Best Scott Leon Smith Podcasts (2025)

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How to Be a Super Ager (with Eric Topol) 1:01:24

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3d ago1:01:24

1:01:24

What if we could delay--or even prevent--Alzheimer's, cancer, and heart disease? What if much of what you know about aging is wrong? Listen as cardiologist and author Eric Topol of the Scripps Research Institute talks about his new book Super Agers with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. They discuss why your genes matter less than you think, how your immune…

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Leon Kass on the Wisdom of Rousseau 1:17:07

10d ago1:17:07

1:17:07

Does technology liberate us or enslave us? How do our social interactions affect our sense of self and our emotional health? Listen as author and master teacher Leon Kass and EconTalk's Russ Roberts do a close reading of a few paragraphs of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and explore some of the deepest aspects of our relationships with each other and with o…

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Bizvox Talks to Young Entrepreneur Ryan Carver & Scott Pines for his Lost Youth | Electric Secrets 26:19

14d ago26:19

26:19

Ryan Carver’s “Gold Standard” Branding Sets Him Apart in the Service Industry In this engaging episode of BizVox, a segment of the Electric Secrets variety podcast, host Scott Smith sits down with 18-year-old entrepreneur Ryan Carver in a bustling local coffee shop. Recorded just before Ryan’s high school graduation in May, the interview dives into…

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Two Cheers for Libertarianism and Econ 101 (with Noah Smith) 1:22:06

17d ago1:22:06

1:22:06

Economist Noah Smith was so focused on libertarianism's theoretical flaws, he overlooked its political importance. Trump's tariff policy opened his eyes and made him re-assess the virtues of both libertarianism and Econ 101. Listen as he and EconTalk's Russ Roberts explore the way political competition has shaped economic policy in surprising ways …

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EconTalk #1000 (with Russ Roberts) 1:08:49

24d ago1:08:49

1:08:49

In honor of EconTalk's 1,000th episode, host Russ Roberts reflects on his long, strange journey from pioneer of the podcast format to weekly interviewer of leading economists, authors, and thinkers. Hear him answer your--and Chat GPT's--questions about why he got started, how he preps, and how he picks guests. He also explains why debate gave way t…

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Gen X Mom: The Unforgettable Voice of Julie Kavner | Electric Secrets 25:25

1M ago25:25

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Gen X Mom: The Unforgettable Voice of Julie Kavner 🎙️ Dive into the iconic world of The Simpsons with the latest episode of The Unforgettable Voice, a segment of the Electric Secrets variety podcast, produced by MonsterVox Productions! This week, host Scott Leon Smith celebrates the legendary voice acting of Julie Kavner, the voice behind Marge Sim…

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Nature vs. Nurture (with Paul Bloom) 1:07:44

1M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

How much of our success or failure is written in our genes? How much is under our control? Is it nature or nurture or is that dichotomy too simplistic? Hear EconTalk's Russ Roberts and psychologist Paul Bloom discuss why the nature vs. nurture question is actually worth taking seriously and how by understanding it we can help ourselves and others.…

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Interview With Martha Tidball On Schoolhouse Rock Live 26:08

1M ago26:08

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Join host Scott Smith for an engaging episode of No Small Parts, a podcast celebrating the heart and soul of community theatre. In this episode, Scott interviews Martha Tidball, director of the Bucyrus Little Theatre’s upcoming production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! in Bucyrus, Ohio. The conversation delves into the nostalgic joy of the musical, insp…

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Inside the Mysterious World of Credit Cards (with Patrick McKenzie) 1:15:14

1M ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Patrick McKenzie explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts how credit cards work, who makes money from them and how, and gives his take on whether cash customers and debit card users subsidize the users of credit cards with reward programs.By EconTalk: Russ Roberts

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Papa Cap Prep Part 2: The Long Emotional Slog | Electric Secrets 25:02

1M ago25:02

25:02

Dive into Rustic Shakespeare on the Electric Secrets variety podcast from MonsterVox Productions, where host Scott Smith unpacks Lord Capulet’s emotional rollercoaster in Romeo and Juliet. In this episode, "Papa Cap Prep Part 2: The Long Emotional Slog," Scott continues his deep dive into Act 3, Scene 5, focusing on Capulet’s explosive tirade as he…

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The Past and Present of Privacy and Public Life (with Tiffany Jenkins) 1:22:59

2M ago1:22:59

1:22:59

A paradox of our time is our willingness to bare all to strangers while worrying about who exactly is watching us online and anywhere else. Listen as author Tiffany Jenkins discusses her book, Strangers and Intimates, with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore the role of Martin Luther, J.S. Mill, reality TV, and …

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The Economics of Tariffs and Trade (with Doug Irwin) 1:32:53

2M ago1:32:53

1:32:53

Is the United States victimized by trade? What causes trade deficits? Are higher tariffs a good idea? Can manufacturing jobs return to the United States? Economist Doug Irwin of Dartmouth College answers these questions and more in this wide-ranging conversation with EconTalk's Russ Roberts.By EconTalk: Russ Roberts

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Struck to the Soul (by John Bonham's Big Bass Drum) | Electric Secrets 28:46

2M ago28:46

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SPECIAL NOTE: The audio quality of this episode is below our company standards and is the result of poorly tested equipment. But the conversation that takes place was too honest to shelve and too authentic to re-record. So, we decided to share it, buzzy VO and all. We promise to get ahead of any sound issues for subsequent episodes. --Scott Discuss…

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The Past and Future of AI (with Dwarkesh Patel) 1:36:44

2M ago1:36:44

1:36:44

Dwarkesh Patel interviewed the most influential thinkers and leaders in the world of AI and chronicled the history of AI up to now in his book, The Scaling Era. Listen as he talks to EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the book, the dangers and potential of AI, and the role scale plays in AI progress. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the a…

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Why Christianity Needs to Help Save Democracy (with Jonathan Rauch) 1:20:08

2M ago1:20:08

1:20:08

How does a nice Jewish boy who is also a gay atheist have the chutzpah to lecture Christianity on its obligations to democracy? Listen to author Jonathan Rauch talk about his book Cross Purposes with EconTalk's Russ Roberts as Rauch makes the case for what he calls a thicker Christianity.By EconTalk: Russ Roberts

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Scott Leon Smith: Master Classes In Acting 29:27

2M ago29:27

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In episode three of No Small Parts, hosted at Bucyrus Little Theatre in Bucyrus, Ohio, Scott Leon Smith hands over the mic to Abbey Kanellakis, the theater’s board president, for a lively discussion about Scott’s Master Classes in Acting series. This podcast celebrates community theater artists who pour their passion into local storytelling, and th…

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When You Gaze Long Into The Albatross Cafe ...| Electric Secrets 22:18

2M ago22:18

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Stuff To Do, Esther's Excursions, Practical Yoga, & The Cruelest Cookie Get ready for a wild ride at the Albatros Cafe, part of the Electric Secrets variety podcast! This episode, hosted by the ever-humorous Marty Merman at the Albatross Cafe, delivers a mix of cringe-worthy tasks, local adventures, and quirky wellness routines. In Marty’s segment,…

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Rational and Religious (with Ross Douthat) 1:17:31

2M ago1:17:31

1:17:31

How can we explain the world's underlying order? How does consciousness emerge? And why do people from such different cultures have such similar near-death experiences? Listen as Ross Douthat, New York Times columnist and author of the new book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, argues that these and other unanswerable questions underscore …

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The Music and Magic of John and Paul (with Ian Leslie) 1:17:48

3M ago1:17:48

1:17:48

At the heart of the success of the Beatles was the creative chemistry and volatile friendship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Listen as author Ian Leslie discusses his book, John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. It's a deep dive into music and friendship as well as a revisionist history about how John and Paul cre…

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What A Character Wants: Exploring The Application Of Objectives | Electric Secrets 20:17

3M ago20:17

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Tactics & Objectives In Action On this episode of Dedicated to the Craft, part of the Electric Secrets variety podcast, hosted by Scott Leon Smith, we dive deeper into the creative process. Building on the previous episode’s focus on using the "imagined energy of tactics" with specific action verbs (like "proclaim" or "comfort") to uncover characte…

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Do All Creatures, Great and Small, and Made From Silicon, Have Rights? (with Jeff Sebo) 1:16:13

3M ago1:16:13

1:16:13

Should monkeys have the same rights as humans? What about elephants, ants, or invertebrates? NYU philosopher Jeff Sebo makes the case for expanding your moral circle to many more beings than you might expect, including those based on silicon chips. Listen as Sebo and EconTalk's Russ Roberts discuss to whom and what we owe moral consideration, how w…

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Tilling The Greenhouse Dirt: Bizvox Visits A Local Farm To Learn About Winter Growing | Electric Secrets 22:05

3M ago22:05

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Let's Go On A Tasty Adventure To Edible Landscapes In this delightful episode of BizVox, a segment of the Electric Secrets variety podcast, host Scott Leon Smith takes us on a mobile adventure to Edible Landscapes farm. Meet Sam and Jacob, the dynamic duo who stumbled into owning this established gem in September 2023. From humble beginnings to sei…

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Bird Brains, Bird Sex, and All Kinds of Beauty (with Matt Ridley) 1:16:45

3M ago1:16:45

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Bright colors, long tails, and dances of seduction: they may hurt a bird's chances of survival in the wild, but they seem to increase the chances of reproduction. Is this all part of natural selection or is sexual selection its own force in the bird world? Is there such a thing as beauty for beauty's sake? What can we learn from birds about the hum…

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Dalton Edwards: Teen Improv Troupe 25:28

3M ago25:28

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On this episode of "No Small Parts," host Scott Leon Smith interviews Dalton Edwards, the coach of the theater's newly formed Teen Improv Troupe. The troupe, consisting of 17 teenagers from three counties and four area schools, was formed in 2024. Since then, the teenagers have been diligently preparing for their debut performances scheduled for Ma…

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Johnny Cash Is Family: The Unforgettable Voice Celebrates The Man In Black | Electric Secrets 22:01

3M ago22:01

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Listening Deeper To The Stylings Of Johnny Cash In this episode of The Unforgettable Voice, part of the Electric Secrets podcast, host Scott Leon Smith explores Johnny Cash’s iconic baritone, blending personal reflection with analysis. Listeners will discover what makes Cash’s voice unforgettable, both culturally and as a storytelling tool. Smith h…

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How Better Feedback Can Revolutionize Education (with Daisy Christodoulou) 1:27:32

3M ago1:27:32

1:27:32

Feedback on exams and papers--grades and comments--should be more than an assessment. It should point the way to improvement. So argues educational consultant Daisy Christodoulou, emphasizing that actionable feedback has to be more than comments scribbled in the margins of a paper or at its end. Listen as she speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts abo…

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Will Guidara on Unreasonable Hospitality 58:13

4M ago58:13

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What can the restaurant business teach us about leadership and management? Listen as Will Guidara, the former owner of Eleven Madison Park, explains to EconTalk's Russ Roberts how his restaurant became good enough to be named the best restaurant in the world. Foodies will enjoy a look behind the scenes of a restaurant at the very top of its game, b…

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Romeo & Juliet's "Papa Cap" Prep Part 1: The Erratic Dad | Electric Secrets 23:46

4M ago23:46

23:46

It's A Flip-Flop Fiasco! Welcome to the chaotic carnival of Rustic Shakespeare on the Electric Secrets variety podcast, where host Scott Leon Smith — your bardic ringmaster — dives headfirst into the sweaty exhaustion of playing Lord Capulet in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. From Act 1’s awkward marriage negotiations (where Capulet flip-fl…

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The Unusual World of Israeli Democracy (with Rachel Gur) 1:09:10

4M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East but it seems a lot more alien and chaotic than many of the older democracies of the West. Hear Rachel Gur of Reichman University explain to EconTalk's Russ Roberts how the Israeli political system works and sometimes, doesn't work. The conversation brings into relief the challenges all democracies fac…

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The Struggle That Shaped the Middle East (with James Barr) 1:18:24

4M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

Until the end of WWI, the Middle East as we know it didn't exist. No Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, or Iraq. Instead, there was the Ottoman Empire, whose dissolution using an arbitrary line on a map set the region on a course of upheaval that's still with us. Listen as historian James Barr speaks with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the 1916 Sykes-P…

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A Battle of Ego & Shadow: The Albatross Cafe' Visits the Dark Side of the Human Psyche | Electric Secrets 24:42

4M ago24:42

24:42

On this episode of The Albatross Cafe, featuring Marty Merman, we learn a little more about what Marty likes to do on his phone in his free time, including attempting to save the "King" in a popular online game and getting to know the secret behind artificial intelligence. Beyond his humorous and somewhat chaotic conversation with an AI chatbot, li…

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Who Won the Socialist Calculation Debate (with Peter Boettke) 1:21:17

4M ago1:21:17

1:21:17

For more than a century, some economists have insisted that central planning can outperform markets. Economists like Mises, Hayek, and Friedman disagreed. Who won this debate? Is it over? Does AI change how we should think about the power of planning? Listen as economist Peter Boettke of George Mason University discusses what is known as the "socia…