Podcast Episodes
Back to Search28. China Is Run by Engineers. America Is Run by Lawyers.
Episode 28
In his new book “Breakneck,” Dan Wang argues that the U.S. has a lot to learn from China. He also says that “no two peoples are more alike.” We have questions.
SOURCES:Dan Wang, research fellow at th…
Published on 11 hours ago
27. The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of
Episode 27
Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. Javier Blas and Jack Farchy, the authors …
Published on 4 months ago
26. Is Professional Licensing a Racket?
Episode 26
Licensing began with medicine and law; now it extends to 20 percent of the U.S. workforce, including hair stylists and auctioneers. In a new book, the legal scholar Rebecca Allensworth calls licensin…
Published on 7 months, 3 weeks ago
25. How to Make Something from Nothing
Episode 25
Adam Moss was the best magazine editor of his generation. When he retired, he took up painting. But he wasn’t very good, and that made him sad. So he wrote a book about how creative people work— and,…
Published on 9 months, 1 week ago
24. Is the U.S. Sleeping on Threats from Russia and China?
Episode 24
John J. Sullivan, a former State Department official and U.S. ambassador, says yes: “Our politicians aren’t leading — Republicans or Democrats.” He gives a firsthand account of a fateful Biden-Putin …
Published on 9 months, 3 weeks ago
23. Confessions of a Black Conservative
Episode 23
The economist and social critic Glenn Loury has led a remarkably turbulent life, both professionally and personally. In a new memoir, he has chosen to reveal just about everything. Why?
SOURCE:Glenn …
Published on 1 year, 4 months ago
22. How Does the Lost World of Vienna Still Shape Our Lives?
Episode 22
From politics and economics to psychology and the arts, many of the modern ideas we take for granted emerged a century ago from a single European capital. In this episode of the Freakonomics Radio Bo…
Published on 1 year, 4 months ago
EXTRA: Remembering Daniel Kahneman
Nobel laureate, bestselling author, and groundbreaking psychologist Daniel Kahneman died in March. In 2021 he talked with Steve Levitt — his friend and former business partner — about his book Noise:…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
21. Are We Living Through the Most Revolutionary Period in History?
Episode 21
Fareed Zakaria says yes. But it’s not just political revolution — it’s economic, technological, even emotional. He doesn’t offer easy solutions but he does offer some hope.
SOURCES:Fareed Zakaria, jo…
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago
20. Why Are People So Mad at Michael Lewis?
Episode 20
Lewis got incredible access to Sam Bankman-Fried, the billionaire behind the spectacular FTX fraud. His book is a bestseller, but some critics say he went too easy on S.B.F. Lewis tells us why the cr…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago