The Economics of Everyday Things
Episodes
61. Pigeons
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once considered noble and heroic, pigeons are now viewed as an urban nuisance — one that costs cities millions of dollars a year. Zachary Crockett t...
60. Money Laundering
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do criminals turn their ill-gotten gains into taxable income? And how does law enforcement stop them? Zachary Crockett follows the money. SOURCES...
59. Restaurant Reservations
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to online booking platforms, the way we make reservations has changed — but a table at a hot restaurant on a Friday night is still a valuable...
58. Firefighters
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are more firefighters than ever — and fewer fires for them to fight. So the job has changed. Zachary Crockett slides down the pole. SOURCES:J...
Romance Novels (Replay)
29 Jul 2024
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...
57. Strippers
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Performing at a strip club can be lucrative, but it requires financial and psychological savvy — and an eye for social trends. Zachary Crockett take...
56. Snake Venom
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina to find out. SOURCES:Steve Anderson...
55. Direct-to-Consumer Mattresses
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the sheets. ...
54. Ghostwriters
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Channeling the voices of celebrities can be a lucrative career — one that requires empathy and discretion as well as literary chops. Zachary Crocket...
53. Food Trucks
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did mobile kitchens become popular with hipster gourmands? And just how much money can a popular truck make from a lunch shift? Zachary Crocket dr...
52. Little League
17 Jun 2024
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...
51. Wine Corks
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we use a specific kind of tree-bark tissue to seal up 70 percent of wine bottles? Zachary Crockett takes a sniff and gives the waiter a nod. S...
50. Self-Checkout
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner. SOURCES:Sara Alloy, exper...
Carnival Games (Replay)
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. SOURCES:Matthew Gryczan, retired journalist and engineer.Elliot Simmons, ...
49. Weather Forecasts
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With industries relying on them and profits to be made, weather forecasts are more precise and more popular than ever. But there are clouds on the hor...
48. College Fraternities
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes th...
47. Bail Bonds
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. SOURCES:Joshua Page, professor of sociology and law at the Univer...
46. Car Colors
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences may be changing lanes. Zachar...
45. Storage Units
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all has become a $45 billion business. Zachary Crockett clea...
44. Movie Sound Effects
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Fole...
43. Top-Level Domains
08 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Cro...
42. Cemeteries
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are...
41. Pet Movers
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits at the airport, holding a ...
40. Prosthetic Limbs
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. SOURCES...
39. Houseplants
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. SOURCES:...
Bowling Alleys (Replay)
04 Mar 2024
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...
38. Junk Mail
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mail...
37. Personal Injury Lawyers
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. SOURCES:Jason Abraham, ...
36. ATMs
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. SOURCES:Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, professo...
35. Dental Insurance
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES:Brad Bolman, postdocto...
34. Store-Brand Products
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label m...
33. Sex Scenes
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable...
32. Used Golf Balls
15 Jan 2024
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...
31. Superhot Chili Peppers
08 Jan 2024
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...
30. Card Counting
01 Jan 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...
10. Michelin Stars (Replay)
25 Dec 2023
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. SOURCES:Ni...
29. Greeting Cards
18 Dec 2023
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...
28. Horseshoe Crab Blood
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply? Zachary Crockett w...
27. Romance Novels
04 Dec 2023
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...
3. My Sharona (Replay)
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. RESOURCES:"The Knack Sue Run-DMC Over 'It’s Tricky' R...
26. Graffiti
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. RESOURCES:"Philadelphia Graffiti...
25. Private Jets
13 Nov 2023
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
06 Nov 2023
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. RESOURCE...
23. Cadavers - Part 2
30 Oct 2023
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. RESOURCE...
22. Cadavers - Part 1
23 Oct 2023
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
16 Oct 2023
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...
20. Tattoo Parlors
09 Oct 2023
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
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. RESOURCES"Who Is the Fastest Pizza Box Folder?! Wo...
4. Used Hotel Soaps (Replay)
25 Sep 2023
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 ’...
18. Mobile Home Parks
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. Hosted by Simplecast, an A...
17. Truffles
11 Sep 2023
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
04 Sep 2023
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 money. Hosted by ...
15. Home Staging
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm...
Girl Scout Cookies (Ep. 2 Replay)
21 Aug 2023
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. Hosted by...
14. “Happy Birthday to You”
14 Aug 2023
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
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informat...
12. Women’s Sports Bars
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most sports bars rarely screen women's games. Zachary Crockett taps into the strategy of one woman who changed the channel. Hosted by Simplecast, an A...
11. Cashmere
24 Jul 2023
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. Hosted by Simp...
10. Michelin Stars
17 Jul 2023
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. Hosted by S...
9. Bowling Alleys
10 Jul 2023
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
03 Jul 2023
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
26 Jun 2023
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...
6. T. rex Skeletons
19 Jun 2023
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. H...
5. Sports Mascots
12 Jun 2023
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
13 Feb 2023
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
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...
2. Girl Scout Cookies
30 Jan 2023
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. Hosted by...
1. Gas Stations
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our first episode, host Zachary Crockett sidles up to the pump to ask: Who owns your local gas station, and where do their profits really come fr...
Coming Soon: The Economics of Everyday Things
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new show is coming to the Freakonomics Radio Network. Stay tuned for The Economics of Everyday Things, hosted by Zachary Crockett. Hosted by Simplec...