Ripple Effect

By The Wharton SchoolBusiness

Ripple Effect episodes

May 26 Rethinking Political Division and Media Segmentation
Jerry Wind, Lauder Professor Emeritus and Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, joins Dan Loney to discuss how political polarization in the United States has evolved beyond traditional party lines into a deeper ideological divide. Drawing from a marketing and segmentation perspective, Jerry explores why the country is increasingly defined by pro Trump and anti-Trump alignment rather than Democrat versus Republican identity, and how media organizations continue relying on outdated frameworks to report on political behavior.

The conversation also examines the role of media, social platforms, education, and institutional trust in shaping public discourse, along with the broader societal implications of polarization, ideological segmentation, and modern political communication.
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17 min
May 12 Why Leadership Changes Often Backfire
Katherine J. Klein, Edward H. Bowman Professor of Management at The Wharton School, discusses new research on leadership succession and how employees respond when a new leader takes over an organization. Drawing from a large-scale study of public schools, she explains why successors often have a unique window of influence, how coaching impacts organizational performance, and why leaders must understand employees’ appetite for change before trying to reshape culture or operations.
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16 min
April 28 The Gaps in Financial Literacy and Why They Matter
Olivia S. Mitchell, Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, joins The Ripple Effect to discuss the current state of financial literacy in the
United States. While more states are introducing financial education requirements, progress remains uneven across schools and communities. Mitchell explains why starting earlier is critical, how parents and educators can better prepare students, and the key areas where financial education still falls short.
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15 min
April 14 How to Break into the Workforce in an AI-Driven Job Market
Matthew Bidwell, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explores how the job search process is evolving for today’s graduates and what it takes to break into the
workforce. As hiring has slowed across traditional pipelines like consulting and tech, the path to a first role has become more competitive and fragmented.

In this episode, Bidwell explains how AI is transforming applications, making it easier to apply at scale while increasing competition, and shares how candidates can still stand out by leveraging networking, personal connections, and targeted outreach.

The conversation also highlights the importance of internships and viewing early careers as a period of exploration, where individuals build skills and refine their long-term direction.
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14 min
March 31 Rethinking Tax Refunds and Financial Decision Making
Wendy De La Rosa, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, explores how people think about tax refunds and why those decisions often don’t align with their financial goals. She explains why many treat refunds as “extra money,” leading to overspending and missed opportunities to save or pay down debt. The conversation also highlights inefficiencies in the tax system, where 20 to 30 percent of refunded dollars are lost to preparation costs, and shares practical strategies like pre-commitment and automation to improve financial outcomes.
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15 min
March 17 The Ethics of ESG | Eric Orts
Wharton’s Eric Orts talks about his new book, The Ethics of ESG: Critically Assessing the Environmental, Social and Governance Movement.
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17 min
March 03 Why Women's Networks Are Stronger During Crisis | Tiantian Yang
When organizations face disruption, men and women respond differently to protect their professional networks. New research from Wharton reveals that women intensify their focus on existing relationships with other women during mergers and acquisitions, creating denser, more supportive networks.
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15 min
February 24 How AI Is Reshaping Human Intuition and Reasoning | Gideon Nave and Steven Shaw
AI is becoming a significant part of our daily lives, shaping how we work, think, and make decisions. But as we increasingly rely on AI tools, we must ask: How does this impact our decision-making processes? Wharton professor Gideon Nave and postdoctoral researcher Steven D. Shaw discuss the concept of cognitive surrender and its implications for the future.
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16 min
February 17 Olympic Games Advertising | Annie Wilson
Wharton’s Annie Wilson explains how the Olympics and the Super Bowl, which happened at the same time this year, are a boon for brands that know how to capitalize on the moment.
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16 min
February 10 Future of Finance | Joao Gomes and Itay Goldstein
Joao Gomes, senior vice dean at Wharton, joins Itay Goldstein, chairperson of the Finance Department, to discuss key takeaways from the 2026 Future of Finance Forum, an event that convened academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss digital assets, central banking, the U.S. federal debt, artificial intelligence, geopolitics, and private markets.
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18 min

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Every day, business scholars answer pressing questions in their research — but what do their insights mean for you? In this podcast, Wharton faculty dive into what inspired their studies and how their…