Why have NFTs captured the American imagination? What can the recent instability in the NFT market tell us about the history of speculative bubbles?  Heather and Joanne put the NFT craze in context with other American financial booms & busts, from the Panic of 1792, to the 1890s Yukon Gold Rush, to the late 1990s dot-com bubble.  Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that formed the episode. Head to: cafe.com/history For more historical analysis of current events, sign up for the free weekly CAFE Brief newsletter, featuring Time Machine, a weekly article that dives into an historical event inspired by each episode of Now & Then: cafe.com/brief For references & supplemental materials, head to: cafe.com/now-and-then/the-mirage-of-money-or-nfts-wtf Now & Then is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices