Freakonomics Radio
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.
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- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 41 minutes
- Episodes
- 857
- Years Active
- 2010 - 2025
The Upside of Quitting (Rebroadcast)
You know the saying: a winner never quits and a quitter never wins. To which Freakonomics Radio says ... Are you sure?
134. Government Employees Gone Wild
The Encyclopedia of Ethical Failures catalogs the fiscal, sexual, and mental lapses of federal workers -- all with an eye toward preventing the next big mistake.
132. Jane Austen, Game Theorist
What does "Pride and Prejudice" have to do with nuclear deterrence?
Legacy of a Jerk (Rebroadcast)
What happens to your reputation when you're no longer around to defend it?
131. Do You Really Want to Know Your Future?
You might think that someone with a 50-50 chance of getting a fatal disease would want to know for sure -- but you would be wrong. What does this say about our supposed thirst for certainty?
130. Why Family and Business Don’t Mix
Yet another reason to blame your parents for pretty much everything.
129. Should Tipping be Banned?
It's awkward, random, confusing -- and probably discriminatory too.
127. Can You Be Too Smart for Your Own Good? And Other FREAK-quently Asked Questions
Dubner and Levitt talk about circadian rhythms, gay marriage, autism, and whether "pay what you want" is everything it's cracked up to be.
The Hidden Cost of False Alarms (Rebroadcast)
If any other product failed 94 percent of the time, you'd probably stop using it. So why do we put up with burglar alarms?
126. What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common?
A look at whether spite pays — and if it even exists.
125. It’s Crowded at the Top
Why is unemployment still so high? It may be because of something that happened well before the Great Recession.
124. Running to Do Evil
An interview with Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, whose younger brother turned him in -- and what it says about the Boston bombers.
123. Help Wanted. No Smokers Need Apply
In many states, it is perfectly legal to not hire someone who smokes. Should employers also be able to weed out junk-food lovers or motorcyclists -- or anyone who wants to have a baby?
122. How Much Does Your Name Matter?
A kid's name can tell us something about his parents -- their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny?
121. The Tax Man Nudgeth
Real tax reform may or may not ever happen. In the meantime, how about making the current system work a bit better?
120. 100 Ways to Fight Obesity
Freakonomics asks a dozen smart people for their best ideas. Get ready for a fat tax, a sugar ban, and a calorie-chomping tapeworm.
119. How Money Is March Madness?
The NCAA basketball tournament grabs a lot of eyeballs, but turning them into dollars hasn't always been easy -- even when the "talent" is playing for free.
118. Parking Is Hell
There ain't no such thing as a free parking spot. Somebody has to pay for it -- and that somebody is everybody.