Best Episodes of Planet Money
NPR's Planet Money makes complicated economic topics accessible and entertaining. Short episodes explain how money shapes our world, from inflation to crypto to supply chains.
Top 50 Most Popular Planet Money Episodes — Best to Listen to First
About Planet Money
NPR's Planet Money makes complicated economic topics accessible and entertaining. Short episodes explain how money shapes our world, from inflation to crypto to supply chains.
NPR's Planet Money makes economics genuinely entertaining. From buying oil on the world market to making a T-shirt from scratch, the show uses creative storytelling to explain how money shapes every aspect of our lives. These are the episodes that turned complex economics into compelling radio.
Best Planet Money Episodes: Where to Start
With so many episodes to choose from, finding the right first episode to listen to can be overwhelming. This page ranks the most popular, most listened to Planet Money episodes — your gateway episode guide whether you're a new listener looking for the episode that will get you hooked, or a longtime fan searching for episodes you might have missed. Our EpisodeRank algorithm analyzes web sentiment and audience data to surface the episodes that matter most, so you always know where to start. Whether you're searching for Planet Money best episodes, Planet Money most popular, or NPR Planet Money top episodes — this is the episode guide that will get you hooked.
Ranking Methodology
Episodes are ranked by the EpisodeRank algorithm, which combines web sentiment (most discussed, recommended, and culturally impactful episodes) with audience data from public sources including YouTube view counts. Learn more about how we rank episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planet Money
What are the best Planet Money episodes?
Fan favorites include 'The Giant Pool of Money' (which helped explain the 2008 financial crisis), 'The Planet Money T-Shirt Project,' and 'The Invention of Money.' These episodes showcase the show's ability to make economics thrilling.
Where should I start with Planet Money?
Start with 'The Giant Pool of Money' or 'The Invention of Money' for classics, or pick any recent episode that catches your eye. Each one is a self-contained story about 20-30 minutes long.
How long are Planet Money episodes?
Most episodes run 20-30 minutes, making them perfect for commutes. Despite the short format, each episode tells a complete, compelling economic story.
