660. The Wellness Industry Is Gigantic — and Mostly WrongZeke Emanuel (a physician, medical ethicist, and policy wonk) has some different ideas for how to lead a […]

Steve Levitt Quits His Podcast, Joins OursAfter five years, Levitt is ending People I (Mostly) Admire, and will start hosting the occasional Freakonomics Radio […]

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 f […]

658. This Is Your Brain on SupplementsWe all want to stay sharp, and forestall the cognitive effects of aging. But do brain supplements actually work? Are they […]

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, i […]

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 […]

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 n […]

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 […]

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 o […]

656. How Handel Got His Mojo BackWhen he wrote Messiah (in 24 days), Handel was past his prime and nearly broke. One night in Dublin changed all that. (Part two of […]

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 […]

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 j […]

Is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Its Most Valuable Asset? (Update)The iconic department store calls the parade its “gift to the nation.” With 30 million TV viewers, it’s […]

654. Is the Public Ready for Private Equity?A Trump executive order is giving retail investors more access to private markets. Is that a golden opportunity — or f […]

653. Does Horse Racing Have a Future?Thoroughbred auction prices keep setting records. But tracks are closing, gambling revenues are falling, and the sport is […]

What Happens When You Turn 20The world has changed a good bit since Freakonomics was first published. In this live anniversary episode, Stephen Dubner tells Geoff […]

652. Inside the Horse-Industrial ComplexHow does Kentucky keep itself atop the thoroughbred industry? Is a champion stallion really worth $200,000 per date? And […]

651. The Ultimate Dance PartnerFor most of human history, horsepower made the world go. Then came the machines. So why are there still seven million horses in […]

Are Two C.E.O.s Better Than One? (Update)Spotify, Oracle, and Comcast have each recently announced they’re going with co-C.E.O.s. In this 2023 episode, we dig into t […]

650. The Doctor Won’t See You NowThe U.S. has a physician shortage, created in part by a century-old reform that shut down bad medical schools. But why haven’t we f […]