Freakonomics Radio

Freakonomics Radio is an American economics and social science podcast hosted by Stephen J. Dubner that began in 2010. Developed with economist Steven Levitt, the show translates social science research and behavioral economics into narrative audio journalism.

The first episode, titled The Dangers of Safety, was released in early 2010 following the success of the authors' 2005 book Freakonomics and its 2009 sequel SuperFreakonomics. Production initially ran in partnership with public radio station WNYC Studios, which distributed segments through Marketplace and syndicated hour-long broadcasts to public stations nationwide. In July 2018, production transferred to Stitcher Radio, which was acquired by satellite broadcaster SiriusXM in 2020. In February 2023, the production team partnered with YouTube to release full episodes on video. The audio version remains distributed across podcast applications and on SiriusXM channel 791.

Episodes examine everyday decisions through interviews with researchers, business executives, and economists. In 2020, Dubner expanded the brand by establishing the Freakonomics Radio Network to release related programs. This slate introduced People I (Mostly) Admire hosted by Steven Levitt, as well as No Stupid Questions, which Dubner co-hosted with psychologist Angela Duckworth until later host changes. In January 2023, journalist Zachary Crockett launched The Economics of Everyday Things under the network banner. The flagship program also features recurring book club episodes examining non-fiction literature alongside invited authors.

Audience metrics placed the show frequently among the top ten most downloaded titles on Apple Podcasts. By January 2025, the catalog exceeded 618 episodes, covering topics from prediction markets to health care administration and global supply chains. Investigative series produced by the show have addressed systemic issues, including a multi-part series on higher education funding and a November 2022 investigation examining search engine algorithms. In September 2024, the network expanded listener offerings by launching ad-free subscriptions through SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts, providing exclusive monthly bonus episodes.