Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina to find out. SOURCES: Steve Anderson , emergency medicine business unit leader at BTG Pharmaceuticals. Nick Brandehoff , professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado and executive director of the Asclepius Snakebite Foundation. Sean Bush , emergency physician and president of the North American Society of Toxinology. Nitin Deshpande , business consultant with Premium...
Jul 15, 2024•22 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the sheets. SOURCES: Derek Hales , founder and editor-in-chief of NapLab.com. Joe Megibow , C.E.O. of Casper Sleep. RESOURCES: " Drake Has a $400,000 Bed − We Asked Why and Where You Can Buy It ," by Emilia Hitching ( Homes & Gardens, 2024). " Casper Tests a New Store Design as It Rethinks Its Retail Strategy ," by Anna Hensel ( Modern Retail, 2024). " Is The ...
Jul 08, 2024•21 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Channeling the voices of celebrities can be a lucrative career — one that requires empathy and discretion as well as literary chops. Zachary Crockett checks the acknowledgements. SOURCES: Valerie Frankel , ghostwriter. Madeleine Morel , President and Lead Agent of 2M Communications. Daniel Paisner , ghostwriter. RESOURCES: " Ghostwriting History: Churchill, Kennedy and the Authenticity of Authorship ," by Andrew Mumford ( The International History Review, 2024). " Column: How many ways can a pol...
Jul 01, 2024•20 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast How did mobile kitchens become popular with hipster gourmands? And just how much money can a popular truck make from a lunch shift? Zachary Crocket drops some napkins. SOURCES: Mariel-Leona Edwards , senior operations manager for Señor Sisig. Matthew Geller , founding president of the National Food Truck Association and C.E.O. of the Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association. Evan Kidera , C.E.O. and co-owner of Señor Sisig. RESOURCES: " Seed Planted in SF State MBA Program Grows Into ...
Jun 24, 2024•19 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peers inside the dugout. SOURCES: Linda Flanagan , author. Nick Mackenzie, future New York Yankees shortstop. R.J. Mackenzie, physical education teacher and baseball dad. John Miller , journalist and baseball coach. RESOURCES: " The Cost of Youth Baseball Is Getting Absurd ," by Adam Minter ( Bloomberg , 2024). " Perfect Game Sees Prosperity Thanks To N...
Jun 17, 2024•21 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Why do we use a specific kind of tree-bark tissue to seal up 70 percent of wine bottles? Zachary Crockett takes a sniff and gives the waiter a nod. SOURCES: Carlos De Jesus , director of communications at Amorim Cork. RESOURCES: " This Ancient Material Is Displacing Plastics and Creating a Billion-Dollar Industry ," by Marta Vidal ( The Washington Post, 2024). " Troubled Times For Wine In 2023: Global Production And Consumption Shrinking ," by Per and Britt Karlsson ( Forbes, 2024). " Three Stud...
Jun 10, 2024•16 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner. SOURCES: Sara Alloy , experience retail lead for North America at Publicis Sapient. Christopher Andrews , professor of sociology at Drew University. Phil Lempert , founder and C.E.O. of SupermarketGuru. RESOURCES: " Feeling Rewarded and Entitled to Be Served: Understanding the Influence of Self- Versus Regular Checkout on Customer Loyalty ," by Farhana Nusrat and Yanliu Hua...
Jun 03, 2024•19 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. SOURCES: Matthew Gryczan , retired journalist and engineer. Elliot Simmons, former carnival game worker. Olivia Turner , general manager of Redbone Products. RESOURCES: " AG Platkin Announces 10-Year Ban of Amusement Games Licenses and a Fine for Wildwood Games Operator ," by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (2023). " N.H. Man Loses Life Savings on Carnival Game ," ( C.B.S. News Boston, 2013). " Carnival Gam...
May 27, 2024•17 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast With industries relying on them and profits to be made, weather forecasts are more precise and more popular than ever. But there are clouds on the horizon. Zachary Crockett grabs an umbrella. SOURCES: Steve Adelman , head of Adelman Law Group, PLLC and vice president of the Event Safety Alliance. Peter Neilley , director of weather forecasting sciences and technologies for The Weather Company. RESOURCES: " Traders Have Turned Betting on the Weather, a Technique Pioneered by Enron, Into a Booming...
May 20, 2024•14 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the party. SOURCES: Anthony Anderson, member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Danielle Logan , owner of Fraternity Management. Charlie O’Neill, member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Stephen J. Schmidt , professor of economics at Union College. RESOURCES: " If Student Deaths Won't Stop Fraternity Hazing, What Will? " by Ben Kesslen ( NBC N...
May 13, 2024•19 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. SOURCES: Joshua Page , professor of sociology and law at the University of Minnesota. Steven Zalewski , criminal defense attorney and co-owner of Affordable Bails New York. RESOURCES: " Does Bail Reform Increase Crime in New York State: Evidence from Interrupted Time-Series Analyses and Synthetic Control Methods ," by Sishi Wu and David McDowall ( Justice Quarterly, 2023). " Profit Over People: The Commercial Bail ...
May 06, 2024•18 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences may be changing lanes. Zachary Crockett surveys the lot. SOURCES: Tom Crockett, classic car enthusiast. Mark Gutjahr , global head of design at BASF. Nikkie Riedel , carline planning manager at Subaru of America. RESOURCES: BASF Color Report 2023 for Automotive OEM Coatings . " Beige on an S.U.V. Will Cost You, but for Pickups It’s Golden ," by Roy Furchgott ( The New York Times...
Apr 29, 2024•18 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all has become a $45 billion business. Zachary Crockett cleans out the garage. SOURCES: Zachary Dickens , executive vice president and chief investment officer of Extra Space Storage. Anne Mari DeCoster , self-storage consultant. Kara Kolodziej, self-storage unit tenant. RESOURCES: " A Fifth Of Americans Rent Self Storage, With Millennials Overtaking Gen Xers In Generational Storage Wars ," by Francis Chant...
Apr 22, 2024•16 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley artists. Zachary Crockett makes some noise. SOURCE: Gregg Barbanell , foley artist at Universal Studios. RESOURCES: " The Weird, Analog Delights of Foley Sound Effects ," by Anna Wiener ( The New Yorker, 2022). " The Strangest Foley Sounds in Cinema ," by Amber Gibson ( ACMI, 2021). " The Man Who Makes Hollywood’s Smallest Sounds ," by Zachary Crocke...
Apr 15, 2024•19 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Crockett follows the links. SOURCES: Vince Cate , technical contact for the .ai domain in Anguilla. Kim Davies , Vice President of Internet Assigned Numbers Authority Services and President of Public Technical Identifiers at ICANN. Tianyu Fang , contributing editor at Reboot. RESOURCES: " The Two-Decade Fight for Two Letters on the Internet ," by Jacob ...
Apr 08, 2024•19 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are buried. SOURCES: Terry Arellano , co-founder and president of Cemetery Property Resales, Inc. Jeff Lindeman , C.E.O. and General Manager of Mountain View Cemetery. Tanya Marsh , professor of law at Wake Forest University. Maureen Walton , founder and president of The Cemetery Exchange. RESOURCES: " Los Angeles Burial Crypt Near Marilyn Monroe, Hugh ...
Apr 01, 2024•19 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits at the airport, holding a sign saying "Fluffy." SOURCES: Amelia Barklow , owner of two pet ducks, Wobbles and Bean. Mike Gays , managing director of Global Pet Relocation. Gemma Tappin , pet relocation consultant team leader at Global Pet Relocation. RESOURCES: " Service Dogs Are Allowed on Planes, but There Are Some Requirements to Get Them There ," by Zach Wichter ( USA T...
Mar 25, 2024•16 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 
