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 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
Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update)
May 06, 2026Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. In this updated replay of a 2022 episode, we hold a very Smithy...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode explores how Adam Smith, the 18th-century Scottish moral philosopher, became the patron saint of free market capitalism despite his writings revealing far more nuance. The episode examines how Chicago School economists, particularly Milton Friedman and George Stigler, cherry-picked Smith's ideas—especially the 'invisible hand'—to champion deregulation and privatization. Scholars debate whether Smith would align with modern conservatism or progressivism, revealing a thinker concerned with both market efficiency and human welfare, who warned against wealth inequality and corporate collusion while advocating for education and worker conditions.
- Adam Smith's Two Books and Early American Influence
- The Chicago School's Reinvention of Smith
673. What Is Money?
May 01, 2026That’s what the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang wanted to learn. So he turned Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations into an oratorio. We tag along as Lang’s piece heads toward its world premie...
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Freakonomics Radio explores composer David Lang's creation of 'The Wealth of Nations,' a new oratorio inspired by Adam Smith's seminal economics text. Host Stephen Dubner follows Lang through the creative process, from conception to world premiere with the New York Philharmonic, examining how economic theory can become emotionally resonant music and what this reveals about our relationship with money, labor, and human connection.
- The Genesis of an Economic Oratorio
- Money, Philosophy, and Personal Economics
672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run?
Apr 24, 2026Epic Systems manages the electronic health records for hundreds of millions of people. This makes Faulkner a healthcare heavyweight and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in history. So w...
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This episode profiles Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Epic Systems, the dominant electronic health records company that manages over 80% of Americans' medical data. Faulkner built Epic from three part-time people in a basement to a 15,000-employee company with $5.8 billion in annual revenue, all while refusing to go public, take venture capital, or maximize profits. The conversation explores her unconventional business philosophy, the company's unique culture, and how Epic has transformed healthcare IT while maintaining an intense focus on customer success over shareholder returns.
- Judy Faulkner's Early Life and Philosophy
- The Accidental Founding of Epic Systems
Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update)
Apr 22, 2026New York City’s mayor called them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. In an updated episode from 2025, w...
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This Freakonomics Radio episode investigates humanity's complicated relationship with rats, challenging common assumptions about these urban dwellers. Host Stephen Dubner explores New York City's aggressive rat mitigation efforts under former Mayor Eric Adams while examining scientific evidence that rats may not have caused the Black Death as commonly believed. The episode features insights from NYC's former 'Rat Czar' Kathy Karate, scientists who study plague transmission, economist Ed Glazer, and science journalist Bethany Brookshire, who argues that rats are unfairly vilified and reflect more about human attitudes than actual animal behavior.
- New York's War on Rats and the Rise of the Rat Czar
- Understanding Rat Biology and Urban Success
One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew ...
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This episode of Freakonomics Radio investigates decades of potentially fraudulent Alzheimer's research that may have misdirected billions in funding. Through whistleblower Matthew Schrag and journalist Charles Piller, the show exposes manipulated data, falsified images, and a research establishment that has centered on one potentially flawed hypothesis—the amyloid cascade—while alternative approaches were sidelined. The investigation reveals systematic fraud across multiple prestigious institutions and raises fundamental questions about scientific integrity and the future of Alzheimer's treatment.
- The Alzheimer's Crisis and Research Landscape
- Charles Piller's Investigation into Scientific Fraud
670. Beeconomics 101
Apr 10, 2026How do beekeepers make a living? Why is there so much honey fraud? And why did billions of bees suddenly disappear? To find out, guest host Steve Levitt activates his hive mind. SOURCES: ...
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This episode explores the troubled U.S. honey industry, where domestic beekeepers struggle despite surging demand and retail prices. The core problem: cheap, often fraudulent imported honey floods the market while American producers face rising costs from bee diseases, habitat loss, and intensive pollination work. The episode examines honey fraud, the economics of pollination, positive externalities, and why this matters beyond just honey—beekeepers maintain the pollinator bees essential to American agriculture.
- The Crisis Facing American Beekeepers
- The Global Honey Fraud Problem
Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)
Apr 08, 2026Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. In this update of an episode from 2025, Stephen Dubner finds one ...
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Economist Jessica Riedel provides a sobering analysis of U.S. tax policy and the national debt crisis, systematically debunking common myths held by both political parties. With federal debt at $39 trillion and climbing, Riedel argues that both Republicans and Democrats engage in fiscal irresponsibility—Republicans through unsustainable tax cuts and Democrats through unfunded spending increases. She reveals uncomfortable truths: tax cuts don't pay for themselves, the middle class is undertaxed compared to Europe, taxing only the rich won't solve the deficit, and Social Security faces a $124 trillion shortfall over 30 years. Despite advising lawmakers from both parties, Riedel describes a political system where politicians privately acknowledge the crisis but lack the courage to address it publicly.
- The Friendless Truth-Teller: Jessica Riedel's Mission
- The Debt Crisis: Numbers That Should Scare Everybody
Is it tradition … or protectionism? And what happens when the bourbon boom turns into a glut? SOURCES: Andrew Muhammad, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee. Brad Pat...
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This episode explores the economics of the bourbon industry, focusing on how time functions as an investment input and why production is concentrated in Kentucky. With 16 million barrels aging in Kentucky, the industry faces challenges from declining demand, tariff disruptions, and changing consumer preferences. The episode examines bourbon production regulations, the unique economics of aging spirits, distribution systems, and how distillers are adapting to oversupply and shifting markets.
- Time as Investment: The Bourbon Aging Problem
- The Pappy Van Winkle Phenomenon and Bourbon's Boom Years
As one researcher told us: “We’ve engineered a world where the most distracting device ever made is also the one we use to listen to music in the car." A new study tries to measure the cost. S...
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Freakonomics Radio explores new research revealing that traffic fatalities spike by 15% on days when major music albums are released, translating to roughly 18 extra deaths. The study, led by physician-economist Bapu Jena and his colleagues, uses natural experiments to demonstrate how smartphone distraction while driving—particularly when fans rush to stream new albums from artists like Taylor Swift and Drake—creates deadly consequences on the road.
- The Research Team and Their Unusual Approach
- The Album Release Discovery
In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins?
Mar 25, 2026In blue cities across the country, unions and politicians want to ban self-driving cars. In this episode from the Search Engine podcast, PJ Vogt visits Boston to sort the facts from the propaganda. (P...
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This two-part series examines the controversial arrival of autonomous vehicles, particularly Waymo's robo-taxis, in Boston—a staunchly pro-union city. The story follows multiple perspectives: Uber driver Abdi Aziz who witnessed tech companies disrupt his industry twice, disability advocate Carl Richardson fighting for transportation independence, and politicians wrestling with the tension between protecting jobs and embracing safer technology. Through contentious city council hearings, the episode explores the complex trade-offs between technological progress, worker displacement, accessibility needs, and public safety.
- The Evolution of a Driver: Abdi Aziz's Journey
- Boston's Union Town Identity and First Hearing
Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?
Mar 20, 2026How a secret project at Google led to driverless cars on American roads. Freakonomics Radio shares a story from our friends at Search Engine. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES: ...
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This episode chronicles the development of driverless cars from DARPA's early desert challenges to today's commercial robo-taxis. PJ Vogt traces how roboticists like Sebastian Thrun, Chris Urmson, and Anthony Lewandowski transformed autonomous vehicles from impossible dreams into reality, while exploring the safety implications, internal conflicts, and looming economic disruption facing 4.8 million American drivers whose jobs may soon be automated away.
- The Ancient Dream of Driverless Transportation
- DARPA's Million Dollar Desert Challenge
A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doin...
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This episode explores the massive global scam industry, examining how online fraud has evolved into a sophisticated, multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise. The discussion covers everything from the psychology of scam victims to the international criminal organizations behind pig butchering scams, while addressing why governments and tech platforms have struggled to combat this growing threat. Experts reveal how scammers exploit human psychology, use AI to enhance their operations, and why anyone can become a victim regardless of intelligence or education.
- The Scale and Economics of the Scam Industry
- Who Gets Scammed and Why
666. This Is How Progress Happens
Mar 06, 2026Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversatio...
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Nobel laureate Joel Mokyr discusses how cultural shifts and technological progress have driven economic growth over centuries. He challenges conventional GDP measurements, emphasizes the critical role of elite innovators, and warns about institutional deterioration threatening future progress while remaining cautiously optimistic about technology's potential to address global challenges.
- The Paradox of Progress and Human Habituation
- Culture Over Institutions: A Contrarian Economic View
Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journal...
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This bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio explores the secretive world of commodity traders—the firms that finance, procure, and physically trade oil, metals, and agricultural products globally. Journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchi reveal how companies like Glencore, Vitol, and Cargill operate in the shadows of geopolitics, often serving as bankers of last resort, diplomats for hire, and key players in civil wars and regime changes. The episode examines how commodity trading has shaped global politics and economics, from Mark Rich's controversial deals to modern trade wars and sanctions.
- The Hidden World of Commodity Trading
- How Commodity Trading Actually Works
665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...
Feb 27, 2026... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth. SOURCES: Werner Herzog, wri...
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Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle. ...
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This episode explores the untapped potential of drug repurposing—using existing FDA-approved medications to treat diseases they weren't originally designed for. Through the story of physician-scientist David Fagenbaum, who saved his own life by repurposing an existing drug, and interviews with economists and FDA officials, the episode examines why so few resources go toward this high-impact, low-cost approach to saving lives, and what innovative funding mechanisms could change that.
- The Brain-Eating Amoeba and an Unlikely Cure
- David Fagenbaum's Journey from Quarterback to Doctor
All You Need Is Nudge (Update)
Feb 18, 2026When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a glob...
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This episode features economist Richard Thaler discussing the updated final edition of his influential book 'Nudge,' which he co-authored with Cass Sunstein. The conversation explores the principles of behavioral economics, choice architecture, and how small interventions can help people make better decisions without restricting freedom. Thaler explains the concept of libertarian paternalism, discusses applications from retirement savings to climate change, and addresses the problem of 'sludge'—the friction that makes things unnecessarily difficult. Throughout, Thaler demonstrates his trademark blend of academic rigor and humor while examining how behavioral insights can improve policy and everyday decisions.
- The Origins and Philosophy of Nudge
- What Is a Nudge and Libertarian Paternalism