People I (Mostly) Admire

SiriusXM Podcasts
  • 4.6 (1.8K)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
People I (Mostly) Admire Podcast

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Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down other high achievers for surprising, revealing conversations about their lives and obsessions. Join Levitt as he goes through the most interesting midlife crisis you’ve ever heard — and learn how a renegade sheriff is transforming Chicago's jail, how a biologist is finding the secrets of evolution in the Arctic tundra, and how a trivia champion memorized 160,000 flashcards. To get every show in our network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, sign up for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts at http://apple.co/SiriusXM.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    141. The Language of the Universe

    Ken Ono is a math prodigy whose skills have helped produce a Hollywood movie and made Olympic swimmers faster. The number theorist tells Steve why he sees mathematics as art — and about his unusual path to success, which came without a high school diploma.

    48 min

  2. SEP 21

    UPDATE: Drawing from Life (and Death)

    Artist Wendy MacNaughton knows the difficulty of sitting in silence and the power of having fun. She explains to Steve the lessons she’s gleaned from drawing hospice residents, working in Rwanda, and reporting from Guantanamo Bay.

    1h 2m

  3. SEP 14

    140. How to Breathe Better

    Bestselling author James Nestor believes that we can improve our lives by changing the way we breathe. He’s persuasive enough to get Steve taping his mouth shut at night. He explains how humans dive to depths of 300 feet without supplemental oxygen, and describes what it’s like to be accepted into a pod of whales.

    1h 5m

  4. AUG 31

    139. How PETA Made Radical Ideas Mainstream

    People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals founder Ingrid Newkirk has been badgering meat-eaters, fur-wearers, and circus-goers for more than 40 years. For a woman who’s leaving her liver to the president of France in her will, she sounds quite sensible when she tells Steve what we can learn from animals, why she supports euthanasia, and who’ll get her other organs.

    1h 0m

  5. AUG 24

    UPDATE: Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Time

    Revisiting Steve’s 2021 conversation with the economist and MacArthur “genius” about how to make memories stickier, why change is undervalued, and how to find something new to say on the subject of scarcity.

    47 min

  6. AUG 17

    138. Chris Anderson on the Power of TED

    Under his helm, the TED Conference went from a small industry gathering to a global phenomenon. Chris and Steve talk about how to build lasting institutions, how to make generosity go viral, and what Chris has learned about public speaking.

    59 min

  7. AUG 13

    EXTRA: Remembering Susan Wojcicki

    The former YouTube C.E.O. — and sixteenth Google employee — died on August 9, 2024. Steve talked with her in 2020 about her remarkable career, and how her background in economics shaped her work.

    32 min

  8. AUG 3

    137. Richard Dawkins on God, Genes, and Murderous Baby Cuckoos

    The author of the classic "The Selfish Gene" is still changing the way we think about evolution.

    53 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.6
out of 5
1,763 Ratings

About

Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down other high achievers for surprising, revealing conversations about their lives and obsessions. Join Levitt as he goes through the most interesting midlife crisis you’ve ever heard — and learn how a renegade sheriff is transforming Chicago's jail, how a biologist is finding the secrets of evolution in the Arctic tundra, and how a trivia champion memorized 160,000 flashcards. To get every show in our network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, sign up for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts at http://apple.co/SiriusXM.

Information

  • Channel
    SiriusXM Podcasts
  • Creator
    Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2024
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    People I (Mostly) Admire
  • Provider
    Sirius XM Radio Inc

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