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Freakonomics Radio

Freakonomics Radio

By: Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
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Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. 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.2024 Dubner Productions and Stitcher Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?

    683. In the New Space Race, Who Makes the Rules?
    Jul 31 2026

    Governments started the space age. Now, billionaires and private firms are reinventing it. Guest host Steve Levitt explores what the past can teach us about a high-stakes future. (Part two of a two-part series.)

    • SOURCES:
      • Blaise Agüera y Arcas, vice president and fellow at Google, C.T.O. of technology and society.
      • Rosanna Hoffman, head of space law, policy, and sustainability at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
      • Alex Macdonald, former first chief economist at NASA, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
      • Will Marshall, co-founder and C.E.O. of Planet Labs.

    • RESOURCES:
      • "The mission to create a searchable database of Earth's surface," by Will Marshall (TED, 2018).
      • The Long Space Age, by Alex Macdonald (2017).
      • Planet Labs A.I.

    • EXTRAS:
      • "Should A.I. Move to Space?," series by Freakonomics Radio (2026).

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    56 mins
  • How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold | Better in Person

    How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold | Better in Person
    Jul 29 2026

    Gary and Stephen talk about creativity, recovery, getting fired, and holding grudges. They also get outside and play basketball, which is a big part of how Gary stays well.

    If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts.


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    47 mins
  • 682. Should A.I. Move to Space?

    682. Should A.I. Move to Space?
    Jul 24 2026

    At first it sounds ridiculous. But it might be inevitable. Guest host Steve Levitt talks to a team that hopes to push A.I. infrastructure off the planet. Part one of a two-part series.)

    • SOURCES:
      • Blaise Agüera y Arcas, vice president and fellow at Google, C.T.O. of technology and society.
      • Travis Beals, senior director of product management at Google, Project Suncatcher lead.
      • Will Marshall, co-founder and C.E.O. of Planet Labs.

    • RESOURCES:
      • What Is Intelligence?, by Blaise Agüera y Arcas (2025).
      • "Towards a future space-based, highly scalable AI infrastructure system design," by Blaise Agüera y Arcas, Travis Beals, Maria Biggs, Jessica V. Bloom, Thomas Fischbacher, Konstantin Gromov, Urs Köster, Rishiraj Pravahan, and James Manyika (Google, 2025).
      • Reason, by Isaac Asimov (1941).

    • EXTRAS:
      • "Are Our Tools Becoming Part of Us?," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024).

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    48 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
listening all the way from Australia!!.

One of my favourite podcasts!. its funny, interactive and asks the big questions that we have all asked at some point. I find it interesting and a quick way to see what the worlds doing.. love to hear more on crime, prisons, and the psychology these two...oh dont be shy come to Oz!

Fun & Educational

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