Who decides which snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories.
128 episodes transcribedThey have thousands of congregants and millions of dollars in income. Zachary Crockett passes the collection plate. SOURCES:Julie Roys, founder of the...
Pure maple syrup can be five times as expensive as “pancake syrup,” but maple farmers — and breakfast connoisseurs — say it’s worth it. Zachary Crocke...
Why did it take so long to invent a longer-lasting bulb? Zachary Crockett finds the answer illuminating. SOURCES:Heather Dillon, mechanical engineerin...
How do courts interpret those little icons on your phone? Zachary Crockett brings down the hammer. SOURCES:Eric Goldman, professor of law, associate d...
How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. SOURCES:Meredith Baer, founder of Meridith Baer Hom...
They expose fraud, catch cheating spouses, and track down missing assets — but they don’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett takes the case. SOURCES:Ashley...
There are now nearly 12,000 satellites orbiting Earth. What does it cost to put them there, and how do they make money? Zachary Crockett launches an i...
How does a museum place a value on a priceless work of art? And how much does it cost to keep it safe? Zachary Crockett appraises the situation. SOURC...
Performing for passersby takes more than talent. Buskers have to cope with hecklers, civic regulations, aggressive competitors — and uncertain pay. Za...
They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. SOURCES:Paul Bradley, presid...
What goes into creating an episode of The Economics of Everyday Things? And how do shows like this one make money? Zachary Crockett turns the mic on h...
When security cameras and facial recognition tools fail, law enforcement investigators fall back on a witness's memory and an artist's hand. Zachary C...
How does an industry built on roadside pop-ups make billions of dollars in two weeks of the year? Zachary Crockett gets pyrotechnical. SOURCES:Alex Zo...
Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. RESOURCES:"Private...
Americans take more than 20 billion elevator rides every year — and keeping them safe is an expensive proposition. Zachary Crockett makes small talk. ...
Districts across the country are facing shortages of school bus drivers. Can technology help? Zachary Crockett takes a seat in the back. SOURCES:Keith...
Everyone loves to complain about it — but preparing a meal that tastes good at 35,000 feet is harder than you might think. Zachary Crockett will have...
Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and b...
These glistening round gemstones have come a long way since your grandmother's time, but procuring them is still a lot of work. The world is Zachary C...
