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
    • 4.6 • 288 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

    Extra: Car Colors & Storage Units

    Extra: Car Colors & Storage Units

    Presenting two stories from "The Economics of Everyday Things": Why does it seem like every car is black, white, or gray these days? And: How self-storage took over America.

    • 35 min
    588. Confessions of a Black Conservative

    588. Confessions of a Black Conservative

    The economist and social critic Glenn Loury has led a remarkably turbulent life, both professionally and personally. In a new memoir, he has chosen to reveal just about everything. Why?

    • 56 min
    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
    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

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
288 Ratings

288 Ratings

Sage fourty-four ,

Great content

By far the best podcast available covering economics of things. Love it !

JeppeSk82 ,

Twisted

The podcast goes into timely and thought-provoking economic topics, but unfortunately veers off track by manipulating data and analysis to convey utterly absurd messages under the guise of economic theory. If you want to get confused this is a podcast for you.

Rita Petita ,

Favorite podcast

I listen to a lot of podcasts but this one remains my favorite. Steven Dunbar is an amazing interesting intelligent host and a joy to listen

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