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.
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Recent Episodes
Harlan Coben doesn’t think so. The mega-best-selling author talks suburbia, impostor syndrome, and what he learned from his college friend David Foster Wallace. If you'd like to see the video versio...
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Best-selling thriller author Harlan Coben discusses his creative process, career journey, and the intersection of writing and television adaptation. From his early days earning $5,000 per book to becoming Netflix's most-watched creator, Coben shares insights on writing discipline, dealing with insecurity, and the importance of emotional authenticity in storytelling. He reflects on how his parents' early deaths shaped his work, his collaboration with Reese Witherspoon, and his philosophy on creativity and productivity.
- The Writer's Life and Early Career Struggles
- The Craft of Writing Thrillers
683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?
Jul 31, 2026Governments started the space age. Now, billionaires and private firms are reinventing it. Guest host Steve Levitt explores what the past can teach us about a high-stakes future. (Part two of a two-pa...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the emerging space economy and the ambitious plan to relocate AI data centers to orbit. Host Steve Levitt interviews economists, space lawyers, and technologists about the history of private space investment, current regulatory challenges, and the future vision of computing in space—where AI could be powered by solar energy while Earth remains a biological paradise.
- The History of Private Space Investment
- The Economics of Modern Space and NASA's Shift
Gary and Stephen talk about creativity, recovery, getting fired, and holding grudges. They also get outside and play basketball, which is a big part of how Gary stays well. If you'd like to see the vi...
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Comedian Gary Gulman sits down for an intimate conversation about his journey through depression, mental illness, and recovery. The conversation explores how his 2015-2017 mental health crisis led to his groundbreaking HBO special 'The Great Depresh,' which combined stand-up comedy with documentary filmmaking to destigmatize depression. Gulman discusses his childhood, his unique creative process, maintaining mental health through vigilance and basketball, and how suffering became his most powerful material. Throughout, he demonstrates the wit and honesty that make him both a brilliant comedian and an unlikely mental health advocate.
- Show Business Hyperbole and Early Career
- Meeting Sade and Finding Love
682. Should A.I. Move to Space?
Jul 24, 2026At first it sounds ridiculous. But it might be inevitable. Guest host Steve Levitt talks to a team that hopes to push A.I. infrastructure off the planet. Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCE...
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This episode explores how AI data centers in space could revolutionize computing and the space economy. Steve Levitt interviews Google's Blaise Aguera y Arcas about the Paradigms of Intelligence team's groundbreaking Project Suncatcher, which aims to launch solar-powered AI data centers into orbit. The discussion covers fundamental questions about intelligence, AI's energy demands, and how satellite technology pioneer Will Marshall is helping make orbital computing a reality.
- The Space-Based Infrastructure Revolution
- Understanding Intelligence Through AI
Hillary Sterling was a Brooklyn kid raised on cream cheese sandwiches and canned potatoes. So how did she become one of New York City's best chefs? The Ci Siamo executive chef explains on the second e...
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Stephen Dubner interviews Hilary Sterling, executive chef at Chisiamo in New York City, in this episode of Better in Person. Sterling shares her unconventional journey from eating processed food as a child to becoming a celebrated chef devoted to Italian cuisine. The conversation covers her philosophy of cooking with senses over strict measurements, the brutal economics of running a restaurant, her negotiation tactics, and why she turned down a prestigious job offer. Sterling also cooks for Dubner, who returns the favor with a fish stew that spectacularly fails to please her soup-averse palate.
- Introduction and Fire-Starting at Chisiamo
- The Fish Stew Debacle
Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? (Update)
Jul 17, 2026Like tens of millions of people, Stephen Dubner thought he had a penicillin allergy. Like the vast majority, he didn’t. This misdiagnosis costs billions of dollars and causes serious health problems, ...
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Stephen Dubner shares his personal journey of discovering he wasn't actually allergic to penicillin after believing it his whole life. The episode explores how 10% of Americans think they're allergic to penicillin, but fewer than 1% actually are. This misdiagnosis costs lives, money, and causes unnecessary medical complications. Experts discuss why this confusion exists, the serious consequences of avoiding penicillin unnecessarily, and the challenges of fixing this widespread medical problem.
- The Personal Discovery of a False Allergy
- The Science Behind Penicillin and Allergic Reactions
Is the oxymoron really “the secret sauce to everything”? That’s the case Ingels makes in this debut episode of our new video show Better in Person, filmed in Stephen Dubner’s living room. Hosted by...
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Architect Bjarke Ingels discusses his unconventional approach to design, the philosophy behind his firm BIG, and how embracing contradictions leads to groundbreaking architecture. From moon dust construction to remaking Brooklyn's infrastructure, Ingels reveals his journey from Danish outsider to one of the most ambitious architects of his generation, while exploring the intersection of art, commerce, and the power of honest manifestation.
- The Philosophy of Oxymorons and Yes Is More
- The Economics of Architecture and Creative Ownership
681. How to Host a Talk Show, with Dick Cavett
Jul 09, 2026Stephen Dubner had an idea for a new project. So he drove to Connecticut and knocked on the door of the master. Dubner’s new TV talk show Better in Person launches July 14 on the Freakonomics YouTube ...
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Stephen Dubner reflects on launching his new show 'Better in Person' while interviewing the legendary talk show host Dick Cavett, who accidentally inspired the project. The episode explores Cavett's career, his interview philosophy, battles with depression, and what made his conversational approach to television revolutionary. Dubner shares how COVID isolation led him to seek deeper human connection through this new venture.
- From COVID Isolation to Human Connection
- Meeting Dick Cavett: The Accidental Inspiration
680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust?
Jul 03, 2026Dartmouth president Sian Beilock, a psychologist by training, made her name studying why people choke. Now she’s applying those insights to one of the most scrutinized jobs in America. No pressure! ...
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Sian Beilock, president of Dartmouth College and a cognitive scientist specializing in performance under pressure, discusses her leadership approach rooted in institutional neutrality, her efforts to restore trust in higher education, and her vision for addressing campus challenges from free expression to mental health. She emphasizes principled decision-making, the importance of dialogue across differences, and Dartmouth's role as a model for higher education reform.
- From Choking Under Pressure to University Leadership
- Navigating Campus Protests and Institutional Neutrality
679. Why Does Vanderbilt Keep Winning?
Jun 26, 2026It’s a hard time to run a university: public trust is low, political pressure is high, and finances are fragile. But Daniel Diermeier, who trained as a political scientist, has Vanderbilt humming. How...
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Stephen Dubner interviews Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, about how his institution has successfully navigated recent challenges facing higher education through institutional neutrality, free speech principles, and strategic expansion. Diermeier, a German-born political scientist who grew up in divided Berlin, discusses the ideological drift in universities, the importance of trust-building, and his vision for integrating universities with innovation ecosystems across multiple campuses.
- The State of American Higher Education and Vanderbilt's Success
- Navigating Federal Relations and the Endowment Tax
The World Is (Still) Drowning in Sludge
Jun 24, 2026Insurance forms that make no sense. Subscriptions that can’t be cancelled. A never-ending blizzard of automated notifications. In this update of a 2025 episode, Stephen Dubner discovers where all this...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the concept of 'sludge' - the excessive friction, complexity, and administrative burden that makes everyday tasks unnecessarily difficult. Host Stephen Dubner examines how sludge pervades modern life, from healthcare to subscriptions, costing consumers time, money, and sanity. Featuring economist Richard Thaler (who coined the term), healthcare economist Ben Handel, and Stanford professor Neil Mahoney, the episode reveals how sludge often serves as an intentional business strategy while also resulting from incompetence and system complexity.
- Introducing Sludge: The Opposite of Nudge
- Types of Sludge: Incompetence vs. Strategy
678. Who Gets to Choose a “Good Death”?
Jun 19, 2026New York is the latest state to legalize medical aid in dying. Stephen Dubner speaks with the governor who signed the law, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, a death doula — and an ethicist who thinks t...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode explores the evolving landscape of medical aid in dying (MAID) in America, examining how society views death, autonomy, and end-of-life choices. The episode features Nobel Prize-winning economist Al Roth discussing his new book on 'repugnant transactions,' New York Governor Kathy Hochul defending her state's new MAID law, Georgetown ethicist Daniel Sulmasy presenting religious and medical opposition, and death doula Suzanne O'Brien offering an alternative approach to end-of-life care. The discussion is anchored by the story of Daniel Kahneman, who chose assisted suicide in Switzerland at age 90.
- Daniel Kahneman's Death and the Certainty Question
- The Economics of Repugnant Transactions
677. Can Backgammon Save Us from Ourselves?
Jun 12, 2026It brings strangers together. It teaches probability, strategy, and emotional control. It has even helped N.F.L. teams win the Super Bowl. Stephen Dubner explores why this ancient game is having a ren...
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Freakonomics Radio explores backgammon's rich history and modern renaissance, examining how this ancient game combines luck, skill, and strategic thinking. Through interviews with world champions, professional players, and club organizers, the episode reveals how backgammon mirrors life's uncertainties while teaching valuable lessons about decision-making, risk management, and resilience. The show traces the game's evolution from its 1970s heyday among gamblers to today's technology-driven competitive scene and growing social club movement.
- Introduction to Backgammon's Timeless Appeal
- Playing Against a World Champion
This Is Your Brain on Pollution (Update)
Jun 10, 2026As the Trump administration rolls back environmental regulations, we revisit a 2022 episode that explored the hidden cost of an invisible threat: air pollution. SOURCES: Angela Duckworth...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode explores groundbreaking research revealing that air pollution, particularly particulate matter, significantly impairs cognitive function in adults and children. Economists present evidence that even pollution levels below EPA guidelines negatively affect brain performance, test scores, and lifetime earnings. The episode examines historical pollution patterns, their lasting socioeconomic effects, and compares environmental policies across countries, arguing that the cognitive costs of pollution have been dramatically underestimated.
- The Hidden Cognitive Threat of Air Pollution
- America's Clean Air Success Story
676. Has America Lost the Plot?
Jun 05, 2026Another war in the Middle East. A retreat from the international order. A presidency built on self-dealing and arbitrary power. It’s enough to make you think the U.S. is in a steep decline — but Faree...
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Fareed Zakaria discusses the second Trump presidency, the U.S.-Iran conflict, and global geopolitics. He acknowledges his past predictions about Trump 2.0 were wrong, analyzes why the U.S. repeatedly gets entangled in Middle East conflicts, and examines the strategic implications of the Iran war. Zakaria also addresses America's economic resilience despite political chaos, the decline of globalization myths, corruption in politics, and the structural advantages that have kept the U.S. dominant while warning about fiscal dangers ahead.
- Trump's Second Term: Unconstrained and Unpredictable
- Why America Keeps Fighting Middle East Wars
The Vanishing Mr. Feynman (Update)
May 29, 2026In his final years, Richard Feynman's curiosity took him to some surprising places. We hear from his companions on the trips he took — and one he wasn’t able to. (Part three of a three-part series ori...
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This final episode of the Freakonomics Radio series on Richard Feynman explores the physicist's later years, including his experiments with psychedelics at Esalen, his relationship with three women who became his guides into altered consciousness, and his lifelong quest to visit the remote land of Tanutuva. The episode examines Feynman's legacy as a science communicator, his impact on public trust in science, and his fundamental philosophy of curiosity and intellectual honesty.
- The Esalen Institute and Feynman's Exploration of Consciousness
- The Three Graces: Feynman's Psychedelic Experiences
The Brilliant Mr. Feynman (Update)
May 27, 2026What happens when an existentially depressed and recently widowed young physicist from Queens gets a fresh start in California? We follow Richard Feynman out west, to explore his long and extremely fr...
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This is part two of a three-part series on physicist Richard Feynman, exploring his transition from Los Alamos to teaching at Caltech, his groundbreaking work in quantum electrodynamics that earned him a Nobel Prize, his unique teaching philosophy, and his complex personal life. The episode reveals both his scientific brilliance and his controversial behavior, particularly toward women, while examining his influence as both scientist and teacher.
- The Trinity Test and Post-War Depression
- From Brazil to California: A Fresh Start
The Curious Mr. Feynman (Update)
May 22, 2026From the Manhattan Project to the Challenger investigation, the physicist Richard Feynman loved to shoot down what he called “lousy ideas.” Today, the world is awash in lousy ideas — so maybe it’s tim...
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This episode is the first part of a three-part series exploring the life and legacy of physicist Richard Feynman, focusing on his curious nature and approach to scientific inquiry. The episode covers his defining role in investigating the Challenger disaster, his childhood development of scientific curiosity, his contributions to the Manhattan Project, his post-war depression and recovery, and his eventual move to Caltech where he would flourish as both scientist and teacher.
- The Challenger Investigation: Finding Truth
- The Making of a Curious Mind
675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
May 15, 2026Not exactly. But their runaway success with games like Wordle says something bigger about the way we live now. (Part one of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”) SOURCES: Alex Hardiman, ch...
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Stephen Dubner explores the world of games in the first episode of a new recurring series, examining why play is valuable for adults, how games function as systems of meaning, and how the New York Times transformed itself through gaming. The episode features game designer Eric Zimmerman discussing game design philosophy and the 'ludic century,' alongside New York Times executives explaining their successful pivot to becoming a major games publisher through acquisitions like Wordle and original creations like Connections.
- The Cultural Value of Play and Games
- Eric Zimmerman's Journey from Art to Game Design
Great. Then depressed. Then great again. Stephen Dubner gets the full story from David Lang; we also hear from some fans, and the New York Philharmonic’s president. The math and the aftermath of wealt...
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This episode explores the debut performances of composer David Lang's oratorio 'The Wealth of Nations,' a modern musical piece based on Adam Smith's 250-year-old economic treatise. Lang discusses the creative process, the performances by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and how Smith's ideas about economics, community, and equity resonate in contemporary society. The episode examines how art can illuminate economic ideas and challenge audiences to consider the human dimension of financial systems.
- The Premiere and Initial Reception
- The Composer's Post-Performance Reflections