Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
What this show covers
museumshigher educationKalshiprediction marketseconomicsNFLpublic trustcreativitycultural heritageuniversity leadershipcreator economyAIpodcastingmedia businessadvertising
What listeners will find here
How a niche hobby became a $9 billion business
Podcasting is now a $9.2 billion industry, and this episode digs into the odd economics behind that growth. It looks at who makes money, how the business is changing, and why scale, measurement, and new technology matter so much.
Why burgers cost more: miracle supply chain or broken beef market?
This episode examines why hamburger prices are rising by looking at the U.S. beef industry from two angles: remarkable efficiency and possible market failure. With economists, historians, ranching voices, and antitrust experts, it explores how both can be true at once.
Prediction markets, gambling law, and the fight over what counts as a bet
Prediction markets are colliding with gambling regulators in a dispute centered on Kalshi. This episode looks at the legal and economic questions behind the boom, including insider trading, market manipulation, and whether public sentiment is shifting against these markets.
Can prediction markets outsmart experts, or are they drifting into sports gambling?
Prediction markets promise better forecasts on everything from inflation to FDA approvals, yet most of the activity today is in sports. This episode examines whether these markets are a powerful information tool, a new form of gambling, or both.
From NFL standout to MIT mathematician: John Urschel’s rare second act
John Urschel traces his path from a thriving NFL career to teaching mathematics at MIT. Along the way, he gives Stephen Dubner a taste of football blocking and tackles a mind-bending idea: why some infinities are bigger than others.
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