778 episodes

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.

Join the Freakonomics Radio Plus membership program for weekly member-only episodes of Freakonomics Radio. You’ll also get every show in our network without ads. To sign up, visit our show page on Apple Podcasts or go to freakonomics.com/plus.

Freakonomics Radio Freakonomics Radio

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.7 • 264 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

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.

Join the Freakonomics Radio Plus membership program for weekly member-only episodes of Freakonomics Radio. You’ll also get every show in our network without ads. To sign up, visit our show page on Apple Podcasts or go to freakonomics.com/plus.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    587. Should Companies Be Owned by Their Workers?

    587. Should Companies Be Owned by Their Workers?

    The employee ownership movement is growing, and one of its biggest champions is also a private equity heavyweight. Is this meaningful change, or just window dressing?

    • 46 min
    586. How Does the Lost World of Vienna Still Shape Our Lives?

    586. How Does the Lost World of Vienna Still Shape Our Lives?

    From politics and economics to psychology and the arts, many of the modern ideas we take for granted emerged a century ago from a single European capital. In this episode of the Freakonomics Radio Book Club, the historian Richard Cockett explores all those ideas — and how the arrival of fascism can ruin in a few years what took generations to build.

    • 57 min
    Extra: Why Is 23andMe Going Under? (Update)

    Extra: Why Is 23andMe Going Under? (Update)

    Five years ago, we published an episode about the boom in home DNA testing kits, focusing on the high-flying firm 23andMe and its C.E.O. Anne Wojcicki. Their flight has been extremely bumpy since then. This update includes an additional interview with the Wall Street Journal reporter who has been investigating the firm’s collapse.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Extra: Why Is 23andMe Going Under? (Update)

    Extra: Why Is 23andMe Going Under? (Update)

    Five years ago, we published an episode about the boom in home DNA testing kits, focusing on the high-flying firm 23andMe and its C.E.O. Anne Wojcicki. Their flight has been extremely bumpy since then. This update includes an additional interview with the Wall Street Journal reporter who has been investigating the firm’s collapse.

    585. A Social Activist in Prime Minister’s Clothing

    585. A Social Activist in Prime Minister’s Clothing

    Justin Trudeau, facing record-low approval numbers, is doubling down on his progressive agenda. But he is so upbeat (and Canada-polite) that it’s easy to miss just how radical his vision is. Can he make it work?

    • 52 min
    584. How to Pave the Road to Hell

    584. How to Pave the Road to Hell

    So you want to help people? That’s great — but beware the law of unintended consequences. Three stories from the modern workplace.

    • 43 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
264 Ratings

264 Ratings

Asang Dani ,

Diverse topics and in depth coverage

I am a long time fan of Freakonomics podcast as it provides people across the globe like me from India balanced and in depth coverage of various issues they cover. Thanks for sharing and caring.

Krshnakumr ,

The benchmark for any informative/interview based podcasts!!

More than the unique topics that they cover, what I really love about Freakonomincs Radio is the presentation by Steven Dubner and the impeccable editing. Interviews are paused with a cut, context/caveats added, and then swiftly moves back to the interview to present a nice cohesive story that is just absolutely easy listening to and follow. Just love it. One criticism that I do have of it is that most of the topics are heavily US/UK focused. I’d love to see unique topics from India, South East Asia and other countries as well! Please do cover more of the world, but please do it in this exact same style. The benchmark according to me.

Amit 0527 ,

The Gold Standard

Well researched , relevant and engaging content.

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