Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova
Pushkin Industries
Risky Business is a weekly podcast about making better decisions. The hosts, Maria Konnikova and Nate Silver, are both journalists who moonlight as high-stakes poker players. On Risky Business, they bring their analytical framework to everything from politics to poker to personal decisions.
Maria has a PhD in psychology and is the author of several books including, most recently, The Biggest Bluff. While researching the book, she inadvertently became a professional poker player, with over $500,000 in tournament winnings. She is a PokerStars Team Pro.
Nate is the founder and former editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight, and one of the country’s leading election forecasters. He has over $800,000 in lifetime poker tournament winnings and his forthcoming book, On the Edge, is about gambling and risk.
Risky Business is a co-production of iHeart Media and Pushkin Industries.
Maria has a PhD in psychology and is the author of several books including, most recently, The Biggest Bluff. While researching the book, she inadvertently became a professional poker player, with over $500,000 in tournament winnings. She is a PokerStars Team Pro.
Nate is the founder and former editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight, and one of the country’s leading election forecasters. He has over $800,000 in lifetime poker tournament winnings and his forthcoming book, On the Edge, is about gambling and risk.
Risky Business is a co-production of iHeart Media and Pushkin Industries.
Episodes
Mentioned books
28 snips
Aug 8, 2024 • 41min
Taking Risks in Business, Poker, and Life (with Bill Perkins)
Bill Perkins, a legendary energy trader with a unique approach to risk, dives into the art of risk-taking in business, poker, and life. He shares insights on the emotional stakes of decision-making and the importance of balancing calculations with personal values. The conversation touches on the Kelly criterion for managing bets, the psychological barriers to embracing failure, and the thrill of art collecting at auctions. Perkins emphasizes how unrepeatable crises shape our choices and enrich our experiences.
Aug 1, 2024 • 46min
Kamala Mode, Misinformation, and Winning the WSOP
Jonathan Tamayo, a World Series of Poker Main Event winner, shares insights from his recent controversial victory. He discusses the intense scrutiny of poker's integrity and the complications surrounding player behavior and technology use. Meanwhile, Nate and Maria dive into Kamala Harris' political odds, exploring the impact of misinformation on voter sentiment and the unique challenges faced by women and minorities in politics. The blend of poker drama and political intrigue makes for a captivating conversation!
Jul 23, 2024 • 37min
Betting on Kamala Harris (with special guest Matt Glassman)
Expert Matt Glassman joins the hosts to discuss Kamala Harris's rise in party politics, her potential running mate, and her chances against Trump. They analyze the implications of her selection, internal campaign dynamics, and the strategic implications of betting on her. The episode explores the factors contributing to Harris's strong position, potential risks, and the political strategy behind her candidacy.
Jul 18, 2024 • 45min
Conspiracy Theories, J.D. Vance, and Jury Duty
J.D. Vance and hosts discuss conspiracy theories, Trump's election impact. Nate's jury duty experience highlighted. They also touch on Biden's party dynamics and political strategies within the Democrats.
Jul 10, 2024 • 46min
How to Convince Biden to Quit
Nate and Maria discuss strategies to convince Joe Biden to drop out of the race, estimating his chances against Trump and Harris's chances if she replaces him. They also give an update on the World Series of Poker Main Event.
7 snips
Jul 4, 2024 • 41min
How to Gamble Like a Chess Player, with Jennifer Shahade
Women’s Chess Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade discusses parallels between chess and gambling, teaching kids probabilistic thinking through poker, embracing risk-taking, accountability, and exploring new terrains in midlife with a focus on strategic thinking and calculated risk.
Jun 28, 2024 • 46min
The President Has No Clothes: Biden Should Drop Out
Nate and Maria debate Biden's debate performance, suggesting he should drop out. They discuss potential successors, unity in the Democratic Party, and the impact of debates on polls and candidates' performance.
Jun 27, 2024 • 43min
Nate’s Election Model, the Trouble with Insurance, and How People Get Risk Wrong
Nate Silver unveils his 2024 election model predicting a potential Trump win. They discuss challenges for Biden, insurance pricing risks, and navigating insurance challenges. The conversation delves into risk perception, forecasting errors, and decision-making misunderstandings.
Jun 20, 2024 • 42min
Snap Elections, Global Warming, and Maria’s Favorite Hot Sauce
This episode dives into Macron's snap elections in France, the link between heat waves and climate change communication, and the looming Sriracha shortage. The key theme is assessing long-term risks and strategies for addressing global challenges.
Jun 13, 2024 • 44min
Lifetime Terms, Lifetime Bans, and the Return of Roaring Kitty
Debates on Justice Sotomayor's retirement, MLB player banned for betting, Roaring Kitty's market influence. Ethical concerns in sports betting, GameStop's resurgence. Meme stocks impact on financial markets, reflections on poker events.
