Best Wharton Business Daily Podcasts (2025)

1
The Brutal Math of Caring for Aging Parents, with MarketWatch Columnist Beth Pinsker 1:02:42

2h ago1:02:42

1:02:42

#660: Caring for an aging parent can morph into a second full-time job, and even the most financially savvy adults get blindsided. Bank accounts freeze, home sales stall, and family savings disappear faster than anyone expects. In this episode, we dig into what really happens when you take over a parent’s financial life, from the first power of att…

1
Apps vs Models: Who Wins AI? 28:24

7m ago28:24

28:24

Today’s episode examines the core debate shaping the AI industry: whether application-layer companies can survive the pace and instability of the model layer. The discussion covers the arguments that apps can’t outrun rapid model shifts, the counter-case for deep vertical products, and what Cursor’s momentum reveals about where durable value might …

1
The Hidden Link Between Talent Shortages and Rising M&A Activity 10:43

4h ago10:43

10:43

Ezekiel Hernandez, Wharton Management Professor, explains new research co-authored with Britta Glennon revealing how limits in the H-1B visa program push companies toward targeted M&A activity as a strategic response to skilled labor shortages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
6 Things GPT-5.1 Does Better 25:32

2h ago25:32

25:32

NLW breaks down the surprise release of GPT-5.1 and why it feels like a more meaningful upgrade than expected. From sharper strategic thinking to better instruction following, improved writing, and a more capable “thinking” mode, today’s episode explores six areas where the new model clearly outperforms GPT-5. NLW also looks at how the community is…

1
Are World Models AI’s Next Big Frontier? 23:52

8h ago23:52

23:52

Today on the AI Daily Brief, NLW covers two stories that may signal a major shift in the AI landscape: Yann LeCun’s departure from Meta and Dr. Fei-Fei Li’s new argument that spatial intelligence and world models—not just LLMs—will define the next era of AI, exploring what world models actually are, why some researchers think they’re essential for …

1
James Patterson Shows Why Comfort Can Be a Trap 1:08:50

2d ago1:08:50

1:08:50

#659: Imagine that you’re at the absolute peak of your career. You’re the CEO of a prominent advertising company at the age of 36, but you feel like you’re driving in the wrong lane. It’s wrong.Then you make a hard career pivot and it works out beautifully.My guests today know exactly what that’s like. We’re joined by James Patterson, the author wh…

1
How Coinbase’s Expansion Reflects a Shifting Regulatory Climate in Crypto 11:02

1h ago11:02

11:02

Itay Goldstein, Wharton Professor of Economics and Finance, analyzes Coinbase’s $375 million acquisition of blockchain capital-raising platform Echo, exploring how reduced regulatory uncertainty, renewed interest in Initial Coin Offerings, and innovations like stablecoins are influencing the next stage of crypto market evolution. Hosted on Acast. S…

1
The Open Source AI Model Beating GPT-5 on Agents 23:56

1h ago23:56

23:56

Today on the AI Daily Brief, NLW explores the rise of Kimi K2 Thinking, a new open-source model from China that’s outperforming GPT-5 and Claude 4.5 Sonnet on agentic benchmarks—and doing it at a fraction of the cost. We’ll look at how this shift is changing the balance of power between closed and open models, why Silicon Valley startups are alread…

1
What Should the Government’s Role in AI Be? 27:11

5d ago27:11

27:11

As OpenAI’s “backstop” comments spark debate about bailouts, industrial policy, and the future of compute, NLW explores what the government’s role in AI should actually be. From OpenAI’s new “AI Progress and Recommendations” report to reactions from policymakers and economists, this episode breaks down how the politics of AI are heating up—and why …

1
A Framework for Choosing Winning AI Use Cases [Agent Readiness Part 3] 29:38

6d ago29:38

29:38

In the third and final episode of our Agent Readiness series, NLW and Nufar Gaspar dive into how to identify, prioritize, and measure AI use cases inside your company. They break down a practical framework for evaluating opportunities, balancing growth and efficiency initiatives, and managing your AI portfolio like an investment strategy. Plus, the…

1
The AI ROI Surprise: Wharton Finds 75% of Enterprises Seeing Positive ROI from AI 21:35

7d ago21:35

21:35

A major new study from Wharton finds that three out of four enterprises are already getting positive ROI from their AI investments — a far cry from the doom-and-gloom narratives of failed adoption. NLW breaks down the findings: how GenAI has moved from curiosity to core workflow, what use cases are driving measurable returns, and why 2026 may be th…

1
First Friday: When the Gov’t is Closed, Where Do We Find the Numbers? 37:21

8d ago37:21

37:21

#658: An unusual First Friday episode because we don't have a jobs report. However, we do know that in October, U.S. companies announced more job cuts in a single month than they have over any single month of the last 20 years. In other words, October was peak job cut month. By contrast, private payrolls, as reported by ADP, rose by 42,000 in Octob…

1
Understanding America’s $38 Trillion Debt and the Path Forward 13:07

4d ago13:07

13:07

Kent Smetters, Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy and Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, explains the economic realities behind the United States’ $38 trillion national debt, discussing options for increasing revenue, reforming entitlements, and fostering bipartisan approaches to secure the nation’s fiscal fut…

1
Why OpenAI’s CFO Just Sparked an AI Bailout Debate 25:00

9d ago25:00

25:00

After OpenAI’s CFO floated the idea of a U.S. government “backstop” for AI data center investments, backlash was swift — from finance leaders calling it a “pre-bailout bailout” to policy experts warning of regulatory capture. NLW breaks down the controversy, connects it to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s warning that “China will win the AI race,” and exp…

1
How Consulting Reveals the Real Pattern of AI Disruption 23:31

10d ago23:31

23:31

NLW shares 13 lessons from the consulting industry that expose how AI disruption really happens—not through mass extinction, but through transformation. From collapsing delivery costs and shifting client expectations to new capabilities and challenger firms on the rise, this episode explores why consulting is the perfect case study for understandin…

1
How Companies Are Adapting to the Generative AI Revolution 11:18

1d ago11:18

11:18

Stefano Puntoni, Wharton marketing professor and co-director of Wharton Human AI Research, discusses findings from a multi-year study on how companies are implementing generative AI, examining its impact on entry-level jobs, return on investment, and the growing intersection between human expertise and emerging technology. Hosted on Acast. See acas…

1
Q&A: Can You Really Beat the Market by Copying Members of Congress? 59:18

11d ago59:18

59:18

#657: This week, Paula and Joe dig into a listener’s question about ETFs that track the stock trades of U.S. politicians — including the Democratic “NANC” fund and its Republican counterpart “KRUZ.” They explore whether this strategy is smart investing or just expensive entertainment. Then, they shift gears to home ownership headaches. Another list…

1
Is OpenAI Becoming Too Big to Fail? 23:02

1d ago23:02

23:02

As OpenAI announces yet another mega deal—this time with Amazon—questions are growing about whether the company has become too big to fail. NLW unpacks Sam Altman’s viral response to investor skepticism, explores the math behind OpenAI’s $1.4 trillion in commitments, and looks at what “too big to fail” really means in an AI context. Plus, in the he…

1
RIP Vibe Coding. Feb 2025-Oct 2025. 40:31

12d ago40:31

40:31

With NLW currently on the road, he's joined in this conversation by Sean “Swyx” Wang — developer, writer, Latent Space host and newly joined member of Cognition. They explore how AI coding became 2025’s defining story, why “vibe coding” is ending (sort of), what comes next for developers, and how “Agent Labs” are reshaping the balance between model…

1
The 5 Biggest AI Stories to Watch in November 20:45

10d ago20:45

20:45

October was one of the biggest months yet in AI — from OpenAI’s nonstop product blitz to Google’s booming Gemini numbers, new robotics milestones, and the growing debate around an “AI bubble.” In this episode, NLW recaps the key developments from October and shares the five stories to watch in November — including whether Gemini 3 is finally coming…

1
So Far, AI Can Only Automate 2.5% of Jobs 21:54

15d ago21:54

21:54

That is, according to a new study designed to how well AI agents can perform real-world freelance projects. The results show just how far full automation remains. NLW breaks down the new “Remote Labor Index,” how it compares to OpenAI’s GDP-V metric, and what it reveals about the difference between automating tasks versus entire jobs. Plus: Amazon’…

1
Would You Shock a Stranger? What a 1960s Experiment Reveals About Your Money Decisions 1:28:17

15d ago1:28:17

1:28:17

#656: What would you do if someone in authority told you to do something that felt wrong? Most of us like to think we'd speak up, push back, stand our ground. But research tells a very different story. In fact, when Yale researchers conducted a famous experiment in the 1960s, they found that 65% of people would administer what they believed to be d…

1
How Fed Policy and Trade Talks Shape Market Expectations 11:59

15d ago11:59

11:59

Jeremy Siegel, Emeritus Professor of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, analyzes the Federal Reserve’s latest rate decisions, the evolving U.S. labor market amid AI-driven changes, and the global economic implications of renewed U.S.-China trade negotiations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information…

1
Why OpenAI’s $1 Trillion IPO Can’t Come Soon Enough 25:23

16d ago25:23

25:23

A new Reuters report says OpenAI is considering an IPO that could raise at least $60 billion—potentially as early as late next year or in 2027. The move would mark one of the biggest market debuts in history and signal that the company’s capital needs have outgrown private markets. NLW breaks down why going public might be inevitable, what it would…

1
OpenAI is Now Officially a For-Profit Company 22:25

14d ago22:25

22:25

OpenAI has officially completed its long-discussed conversion to a for-profit structure, cementing Microsoft’s 27% stake, creating one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations, and locking in a new governance framework that could reshape how AI companies balance mission and profit. NLW break down what the deal means for OpenAI, investors, a…

1
Where AI Spend is Already ROI Positive 21:57

8d ago21:57

21:57

While most companies are still trying to measure the impact of their AI deployments, a growing number are already seeing returns. In today’s AI Daily Brief, NLW looks at new data showing where GenAI is ROI-positive — from marketing and media generation to enterprise productivity gains. Plus, updates on Amazon’s latest layoffs, Anthropic’s new Claud…

1
NBA Gambling Scandal Highlights Integrity Risks in Sports Betting 13:07

17d ago13:07

13:07

Rob DiGisi, Lecturer in Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss how recent gambling indictments involving NBA figures reveal the complex intersection of legality, ethics, and integrity in professional sports—and why issues like prop bets, player vulnerability, and federal cooperation continue to shape the …

1
Q&A: How to Choose Between Financial Freedom and a First Home 1:14:26

18d ago1:14:26

1:14:26

#655: What would you do if, at the age of 23, you found yourself with $70,000 a year leftover after expenses? Would you pour everything into retirement and coast to financial independence, or stockpile a down payment before life gets pricier with kids, a mortgage, and maintenance costs? This week, we dive into that real-life dilemma and explore how…

1
The Surprising Way AI Expands Markets Instead of Capturing Them 30:20

19d ago30:20

30:20

AI music startup Suno has quietly become one of the most successful companies in the entire generative AI space — $150 million in ARR, 60% margins, and millions of users creating songs for everything from podcasts and ads to lullabies and dinner parties. In today’s episode, NLW explores how Suno’s rise reveals a bigger story: AI isn’t just automati…

1
Workers Are Excited About AI Agents — So Why Are Companies Screwing It Up? 22:02

20d ago22:02

22:02

A new EY study shows workers are eager to embrace AI agents — 84% say they’re ready, and most expect agents to boost productivity and work-life balance. But companies are failing to match that enthusiasm with clear communication, effective training, and updated management approaches. NLW breaks down the data and explores what it really takes to bui…

1
Why Data is the Biggest Barrier to AI Readiness (And What to Do About It) 26:19

21d ago26:19

26:19

In part two of our Agent Readiness series, Superintelligent Head of Research Nufar joins the AI Daily Brief to discuss the single biggest blocker we see across thousands of enterprise audits—data and technology readiness. This Operator's Cut-style episode unpack the three archetypes of companies that get stuck, from the “magpies” chasing shiny pilo…

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