We think of them as intellectual enclaves and the surest route to a better life. But U.S. colleges also operate like firms, trying to differentiate their products to win market share and prestige points. In the first episode of a special series, we ask what our chaotic system gets right — and wrong. (Part 1 of “Freakonomics Radio Goes Back to School.”)
Mar 27
668. Do Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny Have Blood on Their Hands?
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. SOURCES: Bapu Jena, economist, physician, and professor at Harvard Medical School. Chris ... Show More
53m 58s
Mar 25
In a Driverless World, Who Loses and Who Wins?
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. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Carl Richardson, ADA coordinator for the ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2020
College/University: Is It Worth It? - SimplyPodLogical #27
On this episode of SimplyPodLogical, Cristine and Ben talk about their experience in University, how they chose their majors, the difference between undergrad and graduate school, campus culture, free speech, politics on campus, who should go to university/college, and scholarshi ... Show More
1h 30m
Oct 2020
#221 — Success, Failure, & the Common Good
Sam Harris speaks with Michael Sandel about the problem with meritocracy . They discuss the dark side of the concept of merit, the pernicious myth of the self-made man, the moral significance of luck, the backlash against "elites" and expertise, how we value human excellence, the ... Show More
46m 48s
Dec 2020
Applying For College/Admissions Advice/Essay Tips
We talked to two college admission experts and asked about their best advice for getting into college. Doesn't matter if you're an underclassman, junior, or senior, this episode will help you a lot if you're thinking about applying to college. This is the last episode in our Back ... Show More
46m 15s
Apr 2024
College: To Go or Not To Go? | Ep 673
“The big caveat off the top is, if you want to go into one of those careers that requires a degree, it requires a degree.” Today, Alex (@AlexHormozi) explores the value of a college education versus real-world experience, drawing from their own journey from university to successf ... Show More
28m 39s
<p>Economist Michael D. Smith says universities are scrambling to protect a status quo that deserves to die. He tells Steve why the current system is unsustainable, and what’s at stake if nothing changes.</p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3sK5t5r"><i>Th ... Show More
