About this episode
Aug 29
37. Sendhil Mullainathan Thinks Messing Around Is the Best Use of Your Time
He’s a professor of computation and behavioral science at the University of Chicago, MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, and author. Steve and Sendhil laugh their way through a conversation about the importance of play, the benefits of change, and why we remember so little about ... Show More
50m 31s
Aug 22
36. How Rahm Emanuel Would Run the World
In this interview, Steve talks with the former top adviser to presidents Clinton and Obama, about his record — and his reputation. And Rahm explains that while he believes in the power of the federal government, as former mayor of Chicago, he says that cities are where problems r ... Show More
41m 56s
Aug 15
35. David Epstein Knows Something About Almost Everything
He’s been an Arctic scientist, a sports journalist, and is now a best-selling author of science books. His latest, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, makes the argument that early specialization does not give you a head start in life. David and Steve talk abou ... Show More
49m 15s
Jan 2021
446. “We Get All Our Great Stuff from Europe — Including Witch Hunting.”
<p>We’ve collected some of our favorite moments from <em>People I (Mostly) Admire</em>, the latest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network. Host Steve Levitt seeks advice from scientists and inventors, memory wizards and basketball champions — even his fellow economists. He also ... Show More
40m 20s
Aug 2020
Introducing “People I (Mostly) Admire"
<p>A new interview show with host Steve Levitt. Today he speaks with the Harvard psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker. By cataloging the steady march of human progress, the self-declared “polite Canadian” has managed to enrage people on opposite ends of the political spectrum. ... Show More
42m 52s
Nov 2021
13. When Bapu Met Levitt
Once upon a time, Bapu Jena was a graduate student at the University of Chicago. His most interesting teacher? The economist Steve Levitt. This week on Freakonomics, M.D., a replay of a conversation between Steve and Bapu from Steve’s podcast, People I (Mostly) Admire, where they ... Show More
33m 40s
Dec 2022
528. Yuval Noah Harari Thinks Life is Meaningless and Amazing
51m 59s
Dec 2024
Your Brain Doesn’t Work the Way You Think
47m 53s
Jun 2025
What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common? (Update)
36m 13s
Oct 2025
A Question-Asker Becomes a Question-Answerer
1h 14m
Sep 2021
Steamy Beginnings
9m 55s
Oct 2021
Teaser: The Compromises of Al Levitt
In this month’s subscriber-only episode, a look at the complicated and possibly cursed career of Helen Levitt’s other half.This is a sneak peek at the second in our series of subscriber episodes. To hear the rest, subscribe to PushNik by visiting our show page in Apple Podcasts. ... Show More
3m 37s
Steve Levitt has spent decades as an academic economist, “studying strange phenomena and human behavior in weird circumstances.” Now he’s turning his curiosity to something new: interviewing some of the most interesting, unorthodox people around — from actresses to athletes, authors to inventors. Here is a preview of Levitt’s new podcast, which premieres Aug ... Show More
<p>In this special episode of <i>People I (Mostly) Admire</i>, Steve Levitt talks to the best-selling author of <i>Sapiens</i> and <i>Homo Deus</i> about finding the profound in the obvious.</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.co ... Show More
<p>David Eagleman upends myths and describes the vast possibilities of a brainscape that even neuroscientists are only beginning to understand. Steve Levitt interviews him in this special episode of <i>People I (Mostly) Admire.</i></p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul> ... Show More
<p>In this episode from 2013, we look at whether spite pays — and if it even exists.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://cepr.org/about/people/benedikt-herrmann">Benedikt Herrmann</a>, research officer at the European Commission.</li><li><a href=" ... Show More
<p>For the 20th anniversary of <i>Freakonomics</i>, Debbie Millman of <i>Design Matters </i>interviews Stephen Dubner about his upbringing, his writing career, and why it's important to “swing your swing.” Plus: a sneak peek at a new project.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</ ... Show More
<p>Every now and then a person comes along who puts their mind to an unusual task. Today's tour will introduce you to two of them.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a><p>See <a href ... Show More
