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Freakonomics Radio

591. Signs of Progress, One Year at a Time

Jun 6, 2024
Tom Whitwell, a managing consultant at Magnetic and curator of an intriguing annual list, shares 52 insights from the past year. He dives into human behavior, touching on fraud, marketing influences, and the persistence of outdated tech like fax machines. Whitwell discusses the rise in job satisfaction in the U.S. and the challenges in highlighting good news amidst negativity. He also tackles misconceptions about longevity and supercentenarians, encouraging listeners to recognize incremental progress in society.
53:20

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Positive insight into progress through '52 Things I Learned' list by Tom Whitwell
  • Challenges to claims of longevity in Blue Zones by Saul Newman

Deep dives

Podcast Recap: Exploring Unique Discoveries

The podcast episode discusses a different approach from the usual serious topics, introducing a range of fascinating concepts. Tom Whitwell, a consultant and list curator, annually shares '52 Things I Learned,' uncovering intriguing facts. One standout fact is about Okinawa, listed as a Blue Zone, known for longevity but found to have high obesity rates and self-harm levels. Whitwell's reflections dive deep into common beliefs and their interaction with reality.

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