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.
146 episodes transcribedHe started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. In this episode of Stephen Dubner’s new T...
How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in. Hosted by...
Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...
The Economics of Everyday Things is going on an indefinite hiatus. SOURCES:Zachary Crockett, host of The Economic of Everyday Things. RESOURCES:Zachar...
Would you pay a professional $2,500 or more to put up your holiday lights? Zachary Crockett is walking in a winter wonderland. SOURCES:Chuck Smith, cr...
Trees are more than decoration — they’re living economic assets, with measurable costs and benefits for cities and neighborhoods. Zachary Crockett tak...
Grab a simple bouquet from your local grocery store and you're activating a global network of farms, shipping companies, wholesalers, distributors, an...
Shoe repair shops are a dying breed — but for those that remain, demand is higher than ever. Zachary Crockett goes in for a shine. SOURCES:Jim McFarla...
The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES:Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerButt...
How much does it cost to design and build a mini-golf course? And what’s it like to run one? Zachary Crockett putts things in perspective. SOURCES:Kat...
How do flavorists capture the essence of a fruit and put it in a can of sparkling water, or a tub of yogurt? Zachary Crockett takes a bite. SOURCES:Te...
A day on the job includes hundreds of quarters, giant balls of lint, and fishing weird stuff out of machines. Zachary Crockett throws in a load. SOURC...
Running a campground isn’t all eating s'mores around the campfire. Zachary Crockett fans the flames. SOURCES:Mark Lemoine, owner, Coloma/St. Joseph KO...
When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from? Zachary Crockett pulls up to the pump. SOURC...
Every year, thousands of products are recalled from store shelves. How does the process work — and who foots the bill? Zachary Crockett gets a refund...
In a sport that generates more than $3.5 billion a year, teams compete in cars that cost $70 million to develop and build — and a split-second to cras...
The world’s oldest advertising medium has reconfigured itself for the digital age. Zachary Crockett looks up. SOURCES:Anna Bager, president and C.E.O....
Some singles choose to skip the apps and get fixed up the old-fashioned way — but it doesn't come cheap. Zachary Crockett puts himself out there. SOUR...
They 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...
