Stephen Dubner, live on stage, mixes it up with outbound mayor London Breed, and asks economists whether A.I. can be “human-centered” and if Tang is a gateway drug.
Today
681. How to Host a Talk Show, with Dick Cavett
Stephen Dubner had an idea for a new project. So he drove to Connecticut and knocked on the door of the master. Dubner’s new TV talk show Better in Person launches July 14 on the Freakonomics YouTube channel. SOURCES: Dick Cavett, writer, former talk show host. RESOURCES: Eye on ... Show More
43m 27s
Jul 3
680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust?
Dartmouth president Sian Beilock, a psychologist by training, made her name studying why people choke. Now she’s applying those insights to one of the most scrutinized jobs in America. No pressure! SOURCES: Sian Beilock, president of Dartmouth College. RESOURCES: "Growing share o ... Show More
49m 55s
Jun 26
679. Why Does Vanderbilt Keep Winning?
It’s a hard time to run a university: public trust is low, political pressure is high, and finances are fragile. But Daniel Diermeier, who trained as a political scientist, has Vanderbilt humming. How? He says the key is choosing magnets over wedges. SOURCES: Daniel Diermeier, ch ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 2025
Trump: Send National Guard to SF, China Rare Earths Trade War, AI's PR Crisis
(0:00) Bestie intros! Dreamforce and another interesting conference take the Bay Area (3:35) State of crime in SF, do they need the National Guard? (20:48) US to impose price floors after China puts export controls on rare earths, can America on-shore a full-stack rare earth indu ... Show More
1h 16m
Jun 2024
Red Lobster Vultures and Apocalyptic Economics
David Gornoski and Shane Kennedy get together to discuss who AI will replace in the future, social media mimesis, the decline of energy in the physical world, Red Lobster woes, how to be economically free, and more. Visit aneighborschoice.com for more
1h 23m
Apr 2020
Introducing "No Stupid Questions"
<p>Stephen Dubner, the host of <em>Freakonomics Radio</em>, and Angela Duckworth, the psychologist and author of <em>Grit</em>, explore the weird and wonderful ways in which humans behave. In each episode, they take turns asking each other questions, with conversations ranging fr ... Show More
2m 15s
Nov 2025
San Francisco's New Mayor on Homelessness, Unaffordability, and AI
New York City is about to elect a new mayor, and whoever it is will have to address growing challenges like unaffordability, homelessness, and other basic quality-of-life challenges. Very few of these challenges are distinct to NYC. San Francisco, in particular, has also faced th ... Show More
36m 50s