Global Finance
The best explanation of the financial crisis can be found on NPR.Like the housing crisis, NPR's popular new business-reporting unit began with a Giant Pool of Money. The so-named 2008 radio special provided the clearest, most logical explanation of the housing crisis around. Plus, somehow the explanation was fun, like eavesdropping on two very smart friends chatting over a beer. It helps that hosts Adam Davidson and Alex Blumberg actually are old friends, interested more in human experience than in portfolio movements.A producer at This American Life, Alex Blumberg's stock-in-trade is personal stories, catching intimate moments of self-discovery on tape. But in 2008, he became obsessed with the idea that America was in a housing bubble about to burst. He ranted about it to his friends, and to his wife, until nobody wanted to hear it anymore-except Adam Davidson."His passion for finance bloomed when he realized that there were human-impact stories behind the earnings reports and stock surges."Davidson is a business reporter for NPR, albeit a reluctant one. Raised in all-artist housing in New York's Greenwich Village, he wasn't exactly wired for the field. "Frankly, I was raised to think that people who cared about this stuff were either frustrated artists or just really boring, greedy people," he says. But his passion for finance bloomed when he realized that there were human-impact stories behind the earnings reports, stock surges or, say, a potential housing crash. So the pair decided to spend six weeks turning Blumberg's bubble obsession into a narrative for This American Life.The program came at a time when America could smell a looming economic catastrophe but even educated businesspeople couldn't grasp how it had come to be, and it was such a hit that NPR wanted more of it. Within four months, Planet Money was born as a podcast and an on-air reporting unit. Davidson remembers the launch: "I think it said [we had] three listeners, and I know I downloaded it twice." They've since grown to more than a million monthly downloads and a staff of seven. As the economy moves from crisis to calm, they plan to keep the casual explanatory style, but focus on a broader range of topics; trips are already planned for Africa and China. Indeed, Planet Money is going global.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
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Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.