Broadcast Retirement Network

Can owning a pet actually lead to a happier, more fulfilling retirement? In this episode, we sit down with David Blanchett, Ph.D., CFA®, CFP®, Head of Retirement Research at Prudential Financial and Portfolio Manager at PGIM, to unpack fascinating new research on how dogs, cats, and other family pets impact life in retirement.

The U.S. spends 2–3 times more on healthcare than any other developed nation — but a groundbreaking new study shows some states are finally starting to slow the bleeding. In this episode, we sit down with John N. Mafi, MD, MPH, of UCLA Health, whose research reveals how five pioneering states implemented cost growth benchmark programs to bend the healthcare spending curve.

Most people think they understand Medicare — but a recent eHealth survey reveals a shocking knowledge gap that could cost you thousands of dollars. In this eye-opening conversation, Derrick Duke, CEO of eHealth, breaks down everything you need to know before turning 65, including the permanent 10% late enrollment penalty most people don't discover until it's too late, why skipping Part D prescription drug coverage is a costly mistake, and how Medicare plans change every year making an annual review essential.

AI is transforming the labor market — but what happens to the federal government's revenue when jobs disappear? In this interview, RAND's Carter Price, breaks down a new report he co-authored with colleague Akshaya Suresh examining how AI-driven labor disruptions could threaten the roughly two-thirds of federal revenue that comes from taxes on wages and payroll.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Lawrence Quill, co-director of the Loneliness Project at San Jose State University dives deep into the modern loneliness epidemic and the surprising role technology plays as both the cause and potential cure. Drawing on ancient philosophy and cutting-edge insights, we explore why so many people—from the "feral generation" to Gen Z—feel more isolated than ever, how our phones and social media may be quietly rewiring our relationships, and whether AI companions and chatbots could genuinely ease loneliness or make it worse.

What is your child's school app really doing with their data? BYU Information Systems Professor Justin Giboney breaks down a groundbreaking study—conducted with Mark Keith and the Utah State Board of Education—that compared what EdTech apps promised against their actual network traffic, uncovering student data flowing to advertisers, data brokers, and identity-resolution firms, often without app makers realizing it. policymaker.

A clear, practical look at the largest farmland transfer in generations and what it means for you. President of Farmers National Company Paul Schadegg explains how America's farmers are doing today, breaks down the scale of the coming generational wealth transfer, and reveals whether landowners are truly prepared to pass down their land. You'll learn how to assemble the right team of professionals, why location and state-specific rules can dramatically affect your outcome, and what really happens when an owner dies without an estate plan. Plus, you'll walk away with actionable advice for younger farmers and a reminder of why revisiting your plan regularly is essential to protecting your land, your legacy, and your family's future.

What happens when the tools you built start to outpace you? Astronomer J. Xavier Prochaska, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, reveals how artificial intelligence is transforming science at breathtaking speed — writing code, drafting research proposals, and uncovering exoplanets in decades-old data — pushing him to work "100 times" faster than ever before.

In this interview, Andrew G. Biggs, PhD., Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains why the number of workers without a 401(k) or other formal retirement plan doesn’t tell the whole story. He discusses how age, income, student loans, homeownership, inflation, and other financial priorities influence when people save.

Can AI accurately measure America's retirement readiness? In this episode, we put Claude Opus 4.8 to the test on key questions about the U.S. workforce and retirement coverage, then had one of the nation's leading retirement economists fact-check every number. Our guest, Andrew G. Biggs, PhD, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, breaks down where the AI got it right, where it fell short, and what the real data actually reveals about how prepared Americans truly are for retirement.