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Artwork for Better in Person

Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

Freakonomics Radio
Free Economics
Youtube
Architecture
Ci Siamo
Mental Health
Depression
Harlan Coben
Judaism
Bruce Springsteen
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)
Union Square Hospitality Group
Stand-Up Comedy
Livingston, New Jersey, United States
Tom Petty

Everyone has a public story. Stephen Dubner wants the rest. On Better in Person, Dubner invites remarkable people into his home for a kind of conversation that’s hard to find: curious, free-wheeling, even profound. They talk, play, eat and drink, argue and laugh. The result? Less interview, more shared discovery. This is how a conversation works.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes8Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Better in Person

Latest Episodes

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan talks about confidence, luck, and why it takes 35 drafts to get to the finish line.

When he joined the Del Fuegos, his big brother’s band, all Warren knew how to play was a record player. Things went great for a while — and then it all fell apart. So how did he wind up writing definitive books on Springsteen and Tom Petty?

Angela Buchdahl was the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi, and now she is among the most influential rabbis in the world. She and Stephen Dubner talk about boundary-crossing, the aftermath of October 7, and whether you can be a good Jew ... more

Harlan Coben doesn’t think so. The mega-best-selling author talks suburbia, impostor syndrome, and what he learned from his college friend David Foster Wallace.

Gary and Stephen talk about creativity, recovery, getting fired, and holding grudges. They also get outside and play basketball, which is a big part of how Gary stays well.

Everyone has a public story. Stephen Dubner wants the rest.

On Better in Person, Dubner invites remarkable people into his home for a kind of conversation that’s hard to find: curious, free-wheeling, even profound. They talk, play, eat and drink, ar... more

Is the oxymoron really “the secret sauce to everything”? That’s the case Ingels makes in this debut episode of our new video show Better in Person, filmed in Stephen Dubner’s living room.

Hillary Sterling was a Brooklyn kid raised on cream cheese sandwiches and canned potatoes. So how did she become one of New York City's best chefs? The Ci Siamo executive chef explains on the second episode of Better in Person.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Warren Zanes
Author, rock historian, and former Del Fuegos member
Author and biographer of Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen
Episode: Meet Warren Zanes, the Author and Rocker Behind the Springsteen Movie
Angela Buchdahl
Korea-born cantor, rabbi, author, leader of Central Synagogue (New York City)
Central Synagogue, New York City
Episode: What If Being a Stranger Is Actually Your Superpower?
Harlan Coben
Best-selling mystery and thriller author
Author
Episode: Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories?
Gary Gulman
Comedian and memoirist discussed in-depth about depression and career
Comedian/Writer
Episode: How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold
Hillary Sterling
Executive chef at Ci Siamo, Union Square Hospitality Group
Ci Siamo, Union Square Hospitality Group
Episode: Trusting Your Senses Over Science, with Chef Hillary Sterling
Bjarke Ingels
Architect, founder of BIG (Bjarke INGELS Group)
BIG
Episode: How a Great Architect Thinks, with Bjarke Ingels

Host

Stephen Dubner
Host of Better in Person, guiding conversations with guests in a home-like setting; known for blending intellectual discussion with casual, in-the-moment storytelling.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 45 ratings
  • Refreshing delightful & interesting

    This show is really is taking the podcasting arena up a notch. So far, first 5 episodes have all been fascinating. The guests didn’t have much in common/any correlation (not like some podcasts consistently interview actors or spies or whatever).

    Bottom line; yes, this is worthy of MY time!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KDray1
    United States16 days ago
  • Stephen Dubner Strikes Again!

    Truly… I can’t wait for more. Bjarke is so gracious and Stephen really makes a personal conversation so interesting and profound. My family and I were cracking up when Stephen made soups for Hillary. Keep going!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bunnies and dolphins
    United Statesa month ago

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#13
United States/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#142
United States/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#47
Canada/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#96
United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#210
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#88
Australia/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#92
Italy/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#156
Germany/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Arab Emirates/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#8
Singapore/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#10
South Korea/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#10
Argentina/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#11
Hong Kong/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#16
Finland/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#16
Saudi Arabia/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#18
Mexico/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#21
Ukraine/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#29
Indonesia/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#32
United Arab Emirates/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#34
India/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#35
Philippines/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#40
South Africa/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#47
Israel/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#49
Argentina/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#57
Poland/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#62
Taiwan/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#65
Spain/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#73
Brazil/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#82
Switzerland/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#84
Chile/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#96
New Zealand/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#98
Mexico/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#115
Singapore/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#118
Colombia/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#136
Finland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#143
Hong Kong/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#161
Saudi Arabia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#166
Russia/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#167
South Africa/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#176
South Korea/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#209
Ukraine/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#211
Ireland/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#211
China/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#213
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#228
Denmark/Society & Culture/Documentary
Apple Podcasts
#230
Sweden/Society & Culture/Documentary

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold
Q: What's your mental state before a show? Are you excited? Are you anxious?
He describes a mix of excitement and anxiety, comparing the feeling to preparing for a basketball practice and noting that the anxiety can affect performance, yet can be managed with discipline and routine.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Better in Person

What is Better in Person about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series centers on intimate, wide-ranging conversations with high-profile guests across culture, design, food, and storytelling. Conversations blend personal history with professional craft, exploring leadership, creativity, empathy, and resilience. Guests range from religious leaders and architects to authors, comedians, and chefs, often sharing formative experiences, career pivots, and the ethics of public life. The tone is relaxed and hospitable, with meals and in-depth dialogue that invites listeners to see ideas as lived practice rather than abstract theory. Notable throughlines include the interplay between identity and profession, the craft of storytelling or creation, and leadership lessons drawn from real-world work. This mix of... more

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How many listeners does Better in Person get?

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How many episodes of Better in Person are there?

Better in Person launched 2 months ago and published 8 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Better in Person?

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What guests have appeared on Better in Person?

Recent guests on Better in Person include:

1. Warren Zanes
2. Angela Buchdahl
3. Harlan Coben
4. Gary Gulman
5. Hillary Sterling
6. Bjarke Ingels

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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