
Freakonomics, M.D.
Each week, physician, economist, and author of "Random Acts of Medicine" Dr. Bapu Jena will dig into a fascinating study at the intersection of economics and healthcare. He takes on questions like: Why do kids with summer birthdays get the flu more often? Can surviving a hurricane help you live longer? What do heart surgery and grocery-store pricing have in common?
Latest episodes

Jul 21, 2023 • 13min
The Economics of Everyday Things: Animal Urine
In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. (Or, how one man found profit in pee.)

6 snips
Jul 11, 2023 • 38min
Tom Brady, A.D.H.D., and a Really Bad Headache (Bonus)
A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show.

17 snips
Mar 31, 2023 • 19min
78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?
Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show.

Mar 24, 2023 • 19min
77. They Make Minimum Wage. They Could Save Your Life.
Doctors and nurses get most of the attention — but a new study suggests we can improve health care by raising wages for a group of workers who are often overlooked.

5 snips
Mar 17, 2023 • 18min
76. Is a Spoonful of Sunlight the Best Medicine?
In hospitals, a softer pillow or a nicer room might be more than just amenities — they could improve outcomes for patients.

7 snips
Mar 10, 2023 • 20min
75. What Is Sugar Really Doing to You?
Americans eat a lot of sugar — and it’s hard to determine how it affects our health. Bapu explains how a new study uses data from the 1950s to help solve the mystery.

Mar 3, 2023 • 17min
74. How Does Playing Football Affect Your Health?
It’s not a new question, but it’s a tricky one to study. Bapu explains why, and talks about how an N.F.L. labor dispute helped him get some answers.

11 snips
Feb 17, 2023 • 29min
73. Who Pays for Multimillion-Dollar Miracle Cures?
The most expensive drugs in the world are treatments for genetic diseases. And more of these cures are on the horizon. How will anyone be able to afford them?

6 snips
Feb 10, 2023 • 32min
72. What’s Stopping Us From Curing Rare Diseases?
Breakthroughs in biotech that seem like science fiction are becoming reality. Why aren’t more patients benefiting from them?

Feb 3, 2023 • 27min
71. What Do COVID-19 and Cancer Have in Common?
mRNA vaccines helped bring the pandemic under control. Could they also train the immune system to fight cancer?
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