Podcast Episodes

378. 23andMe (and You, and Everyone Else)

Episode 378

The revolution in home DNA testing is giving consumers important, possibly life-changing information. It’s also building a gigantic database that could lead to medical breakthroughs. But how will you…

Published on 6 years, 7 months ago

377. The $1.5 Trillion Question-How to fix student loan debt?

Episode 377

As the cost of college skyrocketed, it created a debt burden that’s putting a drag on the economy. One possible solution: shifting the risk of debt away from students and onto investors looking for a…

Published on 6 years, 7 months ago

376. The Data-Driven Guide to Sane Parenting

Episode 376

Humans have been having kids forever, so why are modern parents so bewildered? The economist Emily Oster marshals the evidence on the most contentious topics — breastfeeding and sleep training, vacci…

Published on 6 years, 7 months ago

The Invisible Paw (Rebroadcast)

Humans, it has long been thought, are the only animal to engage in economic activity. But what if we've had it exactly backward?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for info…

Published on 6 years, 8 months ago

375. The Most Interesting Fruit in the World

Episode 375

The banana used to be a luxury good. Now it’s the most popular fruit in the U.S. and elsewhere. But the production efficiencies that made it so cheap have also made it vulnerable to a deadly fungus t…

Published on 6 years, 8 months ago

374. How Spotify Saved the Music Industry (But Not Necessarily Musicians)

Episode 374

Daniel Ek, a 23-year-old Swede who grew up on pirated music, made the record labels an offer they couldn’t refuse: a legal platform to stream all the world’s music. Spotify reversed the labels’ fortu…

Published on 6 years, 8 months ago

373. Why Rent Control Doesn’t Work

Episode 373

As cities become ever-more expensive, politicians and housing advocates keep calling for rent control. Economists think that’s a terrible idea. They say it helps a small (albeit noisy) group of rente…

Published on 6 years, 8 months ago

372. Freakonomics Radio Live: “Would You Eat a Piece of Chocolate Shaped Like Dog Poop?”

Episode 372

What your disgust level says about your politics, how Napoleon influenced opera, why New York City’s subways may finally run on time, and more. Five compelling guests tell Stephen Dubner, co-host Ang…

Published on 6 years, 9 months ago

Why You Shouldn’t Open a Restaurant (Update)

Kenji Lopez-Alt became a rock star of the food world by bringing science into the kitchen in a way that everyday cooks can appreciate. Then he dared to start his own restaurant — and discovered probl…

Published on 6 years, 9 months ago

371. A Free-Trade Democrat in the Trump White House

Episode 371

For years, Gary Cohn thought he’d be the next C.E.O. of Goldman Sachs. Instead, he became the “adult in the room” in a chaotic administration. Cohn talks about the fights he won, the fights he lost, …

Published on 6 years, 9 months ago