Podcast Episodes
Back to Search55. Direct-to-Consumer Mattresses
Episode 55
Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the sheets.…
6 hours ago
54. Ghostwriters
Episode 54
Channeling the voices of celebrities can be a lucrative career — one that requires empathy and discretion as well as literary chops. Zachary Crockett…
3 days, 6 hours ago
53. Food Trucks
Episode 53
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 d…
1 week ago
52. Little League
Episode 52
Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peer…
1 week, 3 days ago
51. Wine Corks
Episode 51
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. T…
2 weeks ago
50. Self-Checkout
Episode 50
Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner. This episode was original…
2 weeks, 3 days ago
49. Weather Forecasts
Episode 49
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 ho…
3 weeks ago
48. College Fraternities
Episode 48
A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the…
3 weeks, 3 days ago
47. Bail Bonds
Episode 47
How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2024.
Hosted by S…
4 weeks ago
46. Car Colors
Episode 46
So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences may be changing lanes. Zachary…
1 month ago