The Economics of Everyday Things

27. Romance Novels

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept aw...

26. Graffiti

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. This episode was originally publish...

25. Private Jets

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary...

24. Pistachios

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. This epis...

23. Cadavers - Part 2

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. This epis...

22. Cadavers - Part 1

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around th...

21. Car Washes

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. This episode was or...

20. Tattoo Parlors

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into...

19. Pizza Boxes

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. This episode was originally published on October 1s...

18. Mobile Home Parks

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. This episode was originall...

17. Truffles

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end up on your plate. Zachar...

16. Prop Money

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the fake money. This epis...

15. Home Staging

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. This episode was originally published on August 2...

14. “Happy Birthday to You”

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The most popular song of the 20th century — and a key part of a ubiquitous American ritual — was also the subject of a years-long legal battle. Za...

13. Carnival Games

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. This episode was originally published on August 6th, 2023. Hosted by Simpl...

12. Women’s Sports Bars

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most sports bars rarely screen women's games. Zachary Crockett taps into the strategy of one woman who set out to change the channel. This episode was...

11. Cashmere

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia. Zachary Crockett tugs at the thread. This episode w...

10. Michelin Stars

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. This episod...

9. Bowling Alleys

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary...

8. Delaware License Plates

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Vanity plates might be 2KUL4U, but in the Blue Hen State, low-digit plates command high-digit prices. Zachary Crockett sums up a big market in a small...

7. Animal Urine

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One creature’s trash is another’s cash. Zachary Crockett flushes out the numbers with a man who found profit in pee. This episode was originally p...

6. T. rex Skeletons

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do they emerge from the Upper Cretaceous period to end up in natural-history museums and private collections? Zachary Crockett digs for answers. T...

5. Sports Mascots

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We’re not sure what that creature cavorting on the sidelines is — but it doesn’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett gets the ballpark figures on every...

4. Used Hotel Soaps

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when we love ’em and leave ’...

3. My Sharona

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. This episode was originally published on February 2nd, 2...

2. Girl Scout Cookies

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in. This epis...

120. An update on the show

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Economics of Everyday Things is going on an indefinite hiatus. SOURCES:Zachary Crockett, host of The Economic of Everyday Things. RESOURCES:Zach...

119. Christmas Lights

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Would you pay a professional $2,500 or more to put up your holiday lights? Zachary Crockett is walking in a winter wonderland. SOURCES:Chuck Smith, c...

118. Urban Trees

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trees are more than decoration — they’re living economic assets, with measurable costs and benefits for cities and neighborhoods. Zachary Crockett...

117. Cut Flowers

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Grab a simple bouquet from your local grocery store and you're activating a global network of farms, shipping companies, wholesalers, distributors, an...

116. Cobblers

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Shoe repair shops are a dying breed — but for those that remain, demand is higher than ever. Zachary Crockett goes in for a shine. SOURCES:Jim McFa...

Superhot Chili Peppers (Replay)

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES:Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerBut...

115. Miniature Golf

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much does it cost to design and build a mini-golf course? And what’s it like to run one? Zachary Crockett putts things in perspective. SOURCES:...

114. Natural and Artificial Flavors

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do flavorists capture the essence of a fruit and put it in a can of sparkling water, or a tub of yogurt? Zachary Crockett takes a bite. SOURCES:T...

113. Laundromats

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A day on the job includes hundreds of quarters, giant balls of lint, and fishing weird stuff out of machines. Zachary Crockett throws in a load. SOUR...

112. Campgrounds

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Running a campground isn’t all eating s'mores around the campfire. Zachary Crockett fans the flames. SOURCES:Mark Lemoine, owner, Coloma/St. Joseph...

Gas Stations (UPDATED)

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from? Zachary Crockett pulls up to the pump. SOUR...

111. Product Recalls

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, thousands of products are recalled from store shelves. How does the process work — and who foots the bill? Zachary Crockett gets a refun...

110. Formula 1 Teams

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In a sport that generates more than $3.5 billion a year, teams compete in cars that cost $70 million to develop and build — and a split-second to cr...

109. Billboards

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world’s oldest advertising medium has reconfigured itself for the digital age. Zachary Crockett looks up. SOURCES:Anna Bager, president and C.E...

108. Matchmakers

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some singles choose to skip the apps and get fixed up the old-fashioned way — but it doesn't come cheap. Zachary Crockett puts himself out there. S...

107. Megachurches

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They have thousands of congregants and millions of dollars in income. Zachary Crockett passes the collection plate. SOURCES:Julie Roys, founder of th...

106. Maple Syrup

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pure maple syrup can be five times as expensive as “pancake syrup,” but maple farmers — and breakfast connoisseurs — say it’s worth it. Zach...

105. Light Bulbs

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why did it take so long to invent a longer-lasting bulb? Zachary Crockett finds the answer illuminating. SOURCES:Heather Dillon, mechanical engineeri...

EXTRA: Emoji and the Law

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do courts interpret those little icons on your phone? Zachary Crockett brings down the hammer. SOURCES:Eric Goldman, professor of law, associate ...

Home Staging (Replay)

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. SOURCES:Meredith Baer, founder of Meridith Baer ...

104. Private Investigators

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They expose fraud, catch cheating spouses, and track down missing assets — but they don’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett takes the case. SOURCES:As...

103. Satellites

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are now nearly 12,000 satellites orbiting Earth. What does it cost to put them there, and how do they make money? Zachary Crockett launches an i...

102. “The Starry Night”

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does a museum place a value on a priceless work of art? And how much does it cost to keep it safe? Zachary Crockett appraises the situation. SOUR...

101. Street Performers

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Performing for passersby takes more than talent. Buskers have to cope with hecklers, civic regulations, aggressive competitors — and uncertain pay. ...

Mobile Home Parks (Replay)

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. SOURCES:Paul Bradley, pre...

100. Podcasts

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What goes into creating an episode of The Economics of Everyday Things? And how do shows like this one make money? Zachary Crockett turns the mic on h...

99. Emoji

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We send 10 billion of them every day. Where do they come from? Zachary Crockett hearts this topic. SOURCES:Jennifer 8. Lee, co-founder of Emojination...

98. Police Sketches

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When security cameras and facial recognition tools fail, law enforcement investigators fall back on a witness's memory and an artist's hand. Zachary C...

EXTRA: Fireworks Stands

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How does an industry built on roadside pop-ups make billions of dollars in two weeks of the year? Zachary Crockett gets pyrotechnical. SOURCES:Alex Z...

Car Washes (Replay)

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. RESOURCES:"Private...

97. Elevators

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Americans take more than 20 billion elevator rides every year — and keeping them safe is an expensive proposition. Zachary Crockett makes small talk...

96. School Buses

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Districts across the country are facing shortages of school bus drivers. Can technology help? Zachary Crockett takes a seat in the back. SOURCES:Keit...

95. Airplane Food

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone loves to complain about it — but preparing a meal that tastes good at 35,000 feet is harder than you might think. Zachary Crockett will hav...

94. Fireworks Shows

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and b...

93. Pearls

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

These glistening round gemstones have come a long way since your grandmother's time, but procuring them is still a lot of work. The world is Zachary C...

Little League (Replay)

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett p...

92. Data Centers

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Where is “the cloud,” anyway? It’s in a bunch of nondescript warehouses all over the country. Zachary Crockett serves up the story. SOURCES: C...

91. Roller Coasters

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A new thrill ride can cost an amusement park $20 million or more — but roller coasters attract customers like nothing else. Zachary Crockett must be...

90. Closed Captions

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It takes a highly skilled stenographer — and some specialized equipment — to transcribe TV dialogue in real time at 300 words per minute. Will A.I...

89. Locksmiths

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The ability to get into any home, car, or safe can be lucrative — but fixing locks is a tough business. Zachary Crockett gets the key information. ...

88. Fortune Cookies

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Those tiny treats that predict your future may come free at the end of a Chinese meal, but they’re big business (and not Chinese). Zachary Crockett ...

87. Ski Areas

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you hit the slopes, you might not be thinking about water rights, controlled avalanches, and liability insurance — but someone has to. Zachary ...

86. Toothpaste

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We reach for it twice a day — without thinking about the decades of research and engineering that went into that squeezable tube of minty goo. Zacha...

85. Executive Recruiters

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When a Fortune 500 company needs a new leader, it turns to a well-connected headhunter who assesses candidates with psychological tests and mock TV in...

84. Mall Cops

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Security guards make malls feel safer, but what can they do when there’s trouble? Zachary Crockett observes and reports. SOURCES:Gus Parsons, mall ...

83. Game Show Winnings

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do TV producers decide how much money to give away? A little psychology and a lot of math. Zachary Crockett phones a friend. SOURCES:Bowen Kerins...

82. Chain Restaurant Recipes

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A fast-food burger has to taste the same — and cost the same — thousands of times a day at restaurants across the country. Zachary Crockett mans t...

Used Golf Balls (Replay)

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links...

81. Guide Dogs

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Before a guide dog can help a blind person navigate the world, it has to pass a series of tests, then go through $75,000 worth of training. Zachary Cr...

80. Going-Out-of-Business Sales

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Behind that 70% off sign, there’s a liquidation consultant trying to maximize retailer profits. Zachary Crockett seeks a deal. SOURCES:Bradley Snyd...

79. School Photos

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Picture day is an annual tradition for American families — and, for the companies that take the photos, a lucrative one. Zachary Crockett smiles for...

78. Porta-Potties

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They're not always the nicest places to go — but for their owners, portable toilets are a lucrative revenue stream. Zachary Crockett lifts the lid. ...

77. Hand Models

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You can be a top model and still not get recognized on the street — as long as you keep your cuticles healthy and your moons white. Zachary Crockett...

76. Hotel Art

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A watercolor of a harbor? A black-and-white photo of a pile of rocks? Some hotels are trying to do better. Zachary Crockett unpacks. SOURCES:Melanie ...

75. Butchers

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Before beef ends up at your favorite steakhouse, it passes through the hands of a trained specialist with an encyclopedic knowledge of bovine anatomy....

Pistachios (Replay)

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. SOURCES:...

Cashmere (Replay)

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia. Zachary Crockett tugs at the thread. SOURCES:Myagm...

74. Fonts

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Behind almost every character you see displayed on a page or a screen, there’s a complex — and sometimes lucrative — web of licensing deals. Zac...

73. Used Bookstores

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is just browsing.  SOURCE:Francisco Hern...

Greeting Cards (Replay)

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about w...

72. Helium

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s unreactive, lighter than air, and surprisingly important to the global economy. Zachary Crockett goes up an octave. SOURCES:Sophia Hayes, prof...

Stadium Names, from The Indicator

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did Florida International University’s new football stadium come to be named after the rapper and singer Pitbull? Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong of T...

71. Mannequins

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mannequins may be made out of plastic or fiberglass, but for retailers they’re pure gold. Zachary Crockett strikes a pose. SOURCES:Stacie Bornn, vi...

70. Prison Labor

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Incarcerated people grow crops, fight wildfires, and manufacture everything from motor oil to prescription glasses — often for pennies per hour. Zac...

69. Highway Signs

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It takes millions of giant green placards to make America navigable. Where do they come from — and who pays the bill? Zachary Crockett takes the exi...

68. Zoo Animals

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When a zoo needs an elephant, or finds itself with three surplus penguins, it doesn’t buy or sell the animals — it asks around. Zachary Crockett r...

67. Tow Trucks

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked. SOURCES:Bill Giorgis, president of Mike’s Wrecker Service.M...

66. Stradivarius Violins

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why are these 300-year-old instruments still coveted by violinists today? And how do working musicians get their hands on multimillion-dollar antiques...

Card Counting (Replay)

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES:"B...

65. Stock Photos

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Making money in the stock image business requires a sharp eye for trends, a very specific type of model, and a race against A.I. Zachary Crockett take...

64. Sushi Fish

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How does a fresh tuna get from Japan to Nebraska before it goes bad? And how does its journey show up in the price of your spicy tuna rolls? Zachary C...

63. Botox

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why do millions of people pay to have one of the world’s deadliest toxins injected into their faces? Zachary Crockett looks surprised. SOURCES:Dana...

62. Title Insurance

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Almost everyone who buys a home spends thousands of dollars on title insurance. Most of them don’t understand it, and almost none of them use it. So...

Truffles (Replay)

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end up on your plate. Zachar...