About Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics Radio is a podcast hosted by journalist Stephen J. Dubner that explores the hidden side of everything. It grew out of the best-selling 2005 book Freakonomics, which Dubner wrote with economist Steven Levitt, and launched as a podcast in 2010. The show applies the tools of economics and social science to questions that range from everyday habits to major public issues.
Topics and Questions
Episodes cover economics, business, education, health, sport, crime, politics and behaviour. The show often asks unexpected questions and follows the data to surprising answers, challenging conventional wisdom along the way. Topics might include why certain policies fail, how incentives shape decisions, what makes people happy or how particular industries really work behind the scenes.
Approach and Style
Freakonomics Radio combines interviews with researchers, business leaders and practitioners with clear narration and a curious, sometimes playful tone. It values evidence and is open about uncertainty, showing listeners how researchers reach their conclusions. Multi-part series allow the show to explore large subjects, such as health care or management, in more depth than a single episode would allow.
Listening and Related Shows
Freakonomics Radio is available on major podcast platforms and on public radio. It is the flagship of the Freakonomics Radio Network, which also includes People I (Mostly) Admire, hosted by Steven Levitt, and No Stupid Questions. It suits listeners who enjoy economics, social science and fresh thinking, and anyone curious about why people and institutions behave as they do.