Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ o ...
…
continue reading
Freakonomics Radio Stitcher Podcasts
Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down other high achievers for surprising, revealing conversations about their lives and obsessions. Join Levitt as he goes through the most interesting midlife crisis you’ve ever heard — and learn how a renegade sheriff is transforming Chicago's jail, how a biologist is finding the secrets of evolution in the Arctic tundra, and how a trivia champion memorized 160,000 flashcards. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a m ...
…
continue reading
Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of "Grit") and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So they have a podcast where they can ask each other as many “stupid questions” as they want. New episodes each week. "No Stupid Questions" is a production of the Freakonomics Radio Network. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Rad ...
…
continue reading
From the podcast that explores the hidden side of everything, hear authors like you’ve never heard them before. Stephen Dubner and a stable of Freakonomics friends talk with the writers of mind-bending books, and we hear the best excerpts as well. You’ll learn about skill versus chance, the American discomfort with death, the secret life of dogs, and much more. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free tria ...
…
continue reading
Each week, physician, economist, and author of "Random Acts of Medicine" Dr. Bapu Jena will dig into a fascinating study at the intersection of economics and healthcare. He takes on questions like: Why do kids with summer birthdays get the flu more often? Can surviving a hurricane help you live longer? What do heart surgery and grocery-store pricing have in common?
…
continue reading
Dog-cognition expert and bestselling author Alexandra Horowitz (Inside of a Dog) takes us on a walk into the scruffy, curious, joyful world of dogs. What does it mean to "own" a dog? Can dogs demonstrate genuine heroism? And what is it like to experience reality primarily through smell? Off Leash is a delightful and surprising look at the deeply familiar, profoundly mysterious animals who walk alongside us.
…
continue reading
Journalism wrapped in a game-show package. Host Stephen J. Dubner (of “Freakonomics Radio”) and a celebrity co-host invite guests on stage in front of a live audience to tell us something we don’t know. The co-hosts — a mix of leaders in science, academia, sports, media, and comedy — grill the guests, and by the end we’ve all gotten a bit smarter. Each episode has a new topic, a new co-host, and new guests. There’s also a real-time human fact-checker to keep everyone honest. Think of the mos ...
…
continue reading
The Columbia University sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh studies exclusive worlds by embedding himself — with a crack-selling gang, sex workers, the teenage children of billionaires, and most recently, at the highest levels of companies at the vanguard of the digital revolution, including Facebook and Twitter. And now he’s hosting a podcast. In each episode, Venkatesh will reveal what he learned in Silicon Valley and talk with the people he met along the way who are building and running the digi ...
…
continue reading
Also: Angela accidentally discovers the secret to a good night’s sleep. This episode originally aired on May 2, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
1
Dying Is Easy. Retail Is Hard. (Update)
1:02:17
1:02:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:17Macy’s wants to recapture its glorious past. The author of the Wimpy Kid books wants to rebuild his dilapidated hometown. We just want to listen in. (Part two of a two-part series, first published in 2024) SOURCES: Mark Cohen, former professor and director of retail studies at Columbia Business School. Will Coss, vice president and executive produc…
…
continue reading
1
Is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Its Most Valuable Asset? (Update)
52:31
52:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:31The iconic department store calls the parade its “gift to the nation.” With 30 million TV viewers, it’s also a big moneymaker — at least we think it is: when it comes to parade economics, Macy’s is famously tight-lipped. In this 2024 episode, we try to loosen them up. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES: John Cheney, carpenter at Macy’s Studio…
…
continue reading
1
49. How Does Facing Death Change Your Life?
39:01
39:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:01Also: why are we so bad at assessing risk? This episode originally aired on April 25, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
1
171. Measuring Pollution on Parallel Earths
56:01
56:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:01Michael Greenstone knows it’s corny, but he wants to make the world a better place — by tracking the impact of air quality, developing pollution markets in India, and … starting a podcast, which Steve says proves he’s over the hill. SOURCES: Michael Greenstone, professor of economics at the University of Chicago. RESOURCES: "New evidence on the imp…
…
continue reading
1
654. Is the Public Ready for Private Equity?
1:03:11
1:03:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:11A Trump executive order is giving retail investors more access to private markets. Is that a golden opportunity — or fool’s gold? SOURCES: Elisabeth de Fontenay, professor of law at Duke University. Steven Kaplan, professor of entrepreneurship and finance at the University of Chicago. RESOURCES: "Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k…
…
continue reading
Also: what is the most significant choice you will ever make? This episode originally aired on April 18, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
1
Suleika Jaouad’s Survival Mechanisms (Replay)
58:46
58:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:46Suleika Jaouad was diagnosed with cancer at 22. She made her illness the subject of a New York Times column and a memoir, Between Two Kingdoms. She and Steve talk about what it means to live with a potentially fatal illness, how to talk to people who've gone through a tragedy, and ways to encourage medical donations. SOURCES: Suleika Jaouad, author…
…
continue reading
1
653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?
1:01:36
1:01:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:36Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is increasingly reliant on subsidies. Is that the kind of long shot anybody wants? (Part three of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”) SOURCES: Anne Archer Hinkle, owner and director of Hinkle Farms. Cormac Breathnach, senior director of …
…
continue reading
The world has changed a good bit since Freakonomics was first published. In this live anniversary episode, Stephen Dubner tells Geoff Bennett of PBS NewsHour everything he has learned since then. Happy birthday, Freakonomics. SOURCES: Geoff Bennett, co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS News Hour. RESOURCES: Freakonomics Twentieth Anniversary Edi…
…
continue reading
Also: why do we dislike being alone in public? This episode originally aired on April 11, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
Physicist and former pop star Brian Cox tells Steve about discovering the Higgs boson, having a number-one hit, and why particle physics research will almost certainly not create a black hole that destroys all life on earth. SOURCES: Brian Cox, physicist at the University of Manchester. RESOURCES: Black Holes: The Key to Understanding the Universe,…
…
continue reading
1
652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex
1:00:52
1:00:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:52How does Kentucky keep itself atop the thoroughbred industry? Is a champion stallion really worth $200,000 per date? And how many hands can one jockey have? (Part two of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”) SOURCES: Emily Plant, thoroughbred researcher and statistician. Jill Stowe, professor of economics at the University of Kentucky. Mark Taylor, preside…
…
continue reading
1
46. How Can You Stop Feeling So Irritable?
38:06
38:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:06Also: what’s wrong with being impatient? This episode originally aired on April 2, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
For most of human history, horsepower made the world go. Then came the machines. So why are there still seven million horses in America? (Part one of a series, “The Horse Is Us.”) SOURCES: Ann N. Greene, historian of 19th century America, retired professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Constance Hunter, chief economist at the Economist Intelli…
…
continue reading
1
Are Two C.E.O.s Better Than One? (Update)
47:34
47:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:34Spotify, Oracle, and Comcast have each recently announced they’re going with co-C.E.O.s. In this 2023 episode, we dig into the research and hear firsthand stories of triumph and disaster. Also: lessons from computer programmers, Simon and Garfunkel, and bears versus alligators. SOURCES: Jim Balsillie, retired chairman and co-C.E.O. of Research In M…
…
continue reading
1
45. How Much Better Do You Really Want to Be?
37:37
37:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:37Also: why do we pad our speech with so much filler language? This episode originally aired on March 28, 2021 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
Irving Finkel is an expert on cuneiform — the oldest known writing system. He tells Steve the amazing story of how an ancient clay tablet unlocked the truth about Noah’s ark (and got Finkel in trouble with some Christians). SOURCES: Irving Finkel, curator in the department of the Middle East at the British Museum. RESOURCES: "How to write cuneiform…
…
continue reading
The U.S. has a physician shortage, created in part by a century-old reform that shut down bad medical schools. But why haven’t we filled the gap? Why are some physicians so unhappy? And which is worse: a bad doctor or no doctor at all? SOURCES: Karen Clay, professor of economics and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Rochelle Walensky, ph…
…
continue reading
Also: is it better to “go with the wind” or to “be the wind”? This episode originally aired on March 21, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
1
Is There a Fair Way to Divide Us? (Update)
1:00:06
1:00:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:06Moon Duchin is a math professor at the University of Chicago whose theoretical work has practical applications for voting and democracy. Why is striving for fair elections so difficult? SOURCES: Moon Duchin, professor of mathematics at Cornell University. RESOURCES: "Gerrymandering: The Origin Story," by Neely Tucker (Timeless: Stories from the Lib…
…
continue reading
1
A Question-Asker Becomes a Question-Answerer
1:14:22
1:14:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:22For the 20th anniversary of Freakonomics, Debbie Millman of Design Matters interviews Stephen Dubner about his upbringing, his writing career, and why it's important to “swing your swing.” Plus: a sneak peek at a new project. SOURCES: Debbie Millman, writer and host of Design Matters with Debbie Millman. RESOURCES: "Stephen J. Dubner," by Design Ma…
…
continue reading
1
How Can We Break Our Addiction to Contempt? (Update)
40:23
40:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:23Arthur Brooks, an economist and former head of the American Enterprise Institute, believes that there is only one remedy for our political polarization: love. In this 2021 episode, we ask if Brooks is a fool for thinking this — and if perhaps you are his kind of fool? SOURCES: Arthur Brooks, professor of public and nonprofit leadership at Harvard U…
…
continue reading
1
43. What Do We Really Learn From Failure?
36:45
36:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:45Also: what is teasing supposed to accomplish? This episode originally aired on March 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
Frances Arnold pioneered the process of directed evolution — mimicking natural selection to create new enzymes that have changed everything from agriculture to laundry. SOURCES: Frances Arnold, professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. RESOURCES: "Innovation by Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life," by Frances Arnold (N…
…
continue reading
1
649. Should Ohio State (and Michigan, and Clemson) Join the N.F.L.?
55:21
55:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:21Soccer leagues around the world use a promotion-and-relegation system to reward the best teams and punish the worst. We ask whether American sports fans would enjoy a similar system. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Domonique Foxworth, sports analyst and former N.F.L. player. Stefan Szymanski, professor of sport management at the Universit…
…
continue reading
1
42. How Does When You Are Born Affect Who You Are?
38:35
38:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:35Also: how did Angela do with her no-sugar challenge? This episode originally aired on March 7, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
…
continue reading
1
648. The Merger You Never Knew You Wanted
1:06:02
1:06:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:06:02The N.F.L. is a powerful cartel with imperial desires. College football is about to undergo a financial reckoning. So maybe they should team up? (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES: DeMaurice Smith, former executive director of the National Football League Players Association. Domonique Foxworth, sports analyst and former N.F.L. player. Jeffre…
…
continue reading