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Julia Ritchey/Courtesy of KUER

Julia Ritchey

Associate Producer

Julia Ritchey is an audio journalist with 15 years experience reporting, editing and podcasting all over the country. She's reported from eight states and all four U.S. time zones, most recently at Nashville Public Radio, Tennessee's largest NPR affiliate, overseeing the station's policy, environmental and education beats.

Ritchey previously worked as a producer for NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money in 2021, and served as an editor on the top-rated climate podcast Drilled. Her work has appeared on NPR, AP, Here & Now, Voice of America and many more outlets. For fun, Ritchey likes to binge reality TV, earn splat points at Orange Theory Fitness and hike with her beagle Bodhi, named after Patrick Swayze's character in Point Break.

Story Archive

Thursday

An asylum seeker's long road to a work permit
Darian Woods/NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

An asylum seeker's long road to a work permit

There are currently just under 65,000 migrants in New York City's shelter system, stretching the city's outworn social service systems. Today on the show, we follow one asylum seeker's journey from Venezuela to New York and explore why the process is lengthy and complicated.

An asylum seeker's long road to a work permit

Listen · 9:18
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Tuesday

What military brats tell us about social mobility
NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

What military brats tell us about social mobility

Children of U.S. military families, a.k.a. brats, are known for their adaptability when relocating to new neighborhoods and schools every few years. This migratory population became the basis for brand new research on how the neighborhood you grew up in affects your economic success later in life. Today on the show, how a place influences your financial destiny.

What military brats tell us about social mobility

Listen · 9:22
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Wednesday

The two companies driving the modern economy

A closeup of a silicon wafer on display at Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institution on September 16, 2022 in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images hide caption

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Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

Planet Money

The two companies driving the modern economy

At the core of most of the electronics we use today are some very tiny, very powerful chips. Semiconductor chips. And they are mighty: they help power our phones, laptops, and cars. They enable advances in healthcare, military systems, transportation, and clean energy. And they're also critical for artificial intelligence, providing the hardware needed to train complex machine learning.

The two companies driving the modern economy

Listen · 20:15
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Monday

How the end of Roe is reshaping the medical workforce
Paul Morigi/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

How the end of Roe is reshaping the medical workforce

It's been two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the right to an abortion, triggering a parade of restrictions and bans in conservative-led states. Today on the show, how the medical labor force is changing post-Roe and why graduating medical students, from OB-GYNs to pediatricians, are avoiding training in states with abortion bans.

How the end of Roe is reshaping the medical workforce

Listen · 9:30
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Monday

The tower of NVIDIA
SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

The tower of NVIDIA

For a moment last week, semiconductor chip designer NVIDIA eclipsed Microsoft to become the world's most valuable company. How did it get there?

The tower of NVIDIA

Listen · 9:27
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Thursday

A captive market: The high price of prison phone calls

While Jovaan Lumpkin was in prison, his mother spent thousands of dollars in phone calls to stay connected. His mom, Diane Lewis, continues to advocate to make these calls free for prisoners and their families. Adrian Ma/NPR hide caption

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Adrian Ma/NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

A captive market: The high price of prison phone calls

When Diane Lewis' son, Jovaan, was sentenced to prison, she told him to call her every day. What he didn't know at the time is that those collect calls often meant Diane was unable to pay her other bills. Today on the show, how prison phone calls got so expensive, and the movement to make them free.

A captive market: The high price of prison phone calls

Listen · 8:46
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Tuesday

Invest like a Congress member
Darian Woods/NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

Invest like a Congress member

There are some new funds that track stock trading by members of Congress and their family. So we thought, why don't we get in on that? Today on the show, we crack open the Planet Money Investment Jar to learn more about how our political leaders play the market, investing in funds tracking Democratic and Republican stock trades.

Invest like a Congress member

Listen · 9:30
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Thursday

Is Google search getting worse?
Don Ryan/AP Photo

The Indicator from Planet Money

Is Google search getting worse?

There are many anecdotal complaints about Google search not being what it used to be. A German computer scientist and his colleagues put this theory to the test recently focusing on product reviews. Today on the show, we bring their findings to Google's chief search scientist.

Is Google search getting worse?

Listen · 9:05
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Friday

Ghost jobs
Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Ghost jobs

Today's jobs report shows a slight rise in unemployment to 4%. And some frustrated job seekers are growing tired of applying for job after job with no replies, sometimes asking whether the listings are even real. And this isn't just vexing for applicants. It's also haunting economists when trying to figure out how much slack there is in the labor market, and whether interest rates should be raised or lowered. Today on the show: the rise of ghost jobs. Where they're happening and why.

Ghost jobs

Listen · 9:03
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Monday

Unveiling our mascot's new name and merch!

Meet Indy, your friendly economic sidekick. Sign up for Planet Money+ to get access to our new Indicator plushie and other merch. NPR hide caption

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NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

Unveiling our mascot's new name and merch!

MERCH! You asked for it. We got it. After rebranding our podcast earlier this year, we decided it was time to create our own merch. On today's show, a brief oral history of early merch, how to score an Indicator t-shirt, and the winning name of our new mascot.

Unveiling our mascot's new name and merch!

Listen · 9:03
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Tuesday

Can dental therapists fill the gap in oral care?
Olivier DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Can dental therapists fill the gap in oral care?

Dental therapists have been practicing in other parts of the world for decades, but in the U.S. they are relatively few and far between. Like a hygienist, dental therapists can do cleanings as well as some procedures usually reserved for dentists, like simple extractions. They could also be the solution to getting underserved, rural communities better oral care. Today on the show, new momentum for dental therapy and why the American Dental Association is pushing back.

Can dental therapists fill the gap in oral care?

Listen · 9:11
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Tuesday

AI Tupac and the murky legality of digital necromancy
Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

AI Tupac and the murky legality of digital necromancy

With a few clicks of AI software, anyone can conjure the voice or visual likeness of a dead celebrity — or really anyone. This new world has opened up a bunch of new legal questions about the rights of people and their heirs to control digital replicas of themselves. Today on the show, how a Drake diss track featuring the voice of Tupac made it into the Congressional record, and how it may lead to more regulation of AI.

AI Tupac and the murky legality of digital necromancy

Listen · 9:32
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Monday

Building generational wealth in rural America
Stephan Bisaha/Gulf States Newsroom

The Indicator from Planet Money

Building generational wealth in rural America

Homes are not just where we eat and sleep, but one of the primary ways people build generational wealth in the U.S. But with home shortages and harsh climates, rural America's path to building that wealth looks a little different than other parts of the country. Today on the show, we focus in on housing challenges in Alabama's Black Belt and one innovative solution to preserving generational wealth.

Building generational wealth in rural America

Listen · 9:25
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Monday

How Colorado towns are trying to get some water certainty

The Shoshone Generating Station, a hydroelectric power plant on the Colorado River east of Glenwood Canyon. (Alex Hager, KUNC) Alex Hager/KUNC hide caption

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Alex Hager/KUNC

The Indicator from Planet Money

How Colorado towns are trying to get some water certainty

In Western Colorado, towns and farms are banding together to pay a hundred million dollars for water they don't intend to use. Today on the show, how scarcity, climate change and a first-dibs system of water management is forcing towns, farms and rural residents to get spendy.

How Colorado towns are trying to get some water certainty

Listen · 9:33
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Thursday

Inside the epic fight over new banking regulations
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Inside the epic fight over new banking regulations

After the financial crisis of 2008, regulators around the world agreed banks should have more of a cushion to weather hard times. Now, U.S. regulators are once again looking to update minimum capital requirements through a set of proposals called Basel III Endgame. Today, on the show, a blow-by-blow account of this battle between bankers and regulators.

Inside the epic fight over new banking regulations

Listen · 9:29
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Tuesday

What is a 'freedom economy'?

Attendees visit booths at the RePlatform conference in Las Vegas in March. The conference crowd was a hybrid of anti-vaccine activists, supporters of former President Donald Trump and Christian conservatives. Krystal Ramirez for NPR hide caption

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Krystal Ramirez for NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

What is a 'freedom economy'?

Anti-vaccine activists, far-right groups and some religious conservatives convened in Las Vegas this spring to discuss the creation of a parallel economy. These are groups who believe their speech is threatened by big banks and big tech. On today's show, what is a "freedom economy," and how would it work?

What is a 'freedom economy?'

Listen · 9:31
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Tuesday

What do the royals do all day, anyway?

Photo by Jacob King - WPA Pool/Getty Images WPA Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

What do the royals do all day, anyway?

You've heard of the British royal family, but what about the "working royals?" Today on the show, an expert on the royals explains what the job is like — how they measure productivity, how they get paid, and how this tiny, specialized workforce of 11 people might cope with the health crises of King Charles III and Kate Middleton.

What do the royal do all day, anyway?

Listen · 9:09
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Friday

Do I need a four-year degree?
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Do I need a four-year degree?

The U.S. labor market continues its hot streak, adding 303,000 jobs last month — more than expected. Many of these jobs will require a four-year degree despite a push among some employers to eliminate these requirements. On today's show, we look at the state of the job market for people without a four-year college degree.

Do I need a four-year degree?

Listen · 9:25
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Monday

Name our mascot. No, really.

Send us naming suggestions for The Indicator's new mascot: Indi-Gator! NPR/NPR hide caption

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NPR/NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

Name our mascot. No, really.

You might notice we're looking a little refreshed thanks to our new podcast logo. Today on the show, we ask some marketing experts what goes into building a strong brand, and whether our own makeover hits the mark.

Name our mascot. No, really.

Listen · 9:18
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Wednesday

When does youth employment become child labor?
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

When does youth employment become child labor?

The number of teenagers in the workforce today is at its highest level in about 20 years. At the same time, child labor violations are up and states are relaxing some protections for their youngest workers. On today's show, we examine the state of the Gen Z labor force, and the distinction between youth employment and child labor.

When does youth employment become child labor?

Listen · 9:05
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Friday

Biden's economic pitch for a second term
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

Biden's economic pitch for a second term

It's Indicators of the Week, our up close and personal examination of economic headlines. Today we have three indicators from President Joe Biden's economic agenda. His budget proposals include fixes for childcare, home buying and hiking corporate taxes.

Biden's economic pitch for a second term

Listen · 9:31
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Wednesday

Wind boom, wind bust (Two Windicators)

Technician Konnor Therriault inside of a Vestas wind turbine in Bingham, Maine. Darian Woods/NPR hide caption

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Darian Woods/NPR

Planet Money

Wind boom, wind bust (Two Windicators)

The wind power business is a bit contradictory right now. It's showing signs of boom and bust seemingly all at once.

Wind boom, wind bust (Two Windicators)

Listen · 16:33
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Friday

Why wind techs are so in demand

Reporter Darian Woods and wind turbine technician Konnor Therriault at the base of a Vestas wind turbine in Bingham, Maine. (Photo by Matthew Copeman) Matthew Copeman/Matthew Copeman hide caption

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Matthew Copeman/Matthew Copeman

The Indicator from Planet Money

Why wind techs are so in demand

The job that's projected to be the fastest-growing in the U.S. is wind turbine service technician. So we wanted to learn what they actually do. Today on the show, reporter Darian Woods travels to a windy corner of Maine for a day in the life of one of these green-collar jobs.

Why wind techs are so in demand

Listen · 9:11
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Tuesday

How the SEC's new rule could reveal more about a company's emissions
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Indicator from Planet Money

How the SEC's new rule could reveal more about a company's emissions

The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to issue new rules this week on how companies disclose their greenhouse gas emissions. This is part of a broader movement for more environmentally and socially conscious financial options, known as ESG investing. Today on the show, what the proposed climate disclosure rule says, why it's so controversial, and if it passes, what that'll mean for investors and the stock market.

How the SEC's new rule could reveal more about a company's emissions

Listen · 8:42
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