The Economics of Everyday Things

Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

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.

  • 14 minutes 4 seconds
    26. Graffiti

    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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    30 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 17 minutes 30 seconds
    25. Private Jets

    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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    26 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 15 minutes 36 seconds
    24. Pistachios

    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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    23 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 15 minutes 40 seconds
    23. Cadavers - Part 2

    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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    19 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 17 minutes 35 seconds
    22. Cadavers - Part 1

    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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    16 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 15 minutes 33 seconds
    21. Car Washes

    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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    12 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 16 minutes 18 seconds
    20. Tattoo Parlors

    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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    9 March 2026, 1:00 am
  • 14 minutes 20 seconds
    19. Pizza Boxes

    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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    5 March 2026, 1:00 am
  • 19 minutes 9 seconds
    18. Mobile Home Parks

    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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    2 March 2026, 1:00 am
  • 17 minutes 51 seconds
    17. Truffles

    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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    26 February 2026, 1:00 am
  • 18 minutes 55 seconds
    16. Prop Money

    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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    23 February 2026, 1:00 am
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