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Artwork for Freakonomics Radio
Richard Feynman
Zygarnik Effect
Psychology
Closure
Public Transit
San Francisco 49ers
Academic Fraud
Human Behavior
Emotions
Personal Injury Law
Colin Kaepernick
NFL
Jimmy Garoppolo
Challenger Space Shuttle
Transportation Funding
Economic Mobility
Congestion Pricing
Climate Justice
University Of Chicago Crime Lab
Relationships

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 weeklyEpisodes874Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Freakonomics Radio

Latest Episodes

The quirky little grocery chain with California roots and German ownership has a lot to teach all of us about choice architecture, efficiency, frugality, collaboration, and team spirit.

• SOURCES:• Kirk DesErmia, facilities manager in Seward, Alaska... more

Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse tha... more

Lina Khan, the youngest F.T.C. chair in history, reset U.S. antitrust policy by thwarting mega-mergers and other monopolistic behavior. This earned her enemies in some places, and big fans in others — including the Trump administration. Stephen Dubne... more

It’s a powerful biological response that has preserved our species for millennia. But now it may be keeping us from pursuing strategies that would improve the environment, the economy, even our own health. So is it time to dial down our disgust refle... more

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Recent Guests

Jessica Riedel
Senior Fellow in Budget, Tax, and Economic Policy at the Manhattan Institute
Manhattan Institute
Episode: 626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System
Lina Khan
Former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
Episode: 625. The Biden Policy That Trump Hasn’t Touched
Jan Pinkova
Director and Writer known for Ratatouille, worked at Pixar
Pixar
Episode: 624. The Animal No One Loves, Until They Do
Julia Zichello
Evolutionary biologist and pet rat owner
Hunter College
Episode: 624. The Animal No One Loves, Until They Do
Bethany Brookshire
Science writer with experience in drug research
Episode: 624. The Animal No One Loves, Until They Do
Bobby Corrigan
Urban rodentologist, expert on rat behavior and control
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Episode: 623. Can New York City Win Its War on Rats?
Cathy Carrotti
New citywide director of rodent mitigation, known as the 'Rat Czar'
New York City Department of Health
Episode: 623. Can New York City Win Its War on Rats?
Robert Sullivan
Author of "Rats, Observations on the History and Habitat of the City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants"
Episode: 623. Can New York City Win Its War on Rats?
Ari Emanuel
Super agent and CEO of Endeavor, model for Ari Gold from Entourage
Endeavor
Episode: The Show That Never Happened

Host

Stephen Dubner
Host of an influential podcast that examines the hidden side of everything with a blend of economic theory, storytelling, and engaging discussions with experts.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 52.2k ratings
  • Feb 2025

    I have been listening to Freakonomics for years and I have a lot of favorite episodes (anything sports related, Ed Glaeser on any topic, the Adam Smith series), but I think “the Show that Never Happened” might be one of my top 5. Stephen Dubner remains so transparently human, and never has that been more apparent than in these 14 minutes. Thanks for being part of my week. Looking forward to more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Prairie listener Tuning In
    Canadaa month ago
  • Outstanding content!

    I really enjoy listening to the Freakonomics Radio podcast. Stephen Dubner does an excellent job of finding intelligent, interesting, and thought-provoking guests on a wide variety of topics. I always feel smarter and more capable of intelligently discussing whatever topic is being discussed (even though I’m probably not) after listening to an episode. I have been a fan of Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner since I read the first Freakonomics book, and I feel like a learn something new or am chall... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TMR Alfred Morris Rant
    United Statesa month ago
  • Entertaining and Enlightening

    I love this show. It’s almost always entertaining and it’s always enlightening. The topics are fascinating, the guests are often outstanding people in their field, etc. Well worth a listen if you haven’t yet.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nut4Wine
    United Statesa month ago
  • Such a wonderful voice

    Even a short show about a show that didn’t get recorded ends up being so thoughtful and memorable. Always interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mykb
    Canadaa month ago
  • Take it down PLEASE!!!! Ari Emmanuel / WME episode

    Begging you… I’ve ❤️you forever but after the hate & lies he spewed about Justin…. I’m so disappointed you’re giving him this platform…..

    They dropped Justin but Diddy is still on WME roster along with TONS of other people found GUILTY of worse offenses. DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE !!!!

    This episode won’t age well. Don’t tarnish a beloved book series & podcast 😢

    Or do even better & give Justin a platform too.

    Guilty until proven innocent still in effect when I last checked… ugh… I’m speechless y... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    kamikazemommy
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the host’s ability to present complex topics in an engaging and accessible way, making the content enjoyable and informative.
Listeners commend the podcast for its thorough research and intriguing subjects, often describing it as intellectually stimulating and thought-provoking.
Fans express loyalty, noting that each episode leaves them with valuable insights and lingering questions about the discussed topics.
Some critics mention perceived biases in political discussions, but praise the overall quality and depth of the content.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System
Q: What are the ultimate costs of tax policy being so widely either misunderstood or manipulated?
Jessica stated that current misunderstandings lead to a disaster of a tax code that is inefficient and fails to raise enough money to fund spending.
626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System
Q: Can you provide insight into the perception that high earners are underpaying?
Jessica explained that wealthy individuals often have income from capital gains, which is taxed differently than regular income, leading to misconceptions about their overall tax burden.
626. Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System
Q: How and when did you become interested in tax policy and budget policy?
Jessica became interested in tax policy when she participated in a challenge to balance the budget during high school, which sparked her enthusiasm for the subject.
625. The Biden Policy That Trump Hasn’t Touched
Q: What are some of your least favorite things about working in government?
Khan mentions that it sometimes can take longer to get things done than optimal and that there's pushback from monopolists.
625. The Biden Policy That Trump Hasn’t Touched
Q: Do you feel that was a legitimate expectation or it was a little bit of a fig leaf?
Khan believes the hands-off approach was primarily driven by theories of how markets work that ended up being divorced from reality.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Freakonomics Radio

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

The content is centered around exploring the hidden side of various societal phenomena and human behaviors, often interweaving economics with intriguing real-world applications. Each episode typically features in-depth discussions that take viewers through unexpected conclusions, providing fresh insights into topics ranging from fraud in academia and the complex dynamics of the cannabis industry to the evolving landscape of retail and healthcare. Noteworthy is an approach that emphasizes data-driven analysis, interesting storytelling, and the sometimes surprising intersection of seemingly unrelated topics.

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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. No Stupid Questions
4. Planet Money
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Freakonomics Radio are there?

Freakonomics Radio launched 15 years ago and published 874 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.

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What guests have appeared on Freakonomics Radio?

Recent guests on Freakonomics Radio include:

1. Jessica Riedel
2. Lina Khan
3. Jan Pinkova
4. Julia Zichello
5. Bethany Brookshire
6. Bobby Corrigan
7. Cathy Carrotti
8. Robert Sullivan

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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