Freakonomics Radio

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher•freakonomics.com

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 the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Last refreshed: June 26th, 2026 at 10:01 AM

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Episodes

679. Why Does Vanderbilt Keep Winning?

It’s a hard time to run a university: public trust is low, political pressure is high, and finances are fragile. But Daniel Diermeier, who trained as a political scientist, has Vanderbilt humming. How? He says the key is choosing magnets over wedges. SOURCES: Daniel Diermeier , chancellor of Vanderbilt University. RESOURCES: " Higher Ed’s New Crisis Managers ," by Lee Gardner (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2026). " Professors Need to Diversify What They Teach ," by Jon Shields, Yuval Avnur,...

Jun 26, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 679

The World Is (Still) Drowning in Sludge

Insurance forms that make no sense. Subscriptions that can’t be cancelled. A never-ending blizzard of automated notifications. In this update of a 2025 episode, Stephen Dubner discovers where all this sludge comes from — and how much it’s costing us. SOURCES: Benjamin Handel, professor of economics at UC Berkeley. Neale Mahoney, professor of economics at Stanford University. Richard Thaler, professor of economics at The University of Chicago. RESOURCES: " Selling Subscriptions, " by Liran Einav,...

Jun 24, 2026•55 min•Ep. 627

678. Who Gets to Choose a “Good Death”?

New York is the latest state to legalize medical aid in dying. Stephen Dubner speaks with the governor who signed the law, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, a death doula — and an ethicist who thinks the very idea is wrong. SOURCES: Kathy Hochul , governor of New York. Suzanne O'Brien , death doula, founder of Doulagivers Institute. Al Roth , economist at Stanford University. Daniel Sulmasy , physician, philosopher, director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. RESOURCES: ...

Jun 19, 2026•50 min•Ep. 678

677. Can Backgammon Save Us from Ourselves?

It brings strangers together. It teaches probability, strategy, and emotional control. It has even helped N.F.L. teams win the Super Bowl. Stephen Dubner explores why this ancient game is having a renaissance. (Part two of a series, “ We Are All Gamers Now. ”) SOURCES: Remington Davenport , founder of NYC Backgammon Club. Frank Frigo , game strategy expert & two-time world backgammon champion. Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki , professional backgammon player. Marc Olsen , C.E.O. of Backgammon Gala...

Jun 12, 2026•59 min•Ep. 677

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