The 10 Best Freakonomics Episodes
Hosted by Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the Freakonomics books, the Freakonomics Radio podcast dives into interesting research about everything from Trader Joe’s to Uber. It features enlightening interviews with accomplished guests like Malcolm Gladwell and Emily Oster. Even if economics isn’t your thing, this is much more than just an economics podcast! We put together some of the best Freakonomics episodes below with help from Podyssey podcast listener community who love economics and learning.
Last Updated: Nov 8th, 2021
1) 292. Why Hate the Koch Brothers? (Part 1)
One of the mysterious billionaire Koch brothers tells all in this two part series with Charles Koch, Koch Industries’ CEO and philanthropist. Accused by adversaries of trying to “buy” America, hear what Charles Koch has to say about his critics and their critiques. He discusses why modern politics are corrupt, what he hates about cronyism, and what’s got him so worried about America’s future. The savvy businessman who oversees one of the largest conglomerates in the world also offers gems business advice including how to empower and manage employees. If you’ve always wondered who the heck the Koch brothers are and why they’re so rich and prevalent, then this is a must-listen Freakonomics episode for you.
2) 317. What Can Uber Teach Us About the Gender Pay Gap?
Economists thought that Uber’s ultimate flexible working schedule for gig drivers will surely employ more women drivers who will be comparably compensated to their male counterparts. But a new Uber study that looked at the company’s treasure trove of driver data told a whole different story. This best Freakonomics episode digs into why the gender pay gap for drivers is larger than ever, leaving both economists and Uber’s management team scratching their heads as to why.
3) 298. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Money (But Were Afraid to Ask)
This is one of the most important Freakonomics episodes of all time! The majority of Americans are financially inept, and this episode tackles the issue head on with a wealth of advice on how to manage your personal finances. Hear from a prof that teaches pro football stars how to manage their money. Learn why compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world, and the nine basic rules for personal finance that can fit into an index card. By the end of the episode, you’re guaranteed to get a roadmap to get your financial house in order.
4) 300. Why Don’t We All Speak the Same Language? (Earth 2.0 Series)
Why are there so many different human languages? This best Freakonomics podcast episode explores the mysterious question on why we speak over seven thousand languages and more importantly — whether that’s actually good for us or not. Host Stephen Dubner examines the pros and cons of language diversity and the unexpected friction it has raised or tapered out over human history. By the end of the episode, you’ll be ready to answer the ultimate question: If you can restart the human species, would you standardize communication to a single language or keep it the same as today?
5) 389. How to Make Meetings Less Terrible
Meetings are an inevitable part of office life that most people dread. Stephen Dubner investigates why we’re so keen to have unnecessary meetings even though everyone hates them so much. This episode calls for a change in meeting culture that starts with understanding the “why” before bringing the right people together. Special guest, author, and meeting guru, Priya Parker, brings her wisdom on how to make gatherings intentional and joyful. Whether you’re a productivity or workplace culture freak, or just want to get rid of useless meetings, you’ll for sure want to listen to this best Freakonomics episode for useful tips and validation.
6) 528. Yuval Noah Harari Thinks Life is Meaningless and Amazing
In this special episode of People I (Mostly) Admire, Steve Levitt talks to the best-selling author of "Sapiens" and "Homo Deus" about finding the profound in the obvious.
7) Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death by Diagnosis (Rebroadcast)
By some estimates, medical error is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. How can that be? And what's to be done? Our third and final episode in this series offers some encouraging answers.
Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death by Diagnosis (Rebroadcast)
48:40 | Aug 31st, 2017
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8) Why Is This Man Running for President? (Update)
A year ago, nobody was taking Andrew Yang very seriously. Now he is America’s favorite entrepre-nerd, with a candidacy that keeps gaining momentum. This episode includes our Jan. 2019 conversation wit...Show More
9) 366. This Economist Predicted the Last Crisis. What’s the Next One?
In 2005, Raghuram Rajan said the financial system was at risk “of a catastrophic meltdown.” After stints at the I.M.F. and India’s central bank, he sees another potential crisis — and he offers a solu...Show More
10) 348. Is the Government More Entrepreneurial Than You Think?
We all know the standard story: our economy would be more dynamic if only the government would get out of the way. The economist Mariana Mazzucato says we’ve got that story backward. She argues that t...Show More