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Jul 4, 2024 | 
marketplace.org | Kai Ryssdal |Kimberly Adams |Ashanti Fortson
Get even smarter with the “Make Me Smart” newsletter. We’ll start your Friday right by explaining the news, rounding up the best stories we read this week and even sharing a cocktail recipe or two.
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May 28, 2024 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Ashanti Fortson
It’s our final episode of the season, Million Bazillionaires! Today, we’re answering Sadie’s question about why there is so much gold at Fort Knox. It’s one of the most secure places in the world, and Bridget and Ryan are determined to get inside! But just as the pair lands a special tour to the top-secret gold vault, a couple of mysterious Fort Knox enthusiasts throw a wrench in their plans.
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May 14, 2024 | 
marketplace.org | Kai Ryssdal |Kimberly Adams |Ashanti Fortson
With the big push to unionize auto workers in the South, it looks like it might be another hot labor summer. And if you and your little ones have questions, this episode is for you! Today, we’re bringing you a special episode from Marketplace’s kids podcast, “Million Bazillion,” all about the history of labor unions, collective bargaining and how unions changed the way we work. Plus, how many hours a day should a person work? Kids have thoughts!
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May 14, 2024 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Ashanti Fortson
It’s a big day for Ryan and Bridget. They’re hosting their first ever live call-in radio show to answer listeners’ questions. After some awkward stumbles in the studio, they’ll explain how the economy works, why we use money, why some stores give out coupons and why the symbol for dollars ($) is an S with a line through it.
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Jan 5, 2024 | 
marketplace.org | Kai Ryssdal |Kimberly Adams |Ashanti Fortson
Hey Smarties! Today we’re sharing an episode from “Million Bazillion,” a Marketplace podcast that answers kids’ questions about money. This episode tackles a question many of you might have too: What’s a recession? To get to the bottom of it, hosts Bridget and Ryan take an adventure-filled trip to the Federal Reserve, where they bump into Fed Chair Jerome Powell (who might sound a bit like Kai Ryssdal). We’ll be back with new episodes next week.
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Oct 17, 2023 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Chris Julin |Ashanti Fortson
It’s our last episode of the season, Million Bazillionaires! And we’re answering Maddox’s question about what happens to your quarter when you put it inside a claw machine. It just zips away! Ryan and Bridget talk to an expert who lets them peek inside a claw machine to find out where that quarter goes. After getting some tips on how to win at the claw, Bridget gets a little too hung up on trying to win a stuffie, leaving it up to Ryan to bring her back to reality (shocking, we know).
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Oct 10, 2023 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Chris Julin |Ashanti Fortson
It’s board game night and Ryan and Bridget are also planning to answer Amala’s question about the price of rent. She wants to know who sets it. Luckily for everyone, Bridget happens to have handy her version of “Real Estate-Opoly.” It’s the classic board game about renting and buying that’s inspired family fights and feuds for generations. But before they can get started, the duo are sucked into the game.
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Sep 26, 2023 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Chris Julin |Ashanti Fortson
Listener Kaitlyn was talking to her dad about investments and things strayed into the world of Ponzi schemes. Kaitlyn’s wondering what they are and how they work — good question! Bridget and Ryan want to answer Katilyn’s question but the topic conjures up some bad memories for Ryan.
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Sep 19, 2023 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Chris Julin |Ashanti Fortson
In our previous episode, Bridget promised Ryan she’d take him to Happy Land Theme Park and Resort. And Bridget keeps her promises! It’s the perfect place to answer Henry’s question. He wants to know why some jobs get tips and others don’t. That’s the extra amount people pay to someone who helps them, on top of their bill. This proves to be a tricky one to answer, as Ryan and Bridget soon find out. They enlist the help of Happy Land Founder, Mort Bisby.
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Sep 12, 2023 | 
marketplace.org | Ryan Perez |Bridget Bodnar |Chris Julin |Ashanti Fortson
When listener Lulu asks a question about economic recessions and depressions, Ryan and Bridget know they have to go to where some of the best scholars of recessions and depressions are working: the Federal Reserve! While learning about how the Federal Reserve keeps an eye on the health of our economy, the pair accidentally unleash an economic disaster. They’ll need the help of the Fed’s Recession Crushers to get things back in line. Who ya gonna call?
