In this year-end episode, the hosts revisit past stories, including a Hollywood strike captain, honesty researchers, and a special member of their team. They explore the reasons behind Americans not taking vacations, uncover cheating in the Hollywood strike, and discuss the increasing transparency in social science research. They also highlight a lawsuit and fundraiser for Data Colada's legal defense, and the importance of support and determination in their work.
Deadlines are crucial in keeping journalists accountable and prompt in completing their work.
The prevalent trend of Americans leaving vacation time unused is influenced by cultural attitudes towards productivity and the lack of emphasis on leisure time, and labor unions play a potential role in advocating for better vacation policies.
Deep dives
The Power of Deadlines
Deadlines play a crucial role in keeping journalists accountable and prompt in their work. The pressure of deadlines forces them to complete stories, despite the temptation to endlessly research or perfect their work.
Vacation Culture in the US
A podcast episode explores the prevalent phenomenon of Americans leaving vacation time unused. The episode delves into the reasons behind this trend, examining factors such as cultural attitudes towards productivity and the lack of emphasis on leisure time. Discussions also revolve around the potential influence of labor unions in advocating for better vacation policies.
The Journey of a Striking Screenwriter
A producer from Planet Money interviews a strike captain during the Hollywood labor strikes, shedding light on the strategies employed by both the striking unions and the studios during such disputes. The story follows the strike captain's quest to prove that the studios were abusing the neutral gate system, ultimately resulting in a successful expansion of the strike's impact. The strike ended with a deal, and the strike captain returned to his career as a screenwriter on a Star Trek series.
It's that time of year again! Our annual year-end tradition of checking in on the stories we've reported and the people we met along the way.
We'll hear from a Hollywood strike captain who tried to pull off one last job, an update from the data detective trying to uncover the truth in academic research, and tribute to a very special member of the Planet Money family.