Pod Paper Scissors

Parents are having a tough time in the COVID-19 era. But you can use the tools of game theory to negotiate with your kids and work toward peace in your household. Kevin Zollman from Carnegie Mellon University is our guest.

If it rains on your picnic but you knew there was a 10% chance of showers, should you regret your decision to eat outside? Let's explore what it means to regret when you made a decision based on information available at the time.

In this episode, we discuss the concept of a Nash Equilibrium by inventing dating apps that cater to people with different relationship goals. Is there room in the world for "Stars and Swipes," "L-aid," and "Sound of Settling?"

In this episode, we take the activity of flirting apart using the tools of game theory. What are the incentives? Should you keep your intentions secret? Liz shares some dating horror stories and Ben reveals the real meaning of a popular R.E.M. song.

What do we mean by "play" anyway? Historian Johan Huizinga wrote all about this in the 1930s. Let's take a look at his theory of play and how we can apply it to everyday situations. We end with a new original song by Liz Landau called "Queen of the Quarantine."

Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. Two solutions have been proposed to reduce emissions: taxes and a cap-and-trade system. We discuss the benefits and failings of each scheme and check in on countries that have tried them.

Do you remember the idea of the "tragedy of the commons" from school? You probably heard it in the context of people taking too many resources for themselves or polluting a shared space. But originally, scholars who used this term had a totally different agenda in mind.

The Chicago school of economics, the carbon tax, and ticket takers who burn your entry fee right in front of you.

What do Ulysses, unions, and The Wire have in common?

Why did I have to worry about a toilet paper collapse during the coronavirus outbreak but not a bank collapse?