Freakonomics Radio — Podcast Ad Analysis
8 episodes analyzed
2 min ads · 3% of episode is ads
3.1 ads/episode
Top sponsors: Garbled non-show content, Mid-show break bumper, Transition music/sounds, Show title and host intro, Rerun introduction and update note
Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
PodSkip has analyzed 8 episodes of Freakonomics Radio, averaging 3.1 ads per episode (3% of runtime).
675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
May 15, 2026
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.”)
6 ads · 4 min · 0% ads
674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?
May 08, 2026
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…
3 ads · 2 min · 0% ads
Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update)
May 05, 2026
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…
4 ads · 5 min · 0% ads
673. What Is Money?
May 01, 2026
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…
672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run?
Apr 24, 2026
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…
4 ads · 1 min · 0% ads
Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update)
Apr 21, 2026
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…
6 ads · 3 min · 0% ads
671. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease?
Apr 17, 2026
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…
670. Beeconomics 101
Apr 10, 2026
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)
Apr 07, 2026
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…
669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky?
Apr 03, 2026
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?
Mar 27, 2026
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?
Mar 24, 2026
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…
Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?
Mar 20, 2026
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
Mar 13, 2026
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…
666. This Is How Progress Happens
Mar 06, 2026
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…
The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)
Mar 04, 2026
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…
665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...
Feb 27, 2026
... 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.
664. Are Thousands of Medical Cures Hiding in Plain Sight?
Feb 20, 2026
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.
All You Need Is Nudge (Update)
Feb 17, 2026
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…
663. Is Weed a Performance-Enhancing Drug?
Feb 13, 2026
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…
662. If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying
Feb 06, 2026
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.)
Why Don’t Running Backs Get Paid Anymore? (Update)
Feb 04, 2026
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…
661. Can A.I. Save Your Life?
Jan 30, 2026
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 —…
660. The Wellness Industry Is Gigantic — and Mostly Wrong
Jan 23, 2026
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…
Steve Levitt Quits His Podcast, Joins Ours
Jan 20, 2026
After five years, Levitt is ending People I (Mostly) Admire, and will start hosting the occasional Freakonomics Radio episode. We couldn’t be happier.
659. Can Marty Makary Fix the F.D.A.?
Jan 16, 2026
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…
658. This Is Your Brain on Supplements
Jan 09, 2026
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…
Are Personal Finance Gurus Giving You Bad Advice? (Update)
Jan 02, 2026
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.
Are You Ready for a Fresh Start? (Update)
Dec 29, 2025
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…
Are the Rich Really Less Generous Than the Poor? (Update)
Dec 26, 2025
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”…