Best Michael Sumner Podcasts (2025)

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With Andrew Farago: Author of Snoopy: The Story of My Life 1:10:24

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1d ago1:10:24

1:10:24

Today, the gang welcomes Andrew Farago: Curator of the Cartoon Art Museum, and author of several books on comics and two on Peanuts in particular. We discuss Andrew’s approach to crafting Snoopy’s “autobiography,” his love of comics in general, and his work on properties from Dune to the Ninja Turtles. Andrew's book and other museum events are avai…

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A Mind-Blowing Way of Looking at Math (with David Bessis) 1:21:53

2d ago1:21:53

1:21:53

What if math isn't about grinding through equations, but about training your intuition and changing how your brain works? Mathematician and author David Bessis tells EconTalk's Russ Roberts that the secret of mathematics isn't logic--it's the way we learn to see. He explains why math books aren't meant to be read like novels, how great mathematicia…

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A Real-Time Radio Reenactment Of John Brown’s Raid 2:56

3d ago2:56

2:56

Send us a text Step into the roar of 1859 as we stage a real-time radio reenactment of John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. We don’t narrate from a safe distance; we drop you into the town as telegraph wires snap, church bells turn to alarms, and the first shots streak over the Potomac. The result is a tense, immersive experience that reveals how a…

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Phantom On The Prairie Ditch 35:13

7d ago35:13

35:13

Send us a text The prairie doesn’t forget—and it won’t let us forget either. We follow a chilling thread from a 96-mile irrigation scheme called the Eureka Canal to a vanished laborer whose story was buried in snow, silence, and someone else’s balance sheet. What begins as a Halloween ghost story widens into a study of hubris, place, and the quiet …

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Twenty Years of Freakonomics (with Stephen Dubner) 1:42:44

9d ago1:42:44

1:42:44

Quantitative, contrarian, and nuanced: these are the hallmarks of the Freakonomics approach. Hear journalist and podcaster Stephen Dubner speak with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the 20th anniversary of the popular-economics book Dubner co-authored with Steven Levitt. They discuss how the book came to be, how the journey changed Dubner's life, and …

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Wild West Podcast: Halloween Ghost Stories 1:32

11d ago1:32

1:32

Send us a text "Howdy, partners! Gather 'round the campfire because The Wild West Podcast is taking you on a haunting adventure this Halloween with our special episode, "Ghost Stories of the Wild West!" Prepare for chilling tales of spectral gunslingers and lost souls echoing across the plains. Discover legends and true encounters from this untamed…

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The Forgotten Grave Of Ed Masterson 28:21

12d ago28:21

28:21

Send us a text The wind on the Kansas plains doesn’t just rattle old storefronts; it carries the names we’ve let disappear. We retrace the final patrol of City Marshal Ed Masterson, shot along Dodge City’s infamous deadline in 1878, and follow the paper-thin trail of his remains from Fort Dodge to the overgrown ruins of Prairie Grove to the tidy ro…

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With Paige Braddock, Creative Director Emeritus for the Schulz Studio 1:09:55

16d ago1:09:55

1:09:55

We are thrilled to welcome Paige Braddock, the Creative Director Emeritus for the Schulz Studio. Hired by Charles Schulz himself as Creative Director in 1999, Paige is also the talented cartoonist behind Jane’s World, Peanut, Butter, & Crackers, and more. Paige recommends the book Love Letters to Jane's World as a place to start. https://janesworld…

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The Magic of Tokyo (with Joe McReynolds) 1:09:23

16d ago1:09:23

1:09:23

What drives the seeming relentless dynamism of Tokyo? Is there something special about Japanese culture? Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo, argues that the secret to Tokyo's energy and attractiveness as a place to live and visit comes from policies that allow Tokyo to emerge from the bottom up. Post-war black markets evolved into today's …

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Night Ride to Fort Sumner 11:25

20d ago11:25

11:25

Send us a text A contract to feed a frontier post shouldn’t have ended at a river cave, but the Pecos has a way of bending plans. We head out with Oliver Loving and W.J. Wilson on a night-run mission to Fort Sumner that turns into a standoff against a swelling war party, where ground, grit, and a few feet of brush decide the line between life and l…

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Scott Sumner & Matthew Hartz: Contest Memories - Fiddle Legends Episode 6 1:17:46

22d ago1:17:46

1:17:46

In this episode, National Champion fiddler Aarun Carter sits down with Scott Sumner and Matthew Hartz to revisit the heart of a fading era — the golden days of the Weiser National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest. They share stories of late-night jams, mentors like Benny Thomasson and Joe Sites, and the friendships that have carried Texas-style fiddling t…

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Sittiin’ in the Mailbox #1 14:50

23d ago14:50

14:50

By Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz, Liz Sumner

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The Invisible Hierarchies that Rule Our World (with Toby Stuart) 1:13:15

23d ago1:13:15

1:13:15

Status isn't fixed; it's transferred and "bestowed," shaping who gets resources, attention, and opportunity. So argues author Toby Stuart of UC Berkeley in his book, Anointed. He and EconTalk's Russ Roberts explore why hierarchies persist--reducing conflict, allocating scarce resources, and curating our overwhelming choices--and how endorsements, b…

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Secrets Beneath the Limestone: The Haunted Legacy of Dodge City’s Home of Stone 34:27

26d ago34:27

34:27

Send us a text A limestone mansion built to defy the prairie became a vessel for sorrow—and then a sanctuary. We take you inside Dodge City’s Home of Stone, from John Mueller’s audacious rise and the black walnut staircase that flaunted prosperity, to the winter they called the White Death that buried a cattle empire under ice. Amid ruin, another s…

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Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown! 1:25:13

28d ago1:25:13

1:25:13

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, Michael, Harold, and Jimmy each pick their top ten Peanuts strips of all time! Who picks what? Will one character dominate? One Decade? Listen to find out what is the toppermost of the poppermost in Peanuts five decade run of brilliance. You Tube interview Jimmy mentions: https://youtu.be/s_vmm4JW61U?si…

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Eating with Intelligence (with Julia Belluz) 1:05:49

1M ago1:05:49

1:05:49

Losing weight should be simple: eat less, exercise more. But according to author and health journalist Julia Belluz, it's complicated. Listen as Belluz talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about her new book, Food Intelligence. Belluz argues that a calorie is pretty much a calorie whether it's carbs or fat. Keeping calories under control is often har…

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The Sand Creek Betrayal: America's Darkest Hour on the Frontier 26:04

1M ago26:04

26:04

Send us a text November 29, 1864 dawned cold on the Colorado plains as Cheyenne and Arapaho families slept peacefully under an American flag—a gift promising protection. By nightfall, over 200 Native Americans lay dead in what would become one of the most shameful episodes in American history. The Sand Creek Massacre didn't happen in isolation. It …

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Preview: Jimmy Gownley’s Dumb Ideas 1:00:49

1M ago1:00:49

1:00:49

Please enjoy this special full-length preview of Jimmy’s new podcast. It is available on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. http://gvillecomics.substack.comBy Jimmy Gownley, Michael Cohen, Harold Buchholz, Liz Sumner

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Steven Pinker on Common Knowledge 1:23:20

1M ago1:23:20

1:23:20

Why are Super Bowl ads so good for launching certain kinds of new products? Why do we all drive on the same side of the road? And why, despite laughing and crying together, do we often misread what others think? According to bestselling author and Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, it all comes down to common knowledge, or the phenomenon that happ…

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A conversation with Jeff Sumner & Michael Uribes of “44: The Obama Musical” (September 12, 2025) 1:10:19

1M ago1:10:19

1:10:19

A conversation with Jeff Sumner & Michael Uribes of “44: The Obama Musical” (September 12, 2025) “44” is playing at The Studebaker Theater (410 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago IL 60605) now through September 21, 2025 And The Daryl Roth Theatre (101 East 15th Street- 4th Floor, New York, NY 10003) October 14-December 7, 2025 #44themusical #chicago #studeba…

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What Lingers Behind Those Two-Foot Limestone Walls Will Chill You 3:05

1M ago3:05

3:05

Send us a text Uncover the chilling mystery that lurks beneath Dodge City's storied past. While gunfighters and cattle drives typically dominate Wild West lore, a different kind of legend has quietly persisted for generations – the haunting of the Mueller Schmidt house. The Stone House stands as an architectural anomaly on the Kansas plains. Built …

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Beyond the Narrative: Jeff Broome Challenges What We Know About Sand Creek 23:55

1M ago23:55

23:55

Send us a text Gold rushes change landscapes—both physical and human. When 100,000 settlers poured into Colorado Territory following the 1858 discovery of gold, they unknowingly set in motion a chain of events that would culminate in one of America's most controversial military actions. The newcomers' wagons followed water sources critical to both …

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Understanding Snoopy: Episode 2 - A Few Lines Expressing Joy 1:11:09

1M ago1:11:09

1:11:09

Our season-long look at the world famous beagle continues. This week we discuss Snoopy’s metamorphosis from cute puppy to banana nose anarchist to doghouse philosopher. Along the way, we discuss evolving art styles, Ninja High School, and Jeff Smith’s Bone. The Buzzfeed quiz we talk about: https://www.buzzfeed.com/appletv/this-quiz-will-determine-w…

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How Did America Build the Arsenal of Democracy? (with Brian Potter) 1:05:05

1M ago1:05:05

1:05:05

American manufacturing of aircraft during WWII dwarfed that of its enemies. By the end of the war, an American assembly line was producing a B-24 bomber in less than an hour. But that success was far from inevitable. Structural engineer and writer Brian Potter speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the logistical challenges of ramping up product…

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How Teams Succeed (with Colin Fisher) 1:03:22

2M ago1:03:22

1:03:22

What makes some groups thrive while others crash and burn? According to organizational-behavior scholar Colin Fisher, the real villains are rarely individuals, but dysfunctional teams and organizations. Listen as he and EconTalk's Russ Roberts discuss the reasons for the free-rider problem and the importance of meaningful, well-defined tasks to inc…

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Bassett of the Badlands: The Fearless First Marshal of Dodge City! 35:53

2M ago35:53

35:53

Send us a text Charlie Bassett may be the most important Wild West lawman you've never heard of. Before Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson became household names, they wore their first badges under his leadership in Dodge City, Kansas—a place so notoriously lawless it earned the nickname "the wickedest little town in America." Born in Massachusetts in 18…

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Unpacking Peanuts - Fun Size 1:49

2M ago1:49

1:49

Here's a short teaser for Unpacking Peanuts, the show where 3 lifelong cartoonists take an in-depth look at the comic strip masterpiece, Peanuts. Jimmy Gownley, Harold Buchholz and Michael Cohen examine the complete run of the comic by Charles M. Schulz from 1950 all the way up to the year 2000. Plus special guests and bonuses. Unpacking Peanuts is…

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Understanding Snoopy: Episode 1 - Super Minimalist Snoopy 1:31:59

2M ago1:31:59

1:31:59

We’re back! And we kick off our new era with a season-long examination of the greatest comics character ever, and everyone’s favorite flying ace/grocery store clerk, Snoopy! In this episode we examine Snoopy’s origins as an unassuming little puppy, in an unassuming little comic strip. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts i…

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Humans Are Overrated (with Christine Webb) 1:10:53

2M ago1:10:53

1:10:53

Are humans the most intelligent species, or just the most arrogant? NYU primatologist Christine Webb, author of The Arrogant Ape, believes that human exceptionalism is a myth that does more harm than good. Listen as she speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about how research has skewed our understanding of animals' capabilities, the surprising inner…

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Hemingway, Love, and War (with David Wyatt) 1:06:28

2M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

What can Ernest Hemingway teach us today about the morality of war, the eternal and transient nature of love, and how to write a masterpiece? Listen as author and teacher David Wyatt talks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about Hemingway's epic For Whom the Bell Tolls. Topics include Hemingway's role in the wars of the 20th century, the book's context …

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With Nat Gertler, Eisner-Winning Author and Comics Historian 1:02:36

2M ago1:02:36

1:02:36

Eisner-winning author and comics historian Nat Gertler is here to talk about his long association with Peanuts, preserving obscure Schulz art and comics, and why these characters still resonate within culture. Nat is the author of Charles M. Schulz: The Art and Life of the Peanuts Creator in 100 Objects as well as The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Crea…

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Tim Ferriss on Tim Ferriss (and much much more) 2:06:49

2M ago2:06:49

2:06:49

Cold plunges. Exogenous ketones. Pu-erh tea--but hold the breakfast: it's all par for the morning routine, at least if you're entrepreneur, self-experimenter, and king of the lifehacks, Tim Ferriss. From how he manages the challenges of his celebrity to how he manages to stay in great shape; how he does--and when he doesn't--harness the power of AI…

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Learning to Think Like Someone Else (with David Marquet) 1:03:46

3M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Former submarine commander David Marquet joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to explore how distancing--thinking like someone else, somewhere else, or sometime else--can unlock better choices in business and life. They talk about leadership without giving orders, how to empower teams, and what it means to see yourself as a coach rather than a boss. Along…

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The Mysterious Life of Dutch Henry Borne 27:53

3M ago27:53

27:53

Send us a text The tangled web of myth and reality surrounding Dutch Henry Borne reveals a captivating window into the American frontier experience. Our exploration of this enigmatic outlaw's life continues as we examine the controversial claims and counterclaims about one of the West's most fascinating characters. Dutch Henry's transformation from…

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Wrap-up Season 12 - No One Shook Hands and Said Good Game 1:13:24

3M ago1:13:24

1:13:24

We wrap up the Great Peanuts Re-Read and reflect back on the fun and challenges of reading all 17,897 Peanuts comic strips. Then we discuss the death of Charles Schulz, the continued impact of Peanuts, and what’s up next. Plus: Rory goes to college. Transcript available at UnpackingPeanuts.com Unpacking Peanuts is copyright Jimmy Gownley, Michael C…

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Let Me Be Forgotten (with Lowry Pressly) 1:21:00

3M ago1:21:00

1:21:00

What do we lose when every moment is recorded, every action scrutinized, and every past mistake preserved? Philosopher and author Lowry Pressly joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to discuss why privacy isn't just about secrets or information control, the necessity of spontaneity, the importance of moral growth, and what we need to become fully human. Fr…

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Whiskey pours as the true story of the man who inspired Lonesome Dove unfolds 38:51

3M ago38:51

38:51

Send us a text Some monsters aren't fiction – they're buried in Dodge City Cemetery beneath stones that read "beloved husband and father." The story of Print Olive might be the most shocking true tale we've covered on Whiskey and Westerns. While sipping Bullet Bourbon (a fitting choice given Print's remarkable ability to absorb lead throughout his …