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
5 snips
Aug 6, 2015 • 36min
215. Why Do We Really Follow the News?
There are all kinds of civics-class answers to that question. But how true are they? Could it be that we like to read about war, politics, and miscellaneous heartbreak simply because it's (gasp) entertaining?
Jul 30, 2015 • 39min
214. How to Create Suspense
Why is soccer the best sport? How has Harlan Coben sold 70 million books? And why does "Apollo 13" keep you enthralled even when you know the ending?
Jul 23, 2015 • 32min
213. Aziz Ansari Needs Another Toothbrush
The comedian, actor -- and now, author -- answers our FREAK-quently Asked Questions
Jul 16, 2015 • 43min
212. The Economics of Sleep, Part 2
People who sleep better earn more money. Now all we have to do is teach everyone to sleep better.
Jul 9, 2015 • 45min
211. The Economics of Sleep, Part 1
Could a lack of sleep help explain why some people get much sicker than others?
Jul 2, 2015 • 28min
A Better Way to Eat (Rebroadcast)
Takeru Kobayashi revolutionized the sport of competitive eating. What can the rest of us learn from his breakthrough?
Jun 25, 2015 • 54min
210. Is It Okay for Restaurants to Racially Profile Their Employees?
We seem to have decided that ethnic food tastes better when it's served by people of that ethnicity (or at least something close). Does this make sense -- and is it legal?
Jun 18, 2015 • 50min
209. Make Me a Match
Sure, markets generally work well. But for some transactions -- like school admissions and organ transplants -- money alone can't solve the problem. That's when you need a market-design wizard like Al Roth.
Jun 11, 2015 • 35min
208. Making Sex Offenders Pay -- and Pay and Pay and Pay
Sure, sex crimes are horrific, and the perpetrators deserve to be punished harshly. But society keeps exacting costs -- out-of-pocket and otherwise -- long after the prison sentence has been served.
14 snips
Jun 4, 2015 • 55min
207. Should We Really Behave Like Economists Say We Do?
Explore living life as a rational decision-maker, applying expected utility theory to relationships, considering the costs and benefits of marriage and parenthood, and the impact of a relationship on pursuing a homo-economicist lifestyle. Learn about affordable furnishing options and financial planning tools. Discover the implications of public goods, the burden of being a sex offender, and the importance of civic associations for political engagement.
