Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
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 ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
Episodes
Mentioned books
159 snips
Oct 23, 2026 • 59min
692. What Will A.I. Do to (and for) Human Creativity?
Kevin Kelly, Wired co-founder and technology futurist, imagines AI “exoselves” that advise, protect, or even mirror us. Eline Van der Velden, actor and founder of Particle6, discusses creating the AI character Tilly Norwood and AI’s role in film. Wharton professor and AI scholar Ethan Mollick explores creativity, autonomous agents, changing jobs, and the uneasy future of human-machine collaboration.
254 snips
Oct 21, 2026 • 48min
Are Private Equity Firms Plundering the U.S. Economy? (Update)
Brendan Ballou, a public-interest lawyer and former Justice Department antitrust official, examines private equity’s expanding power. He explains the industry’s debt-heavy model, fees, opaque ownership structures, and political reach. Real-world stories from mobile homes and Fairway reveal the stakes, while investors debate whether private equity drives efficiency or extracts wealth. The discussion closes with possible regulatory responses.
229 snips
Oct 16, 2026 • 43min
691. Is This What a “Good Billionaire” Looks Like?
David Rubenstein, financier, philanthropist, civic leader, and Baltimore Orioles owner, discusses private equity, billionaire sports ownership, and baseball’s competitive balance. He shares the winding path to buying the Orioles, the growing role of analytics and betting, and his vision for patriotic philanthropy. He also reflects on political polarization, institutional resilience, and his controversial departure from the Kennedy Center.
286 snips
Oct 9, 2026 • 1h 2min
690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Jeanine Wright, a podcast-tech entrepreneur; Will Page, a media economist; and Jenna Weiss-Berman, a pioneering producer, unpack podcasting’s $9 billion business. They explore the venture-fueled boom, confusing platform economics, premium host-read ads, blockbuster deals, shaky measurement, and the rise of AI-generated shows. The conversation asks whether podcasting is still an intimate creative medium or has become show business.
301 snips
Oct 2, 2026 • 49min
689. Here’s Why Your Hamburger Just Got So Pricey
Food historian Roger Horowitz, King Ranch CEO Robert Hodgen, and agricultural economist Derrell Peel explore why beef prices are soaring. They unpack the cattle cycle, drought, lean trimmings, imports, and the surprisingly intricate journey from ranch to hamburger. The conversation also traces meatpacking’s history, today’s concentration among major processors, and the tension between efficiency and market power.
281 snips
Sep 25, 2026 • 51min
688. When Is a Bet Not a Bet?
Robin Hanson, a George Mason economist studying prediction markets, and Gary Gensler, former SEC and CFTC chair, debate whether prediction markets are financial exchanges or gambling venues. They explore Kalshi’s fight with state regulators, sports contracts, insider trading, manipulation, liquidity, and the rules separating Kalshi from Polymarket. The future of betting on reality gets complicated.
507 snips
Sep 18, 2026 • 49min
687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?
Robin Hanson, a George Mason economist who pioneered prediction markets; Nicole Kagan, Kalshi’s research chief; and Tarek Mansour, its math-minded co-founder and CEO, explore whether markets can outforecast experts on inflation, elections, and FDA approvals. They discuss Hayek’s knowledge problem, incentives, contract design, political momentum, and the uneasy line between useful forecasting and sports-fueled gambling.
115 snips
Sep 16, 2026 • 33min
How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel | Better in Person
John Urschel is an MIT mathematics professor and former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman. He recalls discovering math as a child, reaching the NFL, and earning a PhD while playing professional football. He demonstrates the art of blocking, discusses brain trauma and retirement, explores the sizes of infinity, and reflects on marriage, parenthood, talent, hard work, and luck.
309 snips
Sep 11, 2026 • 58min
686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?
Stephen Smith, a sports data scientist transforming athletic performance, and Scott Goldman, a sports psychologist specializing in cognitive assessment, explore why quarterback scouting remains so uncertain. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner shares his unlikely rise and explains processing speed, adaptability, and pressure performance. The conversation examines AIQ testing, data-driven talent evaluation, coachability, and matching players to systems.
262 snips
Sep 9, 2026 • 32min
Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person
James Daunt, the British bookseller who founded Daunt Books and revived Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, explains his unconventional retail playbook. He discusses rescuing chains from collapse, empowering local store managers, and curating shelves that algorithms cannot. He explores why bookstores still matter, their role as community spaces, the enduring appeal of physical books, and the risks of chasing short-term profits.
