Happy Hour Econ

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.