Make Me Smart

Kimberly Adams
podcasts@americanpublicmedia.org (+2 verified host & producer emails)

Booking Overview

Make Me Smart breaks down what’s happening in tech, the economy, and culture with a newsroom-style explainer format. It’s a strong platform for experts who can translate complex issues into clear public-interest takeaways.

Metrics

Episodes: 250

Frequency: Multiple_weekly

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Estimated listeners: >100k

Gender skew: Neutral

Location: USA

YouTube: 161.0k subscribers

Instagram: 83.0k followers

30s Ad: 2811 - 3486, 60s Ad: 3373 - 4048

Host

Kimberly Adams - Host of Make Me Smart for public media, leading weekday explainers on technology, the economy, and culture alongside Marketplace colleagues. Typically moderates discussions that connect timely issu...

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Journalists, authors, and domain experts (founders/industry practitioners) who can explain market, tech, or cultural dynamics in accessible terms for a general audience.
Required Achievements:  
Published books or major reporting credits, Founded or led a tech/media venture, Recognized journalism work in mainstream or business outlets

Recent Guest Discussions

Dan Runcie - Online Hype In Music Marketing; Distinguishing Real Vs Fake Engagement; Digital Marketing Tactics And Audience Trust

Julie Belcove - The Global Art Market’s Shift From Pandemic Boom To Bust; Gallery Closures; Economic Forces Shaping The Arts Sector

David Brancaccio - Host Transition Context; Career Reflections On Economics On-air And Future Coverage Focus

Recent Topics

Economy, Technology, Culture, Markets, Media, Psychology, Innovation, Consumer, Global, Arts

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Make Me Smart
:

The TikTok-ification of music marketing

May 14, 2026

Recent controversy surrounding the rock band Geese and a digital marketing firm Chaotic Good Projects has sparked debate over the tactics firms use to drum up hype for artists online. How can we tell if online hype is real or fake? And does it really matter? Trapital founder Dan Runcie joins Kimberly to break it down. Plus, a final thank you from Kimberly.Here’s everything we talked about today:"Geese psyop debate: Rock band raises questions about music marketing" from Fast Company"Fake Fans"...

The highs and lows of the global art market

May 12, 2026

After a pandemic-era boom, the fine art market is going through something of a bust. Many galleries have closed due to climbing overhead costs and sales just aren’t what they used to be. Author and freelance journalist Julie Belcove joins Kimberly to demystify the inner workings of the global art market and what a slump could mean for the those who work in the arts.

Kimberly's final cheers on "Economics on Tap"

May 08, 2026

As Kimberly gets ready to step into her new role as the host of “Marketplace Morning Report,” her predecessor David Brancaccio joins her to talk about his years on the morning shift and what he’s looking forward to on his new beat covering future effects for Marketplace. Plus, the two swap summer reading recommendations and play a round of Half Full/Half Empty!Here’s everything we talked about today:"Liar's Poker" by Michael Lewis"Number Go Up" by Zeke Faux"Pattern Recognition" by William Gib...

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