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
Nov 10, 2016 • 28min
266. Trust Me
Societies where people trust one another are healthier and wealthier. In the U.S. (and the U.K. and elsewhere), social trust has been falling for decades -- in part because our populations are more diverse. What can we do to fix it?
Nov 9, 2016 • 33min
How Much Does the President Really Matter? (Rebroadcast )
The U.S. president is often called the "leader of free world." But if you ask an economist or a Constitutional scholar how much the occupant of the Oval Office matters, they won't say much. We look at what the data have to say about measuring leadership, and its impact on the economy and the country.
Nov 3, 2016 • 42min
265. The White House Gets Into the Nudge Business
A tiny behavioral-sciences startup is trying to improve the way federal agencies do their work. Considering the size (and habits) of most federal agencies, this isn't so simple. But after a series of early victories -- and a helpful executive order from President Obama -- they are well on their way.
Oct 27, 2016 • 49min
264. In Praise of Incrementalism
What do Renaissance painting, civil-rights movements, and Olympic cycling have in common? In each case, huge breakthroughs came from taking tiny steps. In a world where everyone is looking for the next moonshot, we shouldn't ignore the power of incrementalism.
Oct 20, 2016 • 42min
263. In Praise of Maintenance
Has our culture's obsession with innovation led us to neglect the fact that things also need to be taken care of?
Oct 13, 2016 • 45min
262. This Is Your Brain on Podcasts
A recent MRI study shows that storytelling stimulates the brain, highlighting the benefits of listening to podcasts. The complexity of the human brain and its processing of vision is discussed, along with the hierarchical organization of language. The podcast's impact on curiosity and cultural awareness is mentioned, and an Olympian shares their experience of finding inspiration in a Freakonomics Radio episode. Listeners are encouraged to support the show.
Oct 6, 2016 • 45min
How To Win A Nobel Prize (Rebroadcast)
The process is famously secretive (and conducted in Swedish!) but we pry the lid off at least a little bit.
Sep 29, 2016 • 43min
261. Why Are We Still Using Cash?
It facilitates crime, bribery, and tax evasion -- and yet some governments (including ours) are printing more cash than ever. Other countries, meanwhile, are ditching cash entirely. And if Star Trek is right, we won't have money of any sort in the 24th century.
Sep 22, 2016 • 48min
260. Has the U.S. Presidency Become a Dictatorship?
Sure, we all pay lip service to the Madisonian system of checks and balances. But as one legal scholar argues, presidents have been running roughshod over the system for decades. The result? An accumulation of power that's turned the presidency into a position the founders wouldn't have recognized.
Sep 15, 2016 • 51min
259. Ten Signs You Might Be a Libertarian
Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate, likes to say that most Americans are libertarians but don't know it yet. So why can't Libertarians (and other third parties) gain more political traction?
