Freakonomics

360. Is the Protestant Work Ethic Real?

In the early 20th century, Max Weber argued that Protestantism created wealth. Finally, there are data to prove if he...

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359. Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s?

The quirky little grocery chain with California roots and German ownership has a lot to teach all of us about choice...

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There’s a War on Sugar. Is It Justified? (Ep. 285 Rebroadcast)

Some people argue that sugar should be regulated, like alcohol and tobacco, on the grounds that it’s addictive and...

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358. Yes, the Open Office Is Terrible — But It Doesn’t Have to Be

It began as a post-war dream for a more collaborative and egalitarian workplace. It has evolved into a nightmare of...

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357. Can an Industrial Giant Become a Tech Darling?

The Ford Motor Company is ditching its legacy sedans, doubling down on trucks, and trying to steer its stock price...

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356. America’s Hidden Duopoly

We all know our political system is “broken” — but what if that’s not true? Some say the Republicans and Democrats...

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Extra: Elvis Costello Full Interview

A conversation with the iconic singer-songwriter, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “How to Be Creative.”

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355. Where Does Creativity Come From (and Why Do Schools Kill It Off)?

Family environments and “diversifying experiences” (including the early death of a parent); intrinsic versus...

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Extra: Jeremy Lin Full Interview

A conversation with veteran NBA point guard Jeremy Lin, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “The Hidden Side...

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How to Optimize Your Apology (Ep. 353)

You said, “I’m sorry,” but somehow you haven’t been forgiven. Why? Because you’re doing it wrong! A report from the...

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Can This Man Stop a Trade War? (Ep. 352)

The World Trade Organization is the referee for 164 trading partners, each with their own political and economic...

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Extra: Shawn Johnson Full Interview

A conversation with 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson, recorded for the Freakonomics Radio series “The Hidden...

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Here’s Why You’re Not an Elite Athlete (Ep. 351)

There are a lot of factors that go into greatness, many of which are not obvious. A variety of Olympic and...

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Extra: Full Interviews With Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Staley, Mike McGlinchey, and Kyle Juszczyk

Stephen Dubner’s conversations with members of the San Francisco 49ers offense, recorded for Freakonomics Radio...

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How to Stop Being a Loser (Ep. 350)

The San Francisco 49ers, one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, also used to be one of the best....

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How Sports Became Us (Ep. 349)

Dollar-wise, the sports industry is surprisingly small, about the same size as the cardboard-box industry. So why...

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Pick of the Week: Is America Ready for a “No-Lose Lottery”? (Ep. 309)

From the archive — Most people don't enjoy the simple, boring act of putting money in a savings account. But we do...

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Pick of the Week: How to Get More Grit in Your Life (Ep. 246)

From the archive — The psychologist Angela Duckworth argues that a person's level of stick-to-itiveness is directly...

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Is the Government More Entrepreneurial Than You Think? (Ep. 348)

We all know the standard story: our economy would be more dynamic if only the government would get out of the way....

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Pick of the Week: Are the Rich Really Less Generous Than the Poor? (Ep. 288)

From the archive — A series of academic studies suggest that the wealthy are, to put it bluntly, selfish jerks. It's...

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