logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2022
33m 28s

22. What If TV Isn't Bad for Us?

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
About this episode

We now have more access to TV, movies, and streaming entertainment than anytime in history. So what do we actually know about what all that screen time does to us? We look back at some compelling studies that show, actually, it may change us for the better.

 

Up next
Jul 2023
The Economics of Everyday Things: Animal Urine
In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. (Or, how one man found profit in pee.) 
12m 57s
Jul 2023
Tom Brady, A.D.H.D., and a Really Bad Headache (Bonus)
A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show. 
37m 40s
Mar 2023
78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?
Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show. 
18m 50s
Recommended Episodes
May 2021
Why Do We Love to Hate-Watch?
In an age where there seems to be a bottomless pit of TV shows to watch, why do we find ourselves sticking with series that have gotten worse with time (or never were good to begin with)? In this week's episode of Not Over It, we're digging into the art of hate-watching: why we d ... Show More
44m 35s
Jan 2022
ليش نتأثر بالأفلام؟
ما تأثير الأفلام علينا؟ سؤال نطرحه ونجيب عليه في  هذه الحلقة، ونناقش الأسباب التي تدفعنا لمشاهدة الأفلام والتأثر بها رغم أننا نعلم أنها غير حقيقية. كما نتحدّث عن أنواع هذا التأثير وأشكاله.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
23m 54s
Jul 2022
A Ridiculous History of Reality TV, Part One: An Origin Story
However you define it, reality TV is a giant in the world of entertainment. From soap operas to game shows and the hazards of dating, it seems almost any genre can find a home in reality television. But how did we get here? How did this global phenomenon begin? In part one of thi ... Show More
41m 35s
Sep 2020
The Reality of Reality TV
Love it or hate it, there's no denying that reality TV -- also known as unscripted television -- is a titan of the entertainment industry. In fact, if you have cable and turn on your TV right now, you'll probably find a reality show of some sort playing on multiple channels. Most ... Show More
1h 17m
Dec 2023
How Primitive Will Our Descendants Find Us?
It’s all fun and games to think about how backwards and misguided some things people did in the past were until you realize we’ll be “the past” one day. What do we do now that will seem primitive then and how will they be better in the future?See omnystudio.com/listener for priva ... Show More
51m 42s
May 2011
Are soap operas underrated in TV history?
It's no secret that some people think soap operas are just junky TV for housewives. But is that true? Join Cristen and Molly as they trace the history and evolution of soap operas and see how these shows have influenced most of what we watch today. Learn more about your ad-choice ... Show More
23m 47s