Toast n' Topics

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A podcast designed for experts and everyday people alike. Each week, we "bite" into a new topic in economics, financial markets, and international affairs. Follow us on Instagram: @toastntopicsGive us feedback or suggest new topics here: https://tinyurl.com/toastntopicsform Disclosures: - The views expressed in this podcast are our own, and are not reflective of any institutions that we are associated with. - This podcast provides general information on current events and should not be considered investment advice. 

Sachin Ganesh and Ben Vagle


    • Jun 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 19m AVG DURATION
    • 44 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Toast n' Topics

    Nightmare at Newark: Challenges and Struggles In Air Traffic Control

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2025 18:08


    In our latest episode, we discuss the recent string of technical failures that unfolded at Newark Airport, including the longer-term problems of outdated infrastructure and staffing shortages in the industry, as well as what could be done to improve them. 

    Command of Commerce: America's Enduring Economic Power Advantage with Ben Vagle

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2025 24:57


    In this episode, Sachin interviews Ben on his new coauthored book, Command of Commerce: America's Enduring Economic Power Advantage over China. The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Command-Commerce-Americas-Enduring-Advantage/dp/0197802303

    Clinics and Cash: A Conversation on Healthcare and Foreign Aid in Uganda With Nikhil Kamdar

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 31:40


    In this episode, we interview Nikhil Kamdar, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a current med student at George Washington University, about a recent medical service trip that he made to Uganda and his observations on the ground

    Aid Under Attack - The Implications of Recent Drawdowns in Foreign Assistance

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 15:27


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin examine recent cuts to foreign aid spending and consider the effects of it being removed. 

    Applications of AI: Exploring How AI Is Transforming Our Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 20:12


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin discuss the progress that has been made in generative AI technology and the tangible evidence that it could be improving productivity.See a sample of Ben's webpage mentioned in the podcast here: https://commandofcommerce.com/

    Scrambled Up: Unpacking Recent Egg Supply Disruptions

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 15:17


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin examine the drivers of recent egg shortage in the United States. 

    The Deepseek Dilemma: Recent Developments in the Global AI Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2025 18:32


    In this episode, we unpack the latest developments in the global AI race including the recent breakthroughs from Deepseek, a Chinese AI startup, and what it could mean for the future in the race for global AI dominance. 

    Deconstructing Deficits: Revisiting Issues in Trade Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 24:37


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin revisit trade policy, analyzing tariff proposals under the Trump Administration, the causes and effects of global trade imbalances, and potential remedies. 

    Healthcare: A Conversation on Access, Availability, and Outcomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 24:24


     Healthcare plays a massive role in the American economy at 18% of GDP, however, data on US health outcomes has not been as encouraging, with the highest rate of infant mortality in developed nations, the lowest life expectancy, and the highest rate of preventable deaths. Our first episode of 2025 dives into some of these issues, with a discussion on the US health system, how it compares to others in the world, and possible reform that could improve outcomes. 

    Looking Toward the 2025 New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 3:14


    Thanks for listening to Toast n' Topics this year! In this episode, Ben and Sachin share with you their plans for the show in 2025. 

    How Unions Make Our Economy And Democracy Stronger: A Conversation With Sachin Shiva, Center For American Progress

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 30:54


    In our last episode of 2024, we speak with Sachin Shiva, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the Class of 2022 and a current researcher at the Center For American Progress, about some of his work around unions, their benefits to our economy, and how they promote a more inclusive democracy. To read more of Sachin's research, click the link here: https://www.americanprogress.org/people/sachin-shiva/

    Debating Digital Payments: The Implications of India's Unified Payments Interface

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2024 25:12


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin debrief on Sachin's recent travels to India and his observations on India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 

    Housing and Hurricanes: What Intensifying Storms Mean for Future Development

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 16:34


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin explore what the intensification of tropical storms and other natural disasters may mean for risk analysis and development over the coming decades. 

    Analyzing Antitrust: Monopolies, Mergers, and Policy Shifts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 20:23


    In this episode we outline the economic theory of monopolies and market concentration, with a focus on understanding their structure, prevalence, and policy responses. 

    Debunking Deficits: Fiscal Policy and Why It Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 20:54


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin unpack the U.S. fiscal deficit, its primary drivers, and why it matters. 

    Trade n' Topics: Tariffs, Subsidies and Their Policy Implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 19:29


    In this episode, we take a deep dive into US trade policy and two of the key proposals that have come to the forefront -- tariffs and subsidies -- with a focus on what they intend to accomplish and their longer-term implications.   

    Technology and Teenagers: Unpacking California's Student Smartphone Ban

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2024 15:59


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin examine California's recent student smartphone ban and the effects that technology has broadly had on American youth. 

    Olympic Overruns: The Economics of Hosting the Olympic Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2024 18:23


    The 2024 Paris games just concluded last week, which were a great display of athleticism, grit, and equally, economics. In this episode, dive into the economics of hosting the Olympic games, focusing on costs as well as the short and long term impact on economic growth for the host country

    Going for Gold: What if The U.S. Switched Back to the Gold Standard?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 19:11


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin explore the history of the gold standard and what would happen if the U.S. went back to it. 

    Rwanda Revealed: A Conversation With Ellie Murphy on its History, Economics, and Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 34:19


    In this episode, we interview Ellie Murphy, a graduate of Tufts University in 2022, on her time in Rwanda where she spent nearly two years on the ground. We learn more about her experience there and touch upon topics ranging from Rwanda's complex history, to their economic model and future opportunities for growth. 

    Introducing Toast n' Topics Tee Shirts!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 4:37


    Toast n' Topics just celebrated its 1 year anniversary! To mark our big day, we've designed fresh new tee shirts that we are excited to show our audience. Listen to this short episode for instructions on how to get one and more about our referral program to enter for a chance to win one for free. 

    Navigating Nuclear: Nuclear Power and the 21st Century Energy Transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 18:47


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin explore recent developments in the nuclear power industry and the debate around its merits. 

    Illuminating India: Lessons From The Past and Opportunities Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 18:51


    In this episode, we unpack the results from India's latest elections, understand the economic progress that the country has made over the past decade, and think about the key policies that will be at the forefront in the years ahead. 

    The Demography Dilemma: Declining Birth Rates and Global Implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2024 19:00


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin discuss the causes and consequences of the decline in fertility seen across the world over the past several decades. 

    China, Cars, Competition: The 21st Century Electric Vehicle Revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2024 17:45


    In our latest episode, we discuss the latest on the electric vehicle industry including fierce competition from fast-growing Chinese EV makers, America's policy response, and the role that foreign auto-makers might play in the energy transition. 

    Traffic n' Tolls: NYC's Congestion Tax and Public Transit Infrastructure in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2024 17:56


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin analyze New York's new $15 congestion tax  for drivers in Manhattan and public transit in America more broadly. 

    Talking Tests: Recent Changes in Standardized Testing Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2024 22:15


    In our latest episode, we dive into the recent decision by many universities to reinstate standardized testing requirements in the admissions process, moving away from test-optional policies. We focus on the history of standardized tests, the case for test-optional admissions, as well as what these exams actually measure. Additionally, we are happy to announce that we are now on Youtube! Check out our channel @ToastnTopics and subscribe for free now. 

    The Rates Restoration: A Watershed Moment in Japanese Monetary Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 34:37


    In this episode, Sachin and Ben interview Revant Ranjan, an equity derivates trader, on Japan's recent decision to abandon its negative interest rate policy.  In the conversation, we discuss the implications of this significant change in monetary policy, as well as other longstanding issues surrounding Japan's growth, demographics, and more.  

    Artificial Intelligence: Advances and Implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2024 20:50


    In our latest episode, we take a deep dive into recent advances in artificial intelligence and generative AI, debate the economic benefits and harms, and discuss the longer-term implications of the technology. 

    On Love and Ledgers: The Economics of 21st Century Marriage

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 19:22


    In honor of Valentine's Day, our latest episode analyzes the decision to get married through an economic lens as well as some of the dramatic shifts in marriage rates over the past few decades. 

    Accidents in the Air: Flight Safety and the Economics of Aviation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 18:28


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin do a deep-dive on aviation including the evolution of flight safety, the economics of the industry, and the longer-term impacts of the latest string of aviation-related safety incidents globally. 

    Travel and Transformation in Argentina: A Conversation With Douglas Irwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2024 35:25


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin interview Douglas Irwin, the John French Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College, about observations from his recent travel to Argentina including their macroeconomic policy, economic history, and political transformation. 

    Election Economics: A Conversation With Kyle Mullins, Forbes Magazine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2024 27:28


    In this episode, we have a fascinating conversation with Kyle Mullins, a reporter at Forbes Magazine, about the economics of elections and some of his most recent investigatory work on the 2024 Presidential Candidates.

    A New Year's Message From Toast n' Topics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2023 3:00


    Tune in for a few minutes to get our thanks for a wonderful 2023! We can hardly wait for what's to come in 2024 - Happy New Year!

    Episode 10: Women's Employment in India with Professor Maddie McKelway

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 29:51


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin interview Maddie McKelway, a professor at Dartmouth College, about her work on communication and women's labor outcomes in India. 

    Episode 9: The Latest on the Israel-Hamas War

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 15:40


    In this episode, Ben and Sachin break down the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and consider where it might go next. 

    Episode 8: Unions and The United Auto Workers Strike

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2023 15:52


    In this episode of Toast n' Topics, Ben and Sachin discuss the recent UAW strike, the role of unions in the United States, and how changes in the automotive industry may affect these unions in the years ahead. 

    Episode 7: Destruction in Donetsk - The Latest on Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2023 16:35


    In this episode, we dive into the Russia-Ukraine war, discussing the origins of the conflict, Ukraine's recent counteroffensive, Western support, and steps to end the war.

    Episode 6: Africa's Ascent - Lessons, Risks, and New Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2023 20:26


    In this special edition of Toast n' Topics, Sachin interviews Ben after his two week trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar, diving into key economic themes such as the labor market, energy transition, and China's investment in the region.

    Episode 5: Japan - Land of The Rising Rates

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2023 16:10


    Japan finally has inflation. In this episode, we analyze their near decade-long struggle with deflation, the unconventional monetary policy of yield curve control, and reasons for recent changes. 

    Episode 4: Demystifying Debt - The Latest on Student Loans in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2023 15:38


    In this episode, we discuss recent policy changes in the Biden Administration's push for student debt forgiveness, as well as the potential economic implications for borrowers. 

    Episode 3: The Consumption Conundrum - Analyzing China's Challenging Economic Transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2023 13:06


    In this episode, we dig deeper in to the sources of China's recent economic slowdown, as well as the policies that the country can pursue to improve its long-term prospects. 

    Episode 2: Red Meat Recession - Conflicting Indicators of Economic Activity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2023 7:10


    In this episode, we discuss conflicting indicators of economic activity using high frequency data including red meat sales, demand for travel, and restaurant bookings. 

    Episode 1: Introducing Toast n' Topics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2023 6:37


    Get to know more about us, our podcast idea, and what to expect from here. 

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