Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive... more
As the U.S. tries to fix its messy immigration system, our neighbor to the north is scooping up more talented... more
The U.S. immigration system is a massively complicated machine, with a lot of worn-out parts. How to fix it? Step... more
She arrived in the U.S. as an 11-year-old refugee, then rose to become Secretary of State. Her views on immigration,... more
How did a nation of immigrants come to hate immigration? We start at the beginning, sort through the evidence, and... more
Economists have discovered an odd phenomenon: many people who use social media (even you, maybe?) wish it didn’t exist. But... more
In ancient Rome, it was bread and circuses. Today, it’s a World Cup, an Olympics, and a new Saudi-backed golf... more
What surprises lurk in our sewage? How did racist city planners end up saving Black lives? Why does Arizona grow... more
It used to feel like magic. Now it can feel like a set of cheap tricks. Is the problem with... more
A wide-open conversation with three women who guided Richard Feynman through some big adventures at the Esalen Institute. (Part of... more
In his final years, Richard Feynman's curiosity took him to some surprising places. We hear from his companions on the... more
What happens when an existentially depressed and recently widowed young physicist from Queens gets a fresh start in California? We... more
They’re heading to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years. But back in 2018, they were coming... more
From the Manhattan Project to the Challenger investigation, the physicist Richard Feynman loved to shoot down what he called “lousy... more
Michael Roth of Wesleyan University doesn’t hang out with other university presidents. He also thinks some of them have failed... more
We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.”... more
Probably not — the incentives are too strong. Scholarly publishing is a $28 billion global industry, with misconduct at every... more
Some of the biggest names in behavioral science stand accused of faking their results. Last year, an astonishing 10,000 research... more
In a special episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, host Zachary Crockett explains what millennials do to show they... more
In a special episode of People I (Mostly) Admire, Steve Levitt talks to Cat Bohannon about her new book "Eve:... more
In a special episode of No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan talk about unfinished tasks, recurring arguments, and... more
Lewis got incredible access to Sam Bankman-Fried, the billionaire behind the spectacular FTX fraud. His book is a bestseller, but... more
In policing, as in most vocations, the best employees are often promoted into leadership without much training. One economist thinks... more
It boosts economic opportunity and social mobility. It’s good for the environment. So why do we charge people to use... more
Most industries have become more productive over time. But not construction! We identify the causes — and possible solutions. (Can... more
Pro footballer and star podcaster Jason Kelce is ubiquitous right now (almost as ubiquitous as his brother and co-host Travis,... more
They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to enrich themselves at... more
Evidence from Nazi Germany and 1940’s America (and pretty much everywhere else) shows that discrimination is incredibly costly — to... more
Everyone makes mistakes. How do you learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest... more
Giving up can be painful. That's why we need to talk about it. Today: stories about glitchy apps, leaky paint... more
In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front... more
We tend to think of tragedies as a single terrible moment, rather than the result of multiple bad decisions. Can... more
Claudia Goldin is the newest winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics. We spoke with her in 2016 about why... more
John Ray is an emergency C.E.O., a bankruptcy expert who takes over companies that have succumbed to failure or fraud.... more
If two parents can run a family, why shouldn’t two executives run a company? We dig into the research and... more
In her new book "The Two-Parent Privilege," the economist Melissa Kearney says it’s time for liberals to face the facts:... more
The union that represents N.F.L. players conducted their first-ever survey of workplace conditions, and issued a report card to all... more
For all the speculation about the future, A.I. tools can be useful right now. Adam Davidson discovers what they can... more
Guest host Adam Davidson looks at what might happen to your job in a world of human-level artificial intelligence, and... more
Artificial intelligence, we’ve been told, will destroy humankind. No, wait — it will usher in a new age of human... more
The famously profane politician and operative is now U.S. ambassador to Japan, where he’s trying to rewrite the rules of... more
Americans are so accustomed to the standard intersection that we rarely consider how dangerous it can be — as well... more
Bjorn Andersen killed 111 minke whales this season. He tells us how he does it, why he does it, and... more
In three stories from our newest podcast, host Zachary Crockett digs into sports mascots, cashmere sweaters, and dinosaur skeletons.
In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why "Moby-Dick" is still... more
For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredient in (yum!) margarine. Whale meat... more
Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come... more
Actually, the reasons are pretty clear. The harder question is: Will we ever care enough to stop?
Sure, you were “in love.” But economists — using evidence from "Bridgerton" to Tinder — point to what’s called “assortative... more
But as C.E.O. of the resurgent Microsoft, he is firmly at the center of the A.I. revolution. We speak with... more
Probably not. The economist Kelly Shue argues that E.S.G. investing just gives more money to firms that are already green... more
Gun control, abortion rights, drug legalization — it seems like every argument these days claims that if X happens, then... more
He turned a small Hollywood talent agency into a massive sports-and-entertainment empire. In a freewheeling conversation, he explains how he... more
Sure, markets work well in general. But for some transactions — like school admissions and organ transplants — money alone... more
Museums are purging their collections of looted treasures. Can they also get something in return? And what does it mean... more
The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the... more
How did a freshly looted Egyptian antiquity end up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why did it take Kim... more
Whether it’s a giant infrastructure plan or a humble kitchen renovation, it’ll inevitably take way too long and cost way... more
Every language has its taboo words (which many people use all the time). But the list of forbidden words is... more
Delaware is beloved by corporations, bankruptcy lawyers, tax avoiders, and money launderers. Critics say the Delaware “franchise” is undemocratic and... more
Many companies say they want to create more opportunities for Black Americans. One company is doing something concrete about it.... more
The world’s great museums are full of art and artifacts that were plundered during an era when plunder was the norm. Now... more