The Indicator from Planet Money

Hosted by NPR

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Episodes

300

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money , The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less. Sign up for our newsletter . Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org. You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes for Planet Money and sponsor-free listening for The Indicator.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 20269 min

Where did all the sitcoms go?

Comedy writer and producer Mike Schur ("The Good Place," "Parks and Recreation") breaks down how streaming killed the classic sitcom — and what comedy is doing to survive. Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen – What the movies teach us about recessions, memestocks and gold –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

November 9, 20269 min

Why data centers and Musk lost but billionaires won the midterms

After last week's midterm elections, there are quite a few economic indicators to watch – from data centers to California billionaires. Who won, who lost, and why it matters. Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen – How taxing the wealthy could work –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

November 6, 20269 min

Caution: Men NOT at Work

An increasing number of men are dropping out of the workforce. What’s behind this trend and can anything be done about it? Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen – What's going on with men's labor force participation? –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

November 5, 20269 min

Can Anthropic make enough money to justify its value?

Anthropic released its financials to the public as the AI juggernaut prepares for its highly anticipated IPO. So what do these numbers reveal about the future of the AI economy? Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen – Why Oracle's debt load could be your problem –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

November 4, 20268 min

Will AI take my job? Ask an economist!

Are AI job losses showing up in the job numbers? What does a pro-worker approach to AI development look like? What advice do you have for college students? It’s our latest “Ask an Economist” segment, where listeners get to pose questions directly to economists about hot topics in the news. Daron Acemoglu, a Nobel Prize-winning professor at MIT, and Erik Brynjolfsson, a professor at Stanford and director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, joined us to weigh in on AI and the future of work. To listen to the whole hour-long conversation or join us for our next “Ask an Economist,” make sure you’re signed up for NPR+ at plus.npr.org . Fact checking by Cooper Katz McKim. Your Next Listen – You had housing questions. An economist answered them –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

November 3, 20268 min

Is it time to reconsider the adjustable rate mortgage?

High mortgage rates are nudging some aspiring homeowners to consider adjustable-rate mortgages over the standard 30-year fixed-rate option. Are ARMs the better choice in today’s economy? Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen – When mortgage rates are too low to give up –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

November 2, 20268 min

How crypto world made inroads in Pakistan

Pakistan in recent years has taken a U-turn on cryptocurrency, opting to regulate digital assets instead of outright banning them. On today’s show, what the country’s crypto boosters hope to gain for their efforts and why religious scholars are still skeptical of its value. Fact checking by Leyla Doss. Your Next Listen – How stable is stablecoin? –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

October 30, 20269 min

Corporate tax cheats, recession deal eats and costly Halloween treats!

On a very spooktacular Indicators of the EEK!: How America’s top corporations are ghosting their taxes; why more meal deals are an ominous sign; and terrifying Halloween candy prices! Fact checking by Corey Bridges Your Next Listen – A finance fright fest –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

October 29, 20268 min

Can Montana end Citizens United?

The landmark supreme source case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission opened the floodgates for massive corporate spending in elections. Today, can a Montana ballot initiative pave the way for getting corporate money out of American elections? Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen – Can a "moneyball" system work for campaign funding? –Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media by subscribing to NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

October 28, 20269 min

Is it time to abolish the MBA?

Does business school fix the world? Or does it just churn out consultants, bankers and tech workers? A professor and a dean debate the value of the modern-day MBA. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez . Your Next Listen –– Are small town colleges going extinct? ––Over 2,000 episodes in our archive on the NPR App Connect with The Indicator from Planet Money – The Indicator newsletter — a weekly roundup of news, ideas and staff picks. – Instagram , TikTok and YouTube –Find the Planet Money book –Find the Planet Money game, Sell Me A Sasquatch , and other merch at the NPR Shop ! Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy