More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. SOURCES: Jordan Beckwith , YouTuber and advocate. Eric Neufeld , owner and medical director of Agile Orthopedics. RESOURCES: " Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment & Other Devices ," by Medicare (2024). " Limb Loss in the U.S. ," infographic by the Amputee Coalition (2022). " A Robot Hand Helps Amputees 'Feel' Again ," by Jeffery Delviscio ( Scient...
Mar 18, 2024•17 min•Ep. 40
Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. SOURCES: Justin Hancock , director of research and development at Costa Farms. Brian Williams , co-owner of Brian's Botanicals. Sarah Williams, co-owner Brian's Botanicals. RESOURCES: " Bidding Wars and $1,000 Succulents: The Wild World of Rare Houseplants ," by Hannah Holland ( The Washington Post, 2023). " Houseplants Boomed During the Pandemic. Gen Z and...
Mar 11, 2024•15 min•Ep. 39
Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up. SOURCES: Mike Leong , owner of Bel Mateo Bowl. Devon Stewart , head coach of Florida State University bowling team, C.E.O. of Bowl Connect, and consultant with the Hansell Group. RESOURCES: " Cornhole and Bowling Are the Sports Most Americans Played Last Year ," by Mallory Newall, Johnny Sawyer, Charlie Rollason, and Tyler Ivey ( ...
Mar 04, 2024•16 min•Ep. 9
Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mailbox. SOURCES : Brett Chamberlin , program manager at Catalog Choice. Aaron Gordon , journalist. Mike Gunderson , president of Gunderson Direct. RESOURCES : " U.S. Postal Service Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Results ," by the U.S. Postal Service (2023). " How We Ended Up With All This Junk Mail ," by Aaron Gordon ( Vice, 2020). " Here Are the Data Broke...
Feb 26, 2024•18 min•Ep. 38
If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. SOURCES: Jason Abraham , managing partner of Hupy & Abraham. Nora Engstrom , professor at Stanford Law School. Kyle Hebenstreit , C.E.O. of Practice Made Perfect. RESOURCES: “ Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples (2024 Guide) ,” by Jeffrey Johnson ( Forbes Advisor, 2022). “ Low Ball: An Insider’s Look at How Some Insurers Can Manipulate Computerized Systems to Broadl...
Feb 19, 2024•18 min•Ep. 37
Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. SOURCES: Bernardo Batiz-Lazo , professor in the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University. Patricia Tuz , president of New York ATM. Jon Weilbaker , general manager of New York ATM. Sasha Weilbaker , freelance writer and daughter of Patricia and Jon. RESOURCES: " The Number of ATMs Has Declined as People Rely Less on Cash ," by Jim Carlton ( The Wall Street Journal, 2023). " ...
Feb 12, 2024•20 min•Ep. 36
Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES: Brad Bolman , postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz , prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics. Wendell Potter , president of the Center for Health and Democracy; former executive at Cigna. RESOURCES: " Dental Medical Loss Ratios: Understanding the Landscape in Massachusetts and B...
Feb 05, 2024•16 min•Ep. 35
Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers. SOURCES: Kusum Ailawadi , professor of marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Eric Beringause , C.E.O. of Winland Foods. Ryan Boyle , vice president of sales at Kitchen Innovations. Samantha Burd , co-owner of Lady Burd Cosmetics. Dean Erstad , senior vice president of sales at Seneca. Harry Overly , president an...
Jan 29, 2024•18 min•Ep. 34
Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts. SOURCES: Alicia Rodis , intimacy coordinator. Matthew Swanlund , founder and principal attorney at Aesthetic Legal. RESOURCES: " Romance or Nomance? Adolescents Prefer to See Less Sex, More Friendships, Platonic Relationships on Screen ," by Elizabeth Kivowitz ( UCLA Newsroom, 2023). " Yo...
Jan 22, 2024•19 min•Ep. 33
American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. SOURCES: Todd Hutchinson , president and owner of BallHawker. Lashan Wanigatunga , founder of Two Guys With Balls. RESOURCES: " BallHawker, Challenge Enterprises Turn Wayward Golf Shots Into Successful Endeavor ," Natalie Gilstrap ( Clay Today, 2023). " Temecula Golf Ball Diver Nets $100,000 a Year ," by Jeff Zevely ( CBS8, 2022). " Golf’s Recycled B...
Jan 15, 2024•17 min•Ep. 32
The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES: Ed Currie , founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. Stephanie Walker , associate professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at New Mexico State University RESOURCES: " Pepper X Dethrones Carolina Reaper as World’s Hottest Chili Pepper ," by Sanj Atwal ( Guinness World Records, 2023). " The Shocking, Stupendous Rise of Superhot Chillies: ‘The Stomach Cramps Can Last for 14 Hours ...
Jan 08, 2024•16 min•Ep. 31
Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES: "Ben," former professional card counter. Bill Zender , co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm. RESOURCES: " Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged Detainment for Card Counting ," by Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton ( The Denver Post, 2023). " Why Does the House Always Win? A Look at Casino Profitabilit...
Jan 01, 2024•19 min•Ep. 30
Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. SOURCES: Nick Kokonas , founder and co-owner of The Alinea Group. Charlie Mitchell , executive chef and co-owner of Clover Hill restaurant. RESOURCES: " Michelin Announces 2022 Stars for New York City ," by Ryan Sutton and Luke Fortney ( Eater, 2022). " What’s Wrong With the Michelin Guide? " by Tim Hayward ( Financial Times, 2021). " Eating A 6-Course Dinner F...
Dec 25, 2023•17 min•Ep. 10
The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day. SOURCES: Mia Mercado , writer and former editor at Hallmark. George White , president of Up With Paper and former president of the American Greeting Card Association. RESOURCES: 34th Louie Awards - Finalists & Winners , (2022-2023). " Season’s (and Other...) ...
Dec 18, 2023•16 min•Ep. 29
How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply? Zachary Crockett wades in. SOURCE: Dina Fine Maron , senior wildlife crime investigative reporter at National Geographic. RESOURCES: " When the Horseshoe Crabs Are Gone, We’ll Be in Trouble ," by Deborah Cramer ( The New York Times, 2023). " Horseshoe Crab Blood Is Vital to Modern Medicine. A New Lab-Made Alternative Could Save the Species ," by Kristoffer Whitney, Jo...
Dec 11, 2023•14 min•Ep. 28
How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. SOURCES: Delaney Diamond , romance novelist. Danielle Flores , high school math teacher and avid romance novel reader. Brenda Hiatt , romance novelist. Diane Moggy , vice president of editorial at Harlequin. RESOURCES: " Even as Overall Book Sales Are Declining, Romance Novels Are on the Rise ," by Elena Burnett, Sarah Handel, and Juana Summers...
Dec 04, 2023•19 min•Ep. 27
Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. RESOURCES: " The Knack Sue Run-DMC Over 'It’s Tricky' Riff ," ( Rolling Stone, 2006). Clip of "My Sharona" in the film Reality Bites (1994). " The Knack: Where Are They Now? " by David Fricke ( Rolling Stone, 1986). " Top Singles of the Year ," ( Billboard, 1979). " My Bologna ," by Weird Al Yankovic (1979). " My Sharona ," by The Knack (1979). EXTRAS: " What’s Wrong with Being a One-Hit Wonder? " by Fr...
Nov 27, 2023•17 min•Ep. 3
Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. RESOURCES: " Philadelphia Graffiti Pier: A Love Letter to the City’s Underground Arts ," by Honora Feinberg ( Guide to Philly, 2023). " USA TODAY Names Philadelphia 'Best City for Street Art ,'" ( Visit Philadelphia, 2023). " Cornbread, the First Graffiti Artist, Shows New Work at Philadelphia Gallery ," by Peter Crimmins ( WHYY, 2019). " Porch Light Program: Final Evaluation Report...
Nov 20, 2023•14 min•Ep. 26
Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff. RESOURCES: " High Flyers 2023: How Ultra-Rich Private Jet Travel Costs the Rest of Us and Burns Up the Planet ," by Chuck Collins, Omar Ocampo, and Kalena Thomhave (joint report by The Patriotic Millionaires and the Institute for Policy Studies, 2023). " French Green MPs Want to Ban Private Jet Flights, to 'Bring the R...
Nov 13, 2023•18 min•Ep. 25
How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. RESOURCES: " Almond Acreage Decline Prompts Industry Introspection ," by Mitch Lies ( West Coast Nut, 2023). American Pistachio Industry 2021 Annual Report , by American Pistachio Growers (2023). " California’s Agricultural Water Policies Are Nuts ," by Douglas R. Noble ( The Gainesville Sun, 2021). " Amid Drought, Billionaires Control a Critical California...
Nov 06, 2023•16 min•Ep. 24
In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. RESOURCES " Inside the Largely Unregulated Market for Bodies Donated to Science: 'It's Harder to Sell Hot Dogs on a Cart ,'" by Justin Sherman ( CBS News, 2023). " Bilirakis, Fletcher, Murphy and Tillis Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Stop Brokering of Body Parts, Preserve Integrity of Organ Donation Process ," press release by the office of Congressman...
Oct 30, 2023•16 min•Ep. 23
In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around them. RESOURCES: " From Grave Robbing to Giving Your Own Body to Science – A Short History of Where Medical Schools Get Cadavers ," by Susan Lawrence and Susan E. Lederer ( The Conversation, 2023). " Box of Human Heads Stolen From Truck in Denver ," by Carly Moore ( FOX4, 2022). " A Body Donated to Science - but Used to Test Bombs ," by Rozina Sini (...
Oct 23, 2023•18 min•Ep. 22
Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. RESOURCES: " Private Equity Wants to Wash Your Car ," by Miriam Gottfried ( The Wall Street Journal, 2022). " California Labor Commissioner Recovers $282,000 for Car Wash Wage Citations ," State of California Department of Industrial Relations News Release (2022). " Sgt. Clean’s Future Shines Bright Thanks to Subscription Model, Strong Reputation ," by Vince Guerrier...
Oct 16, 2023•17 min•Ep. 21
More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into the ink. RESOURCES: " 32% of Americans Have a Tattoo, Including 22% Who Have More Than One ," by Katherine Schaeffer and Shradha Dinesh ( Pew Research Center, 2023). " Tattoo Removal Business Draws Up High-Growth Potential ," by Tim Clark ( Forbes, 2023). " The Secret, Chronic Pain of Tattoo Artists ," by Devon Abelman ( Allure, 2020). The Other End o...
Oct 09, 2023•17 min•Ep. 20
There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. RESOURCES " Who Is the Fastest Pizza Box Folder?! World Pizza Games 2021 ," video by The Laughing Lion (2021). " Pizza Box Contamination Doesn’t Impede Recyclability, Association Says ," by Megan Smalley ( Recycling Today, 2020). " Scott's Pizza Chronicles: A Brief History of the Pizza Box ," by Scott Wiener ( Serious Eats, 2018). " Apple Patented a Pizza Box, for Pizzas ," by Jacob Kastrenakes ( The...
Oct 02, 2023•15 min•Ep. 19
Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when we love ’em and leave ’em.
Sep 25, 2023•16 min•Ep. 4
They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail.
Sep 18, 2023•19 min•Ep. 18
It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end up on your plate. Zachary Crockett picks up the scent.
Sep 11, 2023•18 min•Ep. 17
Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the money.
Sep 04, 2023•19 min•Ep. 16
How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain.
Aug 28, 2023•20 min•Ep. 15
