Best Dubner Productions Podcasts (2024)

51
585. A Social Activist in Prime Minister’s Clothing 52:26

1d ago52:26

52:26

Justin Trudeau, facing record-low approval numbers, is doubling down on his progressive agenda. But he is so upbeat (and Canada-polite) that it’s easy to miss just how radical his vision is. Can he make it work? SOURCE: Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. RESOURCES: 2024 Canadian Federal Budget. "Canada to Set First-Ever Cap on Temporary Resi…

1
584. How to Pave the Road to Hell 43:42

9d ago43:42

43:42

So you want to help people? That’s great — but beware the law of unintended consequences. Three stories from the modern workplace. SOURCES: Joshua Angrist, professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Zoe Cullen, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Marina Gertsberg, senior lecturer in finance at …

1
Extra: The Men Who Started a Thinking Revolution (Update) 34:51

12d ago34:51

34:51

The psychologist Daniel Kahneman — a Nobel laureate and the author of Thinking, Fast and Slow — recently died at age 90. Along with his collaborator Amos Tversky, he changed how we all think about decision-making. The journalist Michael Lewis told the Kahneman-Tversky story in a 2016 book called The Undoing Project. In this episode, Lewis explains …

1
Why Are There So Many Bad Bosses? (Update) 49:41

16d ago49:41

49:41

People who are good at their jobs routinely get promoted into bigger jobs they’re bad at. We explain why firms keep producing incompetent managers — and why that’s unlikely to change. SOURCES: Nick Bloom, professor of economics at Stanford University. Katie Johnson, freelance data and analytics coach. Kelly Shue, professor of finance at the Yale Un…

1
583. Are We Living Through the Most Revolutionary Period in History? 1:02:43

23d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Fareed Zakaria says yes. But it’s not just political revolution — it’s economic, technological, even emotional. He doesn’t offer easy solutions but he does offer some hope. SOURCES: Fareed Zakaria, journalist and author. RESOURCES: Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present, by Fareed Zakaria (2024). "The Ultimate Election Y…

1
Extra: How Much Do You Know About Immigration? 27:39

26d ago27:39

27:39

The political debates over immigration can generate a lot of fuzzy facts. We wanted to test Americans’ knowledge — so, to wrap up our special series on immigration, we called some Freakonomics Radio listeners and quizzed them. SOURCES: Zeke Hernandez, professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. RESOURCES: The Truth About Immi…

1
582. Why Is Everyone Moving to Canada? 49:47

30d ago49:47

49:47

As the U.S. tries to fix its messy immigration system, our neighbor to the north is scooping up more talented newcomers every year. Are the Canadians stealing America’s bacon? (Part three of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Zeke Hernandez, professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. William Kerr, professor of business administr…

1
581. What Both Parties Get Wrong About Immigration 55:50

1M ago55:50

55:50

The U.S. immigration system is a massively complicated machine, with a lot of worn-out parts. How to fix it? Step one: Get hold of some actual facts and evidence. (We did this step for you.) (Part two of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Zeke Hernandez, professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. David Leonhardt, senior writer a…

1
Extra: Madeleine Albright’s Warning on Immigration 29:04

1M ago29:04

29:04

She arrived in the U.S. as an 11-year-old refugee, then rose to become Secretary of State. Her views on immigration, nationalism, and borders, from this 2015 interview, are almost strangely appropriate to the present moment. SOURCE: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nat…

1
580. The True Story of America’s Supremely Messed-Up Immigration System 55:05

1M ago55:05

55:05

How did a nation of immigrants come to hate immigration? We start at the beginning, sort through the evidence, and explain why your grandfather was lying about Ellis Island. (Part one of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Leah Boustan, professor of economics at Princeton University. Zeke Hernandez, professor at the Wharton School at the University of P…

1
579. Are You Caught in a Social Media Trap? 42:16

2M ago42:16

42:16

Economists have discovered an odd phenomenon: many people who use social media (even you, maybe?) wish it didn’t exist. But that doesn’t mean they can escape. SOURCES: Leonardo Bursztyn, professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Benjamin Handel, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley. RESOURCES: "When Product Ma…

1
Extra: What Is Sportswashing — and Does It Work? (Update) 1:05:17

2M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

In ancient Rome, it was bread and circuses. Today, it’s a World Cup, an Olympics, and a new Saudi-backed golf league that’s challenging the PGA Tour. Can a sporting event really repair a country’s reputation — or will it trigger the dreaded Streisand Effect? Also: why the major U.S. sports leagues are warming up to the idea of foreign investment. S…

1
578. Water, Water Everywhere — But You Have to Stop and Think 52:14

2M ago52:14

52:14

What surprises lurk in our sewage? How did racist city planners end up saving Black lives? Why does Arizona grow hay for cows in Saudi Arabia? Three strange stories about the most fundamental substance we all take for granted. SOURCES: Brian Beach, professor of economics at Vanderbilt University. Marc Johnson, professor of molecular microbiology an…

1
Is Google Getting Worse? (Update) 56:53

2M ago56:53

56:53

It used to feel like magic. Now it can feel like a set of cheap tricks. Is the problem with Google — or with us? And is Google Search finally facing a real rival, in the form of A.I.-powered “answer engines”? SOURCES: Marissa Mayer, co-founder of Sunshine; former C.E.O. of Yahoo! and vice president at Google. Ryan McDevitt; professor of economics a…

1
Extra: Mr. Feynman Takes a Trip — But Doesn’t Fall 47:31

2M ago47:31

47:31

A wide-open conversation with three women who guided Richard Feynman through some big adventures at the Esalen Institute. (Part of our Feynman series.) SOURCES: Barbara Berg, friend of Richard Feynman. Cheryl Haley, friend of Richard Feynman. Debby Harlow, friend of Richard Feynma Sam Stern, content creator at the Esalen Institute. EXTRAS: Richard …

1
The Vanishing Mr. Feynman 1:01:04

2M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

In his final years, Richard Feynman's curiosity took him to some surprising places. We hear from his companions on the trips he took — and one he wasn’t able to. (Part three of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Alan Alda, actor and screenwriter. Barbara Berg, friend of Richard Feynman. Helen Czerski, physicist and oceanographer at University College L…

1
The Brilliant Mr. Feynman 52:41

3M ago52:41

52:41

What happens when an existentially depressed and recently widowed young physicist from Queens gets a fresh start in California? We follow Richard Feynman out west, to explore his long and extremely fruitful second act. (Part two of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Seamus Blackley, video game designer and creator of the Xbox. Carl Feynman, computer sc…

1
How the San Francisco 49ers Stopped Being Losers (Update) 1:03:46

3M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

They’re heading to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years. But back in 2018, they were coming off a long losing streak — and that’s the year we sat down with 49ers players, coaches, and executives to hear their turnaround plans. It’s probably time to consider the turnaround a success. SOURCES: Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the Las Vega…

1
The Curious Mr. Feynman 1:02:22

3M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

From the Manhattan Project to the Challenger investigation, the physicist Richard Feynman loved to shoot down what he called “lousy ideas.” Today, the world is awash in lousy ideas — so maybe it’s time to get some more Feynman in our lives? (Part one of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Helen Czerski, physicist and oceanographer at University College …

1
574. “A Low Moment in Higher Education” 46:51

3M ago46:51

46:51

Michael Roth of Wesleyan University doesn’t hang out with other university presidents. He also thinks some of them have failed a basic test of good sense and decency. It’s time for a conversation about college, and courage. SOURCE: Michael S. Roth, president of Wesleyan University. RESOURCES: "Opinion: College Presidents Are Supposed to Be Moral Le…

1
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Replay) 49:12

3M ago49:12

49:12

We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too. SOURCES: Sharon Begley, senior science writer for Stat at The Boston Globe. Jerome Kagan, emerit…

1
573. Can Academic Fraud Be Stopped? 1:02:32

3M ago1:02:32

1:02:32

Probably not — the incentives are too strong. Scholarly publishing is a $28 billion global industry, with misconduct at every level. But a few reformers are gaining ground. (Part 2 of 2) SOURCES: Max Bazerman, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Leif Nelson, professor of business administration at the University of Cali…

1
572. Why Is There So Much Fraud in Academia? 1:14:06

4M ago1:14:06

1:14:06

Some of the biggest names in behavioral science stand accused of faking their results. Last year, an astonishing 10,000 research papers were retracted. We talk to whistleblowers, reformers, and a co-author who got caught up in the chaos. (Part 1 of 2) SOURCES: Max Bazerman, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Leif Nelso…

1
571. Greeting Cards, Pizza Boxes, and Personal Injury Lawyers 49:25

4M ago49:25

49:25

In a special episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, host Zachary Crockett explains what millennials do to show they care, how corrugated cardboard keeps your food warm, and why every city has a billboard for a guy who calls himself “The Hammer.” SOURCES: Jason Abraham, managing partner of Hupy & Abraham. Nora Engstrom, professor at Stanford L…

1
570. Is Gynecology the Best Innovation Ever? 46:02

4M ago46:02

46:02

In a special episode of People I (Mostly) Admire, Steve Levitt talks to Cat Bohannon about her new book Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution. SOURCE: Cat Bohannon, researcher and author. RESOURCES: Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution, by Cat Bohannon (2023). "Genomic Inference of a Seve…

1
569. Do You Need Closure? 39:34

4M ago39:34

39:34

In a special episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan talk about unfinished tasks, recurring arguments, and Irish goodbyes. SOURCES: Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and visiting scholar at Harvard University. Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University. John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at…

1
568. Why Are People So Mad at Michael Lewis? 1:00:36

5M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

Lewis got incredible access to Sam Bankman-Fried, the billionaire behind the spectacular FTX fraud. His book is a bestseller, but some critics say he went too easy on S.B.F. Lewis tells us why the critics are wrong — and what it’s like to watch your book get turned into a courtroom drama. SOURCES: Michael Lewis, author. RESOURCES: Going Infinite: T…

1
567. Do the Police Have a Management Problem? 47:39

5M ago47:39

47:39

In policing, as in most vocations, the best employees are often promoted into leadership without much training. One economist thinks he can address this problem — and, with it, America’s gun violence. SOURCES Kenneth Corey, director of outreach and engagement for the Policing Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago and retired chief of depa…

1
513. Should Public Transit Be Free? (Update) 56:10

5M ago56:10

56:10

It boosts economic opportunity and social mobility. It’s good for the environment. So why do we charge people to use it? The short answer: it’s complicated. Also: We talk to the man who gets half the nation’s mass-transit riders where they want to go (most of the time). SOURCES: Marcus Finbom, traffic planner in Stockholm, Sweden. Robbie Makinen, f…

1
566. Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) to Build Anything in America? 54:45

5M ago54:45

54:45

Most industries have become more productive over time. But not construction! We identify the causes — and possible solutions. (Can you say ... “prefab”?) RESOURCES: "The Strange and Awful Path of Productivity in the US Construction Sector," by Austan Goolsbee and Chad Syverson (BFI Working Paper, 2023). "Infrastructure Costs," by Leah Brooks and Za…

1
Extra: Jason Kelce Hates to Lose 56:39

5M ago56:39

56:39

Pro footballer and star podcaster Jason Kelce is ubiquitous right now (almost as ubiquitous as his brother and co-host Travis, who's been in the limelight for his relationship with Taylor Swift). After you hear this wide-ranging interview, you might want even more Kelce in your life. RESOURCES: “N.F.L. Player Team Report Cards,” by the National Foo…

1
565. Are Private Equity Firms Plundering the U.S. Economy? 51:17

5M ago51:17

51:17

They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and employees. Can they both be right? (Probably not.) RESOURCES: Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, by Brendan Ballou (2023). Two and Twenty: How the Masters of Private Equity Always…

1
480. How Much Does Discrimination Hurt the Economy? (Replay) 57:50

6M ago57:50

57:50

Evidence from Nazi Germany and 1940’s America (and pretty much everywhere else) shows that discrimination is incredibly costly — to the victims, of course, but also the perpetrators. One modern solution is to invoke a diversity mandate. But new research shows that’s not necessarily the answer. RESOURCES: "Discrimination, Managers, and Firm Performa…

1
564. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency 52:00

6M ago52:00

52:00

Everyone makes mistakes. How do you learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest infectious disease. RESOURCES: Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, by Amy Edmondson (2023). "You Think Failure Is Hard? So Is Learning From It," by Lauren Eskreis-Winkler and Ayelet Fishbach (Perspectives on Psycho…

1
563. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit 1:03:37

6M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Giving up can be painful. That's why we need to talk about it. Today: stories about glitchy apps, leaky paint cans, broken sculptures — and a quest for the perfect bowl of ramen. RESOURCES "Data Snapshot: Tenure and Contingency in US Higher Education," by Glenn Colby (American Association of University Professors, 2023). Grit: The Power of Passion …

1
562. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 2: Life and Death 54:03

6M ago54:03

54:03

In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front line, the lab, and the I.T. department. RESOURCES: Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, by Amy Edmondson (2023). "Reconsidering the Application of Systems Thinking in Healthcare: The RaDonda Vaught Case," by Conno…

1
561. How to Succeed at Failing, Part 1: The Chain of Events 55:18

7M ago55:18

55:18

We tend to think of tragedies as a single terrible moment, rather than the result of multiple bad decisions. Can this pattern be reversed? We try — with stories about wildfires, school shootings, and love. RESOURCES Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, by Amy Edmondson (2023). "Michigan School Shooter Is Found Eligible for Life Sentenc…

1
232. A New Nobel Laureate Explains the Gender Pay Gap (Replay) 44:33

7M ago44:33

44:33

Claudia Goldin is the newest winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics. We spoke with her in 2016 about why women earn so much less than men — and how it’s not all explained by discrimination. SOURCES: Claudia Goldin, professor of economics at Harvard University.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
560. Is This “the Worst Job in Corporate America” — or Maybe the Best? 40:07

7M ago40:07

40:07

John Ray is an emergency C.E.O., a bankruptcy expert who takes over companies that have succumbed to failure or fraud. He’s currently cleaning up the mess left by alleged crypto scammer Sam Bankman-Fried. And he loves it. RESOURCES: "United States of America v. Samuel Bankman-Fried, a/k/a 'SBF,'" by the United States District Court Southern Distric…

1
559. Are Two C.E.O.s Better Than One? 50:35

7M ago50:35

50:35

If two parents can run a family, why shouldn’t two executives run a company? We dig into the research and hear firsthand stories of both triumph and disaster. Also: lessons from computer programmers, Simon and Garfunkel, and bears versus alligators. RESOURCES: "How Allbirds Lost Its Way," by Suzanne Kapner (The Wall Street Journal, 2023). "Is It Ti…

1
558. The Facts Are In: Two Parents Are Better Than One 1:04:07

7M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

In her new book The Two-Parent Privilege, the economist Melissa Kearney says it’s time for liberals to face the facts: U.S. marriage rates have plummeted but the babies keep coming, and the U.S. now leads the world in single-parent households. Plus: our friends at Atlas Obscura explore just how many parents a kid can have.…

1
557. When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? 1:00:53

8M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

The union that represents N.F.L. players conducted their first-ever survey of workplace conditions, and issued a report card to all 32 teams. What did the survey reveal? Clogged showers, rats in the locker room — and some helpful insights for those of us who don’t play pro football. For show notes, visit freakonomics.com/podcast/when-is-a-superstar…

1
556. A.I. Is Changing Everything. Does That Include You? 48:34

8M ago48:34

48:34

For all the speculation about the future, A.I. tools can be useful right now. Adam Davidson discovers what they can help us do, how we can get the most from them — and why the things that make them helpful also make them dangerous. (Part 3 of "How to Think About A.I.")By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
555. New Technologies Always Scare Us. Is A.I. Any Different? 47:33

8M ago47:33

47:33

Guest host Adam Davidson looks at what might happen to your job in a world of human-level artificial intelligence, and asks when it might be time to worry that the machines have become too powerful. (Part 2 of "How to Think About A.I.")By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
554. Can A.I. Take a Joke? 48:05

8M ago48:05

48:05

Artificial intelligence, we’ve been told, will destroy humankind. No, wait — it will usher in a new age of human flourishing! Guest host Adam Davidson (co-founder of Planet Money) sorts through the big claims about A.I.'s future by exploring its past and present — and whether it has a sense of humor. (Part 1 of "How to Think About A.I.")…

1
553. The Suddenly Diplomatic Rahm Emanuel 56:21

9M ago56:21

56:21

The famously profane politician and operative is now U.S. ambassador to Japan, where he’s trying to rewrite the rules of diplomacy. But don’t worry: When it comes to China, he’s every bit as combative as you’d expect.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
Should Traffic Lights Be Abolished? (Ep. 454 Replay) 46:48

9M ago46:48

46:48

Americans are so accustomed to the standard intersection that we rarely consider how dangerous it can be — as well as costly, time-wasting, and polluting. Is it time to embrace the lowly, lovely roundabout?By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
Extra: A Modern Whaler Speaks Up 26:42

9M ago26:42

26:42

Bjorn Andersen killed 111 minke whales this season. He tells us how he does it, why he does it, and what he thinks would happen if whale-hunting ever stopped. (This bonus episode is a follow-up to our series “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.")By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
552. Freakonomics Radio Presents: The Economics of Everyday Things 47:17

9M ago47:17

47:17

In three stories from our newest podcast, host Zachary Crockett digs into sports mascots, cashmere sweaters, and dinosaur skeletons.By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
551. What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life? 47:45

9M ago47:45

47:45

In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why "Moby-Dick" is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.")By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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