Podcast · 140 episodes
Freakonomics Radio
by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher · English
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.
Latest episodes
688. When Is a Bet Not a Bet?Whether prediction markets are “bets” (state gambling regulation) or “event contracts”/derivatives (federal CFTC regulation), and what risks they pose (accuracy, manipulation, insider trading, fraud,…25 Sep 2026 · 51 min
687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?Whether prediction markets improve forecasting or function like gambling; how Kalshi designs regulated markets and contracts to aggregate distributed information and reduce manipulation.18 Sep 2026 · 49 min
How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel | Better in PersonJohn Urschel’s “double unicorn” path—being both an NFL offensive lineman and earning a math PhD at MIT—plus how he compartmentalized training, chose courses, and later retired amid concerns about…16 Sep 2026 · 33 min
All episodes
688. When Is a Bet Not a Bet?Whether prediction markets are “bets” (state gambling regulation) or “event contracts”/derivatives (federal CFTC regulation), and what risks they pose (accuracy, manipulation, insider trading, fraud,…25 Sep 2026 · 51 min · 17 chapters
687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?Whether prediction markets improve forecasting or function like gambling; how Kalshi designs regulated markets and contracts to aggregate distributed information and reduce manipulation.18 Sep 2026 · 49 min · 21 chapters
How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel | Better in PersonJohn Urschel’s “double unicorn” path—being both an NFL offensive lineman and earning a math PhD at MIT—plus how he compartmentalized training, chose courses, and later retired amid concerns about…16 Sep 2026 · 33 min · 18 chapters
686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?Why NFL teams struggle to evaluate and draft quarterbacks, despite lots of college data and combine testing; the episode argues success depends heavily on hard-to-measure cognitive processing,…11 Sep 2026 · 58 min · 22 chapters
Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in PersonHow James Daunt revived independent and major bookstore chains (Daunt Books, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble) against Amazon and digital predictions, emphasizing long-term quality, local store autonomy,…9 Sep 2026 · 32 min · 15 chapters
685. How to Survive the A.I. ShockHow to “survive the AI shock” without mass job losses, using employer- and state-led workforce transition reforms rather than heavy-handed wage/job guarantees or universal basic income.4 Sep 2026 · 58 min · 18 chapters
How to Run an Institution in an Anti-Institution Era | Better in PersonHow to run major cultural and educational institutions amid low public trust and political/cultural conflict, while staying true to stated values and using institutions as public “happy places.”2 Sep 2026 · 38 min · 18 chapters
How to Return Stolen Art (Update)The episode (third and final in a series) examines the economics, politics, and ethics of returning looted art, focusing on Benin bronzes and broader museum return policies.28 Aug 2026 · 51 min · 20 chapters
“I Trust Almost Anyone More Than Myself” | Better in PersonJennifer Egan discusses her writing process and creative philosophy, including how she uses feedback, revises against her own aesthetic choices, and builds psychologically “inside” characters.26 Aug 2026 · 43 min · 15 chapters
Is a Museum Just a Trophy Case? (Update)The episode (part two of “Stealing Art is Easy, Giving It Back is Hard”) examines how looted antiquities end up in museums and why repatriation is legally, politically, and morally…21 Aug 2026 · 53 min · 29 chapters
Meet Warren Zanes, the Author and Rocker Behind the Springsteen Movie | Better in PersonWarren Zanes’ life story, from being pushed out of his brother Dan’s Boston rock band Del Fuego to becoming a rock-and-roll scholar and author, culminating in his Bruce Springsteen Nebraska biography…19 Aug 2026 · 51 min · 20 chapters
The Case of the $4 Million Gold Coffin (Update)The economics, politics, and ethics of returning stolen cultural artifacts, focusing on a “$4 million gold coffin” case and broader antiquities restitution debates.14 Aug 2026 · 54 min · 27 chapters
What if Being a Stranger Is Actually Your Superpower? | Better in PersonAngela Buchdahl argues that being a “stranger” can be a superpower, rooted in Judaism’s boundary-crossing identity.12 Aug 2026 · 34 min · 16 chapters
684. He Helped Clean Up the Last Crash. Does He See Another One Coming?Gary Gensler discusses whether the AI-driven boom in finance and technology will turn into a bubble, focusing on market structure, leverage, debt, and the mismatch between massive AI capital spending…7 Aug 2026 · 1 h 7 min · 26 chapters
Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories? | Better In PersonHarlan Coben discusses how he writes “twisted” thrillers that keep readers on edge, why he avoids gore and external action, how he approaches adaptation to film/TV, and how anxiety and insecurity…5 Aug 2026 · 45 min · 17 chapters
683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?Part 2 of Freakonomics Radio’s series on relocating AI to space—where the “new space race” is headed and who should regulate it.31 Jul 2026 · 56 min · 27 chapters
How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold | Better in PersonGary Gulman discusses how he turned recurring depression into comedy, the discipline and treatment that helped him stay well, and how his HBO special The Great Depression (with documentary elements)…29 Jul 2026 · 47 min · 19 chapters
682. Should A.I. Move to Space?Whether AI should move to space via solar-powered “orbital data centers” (Project Suncatcher), driven by rising data-center electricity demand and the economics of launching lightweight satellites.24 Jul 2026 · 48 min · 24 chapters
Why Cooking is Caregiving, with Chef Hillary Sterling | Better in PersonCooking as caregiving and sensory practice; how live-fire Italian cooking and restaurant leadership at Chisiamo blend teaching, fairness, and cultural storytelling.22 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 23 chapters
Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin? (Update)Penicillin allergy is widely misdiagnosed. About 10% of Americans think they’re allergic, but fewer than 1% truly are; 90% of “penicillin allergy” labels are false positives.17 Jul 2026 · 1 h 5 min · 29 chapters
How a Great Architect Thinks, with Bjarke Ingels | Better in PersonBjarke Ingels (BIG) discusses how great architecture is made: iterative collaboration, “pragmatic utopianism” (combining idealism with real-world constraints), and designing for the future while…14 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 16 chapters
681. How to Host a Talk Show, with Dick CavettStephen Dubner explains how he created his new YouTube talk show Better in Person after COVID isolation, taking inspiration from Dick Cavett’s conversational style.9 Jul 2026 · 43 min · 18 chapters
680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust?Can universities regain public trust without becoming political actors?3 Jul 2026 · 50 min · 22 chapters
679. Why Does Vanderbilt Keep Winning?Why Vanderbilt University has been “winning” amid hard times for U.S. higher education—protests, funding pressure, and federal political/legal scrutiny.26 Jun 2026 · 1 h 4 min · 20 chapters