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 our network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, sign up for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts at http://apple.co/SiriusXM.
845 episodes transcribedThick markets, thin markets, and the triumph of attributes over compatibility.This episode is included in the Freakonomics #smartbinge podcast playlis...
The "beauty premium" is real, for everyone from babies to NFL quarterbacks.
The benefits of rumor-mongering
What "Sleep No More" and the Stanford Prison Experiment tell us about who we really are.
Dubner and Levitt talk about fixing the post office, putting cameras in the classroom, and wearing hats.
Most people blame lack of time for being out of shape. So maybe the solution is to exercise more efficiently.
A commitment device forces you to be the person you really want to be. What could possibly go wrong?
The Pope just gave it to the global economy with both barrels. Was he right to do so?
It’s easy to get that idea. But is the stereotype true?
More than 1 million people die worldwide each year from traffic accidents. But there's never been a safer time to drive.
It's time to do away with feel-good stories, gut hunches, and magical thinking.
Spontaneous order is everywhere if you know where to look for it.
The online universe doesn't have nearly as many rules, or rulemakers, as the real world. Discuss.
College tends to make people happier, healthier, and wealthier. But how?
What's a college degree really worth these days?
Being green is rarely a black-and-white issue -- but that doesn't stop marketers and politicians from pretending it is.
We spend billions on our pets, and one of the fastest-growing costs is pet "aftercare." But are those cremated remains you got back really f...
The science of what works -- and doesn't work -- in fund-raising
Dubner and Levitt field your queries in this latest installment of our FREAK-quently Asked Questions.
A 19th-century Georgia land lottery may have something to teach us about today's income inequality.
