Probably not — the incentives are too strong. But a few reformers are trying. We check in on their progress, in an update to an episode originally published last year. (Part 2 of 2)
Jun 19
678. Who Gets to Choose a “Good Death”?
New York is the latest state to legalize medical aid in dying. Stephen Dubner speaks with the governor who signed the law, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, a death doula — and an ethicist who thinks the very idea is wrong. SOURCES: Kathy Hochul, governor of New York. Suzanne O'Br ... Show More
50m 25s
Jun 12
677. Can Backgammon Save Us from Ourselves?
It brings strangers together. It teaches probability, strategy, and emotional control. It has even helped N.F.L. teams win the Super Bowl. Stephen Dubner explores why this ancient game is having a renaissance. (Part two of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”) SOURCES: Remington Da ... Show More
59m 19s
Jun 10
This Is Your Brain on Pollution (Update)
As the Trump administration rolls back environmental regulations, we revisit a 2022 episode that explored the hidden cost of an invisible threat: air pollution. SOURCES: Angela Duckworth, psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael Greenstone, economist at the Univers ... Show More
47m 24s
Aug 2025
Supplementary Material 35: Cult Leaders, Gurus, and Evil Economists
We face a disciplinary crisis as the twin pillars of Game Theory and Gurometry are called into question.The full episode is available to Patreon subscribers (1 hour, 35 minutes).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurusSupplementary Material 3500:05 Introduction 01:52 ... Show More
29m 43s
Aug 2025
Dave Collum: Financial Crisis, Diddy, Energy Weapons, QAnon, and the Deep State’s Digital Evolution
There aren’t many Ivy League professors as bold as Dave Collum. It’s amazing he still has a job. (00:00) How Collum Predicted the 2008 Financial Crisis (11:00) Collum’s Mission to Uncover the Truth About Covid (19:36) Government Experiments Being Conducted on Foster Care Children ... Show More
2h 23m
Feb 2025
143. Doctor Exposes Big Pharma, COVID, and the Medical Establishment | Dr. Marty Makary |
<p>This episode was recorded on November 8th, 2024. </p> <p>Dr. Martin Makary is a highly distinguished professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, renowned for his work in the re-design of healthcare and expert author of three New York Times bestsellers, including ... Show More
1h 4m