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The Indicator from Planet Money

The Indicator from Planet Money

By: NPR
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A bite-sized show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening in today's economy. It's a quick hit of insight into money, work, and business. Monday through Friday, in 10 minutes or less.
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Episodes
  • What Iran teaches us about why wars start

    What Iran teaches us about why wars start
    Jun 30 2026
    If war is so costly, why do we keep fighting them? We dig into the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza to understand the incentives that lead countries into violence. Today on the show, the five factors that lead to war.

    Chris Blattman’s book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — The new economic arms race

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    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

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    10 mins
  • What you should know about your student loans

    What you should know about your student loans
    Jun 29 2026
    For many of the 43 million Americans with federal student loans, July 1 is a day to mark on the calendar. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is introducing stricter borrowing caps and new repayment plans. Today on the show, we talk with NPR’s Education Reporter Cory Turner about the impact.

    Fact checking by Sierra Juarez.

    Your Next Listen
    — Will new loan limits lower the cost of grad school?

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
    — Buy the Planet Money book
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?

    GLP-1 and women, the AI office boom, and RTO: CEO ego?
    Jun 26 2026
    It’s Indicators of the Week (now on YouTube!).

    On today’s episode: The effect of GLP-1s on women and the workplace; NYC’s once flailing office space is BACK; your boss asking you to come back to the office miiiight be a narcissist.

    Fact checking by Emma Ferrara and Corey Bridges.

    Your Next Listen
    —Why GLP-1s aren't lowering employers' costs

    Connect with The Indicator
    — Sign up for The Indicator’s brand new newsletter
    — Find our socials, YouTube and more!
    — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+


    See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

    NPR Privacy Policy
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
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