The Economics of Everyday Things
Business & Economics Podcasts
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...
Location:
United States
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Episodes
34. Store-Brand Products
4/26/2026
Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers. This episode was originally published on January 28th, 2024.
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Duration:00:17:42
33. Sex Scenes
4/22/2026
Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts. This episode was originally published on January 21st, 2024.
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Duration:00:18:43
32. Used Golf Balls
4/19/2026
American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. This episode was originally published on January 14th, 2024.
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Duration:00:17:07
31. Superhot Chili Peppers
4/15/2026
The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. This episode was originally published on January 7th, 2024.
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Duration:00:16:20
30. Card Counting
4/12/2026
Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. This episode was originally published on December 31st, 2023.
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Duration:00:18:44
29. Greeting Cards
4/8/2026
The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day. This episode was originally published on December 17th, 2023.
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Duration:00:15:25
28. Horseshoe Crab Blood
4/5/2026
How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply? Zachary Crockett wades in. This episode was originally published on December 10th, 2023.
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Duration:00:13:50
27. Romance Novels
4/1/2026
How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. This episode was originally published on December 3rd, 2023.
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Duration:00:18:32
26. Graffiti
3/29/2026
Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. This episode was originally published on November 19th, 2023.
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Duration:00:14:04
25. Private Jets
3/25/2026
Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff. This episode was originally published on November 12th, 2023.
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Duration:00:17:30
24. Pistachios
3/22/2026
How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. This episode was originally published on November 5th, 2023.
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Duration:00:15:36
23. Cadavers - Part 2
3/18/2026
In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. This episode was originally published on October 29th, 2023.
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Duration:00:15:40
22. Cadavers - Part 1
3/15/2026
In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around them. This episode was originally published on October 22nd, 2023.
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Duration:00:17:35
21. Car Washes
3/11/2026
Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. This episode was originally published on October 15th, 2023.
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Duration:00:15:33
20. Tattoo Parlors
3/8/2026
More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into the ink. This episode was originally published on October 3rd, 2023.
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Duration:00:16:18
19. Pizza Boxes
3/4/2026
There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. This episode was originally published on October 1st, 2023.
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Duration:00:14:20
18. Mobile Home Parks
3/1/2026
They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. This episode was originally published on September 17th, 2023.
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Duration:00:19:09
17. Truffles
2/25/2026
It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end up on your plate. Zachary Crockett picks up the scent. This episode was originally published on September 10th, 2023.
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Duration:00:17:51
16. Prop Money
2/22/2026
Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the fake money. This episode was originally published on September 3rd, 2023.
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Duration:00:18:55
15. Home Staging
2/18/2026
How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. This episode was originally published on August 27th, 2023.
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Duration:00:19:55