Best Freakonomics Radio Stitcher Podcasts (2025)

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44. Is Empathy in Fact Immoral? 36:06

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23h ago36:06

36:06

Also: is it better to “go with the wind” or to “be the wind”? This episode originally aired on March 21, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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Is There a Fair Way to Divide Us? (Update) 1:00:06

2d ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Moon Duchin is a math professor at the University of Chicago whose theoretical work has practical applications for voting and democracy. Why is striving for fair elections so difficult? SOURCES: Moon Duchin, professor of mathematics at Cornell University. RESOURCES: "Gerrymandering: The Origin Story," by Neely Tucker (Timeless: Stories from the Lib…

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A Question-Asker Becomes a Question-Answerer 1:14:22

3d ago1:14:22

1:14:22

For the 20th anniversary of Freakonomics, Debbie Millman of Design Matters interviews Stephen Dubner about his upbringing, his writing career, and why it's important to “swing your swing.” Plus: a sneak peek at a new project. SOURCES: Debbie Millman, writer and host of Design Matters with Debbie Millman. RESOURCES: "Stephen J. Dubner," by Design Ma…

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How Can We Break Our Addiction to Contempt? (Update) 40:23

5d ago40:23

40:23

Arthur Brooks, an economist and former head of the American Enterprise Institute, believes that there is only one remedy for our political polarization: love. In this 2021 episode, we ask if Brooks is a fool for thinking this — and if perhaps you are his kind of fool? SOURCES: Arthur Brooks, professor of public and nonprofit leadership at Harvard U…

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43. What Do We Really Learn From Failure? 36:45

8d ago36:45

36:45

Also: what is teasing supposed to accomplish? This episode originally aired on March 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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168. Chemistry, Evolved 56:53

9d ago56:53

56:53

Frances Arnold pioneered the process of directed evolution — mimicking natural selection to create new enzymes that have changed everything from agriculture to laundry. SOURCES: Frances Arnold, professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. RESOURCES: "Innovation by Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life," by Frances Arnold (N…

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649. Should Ohio State (and Michigan, and Clemson) Join the N.F.L.? 55:21

10d ago55:21

55:21

Soccer leagues around the world use a promotion-and-relegation system to reward the best teams and punish the worst. We ask whether American sports fans would enjoy a similar system. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Domonique Foxworth, sports analyst and former N.F.L. player. Stefan Szymanski, professor of sport management at the Universit…

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42. How Does When You Are Born Affect Who You Are? 38:35

13d ago38:35

38:35

Also: how did Angela do with her no-sugar challenge? This episode originally aired on March 7, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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648. The Merger You Never Knew You Wanted 1:06:02

16d ago1:06:02

1:06:02

The N.F.L. is a powerful cartel with imperial desires. College football is about to undergo a financial reckoning. So maybe they should team up? (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES: DeMaurice Smith, former executive director of the National Football League Players Association. Domonique Foxworth, sports analyst and former N.F.L. player. Jeffre…

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28. China Is Run by Engineers. America Is Run by Lawyers. 1:01:50

20d ago1:01:50

1:01:50

In his new book “Breakneck,” Dan Wang argues that the U.S. has a lot to learn from China. He also says that “no two peoples are more alike.” We have questions. SOURCES: Dan Wang, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, author of Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future. RESOURCES: Breakneck: China's Quest to Enginee…

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41. Why Are We So Attracted to Fame? 35:41

19d ago35:41

35:41

Also: do we subconsciously lie about our major influences? This episode originally aired on February 28, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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167. The Secret of Humanity? It’s Common Knowledge. 58:45

23d ago58:45

58:45

Steven Pinker’s new book argues that all our relationships depend on shared assumptions and “recursive mentalizing” — our constant efforts to understand what other people are thinking. He and Steve talk about the psychology of eye contact, the particular value of Super Bowl ads, and what it’s like to get cancelled. SOURCES: Steven Pinker, professor…

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Is the U.S. Really Less Corrupt Than China? (Update) 57:34

24d ago57:34

57:34

In this episode we first published in 2021, the political scientist Yuen Yuen Ang argues that different forms of government create different styles of corruption — and that the U.S. and China have more in common than we’d like to admit. SOURCES: Yuen Yuen Ang, professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University. RESOURCES: "China’s Anti-Graf…

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40. Have We All Lost Our Ability to Compromise? 36:15

28d ago36:15

36:15

Also: is it better to be right or “not wrong”? This episode originally aired on February 21, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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How to Have Great Conversations (Update) 44:24

30d ago44:24

44:24

The Power of Habit author Charles Duhigg wrote his new book in an attempt to learn how to communicate better. Steve shares how the book helped him understand his own conversational weaknesses. SOURCES: Charles Duhigg, journalist and author. RESOURCES: Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, by Charles Duhigg (2024). "20…

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647. China Is Run by Engineers. America Is Run by Lawyers. 1:01:50

1M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

In his new book “Breakneck,” Dan Wang argues that the U.S. has a lot to learn from China. He also says that “no two peoples are more alike.” We have questions. SOURCES: Dan Wang, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, author of Breakneck: China's Quest to Engineer the Future. RESOURCES: Breakneck: China's Quest to Enginee…

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Is the World Ready for a Guaranteed Basic Income? (Update) 36:02

1M ago36:02

36:02

A lot of jobs in the modern economy don’t pay a living wage, and some of those jobs may be wiped out by new technologies. So what’s to be done? We revisit an episode from 2016 for a potential solution. SOURCES: Erik Brynjolfsson, professor of economics at Stanford University. Evelyn Forget, professor of economics and community health sciences at th…

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39. Is Everybody Cheating These Days? 37:15

1M ago37:15

37:15

Also, what's better: to learn new skills or go deep on what you're good at? This episode originally aired on February 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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166. The World’s Most Effective Public Health Intervention Is Under Attack 1:01:47

1M ago1:01:47

1:01:47

Seth Berkley used to run the world's largest vaccine funding organization. He and Steve talk about the incredible value of vaccines, the economics of immunizing the developing world, and the current attacks on public health. SOURCES: Seth Berkley, epidemiologist at Brown University School of Public Health. RESOURCES: "Trump Administration Ends Prog…

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646. An Air Traffic Controller Walks Into a Radio Studio ... 1:01:10

1M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

What does it take to “play 3D chess at 250 miles an hour”? And how far will $12.5 billion of “Big, Beautiful” funding go toward modernizing the F.A.A.? (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES: David Strayer, professor of cognition and neural science at the University of Utah. Dorothy Robyn, senior fellow at I.T.I.F. Ed Bastian, C.E.O. of Delta Air…

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38. What Does It Mean to Be a “Good” Man? 34:27

1M ago34:27

34:27

Also: how can you stop ruminating? This episode originally aired on February 7, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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645. Is the Air Traffic Control System Broken? 1:02:37

1M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

Flying in the U.S. is still exceptionally safe, but the system relies on outdated tech and is under tremendous strain. Six experts tell us how it got this way and how it can (maybe) be fixed. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Dorothy Robyn, senior fellow at I.T.I.F. Ed Bastian, C.E.O. of Delta Airlines. John Strong, professor of finance and…

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37. How Do You Know if People Don’t Like You? 39:38

2M ago39:38

39:38

Also: do self-help books really help? This episode originally aired on January 31, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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165. The Economist Who (Gasp!) Asks People What They Think 53:14

2M ago53:14

53:14

Stefanie Stantcheva’s approach seemed like career suicide. In fact, it won her the John Bates Clark Medal. She talks to fellow winner Steve Levitt about why she uses methods that most of the profession dismisses — and what she’s found that can’t be learned any other way. SOURCES: Stefanie Stantcheva, professor of political economy at Harvard Univer…

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644. Has America Lost Its Appetite for the Common Good? 1:16:42

2M ago1:16:42

1:16:42

Patrick Deneen, a political philosopher at Notre Dame, says yes. He was a Democrat for years, and has now come to be seen as an “ideological guru” of the Trump administration. But that only tells half the story ... SOURCES: Patrick Deneen, professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. RESOURCES: "The Ideological Gurus Battling for…

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Extra: A Modern Whaler Speaks Up (Update) 26:47

2M ago26:47

26:47

Bjørn Andersen has killed hundreds of minke whales. He tells us how he does it, why he does it, and what he thinks would happen if whale-hunting ever stopped. (This bonus episode is a follow-up to our series “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”) SOURCES: Bjørn Andersen, Norwegian whaler. RESOURCES: "Digestive physiology of minke whales," by S…

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36. Which Matters More, a First or Last Impression? 36:41

2M ago36:41

36:41

Also: does wisdom really come with age? This episode originally aired on January 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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Rick Rubin on How to Make Something Great (Update) 53:24

2M ago53:24

53:24

From recording some of the first rap hits to revitalizing Johnny Cash's career, the legendary producer has had an extraordinary creative life. In this episode he talks about his new book and his art-making process — and helps Steve get in touch with his own artistic side. SOURCES: Rick Rubin, music producer and record executive. RESOURCES: The Crea…

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What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life? (Update) 48:08

2M ago48:08

48:08

In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why Moby-Dick is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.") SOURCES: Michele Baggio, professor of economics at the University of Connecticut. Mary K. Bercaw-Edwards, professor of maritime English at the University of Connectic…