The 11 Best Planet Money Episodes

Few podcasts have found the balance of informative journalism and witty banter as well as NPR’s Planet Money. There is no denying that Planet Money is an economics show, but those not interested in the financial side of life shouldn’t be scared off. Although some episodes do get a bit wonky, there is a great selection of episodes that feel more like a lesson on pop culture than an economics class. In the more niche episodes, the hosts always do a great job providing background and context to make sure all the concepts are approachable for all. 

Planet Money evolved out of This American Life, originally inspired by an episode called “The Giant Pool of Money” that was reported by Alex Blumberg and Adam Davidson. Fans of This American Life will love the storytelling methods used in Planet Money, as well as the sometimes quirky questions it seeks to answer. 

Today, episodes are hosted by a long team of producers, with the best known being Robert Smith and Stacey Vanek Smith. Episodes range in length from just five minutes to around 30 minutes, so it is a great podcast to binge on a long road trip or to squeeze into a quick commute. With over 900 episodes released, navigating the archives of Planet Money can be a difficult task. We hope this list can make the overwhelming less so, much like Planet Money makes overwhelming economics topics less intimidating.  

1. The Planet Money T-Shirt Project (Multiple Episodes)

One of the most celebrated and most notable series of episodes from Planet Money is the 2013 “T-Shirt Project.” The series of episodes was a global tour from start to finish of a t-shirt, including looks into the factory in Indonesia where the yarn was made to sub-Saharan Africa where so many discarded t-shirts end up. 

The series of episodes got so much attention when it was released because of how deep into the manufacturing process the Planet Money reporters were able to go. The stories truly capture the idea of making big economic topics personal, which ultimately aims to be Planet Money’s goal in all their episodes. 

2. #416: Why The Price of Coke Didn’t Change For 70 years

If you want an episode of Planet Money that can be simplified down into a fun fact that you can share at parties, look no further. The answer is actually rather simple to start, and has to do with the fact that even as inflation happened it was still more convenient to sell a product for a nickel or a dime than for 7 cents or 12 cents. To adapt, Coca Cola simply changed sizes of their products rather than changing the price. There is much more to it though, and the episode shares great facts about Coca Cola’s history and broader context on how products are priced. 

3. #189: Why A Dead Shark Costs $12 Million

Planet Money has touched on the complicated art market several times, but this early episode is one of the best and most comprehensive looks into the pricing of art that they’ve done. The piece in question is a work by Damien Hirst called “The Physical Impossibility Of Death In The Mind Of Someone Living,” which is essentially an encased dead 15-foot shark in formaldehyde. The episode was inspired after a British shop-owner attempted to sell a similar work for $1 million to limited success. Why did these two works have such drastically different prices, and why would someone pay $12 million for a dead shark in the first place? In the 20-minute episode, Planet Money learns the reasoning may be impossible to understand. 

4. #729: When Subaru Came Out

Planet Money has done several great marketing case studies, including this 2016 look into how Subaru embraced a stereotype and fully committed to being the most popular car amongst lesbians. The episode looks at the multiple ways Subaru has connected with their fanbase, including a campaign with tennis great and high-profile lesbian Martina Navratilova. The 20-minute episode is a fun listen that also will make you reconsider the ads and commercials you relate to most and why some work and others don’t.  

5. #418: A Fake Bank For Money Laundering Run By The Government

An episode that could easily be a major action movie, this story follows an IRS agent and DEA agent who created a fake offshore bank to catch drug traffickers. Although the attempt had limited successes, the story of the mission is intense and humorous. In a 2019 re-release of the episode, the hosts added an extra segment about the finances behind drug lord El Chapo.

6. #468: Kid Rock Vs. The Scalpers

Who knew Kid Rock could teach us something about the economy? Although the show focuses on Kid Rock, it’s really about the troubled market of online ticket sales and the multiple factors that led to high resale prices, rising numbers of scalpers and steep fees. To tackle these problems, Kid Rock introduced a model where tickets were released with a new system of tiers and in scheduled groups rather than all at once. The episode looks at why the methods were successful, as well as what other methods could be put in place to fix the ticket business. 

7. Planet Money Buys Oil (Multiple Episodes)

Over the course of four episodes in 2016, Planet Money bought 100 barrels of oil and followed the process from the ground to the refinery and finally into a gas tank. Much like the T-Shirt Project episodes, this series is really about putting faces and stories to the invisible processes that move our economy forward. The episodes mix fun storytelling with deep dives into how oil is priced and how fracking impacts the oil market. 

8. Episode 700: Peanuts and Cracker Jack

A fun report that will change your outlook on baseball games, this popular episode looks into the fascinating world of vendors at stadiums and how much skill goes into knowing the right items and locations to sell at. The story follows a few vendors at a major stadium and examines how their micro-economy works. You’ll never buy a beer or hot dog at a stadium again without thinking about this report. 

9. Episode 283: Why Do We Tip?

This is a short look into a common question that has only become more relevant as raising the minimum wage has gained political traction. At just 15 minutes, it is a great entry point into Planet Money because it is something so relatable that everyone has experienced and potentially questioned. The episode looks at the economics of tipping as well as the philosophy behind it in a very approachable way. 

10. #699: Kansas City Vs. Kansas City

The best part of Planet Money is when an episode finds a question you never knew you had and presents an incredibly detailed answer. The episode explains the unusual situation businesses in Kansas City, and in other cities that exist on state borders, face in regards to taxes and revenue. To make a sometimes complicated topic more engaging, the episode revolves around Applebee’s, a company that at the time had their headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. 

11. Episode 555: Why Is The Milk In The Back Of The Store

It’s no doubt that Planet Money does a great job analyzing hard-hitting economics topics and complex issues, but sometimes you just want a light, fascinating episode like this one from 2014. The common answer for the question is that because milk is so popular, store owners know customers will be willing to walk through an entire store to reach it, but in the episode food writer Michael Pollan and economist Russ Roberts learn there is much more behind the rationale than that.