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Extra: A Modern Whaler Speaks Up (Update)
Bjørn Andersen has killed hundreds of minke whales. He tells us how he does it, why he does it, and what he thinks would happen if whale-hunting ever stopped. (This bonus episode is a follow-up to ou…
Published on 11 hours ago
What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life? (Update)
Episode 551
In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why Moby-Dick is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.")
SOURCES:Michele…
Published on 5 days, 1 hour ago
Why Do People Still Hunt Whales? (Update)
Episode 550
For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredient in (yum!) margarine. Whale meat was also on a few menus. But today, demand for whale products is at a his…
Published on 1 week, 5 days ago
The First Great American Industry (Update)
Episode 549
Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come to dominate the whale market? Why did whale hunting die out here — and continue to grow …
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Why Does Tipping Still Exist? (Update)
Episode 396
It’s a haphazard way of paying workers, and yet it keeps expanding. With federal tax policy shifting in a pro-tip direction, we revisit an episode from 2019 to find out why.
SOURCES:John List, econom…
Published on 3 weeks ago
643. Why Do Candles Still Exist?
Episode 643
They should have died out when the lightbulb was invented. Instead they’re a $10 billion industry. What does it mean that we still want tiny fires inside our homes?
SOURCES:Tim Cooper, professor emer…
Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago
642. How to Wage Peace, According to Tony Blinken
Episode 642
The former secretary of state isn’t a flamethrower, but he certainly has strong opinions. In this wide-ranging conversation with Stephen Dubner, he gives them all: on Israel, Gaza, China, Iran, Russi…
Published on 1 month ago
Why Does One Tiny State Set the Rules for Everyone? (Update)
Episode 539
Until recently, Delaware was almost universally agreed to be the best place for companies to incorporate. Now, with Elon Musk leading a corporate stampede out of the First State, we revisit an episod…
Published on 1 month ago
641. What Does It Cost to Lead a Creative Life?
Episode 641
For years, the playwright David Adjmi was considered “polarizing and difficult.” But creating Stereophonic seems to have healed him. Stephen Dubner gets the story — and sorts out what Adjmi has in co…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
640. Why Governments Are Betting Big on Sports
Episode 640
The Gulf States and China are spending billions to build stadiums and buy up teams — but what are they really buying? And can an entrepreneur from Cincinnati make his own billions by bringing basebal…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago