Before the 1950s, few people had allergies. But since then, allergies - and autoimmune diseases - have surged. Why? Dr. Andrew Wang from the Yale School of Medicine and the Food Allergy Science Initiative explains this enormous uptick in allergies - and the recent shift doctors made that actually helped…
How did the oldest Americans become so rich and powerful? Yale’s Samuel Moyn talks about the growing age divide in America. Americans over 54 now hold 70% of the nation’s wealth, while those under 40 scrape by on just 5%. Moyn - the author of the book "Gerontocracy In America"…
As heat waves, droughts, and surging insurance costs reshape American life, climate change has almost vanished from the national political debate. Why? On this episode of It Turns Out, Pulitzer-Prize–winning author and New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert explains why politicians on both sides of the aisle are steering clear…
There have been endless return-to-office mandates. But the data reveals a surprising truth: the number of days worked from home has remained completely flat since 2023. Stanford economist Nick Bloom tells Kara what's going on, who's missing, and what the future holds. He also explains how work is impacting mental…
There's a big spotlight - and a lot of resistance to - billionaires, from Elon Musk to Larry Ellison. But we’re missing an under-the-radar revolution in American wealth. The country is minting far more multimillionaires than it used to: People who tend to make money in ways you might never…
Princeton molecular biologist Coleen Murphy explains what you can do now, which pharmaceutical is having an unexpected effect on longevity, and what may available in the next few years. Murphy also talks about the science of predicting how long we'll live, and how to maximize the number of years that…
Are the ultra-wealthy playing a high-stakes game of dodgeball with American cities? As states float the idea of heavy wealth taxes, billionaires are increasingly moving their addresses—and their yachts—to tax havens like Miami. Does this wealth migration spell doom for blue cities? In this episode of It Turns Out, Kara…
Since 2020, more than a million kids have left American public schools. Meanwhile, enrollment in private schools and homeschooling has risen. What's going on? Have parents lost faith in public schools? And which sorts of kids are most likely to leave? Kara speaks with Thomas Dee, a professor at Stanford…
Was America's Blue Zone invented on a drive to Las Vegas? Are 82% of Japan's celebrated 100-year-olds actually dead? In this eye-opening episode of It Turns Out, Kara Miller interviews Dr. Saul Justin Newman (Oxford Institute of Population Aging /University College London) to uncover the jaw-dropping truth about the multi-million-dollar…
What if being more social could change your life? University of Chicago behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley talks with Kara about the surprising bump in happiness we get from being a little more social. Being less lonely also has huge health benefits that often go unrecognized. But, as Epley points out,…
Is a college degree actually worth it, or do universities simply accept students who are already destined for success? Using a clever natural experiment - in an era when lots more folks doubt the usefulness of a college degree - University of Chicago economist Jack Mountjoy tries to figure out…
Why has obesity skyrocketed despite our obsession with fitness and nutrition? Kara talks with former NIH researcher Kevin Hall about the surprising realities of human metabolism and the rise of ultra-processed foods. Discover why "The Biggest Loser" participants struggled to keep weight off, the truth about whether Americans actually need…
Is the US fertility rate really "collapsing," or are we just returning to normal? Should we have more babies to support Social Security and Medicare? Notre Dame economist Kasey Buckles explains why the data isn't what you think, and why - often - neither are the solutions. In this episode…
The first China shock hit the factory floor. The second one is hitting cubicles (and labs and executive suites). In this episode of It Turns Out, we dive deep into "China Shock 2.0" with MIT Professor of Economics David Autor. While the U.S. has long assumed its lead in high-tech…
Are the space dreams of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos actually scientifically sound, or are they just expensive fantasies? In this episode of It Turns Out, host Kara Miller sits down with astrophysicist Adam Becker, author of More Everything Forever, to dismantle the "Plan B" visions of Silicon Valley’s elite.…
What happens when a culture is suddenly engulfed by 24/7 betting, wagering, and prediction markets? And when fast-growing betting companies market themselves as purveyors of the American dream? In this episode of It Turns Out, host Kara Miller sits down with Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies…
Traffic isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a thief. It robs you of your time, your health, and your sanity. But why do "obvious" fixes like widening freeways or upgrading subways often leave us stuck in the exact same spot? In this episode of It Turns Out, host Kara Miller sits…
Why have so many boys and men fallen behind in America? Boys are behind girls in K-12 education. They are behind girls in getting to college - and staying in college. Millions of prime-age men are missing from the labor force. And men die deaths of despair - suicide and…
Is your "American Dream" actually holding you back? 🏡 Stop making emotional decisions about your money, home, and career. In this episode, Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather joins Kara Miller to reveal how to apply economic tools to optimize your life. Whether you are navigating the 2026 housing market, negotiating…
For decades, Americans have gravitated to the southern US - from Florida to Arizona. But that may be about to change. This change will also shuffle our finances - and create enormous winners and losers. In this eye-opening interview, ProPublica’s Abrahm Lustgarten, author of On the Move, exposes the "Great…
Is healthcare eating the US economy? Affordable Care Act architect Jon Gruber explains why healthcare became the issue that keeps employees - and employers - up at night. And how it came to paralyze the government. Why does an MRI cost $1,500 in the US but only a fraction of…
For the last three years, we've been making an enormous bet on AI. It's woven into our investments, our pension funds, even the stability of our economy. But, the bet hasn't paid off yet and many aren't sure it ever will. AI expert Gary Marcus - who’s been excited about…
What if we've spent the last year having the wrong debate about higher education? Former college president Brian Rosenberg explains why higher ed has become so resistant to change. Should professors teach the way they do? Does having a major actually make any sense? Should colleges only meet - as…
Why do billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos take a $1 salary? In this explosive interview, Boston College professor and author of The Second Estate, Ray Madoff, reveals the hidden mechanics of how the ultra-wealthy have effectively "seceded" from the U.S. tax system. Discover why high-income earners…