BlackEcon101

Before It Hits Your Wallet: The Real Warning Behind Rising PPI

Inflation isn’t gone—it’s moving upstream. This episode breaks down rising PPI, what it signals about future prices, and why small businesses and young people will feel the squeeze first, all while the Fed holds rates steady.

Mamdani, Money, and New York: Politics That Speak to the People

In this episode of BlackEcon 101, hosts Amza and Sol sit down with Malika Ramadina, a campaign finance intern at FK&Co, to unpack one of the most interesting conversations in politics right now: Zohran Mamdani, New York City, and the future of business and political leadership. Together, they explore why Mamdani’s rise has captured so much attention, what his approach says about the Democratic Party, and how his ideas around cutting red tape could reshape opportunities for small businesses and young entrepreneurs in New York. The conversation also dives into political relatability, representation, local economies, and what it means for a politician to truly speak to the people.

New Voices, Same Mission: Meet the Spring 2026 Intern Cohort

The podcast continues — with a new team behind the mic.

In this episode, we introduce ourselves as the latest cohort of interns at Creative Investment Research. Coming from diverse academic backgrounds — economics, international affairs, data science, and law — we share what brought us here and what we hope to contribute.

From attending Supreme Court hearings on Federal Reserve independence to working on economic dashboards, social return research, and community-focused initiatives, we reflect on how this internship is shaping our understanding of policy, inequality, and impact.

This season, we aim to make the podcast more dynamic — bringing humor, real conversations, student perspectives, and deeper discussions about economics, politics, and the world we’re inheriting.

New voices. Same commitment to impact.
And this is just the beginning.

Trump's Tax Dividends and a Semester Recap

Join Isabela Butler (@GonzagaU), Shea Carlberg (@GWtweets), and Vanessa Muturi (@WilliamsCollege ) discuss Trumps new proposed tax dividends and end the semester with a recap of events attended throughout the semester.

Lisa Cook, the Fed, and the Fight Over Independent Institutions

Interns Isabela Butler (Gonzaga University) and Vanessa Muturi (Williams College) discuss the recent legal battles between Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and President Donald Trump's attempts to remove her from her post and its broader implications for U.S. governance. Isabela and Vanessa unpack the allegations, court rulings, market reactions, and political motivations surrounding the first-ever attempt to oust a Federal Reserve governor. This episode covers why this case matters for monetary policy, institutional norms, and the credibility of the Federal Reserve at a pivotal moment in American politics.

2025 Government Shutdown Recap

CIR Interns Vanessa (Williams College), Isabela (Gonzaga University), Diya, and Shea (both from George Washington University) cover the 2025 US government shutdown - the longest in US history - from a young person's perspective. 

BlackEcon101-July Unemployment Numbers

In this episode of BlackEcon101, listen as William Michael Cunningham, joined by Gabriel Philipp, looks to break down the latest unemployment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (for July). Together, they unpack what these figures reveal about the state of the U.S. economy, explore the broader economic implications, and dive into how these trends specifically affect minority communities. Tune in for timely insights and thoughtful analysis at the intersection of data and equity.

BlackEcon101- Amicus Brief

On this episode of BlackEcon101, listen to William Michael Cunningham, Connor Stout, and Gabriel Philipp discuss the current Amicus Brief being filed, and an in-depth conversation about current environmental policy and environmental impacts we are seeing in America.