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

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 weeklyEpisodes999Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Freakonomics Radio

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.

If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

Hosted... more

The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now there’s a push to return these works to their rightful owners. Sounds simple, right? It's not. (Part 2 of an updated series origi... more

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?

If you'd... more

How did a freshly looted Egyptian antiquity end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why did it take Kim Kardashian to crack the case? And how much of what you see in any museum is stolen? (Part 1 of “Stealing Art Is Easy. Giving It Back Is Hard,” f... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Economics of Everyday Things
The Economics of Everyday ThingsFreakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett
People I (Mostly) Admire
People I (Mostly) AdmireFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Hidden Brain
Hidden BrainHidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Matthew Bogdanos
Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan DA's Antiquities Trafficking Unit; former Marine Colonel
Manhattan District Attorney's Office
Episode: The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)
Patty Gerstenblith
Professor of law; expert on legal issues in the art world
DePaul University College of Law (formerly)
Episode: The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)
Victoria Reed
Senior Curator for Provenance at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Episode: The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)
Jim Marrone
Economist; researcher on art and antiquities markets
RAND Corporation (formerly); Economist
Episode: The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)
Angela Buchdahl
Rabbi, author, and leader of Central Synagogue in New York City
Central Synagogue (New York City)
Episode: What if Being a Stranger Is Actually Your Superpower? | Better in Person
Gary Gensler
Former SEC and CFTC chair, MIT professor
MIT; former U.S. regulator
Episode: 684. He Helped Clean Up the Last Crash. Does He See Another One Coming?
Harlan Coben
Mega bestselling thriller author
Self / Author
Episode: Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories? | Better In Person
Alex Macdonald
Former NASA chief economist
Center for Strategic and International Studies (via NASA background)
Episode: 683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?
Rosanna Hoffman
Head of space law and policy, and sustainability at UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOSA)
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
Episode: 683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?

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 54k ratings
  • NO EPISODES 😡

    I want episodes, where are episodes???

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mysterious hooded figure
    United States21 days ago
  • Chat GTP even here

    It was all nice, and cool to listen to it until they start to advertise chat GPT. There’s of intellectual property.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    gabinet.co.uk
    Poland22 days ago
  • Top ten all-time podcast

    Fight me

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RWBBFTSOO
    United States2 months ago
  • Can Universities Win Back Our Trust

    I’ve never written a review, but that was so painful, I couldn’t help it. There was nothing insightful or inspiring. I guess you can keep your job by doing nothing but placate those around you. Hooray platitudes! I’ve never considered not sending my children to higher education until today. I guess I’m not mad at the show, just sad, so still 4 stars

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bus36 Bus36
    United States2 months ago
  • Once great, but….

    “Question, question, question…yes?” Questions have become leading questions rather than just a question. The hidden side of everything needs to take a look at how leading a question skews a response during an interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    AK12683
    United States2 months 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.

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.
The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)
Q: Why is the Met's provenance so central to this story?
Because it is a case study of how due diligence can fail, the role of forged documents, and the legal and ethical implications of possessing looted objects, which then drives a broad discussion about restitution and reform.
Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories? | Better In Person
Q: What drives you to keep writing when you fear the work won't land?
The fear itself fuels the craft; insecurity and impostor syndrome push you to refine, rethink, and push boundaries rather than giving up.
Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories? | Better In Person
Q: Does it take a twisted mind to write twisted stories?
No; it's about using a disciplined, regular approach to craft original work, balancing order in life with the ability to explore dark or surprising ideas in fiction.
684. He Helped Clean Up the Last Crash. Does He See Another One Coming?
Q: How do you see the AI boom affecting the economy and the stock market in the next few years?
The AI investment boom will likely lead to a period of high capital expenditure and elevated valuations, but revenues and profits may not immediately align; a plateau or correction could occur if demand and monetization lag behind spending, with a broader impact on financing and leverage across the market.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Freakonomics Radio?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Freakonomics Radio. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Freakonomics Radio and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Freakonomics Radio get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Freakonomics Radio, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Freakonomics Radio?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Freakonomics Radio, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Freakonomics Radio have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Freakonomics Radio has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Hidden Brain
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Freakonomics Radio are there?

Freakonomics Radio launched 17 years ago and published 999 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Freakonomics Radio from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Freakonomics Radio?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Freakonomics Radio. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Freakonomics Radio?

Recent guests on Freakonomics Radio include:

1. Matthew Bogdanos
2. Patty Gerstenblith
3. Victoria Reed
4. Jim Marrone
5. Angela Buchdahl
6. Gary Gensler
7. Harlan Coben
8. Alex Macdonald

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days