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Episode 650: The Business Genius Behind Get Out

Jason Blum, Blumhouse Productions Steve Henn / NPR hide caption

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Planet Money

Episode 650: The Business Genius Behind Get Out

Jason Blum makes a lot of movies and makes them cheap. So why are so many turning into blockbusters?

Episode 650: The Business Genius Behind Get Out

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Planet Money

A/B Testing Goes Mainstream: Used By Stores, Campaigns, Even Schools

As our world moves more and more into the digital realm, industries that used to be aligned with art and craft are becoming more scientific. Design in particular is increasingly done by the numbers.

A/B Testing Goes Mainstream: Used By Stores, Campaigns, Even Schools

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After Paris Attacks, Encrypted Communication Is Back In Spotlight

CIA Director John Brennan made this case against encryption on Monday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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All Tech Considered

After Paris Attacks, Encrypted Communication Is Back In Spotlight

Security officials say the Paris attacks are an example why law enforcement needs to access encrypted data. Privacy advocates and the tech industry say such "back doors" are not the best solution.

After Paris Attacks, Encrypted Communication Is Back In Spotlight

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Business

App Allows Shy Students To Ask Questions Anonymously

Close to a million college kids use Piazza. Pooja Sankar, the apps' creator, says her company can't solve all the problems for women in computer science but she hopes it's making a difference.

App Allows Shy Students To Ask Questions Anonymously

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Planet Money

As New Tools Bust Down Barriers For The Blind, Schools Struggle To Keep Up

Apps can read a book aloud, and screen readers can translate websites into spoken language. These technologies have created opportunities for blind people, but many institutions have been slow to open up.

As New Tools Bust Down Barriers For The Blind, Schools Struggle To Keep Up

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National Security

Surge In Cyberattacks Signals Strength Of Iran's Hard-Liners

The U.S. has noticed an uptick in cyberattacks from Iran. The hacks seem to be from hard-liners in Iran hoping to undermine better relations with the West, possibly in backlash to the nuclear deal.

Surge In Cyberattacks Signals Strength Of Iran's Hard-Liners

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Planet Money

Tech Company Hyperloop Doesn't Pay Its Employees — At Least Not In Cash

We've come to expect a steady stream of flashy new gadgets from the booming tech sector, but another area of innovation in Silicon Valley is how we work, mainly the structure of our offices and companies. Planet Money tells the story of a company that has no employees, doesn't pay any salaries, but has hundreds of extremely talented workers nonetheless.

Tech Company Hyperloop Doesn't Pay Its Employees — At Least Not In Cash

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Planet Money

How Skyscraper Construction Ties Into Tech Bubbles

There's a lot of talk in Silicon Valley about a tech bubble.Our Planet Money podcast team examines one possible indicator of a bubble: architecture. Very, very tall architecture.

How Skyscraper Construction Ties Into Tech Bubbles

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Business

M. Night Shyamalan Embraces Latest Hollywood Trend: Low-Budget Films

Shyamalan's film The Visit has earned more than $25 million so far. It cost $5 million to shoot. We examine why the new movie might be better because it was made on a micro-budget.

M. Night Shyamalan Embraces Latest Hollywood Trend: Low-Budget Films

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Planet Money

How The Architect Of Netflix's Innovative Culture Lost Her Job To The System

Netflix is famous for pioneering a company culture that demands standout results from every employee. One of the architects of this philosophy ended up losing her job to the system she created.

How The Architect Of Netflix's Innovative Culture Lost Her Job To The System

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Planet Money

How Marketing Machines Can Make Lousy Movies Financially Successful

Planet Money was puzzled when it discovered that by one measure, the most profitable movie made in the last 5 years is also widely considered to be one of the worst. The film is: The Devil Inside.

How Marketing Machines Can Make Lousy Movies Financially Successful

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Business

Netflix's Parental Leave Plan Is Groundbreaking — And Unlikely To Spread

Netflix decision to offer unlimited paid leave to new parents grew out of a culture that already offered unlimited vacation. It's part of a plan to attract the most talented employees possible.

Netflix's Parental Leave Plan Is Groundbreaking — And Unlikely To Spread

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Planet Money

Letting Go Of The Wheel: How Google Is Easing People Into Self-Driving Cars

Google has begun testing a new self-driving car this summer that is designed to work without a steering wheel. But as the Planet Money team reports, the company's biggest challenge may be convincing Americans to hop inside.

Letting Go Of The Wheel: How Google Is Easing People Into Self-Driving Cars

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Planet Money

Remembering When Driverless Elevators Drew Skepticism

These days, the idea of a driverless car makes a lot of people nervous. Our Planet Money team goes back in time when automatic elevators made people just as worried.

Remembering When Driverless Elevators Drew Skepticism

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Planet Money

Baltimore Man's Plan To Fix Parking Problem Meets Opposition From Cities

A Baltimore man created an app that allowed people to sell their parking space after they left it. But many residents weren't thrilled with the idea of paying for a once free parking space.

Baltimore Man's Plan To Fix Parking Problem Meets Opposition From Cities

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