Podcast Episodes

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.

 

SOURCES:Sara Alloy, exper…

2 years, 1 month ago

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Carnival Games (Replay)

Episode 13

Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up.

 

SOURCES:Matthew Gryczan, retired journalist and engineer.Elliot Simmons, …

2 years, 1 month ago

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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…

2 years, 1 month ago

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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…

2 years, 1 month ago

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47. Bail Bonds

Episode 47

How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money.

 

SOURCES:Joshua Page, professor of sociology and law at the Universi…

2 years, 2 months ago

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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…

2 years, 2 months ago

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45. Storage Units

Episode 45

Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all has become a $45 billion business. Zachary Crockett cle…

2 years, 2 months ago

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44. Movie Sound Effects

Episode 44

The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley a…

2 years, 2 months ago

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43. Top-Level Domains

Episode 43

Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Croc…

2 years, 3 months ago

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42. Cemeteries

Episode 42

The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are …

2 years, 3 months ago

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