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New York City
Artificial Intelligence
Cannabis
Public Health
Economics
Immigration
Rats
Opioid Crisis
Healthcare
Covid-19 Pandemic
Broadway
Public Policy
Psychology
Behavioral Economics
San Francisco
Richard Feynman
Failure
Labor Market
Stereophonic
NFL

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 weeklyEpisodes972Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Freakonomics Radio

Latest Episodes

Not exactly. But their runaway success with games like Wordle says something bigger about the way we live now. (Part one of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”)

• SOURCES:

• Alex Hardiman, chief product officer at The New York Times.

• Jon... more

Great. Then depressed. Then great again. Stephen Dubner gets the full story from David Lang; we also hear from some fans, and the New York Philharmonic’s president. The math and the aftermath of wealth of nations. (Part two of a series.)

• SOURCES:... more

Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. In this updated replay of a 2022 episode, we hold a very Smithy tug of war.

• SOURCES:

• Eamonn Butler, c... more

That’s what the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang wanted to learn. So he turned Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations into an oratorio. We tag along as Lang’s piece heads toward its world premiere with the New York Philharmonic. (Part one of a ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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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

Eric Zimmerman
Game designer and NYU professor; discussed game design philosophy
New York University Game Center
Episode: 675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
Alex Hardiman
Chief Product Officer at The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: 675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
Jonathan Knight
SVP and General Manager for New York Times Games
The New York Times
Episode: 675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
David Lang
Composer of Wealth of Nations
David Lang / Composer
Episode: 674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?
Eamonn Butler
Director of the Adam Smith Institute
Adam Smith Institute
Episode: Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update)
Judith Faulkner
Founder and CEO of Epic Systems
Epic Systems
Episode: 672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run?
Seth Howard
Senior colleague, Executive VP of Research and Development at Epic
Epic Systems
Episode: 672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run?
Niels Christian Stenseth
Professor of Ecology and Evolution
University of Oslo
Episode: Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update)
Ed Glaeser
Professor of Economics
Harvard University
Episode: Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update)

Host

Stephen J. Dubner
Host and co-author of Freakonomics, Stephen J. Dubner is known for blending economics with engaging storytelling, exploring the unseen sides of various topics across society and culture.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 53.8k ratings
  • Disappointed

    I used to love this podcast, but I stopped listening when it switched from informing to proselytizing predetermined viewpoints.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    prof10
    United States14 days ago
  • Great

    Great show. Interesting and varied topics but please stop saying “I’m curious” just ask the question

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    flibbideegib
    United Kingdom17 days ago
  • Hyperbolic overreach for now

    I used to love this show, but it’s become so much of a ‘here’s someone I like and listen to their life story’ rather than the purpose ‘exploring the hidden side of everything’

    Shows used to be more focused on the outcomes and stories that created such compelling mysteries in the world of psychology/economics, but today, it feels more like an opportunity for the host to thinly veil his politics and simply chat with people he likes … perhaps it’s time to think about the audience a little more a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Nick F47
    United Kingdom18 days ago
  • Pretty Biased

    The problem with a a podcast that gives you information you expect to be true is when you start recognizing that they have heavy bias in their information you won't be able to trust anything else they report on.

    Listening to the first episode on self driving cars they mention Tesla twice from what I recall just to say negative things, like Tesla isn't the best self driving option out there.

    You're either bias because you hate Musk or you're being paid by the other company. 🤷🏻‍♂️. Either ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    8RSK8
    United States19 days ago
  • Great

    Podcast Addict
    5
    barisa99
    21 days ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners frequently highlight the podcast's insightful and humorous approach to economics and behavioral insights.
Overall, the podcast is praised for its variety of topics and ability to engage listeners in complex subjects.
Critics note a perceived decline in content quality and challenge the neutrality of guest interviews, particularly in political contexts.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
Q: What would define a game according to your perspective?
A game is a structured experience at the intersection of math, logic, and human emotion, with rules that govern play and invite players to express themselves and collaborate under agreed-upon constraints.
674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?
Q: What about Lang himself? How did he feel about the first performances of his new composition?
Lang was pleased and proud, at least for a little while, about the performances and the reception, while acknowledging the post-premiere feelings of vulnerability and reflection that follow such a long, effort-filled creation process.
671. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease?
Q: What is the state of Alzheimer's research and the amyloid hypothesis today?
The experts acknowledge that while amyloid has a role, the biology is complex and single-factor hypotheses are insufficient; there is growing consensus that dementia results from multiple interacting processes, including vascular factors and waste clearance issues.
Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)
Q: Do you think 2025 will be dominated by tax policy, given other pressing issues?
She notes that while tax policy may not dominate on the surface, the underlying fiscal questions are central and will re-emerge as major issues as lawmakers address deficits and spending.
Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)
Q: Why did you decide to write the Top 10 Tax Myths piece and what were the circumstances that led to its publication?
Riedel explains she was frustrated by misleading information in articles and on social media, wrote the piece to provide background knowledge, and aimed to inform a smarter national debate ahead of a consequential year in tax policy.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Freakonomics Radio

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

Exploring the hidden side of diverse topics, this podcast combines economics with storytelling to illuminate the often-overlooked aspects of everyday life. From the safety of air travel versus driving to the complexities behind personal relationships, it offers insightful discussions that challenge conventional wisdom. Unique in its approach, engaging guests from various fields such as healthcare, sports, and academia provide audience members with unexpected perspectives on familiar subjects. The blend of humor, serious inquiry, and accessible analysis makes this a compelling choice for listeners interested in understanding the world through an economic lens.

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How many listeners does Freakonomics Radio get?

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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. People I (Mostly) Admire
3. Planet Money
4. Radiolab
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Freakonomics Radio are there?

Freakonomics Radio launched 16 years ago and published 972 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 Freakonomics Radio?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Freakonomics Radio?

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What guests have appeared on Freakonomics Radio?

Recent guests on Freakonomics Radio include:

1. Eric Zimmerman
2. Alex Hardiman
3. Jonathan Knight
4. David Lang
5. Eamonn Butler
6. Judith Faulkner
7. Seth Howard
8. Niels Christian Stenseth

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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