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★★★★★

4.8

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1602 reviews

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Who decides which snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

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Check latest episodes from The Economics of Everyday Things podcast

86. Toothpaste

2026/10/29

We reach for it twice a day — without thinking about the decades of research and engineering that went into that squeezable tube of minty goo. Zachary Crockett extracts the last bit. This episode was originally published on March 30th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

83. Game Show Winnings

2026/10/19

How do TV producers decide how much money to give away? A little psychology and a lot of math. Zachary Crockett phones a friend. This episode was originally published on March 9th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

82. Chain Restaurant Recipes

2026/10/15

A fast-food burger has to taste the same — and cost the same — thousands of times a day at restaurants across the country. Zachary Crockett mans the fryer. This episode was originally published on March 2nd, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

79. School Photos

2026/10/05

Picture day is an annual tradition for American families — and, for the companies that take the photos, a lucrative one. Zachary Crockett smiles for the camera. This episode was originally published on February 2nd, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

78. Porta-Potties

2026/10/01

They're not always the nicest places to go — but for their owners, portable toilets are a lucrative revenue stream. Zachary Crockett lifts the lid. This episode was originally published on January 26th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

77. Hand Models

2026/09/28

You can be a top model and still not get recognized on the street — as long as you keep your cuticles healthy and your moons white. Zachary Crockett points a finger. This episode was originally published on January 19th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

76. Hotel Art

2026/09/24

A watercolor of a harbor? A black-and-white photo of a pile of rocks? Some hotels are trying to do better. Zachary Crockett unpacks. This episode was originally published on January 12th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

75. Butchers

2026/09/21

Before beef ends up at your favorite steakhouse, it passes through the hands of a trained specialist with an encyclopedic knowledge of bovine anatomy. Zachary Crockett chews the fat. This episode was originally published on January 5th, 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person

2026/09/17

He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. In this episode of Stephen Dubner’s new TV talk show, James Daunt tells Stephen exactly how he does it. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

74. Fonts

2026/09/14

Behind almost every character you see displayed on a page or a screen, there’s a complex — and sometimes lucrative — web of licensing deals. Zachary Crockett is just your type. This episode was originally published on December 15th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

73. Used Bookstores

2026/09/10

Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is just browsing. This episode was originally published on December 8th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

72. Helium

2026/09/07

It’s unreactive, lighter than air, and surprisingly important to the global economy. Zachary Crockett goes up an octave. This episode was originally published on November 24th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

71. Mannequins

2026/09/03

Mannequins may be made out of plastic or fiberglass, but for retailers they’re pure gold. Zachary Crockett strikes a pose. This episode was originally published on November 17th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

70. Prison Labor

2026/08/31

Incarcerated people grow crops, fight wildfires, and manufacture everything from motor oil to prescription glasses — often for pennies per hour. Zachary Crockett reports from North Carolina. This episode was originally published on November 10th, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

69. Highway Signs

2026/08/27

It takes millions of giant green placards to make America navigable. Where do they come from — and who pays the bill? Zachary Crockett takes the exit. This episode was originally published on November 3rd, 2024. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podcast reviews

Read The Economics of Everyday Things podcast reviews

4.8 out of 5

1602 reviews

★★★★☆

Jeff Sawyer 2026/10/29

Toothpaste

The toothpaste episode just resurfaced (thanks for the credit at the end). It covers the genesis of this staple, the many varieties that have evolved,...

★★★★★

proceduralmagician 2026/10/19

fast passes

great show can you do the economics of fast passes at amusement parks

★★★★★

l.lurie Troy 2026/10/08

A broader perspective

I have been a long-term fan of this podcast, but I have a suggestion for a multi episode. Look at how good start and a factory in China and their supp...

★★★★☆

RabbiChorny2.0 2026/10/01

Make new one’s please

I’ve really enjoyed this show over the years, but I’m frustrated that they seem to be repeating their episodes and not even labeling them as reruns. H...

★★★★☆

Passepart0ut 2026/09/04

Mostly excellent

I learn a lot after listening to this podcast. It’s amazing that they produce quality bursts of intelligent segments in regular, frequent order. But...

★★★★★

Janie_M 2026/08/08

Fascinating & Fun Learning

These episodes are so fun! I’m a “find myself wondering” type of person and I love learning how certain things and industries work. These episodes are...

★★★★★

jenna m s 2026/08/01

Very good

Very entertaining, everyone should listen to it

★★★★★

Brwn Grl 2026/07/05

Excellent Podcast

I can’t describe adequately how much I enjoy this podcast. I’ve learned so much about the mundane everyday things that we use in our daily lives and t...

★★★★★

Madie Rey 2026/06/04

Fascinating!

Zachary is an amazing host and does a great job of giving a deep information dive, while keeping the light tone of a conversation. I have learned so m...

★★☆☆☆

NonFicFan 2026/05/12

Too shallow, too many ads

I had high hopes but the content is very superficial which makes the 3-5 minutes of ads per episode too much. There are other podcast that cover thes...

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