TED Business Stephen J. Dubner | from Design Matters
Dec 15, 2025
Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning journalist and co-creator of Freakonomics, dives into the origins of his curiosity-driven storytelling. He shares memories from his childhood on a farm that shaped his perspective and recounts the journey of reclaiming his Jewish identity. Dubner reflects on the role of courage in creativity and contrasts reputation with character through personal anecdotes, like his interactions with childhood hero Franco Harris. He also teases new projects, including a radio series on horses and a TV show debuting in 2026.
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First Byline In Highlights Magazine
- Stephen J. Dubner's first publication was a poem in Highlights magazine submitted by his fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Peterson.
- He keeps that original copy on his coffee table as a formative memory of encouragement.
Country Childhood, Silent Cake Rituals
- Dubner grew up the youngest of eight on a farm in Duanesburg with quirky family traditions like the silent birthday cake custom.
- He recalls being painfully shy and later embracing city life in New York to feel more at ease.
From Oral History To First Book
- Researching his parents' conversions led Dubner from a planned novel to a New York Times article and then his first book, Turbulent Souls.
- The project began as an oral-history tape with his mother and expanded into a deep family exploration.
