Freakonomics Radio : About
Airs Saturdays at 4PM on 93.9 FM and Sundays at 4PM on AM 820
In their books Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner use the tools of economics to explore real-world behavior. As boring as that may sound, what they really do is tell stories — about cheating schoolteachers, self-dealing real-estate agents, and crack-selling mama’s boys. American Public Media’s Marketplace and WNYC are now bringing those Freakonomics stories — and plenty of new ones — to the radio, with Dubner as host. Just like the books, Freakonomics Radio will explore “the hidden side of everything.” It will tell you things you always thought you knew but didn’t, and things you never thought you wanted to know, but do.
http://freakonomicsradio.com/
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Stephen J. Dubner - Host, Freakonomics Radio
Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning author, journalist, and radio and TV personality. He is best-known for writing, along with the economist Steven D. Levitt, Freakonomics (2005) and SuperFreakonomics (2009), which have sold more than 5 million copies in 35 languages.
Latest Stories from Freakonomics Radio
Last updated: Saturday, February 09 2013 11:06 AM
Sure, I Remember That
Wednesday, February 06 2013 09:00 PM
It is startlingly easy to create false memories, especially in politics.
Would You Let a Coin Toss Decide Your Future?
Wednesday, January 30 2013 09:00 PM
Levitt and Dubner go deep on "Freakonomics Experiments," a new research project that lets you take a chance on life.
Introducing “Freakonomics Experiments”
Wednesday, January 23 2013 09:00 PM
Steve Levitt has a novel idea for helping people make tough decisions
Who Owns the Words That Come Out of Your Mouth?
Wednesday, January 16 2013 09:00 PM
The very long reach of Winston Churchill -- and how the British government is remaking copyright law.
How to Live Longer
Wednesday, January 09 2013 10:00 PM
Why do Hall of Fame inductees, Oscar winners, and Nobel laureates outlive their peers?
How Did “Freakonomics” Get Its Name? … and Other FREAK-quently Asked Questions
Wednesday, January 02 2013 09:00 PM
Levitt and Dubner answer your questions about driving, sneezing, and ladies’ nights. Plus a remembrance of Levitt’s sister Linda.
How Much Does a Good Boss Really Matter?
Wednesday, December 26 2012 09:00 PM
It's harder than you'd think to measure the value of a boss. But some enterprising economists have done just that -- and the news is good.
The House of Dreams
Wednesday, December 19 2012 09:00 PM
Dubner's childhood home goes from sacred to profane -- and then back again.
Have a Very Homo Economicus Christmas
Wednesday, December 12 2012 11:00 PM
Who better than an economist to help with your shopping list?
The Things They Taught Me
Wednesday, December 05 2012 09:00 PM
College, at its best, is about learning to think. Stephen Dubner chats up three of his former professors who made the magic happen.
Free-conomics
Wednesday, November 28 2012 10:00 PM
Economists are a notoriously self-interested bunch. But a British outfit called Pro Bono Economics is giving away its services to selected charities.
I Consult, Therefore I Am
Wednesday, November 21 2012 08:00 PM
There are enough management consultants these days to form a small nation. But what do they actually do? And does it work?
Mass Transit Hysteria
Wednesday, November 14 2012 11:00 PM
Adding more train and bus lines looks like an environmental slam dunk. Until you start to do the math.
Our 100th Episode!
Monday, November 05 2012 03:00 PM
Turkey sex and chicken wings, selling souls and swapping organs, the power of the president and the price of wine: these are a few of our favorite things.
How to Maximize Your Halloween Candy Haul
Wednesday, October 31 2012 08:00 PM
Is it as simple as going to the richest neighborhood you can find? Of course not ...
We the Sheeple
Wednesday, October 24 2012 08:00 PM
Politicians tell voters exactly what they want to hear, even when it makes no sense. Which is pretty much all the time.
Lying to Ourselves
Wednesday, October 17 2012 08:00 PM
We rely on polls and surveys to tell us how people will behave in the future. Too bad they're completely unreliable.
The Cobra Effect
Wednesday, October 10 2012 08:00 PM
When you want to get rid of a nasty pest, one obvious solution comes to mind: just offer a cash reward. But be careful -- because nothing backfires quite like a bounty.
Why America’s Economic Growth May Be (Shh!) Over
Wednesday, October 03 2012 08:00 PM
Sure, we love our computers and all the rest of our digital toys. But when it comes to real economic gains, can we ever match old-school innovations like the automobile and electricity?
The Tale of the $15 Tomato
Sunday, September 23 2012 02:00 PM
Trying to go rustic by baking, brewing, and knitting at home can be terribly inefficient. And that's a wonderful thing.
Why Online Poker Should Be Legal
Wednesday, September 19 2012 10:00 PM
The data show that poker is indeed a game of skill, not chance, and a Federal judge agrees. So why are players still being treated like criminals?
Fear Thy Nature
Wednesday, September 12 2012 08:00 PM
What "Sleep No More" and the Stanford Prison Experiment tell us about who we really are.
Can Selling Beer Cut Down on Public Drunkenness?
Wednesday, September 05 2012 08:00 PM
Binge drinking is a big problem at college football games. Oliver Luck -- father of No. 1 NFL pick Andrew, and the athletic director at West Virginia University -- had an unusual idea to help solve it.
How Deep Is the Shadow Economy?
Wednesday, August 29 2012 08:00 PM
What we know -- and don't know -- about the gazillions of dollars that never show up on anyone's books.
There’s Cake in the Breakroom!
Wednesday, August 22 2012 09:00 PM
If you think working from home offers too many distractions, just think about what happens at the office.
Freakonomics Goes to College, Part 2
Wednesday, August 15 2012 09:00 PM
College tends to make people happier, healthier, and wealthier. But how?
The Season of Death
Wednesday, August 08 2012 08:00 PM
We know that summertime brings far too many fatal accidents. But you may be surprised if you dig into the numbers.
Freakonomics Goes to College, Part 1
Sunday, July 29 2012 12:00 PM
What's a college degree really worth these days?
Olympian Economics
Wednesday, July 25 2012 09:00 PM
Do host cities really get the benefits their boosters promise, or are they just engaging in some fiscal gymnastics?
Legacy of a Jerk
Wednesday, July 18 2012 08:00 PM
What happens to your reputation when you're no longer around to defend it?
What's Wrong With Cash for Grades?
Tuesday, July 10 2012 10:00 PM
If we want our kids to thrive in school, maybe we should just pay them.
Please Steal My Car
Wednesday, July 04 2012 04:00 PM
Levitt and Dubner answer your FREAK-quently Asked Questions about junk food, insurance, and how to make an economist happy.
Star-Spangled Banter?
Tuesday, June 26 2012 09:00 PM
Once a week, the British Prime Minister goes before the House of Commons for a lightning round of hard questions. Should the U.S. give it a try?
Riding the Herd Mentality
Wednesday, June 20 2012 08:00 PM
How using peer pressure -- and good, old-fashioned shame -- can push people to do the right thing.
A Cheap Employee Is … a Cheap Employee
Wednesday, June 13 2012 10:00 PM
Paying workers as little as possible seems smart -- unless you can make more money by paying them more.
You Eat What You Are, Part 2
Wednesday, June 06 2012 08:00 PM
To feed 7 billion people while protecting the environment, it would seem that going local is a no-brainer -- until you start looking at the numbers.
Playing the Nerd Card
Wednesday, May 30 2012 10:00 PM
The NBA’s superstars are suddenly sporting Urkel glasses -- but is it more than a fashion statement?
You Eat What You Are, Part 1
Wednesday, May 23 2012 08:00 PM
How American food so got bad -- and why it's getting so much better.
Retirement Kills
Wednesday, May 16 2012 10:00 PM
Sure, we all dream of leaving the office forever. But what if it's bad for your health?
Soul Possession
Monday, May 07 2012 02:00 PM
In a world where nearly everything is for sale, is it always okay to buy what isn’t yours?
A Rose By Any Other Distance
Wednesday, May 02 2012 09:00 PM
At a time when people worry about every mile their food must travel, why is it okay to import most of our cut flowers from thousands of miles away?
Lottery Loopholes and Deadly Doctors
Wednesday, April 25 2012 08:00 PM
What do you do when smart people keep making stupid mistakes? And: are we a nation of financial illiterates?
Is Good Corporate Citizenship Also Good for the Bottom Line?
Wednesday, April 18 2012 10:00 PM
A new study says that yes, it is -- but try telling that to the United Nations officials who are preaching sustainability practices.
Eating and Tweeting
Wednesday, April 11 2012 08:30 PM
Does the future of food lie in its past – or inside a tank of liquid nitrogen? Also: how anti-social can you be on a social network?
The Hidden Cost of False Alarms
Tuesday, April 03 2012 10:00 PM
If any other product failed 94 percent of the time, you’d probably stop using it. So why do we put up with burglar alarms?
The Power of the President -- and the Thumb
Wednesday, March 28 2012 02:00 PM
How much does the President of the United States really matter? And: where did all the hitchhikers go? A pair of "attribution errors."
The Patent Gap
Thursday, March 22 2012 09:13 PM
Women hold fewer than one in 10 patents. Why? And what are we missing out on?
Show and Yell
Wednesday, March 14 2012 02:00 PM
Is booing an act of verbal vandalism or the last true expression of democracy? And: when you drive a Prius, are you guilty of “conspicuous conservation”?
It’s Not the President, Stupid
Wednesday, March 07 2012 09:31 PM
Isn’t it time to admit that the U.S. economy doesn’t have a commander in chief?
The Days of Wine and Mouses
Monday, February 27 2012 05:00 AM
Do more expensive wines taste better? And: what does one little rodent in a salad say about a restaurant’s future?
The Dilbert Index?
Wednesday, February 22 2012 10:21 PM
Measuring workplace morale -- and how to game the sick-day system.
How Biased Is Your Media?
Wednesday, February 15 2012 10:00 PM
The left and the right blame each other for pretty much everything, including slanted media coverage. Can they both be right?
Does This Recession Make Me Look Fat?
Wednesday, February 08 2012 11:30 PM
A look at some non-obvious ways to lose weight.
Save Me From Myself
Wednesday, February 01 2012 09:00 PM
A commitment device forces you to be the person you really want to be. What could possibly go wrong?
The Hidden Side of the Super Bowl
Wednesday, January 25 2012 10:37 PM
A football cheat sheet to help you sound like the smartest person at the party.
What Do Hand-Washing and Financial Illiteracy Have in Common?
Thursday, January 19 2012 05:00 AM
Education is the surest solution to a lot of problems. Except when it’s not.
Does Money Really Buy Elections?
Wednesday, January 11 2012 08:27 PM
We all know the answer is yes. But the data -- and Rudy Giuliani -- say no.
Why Is “I Don’t Know” So Hard to Say?
Wednesday, January 04 2012 05:00 AM
Levitt and Dubner answer your FREAK-quently Asked Questions about certifying politicians, irrational fears, and the toughest three words in the English language.
The Perils of Drunk Walking
Tuesday, December 27 2011 10:00 PM
We know it's terribly dangerous to drive drunk. But heading home on foot isn't the solution.
How Is a Bad Radio Station Like Our Public-School System? (Encore)
Wednesday, December 21 2011 05:00 AM
The thrill of customization, via Pandora and a radical new teaching method
How American Food Got So Bad
Tuesday, December 13 2011 10:47 PM
Tyler Cowen points fingers. There's plenty of blame to go around.
What Makes a Donor Donate?
Tuesday, November 29 2011 10:05 PM
The science of charity, with economist John List.
The Truth Is Out There…Isn’t It?
Tuesday, November 22 2011 08:47 PM
There’s a nasty secret about hot-button topics like global warming: knowledge is not always power.
Unnatural Turkeys
Wednesday, November 16 2011 05:12 PM
Our appetite for breast meat renders our holiday birds unable to reproduce.
Boo…Who?
Tuesday, November 08 2011 08:16 PM
Is booing an act of verbal vandalism—or the last true expression of democracy?
Wildfires, Cops, and Keggers
Wednesday, November 02 2011 01:36 AM
On Election Day, most people focus on the obvious winners and losers -- that is, the candidates. But we went looking for some of the strange side effects that elections produce.
Misadventures in Baby-Making
Tuesday, October 25 2011 09:17 PM
We are constantly wowed by new technologies and policies meant to make childbirth better. But beware the unintended consequences.
Those Cheating Teachers!
Tuesday, October 18 2011 07:05 PM
High-stakes testing has produced some rotten apples. But they can be caught.
Where Have All the Hitchhikers Gone?
Monday, October 10 2011 04:05 AM
Did we needlessly scare ourselves into ditching a good thing? And, with millions of cars driving around with no passengers, should we be rooting for a renaissance?
The Decline and Fall of Violence
Wednesday, October 05 2011 12:39 AM
The world is a more peaceful place today that at any time in history -- by a long, long shot.
The Upside of Quitting
Wednesday, September 28 2011 06:08 AM
You know the saying: a winner never quits and a quitter never wins. To which Freakonomics Radio says … Are you sure?
The Folly of Prediction
Wednesday, September 14 2011 03:00 PM
Human beings love to predict the future, but we're quite terrible at it. So how about punishing all those bad predictions?
The Suicide Paradox
Wednesday, August 31 2011 03:00 PM
There are more than twice as many suicides as murders in the U.S., but suicide attracts far less scrutiny. Freakonomics Radio digs through the numbers and finds all kinds of surprises.
The Economist’s Guide to Parenting
Tuesday, August 16 2011 04:00 PM
Think you know how much parents matter? Think again. Economists crunch the numbers to learn the ROI on child-rearing.
The Church of "Scionology"
Wednesday, August 03 2011 04:00 PM
We worship the tradition of handing off a family business to the next generation. But is that really such a good idea?
Mouse in the Salad
Wednesday, July 20 2011 05:37 PM
In restaurants and in life, bad things happen. But what happens next is just as important.
Hey Baby, Is That a Prius You're Driving?
Wednesday, July 06 2011 09:04 PM
"Conspicuous conservation" is about showing off your environmental bona fides. In other words, if you lean green, there's extra value in being seen leaning green.
Live From St. Paul!
Wednesday, June 22 2011 09:00 AM
Freakonomics Radio hits the road, and plays some Quiz Bowl
Things Our Fathers Gave Us
Wednesday, June 08 2011 04:39 PM
What did Levitt and Dubner learn as kids from their dads?
To Catch a Fugitive
Wednesday, May 25 2011 07:10 PM
Who is likelier to get to the fugitive first? When a fugitive is on the run, it’s not only the police he has to worry about. A bounty hunter could be coming after him, too.
Growing Up Buffett
Wednesday, May 11 2011 09:41 PM
What’s it like to wake up one day and realize Dad is a multi-billionaire? That's what happened to Warren Buffett’s son Peter -- who then started to think about whether or not to join the family business.
Gambling With Your Life
Wednesday, April 27 2011 09:08 PM
Does Las Vegas increase your risk of suicide? A researcher embeds himself in the city where Americans are most likely to kill themselves.
Does College Still Matter? And Other Freaky Questions Answered ...
Wednesday, April 13 2011 10:19 PM
In our second round of FREAK-quently Asked Questions, Steve Levitt answers some queries from listeners and readers.
Smarter Kids at 10 Bucks a Pop
Wednesday, April 06 2011 10:38 PM
It won’t work for everyone, but there’s a cheap, quick, and simple way to lift some students’ grades.
Why Can’t We Predict Earthquakes?
Wednesday, March 30 2011 05:13 PM
We talk to a U.S. Geological Survey physicist about the science -- and folly -- of predicting earthquakes. There are lots of known knowns; and, fortunately, not too many unknown unknowns. But it's the known unknowns -- the timing of the next Big One -- t
Death by Fire? Probably Not
Wednesday, March 23 2011 08:27 PM
Fire deaths in the U.S. have fallen 90 percent over the past 100 years, a great and greatly underappreciated gain. How did it happen -- and could we ever get to zero?
The Health of Nations
Wednesday, March 16 2011 10:30 PM
For decades, GDP has been the yardstick for measuring living standards around the world. Martha Nussbaum would rather use something that actually works.
Is Twitter a Two-Way Street?
Wednesday, March 09 2011 09:24 PM
To get a lot of followers on Twitter, do you need to follow a lot of other Tweeps? And if not, why not?
The Power of Poop
Wednesday, March 02 2011 05:51 PM
Since the beginning of civilization, we’ve thought that human waste was worthless and dangerous. What if we were wrong?
Millionaires vs. Billionaires
Thursday, February 24 2011 02:59 AM
Five things you don’t know about the NFL labor standoff
Why Cities Rock
Thursday, February 17 2011 12:42 AM
Could it be that cities are "our greatest invention" -- that, despite a reputation as black-soot-spewing engines of doom, they in fact make us richer, smarter, happier and (believe it!) greener?
Bring on the Pain!
Wednesday, February 09 2011 09:55 PM
It's not about how much something hurts -- it's how you remember the pain. This week, lessons on pain from the New York City subway, the professional hockey rink, and a landmark study of colonoscopy patients. So have a listen; we promise, it won't hurt a
Waiter, There’s a Physicist in My Soup! (Part 2)
Wednesday, February 02 2011 02:09 PM
What do a computer hacker, an Indiana farm boy, and Napoleon Bonaparte have in common? The past, present, and future of food science.
Waiter, There’s a Physicist in My Soup! (Part 1)
Wednesday, January 26 2011 03:52 PM
The "molecular gastronomy" movement -- which gets a bump in visibility next month with the publication of the mammoth cookbook "Modernist Cuisine" -- is all about bringing more science into the kitchen. In many ways, it's the opposite of the "slow food"
Freakonomics FAQ, No. 1
Wednesday, January 19 2011 04:19 PM
Levitt and Dubner field questions from the public and hold forth on everything from dating strategies and rock-and-roll accordion music to whether different nations have different economic identities. Oh, and also: is it worthwhile to vote?
Trashed
Thursday, January 13 2011 02:04 AM
How economics -- and emotion -- have turned our garbage into such a mess
Exit Interview: Schools Chancellor, NYC
Wednesday, January 05 2011 07:58 PM
Having already amassed an eventful resume -- the Clinton White House, the Department of Justice, and Bertelsmann -- Joel I. Klein spent the past eight years at chancellor of the biggest school system in the country. So what'd he learn?
You Say Repugnant, I Say … Let's Do It!
Wednesday, December 29 2010 04:29 PM
What happens when the most disturbing ideas are also the best?
Do More Expensive Wines Taste Better?
Wednesday, December 15 2010 11:09 PM
They should! It's a cardinal rule: more expensive items are supposed to be qualitatively better than their cheaper versions. But is that true for wine?
The "No-Lose Lottery," Part 2
Wednesday, December 01 2010 10:14 PM
It’s the banking tool that got millions of people around the world to stop wasting money on the lottery. So why won't state and federal officials in the U.S. give it a chance?
Is America Ready for a "No-Lose Lottery"?
Wednesday, November 17 2010 10:57 PM
For the most part, Americans don't like the simple, boring act of putting money in a savings account. We do, however, love to play the lottery. So what if you combined the two, creating a new kind of savings account with a lottery payout?
How Much Does the President of the U.S. Really Matter?
Wednesday, November 03 2010 08:48 PM
The U.S. president is often called the "leader of free world." But if you ask an economist or a Constitutional scholar how much the occupant of the Oval Office matters, they won't say much. We look at what the data have to say about measuring leadership,
The NFL's Best Real Estate Isn't For Sale. Yet.
Thursday, October 28 2010 07:50 PM
The NFL is very good at making money. So why on earth doesn't it sell ad space on the one piece of real estate that football fans can’t help but see: the players themselves? The explanation is trickier than you might think. It has to do with Peyton Manni
Reading, Rockets, and 'Rithmetic
Thursday, October 21 2010 02:53 AM
Government and the private sector often feel far apart. One is filled with compliance-driven bureaucracy. The other, with market-fueled innovation. But something is changing in a multi-billion dollar corner of the Department of Education. It's an experim
Who Stole All the Runs in Major League Baseball?
Thursday, October 07 2010 12:57 PM
It was a pretty good baseball season -- especially if you're a fan of the Yankees, Rays, Twins, Rangers, Reds, Braves, Phillies, or Giants, all of whom made the playoffs. But the post-season just opened with a telling event, a no-hitter pitched by the Ph
Two Book Authors and a Microphone
Thursday, September 30 2010 04:06 AM
The next chapter in the adventures of Dubner and Levitt has begun. Listen to a preview of what's to come for the fall season of Freakonomics Radio.
Why the World Cup Is an Economist's Dream
Thursday, June 10 2010 06:25 AM
Steve Levitt talks about why the center cannot hold in penalty kicks, why a running track hurts home-field advantage, and why the World Cup is an economist's dream.
How Is a Bad Radio Station Like Our Public-School System?
Thursday, May 13 2010 12:53 AM
In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, we explore a way to make 1.1 million schoolkids feel like they have 1.1 million teachers.
Faking It
Tuesday, April 13 2010 12:52 AM
Do you "fake it"? If so, you're hardly alone. In this episode, you'll hear how everyone from the President of the United States to a kosher-keeping bacon lover lives in a state of fallen grace. All the time. And gets by.
What Would the World Look Like if Economists Were in Charge?
Wednesday, March 24 2010 12:52 AM
In this episode we speculate what would happen if economists got to run the world. Hear from a high-end call girl; an Estonian who ran his country according to the gospel of Milton Friedman; and a guy who wants to start building new nations in the middle
Is America's Obesity Epidemic For Real?
Friday, February 26 2010 01:53 AM
Americans keep putting on pounds. So is it time for a cheeseburger tax? Or would a chill pill be the best medicine? In this episode, we explore the underbelly of fat through the eyes of a 280-pound woman, a top White House doctor, and a couple of overwei
The Dangers of Safety
Saturday, February 06 2010 03:15 AM
What do NASCAR drivers, Glenn Beck and the hit men of the NFL have in common?
About Freakonomics Radio
Just like the books Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics, Freakonomics Radio will explore “the hidden side of everything.” It will tell you things you always thought you knew but didn’t, and things you never thought you wanted to know, but do.
Hosted by Stephen J. Dubner
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