
Game Theory
Speakeasy conversation about strategy, competition, economics, history, and policy from two non-experts.
The episodes include some actual economic Game Theory such as the Prisoner's Dilemma, the Traveler's Dilemma, and the Public Good game. Episodes also include conversations on dilemmas in TV/Movies, sports, and board/card games, as well as the history of military, intelligence (spies), politics, and economics.
The objective is simply to think critically about how people make strategic choices regarding the world around them and most importantly, about the people around them.
Latest episodes

May 16, 2023 • 1h 3min
Why Video Games Create In-Game Purchases: Zelda, Freemium Games, and the Billion Dollar Skin Industry
In this episode, Nick & Chris dive into the rise of in-game purchases with the release of the latest Zelda game.
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Send our high school to speech and debate nationals! Link: https://bit.ly/3olMkV4
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
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Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com
Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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May 9, 2023 • 57min
Writer's Guild of America on Strike; Skilled Labor vs Non-Skilled Labor; & What's Next in Hollywood?
In this episode, Nick & Chris introduce the new John Henry Series all about the American worker. The first edition dives into the WGA strike.
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Send our high school to speech and debate nationals! Link: https://bit.ly/3olMkV4
_____________________________________________
Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com
Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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Googliography -
Studio Costs per WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hollywood-writers-strike-may-give-studios-chance-to-slash-costs-fe8670fd

May 2, 2023 • 60min
"Just One More" Paradox - Why You Shouldn't Take the Bet Also, Pittsburgh Potties, Guns, Germs & Steel, and Nick Eats Balls
In this episode, Nick and Chris explain how you can lose all of your money asking for "just one more"
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Send our high school to speech and debate nationals! Link: https://bit.ly/3olMkV4
_____________________________________________
Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com
Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315

Apr 25, 2023 • 55min
The Centipede Game: How Co-opetition and Cooperation Clash & How It Cured a Plague
In this episode, Nick and Chris breakdown the basic game theory concept called the centipede game.
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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Apr 18, 2023 • 59min
Optimal Poker: How to Play, Basic Strategies & the Debates Going on in Texas Hold 'em
In this episode, Nick and Chris take all of your money at the poker table.
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Send our high school to nationals! Link:
https://bit.ly/3olMkV4
_____________________________________________
Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315

Apr 11, 2023 • 56min
How the Government Guilts You Into Paying Taxes: The Inspector Game
In this episode, Nick and Chris play the investigator game. Taxes have long been a Game Theory conundrum with finding the best way to enforce collection policies.
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315

Apr 4, 2023 • 55min
TikTok Brinksmanship: Banning the App, Learning China, and Understanding Big Tech Lobbying
In this episode, Nick and Chris breakdown the game being played to ban TikTok
Watch the episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/0HD2tdih7GY
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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Reporting:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/30/republican-senator-blocks-bid-to-ban-tiktok-in-us
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-threatens-to-ban-tiktok-if-chinese-founder-doesnt-sell-ownership-stake-36d7295c
https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktoks-rivals-shouldnt-bank-on-ban-1469f07d
Congressional Brinksmanship https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1046180183

Mar 28, 2023 • 57min
Moore's Law: How Physical Space is Ending Computer Advancement; Love is Blind Recap
In this episode, Nick and Chris look at Moore's Law and the growth of tech computing power.
Time Stamps:
Love is Blind: 3:15
Moore's Law: 9:22
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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Mar 21, 2023 • 52min
Perverse Incentives, Unintended Consequences, and How You Make Policy: The Cobra Effect, Horseshoe Theory, & Barbera Streisand
In this episode, Nick and Chris look into the game theory of perverse incentives including the cobra effect. They meander into adjacent topics such as unintended consequences and the horseshoe theory of politics.
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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Resources:
Perverse Incentives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverse_incentive
Streisand Effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
Denver Elementry School Families of Color event: https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-denver-elementary/fact-check-denver-elementary-school-says-families-of-color-event-was-open-to-all-families-idUSL1N2T1207
NFL Safety Regulations: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/27/players-alone-cant-be-responsible-for-using-helmets-as-weapons/

Mar 14, 2023 • 1h
Silicon Valley Bank Collapse: Bank Runs, Diamond-Dybvig, and Getting Your Money Out Early
In this episode, Nick and Chris discuss why bank runs suck so badly and why the FDIC changes the game theory of running to the bank.
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Buy Justin's Book!! https://bit.ly/3KaMdnZ
_____________________________________________
Connect with the show:
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/gametheorypod/comments/w35b8d/welcome_to_rgametheorypod/
Website: https://www.gametheorypod.com Game Theory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gametheorypod
Game Theory on Twitter: @GameTheoryPod https://twitter.com/GameTheoryPod
Nick on Twitter: @tribnic https://twitter.com/tribnic
Chris on Twitter: @ChrisAndrews315 https://twitter.com/ChrisAndrews315
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