55:07

4M ago55:07

55:07

When Congress moved to force TikTok's sale from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, it sparked a complex battle over national security, free speech, and the future of tech regulation. Matt and David bring together unlikely allies Zephyr Teachout, a progressive law professor, and Joel Thayer, a conservative tech policy expert, who co-authored a Su…

1
The Last Days of Antitrust Enforcement 50:20

4M ago50:20

50:20

Donald Trump is president, but just before he took office, the heads of the agencies that did most of the governing in the Biden era got to work. The Federal Trade Commission, the antitrust division of the Justice Department and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau got to work, finalizing a flurry of new rules, lawsuits, enforcement actions, an…

1
Who Really Controls Your Food? 49:27

6M ago49:27

49:27

Most Americans know their food passes through many hands before reaching their plates, but few realize just how concentrated that chain of production has become. In this final episode of the season, antitrust lawyer Basel Musharbash reveals how roughly three dozen corporations have come to dominate nearly every aspect of America's food system, from…

1
The most hated man on Wall Street; Rohit Chopra, head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 45:32

6M ago45:32

45:32

Wall Street's biggest players have a nemesis: Rohit Chopra. As head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, he's the watchdog who coined the term "junk fees" and has saved Americans billions by cracking down on them. Over the past decade he has emerged as a leader in three critical areas: antitrust, finance, and student debt. But this aggressi…

1
The great American drug shortage isn't an accidient, its artificial 39:43

6M ago39:43

39:43

The Great American Drug Shortage isn't an accident - it's by design. In this eye-opening episode, we expose how three powerful drug distributors seized control of 90% of America's pharmaceutical supply chain, creating an artificial crisis that puts profits over patients. Behind the scenes, shadowy middlemen have turned the generic drug market into …

1
The Democratic Party and Corporate Power with Rep. Chris DeLuzio 42:28

6M ago42:28

42:28

Rep. Chris Deluzio (D) defied Pennsylvania's red wave, outperforming Kamala Harris in working-class areas outside of Pittsburgh to secure re-election. He joins David and Matt to talk about what the Democratic party can learn from his victory. Deluzio says Democratic candidates in tough races won by focusing on pocketbook issues and standing up to p…

1
FanDuel and DraftKings and the online betting duopoly 52:01

6M ago52:01

52:01

Americans lose over $150 billion annually to state lotteries, casinos, and online gambling—that’s $300,000 every minute. How did gambling become so entrenched in American life? And how are FanDuel and DraftKings driving this crisis? In this episode, we’re joined by Les Bernal, National Director of Stop Predatory Gambling, and Dr. Kavita Fisher, a p…

1
Baby Formula Monopoly with Laura Modi, CEO of Bobby 51:18

7M ago51:18

51:18

When Laura Modi launched Bobby in 2020, it was the first infant formula company to enter the U.S. market in over six years. At the time, the U.S. baby formula industry was dominated by two major players (Abbott and Reckitt) they controlled 80% of the market. Two years later, that monopoly would lead to a crisis when Abbott Labs shut down its main p…

1
Voters Want Antitrust! with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes 37:42

7M ago37:42

37:42

In the battleground state of Arizona, voters are telling campaigns that they want more antitrust! Earlier this year, state Attorney General Kris Mayes sued a bunch of corporate landlords and a software company called RealPage for illegally raising rents in Phoenix and Tucson using an algorithm, hiking the cost of renting by as much as 20%. Her laws…

1
Monopolies and Censorship in Elections with Ken Klippenstein 48:39

7M ago48:39

48:39

We hear a lot about how Big Tech uses algorithms to serve up information - but on this episode, we have a story about how they also use their power to control what you can see and hear. After independent journalist Ken Klippenstein wrote a story sharing a dossier about J.D. Vance, allegedly obtained in an Iranian hack of the Trump campaign, X suspe…

1
Antitrust on the Campaign Trail with Maggie Goodlander 38:24

7M ago38:24

38:24

Maggie Goodlander is running for Congress from New Hampshire by running against monopolies. What's it like to mount a political campaign built on antitrust, and can you win with that kind of messge? We speak with Maggie and hear from other candidates who taking a similar message to the voters in their districts. Check out the candidates we spoke to…

1
The Revolt of the Pharmacists Part 2: with Congressman Jake Auchicloss (D) from Massachusetts. 34:05

7M ago34:05

34:05

In Part 1, we heard how pharmacists are trying to push back against the monopolistic and harmful practices of PBMs. Today, we hear from another avenger who is taking the battle against PBMs to his workplace on Capitol Hill. Representative Jake Auchicloss is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, the most comprehensive PBM reform…

1
The Revolt of the Pharmacists Part 1: with Benjamin Jolley 54:52

7M ago54:52

54:52

What would you do if you owned an independent pharmacy and you discovered that the only way to actually make money would be to stop filling most prescriptions? This is what our guest Benjamin Jolley sees everyday. As a third generation independent pharmacist, he's watched as an industry of middlemen have taken control over a transaction that they l…

1
The Real Supermarket Sweep: with Laurel Kilgour 44:57

8M ago44:57

44:57

Today, just four companies—Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Albertsons—account for about half of all grocery sales in the country. And two of them, Kroger and Albertsons, want to merge. If approved, it would be the largest supermarket merger in history. Together they employ 700,000 people across some 5,000 stores. But regulators are fighting back, argui…

1
The Search Monopoly: with Brody and Luke Mullins 44:00

8M ago44:00

44:00

Google just lost the biggest tech antitrust court ruling since the 1990s. And now the fate of Google’s search preeminence is TBD. But the question we’re asking in this episode; What took so long? This trial could have happened 11 years ago, but didn’t. Why not? How did Google avoid the antitrust arm of the government for so long? How did the case a…

1
Organized Money Trailer 2:42

8M ago2:42

2:42

On Organized Money, Matt Stoller & Dave Dayen break down the ways monopolies control the food we eat, the drugs we take, the way we communicate – and so much more. Coming October 15th.By Rock Creek Sounnd

1
The Mystery of Stuxnet | Cracking the Code | S57-E1 41:01

3+ y ago41:01

41:01

In the summer of 2010, a mysterious computer virus called Stuxnet lands on the desk of Symantec cybersecurity analyst Liam O’Murchu. Stuxnet is unlike anything O’Murchu has ever seen: a highly sophisticated piece of malware that serves no obvious purpose. O’Murchu and his colleagues are determined to figure out how it works and who’s behind it -- b…

1
Man with No Memory | The Accident | S55-E1 41:28

3+ y ago41:28

41:28

Even as recently as the early 1950s, we didn’t understand that there were different types of memory, or how the brain processed and stored memories. Then, in 1953, a radical surgery by a reckless doctor gave us tremendous insights into how human memory works. Those scientific gains came at a terrible cost, however. The surgery left the patient, Hen…

1
Predator Drone | From Albatross to Amber | S54-E1 46:34

3+ y ago46:34

46:34

What if you could design a spy plane that could be flown remotely and hover in the sky for hours, providing reconnaissance for troops on the ground? In the early 1980s, the visionary inventor Abe Karem begins building drones out of his L.A. garage. Soon, the Pentagon and the CIA take notice. Though he faces many challenges, Karem is on the forefron…

4+ y ago42:23

42:23

In the early 1980s, a mysterious new disease spread like wildfire through the gay communities of major U.S. cities. Before it even had a name, AIDS had already killed over half its victims. Public response was hampered by ignorance, fear, and homophobia. This is the story of the doctors, scientists and activists who risked everything to lead the fi…

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Rock Creek Sound Podcasts

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