Freakonomics Radio

250. Why Does Everyone Hate Flying? And Other Questions Only a Pilot Can Answer

02 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick Smith, the author of Cockpit Confidential, answers every question we can throw at him about what really happens up in the air. Just don't get ...

249. The Longest Long Shot

26 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When the uncelebrated Leicester City Football Club won the English Premier League, it wasn't just the biggest underdog story in recent history. It was...

248. How to Be Tim Ferriss

19 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Our Self-Improvement Month concludes with a man whose entire life and career are one big pile of self-improvement. Nutrition? Check. Bizarre physical ...

247. How to Win Games and Beat People

12 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Games are as old as civilization itself, and some people think they have huge social value regardless of whether you win or lose. Tom Whipple is not o...

246. How to Get More Grit in Your Life

05 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The psychologist Angela Duckworth argues that a person's level of stick-to-itiveness is directly related to their level of success. No big surprise th...

245. Being Malcolm Gladwell

02 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

"Books are a pain in the ass," says Gladwell, who has written some of the most popular, influential, and beloved non-fiction books in recent...

244. How to Become Great at Just About Anything

28 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What if the thing we call "talent" is grotesquely overrated? And what if deliberate practice is the secret to excellence? Those are the claims of the ...

243. How to Be More Productive

21 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's Self-Improvement Month at Freakonomics Radio. We begin with a topic that seems to be on everyone's mind: how to get more done in less time. First...

242. Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income?

14 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of full-time jobs in the modern economy simply don't pay a living wage. And even those jobs may be obliterated by new technologies. What's to be...

241. Are Payday Loans Really as Evil as People Say?

07 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Critics -- including President Obama -- say short-term, high-interest loans are predatory, trapping borrowers in a cycle of debt. But some economists ...

The Economics of Sleep, Part 2 (Rebroadcast)

31 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

People who sleep better earn more money. Now all we have to do is teach everyone to sleep better.

The Economics of Sleep, Part 1 (Rebroadcast)

24 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Could a lack of sleep help explain why some people get much sicker than others?

240. Yes, the American Economy Is in a Funk -- But Not for the Reasons You Think

17 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

As sexy as the digital revolution may be, it can't compare to the Second Industrial Revolution (electricity! the gas engine! antibiotics!), which crea...

239. The No-Tipping Point

11 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The restaurant business model is warped: kitchen wages are too low to hire cooks, while diners are put in charge of paying the waitstaff. So what happ...

238. The United States of Cory Booker

03 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The junior U.S. Senator from New Jersey thinks bipartisanship is right around the corner. Is he just an idealistic newbie or does he see a way forward...

237. Ask Not What Your Podcast Can Do for You

25 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Now and again, Freakonomics Radio puts hat in hand and asks listeners to donate to the public-radio station that produces the show. Why on earth shoul...

236. How Can This Possibly Be True?

18 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A famous economics essay features a pencil (yes, a pencil) arguing that “not a single person on the face of this earth knows how to make me.” Is t...

235. Who Needs Handwriting?

11 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The digital age is making pen and paper seem obsolete. But what are we giving up if we give up on handwriting?

How to Fix a Broken High Schooler, in Four Easy Steps (Rebroadcast)

04 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Okay, maybe the steps aren't so easy. But a program run out of a Toronto housing project has had great success in turning around kids who were headed ...

Is America’s Education Problem Really Just a Teacher Problem? (Rebroadcast)

28 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

If U.S. schoolteachers are indeed "just a little bit below average," it's not really their fault. So what should be done about it?

234. Do Boycotts Work?

21 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The Montgomery Bus Boycott, the South African divestment campaign, Chick-fil-A! Almost anyone can launch a boycott, and the media loves to cover them....

233. How to Be Less Terrible at Predicting the Future

14 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Experts and pundits are notoriously bad at forecasting, in part because they aren't punished for bad predictions. Also, they tend to be deeply unscien...

232. The True Story of the Gender Pay Gap

07 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Discrimination can't explain why women earn so much less than men. If only it were that easy.

When Willpower Isn’t Enough (Rebroadcast)

31 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, we all want to make good personal decisions, but it doesn't always work out. That's where "temptation bundling" comes in.

Fixing the World, Bang-for-the-Buck Edition (Rebroadcast)

24 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A team of economists has been running the numbers on the U.N.'s development goals. They have a different view of how those billions of dollars should ...

231. Is Migration a Basic Human Right?

17 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The argument for open borders is compelling -- and deeply problematic.

230. The Cheeseburger Diet

10 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

One woman's quest to find the best burger in town can teach all of us to eat smarter.

229. Ben Bernanke Gives Himself a Grade

03 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

He was handed the keys to the global economy just as it started heading off a cliff. Fortunately, he'd seen this movie before.

Why Do People Keep Having Children? (Rebroadcast)

26 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Even a brutal natural disaster doesn't diminish our appetite for procreating. This surely means we're heading toward massive overpopulation, right? Pr...

228. Does “Early Education” Come Way Too Late?

19 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In our collective zeal to reform schools and close the achievement gap, we may have lost sight of where most learning really happens -- at home.

227. Should Everyone Be in a Rock Band?

12 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Lessons from Tom Petty's rise and another rocker's fall.

226. Food + Science = Victory!

05 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A kitchen wizard and a nutrition detective talk about the perfect hamburger, getting the most out of garlic, and why you should use vodka in just abou...

225. Am I Boring You?

29 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers are trying to figure out who gets bored - and why - and what it means for ourselves and the economy. But maybe there's an upside to boredo...

How to Save $1 Billion Without Even Trying (Rebroadcast)

22 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Doctors, chefs, and other experts are much more likely than the rest of us to buy store-brand products. What do they know that we don't?

224. How To Win A Nobel Prize

15 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The process is famously secretive (and conducted in Swedish!) but we pry the lid off at least a little bit.

223. Should Kids Pay Back Their Parents for Raising Them?

08 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When one athlete turned pro, his mom asked him for $1 million. Our modern sensibilities tell us she doesn't have a case. But should she?

222. Meet the Woman Who Said Women Can’t Have It All

01 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Anne-Marie Slaughter was best known for her adamant views on Syria when she accidentally became a poster girl for modern feminism. As it turns out, sh...

221. How Did the Belt Win?

24 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Suspenders may work better, but the dork factor is too high. How did an organ-squeezing belly tourniquet become part of our everyday wardrobe -- and w...

220. “I Don't Know What You've Done With My Husband, But He's a Changed Man.”

17 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

From domestic abusers to former child soldiers, there is increasing evidence that behavioral therapy can turn them around.

219. Preventing Crime for Pennies on the Dollar

10 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Conventional programs tend to be expensive, onerous, and ineffective. Could something as simple (and cheap) as cognitive behavioral therapy do the tri...

218. The Harvard President Will See You Now

03 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How a pain-in-the-neck girl from rural Virginia came to run the most powerful university in the world.

217. Are You Ready for a Glorious Sunset?

27 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We spend billions on end-of-life healthcare that doesn't do much good. So what if a patient could forego the standard treatment and get a cash rebate ...

216. How to Make a Smart TV Ad

20 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Step 1: Hire a Harvard psych professor as the pitchman. Step 2: Have him help write the script ...

The Dangers of Safety (Rebroadcast)

13 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What do NASCAR drivers, Glenn Beck and the hit men of the NFL have in common?

215. Why Do We Really Follow the News?

06 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

There are all kinds of civics-class answers to that question. But how true are they? Could it be that we like to read about war, politics, and miscell...

214. How to Create Suspense

30 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Why is soccer the best sport? How has Harlan Coben sold 70 million books? And why does "Apollo 13" keep you enthralled even when you know th...

213. Aziz Ansari Needs Another Toothbrush

23 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The comedian, actor -- and now, author -- answers our FREAK-quently Asked Questions

212. The Economics of Sleep, Part 2

16 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

People who sleep better earn more money. Now all we have to do is teach everyone to sleep better.

211. The Economics of Sleep, Part 1

09 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Could a lack of sleep help explain why some people get much sicker than others?

A Better Way to Eat (Rebroadcast)

02 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Takeru Kobayashi revolutionized the sport of competitive eating. What can the rest of us learn from his breakthrough?

210. Is It Okay for Restaurants to Racially Profile Their Employees?

25 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

We seem to have decided that ethnic food tastes better when it's served by people of that ethnicity (or at least something close). Does this make sens...

209. Make Me a Match

18 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, markets generally work well. But for some transactions -- like school admissions and organ transplants -- money alone can't solve the problem. T...

208. Making Sex Offenders Pay -- and Pay and Pay and Pay

11 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, sex crimes are horrific, and the perpetrators deserve to be punished harshly. But society keeps exacting costs -- out-of-pocket and otherwise --...

207. Should We Really Behave Like Economists Say We Do?

04 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

One man's attempt to remake his life in the mold of homo economicus.

Tell Me Something I Don’t Know (Rebroadcast)

28 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The debut of a live game show from Freakonomics Radio, with judges Malcolm Gladwell, Ana Gasteyer, and David Paterson.

Failure Is Your Friend (Rebroadcast)

21 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In which we argue that failure should not only be tolerated but celebrated.

206. Ten Years of Freakonomics

14 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Dubner and Levitt are live onstage at the 92nd Street Y in New York to celebrate their new book "When to Rob a Bank" -- and a decade of work...

205. Could the Next Brooklyn Be ... Las Vegas?!

07 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has a wild vision and the dollars to try to make it real. But it still might be the biggest gamble in town.

Think Like a Child (Rebroadcast)

30 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to generating ideas and asking questions it can be really fruitful to have the mentality of an eight year old.

204. Nate Silver Says: “Everyone Is Kind of Weird”

23 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

America's favorite statistical guru answers our FREAK-quently Asked Questions, and more.

203. Diamonds Are a Marriage Counselor’s Best Friend

16 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It may seem like winning a valuable diamond is an unalloyed victory. It's not. It's not even clear that a diamond is so valuable.

202. How Many Doctors Does It Take to Start a Healthcare Revolution?

09 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The practice of medicine has been subsumed by the business of medicine. This is great news for healthcare shareholders -- and bad news for pretty much...

201. How Do We Know What Really Works in Healthcare?

02 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of the conventional wisdom in medicine is nothing more than hunch or wishful thinking. A new breed of data detectives is hoping to change that.

The Perfect Crime (Rebroadcast)

26 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

If you are driving and kill a pedestrian, there's a good chance you'll barely be punished. Why?

What You Don’t Know About Online Dating (Rebroadcast)

19 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Thick markets, thin markets, and the triumph of attributes over compatibility.

200. When Willpower Isn’t Enough

12 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Sure, we all want to make good personal decisions, but it doesn't always work out. That's where "temptation bundling" comes in.

199. This Idea Must Die

05 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, Edge.org asks its salon of big thinkers to answer one big question. This year's question borders on heresy: what scientific idea is ready ...

198. The Maddest Men of All

26 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Advertisers have always been adept at manipulating our emotions. Now they're using behavioral economics to get even better.

197. Hacking the World Bank

19 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Jim Yong Kim has an unorthodox background for a World Bank president — and his reign thus far is just as unorthodox.

196. Is There a Better Way to Fight Terrorism?

12 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The White House is hosting an anti-terror summit next week. Summits being what they are, we try to offer some useful advice.

195. How Efficient Is Energy Efficiency?

05 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's a centerpiece of U.S. climate policy and a sacred cow among environmentalists. Does it work?

194. How Safe Is Your Job?

29 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Economists preach the gospel of "creative destruction," whereby new industries -- and jobs -- replace the old ones. But has creative destruc...

193. Someone Else’s Acid Trip

22 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

As Kevin Kelly tells it, the hippie revolution and the computer revolution are nearly one and the same.

192. That’s a Great Question!

15 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Verbal tic or strategic rejoinder? Whatever the case: it’s rare to come across an interview these days where at least one question isn’t a “grea...

191. Why Doesn’t Everyone Get the Flu Vaccine?

08 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Influenza kills, but you’d never know it by how few of us get the vaccine.

What’s the “Best” Exercise? (Rebroadcast)

01 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Most people blame lack of time for being out of shape. So maybe the solution is to exercise more efficiently.

What’s More Dangerous: Marijuana or Alcohol? (Rebroadcast)

25 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine that both substances were undiscovered until today. How would we think about their relative risks?

190. Time to Take Back the Toilet

18 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Public bathrooms are noisy, poorly designed, and often nonexistent. What to do?

The Troubled Cremation of Stevie the Cat (Rebroadcast)

11 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

We spend billions on our pets, and one of the fastest-growing costs is pet "aftercare." But are those cremated remains you got back really f...

189. How to Fix a Broken High Schooler, in Four Easy Steps

04 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Okay, maybe the steps aren’t so easy. But a program run out of a Toronto housing project has had great success in turning around kids who were heade...

188. Is America’s Education Problem Really Just a Teacher Problem?

27 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

If U.S. schoolteachers are indeed “just a little bit below average,” it’s not really their fault. So what should be done about it?

187. The Man Who Would Be Everything

20 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Boris Johnson -- mayor of London, biographer of Churchill, cheese-box painter and tennis-racket collector -- answers our FREAK-quently Asked Questions...

186. Why Do People Keep Having Children?

13 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Even a brutal natural disaster doesn’t diminish our appetite for procreating. This surely means we’re heading toward massive overpopulation, right...

185. Should the U.S. Merge With Mexico?

06 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Corporations around the world are consolidating like never before. If it’s good enough for companies, why not countries? Welcome to Amexico!

184. What Can Vampires Teach Us About Economics?

30 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A lot! “The Economics of the Undead” is a book about dating strategy, job creation, and whether there should be a legal market for blood.

183. “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know”

23 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The debut of a live game show from Freakonomics Radio, with judges Malcolm Gladwell, Ana Gasteyer, and David Paterson.

182. How Can Tiny Norway Afford to Buy So Many Teslas?

16 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The Norwegian government parleys massive oil wealth into huge subsidies for electric cars. Is that carbon laundering or just pragmatic environmentalis...

How to Raise Money Without Killing a Kitten (Rebroadcast)

09 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The science of what works -- and doesn't work -- in fund-raising

181. Fixing the World, Bang-for-the-Buck Edition

02 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A team of economists has been running the numbers on the U.N.'s development goals. They have a different view of how those billions of dollars should ...

180. Fitness Apartheid

25 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Markets are hardly perfect, but the results can be ugly when you try to subvert them.

179. Outsiders by Design

18 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to pursue something that everyone else thinks is nuts? And what does it take to succeed?

178. How to Save $1 Billion Without Even Trying

11 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Doctors, chefs, and other experts are much more likely than the rest of us to buy store-brand products. What do they know that we don’t?

177. Regulate This!

04 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, EatWith, and other companies in the “sharing economy” are practically daring government regulators to shut them down. The regu...

Who Runs the Internet? (Rebroadcast)

28 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

The online universe doesn't have nearly as many rules, or rulemakers, as the real world. Discuss.

Parking Is Hell (Rebroadcast)

21 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

There ain't no such thing as a free parking spot. Somebody has to pay for it -- and that somebody is everybody.

What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common? (Rebroadcast)

14 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A look at whether spite pays -- and if it even exists.

Should Tipping be Banned? (Rebroadcast)

07 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

It's awkward, random, confusing -- and probably discriminatory too.

How Much Does Your Name Matter? (Rebroadcast)

31 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A kid's name can tell us something about his parents -- their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny?

176. Does Religion Make You Happy?

24 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a hard question to answer, but we do our best.

175. Why You Should Bribe Your Kids

17 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Educational messaging looks good on paper but kids don’t respond to it -- and adults aren’t much better.