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A comedian and an economist walk into a bar... and somehow, you learn more about inflation than in all your years of school. And, unlike your student loans, this round is on us.
Welcome to Happy Hour Econ from Free To Choose Network, where comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness serve up weekly shots of economic reality with a chaser of sanity. No PowerPoints, no pretense—just two guys who've figured out that the best way to understand why everything costs more is to stop taking it so seriously.
While politicians promise solutions and pundits peddle panic, Lou and Phil cut through the noise with the kind of clear-eyed perspective that only comes from a duo who's seen it all before. Lou brings the punchlines. Phil brings the receipts. Together, they explain why your grocery bill keeps climbing, why "free" government programs aren't, and how the same economic principles that govern happy hour pricing also explain most of what's wrong with the world.
This isn't economics made simple. It's economics made honest. The result is a conversation that treats important topics with respect, but never forgets that sometimes the best response to economic nonsense is a well-timed joke.
Pour yourself a drink, pull up a stool, and join Happy Hour Econ—because understanding the economy shouldn’t require a Ph.D. or a hangover.
Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify December 2025.
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Recent Episodes
Lights, Camera, No Thanks
Hollywood has a problem. Star Wars just posted its worst domestic opening in the Disney era, the cost of an afternoon or night out at the multiplex keeps climbing, and somewhere in a boardroom,…
That’ll Cost You
Vacations? In this economy? Rising inflation, spikes in fuel prices, airline closures (RIP Spirit Airlines), and a whole host of other factors have people feeling the budget crunch as schools let out…
Tax the Rich!
We already tax the rich. Like, a lot. The top 1% pays over 40% of their income in federal taxes while shouldering more than 80% of the federal government's revenue. So why does everyone keep yelling…
California, You Used To Be Cool
Used to be, California was a land of freedom and opportunity. A place where you could go to escape the oppressive regulatory regimes of the East. Today, it’s a different story. “Petty” crimes get…
Housing Histrionics
“The rent is too darn high.” We hear a lot about a “housing affordability crisis” in the U.S. And to be fair, in some places around the country, particularly certain urban areas, the cost to rent or…
Food Desert Desertion?
Look, we all need to eat. Where there are people, there is a built-in demand for sustenance. Therefore, the existence of “food deserts” is obviously the result of late-stage capitalism deliberately…
...To The Moon!
With the successful execution of Artemis II, manned space exploration is back on the scene. But sending humans to the moon raises a whole host of questions. Why are we doing this? Why did we ever do…
In The Weed(s)
It’s 4/20, and you know what that means! Love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in the middle, the simple fact is that marijuana—or cannabis, or weed, or even the Devil’s Lettuce—is having a very real…
Viva Las Vegas
If you tried to describe Las Vegas, Nevada, to someone who’d never heard of it, the city would seem like a fever dream lifted straight out of a completely unhinged novel. In the middle of a desolate…
The Population Dud
What happens when bold predictions of global catastrophe meet…reality? In this episode of Happy Hour Econ, a comedian and an economist take a hilarious yet insightful deep dive into The Population…
Don't Bust My Gas
Why are gas prices so high—and why does it feel like they never come back down? In this episode of Happy Hour Econ, comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness break down the real reasons behind…
Busted Brackets
This week on Happy Hour Econ, the brackets are busted, the probabilities are brutal, and your leftover lasagna might actually have better odds than your Final Four picks.Why is it nearly impossible…
Not Today, DSA
In this episode of Happy Hour Econ, comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness walk into a bar… and accidentally start a 25-minute debate about socialism. Oops.With the Democratic Socialists of…
Trains in Vain
Why do Americans not choo-choo-choose trains?In this episode of Happy Hour Econ, comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness climb aboard the great American train debate and ask a simple question:…
Tariff Whiffs
In this episode of Happy Hour Econ, comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness swap Olympic highlights for tariff takedowns—and somehow make constitutional law feel like a bar bet you didn’t know…
Boycott This Episode
Are you boycotting us right now?From the Boston Tea Party to the Super Bowl halftime show heard ’round the internet (featuring global superstar Bad Bunny), the guys break down what boycotts are, how…
It Takes an Olympic Village
What’s the real cost of hosting the Winter Olympics? Why do cities go billions into debt for two weeks of figure skating and curling? And are Olympic gold medals actually… plastic?In this…
ARTificial Intelligence
Can artificial intelligence replace artists, comedians, or even George Carlin? 🤖🍸In this episode of Happy Hour Econ, comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magnus dive into the economics of AI,…
You Can Call Me A.I.
Is ChatGPT a productivity tool, a plagiarism machine, or the first step toward a robot apocalypse?On this episode of Happy Hour Econ, comedian Lou Perez and economist Phil Magness dive into how…
WTF is the WEF?
WTF is the World Economic Forum—and why does it feel like every James Bond villain vacations there?From global elites and technocrats to climate change policy, net zero, and the infamous “you’ll own…
Frequently Asked Questions
Happy Hour Econ has published 24 episodes since December 2025, covering topics in Business, Comedy.
Happy Hour Econ is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 29m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Happy Hour Econ, including email and social media links.
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