September 2018 Friday’s e-links: From the Story of Spanx to Trade and the Human Lifespan

Last updated 9/28/18

Every once in a while, (and sometimes each day) I listen to a great podcast, enjoy an article, or see a good video that I want to share with you.

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I like to think of them as my e-links:

Friday’s e-links (9/28):

1. As I continue listening to How I Built This, my favorite episode remains the half hour with Sara Blakely and the story of Spanx. From creating and naming her product to the clever ways she sold it (like having friends buy up all available at Neiman Marcus and then repaying them), her story is a good listen.
2.  I also recommend the Trade Talks podcast series from the Peterson Institute. The perfect source for anything on trade, it has the big picture and the good stories. Not always riveting, it is consistently interesting.
3. The one Trade Talks podcast that I will always remember involved a Delta response to a massive tariff on a Bombardier planes purchase.

Friday’s e-links (9/21):

1. My favorite podcast this week came from This American Life. I especially liked the second segment on Frank Borman (at 21 1/2 minutes). Now 90 years old, he looked back on his space flight with a wonderfully and surprisingly mellow outlook.
2. I discovered a new podcast series that is based in Australia. So far, having listened to “Hot or not: the economics of beauty” and another on the Australian view of China, I would say it was pretty good. It’s nice to hear the non-U.S. perspective.

Friday’s e-links (9/14):

1. My favorite podcast this week was from Crazy Genius, “Can We Extend Human Lifespans to 150?” Listening to the progress we have made toward living to 150, I was amazed, encouraged, and horrified. The issues are fascinating.

Friday’s e-links (9/07):

1. As a teacher, I found this article unsettling for many reasons.
2. This “shrink it and pink it” podcast was a good listen from New Hampshire Public Radio.