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Artwork for The Economics of Everyday Things

The Economics of Everyday Things

Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett
Truffles
Car Wash Industry
Romance Novels
Sustainability
Mobile Home Parks
Michelin Stars
Greeting Cards
Cashmere
Emoji
Satellites
Fireworks
Home Staging
Real Estate
Carnival Games
Pistachios
Climate Change
Hand Modeling
Used Golf Balls
Mall Cops
Affordable Housing

Who decides which snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, star... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes231Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for The Economics of Everyday Things

Latest Episodes

Those tiny treats that predict your future may come free at the end of a Chinese meal, but they’re big business (and not Chinese). Zachary Crockett will go on a long journey. This episode was originally published on April 13th, 2025.

Hosted by Sim... more

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When you hit the slopes, you might not be thinking about water rights, controlled avalanches, and liability insurance — but someone has to. Zachary Crockett shreds the pow. This episode was originally published on April 6th, 2025.

Hosted by Simplec... more

YouTube

We reach for it twice a day — without thinking about the decades of research and engineering that went into that squeezable tube of minty goo. Zachary Crockett extracts the last bit. This episode was originally published on March 30th, 2025.

Hosted... more

YouTube

When a Fortune 500 company needs a new leader, it turns to a well-connected headhunter who assesses candidates with psychological tests and mock TV interviews. Zachary Crockett activates his network. This episode was originally published on March 23r... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Li
Author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles
Episode: 88. Fortune Cookies
Bowen Karens
A math teacher and game show contestant
Episode: 83. Game Show Winnings
Arthur Smith
Executive producer with extensive experience in game shows
Episode: 83. Game Show Winnings
Ken Murphy
CEO of LifeTouch, the largest school photography firm in America.
LifeTouch
Episode: 79. School Photos
Jessica Poundstone
Visual artist who transitioned from creative director to artist for hotel projects.
Episode: 76. Hotel Art
Melanie Ketring
Director of Studio Design at Best Western Hotels.
Best Western Hotels
Episode: 76. Hotel Art
Gavi Wolf
Founder and CEO of Indie Walls, an art advisory firm.
Indie Walls
Episode: 76. Hotel Art
James Daunt
CEO of Barnes & Noble; former owner/leader of Daunt Books and Waterstones
Barnes & Noble; Waterstones; Daunt Books
Episode: Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person
Stacey Bourne
Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Creative at Fusion Specialties, the largest manufacturer of Mannequins in the world
Fusion Specialties
Episode: 71. Mannequins

Host

Zachary Crockett
Host of the show; frequently anchors conversations with industry experts and researchers.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 5k ratings
  • 对雅思听力有帮助

    As a chines and English learning beginner this podcast is really useful and helps me a lot on my ielts listening test,the achievement for me is fruitful .the variety of topic is quite interesting and practical than others,which helps me not to give up . Hoping the podcast could update more frequently.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bereket :)
    China4 days ago
  • Toothpaste

    The toothpaste episode just resurfaced (thanks for the credit at the end). It covers the genesis of this staple, the many varieties that have evolved, the ingredients… everything except, well, the economics of this everyday thing. Which brings me back to my original thought (one Crest and Colgate may want to avoid): why is toothpaste sold in such small tubes, when it’s used so often? Why not one-pound, two-pound, five-pound tubes? Thanks. – Jeff

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jeff Sawyer
    United States7 days ago
  • Great

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Oleg
    17 days ago
  • fast passes

    great show can you do the economics of fast passes at amusement parks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    proceduralmagician
    United States17 days ago
  • A broader perspective

    I have been a long-term fan of this podcast, but I have a suggestion for a multi episode. Look at how good start and a factory in China and their suppliers proceed to being loaded onto large containers in container ships across the ocean and unloaded and distributed in the US so for example, what would the life of a pair of earphones look like when you added all those things together?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    l.lurie Troy
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners criticize frequent ads or shorter episode lengths.
Overall, listeners praise the crisp, research-driven storytelling and diverse topics.
Fans appreciate the host's interviewing style and the accessible deep-dives into everyday economics.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#46
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#165
United States/Business
Apple Podcasts
#124
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#163
United Kingdom/Business
Apple Podcasts
#111
Australia/Business
Apple Podcasts
#235
Italy/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

90. Closed Captions
Q: When you watch TV, do you always use the captions?
No, I never have captions on in my house because I sit in front of a computer and deal with that all day.
81. Guide Dogs
Q: What challenges do guide dog owners face in public spaces?
Guide dog owners often face misunderstandings about their rights and the presence of their service animals, which can lead to public access challenges.
81. Guide Dogs
Q: What is the role of the Seeing Eye in training guide dogs?
The Seeing Eye trains guide dogs through a thorough process that includes breeding, raising, and educating them to assist visually impaired individuals effectively.
73. Used Bookstores
Q: What kinds of books are easiest to sell?
Paperback fiction tends to sell quickly, especially in genres like science fiction and fantasy, while some popular crime fiction and hardcover books are harder to move.
73. Used Bookstores
Q: How do you decide if a big collection of books is worth investing in?
I usually go through and find the most valuable books, get a really exact sense of what we're going to price those, and then go through other books.

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 The Economics of Everyday Things

What is The Economics of Everyday Things about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Short-form episodes explore the hidden economics behind everyday objects and experiences, from luxury goods and high-value artifacts to common services and consumer trends. Across topics like food supply chains, healthcare access, real estate protections, entertainment careers, and the modern gig economy, the show aims to reveal how monetary forces shape daily life. A notable strength is its ability to turn eclectic, sometimes surprising subjects into clear, bite-sized insights that help listeners understand the value and trade-offs behind ordinary-seeming things. The format tends to feature expert guests and practitioners who illuminate complex systems with accessible storytelling, making it a likely strong fit for curious, professionally ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Economics of Everyday Things?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Economics of Everyday Things:

1. Freakonomics Radio
2. People I (Mostly) Admire
3. Planet Money
4. The Indicator from Planet Money
5. No Stupid Questions

How many episodes of The Economics of Everyday Things are there?

The Economics of Everyday Things launched 4 years ago and published 231 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 The Economics of Everyday Things?

Recent guests on The Economics of Everyday Things include:

1. Jennifer Li
2. Bowen Karens
3. Arthur Smith
4. Ken Murphy
5. Jessica Poundstone
6. Melanie Ketring
7. Gavi Wolf
8. James Daunt

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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