Podcasts · Documentary
Freakonomics Radio
346 episodes · 20 with AI analysis
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.
AI Intelligence · across all analyzed episodes
People · top 20
Companies · top 20
University of Chicago×4Apple×4Google×4Tesla×3Facebook×2Waymo×2Aspen Music Festival×2National Institutes of Health (NIH)×2Microsoft×2Stanford University×2New York Philharmonic×2Food and Drug Administration (FDA)×2PaddleIG (Investment Platform)University of TorontoCDCVirgin AtlanticWharton School, University of PennsylvaniaIndianapolis ColtsEminem Pest Control
Topics · top 10
Bourbon production regulations and federal standardsBarrel aging economics and inventory managementThree-tier alcohol distribution system inefficienciesGeographic concentration and infrastructure clusteringTariff impacts on spirits exports and global tradeGenerational consumer preference shifts (Gen Z vs. older drinkers)Ready-to-drink cocktail market growthBourbon industry oversupply and consolidationLimestone water quality and terroir in bourbon productionCharred oak barrel manufacturing and sourcing
Analyzed Episodes
Apr 3, 2026
669. Why Is 95 Percent of the World’s Bourbon Made in Kentucky?
Bourbon production regulations and federal standardsBarrel aging economics and inventory managementThree-tier alcohol distribution system inefficiencies
View AnalysisApr 17, 2026
671. Why Has There Been So Little Progress on Alzheimer’s Disease?
Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis in Alzheimer's ResearchScientific Image Manipulation and Forensic DetectionResearch Integrity and Misconduct in Neuroscience
View AnalysisApr 22, 2026
Why Does Everyone Hate Rats? (Update)
Black Death epidemiology and plague transmission mechanismsRat-human disease vectors and zoonotic disease riskUrban sanitation and waste management as pest control
View AnalysisApr 24, 2026
672. What Makes Judy Faulkner Run?
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market DominanceHealthcare IT Antitrust LitigationAI-Powered Clinical Decision Support
View AnalysisMay 1, 2026
673. What Is Money?
Contemporary classical music compositionAdam Smith economic philosophy and reinterpretationMoney as social construct and labor representation
View AnalysisMay 6, 2026
Was Adam Smith Really a Right-Winger? (Update)
Adam Smith's moral philosophy and its relationship to political economyThe invisible hand metaphor and its modern misinterpretationChicago School economics and the selective reading of historical texts
View AnalysisMay 8, 2026
674. How Does a Composer Feel After the World Premiere?
Contemporary classical music composition and oratorio formAdam Smith's economic philosophy and modern interpretationArts funding and philanthropic patronage models
View AnalysisMay 15, 2026
675. Has the New York Times Become a Games Company?
Game Design Principles and Systems ThinkingSubscription Business Model TransformationPlayer Retention and Engagement Metrics
View AnalysisApr 10, 2026
670. Beeconomics 101
Honey fraud and food adulteration economicsPositive externalities in agricultural marketsPollination services pricing and market structure
View AnalysisApr 8, 2026
Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System (Update)
Federal Tax System Myths and MisconceptionsTax Policy Reform and Base BroadeningNational Debt and Deficit Crisis
View AnalysisMar 27, 2026
668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on Their Hands?
Traffic Fatalities and Road SafetySmartphone Distraction While DrivingMusic Streaming and Consumer Behavior
View AnalysisFeb 6, 2026
662. If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying
Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Professional SportsAnti-Doping Policy and EnforcementSports Ethics and Rule-Making
View AnalysisMar 13, 2026
667. Here’s Why You Are Constantly Fighting Off Scammers
Pig Butchering ScamsRomance-to-Crypto Investment FraudTech Support Scams
View AnalysisMar 20, 2026
Are Human Drivers Finally Obsolete?
Autonomous Vehicle Safety Data and MetricsDARPA Grand Challenge Impact on Technology DevelopmentMachine Learning and Neural Networks in Autonomous Systems
View AnalysisFeb 4, 2026
Why Don’t Running Backs Get Paid Anymore? (Update)
NFL Running Back Economics and Salary DeclineSports Analytics and Performance Valuation2011 NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement Impact
View AnalysisMar 6, 2026
666. This Is How Progress Happens
Economic History and Long-Term Growth DriversCulture vs. Institutions in Economic DevelopmentTechnological Progress and Innovation Ecosystems
View AnalysisMar 4, 2026
The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)
Commodity Trading Industry Structure and OperationsPhysical Commodity Markets vs. Financial Derivatives TradingMark Rich and the History of Modern Commodity Trading
View AnalysisFeb 27, 2026
665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...
Artificial Intelligence in Creative IndustriesFilm and Documentary ProductionEducational Philosophy and Student Development
View AnalysisFeb 13, 2026
663. Is Weed a Performance-Enhancing Drug?
Cannabis as Performance-Enhancing DrugEndocannabinoid System and Exercise PhysiologyNFL Drug Testing Policies and Enforcement
View AnalysisFeb 18, 2026
All You Need Is Nudge (Update)
Choice Architecture and Nudge TheoryBehavioral Economics ApplicationsRetirement Savings Auto-Enrollment
View Analysis