Economist Podcasts

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Years ending: notable lives lost in 2025 Dec 31, 2025

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Today’s show is a tribute to those whose lives we remembered this year. From Pope Francis, the most open-minded pontiff for decades, and controversial vice-president Dick Cheney, to champ of the chimpanzees Jane Goodall, bubblegum pop star Brian Wilson and Alice Tan Ridley, a New York subway busker who became a superstar.

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Boom with a view: our economy of the year Dec 30, 2025

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Announcing the return of The Economist’s annual ranking for best performing economy. Are you ready for the big reveal? Dalit cuisine is barely visible, in India or beyond. And why London’s river boats are making a comeback.

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Generals’ selection: Myanmar’s sham poll Dec 29, 2025

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Five years after seizing power in a coup, the military junta in Myanmar is holding an election. Yet all credible opposition has been banned. And war has inspired so many films over the past century. Our correspondents battle it out to pick the best one.

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Battle of the texts: which books changed the world? Dec 26, 2025

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So many books are published each year; few stand the test of time. Today we devote our whole show to asking which works have shaped the way we behave and how we think. Picks include “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth and “Lord of the Rings” by JRR Tolkien.

Full list of books mentioned in the show:

The Bible

The Koran

“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins

“On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin

“Il Saggiatore” by Galileo Galilei

“Two New Sciences” by Galileo Galilei

“Capital in the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas Piketty

“Amusing Ourselves to Death” by Neil Postman

The novels of Philip Pullman

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

“The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie

“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley

“A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth

“Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien

“A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf

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So this is quizmas: our inaugural holiday face-off Dec 24, 2025

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Join our editors and correspondents in a gripping test of recall and reflexes. There are questions on business and politics of course—but also news noises to identify, one saucy limerick and quotes from “The Real Housewives” franchise that frankly no one expected. Which team will take the trophy?

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Growing pains: a recession in recessions Dec 23, 2025

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Recessions are, in their way, bad news. But so, paradoxically, is a lasting dearth of them. We explain the dangers that lie beneath the current run of continuous growth. Our correspondent looks into the hidden economics of online reviews, and whether to trust them. And a turkey-industry exposé that you’ll just gobble up.

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Slop stars: why AI-generated content could help creators Dec 22, 2025

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In a world of infinite content, who wins and who loses? Our correspondent explains what the proliferation of AI-generated art means for human artists. What the prevalence of male-female friendships tell us about a society. And why you should propose with a yellow-gold ring.

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Country of the year: The Economist’s pick for 2025 Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Each year, The Economist tries to identify which country has improved the most, whether economically, politically or in other ways. In a turbulent year, the choice was tricky. We unveil the result. And The Economist Educational Foundation helps kids worldwide be more news-savvy. We invite you to donate and support its work: https://economistfoundation.org/donate/.

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Weight boss? Competition for Novo Nordisk Dec 18, 2025

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Since Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy in 2021, it has dominated the fast-growing market for slimming drugs. Now a new jab is eating into the Danish firm’s success. Why a slang expert thinks the first word humans ever uttered may have been a profane one. And why British sheep have got happier.

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Emissions possible: EU petrol ban quashed Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

The European Union had promised to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2035, as part of its environmental ambitions. Yesterday it watered down that commitment. Our correspondent explains the implications. Will Donald Trump’s choice of Federal Reserve chair politicise the institution? And The Economist announces its word of the year.

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