This is on my top five podcasts and covers a great range of topics with a really interesting perspective

Outstanding podcast! Thank you!

Why does this show still exist? It jumped the shark over a decade ago. A one fine public radio show that is now a laugh trap for the sitcom that is post capitalism.

Used to listen to this until he had Blinken on, did not ask the hard questions, and let him skirt around the topic of Gaza’s mass destruction. Wish I could give zero stars. The easiest unsubscribe I’ve ever done

Love this show, just don’t make it about pushing politics. It’s supposed to be on the interesting parts of the economy, not interviews with your favorite people in government.

The latest episode platforming genocide enabler- Antony Blinken and outright defending the wholesale ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by Stephen Dubner was shocking. While I long suspected what “side” he was on, he just came out fine blazing to fully defend the slaughter of innocent people. Goodbye Freakonomics network, and good riddance

White-washing the horrors that Antony Blinken is directly responsible for is diabolical. This man facilitated a genocide. He should be in the bowels of The Hague not sitting comfortable, attempting to rehabilitate his disturbing decisions on your low rent podcast while Gaza starves. Stephen, you ought too be ashamed of yourself.

Enjoy listening to the interview with Secretary of Defense

Episode about Blinken is very pro Israel disguised in sympathetic veil of sympathy for Palestinians .

This neoliberal fundamentalist show has reached its new low. Having a war criminal on to talk about peace?! I thought the host’s moral compass was skewed by orthodox economic doctrines, but apparently there is none.

“How much does it cost to live a creative life?” Very expensive given how Stephen Dubner deleted the recording of Ari Emmanuel trashing Justin Baldoni his own client on a live episode. It made Ari look bad, so Stephen lied and said it was never recorded. I’ve been listening since 2015. It has been hard to listen to since the cover up. Stephen will always choose money over telling us the truth.

As a University of Chicago graduate, I really enjoyed Steven Levitt shaping the contours of what was initially a very insightful book and podcast. But Dubner’s political proclivities are starting to overwhelm like a bad wine with a singular flavor profile. The recent conversation with Cory Booker included so much divisive language that the episode feels like it would serve to divide the country more than unify. Neither Dubner nor Booker seem to have their thumb truly on the pulse of how Americans thinking and feel. As somebody who has lived in some of the largest and most progressive cities in the country in the world, but has also lived in poverty in rural areas throughout the country, I feel like that the lack of perspective to be a prime example of the Dunning Kruger Effect, showing that they’re ”often wrong but never in doubt.” Sad. Maybe it’s time for a new host. I mean, I know Dubner co-authored the book with Levitt, but Dubner has become difficult to listen to.

The Booker interview had potential to be good and you went half way to good interview. How are baby bonds a bad idea? Is Booker making perfect the enemy of the good or something else? For someone aware of the hidden reasons behind everything you didn’t push to understand how Booker’s ideas, enacted by the other party are now bad. Be better, ask those questions or don’t bother to interview.

Dubner feels like he’s either lost his touch or I’m just not sure what the first episodes of the podcast were supposed to embody. His questions are so low-ball as to either be gimmes or reflect the most basic political discourse. Who’s freakonomics for? I want to understand the real impact of presidential policy on the economy, but the podcast doesn’t take enough of a stance. To be clear, I don’t need this to tell me how to think, but I’d like some more critical analysis of how policy changes will change the average American’s daily life.

A while ago you had a show about retail trouble and talked to a CEO. If you want to know what the problem really is talk to people who actually unpack the boxes, stock the shelves, process the sales and talk to the people. You complain about Mamdani talking about taxing the rich and don't speak in the same breath that the working poor are holding up this country and suffering every day to survive. You have guests on that carve their langauge to say the extremely wealthy are paying more taxes than wealthy Europeans, but don't mention that the wealthy in our pond are far wealthier. I enjoy listening to a show that explains processes, but I don't think the working poor are your desired listeners because you often lead them astray.

Been a long time fan, I started at the two books and the movie. I tune in to learn something, but I’m always stuck with the saying, “how you do some things, is how you do everything.” This is where I’m stuck. It is clear this is a New York, Zionist, Democrat show. It is not impartial learning. It is everything through that lens and that is disappointing. The latest Cory Booker episode is difficult to get through, and I felt I needed to spend a few minutes warning people. If you want a love letter to Zionist Democrats, with sprinkles of “objectivity”, this show is for you. Just be warned before you think you are learning. It is 50% indoctrination and 50% learning… in that order…

So allowing the poor/minorities to kill their babies makes the country safer for liberals, while conservatives wanting babies to live regardless of race is sexist? Another one sided liberal hack with Cory Booker, why no questions about warlords Biden and Obama? This guy really could give 3 positive things Trump dude, had to make them all woke ideals of liberals. No -sense.

This guy is a total fake and a fraud. What are you doing giving him a platform I'm out dude. It's been some time coming this. Just put it over the edge

This aging conversation seems to be big right now. Many aspects of aging well seem to be discussed here in this podcast and in others. What’s not being discussed is that this longevity spaced also includes us living longer at the stage where we need more care from others. Yeah, have we discussed that, in our retirement age, we will might not be working longer, nor traveling to wonderful places…no…we will be providing more care for many more years for our elders…changing adult diapers, meal prep, getting them up every morning and helping them get dressed, making sure they don’t fall. Then there is grocery shopping, house maintenance, grass mowing, haircuts, nail trims, trips to get toenails cut, bathing, helping them brush their teeth…and the list goes on. This is not pretty, nor fun, for the care giver and the care receiver. And this can be years in this stage…our family is heading to its fourth year with one brother putting his “retirement years” on hold…while he provides about four plus hours of care, a few in the morning and three in the evening/night for our elderly mom. He does this EVERY day, accept when me and my other brother can give him a break. And hiring every aspect out gets very expensive. So yeah….lets talk about aging from this angle? This is important. And it’s real! It’s hidden.

Uplifting and enlightening.

The “what it’s like to be middle aged (in the Middle ages)” episode had it all! I didn’t want it to end. I love learning about centuries old human civilization, especially when we can compare it to what it’s like to live today. Thanks for bringing history alive and I hope you do another deep dive like this!

I read the book many years ago (don’t know if there’s many of them) and when I saw there’s a podcast, I didn’t imagine how many episodes there are. And you can be surprise how well documented they are and liked the book they have an extraordinary ending for a simple beginning!

Austan Goolsbee was a really fun interview guest. Who knew economics could be so entertaining! Great program with great questions.

Please move on….!

Followed for many years but more recently quality has diminished. Conversations with his chums and people he admires is not what I had come to enjoy when I started to listen. Bring back the deeper analysis and balanced conversations

This program has always been one of my favorites, and now too as a Podcast. Content rich is an understatement. In fact it was hitting close to home in the episode on Failure Part 1 and subsequent 3 episodes. The appeal has always been on how the host and editors reframe our life experience. Failure as a college course was introduced and makes so much sense. I do hope decision makers and educators listen to this entire series.

After getting way too involved with true crime podcasts I recently revisited Freakonomics. Forgot how great a show it is. Now I have a ton of episodes I can binge listen too.

I'm fairly new to this show and I don't listen to every episode, I pick and choose what seems to interest me, but it's great. Thorough and detailed but fast pace to keep the listener interested. Not overly political

I loved episode 1; fascinating and waiting for the next; the teaser was a shock to hear!

I love this podcast! I always learn so much. It moves quickly and smoothly. Just a joy.

I enjoy listening to the podcast very much. The topics are diverse and interesting. The interviewer is intelligent and not passive. He comes from a rational, free market point of view. He sticks to the facts. It is refreshing,

Don’t know what the best way to make show suggestions is so I’ll just try this…see title for suggestion. Been a fan since book 1. Love what you and your team do and have learned probably more than I learned in secondary school and college combined! Keep up the great work please.

I have listened to the show on and off for many years and do appreciate the guests, insights, and amount of research that goes into each episode! However, I very much wish there were more critical analysis/counter argument with the guests. For example, the recent episode with Jessica Reidl was very interesting and entertaining and I appreciate her insights. However, her arguments about the effective taxation rate of the American people and about the value of taxing the ultra wealthy were sometimes disingenuous or selective and were clearly structured to shut down policy debates in these areas, not inform us about “myths”. Saying that the American middle class is “under-taxed” compared with other OECD countries without mentioning state and local taxes at all (sales, income, property, fuel, etc.) is misleading/disingenuous at best and manipulative at worst. Other countries have completely different tax regimes and governance structures compared to the US and you can’t just compare nominal bracket rates apples to apples. The host knows this but didn’t push back. Similarly, the sound-bite phrasing of stealing all of billionaires’ wealth not being enough to address the deficit is meant to shut down policy arguments in favor of making the ultra wealthy pay their fair share. Not one mention of tax avoidance and evasion, especially a problem with multi millionaires and billionaires, as well as corporations; a problem fueled by understaffing the IRS. Ensuring the ultra wealthy and corporations pay the taxes they already owe would in fact contribute hundreds of billions ANNUALLY toward addressing the deficit. The host knows this as well. These are just a few examples, but please this is not the time for credulous “conversations” about policies that are weaponized against the American people as we speak. We need informed and critical debate about how to build a fair and efficient government that delivers for the people, not just balancing a giant check book.

This podcast is one of the main stays in my feed. It’s probably been in my feed the longest and when I think back, it has been one of the most consistently interesting and listened to. It is thought-provoking and well researched. Every once in a while, there’s a topic that I am not interested in or that just doesn’t grab me. But for the most part, it has been great. In particular, I wanted to acknowledge and recognize the recent episode 628 which was part two of sludge. I thought it was amazingly fair and balanced. Given the subject matter that could’ve gone in all kinds of extreme political directions, but the host and the guest and the entire conversation was extremely fair and balanced in my view. This is noteworthy, not just because it’s important but also because it’s so rare.

I’ve never written a podcast review, but after listening to the brief extra about the show that “never happened”, I suddenly realized what I love so much about Freakonomics. The topics are interesting and the guests are engaging, though, admittedly, not always my cup of tea. The show is certainly well researched and tries to present an unbiased, and often humorous, perspective, which I appreciate. But I realized today that what has been bringing me back to the show consistently for many years is not the topics or guests or humor. It is Stephen Dubner’s own humanity. Stephen’s genuine optimism that the world can be kinder, smarter, and more compassionate permeates every episode and is what keeps me listening year after year. As someone who spends most of my time taking care of others, listening to Freakonomics is something I do to take care of myself. Thank you for this lovely show.

Freakonomics is one of my favorite podcasts! Every episode is well researched presenting fascinating data and interesting guests. It has made me think differently about economics and the consequences, whether intended or unintended!

This podcast has dramatically changed my life over that last few years. This podcast is literally the best podcast! If you ever wanted to try listening to a podcast … one that you hope may radically inform your mind and help you learn how to think… and I dare say reframe your world view. This is the one to listen to. Give it 6 episodes and will forever be changed!

I often come away fascinated by a topic that ex ante I figured would be boring.

Nobody wants to listen to a no nothing disgusting piece of transtrash Pechin worthless information

Shame on you for losing your journalistic integrity to Ari Emanuel! Never in your history have you lost a recording of a show but you lost it to the most powerful man in Hollywood! You’re just as bad as the NYT. I’m done with you.

I learned so much from this episode. Thank you to Jessica Reidl for being one of a few remaining people brave enough to research and speak the truth, regardless of which political party it benefits.

It’s been a fun ride, but more and more episodes recently are ‘facts only, bipartisan explanations’ where right wing talking points are the only thing discussed. My breaking point was ep 626 where the guest explained that Republicans spend twice as much as Democrats and her solve is to cut down government programs. No data based explanation of why, no follow up questions, just a ‘it’s a big number, it must be bad’…what are we doing here? Have a nuanced discussion on the value of those programs, by all means. At this point, I can’t hear any more dishonesty from the right and freakonomics is platforming them without any journalistic integrity.

Freakonomics Radio will change your life... for the better

Listening since around 2013 and love this pod, but This is about the Jessica Reidle episode. While I get what the purpose was in explaining that most Americans don’t have a clue about what the deficit is or how it works (myself included), the thing is that the deficit means nothing to most of us IRL. SO YES, the top 1% may technically pay most taxes, but then why is it virtually impossible for a typical middle class person to ever amass that much wealth? That’s a rhetorical question BTW. Also, she gave a very understandably personal response to her experience transitioning, but again tone deaf. Her experience seems positive in a place in our society where the public message is the opposite. Why? Bc she brings some direct value to these politicians. Not bc of equality which is SUPPOSED to be the American way.

This was a great episode. Jessica—the person being interviewed—had great/astounding views/facts to share. If her facts are true both the Dems and Republicans have been lying to us all about taxes, the deficit, the realities of funding Social Security and Medicare. Neither side is being realistic about taxes. Just “taxing the rich” isn’t going to save us. The US is in big trouble unless we can get real

This was one of the first pods I started listening to on the regular. It was great back the. It still is great.

I came for the economics but stayed for the medicine. Two months after listening to this fascinating episode, I was cleared by an allergist. Like 90% of others who believe they are allergic to amoxicillin, I am not. Thank you, Steve Dubner.

Do you really expect people to believe you “lost” the Ari Emmanuel interview? lol no. You are garbage and complicit and that’s plain to anyone following the Baldoni v. Liveky case.

Dubious indeed. Nah unsubscribed.

On episode 625: The Biden Policy That Trump Hasn’t Touched, Lina Khan describes the danger in corporate consolidation and monopolization and cites Amazon as a bad actor, even calls them out on their illegal practices, then this show airs a commercial for Whole Foods which is owned by Amazon. Shameful.