The Readback

Autonomous cars have reached a fork in the road. The path forward could make or break the technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government has taken a hands-free approach to self-driving. Why that's stalling progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As self-driving momentum builds, a chorus of voices says we shouldn't be doing this at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New autonomous technologies have people pushing vehicles well beyond their limits. Inside one experiment to see just how far our cars will go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even as car makers roll out new self-driving features, consumers remain skeptical. Why they're tapping the brakes on change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Readback, we're bringing you an episode of a new podcast we think you'll like from MarketWatch: Best New Ideas in Money. On the show, Marketwatch editor Jeremy Olshan and economist Stephanie Kelton explore innovations in economics, finance, technology, and policy that rethink the way we live, work, spend, save, and invest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Confusion abounds when it comes to the definition of self-driving. That may have life or death consequences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes a bold vision requires baby steps. Inside the technology at the center of self-driving's biggest debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A major failure in the Mojave Desert finally puts self-driving on the map. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-driving cars were supposed to be in our driveways by now. How did we get so off course?

Join us for a new season about our journey toward self-driving cars - and why it's taking us so long to get there.

Companies have been craving alternatives to the IPO. As the world reopens, old Wall Street habits could return.

Spotify, Slack, and Coinbase created disruptive businesses. So when it came time to go public, they didn't take the traditional Wall Street approach.

Once derided SPACs have taken over the IPO world. But can it last?

The company spent years trying to disrupt the real estate market. Then its IPO pushed too far.

The Chinese internet giant staged the world's biggest - and perhaps riskiest - IPO in 2014. Investors still piled in.

The mattress startup thought way outside the box. Why was its IPO such a snooze?

Peloton nearly broke the IPO market, and then came racing back. (First published November 25, 2020.)

The ride-sharing giant hoped to be worth $120 billion. Then investors started asking about profits.

Facebook was already at the top of the world when it went public in 2012. The IPO nearly ruined it all.

How the alternative meat company's revolutionary idea became one of Wall Street's favorite stories.

Moderna's stock debut was once termed a broken IPO. Now the company is saving the world.

By the end of 2020, investors had shaken off the pandemic and driven IPOs to historic highs. How we got there, and what's next.

The Readback brings you a new season that revisits some of the biggest IPOs of the last decade, including Moderna, Facebook, and Uber. Our quest: Figuring out how investors put a price on innovation.

In 2021, we'll explore the biggest IPOs to figure out why some hit it big while others failed to connect. And why, in the end, it might not mean much about a company's future success.

For years, Hollywood resisted real change and that's left it particularly vulnerable in 2020.

Theaters have been under threat for more than a century. This time the risk feels more real.

Tech companies are under regulatory threat. Did it all start with a simple lack of transparency?

As governments seek to curb big tech's power, Margrethe Vestager is leading the charge as Europe's top antitrust official.

Peloton broke the IPO market, and then came racing back.

Nordstrom opened its flagship store in Manhattan one year ago. Six months later, the pandemic forced it to close. What will the future have in store?

Oprah helped save Weight Watchers, but the stock continues to yoyo. Inside the company's long journey to stay in shape.

As markets collapsed earlier this year, a growing number of investors were lucky enough to have a robot holding their hand. Why digital advice is working.

Not so long ago, Microsoft was an afterthought in the world of tech. Its comeback will be studied for years to come.

3D printers were supposed to be the next big thing. Then the bubble burst.

Just five years ago, Fitbit was one of the hottest companies in tech. Now it's hoping a sale to Google can save its business and help it compete with Apple.

It's been 35 years since Super Mario Bros. changed videogames. Today, Mario is as popular as ever, except on your smartphone. This week, how Nintendo ignored the mobile revolution -- and still won.

The Readback brings you a new season featuring stories about Nintendo, Microsoft, 3D printing and more - exploring why some companies, ideas, and industries thrive, while others fail to meet their promise. Listen starting Wednesday, October 7.

The podcast will be on a short break for a few weeks, while we dive into some new ideas and formats for the show. We'll speak to you soon.

Millions of Americans have canceled their cable and turned to streaming services like Netflix and Youtube TV in search of a better deal. But cheap TV is getting hard to find.

Boeing has been in crisis mode since before Covid-19, as the grounding of its 737 Max jet hit the company hard. But this week, the Max is taking to the skies again for a series of test flights. Barron's Al Root joins Alex Eule to discuss where Boeing goes from here.

At the outset of the pandemic, as professional investors sold stocks, a new set of day traders rushed in - and their bets paid off.

Dividend payments seemed to be in jeopardy early in the pandemic, but the payouts have been surprisingly resilient. Barron's Lawrence Strauss joins Alex Eule to discuss why dividends may be the only sure thing these days.

Free speech isn't easy and Twitter's management - and its stock - are caught in the middle. Alex Eule talks to Barron's Bill Alpert about the social network's latest challenges and opportunities.

U.S. cities are in chaos and Covid-19 hasn't gone away. So why are stocks rising? Randall Forsyth joins Alex Eule to try to make sense of this market.

Sales of outdoor gear are surging amid the coronavirus pandemic. Alex Eule and Jeffrey Cane discuss what this recent trend can tell us about the broader reopening of the U.S. economy.

The rollout of new wireless technology is going to require some patience from consumers, and investors. Barron's Nicholas Jasinski joins Alex Eule to discuss why 5G is more of an evolution than a revolution.

The pandemic can't change investors' obsession with Tesla. Barron's Al Root joins Alex Eule to discuss why the car company's stock is still on fire.

Big tech is back to its all powerful self amid the coronavirus quarantine. Barron's Eric Savitz joins Alex Eule to discuss the key takeaways from tech companies' first-quarter results.

Investors have cheered Congress' stimulus efforts, but Barron's Matthew Klein tells Alex Eule that the federal government still hasn't done nearly enough.

Telemedicine has never quite taken off. Now, virtual doctors are the only option. Host Alex Eule is joined by Barron's Daren Fonda to talk about the future of digital health.