Speaking of the Economy

Latest Episodes:

The Money: How Rural Communities Get Capital Investment Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

The ways that rural communities improve the flow of capital was one of the topics covered at the 2026 Investing in Rural America Conference, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in partnership with the Federal Reserve System and Rural LISC. In this episode, Jason Smith, the Richmond Fed's senior community development advisor, discusses what the Bank has done to improve capital investment in rural areas. We also hear from three conference speakers: Robin Hacke, co-founder and senior fellow at the Center for Community Investment; Alex Flachsbart, founder and CEO of OPAL Community Capital; and Diane Standaert, senior vice president of policy and advocacy at HOPE Credit Union.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_11_04_IRA_credit_formation

Economic Mobility Across Rural America Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Raj Chetty discusses his research on economic mobility and variations in how readily people can climb the income ladder, especially in rural communities. Chetty, an economics professor at Harvard University and director of Opportunity Insights, gave the keynote address at the Investing in Rural America Conference in September 2026.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_10_21_IRA_chetty

Post-Pandemic Job Juggling Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Kyle DeMaria and Urvi Neelakantan talk about their recent research on people who work multiple jobs and what this segment of the labor market says about the overall economy. DeMaria is a regional economist and advisor for workforce pathways and Neelakantan is a senior policy economist, both at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_10_14_job_juggling

Invest in What's Next Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Sarah Gunn describes an online tool developed by the Federal Reserve to help students explore their post-high school career and education options and choose the path that is best for them. Gunn is district outreach manager for community development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_10_07_invest_in_whats_next

The Creative Consumer Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Andy Bauer and Renee Haltom share what they have learned through conversations with Fifth District businesses about consumer spending and how it has responded to cost increases and other economic headwinds. Bauer and Haltom are regional executives at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_09_23_the_creative_consumer

Measuring AI Adoption Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

John Haltiwanger talks about his work with the U.S. Census Bureau to improve the tracking of AI usage by workers and their employers. Haltiwanger, a professor of economics at the University of Maryland, shared this research during the August 2026 CORE Week held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_09_09_measuring_ai_adoption

The Rise in Long-Term Unemployment Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Katarína Borovičková and Claudia Macaluso discuss their research on the long-term unemployed, including the factors like AI adoption that could be affecting the movement of people into and out of this employment status and the broader economic implications of these labor market flows. Macaluso and Borovičková are senior economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_09_02_long-term_unemployment

How Apprenticeships Feed the Workforce Pipeline Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Michael Newsome talks about what he has learned about apprenticeships from discussions with business and education leaders. As an illustration, Melissa Stowasser shares how Trident Technical College partnered with smaller employers to develop an apprenticeship program for the Charleston, S.C., region. Newsome is community development regional manager for workforce pathways in North Carolina and South Carolina at the Richmond Fed, while Stowasser is vice president for community and continuing education at Trident.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_08_19_apprenticeships

Artificial Intelligence and the Entry-Level Worker Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Erik Hurst discusses his research on the potential impacts of AI adoption on the labor market, in particular entry-level workers and their human capital development over time through the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. Hurst is the Roman Family Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_08_12_AI_human_capital

Economic Progress in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Jay Langston discusses how rural communities in western Virginia have diversified the region from agriculture into pharmaceutical and other forms of manufacturing. Key ingredients of this economic progress include developing the local workforce, building relationships between local and state economic development organizations, and addressing quality-of-life issues. Langston is executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership.

Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2026/speaking_2026_08_05_shenandoah_valley

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