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
117. When Is a Negative a Positive?
Sure, we all like to hear compliments. But if you're truly looking to get better at something, it's the negative feedback that will get you there.
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116. Women Are Not Men
In many ways, the gender gap is closing. In others, not so much. And that's not always a bad thing.
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115. The Downside of More Miles Per Gallon
The gas tax doesn't work well, and it's only going to get worse. What's next?
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114. How to Think About Guns
No one wants mass shootings. Unfortunately, no one has a workable plan to stop them either.
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113. Sure, I Remember That
It is startlingly easy to create false memories, especially in politics.
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112. Would You Let a Coin Toss Decide Your Future?
Levitt and Dubner go deep on "Freakonomics Experiments," a new research project that lets you take a chance on life.
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111. Introducing “Freakonomics Experiments”
Steve Levitt has a novel idea for helping people make tough decisions
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110. Who Owns the Words That Come Out of Your Mouth?
The very long reach of Winston Churchill -- and how the British government is remaking copyright law.
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109. How to Live Longer
Why do Hall of Fame inductees, Oscar winners, and Nobel laureates outlive their peers?
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108. How Did “Freakonomics” Get Its Name? … and Other FREAK-quently Asked Questions
Levitt and Dubner answer your questions about driving, sneezing, and ladies’ nights. Plus a remembrance of Levitt’s sister Linda.
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107. How Much Does a Good Boss Really Matter?
It's harder than you'd think to measure the value of a boss. But some enterprising economists have done just that -- and the news is good.
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106. The House of Dreams
Dubner's childhood home goes from sacred to profane -- and then back again.
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105. Have a Very Homo Economicus Christmas
Who better than an economist to help with your shopping list?
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104. The Things They Taught Me
College, at its best, is about learning to think. Stephen Dubner chats up three of his former professors who made the magic happen.
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103. Free-conomics
Economists are a notoriously self-interested bunch. But a British outfit called Pro Bono Economics is giving away its services to selected charities.
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102. I Consult, Therefore I Am
There are enough management consultants these days to form a small nation. But what do they actually do? And does it work?
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101. Mass Transit Hysteria
Adding more train and bus lines looks like an environmental slam dunk. Until you start to do the math.
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100. Our 100th Episode!
Turkey sex and chicken wings, selling souls and swapping organs, the power of the president and the price of wine: these are a few of our favorite things.
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99. How to Maximize Your Halloween Candy Haul
Is it as simple as going to the richest neighborhood you can find? Of course not ...
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98. We the Sheeple
Politicians tell voters exactly what they want to hear, even when it makes no sense. Which is pretty much all the time.
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