Freakonomics Radio
Sundays at noon
"Freakonomics Radio" is an award-winning weekly podcast with 7 million downloads a month; it also airs on public-radio stations across the country. Host Stephen Dubner has surprising conversations that explore the riddles of everyday life and the weird wrinkles of human nature -- from cheating and crime to parenting and sports. Dubner talks with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, social scientists and entrepreneurs -- and his "Freakonomics" co-author Steve Levitt.
"Freakonomics Radio" is produced by Dubner Productions and WNYC Studios.
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For decades, the great fear was overpopulation. Now it’s the opposite. How did this happen — and what’s being done about it? (Part one of a three part series, "Cradle to Grave") The post Why Aren’t We Having More Babies? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy. The post An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update) appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Nicholas Cullinan, the new director of the British Museum, seems to think so. “I'm not afraid of the past,” he says — which means talking about looted objects, the basement storerooms, and the leaking roof. We take the guided tour. The post Can a Museum Be the Conscience of a Nation? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is less reserved than the average banker. He explains why vibes are overrated, why the Fed’s independence is non-negotiable, and why tariffs could bring the economy back to the Covid era. The post “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job” appeared first on Freakonomics.
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We revisit four interviews from our 2023 series on failure. To get Plus episodes, become a member at Apple Podcasts or at freakonomics.com/plus. The post Fail Again. Fail Better. appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. Javier Blas and Jack Farchy, the authors of The World for Sale, help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders. The post The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Everyone makes mistakes. How do we learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest infectious disease. The post How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency (Update) appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Giving up can be painful. That's why we need to talk about it. Today: stories about glitchy apps, leaky paint cans, broken sculptures — and a quest for the perfect bowl of ramen. The post How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit (Update) appeared first on Freakonomics.
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In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front line, the lab, and the I.T. department. The post How to Succeed at Failing, Part 2: Life and Death (Update) appeared first on Freakonomics.
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We tend to think of tragedies as a single terrible moment, rather than the result of multiple bad decisions. Can this pattern be reversed? We try — with stories about wildfires, school shootings, and love. The post How to Succeed at Failing, Part 1: The Chain of Events (Update) appeared first on Freakonomics.
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It used to be that making documentary films meant taking a vow of poverty (and obscurity). The streaming revolution changed that. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler talks to Stephen Dubner about capturing Billie Eilish’s musical genius and Martha Stewart’s vulnerability — and why he really, really, really needs to make a film about the New York Mets. The post When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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A backstage conversation with Jeffrey Seller, producer of Rent, Avenue Q, and Hamilton. To get Plus episodes, become a member at Apple Podcasts or at freakonomics.com/plus. The post “Musical Theater Is a Magic Trick” appeared first on Freakonomics.