The Indicator from Planet Money

by NPR
8,726
Business #22

A little show about big ideas. From the people who make Planet Money, The Indicator helps you make sense of what's happening today. It's a quick hit of insight into work, business, the economy, and everything else. Listen weekday afternoons.

Try Planet Money+! a new way to support the show you love, get a sponsor-free feed of the podcast, *and* get access to bonus content. You'll also get access to The Indicator and Planet Money Summer School, both without interruptions. sign up at plus.npr.org/planetmoney

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Recent Reviews
  • realitystrikesback
    You literally steal our tax dollars for the leftist propaganda
    Defund NPR immediately
  • zmoney221
    Pure propaganda
    Next time you feel the need to put out another episode, ask yourselves if it’s a public good or if you just like hearing yourselves talk.
  • Rumboogy33
    Darian Woods’ voice is off-putting
    Darian Woods’ voice is off-putting
  • ae1429
    20% ads
    Nice show, but it’s <10 min with 2+ minutes of ads.
  • Unbias, valuable show
    Unbiased
    what I really like about planet money, specifically the indicator is they focus on the hot issues affecting the economy and provide valuable insight with opinions from both sides. The Rhino Horn story really exemplifies this, they had both people who thought synthetic rhino horns would be a really great thing, and others including from both economists and environmentalists who argued that it would harm wild rhinos. Fantastic reporting, fantastic show! All the haters should actually try listening to an episode; the best part is they are usually super short! Some of these reviews are wild!
  • That nerdy kid
    Stop hating
    Stop hating on the indicator. Just because you’re a Republican doesn’t mean you have to hate on a bunch of NPR shows!!!😡👎👎👎
  • sabbyness
    All Fizz
    The show is all fizz and noise and much less thoughtful reporting and insight.
  • Liberal Austin Hawk
    Needs some adult supervision +1
    The recent episode of this show jackknifed into the end of Planet Money seemed a bit uninformed at first. As it went on “uninformed” grew to wildly ignorant. (*form a bit back) These guys are cute but shame NPR’s good name. I feel a lot of the terrible-ness is about the short format, but many podcasts keep things short and complete. The Indicator picks one or two views on a topic and blithely ignore the rest.
  • jdma3
    Immature hosts
    Focus more on being cutesy than quality content. it’s embarrassing how cringey the show has become over the years.
  • Wetland Ecologist
    They report my reality
    As a millennial who has been personally and financially effected by literally every single mini-recesssion, inflation event, employment dip, and housing bubble or boom, I appreciate the transparency and reporting about my lived economic experience.
  • I have 5stars
    Ulaila makes a song
    Ulaila has an amazing new song to play on the Radio.
  • d196196
    Uploaded a broken episode
    Did you really just release a broken episode and leave it up for multiple days
  • crackpotfan
    Quality content but subscriber edition is a scam
    I love this podcast and PlanetMoney. I subscribed to the premium edition to go ad free. Unfortunately there are still ads when I listen. Even worse, now when I listen to PlanetMoney, they upload a completely different show (FreshAir) and I have to listen on Spotify instead. Such a shame as I love the content.
  • ncDino
    Panama Canal show
    Wailin, Patty, love the show, listen to it weekly! But on the Panama Canal show, you didn’t explain the obvious question, if they’re running out of fresh water, why not use the sea water to help lift ships in the locks?! Seems like there would be an endless supply of sea water?! Thanks I’ll take my answer offline! 🤓
  • KP20007
    Short and sweet!
    Really interesting.
  • Littleroundhouse
    Just so-so
    Positives: short episodes that touch on relevant & timely subjects Big con: Please hosts, stop finding the need to laugh or chuckle at every piece of news delivered. I love a light hearted tone and the world is heavy, but laughing at every prospect of disheartening economic news that affects families/individuals is incredibly annoying- it’s not time to deliver a tight-5 every episode. Ugh.
  • listener_kc
    Taking away previously free episodes to move them to subscribers only is annoying
    I’ve been listening to The Indicator from the very beginning. I love this podcast. HOWEVER, I am extremely annoyed that now that they have a subscription option, they have gone back and removed access to episodes that were released prior to the subscription option. I had saved episodes removed from my downloads. If you want to create the incentive to pay for the subscription, add value with new bonus episodes, don’t yank away episodes that you already gave away for free without telling your listeners. That’s shady and annoying. Because this podcast is so good otherwise, I’ve only taken off one star, but I feel manipulated and lied to.
  • CaptainCoypu
    One of my go to podcasts
    While I enjoy basically every episode of the indicator, I look forward every month to jobs Friday and the Bee Gees! What a way to make economics, fun, accessible, and informative. Thank you!
  • Johnodon
    Spreading confusion about Bitcoin
    These fools said Bitcoin isn’t a currency because you can’t buy a bagel at the local coffee shop in America. By that definition, most foreign currencies don’t pass the test. My local coffee shop doesn’t accept the Japanese Yen. So I guess Japanese money isn’t real? Why does this podcast hand the microphone to the uninformed like Ben McKenzie instead of the well informed like Jack Mallers? Because they don’t want you to exit the ponzi scam called the US Dollar.
  • Swim#1
    Love this podcast
    Been listening to this podcast for years and I love it! I always learn something I didn’t know in ten minutes or less. The hosts are funny and interesting and I always recommend it to my friends and family.
  • Horton McKinney
    Bias
    You all used to cover true economics and the free market. Now you just cover bias unfounded theories that defy true economics. Has gone to the garbage.
  • J. Tie
    Focusing on fringe economics
    I used to really enjoy listening to this podcast until the episode on “greedflation”—company greed causing inflation in the economy. Although the hosts note this is not a mainstream view held by most economists, the content just irked me. At least interview another economist to provide the opposing viewpoint and provided a fairer representation. As an economist, I would say the story of inflation is far more nuanced and complex than some of your episodes would suggest. Do the world some justice by not explaining inflation dynamics in a way that just confirms your priors.
  • Pete12321.
    Bad data
    Usually I’m a huge fan and a daily listener. But I don't tolerate Bad data from the data geeks. Joking about shortening showers on a Colorado river story is the problem. 79% of the water goes to ag and farming. Pretending an individual can solve the problem is the problem, and I don’t go to the news to be part of the problem. 1 star.
  • raven1537
    Woke NPR
    This state-affiliated podcast used to be pretty good. Sadly it’s become just another intellectually simple podcast that u would expect from NPR. 90% of the podcasts revolve around climate change, sexism, or racism. Well, perceived climate change, sexism and racism. According to this podcast climate change is responsible for literally every single negative thing that happens in your life. Netflix doesn’t have anything good on this month? Climate change. No more chicken fries at Burger King? Climate change. Maybe racism too though….
  • LeftyBS
    I just can’t anymore
    This show used to have lots of interesting information but it’s turned into a left wing talking point show. Imagine being dumb enough to think forest fires are caused by global warming.
  • Phillingroovy
    State Affiliated Media
    The Biden climate episode was a one-sided fluff piece. I’ll give 2 stars because it was quite informative if you’re a Democrat/climate activist.
  • Lns1212
    Fact check your guests.
    The most recent SVB episode on the “failures of supervision and regulation” are almost entirely your guest’s opinion and a contortion of the facts. Really poor reporting.
  • moving on-missu
    So spotty
    No economics here just poorly written opinion. Wait there was one good one. Then just trash. Sadly the show has lost its way with all the host changes.
  • Nick McNulty
    Declining in quality, still worth a listen
    The show has certainly struggled to find its footing in the post-Stacey and Cardiff era. It's difficult to lose the hosts who made the show what it is, but the Indicator has retained the spirit of short, topical, informational episodes. Whereas the show used to be a must listen, now I find myself skipping episodes after a minute or so. This is primarily due to the new hosts, whose giggling, bad attempts at humor, choppy dialogue, and bad line reading pull me out of the show. Adrian Ma? You're a total pro. But the other contributors to the show have made the Indicator go from "must-listen" to a "we'll see."
  • ashley2341
    Love your show!
    We listen to your show most days on our short drive to school. Our 4 kids ages 15,14,12 and 10 really enjoy The Indicator and it encourages great conversations. Keep up the great work!
  • stoltzbt
    The Long Slide
    I used to really love this show, Cardiff and Stacey were awesome and really seemed to bring a balanced perspective to the content. With the host change ups the last year or so, it seems the show is slowly being drawn into the NPR black hole ethos. More and more left wing pontificating and less fact telling. I literally never skipped an episode with Stacey and Cardiff, now I find myself skipping more and more often. I can read the title and get the agenda; sad but I suppose things always change. Still subscribed, but on my way out the door.
  • Savetheindicator
    Great show that is slowly declining in quality.
    I used to love the show when it first premiered and would likely give it 5 stars. Over the past year or two as they have switched hosts the quality has slowly declined. Too much attempted comedy from people that are not very funny. Stick to the classic story telling format instead of the weird voices and theatrics that do little to further the concept or point.
  • Sam, longtime fan
    Fun, informative, and to-the-point
    Want to stay up with the latest economic news and trends, but not in a dry or dusty format? This is the podcast for you. The short length and breezy tone are just right to keep the listenership engaged on all kinds of topics, ones that would put you to sleep in other contexts — highly technical ones such as yield curve inversions, quantitative easing, and job reports. The most fun you will have listening to an economics podcast.
  • Andieo1997
    The Best Finance Podcast!
    I just finished listening to the latest episode of The Indicator and I have to say, it's one of the best finance podcasts out there. The show does an excellent job of breaking down complex financial concepts and making them easy to understand. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone looking to learn more about the latest trends in the world of finance!
  • Dg22334123566
    Not long enough
    Has some good content but 10 mins is way too short an episode.
  • PaulRTG
    Getting “cutesy”
    Please stick to what you do best— without the clever cutesy intros or themes. I have neither the time nor interest for those. Your core content; that’s why I listen.
  • not that doctor
    The most fun you can have in economics
    A wonderful short form Econ podcast. Always easy to grasp and generally clever, quite likable hosts, and relevant to what is happening now. The regular episodes like jobs Friday sort of anchor the show. But you can also get an irreverent “macroeconomic sea shanty”. I never miss it.
  • Definitely download Mint
    It truly wonderful show
    I am constantly amazed with the creativity, good energy, and insights that the show provides. Would strongly recommend subscribing. 10/10
  • classic wranglee
    Downhill. Woken. Unsubscribe
    The program was light and fun. That’s gone. The new cast are all libs. They push the woke agenda. Social justice warriors with the bubble perspective that comes from living in cramped in NYC housing and working in a decidedly leftist beehive that is NPR. Classic wrangler
  • Gnorn123
    Worth a listen
    Topics are usually reasonably interesting. Length is very short. Discussion is pitched at around the level of a high school business or economics student. As for the audio quality, it captures the vocal fry in all its glory.
  • User10485
    What’s with all the hate?
    The show is well-researched, lighthearted, and fun. Short form edutainment at its finest.
  • MarcAlexander7
    Subscribers only now?
    So the last episode in my feed was Friday’s Jobs report and now the only new one is Monday’s and only for those with a subscription. Is this podcast now for subscribers only?
  • AmiFidel
    Help, somebody help!!!
    NPR people! Please make Wailin Wang stop her horrible vocal fry at the end of sentences! It’s like when we hear the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard, or a knife scratching a plate, or a piece of chalk scraping a blackboard. It is horrible!
  • wjess77
    Great when it was about economics
    Now they’re just saying words with no actual contents, nothing to learn here
  • Dshigmo
    Sad to see
    Wow, I just listened to the 9/30/22 episode, and I was shocked to see how bad this podcast has become. It sounds like a bunch of freshmen econ majors. When discussing 2022 markets they stated that “most of us have probably heard of the S&P 500”. Was that serious? When discussing the Porsche IPO, they concluded that the leveling off of stock price after the initial surge was another sign of the uncertainty in the markets. What type of analysis is that based on? One of the hosts said “like” so many times in one portion I had to turn it off.
  • BK7546
    Loved, but on the downhill slide…
    Great concept, loved at one time sadly the newer hosts are not capable of separating their political beliefs from their reporting.
  • Kjsalmon
    Love it
    I listen everyday! Love the storytelling and interviews. I learn something everyday.
  • Timcolumns
    1 star from 5
    Shell of its former self sadly, should be rebranded
  • CQ CPANYC
    So woke
    I can’t stand this show anymore, after year's following this one, I have to draw a full stop. This is the last NPR program that I kepted for years. It has became so unbearable. The world gets messed up with programs like NPR. Stop fund it with taxpayers’ money. Shame of people who are working for creating fake news. Good bye NPR!
  • KnowledgeCast
    Can’t enunciate consumer
    Terrible pronunciation of basic English words.
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