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Artificial Intelligence
Cannabis
New York City
Public Health
Immigration
Economics
Rats
Opioid Crisis
Richard Feynman
Healthcare
Covid-19 Pandemic
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Behavioral Economics
NFL
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Failure
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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 weeklyEpisodes1005Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Freakonomics Radio

Latest Episodes

For decades, teams have tried (and mostly failed) to predict which college quarterbacks will thrive in the pros. Is the science finally catching up? Stephen Dubner speaks with a scout, a psychologist, a data warrior, and a Hall of Fame quarterback wh... more

He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. He tells Stephen Dubner exactly how he does it.

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

Gina Raimondo, a former commerce secretary and governor, thinks A.I. will create plenty of jobs in the long run. She also thinks a poorly managed transition could tear the country apart. So she came up with a plan.

• SOURCES:• Gina Raimondo, co-cha... more

Anne Pasternak (Brooklyn Museum) and Michael Roth (Wesleyan University) tell Stephen Dubner how they keep the peace in the middle of a culture war.

If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podc... 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
Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios
Hidden Brain
Hidden BrainHidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Recent Guests

James Daunt
CEO, Waterstones (past) and Barnes & Noble (past)
Waterstones, Barnes & Noble
Episode: Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person
Gina Raimondo
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce; founder of Raise Us
Raise Us / U.S. Government
Episode: 685. How to Survive the A.I. Shock
Anne Pasternak
Director of the Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
Episode: How to Run an Institution in an Anti-Institution Era | Better in Person
Michael Roth
President of Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Episode: How to Run an Institution in an Anti-Institution Era | Better in Person
Lonnie G. Bunch III
Secretary of the Smithsonian, historian, advocate for ethical returns policy
Smithsonian Institution
Episode: How to Return Stolen Art (Update)
Patricia Allan
Former curator of world cultures at Glasgow Museums
Glasgow Museums
Episode: How to Return Stolen Art (Update)
Andrea Bayer
Deputy Director for Collections and Administration, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met
Episode: How to Return Stolen Art (Update)
Tom Wilkening
Economist, University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
Episode: How to Return Stolen Art (Update)
Michael Kremer
Economist, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: How to Return Stolen Art (Update)

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
  • AI ads

    It is incredibly difficult to take this podcast seriously on nuanced issues like AI, the future of education, and technology when every single ad read is now for an AI company.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    MissM22
    United States7 days ago
  • Outstanding Podcast

    Freakanomics is an excellent podcast that digs deep to deliver insight and perspective.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GriffDon99
    United States9 days ago
  • Not Better in Person

    I am a fan of Freakonomics, but I don’t like better in person. Please move it to its own channel as soon as possible. Also I hope I didn’t lose favorites like economics of everyday things an PIMA to make way for BIP.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    not sleeping well
    United States13 days ago
  • Learning about the workings and world

    Always has topics to deep dive on. Agree or disagree, it is nice to dive deep on a single topic and hear from people that dedicate their lives to a single topic. You make things I would otherwise be bored to sleep by interesting. A nice non political informative podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Celeste652
    United States18 days ago
  • It’s not better in person

    Stephen Dubner is not Anthony Bourdain. I hope this variation goes away sooner rather than later. I miss the old Freakonomics radio.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ‘cjw
    United States20 days 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.

“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.
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.

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

How many episodes of Freakonomics Radio are there?

Freakonomics Radio launched 17 years ago and published 1005 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. James Daunt
2. Gina Raimondo
3. Anne Pasternak
4. Michael Roth
5. Lonnie G. Bunch III
6. Patricia Allan
7. Andrea Bayer
8. Tom Wilkening

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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