Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova

Is Biden on tilt? Nate and Maria analyze the Hunter Biden pardon and try to find the line between false equivalence and equivalence. Then, inspired by the president’s present, they offer some thoughts on game-theory optimal gift giving for the holiday season. By the way, Nate and Maria will be hosting a poker meet up at the Bellagio next week! 12pm PST on 12/11 at the Bellagio poker room in Las Vegas. RSVP to attend [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiRZh61zuwrQGGl8SNrJCW67WymMgn7_iQcXGpbrYlQsFTAQ/viewform] For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters: The Leap [https://mariakonnikova.substack.com/] from Maria Konnikova Silver Bulletin [https://www.natesilver.net/] from Nate Silver  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

It's the season of giving: colorful paper and shiny bows, sure, and charitable giving, too. In this special episode, Jacob Goldstein, the host of What's Your Problem [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-your-problem/id1602541473], gets smart about donating. Did you know that spending money on others makes you happier than spending money on yourself? Or that altruistic nerds have discovered four of the most impactful charities in the world (per dollar spent)? Have you ever wondered how poker players think about giving? Dr. Laurie Santos from The Happiness Lab, Elie Hassenfeld of GiveWell, and Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova from Risky Business talk about how to maximize your giving – and why you’ll be happy you did. Link to donate: https://givingmultiplier.org/happinesslab [https://givingmultiplier.org/happinesslab] Listen to The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/id1474245040] Listen to Risky Business [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/risky-business-with-nate-silver-and-maria-konnikova/id1743213122] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nate and Maria share their game-theory-optimal travel strategies – the best time to get to the airport, the optimal airport meal, the value of rental car insurance, and more. Also: The biggest travel mistakes they ever made. Then, Maria breaks down a scandal [https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/01/business-school-fraud-research/680669/] in academic psychology research – and she and Nate discuss the underlying incentives that have led researchers to make bad decisions. Do you have a topic or theme you’d like Nate & Maria to discuss in a future episode? Reach out to us at riskybusiness@pushkin.fm [riskybusiness@pushkin.fm] with any suggestions. For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters: The Leap [https://mariakonnikova.substack.com/] from Maria Konnikova Silver Bulletin [https://www.natesilver.net/] from Nate Silver  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nate and Maria talk through the game theory of how moderate Republican Senators are likely to react to Trump’s controversial cabinet nominees. Then, they discuss the new “Guardian Caps” the NFL has approved to lower the risk of concussion – and explain why most players are deciding not to wear them. For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters: The Leap [https://mariakonnikova.substack.com/] from Maria Konnikova Silver Bulletin [https://www.natesilver.net/] from Nate Silver  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Nate and Maria discuss the influence of Riverians like Elon Musk on the Trump Administration, and what’s next for Democrats looking ahead to 2026. Then, Maria tells Nate about a few key hands from the penultimate table of the North American Poker Tour Main Event.  For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters: The Leap [https://mariakonnikova.substack.com/] from Maria Konnikova Silver Bulletin [https://www.natesilver.net/] from Nate Silver  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.