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Artificial Intelligence
Cannabis
New York City
Public Health
Economics
Immigration
Rats
Opioid Crisis
Healthcare
Covid-19 Pandemic
Broadway
Public Policy
Behavioral Economics
San Francisco
Failure
Labor Market
Stereophonic
Retail Industry
Education
China

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. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ad... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1012Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Freakonomics Radio

Latest Episodes

Writers, designers, actors, coders, musicians, thinkers — they’re all worried about being replaced by machines. But what if the A.I.s are actually here to help? (Part one of a two-part series.)

• SOURCES:• Sean Astin, actor, president of SAG-AFTRA. more

They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and employees. Can they both be right? (Probably not.)

• SOURCES:• Brendan Ballou, C.E.O. of the P... more

David Rubenstein, a product of the old bipartisan D.C., made his fortune in private equity. He’s been spending it on “patriotic philanthropy” and institutions like the Kennedy Center, where Trump fired him as chairman. Now he wonders if the center ca... more

Podcasting started as a niche-nerd pursuit. Now it’s a $9 billion industry. Is that a lot? The strange economics of this thing we do.

• SOURCES:• Jim Bankoff, chairman and C.E.O. of Vox Media.

• Ben Davis, head of digital at WME.

• Will Page, former... more

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.

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People I (Mostly) AdmireFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
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RadiolabWNYC Studios
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Hidden BrainHidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Recent Guests

David Rubenstein
Co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group, author, philanthropist, and principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles
Carlyle Group
Episode: 691. Is This What a “Good Billionaire” Looks Like?
Jenna Weiss-Berman
Podcast producer; Paper Kite Audio founder
Paper Kite Audio / Paper Kite Productions
Episode: 690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Jim Bankoff
CEO of Vox Media
Vox Media
Episode: 690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Will Page
Former Chief Economist, Spotify
Spotify
Episode: 690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Ben Davis
Agent at WME
WME
Episode: 690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Jeanine Wright
Co-founder and CEO of Inception Point AI (now Liquid Studios)
Inception Point AI / Liquid Studios
Episode: 690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Derrell Peel
Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University / Cow-Calf Corner
Episode: 689. Here’s Why Your Hamburger Just Got So Pricey
Roger Horowitz
Food historian
Hagley Museum and Library
Episode: 689. Here’s Why Your Hamburger Just Got So Pricey
Austin Frerick
Agriculture antitrust expert
Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society / University researcher
Episode: 689. Here’s Why Your Hamburger Just Got So Pricey

Host

Stephen Dubner
Host of the broader series and interviewer; frequently leads in-depth conversations with a wide range of guests.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 54.1k ratings
  • Way too much interrupting

    I listened to almost all of an episode where an interview is being done, and there was way too much interrupting by the host. He’d ask a question, start to get an answer, then ask a new one in the middle of this answer. It was frustrating and uncomfortable.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Frustrated at the changes
    United States20 days ago
  • Corporate Bias

    Like others, I’m disappointed by the corporate bias in the Freakonomics series on Kalshi. They uncritically accepted Kalshi’s claims and overlooked widespread criticisms of the platform and its potential for substantial societal harm, despite the title suggesting that they would. These episodes were missing basic scientific curiosity and skepticism that I expect from decent economists. It felt like a paid advertisement or even corporate propaganda.

    I strongly suggest a follow-up episode with a ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bokononist Evangelist
    United States23 days ago
  • My “go to” podcast

    Always interesting and well researched as well as excellent production with Stephen’s voice and Louis’ music - it’s the whole package of clear information that is worth knowing and worth your time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NZ-Aly
    New Zealanda month ago
  • Kalshi shills

    Are they getting paid by kalshi? Truly sad to see a great podcast become a shill for dangerous gambling products that ruin peoples lives

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Deviancy
    United Statesa month ago
  • finger pointing quibble

    On the Sept 4 show re AI survival. Kudos for talking abt a responsible approach. quibble: I think the late 80’s loss of mfg jobs happened under Reagan and Bush, not Clinton. China Shock refers to job losses beginning late 90’s.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    bets444
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel the show has grown into advocacy and biased framing.
Fans value deep-dive interviews but critics seek more balance and challenging questions.
Listeners praise the show's ability to illuminate the hidden sides of familiar topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

691. Is This What a “Good Billionaire” Looks Like?
Q: Do you think the center can and will hold in the US?
Rubenstein says he is unsure. He describes a dysfunctional political system in which narrow congressional majorities act as though they have overwhelming mandates, making compromise unlikely.
691. Is This What a “Good Billionaire” Looks Like?
Q: What has been your inspiration for your style of philanthropy? Are you trying to be the quote good billionaire maybe?
Rubenstein says he committed to giving away virtually all his money while alive, focusing on scholarships, medical research, and patriotic philanthropy that preserves monuments and historical documents.
690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Q: How does the podcast industry actually generate revenue today?
Revenue mainly comes from advertising, with a growing role for subscriptions and other models like live events and licensing; the industry is still evolving toward more diverse monetization beyond simple ad reads.
“I Trust Almost Anyone More Than Myself” | Better in Person
Q: What happens if it doesn't work?
The guest explains that genre writing carries rigorous demands and the work may fail; the coping strategy is to keep adjusting and refining rather than abandoning the project, treating failures as a math problem to solve.
683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?
Q: Why did space governance shift from treaties to non-binding guidelines after the 1980s?
Because many topics were highly technical and evolving, and states preferred flexible, quickly adaptable instruments over slow, hard-to-amend treaties, allowing faster updates on debris, traffic management, and sustainability.

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 Freakonomics Radio

What is Freakonomics Radio about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show tends to explore big ideas at the intersection of economics, science, culture, and public policy through long-form conversations with leading thinkers and practitioners. Episodes often center on how systems create friction or influence behavior—whether it's sludge in healthcare and subscriptions, trust in higher education, or bold visions in architecture, AI, and space-enabled computation. A standout is the breadth and depth of guests, ranging from Nobel laureates and university leaders to architects, technology pioneers, and public policymakers, with a knack for turning complex topics into accessible storytelling. The program frequently blends data-driven analysis with human-centered anecdotes, making it useful for listeners who w... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Freakonomics Radio?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Freakonomics Radio:

1. The Economics of Everyday Things
2. Planet Money
3. People I (Mostly) Admire
4. Radiolab
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Freakonomics Radio are there?

Freakonomics Radio launched 17 years ago and published 1012 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Freakonomics Radio?

Recent guests on Freakonomics Radio include:

1. David Rubenstein
2. Jenna Weiss-Berman
3. Jim Bankoff
4. Will Page
5. Ben Davis
6. Jeanine Wright
7. Derrell Peel
8. Roger Horowitz

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