Rephonic
Artwork for Control F
Healthcare Costs
Data Analysis
Homelessness
Costco
Federal Poverty Line
Immigration
Crime
Washington State Millionaire Tax
Microplastics
World Cup
Reading
Weather Forecasting
Credit Score
Credit Reporting
Pets In Housing
Speed Limits
Disney World
Point In Time Count (pit)
Poochie
Secure Communities

Control F is a podcast about data — hard, fuzzy, surprising, and sometimes unreliable data — and all the ways it influences our daily lives. In each episode, we dig deep on a topic and search through research, algorithms, and assumptions to bring you insights on how stuff works. In a world ruled by numbers, Control F reads between the (spreadsheet) lines to find the bigger story.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes19Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Control F

Latest Episodes

When someone says “reading is dead,” is that really true? Reading for fun has taken a big hit, but what’s really going on here? Teo and guest co-host Katie Campbell look at the data on American reading habits to find the answer, and provide tips for ... more

Getting a college degree is a lot more expensive than it used to be–30% more, after inflation. Everyone has a theory about why that is (Fancy amenities! Lack of state funding! Student loans!) but what does the data say? In this episode, Clare schools... more

Over 2.5 million Americans were forced out of their homes by natural disasters in 2023. As wildfires, hurricanes, and windstorms become routine across the country, homeowners are seeing their insurance premiums skyrocket. This has left many wondering... more

Every road in the United States has a speed limit, but where do these numbers come from? Do they actually make people slow down? And do lower speed limits make roads safer? In this episode, Clare tells Teo about the origins of speed limits, the scien... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Jeffrey Callen
Control F listener who shared a windstorm experience in Washington
Episode: Is home insurance worth it in the age of wildfires?
Angela Giacchetti
Resident of Altadena affected by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles area
Episode: Is home insurance worth it in the age of wildfires?
Aran Ryan
Director of Industry Studies at Tourism Economics
Tourism Economics
Episode: How do you predict how many visitors will travel for the FIFA World Cup?
Yon Gorbatov
12-year-old e-bike incident subject
Episode: Are e-bikes safer than motorcycles?
Steven Mooney
Epidemiologist focusing on micromobility
University of Washington
Episode: Are e-bikes safer than motorcycles?
Marcus Garcia
Author on the Nature Medicine brain study, background in pharmaceutical sciences and toxicology
University of New Mexico
Episode: Should I worry about microplastics?
Elaine Bearer
Pathologist studying brains of deceased individuals donated to science
University of New Mexico
Episode: Should I worry about microplastics?
Fazel Monikh
Professor at University of Padua, expert in safety of nanomaterials
University of Padua
Episode: Should I worry about microplastics?
Cristobal Young
Associate Professor of Sociology
Cornell University
Episode: From Booming: Is “millionaire flight” real?

Hosts

Clare McGrain
Host of the show; journalist and number nerd with deep involvement in data storytelling and Control F analyses
Teo Popescu
Co-host and data/graphics editor; performs data interpretation and visual storytelling

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • Fun, informative, and approachable

    Well-researched and well produced. I really enjoy the conversational format and the dynamics between the co-hosts. The topics they’re covering are interesting and very relevant to what’s going on in the city and the world today. As a busy working, single parent, I especially love the 30-minute format—perfect for my daily commute or smaller windows of time I can find between work and kids. Highly recommend!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WingbackRecliner
    United States6 months ago
  • Relevant and Useful

    I wish every voter would listen to this. The data is relevant to top issues of the day and not politicized.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ks88keys
    United States6 months ago
  • Really well-done

    Smart, informative — I’m really liking this so far

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hachi's owner
    United States7 months ago
  • Delightful and entertaining!

    This show is so informative, well researched and fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Delighted Listener 1000
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and hosts create a thoughtful, nuanced view on complex topics.
The data-heavy format is approachable and relevant to city and world issues.
Shows high-quality, well-researched content with engaging conversation.
Concise 30-minute episodes fit well into a busy schedule.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Should I worry about microplastics?
Q: Where do microplastics come from?
They come from both large plastic items that break down in the environment and from products designed to be micro-sized, including cosmetics and synthetic fibers shed during washing.
Should I worry about microplastics?
Q: What is microplastic?
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, generally under five millimeters, with nanoplastics being the much smaller subset that are two million times smaller than pencil erasers and far harder to detect.
From Booming: Is “millionaire flight” real?
Q: What is the role of enforcement and policy design in making these taxes effective?
Enforcement and clear policy design matter a lot; the data illustrate that even with higher rates, most millionaires stay, so enforcement helps ensure compliance, while the broader tax base and exemptions influence revenue.
From Booming: Is “millionaire flight” real?
Q: Do these taxes actually work, and what does the data say about migration due to millionaire taxes?
The data show very low migration among millionaires overall; only a small fraction moves for tax reasons, and even then, the total impact on state populations is modest. Enactment tends to raise revenue while preserving most residents.
Does immigration enforcement reduce crime?
Q: True or false, immigrants are more likely to commit crimes than US citizens.
False, multiple studies show immigrants have lower involvement in crime overall, with higher risk dynamics explained by factors like self-selection and social controls; however, the more nuanced takeaway is that data does not support a blanket reduction in crime from broad immigration enforcement.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Control F

What is Control F about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently surfaces data-driven explorations of everyday topics, turning numbers and research into human-scale narratives. Episodes span transportation safety, tourism forecasting, micromobility risks, environmental plastics, tax policy, consumer costs, housing for pets, homelessness measurement, health economics, weather, and credit systems—always probing how data definitions, methods, and incentives shape outcomes. A standout trait is the rigorous, accessible handling of complex methods and trade-offs, often foregrounding policy implications and practical takeaways for readers curious about how numbers translate into real-world decisions.

Where can I find podcast stats for Control F?

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Which podcasts are similar to Control F?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Control F:

1. Booming
2. Week In Review
3. Seattle Now
4. An Arm and a Leg
5. Short Wave

How many episodes of Control F are there?

Control F launched 8 months ago and published 19 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 Control F?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Control F?

Recent guests on Control F include:

1. Jeffrey Callen
2. Angela Giacchetti
3. Aran Ryan
4. Yon Gorbatov
5. Steven Mooney
6. Marcus Garcia
7. Elaine Bearer
8. Fazel Monikh

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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