The Verge's Decoder podcast interviews GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan, who took the helm in March 2020 just as the coronavirus pandemic upended American life. The conversation explores how the platform has evolved into what host Nilay Patel calls a "load-bearing part of American culture," reflecting deep problems in the US social safety net, most notably a strained healthcare system, while also serving as a hub during periods of political unrest and global crises.

Cadogan reveals that medical expenses are GoFundMe's single most popular fundraising category, not only in the United States but across all 20 countries where it operates, suggesting healthcare funding gaps are a global rather than uniquely American issue. The interview examines the tension inherent in GoFundMe's position: it operates as a for-profit business, charging fees and tips and facing growth pressures, even as it plays an increasingly central role in helping people cover everything from medical bills to community needs and geopolitical crises.