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PM does a pop culture draft: 1999 edition

Planet Money

1 DAYS AGO
Planet Money

Planet Money

1 DAYS AGO
In this lively episode, three Planet Money hosts turn back the clock to 1999 for a spirited pop culture draft, where every pick is a window into the economic currents beneath the year’s biggest hits and hidden trends.
The hosts dive into 1999’s cultural landscape through an economic lens, selecting movies, songs, and wild cards that reflect broader financial and societal patterns. Wailin champions *The Insider* for its corporate whistleblower narrative and later chooses *House Hunters*, which she argues reshaped American real estate desires. Jeff highlights *Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back* as a global export phenomenon and picks the Backstreet Boys’ 'I Want It That Way' to explore relational economics, before closing with Napster—a disruptive force that redefined music consumption. The discussion reveals how entertainment mirrored shifts in consumer behavior, gender dynamics in finance, and digital innovation, from viral horror marketing to failed dot-com ventures like Flooz.com. Each selection underscores the interplay between culture and economy, showing how 1999 laid groundwork for modern media and tech trends. In the end, Wailin’s cohesive, insightful lineup earns her a decisive victory.
03:15
03:15
Movies must be from the top 100 domestic grossing films of 1999.
13:40
13:40
The Blair Witch Project's micro-budget and viral marketing created a horror phenomenon.
18:50
18:50
The first Pokemon movie was a gateway to anime and a major cultural export
32:05
32:05
'No Scrubs' represents risk avoidance in relationships where financial contribution is unbalanced
40:07
40:07
Whoopi Goldberg was paid in Flooz currency and became its largest external shareholder.
44:58
44:58
Napster was a huge economic story that changed the music industry and led to platforms like Spotify