Freakonomics, M.D.

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Each week, physician, economist, and author of "Random Acts of Medicine" Dr. Bapu Jena will dig into a fascinating study at the intersection of economics and healthcare. He takes on questions like: Why do kids with summer birthdays get the flu more often? Can surviving a hurricane help you live longer? What do heart surgery and grocery-store pricing have in common?

  • 12 minutes 57 seconds
    The Economics of Everyday Things: Animal Urine

    In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash.  (Or, how one man found profit in pee.)


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    21 July 2023, 3:00 am
  • 37 minutes 40 seconds
    Tom Brady, A.D.H.D., and a Really Bad Headache (Bonus)

    A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show.


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    11 July 2023, 4:36 pm
  • 18 minutes 50 seconds
    78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?

    Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show.


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    31 March 2023, 3:00 am
  • 18 minutes 32 seconds
    77. They Make Minimum Wage. They Could Save Your Life.

    Doctors and nurses get most of the attention — but a new study suggests we can improve health care by raising wages for a group of workers who are often overlooked.


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    24 March 2023, 3:00 am
  • 17 minutes 34 seconds
    76. Is a Spoonful of Sunlight the Best Medicine?

    In hospitals, a softer pillow or a nicer room might be more than just amenities — they could improve outcomes for patients.


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    17 March 2023, 3:00 am
  • 19 minutes 47 seconds
    75. What Is Sugar Really Doing to You?

    Americans eat a lot of sugar — and it’s hard to determine how it affects our health. Bapu explains how a new study uses data from the 1950s to help solve the mystery.


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    10 March 2023, 4:00 am
  • 16 minutes 48 seconds
    74. How Does Playing Football Affect Your Health?

     It’s not a new question, but it’s a tricky one to study. Bapu explains why, and talks about how an N.F.L. labor dispute helped him get some answers. 


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    3 March 2023, 4:00 am
  • 29 minutes 28 seconds
    73. Who Pays for Multimillion-Dollar Miracle Cures?

    The most expensive drugs in the world are treatments for genetic diseases. And more of these cures are on the horizon. How will anyone be able to afford them?


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    17 February 2023, 4:00 am
  • 31 minutes 35 seconds
    72. What’s Stopping Us From Curing Rare Diseases?

    Breakthroughs in biotech that seem like science fiction are becoming reality. Why aren’t more patients benefiting from them?


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    10 February 2023, 4:00 am
  • 26 minutes 56 seconds
    71. What Do COVID-19 and Cancer Have in Common?

    mRNA vaccines helped bring the pandemic under control. Could they also train the immune system to fight cancer?


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    3 February 2023, 4:00 am
  • 29 minutes 25 seconds
    70. Why Are There Still So Few Female Surgeons?

    Success and failure are hard to measure in medicine. Bapu looks at how surgeons are judged after a bad outcome — and whether men and women are treated the same.


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    27 January 2023, 4:00 am
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