Gophernomics

A glimpse into the Washington D.C. Career Exploration Trip with Adi Suresh

In this episode we sit down with Adi, an economics student who recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for a department-sponsored career exploration trip. Adi shares insights from visiting major institutions, reflects on what he learned about careers in economics, and discusses how the experience shaped his future goals. This is a great listen for students that may be interested in attending a career exploration trip in the future. We hope you enjoy!

An Interview with Dr. Ayca Ozdogan, Director of Undergraduate Studies

Course programming changes, advice for students, and a dive into the Economics curriculum at the U In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ayca Ozdogan, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, for a conversation about her journey into economics, her role shaping the undergraduate program, and the evolving direction of economics education. She reflects on her path from Turkey to completing her PhD at Minnesota and how her academic experiences across countries have influenced her perspective on teaching and curriculum design. We dive into recent changes to the economics major, including more flexibility in statistics and econometrics requirements, the introduction of programming-focused coursework, and the growing importance of data skills in today’s job market. Dr. Ozdogan explains how these updates aim to better prepare students for both careers and graduate study, while still allowing flexibility across different degree tracks(BA, BS, quantitative emphasis, and business emphasis). l The conversation also explores her research interests in game theory and public economics, including how real-world events like the 2008 financial crisis shaped her work on incentives, contracts, and reputation. Along the way, she connects core economic ideas like efficiency and opportunity cost to everyday decision-making, showing how economic thinking extends far beyond the classroom. We also discuss student success, from choosing the right major track to building both technical and soft skills. Dr. Ozdogan shares how to think about college and careers as a long-term “repeated game,” offering practical advice on adaptability, networking, and making intentional decisions in an increasingly complex and data-driven world. This episode offers a practical and insightful look at studying economics at Minnesota, with valuable advice for students navigating their academic paths and preparing for what comes next. We hope you enjoy it!

An Interview with Senior Economics Reporter Chris Farrell

Jobs, Retirement, and AI: Navigating the Future of Work In this episode, hosts Aastik and Ashley sit down with Chris Farrell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-farrell-596ab76/], senior economics contributor for Marketplace [https://www.marketplace.org/] and Minnesota Public Radio, for a conversation focused on how people make major life and economic decisions. Farrell is the author of “Purpose and a Paycheck,” "Unretirement,” and "The New Frugality,” a columnist for PBS Next Avenue and the Minnesota Star Tribune, and host of the Heller-Hurwicz “Office Hours,” podcast [https://cla.umn.edu/heller-hurwicz/outreach/office-hours-podcast]. The discussion centers on topics like retirement planning in an aging population, how students navigate job choices after college and the broader factors that shape financial decision-making over time. Farrell shares insights on how individuals approach risk, especially when it comes to long-term security like healthcare and retirement. The conversation also explores how economic conditions and policy can influence these decisions in real, everyday ways. In addition, we touch on how AI is beginning to reshape the workplace and what that could mean for future careers. This episode offers a thoughtful look at how economics connects to real-life decision-making and the balance between security and opportunity. We hope you enjoy!

An Interview with Professor Jo Mullins

A deep dive into the realm of academic research and beyond In this episode, we sit down with Professor Jo Mullins for a wide-ranging conversation about his path into economics, his research, and what life looks like as an academic. Professor Mullins shares how his early interest in inequality and social issues led him to labor economics, and reflects on his journey from Australia to pursuing a PhD at NYU and eventually joining Minnesota’s faculty. We explore his work in labor economics and human capital, including research on child development, skill formation, and how policies like childcare support and income transfers can shape long-term outcomes. He breaks down complex ideas in a very accessible way, showing how economics goes beyond markets and into everyday life, especially in understanding inequality and opportunity. The conversation also touches on teaching, student life, and how technology and AI are reshaping learning and research. Professor Mullins offers an honest perspective on exams, assignments, and what he values most in students, along with some lighter insights into hobbies, work-life balance, and even cricket and reality TV. This episode offers a thoughtful, and behind-the-scenes look at economics as both a field of study and a career, especially for students curious about research, academia, or applying economic thinking to real-world problems. We hope you enjoy it!

An interview with Avika Mathur: The ESO President Opens Up

In this episode, we sit down with Avika Mathur, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/avika-mathur2027/] the president of the Economics Student Organization, member of the Economics Undergraduate Student Board, and a senior pursuing a BA-B (economics with business emphasis) degree. Avika shares how studying Economics at UMN has expanded both her social and academic worlds, from building community to shaping her post-graduation plans. Discover what drives this standout leader in the Economics community and learn how her undergraduate journey has influenced where she’s headed next. We hope you enjoy it!