What the movies teach us about recessions, memestocks and gold
May 27, 2026 · 9m
Summary
Hosts Adrian Ma and Waylon Wong discuss their favorite films about business and economics, ranging from The Insider and It’s a Wonderful Life to The Big Short. They analyze how these movies balance factual complexity with engaging storytelling to explain concepts like fractional reserve banking and the 2008 financial crisis. The episode also highlights documentaries like American Factory and unexpected picks like Die Hard with a Vengeance to show how business impacts daily life.
Topics discussed
Intro and ads for Grainger and Tiny Desk Tour
Waylon's picks: The Insider and It's a Wonderful Life
Adrian's picks: The Big Short and Inside Job
Why business movies work: Nerdy facts plus jazz hands
Waylon's recommendations: Dumb Money and Die Hard
Adrian's recommendations: Brandy Hellville and American Factory
Credits and promos for Up First and It's Been a Minute
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