Podcast Episodes

481. Is the U.S. Really Less Corrupt Than China?

Episode 481

A new book by an unorthodox political scientist argues that the two rivals have more in common than we’d like to admit. It’s just that most American corruption is essentially legal.

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Published on 4 years, 1 month ago

480. How Much Does Discrimination Hurt the Economy?

Episode 480

Evidence from Nazi Germany and 1940’s America (and pretty much everywhere else) shows that discrimination is incredibly costly — to the victims, of course, but also the perpetrators. One modern solut…

Published on 4 years, 2 months ago

479. The Economist’s Guide to Parenting: 10 Years Later

Episode 479

 In one of the earliest Freakonomics Radio episodes (No. 39!), we asked a bunch of economists with young kids how they approached child-rearing. Now the kids are old enough to talk — and they have a …

Published on 4 years, 2 months ago

478. How Can We Break Our Addiction to Contempt?

Episode 478

Arthur Brooks is an economist who for 10 years ran the American Enterprise Institute, one of the most influential conservative think tanks in the world. He has come to believe there is only one weapo…

Published on 4 years, 2 months ago

477. Why Is U.S. Media So Negative?

Episode 477

Breaking news! Sources say American journalism exploits our negativity bias to maximize profits, and social media algorithms add fuel to the fire. Stephen Dubner investigates.

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Published on 4 years, 2 months ago

That’s a Great Question! (Ep. 192 Rebroadcast)

Verbal tic or strategic rejoinder? Whatever the case: it’s rare to come across an interview these days where at least one question isn’t a “great” one.  

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Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

“This Didn't End the Way It’s Supposed to End.”

The N.B.A. superstar Chris Bosh was still competing at the highest level when a blood clot abruptly ended his career. In his new book, Letters to a Young Athlete, Bosh covers the highlights and the s…

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

“This Didn't End the Way It’s Supposed to End.” (Bonus)

The N.B.A. superstar Chris Bosh was still competing at the highest level when a blood clot abruptly ended his career. In his new book, Letters to a Young Athlete, Bosh covers the highlights and the s…

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

476. What Are the Police for, Anyway?

Episode 476

The U.S. is an outlier when it comes to policing, as evidenced by more than 1,000 fatal shootings by police each year. But we’re an outlier in other ways too: a heavily-armed populace, a fragile ment…

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago

475. Why Does the Richest Country in the World Have So Many Poor Kids?

Episode 475

Among O.E.C.D. nations, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of child poverty. How can that be? To find out, Stephen Dubner speaks with a Republican senator, a Democratic mayor, and a large cast of …

Published on 4 years, 3 months ago