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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

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

00:55:51

670. Beeconomics 101

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/04/10

How do beekeepers make a living? Why is there so much honey fraud? And why did billions of bees suddenly disappear? To find out, guest host Steve Levitt activates his hive mind.SOURCES: Alex Sapoznik, historian, reader in late medieval history at King’s College London. Chris Hiatt, past president of the American Honey Producers Association, owner of Hiatt Honey Company. Michael Roberts, founding executive director of the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy at U.C.L.A. Law

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01:04:26

Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/04/08

Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. In this update of an episode from 2025, Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse than you think.SOURCES: Jessica Riedl, budget and tax fellow at the Brookings Institution. RESOURCES: "How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?" by Emily Badger, David Fahrenthold,

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00:46:20

669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in...

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/04/03

Is it tradition … or protectionism? And what happens when the bourbon boom turns into a glut?SOURCES: Andrew Muhammad, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee. Brad Patrick, executive in residence and lecturer at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, bourbon fellow at the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits. Danny Kahn, master distiller and distillation and aging operations director at Sazerac. Ken Troske, labor economist and

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00:53:58

668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on...

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/03/27

As one researcher told us: “We’ve engineered a world where the most distracting device ever made is also the one we use to listen to music in the car." A new study tries to measure the cost.SOURCES: Bapu Jena, economist, physician, and professor at Harvard Medical School. Chris Worsham, pulmonary and critical-care physician at Mass General Hospital, health-policy and public-health researcher at Harvard Medical School. Vishal Patel, surgery resident at Brigham and Women's Hospital,

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01:05:47

In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins?

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/03/25

In blue cities across the country, unions and politicians want to ban self-driving cars. In this episode from the Search Engine podcast, PJ Vogt visits Boston to sort the facts from the propaganda. (Part two of a two-part series.)SOURCES: Carl Richardson, ADA coordinator for the Massachusetts State House, president of the Guide Dog Users of Massachusetts. Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Boston City councilor from District 1. Julia Mejia, Boston City councilor at-large. Timothy B. Lee,

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01:11:28

Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/03/20

How a secret project at Google led to driverless cars on American roads. Freakonomics Radio shares a story from our friends at Search Engine. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Alex Davies, author of Driven: The Race To Create the Autonomous Car. Chris Urmson, co-founder and C.E.O. of Aurora. Don Burnette, founder and C.E.O. of Kodiak AI. PJ Vogt, reporter, writer, and host of the Search Engine podcast. Sebastian Thrun, roboticist, C.E.O. of Sage AI Labs, adjunct

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00:47:01

667. Here’s Why You Are Constantly Fighting Off Scammers

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/03/13

A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doing about it.SOURCES: Kati Daffan, former assistant director at the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Marketing Practices. Marti DeLiema, assistant professor of social work at the University of Minnesota. Mark Frank, professor of communications at the University at Buffalo.

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00:53:08

666. This Is How Progress Happens

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/03/06

Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate.SOURCES: Joel Mokyr, economic historian at Northwestern University. RESOURCES: Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000, by Avner Greif, Joel Mokyr, and, Guido Tabellini (2025). "The

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01:06:15

The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/03/04

Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.SOURCES: Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News. Jack Farchy, energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News. RESOURCES: The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the

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00:49:08

665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/02/27

... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth.SOURCES: Werner Herzog, writer, filmmaker, and actor. RESOURCES: The Future of Truth, by Werner Herzog (2025). Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir, by Werner Herzog (2023). EXTRAS: "When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries?" by Freakonomics Radio (2025). "Werner Herzog Thinks His

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00:51:45

664. Are Thousands of Medical Cures Hiding in Plain...

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/02/20

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle.SOURCES: Chris Snyder, professor of economics at Dartmouth College. David Fajgenbaum, co-founder and president of Every Cure, physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Heather Stone, health science policy analyst at the Food & Drug Administration. Sarrin Chethik, senior policy

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00:57:23

All You Need Is Nudge (Update)

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/02/18

When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises? SOURCES:Richard Thaler, professor of economics at the University of Chicago. RESOURCES:Nudge: The Final Edition, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein (2021).Sludge: What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do About It, by Cass

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00:50:52

663. Is Weed a Performance-Enhancing Drug?

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/02/13

The science says no, at least not in the athletic sense. But the psychic benefits can be large — just ask former N.F.L. star Ricky Williams. He says athletes should consider cannabis a healing drug, not a party drug. Even the N.F.L. is starting to agree. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Angela Bryan, professor, associate chair for faculty development in the department of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder.Ricky Williams, former N.F.L. running back, founder of

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00:52:50

662. If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/02/06

In sports, the rules are meant to be sacrosanct. But when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs, the slope is super-slippery. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES:April Henning, associate professor of international sport management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland.Aron D'Souza, founder of the Enhanced Games.Floyd Landis, former professional cyclist, founder of Floyd's of Leadville.Louisa Thomas, staff writer at The New Yorker. RESOURCES:Doping: A Sporting History, by April

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00:58:19

Why Don’t Running Backs Get Paid Anymore? (Update)

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/02/04

They used to be the N.F.L.’s biggest stars, with paychecks to match. Now their salaries are near the bottom, and their careers are shorter than ever. In this updated episode from 2025, we speak with an analytics guru, an agent, an economist, and some former running backs to understand why. SOURCES:Brian Burke, sports data scientist at ESPN.Roland Fryer, professor of economics at Harvard University.LeSean McCoy, former running back in the N.F.L., co-host for Fox's daily studio show, "The

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01:00:11

661. Can A.I. Save Your Life?

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/01/30

For 50 years, the healthcare industry has been trying (and failing) to harness the power of artificial intelligence. It may finally be ready for prime time. What will this mean for human doctors — and the rest of us? (Part four of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Bob Wachter, professor, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.Pierre Elias, cardiologist, assistant professor of biomedical informatics at Columbia University, medical

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01:05:29

660. The Wellness Industry Is Gigantic — and Mostly...

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/01/23

Zeke Emanuel (a physician, medical ethicist, and policy wonk) has some different ideas for how to lead a healthy and meaningful life. It starts with ice cream. (Part three of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Zeke Emanuel, oncologist, bioethicist, professor at the University of Pennsylvania. RESOURCES:Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life, by Zeke Emanuel (2026)."Nutrition Science’s Most Preposterous Result," by David Merritt Johns (The Atlantic,

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00:45:58

Steve Levitt Quits His Podcast, Joins Ours

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/01/21

After five years, Levitt is ending People I (Mostly) Admire, and will start hosting the occasional Freakonomics Radio episode. We couldn’t be happier. SOURCES:Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics and host of People I (Mostly) Admire. RESOURCES:"How to Help Kids Succeed," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2025)."Feeling Sound and Hearing Color," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024)."Richard Dawkins on God, Genes, and Murderous Baby Cuckoos," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024)."Arnold Schwarzenegger Has

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00:55:25

659. Can Marty Makary Fix the F.D.A.?

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/01/16

It regulates 20 percent of the U.S. economy, and its commissioner has an aggressive agenda — faster drug approvals, healthier food, cures for diabetes and cancer. How much can he deliver? (Part two of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. RESOURCES:"Clinical Trials Affected by Research Grant Terminations at the National Institutes of Health," by Vishal Patel, Michael Liu, and Anupam Jena (JAMA Internal Medicine,

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00:53:10

658. This Is Your Brain on Supplements

Freakonomics Radio ·

2026/01/09

We all want to stay sharp, and forestall the cognitive effects of aging. But do brain supplements actually work? Are they safe? And why doesn’t the F.D.A. even know what’s in them? (Part one of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.Peter Attia, physician, author, and host of The Peter Attia Drive.Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, physician at the Cambridge Health

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