Freakonomics Radio

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. 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 Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

9 episodes summarized Open in App

Episodes (500)

680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust?

Jul 3, 2026

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679. Why Does Vanderbilt Keep Winning?

Jun 26, 2026

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The World Is (Still) Drowning in Sludge

Jun 24, 2026

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678. Who Gets to Choose a “Good Death”?

Jun 19, 2026

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677. Can Backgammon Save Us from Ourselves?

Jun 12, 2026

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This Is Your Brain on Pollution (Update)

Jun 10, 2026

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676. Has America Lost the Plot?

Jun 5, 2026

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The Vanishing Mr. Feynman (Update)

May 29, 2026

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The Brilliant Mr. Feynman (Update)

May 27, 2026

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The Curious Mr. Feynman (Update)

May 22, 2026

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675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?

May 15, 2026

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674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?

May 8, 2026

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Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update)

May 6, 2026

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673. What Is Money?

May 1, 2026

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672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run?

Apr 24, 2026

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Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update)

Apr 22, 2026

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671. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease?

Apr 17, 2026

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670. Beeconomics 101

Apr 10, 2026

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

Apr 8, 2026

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

Apr 3, 2026

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668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on Their Hands?

Mar 27, 2026

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In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins?

Mar 25, 2026

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Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?

Mar 20, 2026

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

Mar 13, 2026

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666. This Is How Progress Happens

Mar 6, 2026

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

Mar 4, 2026

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665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...

Feb 27, 2026

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

Feb 20, 2026

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All You Need Is Nudge (Update)

Feb 18, 2026

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663. Is Weed a Performance-Enhancing Drug?

Feb 13, 2026

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

Feb 6, 2026

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

Feb 4, 2026

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661. Can A.I. Save Your Life?

Jan 30, 2026

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660. The Wellness Industry Is Gigantic — and Mostly Wrong

Jan 23, 2026

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Steve Levitt Quits His Podcast, Joins Ours

Jan 21, 2026

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

Jan 16, 2026

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658. This Is Your Brain on Supplements

Jan 9, 2026

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Are Personal Finance Gurus Giving You Bad Advice? (Update)

Jan 2, 2026

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Are You Ready for a Fresh Start? (Update)

Dec 30, 2025

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Are the Rich Really Less Generous Than the Poor? (Update)

Dec 26, 2025

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657. Whose “Messiah” Is It Anyway?

Dec 19, 2025

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Who Pays for “Messiah”?

Dec 17, 2025

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656. How Handel Got His Mojo Back

Dec 12, 2025

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655. “The Greatest Piece of Participatory Art Ever Created”

Dec 5, 2025

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Dying Is Easy. Retail Is Hard. (Update)

Nov 28, 2025

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Is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Its Most Valuable Asset? (Update)

Nov 27, 2025

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654. Is the Public Ready for Private Equity?

Nov 21, 2025

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653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?

Nov 14, 2025

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What Happens When You Turn 20

Nov 12, 2025

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652. Inside the Horse-Industrial Complex

Nov 7, 2025

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