May 19, 2024
Trillion Dollar Shot, Episode 2: Bank Breakers
The Journal
As demand for the new class of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs skyrockets, one thing has stood in the way of many people trying to access them: cost. With a price tag around $1,000 a month for U.S. patients and many insurance companies refusing to cover these drugs for weight loss, patients are often turning to alternatives.
May 17, 2024
The Race to Save an Iconic Train From Falling Into the Ocean
The Pacific Surfliner train in Southern California runs along some of the most beautiful coastlines in America. But some fear it might soon fall into the ocean. WSJ’s Jim Carlton reports on how coastal erosion is impacting an iconic train route and the controversial plans to move parts of the line inland.
May 16, 2024
The Life of One of Wall Street’s Greatest Investors
Jim Simons pioneered a revolution in financial trading, embracing a computer-oriented, quantitative style in the 1980s well ahead of Wall Street. Following Simons’ recent death, WSJ’s Gregory Zuckerman unpacks his legacy from financial algorithms to philanthropy.
What the Hell Is at the Edge of Space?
Science Vs
With the powers of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists discovered some super weird things in the early Universe, and it's making some nerds question our theory of everything.
May 15, 2024
Live from Seattle: A Weird Economy + Election = ??
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Guillotines to Hollywood Dreams
Not Past It
This week, we’re bringing you an oldie but a goodie! The story of Marie Grosholtz better known as Madame Tussaud, the enigmatic woman behind a global wax museum franchise. Before the replicas of Taylor Swift and RuPaul, Madame Tussaud befriended royals and dodged guillotines during the French Revolution. Through her wax figures and eye for fame, she helped create the celebrity machine that still po...
May 14, 2024
North Korea’s Propaganda Mastermind
For six decades, one man has been largely responsible for creating North Korea’s propaganda machine: Kim Ki Nam. He served all three North Korean dictators and is the architect of many of the myths that have helped to keep the Kim family in power. Last week, Kim Ki Nam died at the age of 94. WSJ’s Timothy Martin reports on his controversial legacy.
May 13, 2024
How FTX Found Billions to Repay Customers
When FTX collapsed into bankruptcy in 2022, many customers never thought they'd see their money again. But FTX's assets have rebounded. WSJ’s Andrew Scurria unpacks why FTX will have more than enough money to fully repay customers and many creditors.
Trillion Dollar Shot, Episode 1: Birth of a Blockbuster
Before Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, there was Lotte Bjerre Knudsen.
May 10, 2024
A Lawyer Says He Doesn't Need Help for Psychosis. His Family Disagrees.
WSJ’s Julie Wernau wanted to test a hypothesis: are there more mentally ill homeless people now, compared to before the pandemic? That question led her to Rob Dart. Once a successful lawyer, in 2022 he went into a downward spiral, which his family has not been able to stop despite their best efforts.
May 9, 2024
Can Chinese Customers Rescue Starbucks?
Starbucks has a problem: Sales at U.S. stores have fallen sharply and now the company is looking to China, its second biggest market, to boost its revenue. But as WSJ’s Spencer Jakab explains, increased competition there is making that a tall order.
Heartbreak: Why It Feels So Achy Breaky
Getting your heart broken sucks — and for some of us, it even feels physically painful. So why does it hurt so bad? And what can science tell us about how to get over it? We dive into all of this with neuroscientist Prof. Lucy Brown.
May 8, 2024
The Suitcases Full of Cash Flowing Through Airports
London and Dubai's international airports have become conduits for billions of dollars of illicit funds, potentially linked to corruption, drug trafficking and other crimes. WSJ's Margot Patrick explains how couriers in one money-laundering operation transported millions in dirty money on flights.
Where the Child Stars Are
On May 12, 1932, ninety-one years ago this week, an infamous kidnapping came to its tragic conclusion. This kidnapping, which came to be known as “the Crime of the Century,” marked a loss of innocence for young people at the time, but would go on to shape the hopes, fears, and careers of generations of children. We’re joined by actor, writer, and former child actor Rivkah Reyes (School of Rock). Th...
May 7, 2024
Why Is Tesla Pulling Back on EV Charging?
Tesla announced last week that it’s laying off the team responsible for the biggest electric-vehicle charging network in the U.S. The move comes as consumer demand for EVs is dwindling. WSJ’s Jennifer Hiller reports on how the layoffs shocked the industry and how the change will impact efforts to build out a national EV charging network.
Tig Notaro Shares Her Favorite Jokes
Comedian Tig Notaro, who just released her fifth comedy special, "Hello Again," joins us for a chat about the science of her comedy: telling us how she builds jokes, and of course sharing a bunch of dumb and fabulous jokes. Enjoy!
May 6, 2024
The 20,000 Steps to a Walmart Manager's Six-Figure Salary
Walmart is offering higher pay, bonuses and more stock options this year to retain and attract managers. WSJ’s Sarah Nassauer spent a day with one manager, Nichole Hart, to understand why the job is commanding such a high salary these days, and why Hart logs about 20,000 steps a day.
May 3, 2024
Guns and Death Threats in Canada’s Baby-Eel Fisheries
The high price of baby eels has triggered an upsurge in illegal fishing and criminal activity in Canada. Earlier this year, the country announced a ban on baby-eel fishing in an attempt to contain the violence and to protect dwindling fish stocks. We speak to WSJ’s Paul Vieira and to a baby-eel fisherman about how a tiny fish has created a turf war in a remote Canadian community.
May 2, 2024
The NBA's Media Rights Are Up for Grabs. Billions Are at Stake.
The National Basketball Association is in advanced stages of a new round of media-rights deals. WSJ’s Amol Sharma unpacks why several major media players are jostling for the lucrative rights.
The Funniest Joke in the World
If you Google "The Funniest Joke in the World," you'll be very disappointed. The internet might serve you something like, "What has many keys but can't open a single lock??” (Answer: A piano). Screw that. That's not funny. Enter Science Vs. We’re going on a romp to find out once and for all: What is the funniest joke in the world. According to science. And for this quest we've interviewed a bunch o...
May 1, 2024
Mayhem at Paramount as Merger Looms
On Monday, Bob Bakish stepped down as CEO of Paramount, one of America’s most iconic media companies. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel reports on how Bakish’s relationship with Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount, has deteriorated amidst one of the messiest merger dramas in recent history.
No More Cinco de Drinko
What comes to mind when we say “Cinco de Mayo?” Cheesy beer ads? Themed nights at the local bar? Well, in this episode, we smash through 160 years of history, tracing El Cinco from the Battle of Puebla on May 5th 1862, to the holiday’s commercial takeover in the 1980s. Plus, we explore the surprising origins of this holiday, that’s a lot more American than you may think. This episode originally air...
April 30, 2024
Trump Allies Draft Plans to Rein in the Fed
Donald Trump's allies have drafted plans to curb the Federal Reserve’s independence, should Trump win a second term. WSJ’s Andrew Restuccia unpacks the proposals, which include giving the president a say in interest-rate decisions.
April 29, 2024
Amazon’s Secret Operation to Gather Intel on Rivals
For almost a decade, Amazon staff went undercover on Walmart, eBay and other marketplaces selling products under the guise of a company called ‘Big River.’ WSJ’s Dana Mattioli reports on the secret arm of Amazon that surreptitiously gathers intelligence on its competitors.
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