This podcast used to be really good and enjoyable to listen to. The content is great but the current hosts are horrible. Like giggly teenagers. I have resorted to simply reading the transcript for the content. Please replace Wailin Wong and Darian Woods and utilize serious journalists.

Excellent show every time but the best is when we get some good laughs from Waylin. Best guest is the dude from the Chicago Fed.

Lol…no

I do actually really like this podcast. However,, it is so surface. There is no depth. I understand. NPR caters to the Centrist view. Centrists, literally, can only be captivated by sensationalism (it’s an addiction). So NPR caters to the Centrist, and therefore leaves out any real meat to the arguments for humanity and actual change on the country and global level.

I love this show but why😭

I’ve listened to the indicator for years and have rarely missed an episode including Cardiff Garcia’s long running obsession with the yield curve. The commercials have taken over the parts of the podcast not occupied by Trump bashing. There are about 2.5-3 minutes of mostly commercials before the podcast begins and another minute or more of commercials at the end resulting in a podcast that’s at times 40%+ ads. While the podcast (as all of NPR certainly) leans left, since Trump took office the podcast has turned to a daily podcast of bashing Trump instead of focusing on education like it used to. Maybe it will get back to being an economics podcast with a moderate political lean as opposed to bashing listeners over the head with why Trump is terrible daily.

My first thought here is I hope I use the semi-colon correctly. Now that we have context, let me explain the value of this podcast. From economic dating, to a mild obsession with the inverted yield curve, this podcast helps explain in digestible portions the world around us. This podcast is a grocery store equivalent, Of that protein bar you grab on the way out after buying two weeks worth of groceries. It’s your treat now it’s your reward for doing the work. It brings context and balance to your world and it makes you feel better than the candy you could’ve grabbed. It’s bright, cheery, and healthy. My indicator of the week is 121. The number of words in this review.

I look forward to the Indicator as a little mental treat at the end of the day or binge them at the end of a busy week. Love the hosts and their outlook and attitudes. I think they would admit to being a bit “center-left” (particularly Darrien), but that doesn’t detract from the entertaining way they deliver well-researched stories.

Great, insightful, and quirky economics podcast. Also my condolences go out to Adrian for his loss. So sorry.

The last 4-6 episodes have been highly political in the short time of the entire podcast. As soon as Trump entered the Whitehouse, the announcers love to take little pop shots at Trump. There is one episode that was about 5 minutes of just going off on Trump. Please focus on the story and leave out your political opinions. I had to unfollow. At least planet money isn’t political and sticks to the story. You all need less politics and more stick to the content.

I’m very impressed with the quality of the stories this show pulls together each day. I always look forward to hearing their new stories

I have enjoyed The Indicator for awhile now. I always thought the reporting was smart and interesting and that the team had their finger on the pulse of what is of interest to a wide variety of people. The February 4th show reporting on the Trump tariff “battles” was a disappointment. The discussion of the tariff negotiations was …incomplete (inaccurate?). While “concessions” were made by other countries, multiple other sources have clarified that overall concessions were minimal, if any, and the net “win” on tariff negotiations does not squarely sit with the U.S. (e.g. Reference “Letters from an American” Feb 3rd, Heather Cox Richardson). I think at such a time as this, when our country is at such a crossroads and there is likely an impending season of struggle and discontent for many, it is important that news be accurate, impartial and uninfluenced by outside sources. I can understand it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of reporting by various media outlets but what we need is real news. Not repetition of spin, or superficial reporting but REAL NEWS.

I usually love your program. But the January 29 episode on federal government hiring signaled to me that you’re drinking the kool- aid. To treat about trump‘s “plan” to reform federal workforce like it’s a legitimate plan is egregious. He has no interest in merit-based hiring. Have you seen his nominees?? A drunken Fox News weekend host with zero military experience for DoD and an anti-science, conspiracy theorist lunatic for HHS? Thats just to start! Where is the merit? I am disappointed that you so badly you missed the obvious. His mission is to destroy agencies from within, he abhors expertise and merit. His proposals do not deserve to be treated as legitimate plans to improve our country so don’t talk to us like we’re idiots. Please don’t fold for this guy.

Lots of good ads and even some bits about the economy snuck in Information usually pretty good, just hard to listen to with the quantity of ads

I love outside in so it makes me happy when you guys have Nate or someone on. Even heard him on morning edition the other day! Love npr

I just started listening to The Indicator from Planet Money, and I really enjoy it! The hosts are great at making economics engaging and easy to follow. It’s informative and always interesting. Highly recommend it!

Why must every NPR based show lean so heavily left? Never any criticism or strong looks at liberal policies and thought. It's so blatant. I say this as someone with a degree from the best Jschool in the country and 25 years in the field.

I really enjoy the short snippets and various topics. Over the last few years it has been “leaning” more to the left/DNC/Democrat party. I would love it to be more neutral/informal, not political in either direction. Economics is a great way to look at the world, events, and situations - it doesn’t need to be political. I hope it moves more to the center and keeps on helping folks stay “in the know”.

You need to have the one guy use a normal voice before I will ever listen to another episode - come on seriously.

Giving a straight faced non-refutation of trumps housing policy (deporting thousands probably won’t lower mortgage rates) should make you all ashamed

Very informative, glad I found it

I don't know who could ever rate this podcast lower than 5 stars. The Indicator (and Planet Money) never miss. Their hosts are so likable and do an amazing job and presenting economic topics in a relatable and interesting way. I also enjoy the laughter and playfulness the hosts have when discussing otherwise dense economic subjects. Anyone who complains about ads should sub to + or research and learn that it costs money to produce high-quality podcasts.

Very inconsistent sometimes uploaded daily sometimes weekly it’s just random

“Jobs numbers are better than we expected and unemployment is low. Does this mean a recession is coming?” Absolutely the most pea-brained stuff a month from the election.

I used to love planet money and the indicator. Gosh they have fallen far though. They seam more interested in political puff pieces than actual economics. I don’t know why I still listen.

Sadly today marked the day I decided to unfollow this podcast that I’ve followed and listened to since it began. They have forgotten the premise of this show - take an interesting indicator of the day and discuss the topic, often shading light on something surprising and fun that other news of the day headlines are not covering (interesting and surprising are key words here). But instead, now they skim through headline news topics that I can get in any other show and without much interesting nor surprising insight. The non-stop giggling over unfunny things makes this not listenable even as background noise. I’m sure the show will get a new generation of listeners and fans, but sadly, not for others who loved the original show.

This used to be lively and informative podcast that didn’t sacrifice depth and accuracy for humor. That’s not the case anymore. Now the focus seems to be more on frivolity than depth. Take the recent episode about NCAA athletes. The hosts spent more time discussing Crocs styles than explaining how NIL developed. They didn’t mention the name of the case, the O’Bannon case, that forced the NCAA to change their rules. Instead they just said there was a court case and the NCAA changed their rules. If I wanted this level of fluff I’d listen to Fox.

Something about the hosts (especially Wailin) just makes me relaxed and happy. I love the laughter and the lighthearted approach to serious topics. Please keep it up!

I was excited to listen because I thought it would be an efficient way to get some basic familiarity with these Econ topics, but the ads (which make up most of the runtime) and the very intrusive giggling make it hard to even catch what they’re addressing. What I have been able to parse has not been substantive.

A few interesting ideas, but they barely graze the surface, add an intro, outro, and an ad spot and why am I listening to this? Some of us still have an attention span and nobody’s catering to us.

I just wish it were longer than 10 minutes!

This show is awesome, especially Wailin Wong. She’s a bit like a young Anne McElvoy. Great fun, great insight, always a step ahead and always genuinely fun and funny. The other hosts are fine too, but more traditional. I wish Ezra Klein and Planet Money / The Indicator would jettison from their mother ships (the NYT and NPR). Other shows on those networks are just elitist liberal spin. They could join up with The Rest is History and Stuff You Should Know to create a podcast network that is actually interesting.

A podcast that is often bereft of basic understandings of economics and slanted by the clear political views of the hosts.

For the past several months, there has been too much giggling and cackling on the show. It’s really childish and quite irritating. It’s gotten to the point that if I hear it, I immediately delete the episode and move on to another show. Please do something about it. I really used to enjoy listening to the Indicator.

New format and new hosts please. This show is more about the hosts trying to entertain and not at all about reporting useful information. There’s too much emphasis on the personalities and personal opinions of the hosts and really just distracts for the importance of the topics they are pretending to care about.

Pseudo intellectual self gratifying conversation. Used to be interesting. Now it’s boring.

The podcast is great, but I’m tired of hearing the same advertisements for other the same other NRP podcasts 10x a day. Stop it. This is my voice and I won’t change it for anyone!! This is my voice and I won’t change it for anyone!! This is my voice and I won’t change it for anyone!! This is my voice and I won’t change it for anyone!!

Episode on Israel was shockingly antisemitic. Stick to economics.

I have enjoyed listening to the podcast for several years including while I lived in Taiwan. I enjoy the bite-sized daily economic news peppered with the wit and humor of the crew. I have gained a better appreciation of economics through this podcast and its parent, Planet Money. This podcast helps keep one informed of current affairs. It’s well worth the listen for those who may not have a degree in economics.

I enjoy the topics and helps keep me up to speed with just the right length of shows

Anyone else have a fan crush on Wailin? I’m routinely impressed by her creativity, as it’s easy to learn which episodes have her fingerprints on them. Her banter, sound design and storytelling make this show better than its older Planet Money sibling.

Can’t deal with Darien’s voice

Not to mention they’re praising the system that enslaves humanity. Pretty, annoying, uncle toms. Traitors to humanity.

This podcast used to be great. Once Cardiff and Stacy left, the podcast continuously went downhill. Now listening to the hosts’ biases makes it unlistenable.

I’ll give 2stars for at least bringing up the issue of our public debt. The simple (balanced appearing) story features a debt “hawk” and a debt “dove” discussing whether the public debt is really a bad thing or not. In this somewhat academic discussion, nobody considers how this debt will ever be paid! A pretty important detail just ignored. That sure makes debt seem better. As I said, so disappointing. I hope for, and expect more, from NPR.

Defund NPR immediately

Next time you feel the need to put out another episode, ask yourselves if it’s a public good or if you just like hearing yourselves talk.

Darian Woods’ voice is off-putting

Nice show, but it’s <10 min with 2+ minutes of ads.

what I really like about planet money, specifically the indicator is they focus on the hot issues affecting the economy and provide valuable insight with opinions from both sides. The Rhino Horn story really exemplifies this, they had both people who thought synthetic rhino horns would be a really great thing, and others including from both economists and environmentalists who argued that it would harm wild rhinos. Fantastic reporting, fantastic show! All the haters should actually try listening to an episode; the best part is they are usually super short! Some of these reviews are wild!