Capitalisn't

We investigate how capitalism is—or more often isn’t—working in our world today. Hosted by economist Luigi Zingales and business journalist Bethany McLean, our podcast explains why capitalism can go wrong and what we can do to fix it. Send us your questions or comments by emailing capitalisntpod@gmail.com Cover photo attributions: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/research/stigler/about/capitalisnt.

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Every guest on Capitalisn't

120 guests, ranked by how many people never want them back.

1. —
   Vivek Ramaswamy

   The "Woke" Capitalism Game With Vivek Ramaswamy · Nov 2022

   0 votes

   Never again
2. —
   Ray Madoff

   How To Fix The American Tax System - ft. Ray Madoff · Jan 2026

   0 votes

   Never again
3. —
   Kathryn Paige Harden

   Meritocracy: The Genetic Lottery with Kathryn Paige Harden · Jan 2022

   0 votes

   Never again
4. —
   Tyler Cowen

   Regulating Facebook and Google Pt 3: Tyler Cowen Rebuttals · Jun 2019

   0 votes

   Never again
5. —
   Jimmy Wales

   You Can't Buy Trust - ft. Wikipedia Co-Founder Jimmy Wales · May 2026

   0 votes

   Never again
6. —
   Jonathan Haidt

   The Economic Costs of a Phone-Based Childhood, with Jonathan Haidt · Jul 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
7. —
   Niall Ferguson

   The Fertility Crisis: Capitalism's Next Challenge, with Sir Niall Ferguson · Nov 2024

   0 votes

   Never again
8. —
   Matthew Yglesias

   Why Matthew Yglesias Is Skeptical Of Anti-Monopoly Policies · Dec 2025

   0 votes

   Never again
9. —
   Kara Swisher

   The Power Of Access In Journalism And Academia With Kara Swisher · Apr 2021

   0 votes

   Never again
10. —
    Anand Giridharadas

    When the Profit Motive Kills With Anand Giridharadas · Feb 2021

    0 votes

    Never again
11. —
    Matthew Desmond

    Why America's Poor Remain Poor, With Matthew Desmond · Jun 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
12. —
    Ben Smith

    The New Business Of News, with Ben Smith · Mar 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
13. —
    David Autor

    Can Labor Markets Save Capitalism? With David Autor · May 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
14. —
    David Leonhardt

    Capitalism-Was: What Happened to the American Dream? With David Leonhardt · Jun 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
15. —
    Eric Posner

    How Antitrust Failed Workers With Eric Posner · Nov 2021

    0 votes

    Never again
16. —
    Glory Liu

    Is Everyone Getting Adam Smith Wrong? - ft. Glory Liu · Mar 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
17. —
    Joel Mokyr

    What a Nobel Laureate Fears More Than AI - ft. Joel Mokyr · Nov 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
18. —
    Leah Boustan

    Immigration in America: Data and Myths, Revisited With Leah Boustan · Jul 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
19. —
    Lina Khan

    Lina Khan's Vision of Capitalism · May 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
20. —
    Mariana Mazzucato

    Can Capitalism Serve the Common Good? - ft. Mariana Mazzucato · Sep 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
21. —
    Mike Isaac

    Silicon Valley’s Corporate Culture Problem With Mike Isaac · Dec 2019

    0 votes

    Never again
22. —
    Morton Schapiro

    The Breaking Point Of Democracy With Morton Schapiro and Gary Morson · Aug 2021

    0 votes

    Never again
23. —
    Patrick Deneen

    A Conservative Critique Of Capitalism, With Patrick Deneen · Sep 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
24. —
    Richard Thaler

    Nobel Economist Reveals Why Economic Models Keep Failing Us, ft. Richard Thaler · Oct 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
25. —
    Tim Wu

    Are Big Tech’s Regulators “Cowards”? ft. Tim Wu · Nov 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
26. —
    Zeke Faux

    The Capitalisn't of Crypto: SBF and Beyond, with Zeke Faux · Nov 2023

    0 votes

    Never again
27. —
    Cory Doctorow

    How to Stop “Ensh*ttification” Before It Kills the Internet - ft. Cory Doctorow · 2 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again
28. —
    Daron Acemoglu

    Can Liberalism Survive This Kind of Capitalism? - ft. Daron Acemoglu · 2 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again
29. —
    Francis Fukuyama

    Liberalism And Its Discontents With Francis Fukuyama + The Baby Formula Shortage · 2 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again
30. —
    Lawrence Lessig

    The Case That Could End Super PACs - ft. Larry Lessig · Oct 2026

    0 votes

    Never again
31. —
    Matt Taibbi

    Manufacturing Dissent With Matt Taibbi · Jan 2021

    0 votes

    Never again
32. —
    Michael Sandel

    The Cost of Meritocracy With Michael Sandel · Aug 2021

    0 votes

    Never again
33. —
    Sal Khan

    Should Chatbots Teach Our Children? With Khan Academy CEO Sal Khan · Aug 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
34. —
    Mervyn King

    He Foresaw Inflation. Here’s What He Expects Next. Feat. Lord Mervyn King · 2 episodes

    0 votes

    Never again
35. —
    Albert Wenger

    Capitalism In Our Attention Economy With Albert Wenger · Sep 2022

    0 votes

    Never again
36. —
    Arvind Narayanan

    What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About AI, with Arvind Narayanan · Oct 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
37. —
    Cliff Asness

    Why Cliff Asness Believes Markets Are Getting Dumber · Jun 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
38. —
    Dan Rasmussen

    Trump's Great Private Equity Bailout, with Dan Rasmussen · Aug 2025

    0 votes

    Never again
39. —
    Joseph Stiglitz

    Joseph Stiglitz's Vision of a New Progressive Capitalism · Jun 2024

    0 votes

    Never again
40. —
    Marion Nestle

    The Money Behind Ultra-Processed Foods, with Marion Nestle · May 2024

    0 votes

    Never again