Wharton@Work

October 2025 | 

Faculty Insights, On Demand: Wharton’s Podcast Network

Faculty Insights, On Demand: Wharton’s Podcast Network

Wharton faculty are known for shaping the global conversation on business. With the launch of the Wharton Podcast Network, those ideas now travel farther and faster — delivered in short, focused episodes designed for how people learn today.

The network brings together several existing podcasts under a single umbrella while adding new series that expand the range of topics.

By bringing these shows together, the network offers listeners a single destination for Wharton expertise — whether they want a quick take on global business news, a deep dive into faculty research, or a fresh perspective on topics like sports analytics or AI.

Among the offerings:

  • Ripple Effect spotlights faculty research in an accessible way. Each 20-minute episode distills complex findings into insights relevant to everyday life — for example, why we trust, how we negotiate, or what drives consumer choice.
  • This Week in Business is a fast-turnaround series that taps faculty expertise to make sense of breaking developments in the global economy.
  • Moneyball, hosted by Cade Massey, Eric Bradlow, Adi Wyner, and Shane Jensen, applies analytics to the world of sports. A recent episode dove into the Phillies’ division-clinching season, while others have tackled college football, tennis, and the expanding role of data in professional sports.
  • Marketing Matters, with Barbara Kahn and Americus Reed, examines how companies build brands, reach consumers, and adapt to new technologies.
  • Where AI Works, created in partnership with Accenture, explores practical applications of artificial intelligence, offering executives a faculty-led guide through a fast-changing landscape.

Together, these shows reflect the breadth of Wharton scholarship, giving listeners the chance to follow the topics — and the faculty — that matter most to them.

Why It Matters

The network offers research-based insights in a format that fits today’s pace of work — focused conversations that translate Wharton expertise into actionable ideas. For many faculty, podcasting is also a way to share their research earlier and more directly than journal articles or books allow and to address current events while they unfold.

Consider the recent Ripple Effect episode on trust in the workplace, featuring professor Maurice Schweitzer. Decades of research on negotiation and influence condensed into 20 minutes made the topic instantly relevant for managers grappling with remote teams and shifting employee expectations.

Other shows tackle equally urgent themes. On Where AI Works, Wharton professors explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, from customer service to health care. Their conversations offer executives a practical, faculty-led guide through one of the most disruptive forces in business today.

Marketing professor Pete Fader, who joined the September 9 episode of Ripple Effect, says the format “lets us reach people who might never read a research paper but still want to apply these ideas to the challenges they face at work. That kind of accessibility is incredibly valuable.”

Senior Vice Dean Serguei Netessine, who hosted Season 2 of Where AI Works, underscores how Wharton is building not just reach, but capability: “What matters is not just making ideas available — it’s having the institutional capacity to listen, experiment, and scale. Our podcast network is a way to harness Wharton’s range of expertise and give listeners a fuller picture of the issues shaping business today.”

The current slate of five shows is just the beginning. As faculty and research centers experiment with the medium, the network is expected to grow. New series may emerge on topics such as finance, entrepreneurship, or health care — areas where Wharton scholarship is especially influential.

For now, the launch signals Wharton’s commitment to making faculty insights broadly accessible. As Fader puts it: “This isn’t just about Wharton talking — it’s about creating a platform where ideas travel, spark conversations, and make a real difference in how people think and lead.”