After getting way too involved with true crime podcasts I recently revisited Freakonomics. Forgot how great a show it is. Now I have a ton of episodes I can binge listen too.

I'm fairly new to this show and I don't listen to every episode, I pick and choose what seems to interest me, but it's great. Thorough and detailed but fast pace to keep the listener interested. Not overly political

I loved episode 1; fascinating and waiting for the next; the teaser was a shock to hear!

I love this podcast! I always learn so much. It moves quickly and smoothly. Just a joy.

I enjoy listening to the podcast very much. The topics are diverse and interesting. The interviewer is intelligent and not passive. He comes from a rational, free market point of view. He sticks to the facts. It is refreshing,

Don’t know what the best way to make show suggestions is so I’ll just try this…see title for suggestion. Been a fan since book 1. Love what you and your team do and have learned probably more than I learned in secondary school and college combined! Keep up the great work please.

I have listened to the show on and off for many years and do appreciate the guests, insights, and amount of research that goes into each episode! However, I very much wish there were more critical analysis/counter argument with the guests. For example, the recent episode with Jessica Reidl was very interesting and entertaining and I appreciate her insights. However, her arguments about the effective taxation rate of the American people and about the value of taxing the ultra wealthy were sometimes disingenuous or selective and were clearly structured to shut down policy debates in these areas, not inform us about “myths”. Saying that the American middle class is “under-taxed” compared with other OECD countries without mentioning state and local taxes at all (sales, income, property, fuel, etc.) is misleading/disingenuous at best and manipulative at worst. Other countries have completely different tax regimes and governance structures compared to the US and you can’t just compare nominal bracket rates apples to apples. The host knows this but didn’t push back. Similarly, the sound-bite phrasing of stealing all of billionaires’ wealth not being enough to address the deficit is meant to shut down policy arguments in favor of making the ultra wealthy pay their fair share. Not one mention of tax avoidance and evasion, especially a problem with multi millionaires and billionaires, as well as corporations; a problem fueled by understaffing the IRS. Ensuring the ultra wealthy and corporations pay the taxes they already owe would in fact contribute hundreds of billions ANNUALLY toward addressing the deficit. The host knows this as well. These are just a few examples, but please this is not the time for credulous “conversations” about policies that are weaponized against the American people as we speak. We need informed and critical debate about how to build a fair and efficient government that delivers for the people, not just balancing a giant check book.

This podcast is one of the main stays in my feed. It’s probably been in my feed the longest and when I think back, it has been one of the most consistently interesting and listened to. It is thought-provoking and well researched. Every once in a while, there’s a topic that I am not interested in or that just doesn’t grab me. But for the most part, it has been great. In particular, I wanted to acknowledge and recognize the recent episode 628 which was part two of sludge. I thought it was amazingly fair and balanced. Given the subject matter that could’ve gone in all kinds of extreme political directions, but the host and the guest and the entire conversation was extremely fair and balanced in my view. This is noteworthy, not just because it’s important but also because it’s so rare.

I’ve never written a podcast review, but after listening to the brief extra about the show that “never happened”, I suddenly realized what I love so much about Freakonomics. The topics are interesting and the guests are engaging, though, admittedly, not always my cup of tea. The show is certainly well researched and tries to present an unbiased, and often humorous, perspective, which I appreciate. But I realized today that what has been bringing me back to the show consistently for many years is not the topics or guests or humor. It is Stephen Dubner’s own humanity. Stephen’s genuine optimism that the world can be kinder, smarter, and more compassionate permeates every episode and is what keeps me listening year after year. As someone who spends most of my time taking care of others, listening to Freakonomics is something I do to take care of myself. Thank you for this lovely show.

Freakonomics is one of my favorite podcasts! Every episode is well researched presenting fascinating data and interesting guests. It has made me think differently about economics and the consequences, whether intended or unintended!

This podcast has dramatically changed my life over that last few years. This podcast is literally the best podcast! If you ever wanted to try listening to a podcast … one that you hope may radically inform your mind and help you learn how to think… and I dare say reframe your world view. This is the one to listen to. Give it 6 episodes and will forever be changed!

I often come away fascinated by a topic that ex ante I figured would be boring.

Nobody wants to listen to a no nothing disgusting piece of transtrash Pechin worthless information

Shame on you for losing your journalistic integrity to Ari Emanuel! Never in your history have you lost a recording of a show but you lost it to the most powerful man in Hollywood! You’re just as bad as the NYT. I’m done with you.

I learned so much from this episode. Thank you to Jessica Reidl for being one of a few remaining people brave enough to research and speak the truth, regardless of which political party it benefits.

It’s been a fun ride, but more and more episodes recently are ‘facts only, bipartisan explanations’ where right wing talking points are the only thing discussed. My breaking point was ep 626 where the guest explained that Republicans spend twice as much as Democrats and her solve is to cut down government programs. No data based explanation of why, no follow up questions, just a ‘it’s a big number, it must be bad’…what are we doing here? Have a nuanced discussion on the value of those programs, by all means. At this point, I can’t hear any more dishonesty from the right and freakonomics is platforming them without any journalistic integrity.

Freakonomics Radio will change your life... for the better

Listening since around 2013 and love this pod, but This is about the Jessica Reidle episode. While I get what the purpose was in explaining that most Americans don’t have a clue about what the deficit is or how it works (myself included), the thing is that the deficit means nothing to most of us IRL. SO YES, the top 1% may technically pay most taxes, but then why is it virtually impossible for a typical middle class person to ever amass that much wealth? That’s a rhetorical question BTW. Also, she gave a very understandably personal response to her experience transitioning, but again tone deaf. Her experience seems positive in a place in our society where the public message is the opposite. Why? Bc she brings some direct value to these politicians. Not bc of equality which is SUPPOSED to be the American way.

This was a great episode. Jessica—the person being interviewed—had great/astounding views/facts to share. If her facts are true both the Dems and Republicans have been lying to us all about taxes, the deficit, the realities of funding Social Security and Medicare. Neither side is being realistic about taxes. Just “taxing the rich” isn’t going to save us. The US is in big trouble unless we can get real

This was one of the first pods I started listening to on the regular. It was great back the. It still is great.

I came for the economics but stayed for the medicine. Two months after listening to this fascinating episode, I was cleared by an allergist. Like 90% of others who believe they are allergic to amoxicillin, I am not. Thank you, Steve Dubner.

Do you really expect people to believe you “lost” the Ari Emmanuel interview? lol no. You are garbage and complicit and that’s plain to anyone following the Baldoni v. Liveky case.

Dubious indeed. Nah unsubscribed.

On episode 625: The Biden Policy That Trump Hasn’t Touched, Lina Khan describes the danger in corporate consolidation and monopolization and cites Amazon as a bad actor, even calls them out on their illegal practices, then this show airs a commercial for Whole Foods which is owned by Amazon. Shameful.

Lina Khan is a great example of someone who has never worked in business telling business people how to run their business. In her world, benevolent experts would make all the rules about how markets and business should work. The US is the only country in which the free market has been allowed to work, mostly without the visible hand of government, and has done so successfully. Give me any day the entrepreneurs to run markets rather than “expert” bureaucrats.

An excellent conversation, especially thoughtful that it appears during Women's History Month.

Addendum: what was billed as a podcast about disgust became an infomercial for eating bugs, which is apparently the latest ultra liberal project. And you folks wonder why people voted for Trump. Unsubscribing. The repeated theme in this podcast of most other, particularly European, countries being better than the US in some regard is so simplistic and trite. Reminds me of the kids in college who studied abroad for a semester and came back in black leather pants and saying how much better those countries were. Fast forward 30 years and they are all living, working and raising their families in the USA and often with coworkers and neighbors who were born and schooled in those European paradise countries but for some reason opted to come here. Where was polio cured? Who put a man on the moon? Who developed the personal computer? Poverty in the US bears no resemblance to real poverty in most of the world. Who saved most of Asia from Imperial Japan in WWII? Sweden? Nope. And, of course, if it were not for the USA all those lovely gentle European countries - except for, maybe, the UK - would be hellholes under the domination of a fascist or Marxist regime. USA is far from perfect, but still pretty great. Please stop being useful idiots.

Read the books and got hooked. Now I’ve been a listener for at least 10 years and in that time, I’m not sure I’ve ever actually heard a conservative perspective on anything. If y’all are lacking anywhere, it’s definitely balance.

Read the original book when it first came out and the podcast continues to be my go to favorite listen. Thanks and keep up the good work.

I used to love this podcast, but the idea that the Ari Emmanuel interview was SO CONVENIENTLY lost is so unbelievable - I’m just done. It’s 2025 and an allegedly professional podcast knows how to capture sound and check in real time. I’m in the court reporting industry which is decades (literally) behind modern media and even we know this. Stop lying to us and just say Ari paid you off. I hope you go down in a figurative ball of flames - you had my trust and you lost it.

I really enjoyed the series on rats! A topic I never would have thought about. Which is why I always look forward to this podcast. You are always teaching me new things.

You mysteriously lost the entire audio content of the Ari Emmanuel interview in a “black swan” event? You’re documentarians with no integrity. Unsubscribing

The dog ate their homework and now the Ari Emanuel episode isn’t dropping. Have some integrity. Letting the most powerful people bully Justin on your mics is despicable. Do better with your platform.

Disappointed to learn y’all have a price and Ari has the $. Unfollowing and will never listen/support again.

I heard leaked audio… ooofffff….🤬😳😑20+ yr sub, own the books… the doc. Apologize to Justin for your role getting caught trying to be a cool kid & give him a platform too. Guilty until proven innocent man. sad you got caught up in this nonsense. I don’t come to you for gossip but facts/logic. I’m speechless yall let yourself get used like this for evil but it happens.. please make it right, redeem yourself. You’re better than this.

I really enjoy listening to the Freakonomics Radio podcast. Stephen Dubner does an excellent job of finding intelligent, interesting, and thought-provoking guests on a wide variety of topics. I always feel smarter and more capable of intelligently discussing whatever topic is being discussed (even though I’m probably not) after listening to an episode. I have been a fan of Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner since I read the first Freakonomics book, and I feel like a learn something new or am challenged to think about something differently after each episode. Please keep up the great work! Love your podcast guys!

I love this show. It’s almost always entertaining and it’s always enlightening. The topics are fascinating, the guests are often outstanding people in their field, etc. Well worth a listen if you haven’t yet.

The only issue I’ve had is when the host gets overly glib or combative. It’s rare but the few times it’s happened have been very off putting.

Holy anti-doctor! How interesting for a lawyer and academic to take shots at physicians, but not investigate the bar association and self regulation of attorneys by their associations. She wants more regulation of doctors but less of nurse practitioners/PAs citing access to care, but doesn’t want a path back to practice for docs who have mental health issues/substance abuse history? Also she claims substance abuse counselors have less clinical hours than a doctor? I’d love to see the math on that. To get an unrestricted medical license you get at least 3 years of clinic work (last two yrs of med school + internship = 7200-9600 hrs) Maybe I need to read the book to better understand her position. Overall love the podcast!

Smart people talking about interesting topics, at times with sensible solutions. Great listen.

I have a bunch of episodes saved that I listened to a second time. You might not be allergic to Penicillin even if you have been told you are. America’s political system is a duopoly. Want to learn more? Listen to this podcast!

I feel smarter every time I listen.

Just discovered this podcast. Love it!

Steven Dubner = 🐐

What an insightful episode! Very informative thoughtful and clearly communicated! I recently was sent Freakonomics from a friend and it is by far one of the best podcasts I have ever listened to!

Always so refreshing to listen to such a clear explanation in such a complex world.

The academic fraud investigation is excellent. The problematic incentives created by industry-funded research doesn’t get much attention — and seem most impervious to the remedies proposed here. Can you go deep in thus for an episode? Thanks!!

Freakonomics Radio is a fascinating exploration of the background of so many human endeavors. I particularly enjoyed the shows on 1) the eyeglass industry, 2) the growing marijuana industry in the US and 3) the series about academic fraud. I would highly recommend this podcast for anyone with an inquiring mind.

Thank you for pronouncing Willamette correctly. 5 stars.

Loved hearing Dr. Emanuel