The Problem with Plastic
Judith Enck
Mentioned 7 months ago
Small businesses pull back on hiring
Book Recommendations
Marketplace
Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day's business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required. "Marketplace" takes you beyond the numbers, bringing you context. Our team of reporters all over the world speak with CEOs, policymakers and regular people ju...
Episodes
536
Books
44
Recently mentioned
Latest Recommendations
The Divine Nine
Lawrence C. Ross Jr.
Mentioned 1 year ago
Disposable income growth chugs along
The Mismeasure of Progress
Stephen J. Macekura
Mentioned 1 year ago
Who’s still hiring?
Punishing Putin
Stephanie Baker
Mentioned 1 year ago
Who can get Ozempic?
Koreaworld
Deuki Hong
Mentioned 1 year ago
A turning point for the “vibecession”?
Koreatown
Deuki Hong
Mentioned 1 year ago
A turning point for the “vibecession”?
Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May
Cliff May
Mentioned 1 year ago
Hey, it’s still job growth
Cryptomania
Andrew R Chow
Mentioned 1 year ago
Has the Fed ever met its 2 goals?
The Wedding People
Alison Espach
Mentioned 1 year ago
Making more stuff without working more hours
A Passage to India
General Press
Mentioned 1 year ago
Where’s the AI spending payoff?
The Future
Naomi Alderman
Mentioned 1 year ago
Where’s the AI spending payoff?
Finance for the People
Paco De Leon
Mentioned 1 year ago
Where’s the AI spending payoff?
Most Recommended
A Passage to India
The title was repeatedly highlighted as a classic that tackled uncomfortable themes of money, class, and work, and it was featured in the podcast's "This Is Uncomfortable" summer book club. Host Rima consistently recommended it across many episodes, noting its relevance to discussions about economic and social dynamics. Listeners were encouraged to read it for its insightful perspective on these issues.
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Health care is still hot in the job market
It was mentioned as a classic book that was loved by the team and gets at some uncomfortable topic around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Homelessness criminalized as home sales fall and p...
It was recommended as a classic book that tackles uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India
Episode: SCOTUS curbs regulatory agencies’ powers. Again.
It was recommended as a classic book exploring uncomfortable topics around money, class, and work.
"
classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India
classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India
Episode: Credit card debt data reveals “two different Ameri...
It was recommended as a classic book that gets at uncomfortable topics around money, class, and the relationship to work.
"
including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India,
Episode: The economy doesn’t love the heat, either
It was mentioned as a classic book that deals with the uncomfortable topic of money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Breaking Ground: Change isn’t coming — it’s here
It was mentioned as a classic example of a book that deals with uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India
Episode: Why’s my coffee so expensive?
It was mentioned as a classic book that gets at an uncomfortable topic around money, class, and work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future, and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Bad housing news comes in threes
It was mentioned as a classic book recommendation during the "This is Uncomfortable" summer book club.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future, and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: A higher-than-expected CPI
A Passage to India was strongly recommended as a classic that touches on uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future, and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: What do rising unemployment claims mean for the ec...
This classic book was recommended as part of the This Is Uncomfortable summer book club, focusing on topics related to money, class, and work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Talking the (workplace) talk
It was recommended as a classic book that gets at some uncomfortable topic around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India
Episode: Where’s the AI spending payoff?
A Passage to India was recommended as a classic book that delves into uncomfortable topics like money, class, and work.
"
including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India
The Future
Rima Grace consistently highlighted the title as a page‑turning novel that examined uncomfortable issues around money, class, and work. It was featured as a key recommendation for the podcast’s summer book club and praised by the team for its relevance to economic discussions. The overall tone was enthusiastic, positioning it as a highly recommended read.
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Health care is still hot in the job market
It was mentioned as a page turning novel that was loved by the team and gets at some uncomfortable topic around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Homelessness criminalized as home sales fall and p...
It was mentioned as a page-turning novel that tackles uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
Episode: SCOTUS curbs regulatory agencies’ powers. Again.
It was recommended as a page-turning novel exploring uncomfortable topics around money, class, and work.
"
page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
Episode: Credit card debt data reveals “two different Ameri...
It was recommended as a page-turning novel that gets at uncomfortable topics around money, class, and the relationship to work.
"
page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
Episode: The economy doesn’t love the heat, either
It was mentioned as a page-turning novel that deals with the uncomfortable topic of money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Breaking Ground: Change isn’t coming — it’s here
It was mentioned as a page-turning novel that deals with uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
Episode: Why’s my coffee so expensive?
It was mentioned as a page-turning novel that gets at an uncomfortable topic around money, class, and work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future, and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Bad housing news comes in threes
It was mentioned as a page-turning novel recommendation during the "This is Uncomfortable" summer book club.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page-turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future, and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: A higher-than-expected CPI
The Future was recommended as a page-turning novel that deals with uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future, and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: What do rising unemployment claims mean for the ec...
This novel was recommended as part of the This Is Uncomfortable summer book club, focusing on topics related to money, class, and work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
Episode: Talking the (workplace) talk
It was recommended as a page-turning novel that gets at some uncomfortable topic around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
Episode: Where’s the AI spending payoff?
The Future is described as a page-turning novel that explores uncomfortable topics related to money, class, and work.
"
page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future
Finance for the People
Getting a Grip on Your Finances
It was mentioned as a personal finance book that was loved by the team and gets at some uncomfortable topic around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's
— Episode: Health care is still hot in the job mark...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Health care is still hot in the job market
It was mentioned as a personal finance book that was loved by the team and gets at some uncomfortable topic around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forrester's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
In This Economy?
How Money & Markets Really Work
Kyla Scanlon, a financial educator who gained popularity through her social media content, discusses her new book, "In This Economy," which aims to provide a fun and accessible way to learn about money and markets. She emphasizes that the economy is a complex system and people are at the center of it, and understanding basic economic concepts is crucial.
"
So I wrote this book when I was eight years old about a penguin and wrote books all through growing up.
— Episode: Revised 1st-quarter GDP shows slower gro...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Revised 1st-quarter GDP shows slower growth
Kyla Scanlon, a financial educator who gained popularity through her social media content, discusses her new book, "In This Economy," which aims to provide a fun and accessible way to learn about money and markets. She emphasizes that the economy is a complex system and people are at the center of it, and understanding basic economic concepts is crucial.
"
So I wrote this book when I was eight years old about a penguin and wrote books all through growing up.
And so like when the opportunity came to write a book, I love books.
And then number two, a lot of my social media videos are responding to the news. I try to do as much education as I can within 90 seconds. But books are static.
I think a lot of the knowledge that is in the book is static. And so I wanted a place for people to go where they could use it as a reference guide. Like each chapter is relatively standalone and you can like read the inflation chapter without having to read the labor markets chapter.
And I just wanted something that people could go to outside of the noise of social media. Although, of course, you should read the inflation and the labor market chapters together because it's all a piece.
The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ (An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon)
The Book of Mormon is a religious text that has been recorded and released in cassette format for audio purposes, often found in thrift stores.
"
In Salt Lake City, old audio recordings of the Book of Mormon text are a common find.
— Episode: What’s good for the economy might not be...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: What’s good for the economy might not be good for...
The Book of Mormon is a religious text that has been recorded and released in cassette format for audio purposes, often found in thrift stores.
"
In Salt Lake City, old audio recordings of the Book of Mormon text are a common find.
Good Energy
The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health
The book "Limitless" was mentioned as a possible resource for understanding the Federal Reserve's balance sheet and the challenges of moving away from quantitative easing.
"
if this is something that you're interested in there's a book called Limitless that I can recommend.
— Episode: Why government benefits are likely to st...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Why government benefits are likely to stick around
The book "Limitless" was mentioned as a possible resource for understanding the Federal Reserve's balance sheet and the challenges of moving away from quantitative easing.
"
if this is something that you're interested in there's a book called Limitless that I can recommend.
Democracy or Else
How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps
The book details how Americans are saving for retirement, emphasizing the increase in 401k contributions due to automatic enrollment and higher starting rates. It also highlights the growing trend of professional savings management.
"
Vanguard, which yes, does offer a lot of retirement accounts and options, released its annual How America Saves report this week.
— Episode: How about those new tariffs?
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: How about those new tariffs?
The book details how Americans are saving for retirement, emphasizing the increase in 401k contributions due to automatic enrollment and higher starting rates. It also highlights the growing trend of professional savings management.
"
Vanguard, which yes, does offer a lot of retirement accounts and options, released its annual How America Saves report this week.
The big catalyst here is called automatic enrollment.
A recent federal law is actually about to make that mandatory.
Automatic enrollment doesn't just increase how many people participate. It increases how much people are contributing.
Auto enrollment plans are also defaulting employees in at higher starting rates. They default participants in at rates of 4% or more.
Harry Potter Hardcover Boxed Set
Books 1-7 (Slipcase)
The book series "Harry Potter" was mentioned as an asset that current Warner properties hold, making them attractive to potential buyers.
"
Current Warner properties like Harry Potter or HBO or Batman are very attractive to would-be suitors.
— Episode: Messaging matters
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Messaging matters
The book series "Harry Potter" was mentioned as an asset that current Warner properties hold, making them attractive to potential buyers.
"
Current Warner properties like Harry Potter or HBO or Batman are very attractive to would-be suitors.
What Went Wrong with Capitalism
Richard Sharma, chairman of Rockefeller International, argues that capitalism wasn't a failure, it was ruined. He blames government intervention, particularly the culture of bailouts that began in the 1980s, for creating an unfair system that feels rigged to many young Americans.
"
The short answer is What Went Wrong with Capitalism is just a role of government and what the government has done progressively over the last few decades to make this a system which f...
— Episode: What do interest rate cuts in Europe mea...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: What do interest rate cuts in Europe mean for the...
Richard Sharma, chairman of Rockefeller International, argues that capitalism wasn't a failure, it was ruined. He blames government intervention, particularly the culture of bailouts that began in the 1980s, for creating an unfair system that feels rigged to many young Americans.
"
The short answer is What Went Wrong with Capitalism is just a role of government and what the government has done progressively over the last few decades to make this a system which feels unfair and almost rigged to many young Americans.
The easiest thing for me to do is to say hey, I'm doing really well. I'm like prospering in this system so let there be more of this.
I'm concerned that a lot of people are losing faith in the current economic system and I'm just trying to shine light and show what we have today is not what can be termed even as capitalism. It's a very distorted form of capitalism.
It is pretty much socialism for the rich or in general socialized risk for everyone.
Finance for the People
Getting a Grip on Your Finances
It was described as a personal finance book that tackles uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People
— Episode: Homelessness criminalized as home sales...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Homelessness criminalized as home sales fall and p...
It was described as a personal finance book that tackles uncomfortable topics around money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People
Finance for the People
Getting a Grip on Your Finances
It was recommended as a personal finance book exploring uncomfortable topics around money, class, and work.
"
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People
— Episode: SCOTUS curbs regulatory agencies’ powers...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: SCOTUS curbs regulatory agencies’ powers. Again.
It was recommended as a personal finance book exploring uncomfortable topics around money, class, and work.
"
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People
Finance for the People
Getting a Grip on Your Finances
It was recommended as a personal finance book that gets at uncomfortable topics around money, class, and the relationship to work.
"
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
— Episode: Credit card debt data reveals “two diffe...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Credit card debt data reveals “two different Ameri...
It was recommended as a personal finance book that gets at uncomfortable topics around money, class, and the relationship to work.
"
and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
The King Crab
The story was about how a Norwegian fishing village found a lucrative source of income in the form of red king crab after suffering through tough times in the 1980s and 90s. The red king crab was introduced to the region by Russia in the 1930s under Stalin, and the sanctions against Russia following their invasion of Ukraine made Norway one of the few countries able to export red king crab to the United States.
"
It's a piece called The King Crab Kings in Bloomberg Businessweek. Andrew S. Lewis wrote it. It's a great read.
— Episode: Will mortgage rates follow bond yields d...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Will mortgage rates follow bond yields down?
The story was about how a Norwegian fishing village found a lucrative source of income in the form of red king crab after suffering through tough times in the 1980s and 90s. The red king crab was introduced to the region by Russia in the 1930s under Stalin, and the sanctions against Russia following their invasion of Ukraine made Norway one of the few countries able to export red king crab to the United States.
"
It's a piece called The King Crab Kings in Bloomberg Businessweek. Andrew S. Lewis wrote it. It's a great read.
Finance for the People
Getting a Grip on Your Finances
It was mentioned as a personal finance book that deals with the uncomfortable topic of money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's
— Episode: The economy doesn’t love the heat, eithe...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: The economy doesn’t love the heat, either
It was mentioned as a personal finance book that deals with the uncomfortable topic of money, class, and our relationship to work.
"
We'll feature a wide range of recs, including classics like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India, page turning novels like Naomi Alderman's The Future and personal finance books like Paco de Leon's Finance for the People.
How We Survive
Reclaiming Hope Book 1
Tim Judge, Chief Climate Officer at Fannie Mae, recommended it to listeners wanting to hear more about climate solutions.
"
If you want to hear more about climate solutions, check out the podcast I host, How We Survive.
— Episode: Powell holds off on rate cuts
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Powell holds off on rate cuts
Tim Judge, Chief Climate Officer at Fannie Mae, recommended it to listeners wanting to hear more about climate solutions.
"
If you want to hear more about climate solutions, check out the podcast I host, How We Survive.
This Is Awkward
How Life's Uncomfortable Moments Open the Door to Intimacy and Connection
It was recommended for its potential to help listeners rethink their relationship with money, class and work. The podcast newsletter was expected to feature a new book every other week, alongside interviews with the author or an expert on the topic.
"
If you're looking for some good recommendations on books to read, well, you should join This Is Uncomfortable's Summer Book Club.
— Episode: Lone Star stock exchange
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Lone Star stock exchange
It was recommended for its potential to help listeners rethink their relationship with money, class and work. The podcast newsletter was expected to feature a new book every other week, alongside interviews with the author or an expert on the topic.
"
If you're looking for some good recommendations on books to read, well, you should join This Is Uncomfortable's Summer Book Club.
Every other week in our newsletter, we'll share a new book that will make you rethink your relationship to money, class and work, while also featuring an interview with the author or an expert on the topic.
Why Flying Is Miserable
And How to Fix It
The author argues that airline consolidation has left consumers beholden to a few big airlines that set the terms. However, it is not necessary to go back to the 70s to improve flying, as there are changes that can be made without going back to the regulated system. He suggested things like mandating bigger seats or more predictable pricing.
"
In his recent book, Why Flying Is Miserable and How to Fix It, he argues consolidation has left consumers beholden to a few big airlines that set the terms.
— Episode: The “great stay”?
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: The “great stay”?
The author argues that airline consolidation has left consumers beholden to a few big airlines that set the terms. However, it is not necessary to go back to the 70s to improve flying, as there are changes that can be made without going back to the regulated system. He suggested things like mandating bigger seats or more predictable pricing.
"
In his recent book, Why Flying Is Miserable and How to Fix It, he argues consolidation has left consumers beholden to a few big airlines that set the terms.
People think that any change has to mean going back to the 70s, and that's just wrong. We can make lots of changes that would improve our system without going back to that.
Things like mandating bigger seats or more predictable pricing.
Pulp Fiction
The Malibu was mentioned in the context of its pop culture footprint, specifically in relation to its appearance in the film *Pulp Fiction*. It was mentioned in passing, with no specific details about the book itself.
"
Think Pulp Fiction, Repo Man, also say anything?
— Episode: Slowly, but surely, the economy is cooli...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Slowly, but surely, the economy is cooling
The Malibu was mentioned in the context of its pop culture footprint, specifically in relation to its appearance in the film *Pulp Fiction*. It was mentioned in passing, with no specific details about the book itself.
"
Think Pulp Fiction, Repo Man, also say anything?
The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man
A Novel (Ruddy McCann)
The Malibu was mentioned in the context of its pop culture footprint, specifically in relation to its appearance in the film *Repo Man*. It was mentioned in passing, with no specific details about the book itself.
"
Think Pulp Fiction, Repo Man, also say anything?
— Episode: Slowly, but surely, the economy is cooli...
Listen on Audible
7-day free trial
Episode: Slowly, but surely, the economy is cooling
The Malibu was mentioned in the context of its pop culture footprint, specifically in relation to its appearance in the film *Repo Man*. It was mentioned in passing, with no specific details about the book itself.
"
Think Pulp Fiction, Repo Man, also say anything?
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.