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+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
The podcast explores the economics of the honeybee industry, focusing on challenges faced by beekeepers due to cheap imports and honey fraud. Chris Hiatt, a beekeeper and past president of the American Honey Producers Association, discusses the decline in domestic honey production and the impact of adulterated honey on...
The conversation centers on U.S. tax policy and federal debt, challenging common myths and exploring potential solutions. Jessica Riedl, a budget and tax fellow, argues that both conservatives and liberals perpetuate false narratives about taxes, driven by political incentives to promise voters a "free lunch." She debu...
The Freakonomics Radio episode investigates the economics of the bourbon industry, particularly its concentration in Kentucky and current market challenges. It explores how time functions as a crucial investment input, influencing pricing and market dynamics. Economist Ken Troske explains the regulatory requirements fo...
The podcast explores the correlation between the release of popular music albums on streaming services and a spike in traffic fatalities. It highlights a study using data from 2017-2022 that found a 15% increase in traffic deaths on album release days, translating to roughly 18 extra deaths per day. Vishal Patel, a sur...
The rise of driverless cars and their potential impact on jobs, accessibility, and urban environments are examined. The story follows Abdi Aziz, a driver navigating the changing landscape from taxi to Uber to unionization, highlighting the economic anxieties of drivers facing displacement. Boston's political response t...
The podcast explores the evolution and future of driverless cars, questioning whether "driver" will soon refer to machines instead of humans. It traces the history of autonomous vehicle technology from early concepts to DARPA's Grand Challenge, highlighting key figures like Sebastian Thrun, Chris Urmson and Anthony Lew...
The podcast explores the pervasive issue of scams, revealing its complex and evolving nature as a global industry. It highlights how scams erode social trust and exploit unmet needs like loneliness and financial insecurity. Marti DeLima, a gerontologist, discusses how middle-aged adults are the most frequent victims, t...
The conversation explores the relationship between culture, institutions, and technological progress, featuring Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr, who argues for the critical role of culture in driving economic growth. Mokyr suggests that a small percentage of the population drives progress and that comparing GDP across long s...
The global commodity trading industry, its history, and its impact on geopolitics are examined. The discussion highlights how commodity traders operate in the shadows, often at the center of significant political and economic events like civil wars. Javier Blas and Jack Farchy, Bloomberg journalists and authors of "The...
Werner Herzog, the prolific filmmaker, writer, and actor, shares his worldview and discusses his latest book, "The Future of Truth." Herzog reflects on the demise of social utopias in the 20th century, including communism, fascism, and the disaster of world population growth. He expresses his concerns about a culture o...
The podcast explores the potential of repurposing existing drugs for new diseases, highlighting the economic and scientific advantages, as well as the challenges in incentivizing this practice. David Fajgenbaum, co-founder of Every Cure and a physician-scientist, shares his personal experience of discovering that an ex...
Richard Thaler, an economics professor, discusses his book "Nudge" and the concept of libertarian paternalism, which promotes influencing choices without coercion. The conversation explores choice architecture, highlighting how environments shape decisions, and delves into cognitive biases like the availability bias an...
The Freakonomics Radio podcast explores the relationship between cannabis use and athletic performance, challenging conventional stereotypes. Angela Bryan, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, discusses her research showing that cannabis users often exercise more and have better metabolic healt...
The podcast explores the complex history and ethics of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, focusing on the case of cyclist Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping. Landis recounts his journey into professional cycling, the pervasive culture of doping on Lance Armstrong's team, and ...
The podcast explores the decline in value and salaries of NFL running backs despite the league's soaring revenues. It attributes this trend to the increasing emphasis on the passing game, driven by rule changes and a shift in fan preferences toward higher-scoring, pass-heavy offenses. Brian Burke, a sports data scienti...
The podcast explores how artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize healthcare, addressing the current system's inefficiencies despite technological advancements. Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF, discusses AI's potential to streamline processes, improve patient care, and alleviat...
The wellness industry's complexities are examined through a conversation with Ezekiel Emanuel, who advocates for a balanced lifestyle over complicated wellness trends. Emanuel argues that many wellness approaches overemphasize the physical while neglecting social and mental well-being. He draws parallels between the cu...
Steve Levitt reflects on his five years hosting the "People I Mostly Admire" (PIMA) podcast and his transition to occasionally guest-hosting Freakonomics Radio. Levitt shares his initial reluctance towards interviewing, which evolved into a fulfilling experience of consuming and sharing ideas. He discusses his evolving...
The conversation centers on Marty Makary's role as FDA Commissioner and his efforts to modernize the agency. Makary discusses addressing over-regulation, streamlining drug approval processes, and leveraging AI to improve efficiency. He highlights initiatives such as making FDA decision letters public and redefining bab...
The podcast explores the largely unregulated brain supplement industry, questioning the reliability of product claims and the potential dangers of unregulated ingredients. It highlights the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, which treats supplements as food rather than drugs, leading to minima...
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