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.
This Freakonomics Radio episode interviews Lina Khan, former FTC chair, about her tenure and approach to antitrust enforcement. The interview traces Khan's career path, from her early research on market consolidation to her role in shaping updated merger guidelines. Khan discusses key cases, including the lawsuit aga...
This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the nature and implications of disgust, featuring interviews with psychologists Paul Rozin and Val Curtis. The podcast examines the evolutionary origins of disgust, its various categories (including food, hygiene, and moral disgust), and its physiological and emotional manifest...
This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the multifaceted human relationship with rats, using the animated film Ratatouille as a springboard. The podcast features an interview with Jan Pinkava, the original creator of Ratatouille, discussing the film's allegorical themes of prejudice and overcoming limitations. It al...
This Freakonomics Radio episode explores New York City's ongoing struggle with rat infestation, interviewing experts like urban rodentologist Bobby Corrigan and Rat Czar Kathy Corradi. The podcast details various rat mitigation strategies, including the limitations of poison, the challenges of birth control for open r...
This Freakonomics Radio episode recounts a chaotic live show in Los Angeles where the PA system crashed, preventing the recording of the event featuring Ari Emanuel and RJ Cutler. Despite the technical difficulties, the show went on without amplification, showcasing the adaptability of the host and guests. The unexpe...
This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the complex relationship between humans and rats, focusing on New York City's rat problem. The episode features an interview with Kathy Corradi, New York City's "Rat Czar," who discusses the city's rat mitigation strategies and the challenges of urban rodent control. The discu...
This Freakonomics Radio Book Club episode interviews law professor Rebecca Allensworth about her book, "The Licensing Racket," focusing on the problems with professional licensing boards in the US. The discussion covers the boards' self-regulation, ineptitude in handling disciplinary actions (illustrated by the case o...
This Freakonomics Radio episode investigates workplace conditions in the NFL, using a survey conducted by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) as its primary data source. The podcast features interviews with the NFLPA president, a player agent, an economist, and representatives from the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolp...
This Freakonomics Radio episode investigates the decline of running back salaries in the NFL. The podcast blends interviews with a Harvard economist, former NFL running backs, a sports data scientist, and a sports agent, alongside co-hosting segments between Stephen Dubner and the economist. The discussion explores s...
This Freakonomics Radio interview focuses on the challenges artists face due to AI art generation tools that utilize their work without permission. The podcast features computer scientist Ben Zhao, who discusses his research into adversarial machine learning and the tools he's developed, Glaze and Nightshade, to mitig...
This interview podcast features Stephen Dubner interviewing three guests at a live Freakonomics Radio show in San Francisco. The first guest, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, discusses her time in office, challenges faced, and future plans. Next, economist Koleman Strumpf shares his research on illicit activities li...
This Freakonomics Radio episode investigates the high and seemingly fixed commission rates in the US residential real estate market. The podcast features interviews with economists Chad Syverson and Sonia Gilbukh, who argue that the system, facilitated by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), functions more like...
This episode of Freakonomics Radio delves into the common misdiagnosis of penicillin allergies. It discusses the history and effectiveness of penicillin while highlighting a surprising statistic: about 10% of people think they're allergic, even though fewer than 1% actually are. The podcast features insights from aller...
In this episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, the focus is on the economic aspects of highway signs and prison labor in the United States. It begins by examining how highway signs are designed and manufactured, emphasizing the use of specific fonts, colors—like green for better visibility—and durable materials t...
This two-part series from Freakonomics Radio delves into the alarming issue of fraud in academic research. In the second part, the focus shifts to the industry's framework, exposing misconduct within universities and journals, including the troubling rise of "paper mills" that sell authorship and fake journals. The pod...
In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, the spotlight is on the troubling issue of research fraud in academia, particularly through the lens of notable cases involving behavioral scientists Francesca Gino and Dan Ariely. The podcast reveals how whistleblowers from the "Data Colada" team discovered instances of data mani...
In this bonus episode of People I Mostly Admire, host Steve Levitt sits down with neuroscientist David Eagleman to delve into his fascinating concept of "live-wired" brains. They explore the brain's remarkable plasticity and its unique ability to adapt. Eagleman shares insights from his research on sensory substitution...
In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, Stephen Dubner engages in a compelling conversation with Adam Moss, a distinguished magazine editor. Reflecting on Moss's mentorship at the New York Times Magazine, Dubner delves into Moss's journey from magazine editing to authoring his book, "The Work of Art." Their discussion h...
In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, Ezekiel Emanuel discusses the rising popularity of GLP-1 drugs. Originally designed for type 2 diabetes, these medications have proven effective for weight loss and may also benefit heart health and addiction treatment. However, their high price and inconsistent insurance coverage...
In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, we revisit a previous discussion about how the American supermarket system, shaped by government policies and scientific progress, became a strategic asset during the Cold War. The U.S. leveraged substantial agricultural subsidies and technological advancements to project an image...
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