395. Speak Softly and Carry Big Data
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do economic sanctions work? Are big democracies any good at spreading democracy? What is the root ca...
394. Does Hollywood Still Have a Princess Problem?
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, there’s been a huge gender disparity both on-screen and behind the scenes. But it see...
393. Can Britain Get Its “Great” Back?
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It used to be a global capital of innovation, invention, and exploration. Now it’s best known for ...
392. The Prime Minister Who Cried Brexit
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In 2016, David Cameron held a referendum on whether the U.K. should stay in the European Union. A lo...
391. America’s Math Curriculum Doesn’t Add Up
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most high-school math classes are still preparing students for the Sputnik era. Steve Levitt wants t...
390. Fed Up
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Daly rose from high-school dropout to president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. S...
389. How to Make Meetings Less Terrible
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the U.S. alone, we hold 55 million meetings a day. Most of them are woefully unproductive, and ty...
Yes, the Open Office Is Terrible — But It Doesn’t Have to Be
12 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It began as a post-war dream for a more collaborative and egalitarian workplace. It has evolved into...
388. The Economics of Sports Gambling
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when tens of millions of fantasy-sports players are suddenly able to bet real money on ...
The Future of Meat (Rebroadcast)
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Global demand for beef, chicken, and pork continues to rise. So do concerns about environmental and ...
Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s? (Rebroadcast)
22 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The quirky little grocery chain with California roots and German ownership has a lot to teach all of...
387. Hello, My Name Is Marijuana Pepsi!
15 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Research shows that having a distinctively black name doesn’t affect your economic future. But wha...
How Much Does Your Name Matter? (Rebroadcast )
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A kid’s name can tell us something about his parents — their race, social standing, even their p...
386. How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Aisle upon aisle of fresh produce, cheap meat, and sugary cereal — a delicious embodiment of free-...
America’s Hidden Duopoly (Rebroadcast)
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We all know our political system is “broken” — but what if that’s not true? Some say the Rep...
385. What Do Nancy Pelosi, Taylor Swift, and Serena Williams Have in Common?
18 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
They — along with a great many other high-achieving women — were all once Girl Scouts. So was Sy...
384. Abortion and Crime, Revisited
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The controversial theory linking Roe v. Wade to a massive crime drop is back in the spotlight as sev...
A Better Way to Eat (Rebroadcast )
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Takeru Kobayashi revolutionized the sport of competitive eating. What can the rest of us learn from ...
383. The Zero-Minute Workout
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. There is even stronger evidence that mo...
382. How Goes the Behavior-Change Revolution?
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An all-star team of behavioral scientists discovers that humans are stubborn (and lazy, and sometime...
381. Long-Term Thinking in a Start-Up Town
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded live in San Francisco. Guests include the keeper of a 10,000-year clock, the co-founder of ...
380. Notes From an Imperfect Paradise
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded live in Los Angeles. Guests include Mayor Eric Garcetti, the “Earthquake Lady,” the hea...
379. How to Change Your Mind
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of barriers to changing your mind: ego, overconfidence, inertia — and cost. Politi...
Here’s Why All Your Projects Are Always Late — and What to Do About It (Rebroadcast)
23 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Whether it’s a giant infrastructure plan or a humble kitchen renovation, it’ll inevitably take w...
378. 23andMe (and You, and Everyone Else)
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The revolution in home DNA testing is giving consumers important, possibly life-changing information...
377. The $1.5 Trillion Question-How to fix student loan debt?
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As the cost of college skyrocketed, it created a debt burden that’s putting a drag on the economy....
376. The Data-Driven Guide to Sane Parenting
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Humans have been having kids forever, so why are modern parents so bewildered? The economist Emily O...
The Invisible Paw (Rebroadcast)
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Humans, it has long been thought, are the only animal to engage in economic activity. But what if we...
375. The Most Interesting Fruit in the World
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The banana used to be a luxury good. Now it’s the most popular fruit in the U.S. and elsewhere. Bu...
374. How Spotify Saved the Music Industry (But Not Necessarily Musicians)
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Ek, a 23-year-old Swede who grew up on pirated music, made the record labels an offer they co...
373. Why Rent Control Doesn’t Work
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As cities become ever-more expensive, politicians and housing advocates keep calling for rent contro...
372. Freakonomics Radio Live: “Would You Eat a Piece of Chocolate Shaped Like Dog Poop?”
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What your disgust level says about your politics, how Napoleon influenced opera, why New York City’...
Why You Shouldn’t Open a Restaurant (Update)
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kenji Lopez-Alt became a rock star of the food world by bringing science into the kitchen in a way t...
371. A Free-Trade Democrat in the Trump White House
14 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For years, Gary Cohn thought he’d be the next C.E.O. of Goldman Sachs. Instead, he became the “a...
370. How to Fail Like a Pro
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The road to success is paved with failure, so you might as well learn to do it right. (Ep. 5 of the ...
369. A Good Idea Is Not Good Enough
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re building a business or a cathedral, execution is everything. We ask artists, scient...
368. Where Do Good Ideas Come From?
21 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re mapping the universe, hosting a late-night talk show, or running a meeting, there a...
367. The Future of Meat
14 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Global demand for beef, chicken, and pork continues to rise. So do concerns about environmental and ...
366. This Economist Predicted the Last Crisis. What’s the Next One?
07 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In 2005, Raghuram Rajan said the financial system was at risk “of a catastrophic meltdown.” Afte...
Extra: Domonique Foxworth Full Interview
02 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Dubner’s conversation with the former N.F.L. player, union official, and all-around sports...
365. Not Just Another Labor Force
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you think talent and hard work give top athletes all the leverage to succeed, think again. As emp...
Extra: Mark Cuban Full Interview
26 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with the Shark Tank star, entrepreneur, and Dallas Mavericks owner recorded for the F...
364. Inside the Sports-Industrial Complex
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For most of us, the athletes are what make sports interesting. But if you own the team or run the le...
Extra: Mark Teixeira Full Interview
19 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with former Major League Baseball player and current ESPN analyst Mark Teixeira, reco...
363. Think Like a Winner
17 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Great athletes aren’t just great at the physical stuff. They’ve also learned how to handle press...
Hacking the World Bank (Update)
12 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jim Yong Kim has an unorthodox background for a World Bank president — and his reign has been just...
362. Why Is This Man Running for President?
10 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the American Dream sweepstakes, Andrew Yang was a pretty big winner. But for every winner, he cam...
How to Be Happy (Rebroadcast)
03 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The U.N.’s World Happiness Report — created to curtail our unhealthy obsession with G.D.P. — i...
How to Win Games and Beat People (Rebroadcast)
27 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Games are as old as civilization itself, and some people think they have huge social value regardles...
People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is Hard. (Rebroadcast)
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You wouldn’t think you could win a Nobel Prize for showing that humans tend to make irrational dec...
Freakonomics Radio Live: “Where Does Fear Live in the Brain?”
15 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our co-host is comedian Christian Finnegan, and we learn: the difference between danger and fear; th...
Freakonomics Radio Live: “We Thought of a Way to Manipulate Your Perception of Time.”
15 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We learn how to be less impatient, how to tell fake news from real, and the simple trick that nurses...
Freakonomics Radio Live: “The World’s a Mess. But Oysters, They Hold it Down.”
15 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli joins us to co-host an evening of delicious fact-finding: where a ...
361. Freakonomics Radio Live: “Jesus Could Have Been a Pigeon.”
13 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our co-host is Grit author Angela Duckworth, and we learn fascinating, Freakonomical facts from a pa...
360. Is the Protestant Work Ethic Real?
06 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 20th century, Max Weber argued that Protestantism created wealth. Finally, there are da...
359. Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s?
29 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The quirky little grocery chain with California roots and German ownership has a lot to teach all of...
There’s a War on Sugar. Is It Justified? (Rebroadcast)
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Some people argue that sugar should be regulated, like alcohol and tobacco, on the grounds that it’...
358. Yes, the Open Office Is Terrible — But It Doesn’t Have to Be
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It began as a post-war dream for a more collaborative and egalitarian workplace. It has evolved into...
357. Can an Industrial Giant Become a Tech Darling?
08 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Ford Motor Company is ditching its legacy sedans, doubling down on trucks, and trying to steer i...
356. America’s Hidden Duopoly
01 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We all know our political system is “broken” — but what if that’s not true? Some say the Rep...
Extra: Elvis Costello Full Interview
27 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with the iconic singer-songwriter, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “How ...
355. Where Does Creativity Come From (and Why Do Schools Kill It Off)?
25 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Family environments and “diversifying experiences” (including the early death of a parent); intr...
Extra: Jeremy Lin Full Interview
20 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with veteran NBA point guard Jeremy Lin, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “...
354. How to Be Creative
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are thousands of books on the subject, but what do we actually know about creativity? In this ...
353. How to Optimize Your Apology
11 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You said, “I’m sorry,” but somehow you haven’t been forgiven. Why? Because you’re doing it...
352. Can This Man Stop a Trade War?
04 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The World Trade Organization is the referee for 164 trading partners, each with their own political ...
Extra: Shawn Johnson Full Interview
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio se...
351. Here’s Why You’re Not an Elite Athlete
27 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of factors that go into greatness, many of which are not obvious. A variety of Olymp...
Extra: Full Interviews With Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, and Kyle Juszczyk
23 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Dubner’s conversations with members of the San Francisco 49ers offense, recorded for Freak...
350. How to Stop Being a Loser
20 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The San Francisco 49ers, one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, also used to be on...
349. How Sports Became Us
13 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dollar-wise, the sports industry is surprisingly small, about the same size as the cardboard-box ind...
348. Is the Government More Entrepreneurial Than You Think?
06 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We all know the standard story: our economy would be more dynamic if only the government would get o...
347. Why You Shouldn’t Open a Restaurant
30 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kenji Lopez-Alt became a rock star of the food world by bringing science into the kitchen in a way t...
346. Two (Totally Opposite) Ways to Save the Planet
23 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The environmentalists say we’re doomed if we don’t drastically reduce consumption. The technolog...
345. How to Be Happy
16 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The U.N.’s World Happiness Report — created to curtail our unhealthy obsession with G.D.P. — i...
344. Who Decides How Much a Life Is Worth?
09 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After every mass shooting or terrorist attack, victims and survivors receive a huge outpouring of su...
A Conversation With PepsiCo C.E.O. Indra Nooyi (Ep. 316 Update)
07 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of the world’s biggest and best-known companies just announced that its C.E.O. would be steppi...
343. An Astronaut, a Catalan, and Two Linguists Walk Into a Bar…
02 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this live episode of “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know,” we learn why New York has skinny sky...
342. Has Lance Armstrong Finally Come Clean?
26 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
He was once the most lionized athlete on the planet, with seven straight Tour de France wins and a v...
341. Why We Choke Under Pressure (and How Not To)
19 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It happens to just about everyone, whether you’re going for Olympic gold or giving a wedding toast...
340. People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is Hard.
12 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You wouldn’t think you could win a Nobel Prize for showing that humans tend to make irrational dec...
339. The Future of Freakonomics Radio
03 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After 8 years and more than 300 episodes, it was time to either 1) quit, or 2) make the show bigger ...
In Praise of Incrementalism (Rebroadcast)
28 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What do Renaissance painting, civil-rights movements, and Olympic cycling have in common? In each ca...
In Praise of Maintenance (Rebroadcast)
21 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Has our culture's obsession with innovation led us to neglect the fact that things also need to be t...
338. How to Catch World Cup Fever
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For soccer fans, it's easy. For the rest of us? Not so much, especially since the U.S. team didn't q...
337. How to Build a Smart City
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We are in the midst of a historic (and wholly unpredicted) rise in urbanization. But it's hard to re...
How Stupid Is Our Obsession With Lawns? (Rebroadcast)
31 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly two percent of America is grassy green. Sure, lawns are beautiful and useful and they smell g...
336. The Most Vilified Industry in America Is Also the Most Charitable
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pharmaceutical firms donate an enormous amount of their products (and some cash too). But it doesn't...
335. Does Doing Good Give You License to Be Bad?
17 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Corporate Social Responsibility programs can attract better job applicants who'll work for less mone...
334. 5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing
10 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “ste...
Evolution, Accelerated (Rebroadcast)
03 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A breakthrough in genetic technology has given humans more power than ever to change nature. It coul...
333. The Most Ambitious Thing Humans Have Ever Attempted
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sure, medical progress has been astounding. But today the U.S. spends more on healthcare than any ot...
332. Why the Trump Tax Cuts Are Terrible/Awesome (Part 2)
19 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Three former White House economists weigh in on the new tax bill. A sample: "The overwhelming e...
331. Why the Trump Tax Cuts are Awesome/Terrible (Part 1)
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin Hassett, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, explains the thinking behind the contro...
330. Extra: Ray Dalio Full Interview
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Dubner's conversation with the founder and longtime C.E.O. of Bridgewater Associates, record...
329. The Invisible Paw
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Humans, it has long been thought, are the only animal to engage in economic activity. But what if we...
328. Extra: Mark Zuckerberg Full Interview
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Dubner's conversation with the Facebook founder and C.E.O., recorded for the Freakonomics Ra...
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Money (But Were Afraid to Ask) (Rebroadcast)
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The bad news: roughly 70 percent of Americans are financially illiterate. The good news: all the imp...
327. Extra: Carol Bartz Full Interview
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Dubner's conversation with the former C.E.O. of Yahoo, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio s...
The Stupidest Thing You Can Do With Your Money (Rebroadcast)
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's hard enough to save for a house, tuition, or retirement. So why are we willing to pay big fees ...