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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That’s the worry. Even the humble eyeglass industry is dominated by a single firm. We look into the global spike in myopia, how the Lemtosh got its name, and what your eye doctor knows that you don’t. (Part two of a two-part series.) The post Is Overconsolidation a Threat to Democracy? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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A single company, EssilorLuxottica, owns so much of the eyewear industry that it’s hard to escape their gravitational pull — or their “obscene” markups. Should regulators do something? Can Warby Parker steal market share? And how did Ray-Bans become a luxury brand? (Part one of a two-part series.) The post Why Do Your Eyeglasses Cost $1,000? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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You wouldn’t think you could win a Nobel Prize for showing that humans tend to make irrational decisions. But that’s what Richard Thaler has done. In an interview from 2018, the founder of behavioral economics describes his unlikely route to success; his reputation for being lazy; and his efforts to fix the world — one nudge at a time. The post People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is Hard. (Update) appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Daniel Kahneman left his mark on academia (and the real world) in countless ways. A group of his friends and colleagues recently gathered in Chicago to reflect on this legacy — and we were there, with microphones. The post Farewell to a Generational Talent appeared first on Freakonomics.
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American politics is trapped in a duopoly, with two all-powerful parties colluding to stifle competition. We revisit a 2018 episode to explain how the political industry works, and talk to a reformer (and former presidential candidate) who is pushing for change. The post Why Don’t We Have Better Candidates for President? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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We revisit an episode about whether a multi-billion dollar industry is effective. To get Plus episodes, become a member at Apple Podcasts or at freakonomics.com/plus. The post Is Advertising Worth It? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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It’s hard to know whether the benefits of hiring a celebrity are worth the risk. We dig into one gruesome story of an endorsement gone wrong, and find a surprising result. The post Your Brand’s Spokesperson Just Got Arrested — Now What? appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Stephen Dubner talks with three of the people responsible for the Tony-winning play Stereophonic. To get Plus episodes, become a member at Apple Podcasts or at freakonomics.com/plus. The post The Magic Behind a Hit Broadway Play appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Broadway operates on a winner-take-most business model. A runaway hit like Stereophonic — which just won five Tony Awards — will create a few big winners. But even the stars of the show will have to go elsewhere to make real money. (Part two of a two-part series.) The post You Can Make a Killing, but Not a Living appeared first on Freakonomics.
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The Berlin dance mecca Berghain is known for its eight-hour line and inscrutable door policy. PJ Vogt, host of the podcast Search Engine, joins us to crack the code. It has to do with Cold War rivalries, German tax law, and one very talented bouncer. The post The Fascinatingly Mundane Secrets of the World’s Most Exclusive Nightclub appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Stephen Dubner talks with the transportation scholar Kelcie Ralph about why so many pedestrians are killed on America’s roads. To get Plus episodes, become a member at Apple Podcasts or at freakonomics.com/plus. The post Walking Can Be Hazardous to Your Health appeared first on Freakonomics.
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Hit by Covid, runaway costs, and a zillion streams of competition, serious theater is in serious trouble. A new hit play called Stereophonic — the most Tony-nominated play in history — has something to say about that. We speak with the people who make it happen every night. (Part one of a two-part series.) The post How to Make the Coolest Show on Broadway appeared first on Freakonomics.