Why Prediction Markets Are More Than a Passing Trend

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1. 

   7 Aug 2026 · 18 min

   Will the Government Bail Out Your 401(k) in a Market Crash?

   What happens to your 401(k) if the stock market drops 25%, and would the government step in to help? Nikolai Roussanov, finance professor at the Wharton School, explains the real risks behind modern retirement investing and why volatility is built into the system. From the 1987 crash to COVID-19, he breaks down how markets recover, why long term investors tend to win, and why bailouts are more likely to support companies, not individual portfolios. If you’re relying on a 401(k), this episode will reshape how you think about risk, recovery, and protection. Hosted on Acast. See…

2. 

   5 Aug 2026 · 13 min

   Why AI Makes Collective Intelligence More Valuable Than Ever

   Artificial intelligence is reshaping work, but human ideas remain essential. Henning Piezunka, Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explains how organizations can combine AI with collective intelligence to accelerate innovation, improve learning, and help employees turn ideas into action. He also explores AI’s role as a substitute, collaborator, and training tool, along with the business case for adoption and the organizational changes leaders will need to make. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3. 

   31 Jul 2026 · 14 min

   Oil, AI, and the Fed: What's Next for Markets?

   Could rising oil prices, interest-rate uncertainty, and massive AI spending change the market outlook? Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance, examines how energy supply disruptions could affect inflation and growth, what the Federal Reserve may do next on interest rates, why Wall Street is scrutinizing AI infrastructure spending, and how tariffs and demographic change could shape the broader economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4. 

   24 Jul 2026 · 12 min

   The New Strategy Behind Revenue Growth

   The chief revenue officer is no longer just a sales leader. Raghu Iyengar, Wharton Marketing Professor and Academic Director of Wharton’s Chief Revenue Officer Program, explains why companies are turning to CROs to align sales, marketing, product, finance, and growth around a single revenue strategy. He also discusses how AI is raising the stakes for revenue leaders, why a holistic view of the organization matters, and how the role will continue to evolve as new sources of revenue emerge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5. 

   22 Jul 2026 · 12 min

   What the World Cup Teaches Brands About Cultural Marketing

   The biggest marketing wins at the World Cup did not always come from official sponsors. Americus Reed, The Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing at Wharton and co-host of Marketing Matters, examines how brands connected with fans during one of the world’s largest cultural events. He discusses the power of iconic brands, social sharing, earned media, culturally relevant advertising, and creative ways companies can become part of the conversation beyond traditional sponsorship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6. 

   17 Jul 2026 · 13 min

   Social Security’s Funding Crisis and the Future of Retirement

   Social Security’s main trust fund could be depleted by early 2033, leaving incoming payroll taxes sufficient to cover only about 86% of scheduled benefits. Kent Smetters, Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy and Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, explains why the program is approaching a critical funding deadline and what it could mean for current and future retirees. He also discusses the impact of falling birth rates and longer lifespans, why delaying reform makes the eventual solution more difficult, and the policy options Congress could consider to…

7. 

   9 Oct 2026 · 12 minNew

   Who Controls a Company’s Values After It Is Sold?

   What happens when a company’s social mission clashes with the priorities of its corporate owner? The legal battle involving Ben and Jerry’s raises important questions about who gets to control a brand’s values after a sale. Maurice Schweitzer, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, joins the conversation to examine the dispute between Ben and Jerry’s and its parent companies. Schweitzer explains the challenges of maintaining an independent board, why founders can struggle to preserve their influence, and what businesses can learn about governance, competing priorities…

8. 

   7 Oct 2026 · 12 min

   AI Safety Has Reached a Critical Point

   AI safety concerns are no longer just hypothetical. As AI systems become increasingly capable, the risks involving cybersecurity, biosecurity and unintended behavior are becoming harder to ignore. Kevin Werbach, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, explains the different categories of AI risk and why companies alone may not be able to manage them. Werbach argues that governments need to establish standards and safeguards for frontier AI, drawing comparisons to the way financial institutions are regulated to protect against systemic risks. Hosted on Acast. See…

9. 

   2 Oct 2026 · 12 min

   The Hidden Cost of Competition in the Workplace

   Competition can bring out the best in individuals, but can it actually make an entire team worse? New research suggests that rivalry may come with an unexpected cost. Henning Piezunka, Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss his research examining rivalry and performance through the lens of professional basketball. Using examples like Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant versus Michael Jordan, Piezunka explains why players facing individual rivals may score more while making their teams less effective. He also explores what these findings…

10. 

    30 Sep 2026 · 16 min

    The Surveillance Challenge Facing Prediction Markets

    Prediction markets are exploding beyond elections into sports, geopolitics and major cultural events. But as these markets grow, so does the challenge of detecting insider trading and manipulation. Daniel Taylor, Wharton Finance Professor and Director of the Forensic Analytics Lab, explains how prediction markets have evolved and why their different types of contracts require different approaches to surveillance. The conversation explores sports betting, geopolitical markets, insider information, market manipulation and the role regulators should play in making prediction markets work over…

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