The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

Confused About Automated Driving Features? You’re Not Alone. Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Tickets for our live show in New York are on sale now! Get yours here.

Hands-free driving technology is changing the way people drive, and in some cases leading to accidents. WSJ's Ryan Felton reports on how Ford rolled out its BlueCruise technology and how confusion over what the system can do has led to crashes. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Deadly Airbags Are Getting Inside Cars

- The Shake-Up Coming for Car Dealerships

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chinese AI Is Spooking Silicon Valley Jul 28, 2026

Show notes

Low-cost artificial intelligence models from China are rapidly improving, closing the gap with U.S. AI products and forcing an industry-wide debate over the future of AI. WSJ’s Amrith Ramkumar explains how these "open-weight" models have caused a rift in Silicon Valley. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- How to Keep Up with AI At Work (Without Losing Your Mind)
- Microsoft’s CEO Has a Message: Don’t Let AI Eat the Economy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tariffs Are Back. What’s Changed? Jul 27, 2026

Show notes

Tickets for our live show in New York are on sale now! Get yours here.

The Trump administration is imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on its major trading partners as part of a new set of duties that the White House says are designed to combat forced labor. The White House has also proposed new tariffs for fining U.S. tech companies. WSJ’s Gavin Bade walks us through the new levies and explores the architect behind them and how he built them to last. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How Do You Refund $166 Billion?

- Trump's Tariffs Are Illegal. He's Got a Plan B.

- Trump's Tariff Whiplash.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Data Is In on Work From Home Jul 26, 2026

Show notes

Six years after the pandemic, remote work has become a mainstay of the economy, with almost a quarter of work days taking place outside traditional offices. WSJ’s Owen Tucker-Smith explains how this has reshaped businesses, the economy and our work lives. And we hear from you about your love-hate relationship with working from home. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- How an Influencer Built His Business, One Dog at a Time

- How to Keep Up with AI At Work (Without Losing Your Mind)
Further Reading:

- The Power of Proximity to Coworkers
- Does Working from Home Work? Evidence from a Chinese Experiment
- Work from Home and Productivity: Evidence from Personnel and Analytics Data on Information Technology Professionals
- Remote Work Leaves Younger Workers Sidelined
- Has the Rise of Work from Home Reduced the Motherhood Penalty in the Labor Market?
- Remote Work or More Pay: What Tech Workers Value in One Chart
- Home Alone: Remote Work, Isolation, and Mental Health

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Deadly Airbags Are Getting Inside Cars Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Tickets for our live show in New York are on sale now! Get yours here.

Airbags are meant to save lives, but imported, counterfeit parts have killed at least 10 U.S. drivers. and regulators have don't know how many more are in cars on the road today. WSJ’s Ryan Felton breaks down the market for these parts, the race to figure out where they’re coming from and how you can stay safe. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- The Shake-Up Coming for Car Dealerships

- The Repo Man Is Busier Than Ever

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can't Get an IMAX Ticket? That's Kind of the Point. Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is one of the biggest movies of the year. It is also his first film entirely shot on IMAX 70mm film. But there are fewer than 40 70mm film IMAX theaters in the United States, making those tickets some of the most coveted this summer. Ryan Knutson talks with IMAX’s CEO, Richard Gelfond, about the company’s origins, his relationship with Nolan and why he isn’t scared of competitors.

Further Listening:

- These Movies Finally Got Gen Z Into Theaters

- Why Hollywood Can't Find Good Scripts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do Sanctions Still Work? Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. has leaned on sanctions for decades as a way to apply pressure on its adversaries. But countries like Iran and Russia have found increasingly sophisticated ways to get around those sanctions. WSJ’s Rory Jones explains why Washington’s ability to force other governments to change through economic pressure is diminishing. And Jessica Mendoza sits down with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D., CT) to talk about a new sanctions bill against Russia.

Further Listening:

- How a Year of Sanctions Is Impacting Russians

- How Putin Has Planned For Sanctions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's Going On With Lettuce? Jul 21, 2026

Show notes

Thousands of people across the country have fallen ill in a parasitic outbreak of cyclosporosis linked to contaminated lettuce, but a series of conflicting announcements about where this outbreak started has left consumers confused. WSJ's Jesse Newman and Sabrina Siddiqui look into Taylor Farms, the sprawling company at the center of the outbreak, and explain the communication breakdown. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

More info on our upcoming NYC Live Show here!

Further Listening:

- McDonald’s and Coke's Marriage Might Need a Refresher

- The Vape Cloud Hanging Over the FDA

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How State Farm's New Contract Sparked an Uproar Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

This past year Progressive usurped State Farm as the nation’s biggest personal auto insurer, losing a throne State Farm had held since World War II. The shift sparked a dramatic overhaul at the company, including new agent contracts, sweeping benefit cuts and a big push into AI. WSJ's Jean Eaglesham reports on the fallout. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

- Insuring a Home in California Is Getting Harder

- Is Florida Just for Rich People Now?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How an Influencer Built His Business, One Dog at a Time Jul 19, 2026

Show notes

Elias Weiss Friedman, better known on social media as The Dogist, has made a career out of shooting portraits of dogs. Ryan Knutson met up with Elias in a New York City park to talk about photography, social media pressures, and how The Dogist has evolved and expanded over the last decade.

Further listening:

- How to Keep Up with AI At Work (Without Losing Your Mind)

- Financial Influencers on Wealth and Work

- The Viral Band Trying to Sing Its Way to a U.S. Visa

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices