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.

  • 17 minutes 7 seconds
    32. Used Golf Balls

    American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. This episode was originally published on January 14th, 2024.


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    20 April 2026, 12:00 am
  • 16 minutes 20 seconds
    31. Superhot Chili Peppers

    The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. This episode was originally published on January 7th, 2024.


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    16 April 2026, 12:00 am
  • 18 minutes 44 seconds
    30. Card Counting

    Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. This episode was originally published on December 31st, 2023.


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    13 April 2026, 12:00 am
  • 15 minutes 25 seconds
    29. Greeting Cards

    The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day. This episode was originally published on December 17th, 2023.


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    9 April 2026, 12:00 am
  • 13 minutes 50 seconds
    28. Horseshoe Crab Blood

    How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply?  Zachary Crockett wades in. This episode was originally published on December 10th, 2023.


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    6 April 2026, 12:00 am
  • 18 minutes 32 seconds
    27. Romance Novels

    How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. This episode was originally published on December 3rd, 2023.


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    2 April 2026, 12:00 am
  • 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
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