The Economics of Everyday Things

The founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company discusses creating the world's hottest chili pepper and the pain of tasting it. The podcast explores the journey of the guest with chili peppers, accidental breeding of the Carolina Reber pepper, the business of hot sauce making, and the aftermath of eating super-hot peppers.

Former professional card counter, Ben, and Bill Zender, co-founder of a casino consulting firm, discuss the concept of card counting in casinos. They explore the perception of card counting as a threat and the drastic measures taken by casinos. The podcast also delves into the strategies and countermeasures of card counting, as well as the challenges faced by card counters.

Guests Nick Kokonas and Charlie Mitchell discuss the history and impact of Michelin stars, the high costs involved in running a Michelin star restaurant, and the ambition and validation that comes with attaining three Michelin stars.

Discover the winners of the Louis Awards, the influence of millennials, and the dominance of Hallmark Cards. Explore the categorization of greeting cards, the decline in card-buying practices, and the appeal to Millennials. Learn about the creative process behind messages, market trends, and the significance and artistic aspect of greeting cards.

Explore the long history and remarkable resilience of horseshoe crabs, their vital role in pharmaceutical testing, and the ethical concerns surrounding the valuable horseshoe crab blood. Discover the fascinating world of horseshoe crabs and their significance to humans, from their unique characteristics to their role in testing for endotoxins in the pharmaceutical industry. Dive into the use of horseshoe crab blood in laboratories to test substances for clot formation, ensuring the safety of medical devices and vaccines. Discuss the decline in horseshoe crab population and its potential consequences on other species. Learn about the development of synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crab blood for medical testing and the reluctance of companies to adopt these alternatives.

Exploring the history and popularity of romance novels, wide variety of sub-genres and their success, the plot structure, challenges, and gender disparity in romance novels, the lucrative world of self-published romance novels, and the transformative impact of e-readers on the reading experience.

This podcast explores the story behind the hit single 'My Sharona' and its financial success. It covers the band's rise to fame, royalty streams, copyright infringement, and the song's resurgence in popularity. It also discusses free market negotiation and features advertisements for various brands.

This podcast dives into the controversy surrounding graffiti as an art form. It discusses efforts to remove graffiti quickly and the impact of graffiti on communities, including its negative effects on retail sales and property value. The podcast also explores Philadelphia's shift from punitive measures to encouraging graffiti artists to contribute to public art through city-funded murals. Lastly, it talks about the rise of graffiti vandalism during the pandemic and the ongoing battle with these vandals, with a humorous nod to their abundance of paint.

Discover the lavish world of private jet travel and the critique on its costs. Explore the options for flying private and the benefits and controversies surrounding it. Learn about the harm of income disparities and privileges of private jet owners. Discover the history of private jets and making choices for the greater good.

This podcast explores the rise of pistachios in the US market and the cultural significance of the nut. It discusses the history of pistachio production, the harvesting and processing process, successful advertising campaigns, and the challenge of finding new markets for increased production.