January 2026 Friday’s e-links: Meat Economics

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. These are my e-links.

Last updated 1/02/26

The podcast I recommend this week was a big surprise. About the history of meat, from Bloomberg’s Odd Lots, the subject has been ignored. And yet, described by the podcast’s narrative, meat has played a major role throughout U.S. economic development. With rice, deerskins were the leading colonial export. Deer were good to eat (as was bear bacon) and to wear. Centuries ago, we had long hunts, Daniel Boone, and Davy Crockett. John Jacob Astor started his fortune with the beaver trade. But now too, hunting remains a part of our culture and our economy. Ranging from investing to trade to regulation and conservation, meat has an economic side that is quite juicy.