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Make Me Smart

by Marketplace

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About the show

Each weekday, Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams makes today make sense along with her Marketplace colleagues, breaking down happenings in tech, the economy, and culture. Because none of us is as smart as all of us.

Latest episodes

  • From "Marketplace Morning Report": The Rural Healthcare Crisis

    June 21, 2026 · 25 min

    “Marketplace Morning Report” host Kimberly Adams is back in the “Make Me Smart” podcast feed to share some reporting from a trip to southwest Alabama. It’s a deep dive on rural health care access — about 700 rural hospitals nationwide are…

  • From "How We Survive": How to Dim the Sun

    May 29, 2026 · 36 min

    Could dimming the sun be the key to cooling things down before the climate crisis worsens? Some scientists say yes, that we can cool the earth by launching tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. It’s a type of solar geoengineering…

  • The TikTok-ification of music marketing

    May 14, 2026 · 18 min

    Recent controversy surrounding the rock band Geese and a digital marketing firm Chaotic Good Projects has sparked debate over the tactics firms use to drum up hype for artists online. How can we tell if online hype is real or fake? And…

  • The highs and lows of the global art market

    May 12, 2026 · 16 min

    After a pandemic-era boom, the fine art market is going through something of a bust. Many galleries have closed due to climbing overhead costs and sales just aren’t what they used to be. Author and freelance journalist Julie Belcove joins…

  • Kimberly's final cheers on "Economics on Tap"

    May 8, 2026 · 36 min

    As Kimberly gets ready to step into her new role as the host of “Marketplace Morning Report,” her predecessor David Brancaccio joins her to talk about his years on the morning shift and what he’s looking forward to on his new beat covering…

  • How the new WNBA CBA transforms player pay

    May 7, 2026 · 19 min

    The WNBA’s 30th season tips off tomorrow. This year, things look a lot different for players after the league and players union recently signed a landmark collective bargaining agreement (CBA). On today’s show, The Athletic’s Annie…

  • The new fight for states' rights under Trump

    May 5, 2026 · 14 min

    The power struggle between the states and federal government is as old as the U.S. itself. But under the second Trump administration, that struggle has become particularly fraught. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy joins Kimberly to explain…

  • From "This Is Uncomfortable": Wait...where did my retirement money go?

    May 1, 2026 · 37 min

    Hey Smarties! There won’t be a livestream for “Economics on Tap” today. But don’t worry! We’ll be back next week. For now, we’re sharing an episode from our friends over at “This Is Uncomfortable.” Enjoy! What happens to your retirement…