{"podcast":{"title":"1440 Explores","slug":"1440-explores-7519516","podcast_index_feed_id":7519516,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/IEDEA1893933926","website_url":"https://shows.acast.com/1440-explores","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/12f63686-0c63-11f1-89bd-072719b2b20b/image/b83246d6e2f20482cc78b373d973abfd.jpeg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"1440 Media","episode_count":15,"summary":"1440 Explores is a sonic encyclopedia for the insatiably curious. Each episode delivers essential knowledge on the most fascinating topics of our time, weaving history, science, and insight from the best experts to help you make sense of the world. From the mysteries of the mind to the forces shaping society, 1440 Explores informs and inspires with stories worth sharing. Produced in collaboration with Rhyme Media. Continue learning at join1440.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-04T18:18:31.864242+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/1440-explores-7519516"},"episode":{"title":"Credit Cards: The Story Behind the Plastic","slug":"credit-cards-the-story-behind-the-plastic","published_at":"2025-10-09T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/1440-explores-7519516/credit-cards-the-story-behind-the-plastic","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/1440-explores-7519516","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/IEDEA9678794869.mp3","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/IEDEA9678794869.mp3","summary":"Credit cards feel like magic—tap, swipe, approved. But behind that split-second ding is one of the most complex financial systems ever built. We unpack how your $5 latte triggers a global relay between banks and networks like Visa and Mastercard, trace the 1958 campaign that jump-started the credit card revolution, and reveal how a trillion-dollar system quietly shapes the way we spend. From interest rates to rewards points, this is the hidden story of money in motion—and how a small piece of plastic changed the world. Guest: Sean Vanatta, senior lecturer in financial history and policy at the University of Glasgow and author of Plastic Capitalism, Banks, Credit Cards, and the End of Financial Control. Background reading: https://join1440.com/t/credit-cards Credits: 1440 Explores is a production of Rhyme Media for 1440 Media, hosted by Sony Kassam. This episode was produced by Nicolo Majnoni. It was fact-checked by Sanam Skelly. Our sound designer is Jay Cowit. The executive producer at Rhyme is Dan Bobkoff, and the executive producers at 1440 are Sony Kassam and Drew Steigerwald. Follow us for more curiosity-driven stories: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@1440daily Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1440daily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1440Daily/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1440daily About 1440: 1440 is a community for the knowledge-obsessed, helping curious people stay informed and inspired daily. We live in an era of limitless information, yet limited understanding. Algorithms decide what we see. Misinformation spreads faster than the truth. The tools meant to expand knowledge often distort it. Enter 1440: a knowledge collective built on curiosity, connection, and care for the truth. Here, facts matter, thinking is valued, and people come together to…","meta_description":"Credit cards feel like magic—tap, swipe, approved. But behind that split-second ding is one of the most complex financial systems ever built. We unpack ho…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1705,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/1440-explores-7519516/episodes/credit-cards-the-story-behind-the-plastic/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/1440-explores-7519516/credit-cards-the-story-behind-the-plastic.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}