• 16 minutes 39 seconds
    82. Chain Restaurant Recipes

    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.


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    15 October 2026, 12:00 am
  • 21 minutes 37 seconds
    81. Guide Dogs

    Before a guide dog can help a blind person navigate the world, it has to pass a series of tests, then go through $75,000 worth of training. Zachary Crockett sniffs around. This episode was originally published on February 16th, 2025.


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    12 October 2026, 12:00 am
  • 15 minutes 53 seconds
    80. Going-Out-of-Business Sales

    Behind that 70% off sign, there’s a liquidation consultant trying to maximize retailer profits. Zachary Crockett seeks a deal. This episode was originally published on February 9th, 2025.


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    8 October 2026, 12:00 am
  • 18 minutes 24 seconds
    79. School Photos

    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.


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    5 October 2026, 12:00 am
  • 20 minutes 19 seconds
    78. Porta-Potties

    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.


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    1 October 2026, 12:00 am
  • 16 minutes 3 seconds
    77. Hand Models

    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.


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    28 September 2026, 12:00 am
  • 16 minutes 46 seconds
    76. Hotel Art

    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.


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    24 September 2026, 12:00 am
  • 19 minutes 33 seconds
    75. Butchers

    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.

    21 September 2026, 12:00 am
  • 32 minutes 50 seconds
    Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person

    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.


     


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    17 September 2026, 12:00 am
  • 22 minutes 14 seconds
    74. Fonts

    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.

    14 September 2026, 12:00 am
  • 17 minutes 23 seconds
    73. Used Bookstores

    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.


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    10 September 2026, 12:00 am
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