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
The promise is that they can beat the experts at predicting inflation, elections, and FDA approvals. But right now, 90 percent of the action is sports. Is this a future we want to bet on? Stephen Dubn...
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Freakonomics Radio explores the rise of prediction markets through an in-depth look at Kalshi, America's first federally regulated prediction market exchange. The episode examines how these markets aggregate information through financial incentives, their potential to improve decision-making across society, and the tensions between their promise as information tools and their reality as primarily sports betting platforms. Featuring Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour, chief contract writer Nicole Kagan, and prediction market pioneer Robin Hanson, the discussion covers everything from the regulatory journey to the philosophical foundations of using markets to forecast the future.
- The Origins and Promise of Prediction Markets
- Tarek Mansour's Journey: Building Kalshi the Hard Way
He was thriving in the N.F.L., but then he decided to focus on mathematics — a subject he now teaches at M.I.T. John walks Stephen Dubner through the whole story, teaches him some blocking techniques,...
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Stephen Dubner interviews John Urschel, a remarkable individual who succeeded at the highest levels in two vastly different fields: as an NFL offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens and as a mathematics PhD student at MIT. The conversation explores how Urschel managed to pursue both careers simultaneously, his early love of math fostered by unconventional childhood experiences, the physical demands of professional football, and his ultimate decision to retire from the NFL to focus on mathematics and family. Urschel candidly discusses the role of luck versus talent, the culture of football, and how marriage and parenthood changed his perspective on life's priorities.
- Early Mathematical Origins and Unusual Childhood Education
- Football Dreams and the Penn State Journey
686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?
Sep 11, 2026For decades, teams have tried (and mostly failed) to predict which college quarterbacks will thrive in the pros. Is the science finally catching up? Stephen Dubner speaks with a scout, a psychologist,...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode explores why predicting NFL quarterback success is one of the hardest problems in professional sports. Despite mountains of college data and sophisticated combine testing, teams consistently miss on can't-miss prospects while overlooking future Hall of Famers like Kurt Warner and Tom Brady. The episode examines traditional scouting methods, new cognitive testing approaches like the AIQ, and emerging AI-powered prediction models that attempt to solve the quarterback prediction problem.
- The Quarterback Prediction Problem
- Kurt Warner's Unlikely Journey
Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person
Sep 09, 2026He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. He tells Stephen Dubner exactly how he does it. If you'd like to see the video version of Be...
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James Daunt, the man who revolutionized bookstore chains by rejecting conventional retail wisdom, shares his unlikely journey from investment banking to saving Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. This conversation explores how he transformed failing corporate bookstore chains by decentralizing control, eliminating marketing budgets, empowering local booksellers, and focusing relentlessly on quality and the long-term — principles that sound almost quaint in today's business culture but have proven remarkably successful.
- From Banking to Bookselling: An Unconventional Beginning
- The Philosophy of Long-Term Quality Over Short-Term Gains
685. How to Survive the A.I. Shock
Sep 04, 2026Gina Raimondo, a former commerce secretary and governor, thinks A.I. will create plenty of jobs in the long run. She also thinks a poorly managed transition could tear the country apart. So she came u...
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Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo discusses her new nonprofit Raise Us, which aims to manage the AI transition in the workforce and prevent mass unemployment. Drawing lessons from the China shock and her experience implementing the CHIPS Act, she argues for proactive collaboration between government, employers, and tech companies to retrain workers and create intentional transitions rather than reactive crisis management.
- The AI Transition Challenge and Learning from Past Mistakes
- Corporate Profits vs. Worker Wages and the Case for Reformed Capitalism
Anne Pasternak (Brooklyn Museum) and Michael Roth (Wesleyan University) tell Stephen Dubner how they keep the peace in the middle of a culture war. If you'd like to see the video version of Bett...
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In this conversation, Anne Pasternak, director of the Brooklyn Museum, and Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, discuss the challenges and rewards of leading cultural and educational institutions during an era of declining trust in institutions. They explore topics including museum accessibility, university costs, responding to October 7th and its aftermath, free speech on campus, the role of AI in education and museums, and what makes their jobs both difficult and deeply meaningful.
- Leading Institutions in an Anti-Institution Era
- The Brooklyn Museum's Mission and Financial Reality
How to Return Stolen Art (Update)
Aug 28, 2026Museums are purging their collections of looted treasures. Can they also get something in return? And what does it mean to be a museum in the 21st century? (Part 3 of an updated series originally publ...
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This episode explores the complex landscape of art repatriation, focusing on the Benin bronzes looted by Britain in 1897. The discussion examines how museums are grappling with their colonial past and developing new ethical frameworks for returning stolen artifacts, featuring perspectives from curators at Glasgow Museums, the Smithsonian, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The episode investigates practical solutions like long-term lease agreements and shared stewardship arrangements that balance repatriation with continued public access to cultural treasures.
- The Benin Bronzes at Glasgow Museums
- The Metropolitan Museum's Failures and New Approaches
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan talks about confidence, luck, and why it takes 35 drafts to get to the finish line. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you ...
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Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan discusses her creative process, from her writer's group feedback sessions to her meticulous outlining methods. She reflects on the challenges of writing historical fiction versus experimental narratives, the role of empathy in creating authentic characters, and how she approaches endings. Egan also opens up about her brother's schizophrenia and suicide, her relationship with awards and recognition, and her strong resistance to AI in creative work.
- Writing Process and Aesthetic Principles
- From Goon Squad to Historical Fiction
Is a Museum Just a Trophy Case? (Update)
Aug 21, 2026The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now there’s a push to return these works to their rightful owners. Sounds simple, r...
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This episode explores the complex issue of repatriating the Benin Bronzes - thousands of artifacts looted by British forces from the Kingdom of Benin (in modern Nigeria) in 1897. While museums worldwide are increasingly returning looted art, the Benin Bronzes case reveals deep complications around ownership, cultural heritage, colonial legacy, and practical challenges of restitution. The episode examines perspectives from prosecutors, curators, historians, and Nigerian artists, ultimately revealing that giving stolen art back is far more complicated than the theft itself.
- The Push for Art Repatriation
- The Complexity of Historical Ownership
Meet Warren Zanes, the Author and Rocker Behind the Springsteen Movie | Better in Person
Aug 19, 2026When he joined the Del Fuegos, his big brother’s band, all Warren knew how to play was a record player. Things went great for a while — and then it all fell apart. So how did he wind up writing defini...
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Warren Zanes, former Del Fuegos guitarist turned rock biographer, shares his journey from being pushed out of his brother's band to writing intimate biographies of Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. The conversation explores themes of family, addiction, reinvention, and the complex relationship between success and creative fulfillment in rock and roll.
- The Night Bruce Springsteen Walked In
- Brotherhood and Band Dynamics
The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)
Aug 14, 2026How did a freshly looted Egyptian antiquity end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why did it take Kim Kardashian to crack the case? And how much of what you see in any museum is stolen? (Part 1 of...
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This episode explores the world of stolen art and antiquities trafficking, following Manhattan DA prosecutor Matthew Bogdanos as he investigates looted artifacts. The episode examines how museums acquire questionable pieces, the economics of the antiquities market, legal frameworks for repatriation, and the complicated ethics of returning cultural treasures to their countries of origin.
- The $4 Million Gold Coffin Case
- The Economics of the Antiquities Market
Angela Buchdahl was the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi, and now she is among the most influential rabbis in the world. She and Stephen Dubner talk about boundary-crossing, the aftermat...
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Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, the first Asian American ordained as both a cantor and rabbi, discusses her remarkable journey from being a biracial child in Korea to leading New York's Central Synagogue. This conversation explores her unique perspective on faith, identity, and belonging, as well as the challenges of being a prominent Jewish leader in today's polarized world. Buchdahl shares insights on Judaism's wisdom, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how ancient Jewish traditions offer solutions to modern problems of division and binary thinking.
- The Unlikely Path to Becoming a Rabbi
- The Awe Business: Finding Meaning in Death and Life
Former S.E.C. chair Gary Gensler has had a front-row seat to numerous financial booms and busts. How does he feel about America’s massive bet on A.I.? “Something has to give.” SOURCES: G...
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In this wide-ranging conversation, former SEC and CFTC chair Gary Gensler discusses the current AI boom, comparing it to historical financial bubbles and technological revolutions. He warns that the massive capital expenditures in AI—approaching $750 billion in 2024—may not be matched by revenues, creating significant economic risk. Gensler also addresses federal deficits, crypto regulation, market concentration, and the challenge of maintaining public trust in financial markets during periods of extreme inequality.
- Gary Gensler's Career Journey: From Goldman Sachs to Government to Academia
- The U.S. Debt Crisis: An Unsustainable Path
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