Free Daily Podcast Summary
Freakonomics Radio: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 days ago48 min
687. Are Prediction Markets the Best Forecasting Tool Ever — or Just Another Casino?
The promise is that they can beat the experts at predicting inflation, elections, and FDA approvals. But right now, 90 percent of the action is sports. Is this a future we want to bet on? Stephen Dubner speaks with, among others, the C.E.O. of Kalshi. (Part one of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Robin Hanson, professor of economics at George Mason University.Nicole Kagan, head of research at Kalshi.Tarek Mansour, co-founder and C.E.O. of Kalshi. RESOURCE:"Kalshi and the Rise of Macro Markets," by Anthony Diercks, Jared Dean Katz, and Jonathan Wright (Federal Reserve Board, 2026)."Slowly, Then All At Once: What Mamdani's Victory Tells Us About Information Aggregation," (Kalshi Research, 2026)."Futarchy: Vote Values, But Bet Beliefs," by Robin Hanson (2000)."The Use of Knowledge in Society," by Friedrich Hayek (American Economic Review, 1945). EXTRAS:"The Economics of Sports Gambling," by Freakonomics Radio (2019)."How to Be Less Terrible at Predicting the Future," by Freakonomics Radio (2016)."The Folly of Prediction," by Freakonomics Radio (2011). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- 5 days ago32 min
How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel | Better in Person
He was thriving in the N.F.L., but then he decided to focus on mathematics — a subject he now teaches at M.I.T. John walks Stephen Dubner through the whole story, teaches him some blocking techniques, and explains why some infinities are bigger than others. 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.
- 1 weeks agonarrative58 min5-min read
686. Why Is It So Hard to Find an NFL Quarterback?
The episode explores why predicting NFL quarterback success is one of sports’ hardest challenges, despite mountains of data, and examines new tools like cognitive testing and AI models that aim to improve forecasting by measuring mental processing, resilience, and decision-making under pressure.
- 1 weeks agointerview32 min5-min read
Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person
James Daunt, the man behind the revival of Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, credits the survival and resurgence of physical bookstores to long-term thinking, decentralized store autonomy, and a deep belief in the cultural and emotional value of books — defying the narrative that Amazon and digital reading would render bookstores obsolete.
- 2 weeks agointerview57 min6-min read
685. How to Survive the A.I. Shock
Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Commerce Secretary and Rhode Island governor, argues that the U.S. must proactively manage the economic and social disruption caused by AI, learning from the failures of the 'China shock' that devastated American manufacturing communities. Her new nonprofit, Raise Us, aims to create a collaborative, state-led model for worker retraining, job transition, and economic resilience—before mass job losses occur.
- 2 weeks agoconversational37 min5-min read
How to Run an Institution in an Anti-Institution Era | Better in Person
Running major cultural and educational institutions in an era of declining public trust requires moral clarity, resilience, and a commitment to core values. Stephen Dubner hosts a conversation with Anne Pasternak, director of the Brooklyn Museum, and Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, who reflect on the challenges of leadership amid political polarization, financial pressures, and public scrutiny—especially following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Both leaders emphasize the importance of modeling inclusion, free expression, and institutional courage, even when it invites backlash.
- 3 weeks agonarrative50 min7-min read
How to Return Stolen Art (Update)
This episode of Freakonomics Radio explores the complex ethics, politics, and economics of repatriating looted art, focusing on the Benin bronzes taken by Britain in 1897. It argues that museums must evolve from colonial trophy cases into ethical institutions that prioritize justice over possession.
- 3 weeks agointerview42 min5-min read
“I Trust Almost Anyone More Than Myself” | Better in Person
Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, discusses her writing process, creative philosophy, and personal history with Stephen Dubner. She reveals how her aversion to repeating herself drives her stylistic evolution, how empathy shapes her character work, and how personal loss and family history inform her fiction.
Get Freakonomics Radio summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
People I (Mostly) Admire
Economist Steve Levitt interviews high achievers across diverse fields, exploring their lives, work, and unconventional paths to success.
The Economics of Everyday Things
Examines the hidden economic forces behind everyday objects and routines.
TED Radio Hour
A show that explores profound global questions through curated TED Talks and in-depth conversations with leading thinkers.
Radiolab
Explores complex questions through investigative journalism, blending science, history, and human stories with innovative sound design.
No Stupid Questions
Two friends explore curiosities by asking each other unconventional questions and discussing the answers with insight and humor.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Conversations with top performers across fields, distilling actionable insights on success, relationships, and personal growth.
The Ezra Klein Show
Conversations on pressing political, social, and cultural issues with experts and thinkers.
The Best One Yet
Daily business news explained through sharp analysis and witty commentary, delivered in concise 20-minute episodes.
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Explores unexplained phenomena, conspiracy theories, and alleged government cover-ups throughout history.
EconTalk
Long-form conversations on economics, philosophy, history, and human behavior with experts from diverse fields.
Solutions with Henry Blodget
Henry Blodget interviews experts in business, tech, and politics about practical solutions for building a better future.
Planet Money
Explains how economic forces influence everyday life and global events through storytelling and deep dives into surprising topics.
Mentions
Most frequently mentioned across all episodes.
People
Books
Companies
About Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Freakonomics Radio in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Freakonomics Radio daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Freakonomics Radio as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Freakonomics Radio podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Freakonomics Radio product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Freakonomics Radio release new episodes?
Freakonomics Radio publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Freakonomics Radio cover?
Freakonomics Radio covers topics including Documentary, Culture, Society & Culture. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Freakonomics Radio summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.