Freakonomics Radio

  • 387. Hello, My Name Is Marijuana Pepsi!

    Research shows that having a distinctively black name doesn’t affect your economic future. But what is the day-to-day reality of living with such a name? Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck, a newly-minted Ph.D., is well-qualified to answer…


  • How Much Does Your Name Matter? (Rebroadcast )

    A kid’s name can tell us something about his parents — their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny?


  • 386. How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War

    Aisle upon aisle of fresh produce, cheap meat, and sugary cereal — a delicious embodiment of free-market capitalism, right? Not quite. The supermarket was in fact the endpoint of the U.S. government’s battle for agricultural…


  • America’s Hidden Duopoly (Rebroadcast)

    We all know our political system is “broken” — but what if that’s not true? Some say the Republicans and Democrats constitute a wildly successful industry that has colluded to kill off competition, stifle reform,…


  • 385. What Do Nancy Pelosi, Taylor Swift, and Serena Williams Have in Common?

    They — along with a great many other high-achieving women — were all once Girl Scouts. So was Sylvia Acevedo. Raised in a poor, immigrant family, she was told that “girls like her” didn’t go…


  • 384. Abortion and Crime, Revisited

    The controversial theory linking Roe v. Wade to a massive crime drop is back in the spotlight as several states introduce abortion restrictions. Steve Levitt and John Donohue discuss their original research, the challenges to…


  • A Better Way to Eat (Rebroadcast )

    Takeru Kobayashi revolutionized the sport of competitive eating. What can the rest of us learn from his breakthrough?


  • 383. The Zero-Minute Workout

    There is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. There is even stronger evidence that most people hate to exercise. So if a pill could mimic the effects of working out, why wouldn’t we want…


  • 382. How Goes the Behavior-Change Revolution?

    An all-star team of behavioral scientists discovers that humans are stubborn (and lazy, and sometimes dumber than dogs). We also hear about binge drinking, humblebragging, and regrets. Recorded live in Philadelphia with guests including Richard…


  • 381. Long-Term Thinking in a Start-Up Town

    Recorded live in San Francisco. Guests include the keeper of a 10,000-year clock, the co-founder of Lyft, a pioneer in male birth control, a specialist in water security, and a psychology professor who is also…