Freakonomics Radio

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.) SOURCES:Alex DaviesDriven: The Race To Create the Autonomous CarChris UrmsonDon BurnettePJ VogtSearch Engine Sebastian ThrunTimothy B. LeeUnderstanding AI RESOURCES:Very few of Waymo’s most serious crashes were Waymo’s fault(UnderstandAI, Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car, An Oral History of the Darpa Grand Challenge, the Grueling Robot Race That Launched the Self-Driving Car(WIRED,Understanding AI, Waymo Safety Dashboard EXTRAS:The Fascinatingly Mundane Secrets of the World’s Most Exclusive NightclubFreakonomics Radio Search Engine, Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. SOURCES:Kati DaffanMarti DeLiemaMark Frank RESOURCES:Cambodian Scam Tycoon Wanted by U.S. Extradited to China(Wall Street Journal,The Rise and Fall Of Accused Cambodian Scam Kingpin Chen Zhi(Bloomberg,Protecting Older Consumers 2024-2025Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show(Reuters,Exposed to Scams: What Separates Victims from Non-victims?(Stanford Center on Longevity,Why do Nigerian Scammers Say They are from Nigeria?(Microsoft Research,Thinking, Fast and Slow, FTC Fraud Reporting Portal Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. SOURCES:Joel Mokyr RESOURCES:Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000, The Outsize Role of Immigrants in US Innovation(NBER, A Culture of Growth: The Origins of the Modern Economy, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, The Economics of Being JewishCritical Review, 2011 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. SOURCES:Javier BlasJack FarchyRESOURCES:The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources, The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich, EXTRAS:How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Update)Freakonomics Radio The First Great American IndustryFreakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

... 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. SOURCES:Werner Herzog RESOURCES:The Future of Truth, Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir, EXTRAS:When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries?Freakonomics Radio Werner Herzog Thinks His Films Are a DistractionPeople I (Mostly) Admire Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle. SOURCES:Chris SnyderDavid FajgenbaumHeather StoneSarrin Chethik RESOURCES:Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir, Strong Medicine: Creating Incentives for Pharmaceutical Research on Neglected Diseases, Market Shaping AcceleratorCURE ID Registry Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises? SOURCES:Richard Thaler RESOURCES:Nudge: The Final EditionSludge: What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do About It, Sludge: Americans Spend 11.4 Billion Hours Filling Out Federal PaperworkBig Think,Carbon Taxation in SwedenThe Climate Club: How to Fix a Failing Global EffortOrgan Donation: Presumed Consent and Focusing on What MattersThe Journal of Medical Ethics Blog EXTRAS:SludgeFreakonomics Radio “People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is Hard. (Ep. 340 Rebroadcast)Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The science says no, at least not in the athletic sense. But the psychic benefits can be large — just ask former N.F.L. star Ricky Williams. He says athletes should consider cannabis a healing drug, not a party drug. Even the N.F.L. is starting to agree. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Angela BryanRicky Williams RESOURCES:Using A Lab On Wheels To Study Weed From DispensariesScience Friday Exercise-induced euphoria and anxiolysis do not depend on endogenous opioids in humansPsychoneuroendocrinology, Endocannabinoids mediate runner’s high(Science Signaling,Cannabis and Exercise Science: A Commentary on Existing Studies and Suggestions for Future Directions(Sports Medicine,Run Ricky Run, EXTRAS:Is America Switching from Booze to Weed?Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In sports, the rules are meant to be sacrosanct. But when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs, the slope is super-slippery. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES:April HenningAron D'SouzaFloyd LandisLouisa Thomas RESOURCES:Doping: A Sporting History, The Man Who Brought Down Lance Armstrong(The Atlantic,Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong, Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, EXTRAS:Has Lance Armstrong Finally Come Clean?Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

They used to be the N.F.L.’s biggest stars, with paychecks to match. Now their salaries are near the bottom, and their careers are shorter than ever. In this updated episode from 2025, we speak with an analytics guru, an agent, an economist, and some former running backs to understand why. SOURCES:Brian Burke,Roland Fryer,LeSean McCoy,Robert Smith,Robert Turbin,Jeffery Whitney, RESOURCES:The Economics of Running Backs,(Wall Street Journal,Confessions of a Hero-Worshiper, The Rest of the Iceberg: An Insider’s View on the World of Sports and Celebrity, EXTRAS:Roland Fryer Refuses to Lie to Black America,Freakonomics RadioWhy Does the Most Monotonous Job in the World Pay $1 Million?Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For 50 years, the healthcare industry has been trying (and failing) to harness the power of artificial intelligence. It may finally be ready for prime time. What will this mean for human doctors — and the rest of us? (Part four of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Bob WachterPierre Elias RESOURCES:A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future, Epic Systems (MyChart)Acquired Detecting structural heart disease from electrocardiograms using AI(Nature,What Are the Risks of Sharing Medical Records With ChatGPT?(New York Times,Will Generative Artificial Intelligence Deliver on Its Promise in Health Care?(JAMA,The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age, EXTRAS:The Doctor Won’t See You NowFreakonomics Radio How to Stop Worrying and Love the Robot Apocalypse (Update)Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zeke Emanuel (a physician, medical ethicist, and policy wonk) has some different ideas for how to lead a healthy and meaningful life. It starts with ice cream. (Part three of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Zeke Emanuel RESOURCES:Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life, Nutrition Science’s Most Preposterous Result(The Atlantic, EXTRAS:Is Ozempic as Magical as It Sounds?Freakonomics Radio The Suddenly Diplomatic Rahm EmanuelFreakonomics Radio Ari Emanuel Is Never IndifferentFreakonomics Radio What’s the “Best” Exercise?Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After five years, Levitt is ending People I (Mostly) Admire, and will start hosting the occasional Freakonomics Radio episode. We couldn’t be happier. SOURCES:Steve LevittFreakonomicsPeople I (Mostly) Admire RESOURCES:How to Help Kids SucceedPeople I (Mostly) Admire Feeling Sound and Hearing ColorPeople I (Mostly) Admire Richard Dawkins on God, Genes, and Murderous Baby CuckoosPeople I (Mostly) Admire Arnold Schwarzenegger Has Some Advice for YouPeople I (Mostly) Admire Drawing from Life (and Death)People I (Mostly) Admire Yuval Noah Harari Thinks Life is Meaningless and AmazingPeople I (Mostly) Admire Is This the Future of High School?People I (Mostly) Admire Does Death Have to Be a Death Sentence?People I (Mostly) Admire Sal Khan: 'If It Works for 15 Cousins, It Could Work for a Billion PeoplePeople I (Mostly) Admire Jared Diamond on the Downfall of Civilizations — and His Optimism for OursPeople I (Mostly) Admire Amanda & Lily Levitt Share What It’s Like to be Steve’s DaughtersPeople I (Mostly) Admire How Rahm Emanuel Would Run the WorldFreakonomics Radio The Levitt Lab Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It regulates 20 percent of the U.S. economy, and its commissioner has an aggressive agenda — faster drug approvals, healthier food, cures for diabetes and cancer. How much can he deliver? (Part two of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Marty Makary RESOURCES:Clinical Trials Affected by Research Grant Terminations at the National Institutes of Health(JAMA Internal Medicine,What the evidence tells us about Tylenol, leucovorin, and autism(STAT,I Run the F.D.A. Pharma Ads Are Hurting Americans(New York Times,Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health, EXTRAS:Are You Really Allergic to Penicillin?Freakonomics Radio How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. HealthcareFreakonomics Radio Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death by DiagnosisFreakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We all want to stay sharp, and forestall the cognitive effects of aging. But do brain supplements actually work? Are they safe? And why doesn’t the F.D.A. even know what’s in them? (Part one of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”) SOURCES:Marty MakaryPeter AttiaThe Peter Attia DrivePieter Cohen RESOURCES:Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead(Consumer Reports,Accuracy of Labeling of Galantamine Generic Drugs and Dietary Supplements(JAMA,Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, Revealing the hidden dangers of dietary supplements(Science, EXTRAS:China Is Run by Engineers. America Is Run by LawyersFreakonomics Radio How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. HealthcareFreakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One Yale economist certainly thinks so. But even if he’s right, are economists any better? We find out, in this update of a 2022 episode. SOURCES:James ChoiMorgan Housel RESOURCES:The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life, Popular Personal Financial Advice versus the ProfessorsJournal of Economic Perspectives, Media Persuasion and Consumption: Evidence from the Dave Ramsey ShowSSRN, The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness, In Bogle Family, It’s Either Passive or AggressiveWall Street Journal, EXTRAS: Harold Pollack on Why Managing Your Money Is as Easy as Taking Out the GarbagePeople I (Mostly) Admire People Aren’t Dumb. The World Is HardFreakonomics Radio Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Money (But Were Afraid to Ask)Freakonomics Radio The Stupidest Thing You Can Do With Your MoneyFreakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Behavioral scientists have been exploring whether a psychological reset can lead to lasting change. In this update of a 2021 episode, we survey evidence from the London Underground, Major League Baseball, and New Year’s resolutions to look at accidental fresh starts, forced fresh starts, fresh starts that backfire — and the ones that succeed. SOURCES:Katy MilkmanAndy ByfordFerdinand RauchHengchen DaiBob Tewksbury RESOURCES:A Large-Scale Experiment on New Year’s Resolutions: Approach-Oriented Goals are More Successful than Avoidance-Oriented GoalsPLOS ONEA Double-Edged Sword: How and Why Resetting Performance Metrics Affects Motivation and PerformanceOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision ProcessesThe Benefits of Forced Experimentation: Striking Evidence from the London Underground NetworkFraming the Future: The Risks of Pre-Commitment Nudges and Potential of Fresh Start MessagingNBERThe Fresh Start Effect: Temporal Landmarks Motivate Aspirational BehaviorManagement Science, Holding the Hunger Games Hostage at the Gym: An Evaluation of Temptation BundlinManagement Science, The Resolution Solution: Longitudinal Examination of New Year’s Change AttemptsJournal of Substance Abuse, EXTRAS:How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A series of academic studies suggest that the wealthy are, to put it bluntly, selfish jerks. It’s an easy narrative to embrace — but is it true? As part of GiveDirectly’s “Pods Fight Poverty” campaign, we revisit a 2017 episode. SOURCES:Jim AndreoniNikos NikiforakisPaul PiffJan Stoop RESOURCES:Are the Rich More Selfish Than the Poor, or do They Just Have More Money? A Natural Field ExperimentNational Bureau of Economic Research,Exploring the Psychology of Wealth, 'Pernicious' Effects of Economic InequalityPBS NewsHour, Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function(Science,Higher Social Class Predicts Increased Unethical Behavior(PNAS, 2011).Relative Earnings and Giving in a Real-Effort Experiment(American Economic Review,Experimenter Demand Effects in Economic Experiments(Experimental Economics,Impure Altruism and Donations to Public Goods: A Theory of Warm-Glow Giving(The Economic Journal,Privately Provided Public Goods in a Large Economy: The Limits of Altruism(Journal of Public Economics,A Positive Model of Private Charity and Public Transfers(Journal of Political Economy,Pods Fight Poverty Campaign on Give Directly. EXTRAS:How to Raise Money Without Killing a KittenFreakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All sorts of people have put their mark on Messiah, and it has been a hit for nearly 300 years. How can a single piece of music thrive in so many settings? You could say it’s because Handel really knew how to write a banger. (Part three of “Making Messiah.”) SOURCES:Charles KingJane GloverKatharine HoggSusannah HeschelMark RisingerMichael MarissenTainted Glory in Handel’s Messiah: The Unsettling History of the World’s Most Beloved Choral Work. RESOURCES:Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel’s Messiah, Why These Christmas Songs Could Only Be Written in America(The Free Press,Reflections on Bernstein’s 1956 “Messiah(Leonard Bernstein Office,Handel in London: The Making of a Genius, Tainted Glory in Handel's Messiah: The Unsettling History of the World's Most Beloved Choral Work, Handel’s Messiah EXTRAS:Making MessiahFreakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the 18th century, Handel relied on royal patronage. Today, it’s donors like Gary Parr who keep the music playing. In this bonus episode of our “Making Messiah” series, Parr breaks down the economics of the New York Philharmonic. SOURCES:Gary Parr RESOURCES:A Notoriously Jinxed Concert Hall Is Reborn, Again(New York Times,Apollo’s New Guy Is a Legend in Banking, a Novice in Buyouts(Bloomberg,Handel’s MessiahRacial/Ethnic and Gender Diversity in the Orchestra Field(League of American OrchestrasParr Prize for Excellence in Teaching Shakespeare EXTRAS:Making Messiah,Freakonomics Radio Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.