Freakonomics Radio

Episode

• The Vanishing Mr. Feynman (Update) 29.05.2026 1j

  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 originally published in 2024.)
• The Brilliant Mr. Feynman (Update) 27.05.2026 52mnt

  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 originally published in 2024.)
• The Curious Mr. Feynman (Update) 22.05.2026 1j 3mnt

  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 originally published in 2024.)
• 675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company? 15.05.2026 57mnt

  Not exactly. But their runaway success with games like Wordle says something bigger about the way we live now. (Part one of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”)
• 674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere? 08.05.2026 45mnt

  Great. Then depressed. Then great again. Stephen Dubner gets the full story from David Lang; we also hear from some fans, and the New York Philharmonic’s president. The math and the aftermath of “wealth of nations.” (Part two of a series.)
• Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update) 06.05.2026 1j 8mnt

  Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. In this updated replay of a 2022 episode, we hold a very Smithy tug of war.
• 673. What Is Money? 01.05.2026 54mnt

  That’s what the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang wanted to learn. So he turned Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations into an oratorio. We tag along as Lang’s piece heads toward its world premiere with the New York Philharmonic. (Part one of a two-part series.)
• 672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run? 24.04.2026 1j

  Epic Systems manages the electronic health records for hundreds of millions of people. This makes Faulkner a healthcare heavyweight and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in history. So why haven’t we ever heard much from her? Stephen Dubner travels to Verona, Wisc., to explore the Faulknerverse.
• Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update) 22.04.2026 40mnt

  New York City’s mayor called them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. In an updated episode from 2025, we ask: Is the rat a scapegoat? And what does our rat hatred say about us?
• 671. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease? 17.04.2026 1j 1mnt

  One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle.
• 670. Beeconomics 101 10.04.2026 55mnt

  How do beekeepers make a living? Why is there so much honey fraud? And why did billions of bees suddenly disappear? To find out, guest host Steve Levitt activates his hive mind.
• Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update) 08.04.2026 1j 4mnt

  Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. In this update of an episode from 2025, Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse than you think.
• 669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky? 03.04.2026 46mnt

  Is it tradition … or protectionism? And what happens when the bourbon boom turns into a glut?
• 668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on Their Hands? 27.03.2026 53mnt

  As one researcher told us: “We’ve engineered a world where the most distracting device ever made is also the one we use to listen to music in the car." A new study tries to measure the cost.
• In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins? 25.03.2026 1j 5mnt

  In blue cities across the country, unions and politicians want to ban self-driving cars. In this episode from the Search Engine podcast, PJ Vogt visits Boston to sort the facts from the propaganda. (Part two of a two-part series.)
• Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete? 20.03.2026 1j 11mnt

  How a secret project at Google led to driverless cars on American roads. Freakonomics Radio shares a story from our friends at Search Engine. (Part one of a two-part series.)
• 667. Here’s Why You Are Constantly Fighting Off Scammers 13.03.2026 47mnt

  A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doing about it.
• 666. This Is How Progress Happens 06.03.2026 53mnt

  Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate.
• The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update) 04.03.2026 1j 6mnt

  Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.
• 665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ... 27.02.2026 49mnt

  ... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth.