Freakonomics Radio
It regulates 20 percent of the U.S. economy, and its commissioner has an aggressive agenda — faster drug approvals, healthier food, cures for diabetes and cancer. How much can he deliver? (Part two of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”)
- SOURCES:
- Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
- RESOURCES:
- “Clinical Trials Affected by Research Grant Terminations at the National Institutes of Health,” by Vishal Patel, Michael Liu, and Anupam Jena (JAMA Internal Medicine, 2025).
- “What the evidence tells us about Tylenol, leucovorin, and autism,” by Matthew Herper (STAT, 2025).
- “I Run the F.D.A. Pharma Ads Are Hurting Americans.” by Marty Makary (New York Times, 2025).
- Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health, by Marty Makary (2024).
- EXTRAS:
- “Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin?” by Freakonomics Radio (2025).
- “How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. Healthcare,” by Freakonomics Radio (2021).
- “Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death by Diagnosis,” by Freakonomics Radio (2016).
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
659. Can Marty Makary Fix the F.D.A.?
It regulates 20 percent of the U.S. economy, and its commissioner has an aggressive agenda — faster drug approvals, healthier food, cures for diabetes and cancer. How much can he deliver? (Part two of “The…
658. This Is Your Brain on Supplements
We all want to stay sharp, and forestall the cognitive effects of aging. But do brain supplements actually work? Are they safe? And why doesn’t the F.D.A. even know what’s in them? (Part one of…
Are Personal Finance Gurus Giving You Bad Advice? (Update)
One Yale economist certainly thinks so. But even if he’s right, are economists any better? We find out, in this update of a 2022 episode. SOURCES: James Choi, professor of finance at the Yale…
Are You Ready for a Fresh Start? (Update)
Behavioral scientists have been exploring whether a psychological reset can lead to lasting change. In this update of a 2021 episode, we survey evidence from the London Underground, Major League Baseball, and New Year’s resolutions…
Are the Rich Really Less Generous Than the Poor? (Update)
A series of academic studies suggest that the wealthy are, to put it bluntly, selfish jerks. It’s an easy narrative to embrace — but is it true? As part of GiveDirectly’s “Pods Fight Poverty” campaign,…
657. Whose “Messiah” Is It Anyway?
All sorts of people have put their mark on Messiah, and it has been a hit for nearly 300 years. How can a single piece of music thrive in so many settings? You could say…
Who Pays for “Messiah”?
In the 18th century, Handel relied on royal patronage. Today, it’s donors like Gary Parr who keep the music playing. In this bonus episode of our “Making Messiah” series, Parr breaks down the economics of…
656. How Handel Got His Mojo Back
When he wrote Messiah (in 24 days), Handel was past his prime and nearly broke. One night in Dublin changed all that. (Part two of “Making Messiah.”) SOURCES: Charles King, political scientist at Georgetown…
655. “The Greatest Piece of Participatory Art Ever Created”
Why does an 18th-century Christian oratorio lend such comfort to our own turbulent times? Stephen Dubner sets out for Dublin to tell the story of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. (Part one of “Making Messiah.”) …
Dying Is Easy. Retail Is Hard. (Update)
Macy’s wants to recapture its glorious past. The author of the Wimpy Kid books wants to rebuild his dilapidated hometown. We just want to listen in. (Part two of a two-part series, first published in…