Make Me Smart

Julie Belcove, author and journalist who covers galleries, auctions and art economics, breaks down the layered world of fine art. She explains who’s buying now and why speculators pulled back. She talks about rising costs, gallery closures, how artists are affected, and where collectors can still find affordable work.

David Brancaccio, longtime Marketplace Morning Report host now covering long-term and future effects, joins for a farewell toast. They discuss shifting from short-term thinking to future-focused reporting. Topics include AI and fiscal risk, roles that safeguard long-term planning, and summer reading picks. Fun rapid-fire takes on tech, cuddly robots, and influencer courses add lively banter.

Annie Costabile, Senior writer at The Athletic covering the WNBA and women’s basketball. She breaks down the landmark CBA changes to salaries and revenue sharing. She recounts marathon bargaining, discusses pension and housing wins, and explores how stars like Caitlin Clark and record national broadcasts can grow the league.

Kevin Hardy, a Stateline reporter covering business, labor and rural issues in the Midwest, breaks down the renewed tug-of-war between state and federal power. He highlights how federal funding is being used as leverage. He walks through legal fights, examples of federal overreach, and why state-level politics and courts now matter more than ever.

Katy Milkman, behavioral scientist and Wharton professor who studies decision-making, and Geoffrey Sanzenbacher, a retirement researcher at Boston College, unpack why old 401(k)s go missing. They explore how common fragmented retirement accounts are. They discuss system opacity, who loses out most, and practical tricks to overcome procrastination and track down forgotten balances.

Noam Scheiber, NYT labor reporter and author of Mutiny, explores how college-educated workers are confronting a brutal job market. He discusses rising organizing efforts, debt-driven career compromises, shifting definitions of 'college work', historical labor parallels, and practical advice for new grads navigating AI and weak hiring.

In the United States, recidivism rate, or the likelihood that a criminal re-enters the prison system after being released, is among the highest in the world. The state with the highest reincarceration rate (within 3 years) is Delaware at 55.9 percent. While the lowest is Virginia at 17.9 percent. Earlier this month, Kimberly moderated the 2026 Second Chance Forum at Georgetown University on the importance of second-chance employment programs to lowering recidivism rates in the United States. She sat down with two top law enforcement officials from across the aisle: Delaware Attorney General and Democrat, Kathy Jennings and Pennsylvania Attorney General and Republican, Dave Sunday.Today’s podcast is an edited version of their conversation. To listen to the full panel discussion, click the link below:2026 Second Chance Forum: Barriers to Breakthroughs — How Second Chances Are Driving SuccessWe love hearing from you. Leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.

Rachel Cohen, a KUNC reporter covering the Mountain West and outdoor recreation, joins to unpack the region's outdoor economy. They discuss slowing growth after pandemic spikes. Tariffs and poor weather squeezing businesses. New Forest Service rules and a planned headquarters move to Salt Lake City. A new $100 international park surcharge and dipping national park visits are also covered.

Chloe East, an associate professor of economics at University of Colorado Boulder who studies immigration enforcement and labor markets, breaks down why mass deportations do not create jobs for U.S.-born workers. She discusses how reduced immigrant labor lowers local demand, spikes childcare costs, depresses community spending, and why anti-immigrant narratives persist in politics.

Kai Ryssdal, Marketplace host and Vietnam correspondent, shares vivid reporting from Ho Chi Minh City. He discusses the city’s rapid change, Vietnam’s young workforce and demographic advantage, efforts to build a domestic tech and AI sector, and how trade and infrastructure choices are shaping the country’s economic rise.