If you think Donald Trump is trying to destroy the country on purpose like some marvel villain then I can’t be sure whether anything else you say is credible

Love Noah’s blog and enjoy this podcast, and have learned so much from him. My one issue is the moderator. Erik seems like a smart and successful guy, but he is clearly not that knowledgeable when it comes to Econ policy and politics/policy in general. It’s evident from his questions and comments. The show would be even better if the moderator had more of a policy background.

Noah is a fast talking blowhard. He has turned this podcast into a vanity show with a meek interviewer pitching him questions on every topic under the sun so as to showcase Smith’s apparent brilliance and erudition. It reminds me of nothing so much as William F. Buckley’s Firing Line, a TV show in the ‘80s and ‘90s expressly designed to display the great man’s wisdom

Great podcast. I always feel smarter at the end. Grateful to hear both the analysis of issues and the synthesis of ideas to help us make sense of the historical inflection point we’re living through after 80 years of the American Century.

Not worth your time

I only listened to the Brad Delong episode on China among other topics. It’s really hard to follow a topic when they talk over each other. Brad was especially bad about always interrupting.

If you can’t figure out how to let each other talk, you’re in the wrong business. Worst episode ever.

I’m new to this pod, and maybe it’s the election season but many of the current episodes seem to be heavily politically tinged. The guy always does this disclaimer about not being a political expert but always immediately dive into politics, most of the time batting for Democrats and always against Trump. It is not usually an issue for me who people side with politically, that’s your business, but why do I need to hear constant tangents about stuff like Kamala’s strategy about calling Trump and Republicans “weird,” whatever that means. He also makes vast social assertions like how Gen X jocks became poor losers shaking their fists at the sky, while the nerds became cool and rich. Also some weird statements about how the norms now are the behaviors of the chronically online, and they’re into adult content and LGBT stuff so that must mean that’s the new “normal” and everybody is surely perceiving it that way. Seriously? I felt like I was listening to a Redditor. Real life isn’t Reddit, my guy. That was hard to listen to. Can’t even finish the episode. I don’t recommend this pod.

This is my favorite podcast. I feel like I learn from it. Please keep it up!

Fox among hedgehogs

He is super annoying and uninformed

Noah is extremely knowledgable and I’ve learned a ton from reading his substack. BUT…podcasting and writing are very different mediums. He often times comes off as way too confident that there could be no possible way any of his ideas are wrong, or that any sane person could disagree with him. Eric doesn’t seem to have the ability to steer the conversations away from his long rants/tangents or to push back very much on Noah. It’s hard to call them conversations, they are closer to interviews. Eric asks a question, Noah lectures on it, and then Eric moves on when Noah runs out of breath. One notable episode that was a welcome departure from Noah proselytizing without any real conversation featured a guest (can’t remember his name) that Noah disagreed with about whether or not we are heading for a recession.

This is a really great show with relevant topics that cover past and present topics through the lens of economics. I tune in for every new episode and really like the debates when they occur. It would be a 5 start review but my only complaint is the tone is typically smug and arrogant, especially when they have a guest. Noah is clearly very smart however, his tone makes it hard to listen some times. Otherwise great show

When Erik opens an episode with an ad for himself featuring phrases like "I'm hiring a head of special projects for my personal team", it makes you think communism wouldn't be so bad, which is not the outcome you'd want from an economics podcast. They're ok when he's suppressing his apparent true self of an insufferable rich guy.

I’m a fan of Noah’s writing, and think he’s a knowledgeable guy, but this could have a better listening experience. The earlier episodes read as an interview show when it’s always the same guest, and more recently Eric starts arguing with Noah more, but in both cases it feels unpolished, like they didn’t focus on communicating in a way that enlightens. Furthermore, even tho I trust he knows what he’s talking about, I lose trust when there is a lack of humility, like the host always believes he is right about everything

I came to this podcast through following Noah’s blog and while it’s generally the same thing and the same ideas being communicated, I view it as reinforcing the learnings and logic behind ideas. Huge fan!

Noah offers great insight and the other guy is a good host.

Way too many ad breaks

Cuts through the partisan and political non-sense and gives a breakdown of current affairs in a apolitical non-emotional way. Great show!

“If Israel was smart, they would make Gaza rich. I read a study that wealth is totally negatively correlated w violence and Gaza is really poor, so you just make Gaza rich and war’s over. Easy. But Israel’s dumb so they don’t follow my midwit advice” It’s just stuff like that episode after episode

Have followed Noah on Twitter and Substack for as long as I can remember. This podcast was way overdue. Love his POVs on economic policies

Not bad, but Noah Smith needs pushback on any of his ideas to transition this podcasts from “mutterings under his breath” to “conversation about ideas.

Noah Smith is funny, smart, and very knowledgeable.

just two episodes in and know this show is going to be a banger

Noah is a great analyst/substance writer and I’m excited for the podcast