The Economics of Everyday Things
en
84 Episodes
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 our network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, sign up for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts at http://apple.co/SiriusXM.
Chat with The Economics of Everyday Things & Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett and ask anything, read podcast summaries and show notes, and get transcripts.
Episodes (84)
Greeting Cards (Replay)
The Economics of Everyday Things
Millennials revived the tradition of sending cards; Zachary Crockett, former Hallmark editor and Up With Paper president, discusses millennial sentiments in card selection.
December 02, 2024
72. Helium
The Economics of Everyday Things
Discussion about helium's significance to the global economy featuring a professor of chemistry, president of a consulting firm, and C.E.O. from various news sources including Technology Magazine (2024), NBC News (2022), NY Times (2019) and scholarly works.
November 25, 2024
Stadium Names, from The Indicator
The Economics of Everyday Things
FIU football stadium was named after Pitbull due to the rapper's charity work and support for the university.
November 22, 2024
71. Mannequins
The Economics of Everyday Things
Discussion between Zachary Crockett, VP of Fusion Specialties and C.E.O. of Mannequin Madness on the importance of mannequins in retail, backed by various media articles such as those from Vice President of KQED (2024), Business Insider (2019), AP News (2014), The New York Times (2011, 2011), Design Issues (1997).
November 18, 2024
70. Prison Labor
The Economics of Everyday Things
Incarcerated individuals work in various roles including crop growing, wildfire fighting, and manufacturing for pennies per hour, as reported by Zachary Crockett from North Carolina. Sources include academic articles, news publications, and interviews with prison staff and former inmates.
November 11, 2024
69. Highway Signs
The Economics of Everyday Things
Podcast episode discusses the origin and funding of millions of giant green traffic signs in America, featuring interviews with experts from Correction Enterprises, Kittelson, North Carolina Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, and The New York Times Magazine.
November 04, 2024
68. Zoo Animals
The Economics of Everyday Things
Zachary Crockett discusses animal population management with the deputy director of Birmingham Zoo and chair of AZA's Animal Population Management Committee, and the executive director and CEO of Oklahoma City Zoo.
October 28, 2024
67. Tow Trucks
The Economics of Everyday Things
Zachary Crockett explores tow-truck drivers' roles as roadside rescuers and confiscators with experts from Mike's Wrecker Service, H&M Roadside, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
October 21, 2024
66. Stradivarius Violins
The Economics of Everyday Things
Professional violinist Zachary Crockett and co-owners of Rare Violins of New York discuss why 300-year-old instruments are still sought after by violinists, as well as how they access these multimillion-dollar antiques.
October 14, 2024
Card Counting (Replay)
The Economics of Everyday Things
Former professional card counter Zachary Crockett explores whether casinos can stop skilled gamblers from gaining a slight advantage at blackjack.
October 07, 2024
65. Stock Photos
The Economics of Everyday Things
Zachary Crockett aims to succeed in the stock image business by spotting market trends, selecting unique models, and competing against AI.
September 30, 2024
64. Sushi Fish
The Economics of Everyday Things
Discussion on how fresh tuna travels from Japan to Nebraska and impacts spicy tuna roll prices, featuring insights from Zachary Crockett, Yoshitomo & Ota sushi owners, Yama Seafood president, and referencing various articles including ones by Jean Trinh (LA Times 2023), Daniel Fromson (NYT Magazine 2021), Luke's Lobster Blog 2020, Svati Kirsten Narula (The Atlantic 2014) and Sasha Issenberg (2007). Freakonomics Radio mentioned as additional resource.
September 23, 2024
63. Botox
The Economics of Everyday Things
Explores why millions pay for Botox injections despite it being a deadly toxin, featuring insights from sociologist Zachary Crockett, cosmetic pioneerDr. Carruthers, and President of American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
September 16, 2024
62. Title Insurance
The Economics of Everyday Things
Zachary Crockett explains why most homebuyers incur thousands on title insurance despite its mystery and minimal use.
September 09, 2024
Truffles (Replay)
The Economics of Everyday Things
Truffles, world's coveted luxury food, are sourced with help of dogs, complex deals and key figures like 'The Kingpin'. Insights from interviews, articles (2010-2022) and scientific findings.
September 02, 2024
61. Pigeons
The Economics of Everyday Things
Once revered as heroic, pigeons are now seen as urban nuisances that cost cities millions annually. (Zachary Crockett, Carlie Porterfield, Frank A. Blazich Jr., Jon Mooallem, Andrew Blechman, Charles Walcott, James L. Gould, J. L. Kirschvink, Thom Verhave, Freakonomics Radio)
August 26, 2024
60. Money Laundering
The Economics of Everyday Things
This podcast discusses how criminals launder ill-gotten funds to make them taxable using real-world examples and insights from a strategist at Stripe, an F.B.I. former special agent, various academic studies, and references including Breaking Bad and BBC News.
August 19, 2024
59. Restaurant Reservations
The Economics of Everyday Things
Podcast discusses how online booking platforms revolutionized restaurant reservations while still maintaining the challenge of securing a table at popular restaurants on busy nights, as supported by various sources such as The New Yorker, Eater, and New York Times.
August 12, 2024
58. Firefighters
The Economics of Everyday Things
The podcast discusses how firefighting has changed as there are more firefighters than fires, examined by Zachary Crockett (lecturer in economics at Tufts University), an administrative battalion fire chief for San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, and a retired fire chief and township administrator in Ohio. Sources include articles by Sam Becker (BBC, 2024), Joshua Hurwitz (Harvard University doctoral dissertation, 2021), and Mark J. Perry (AEIdeas, 2015).
August 05, 2024
Romance Novels (Replay)
The Economics of Everyday Things
This podcast discusses how romance novels became the highest-grossing fiction genre globally, featuring insights from Zachary Crockett, Danielle Flores, romance novelists, and the vice president of editorial at Harlequin, supported by various articles from All Things Considered, The Authors Guild, Observer, Texas Monthly, New York Public Library Blog, Jezebel, and Newsweek.
July 29, 2024
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