Whenever we replay an old episode like we're doing today with one of my all-time

favorite conversations with Send them Al-Anatan I always had a few words of context at the beginning to give listeners an idea why we chose this particular episode.

And with Sendel, I thought, I'll just say, he's one of my absolute favorite people in the world.

But then I had the good sense to re-listen to our original conversation, only to realize

that is the exact phrase I use to introduce Sendel in the original episode a few years ago.

For me, there's no one more fun to talk to than Sendel.

I am especially excited about today's episode because my guest is Sandal Mullenaten, one of my absolute favorite people in the world.

Sandal is a world-class economist a MacArthur genius recipient and holds a university

professorship at the University of Chicago at this special position reserved for only the

most highly esteemed faculty, only 10 of the most highly esteemed faculty members have that title.

What makes Sento so special?

His mix of brilliance and childlike curiosity make him unlike anyone I've ever known. His research reflects his

curiosity. He's written about everything from racial bias and artificial intelligence algorithms

to the psychological effects of poverty, from the determinants of CEO pay to corruption and who gets a driver's license in India.

Welcome to people I mostly admire with Steve Levitt.

I've known Sandal for 25 years, but it wasn't until he left Harvard to come to the University of Chicago a few years back that I came to fully appreciate

him.

Lots of people are interesting if you only talk to them once a year, but not many people can

make everyday conversation fascinating. He just never fails to

amaze me with his creativity and breath of knowledge and I'm quite confident that

once you hear him talk, you'll agree. Sandal, I always eagerly look forward to our first

first there's always something that has you so excited you can barely contain yourself

...