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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 our network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, sign up for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts at http://apple.co/SiriusXM.
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How did Florida International University’s new football stadium come to be named after the rapper and singer Pitbull? Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong of The Indicator from Planet Money explain. SOURCES: Scott Carr, director of athletics at Florida International University. Adrian Ma, co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money. Wailin Wong, co-host of The…
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Mannequins may be made out of plastic or fiberglass, but for retailers they’re pure gold. Zachary Crockett strikes a pose. SOURCES: Stacie Bornn, vice president of sales, marketing, and creative at Fusion Specialties. Judi Henderson, C.E.O. and president of Mannequin Madness. RESOURCES: "How This Oakland Business Gives Mannequins New Life (Almost),…
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Incarcerated people grow crops, fight wildfires, and manufacture everything from motor oil to prescription glasses — often for pennies per hour. Zachary Crockett reports from North Carolina. SOURCES: Laura Appleman, professor of law at Willamette University. Christopher Barnes, inmate at the Franklin Correctional Center. Lee Blackman, general manag…
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It takes millions of giant green placards to make America navigable. Where do they come from — and who pays the bill? Zachary Crockett takes the exit. SOURCES: Lee Blackman, general manager at Correction Enterprises. Gene Hawkins, senior principal engineer at Kittelson and professor emeritus of civil engineering at Texas A&M University. Renee Roach…
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When a zoo needs an elephant, or finds itself with three surplus penguins, it doesn’t buy or sell the animals — it asks around. Zachary Crockett rattles the cages. SOURCES: Hollie Colahan, deputy director of the Birmingham Zoo and chair of the AZA's Animal Population Management Committee. Dwight Lawson, executive director and C.E.O. of the Oklahoma…
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Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked. SOURCES: Bill Giorgis, president of Mike’s Wrecker Service. Max Karimi, co-owner of H&M Roadside. Teresa Murray, director of the Consumer Watchdog Program at U.S. Public Interest Research Group. RESOURCES: "Getting Off the Hook of a Predatory Tow - Part II," by …
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Why are these 300-year-old instruments still coveted by violinists today? And how do working musicians get their hands on multimillion-dollar antiques? Zachary Crockett is not fiddling around. SOURCES: Frank Almond, professional violinist. Ziv Arazi, co-owner of Rare Violins of New York. Bruno Price, co-owner of Rare Violins of New York. RESOURCES:…
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Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES: "Ben," former professional card counter. Bill Zender, co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm. RESOURCES: "Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged…
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Making money in the stock image business requires a sharp eye for trends, a very specific type of model, and a race against A.I. Zachary Crockett takes his shot. SOURCE: Yuri Arcurs, C.E.O. and founder of PeopleImages. RESOURCES: "The Last Stock Photographers Await Their Fate Under Generative A.I.," by Katie Deighton (The Wall Street Journal, 2024)…
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How does a fresh tuna get from Japan to Nebraska before it goes bad? And how does its journey show up in the price of your spicy tuna rolls? Zachary Crockett gets schooled. SOURCES: Sasha Issenberg, journalist and author. David Utterback, owner of Yoshitomo and Ota sushi restaurants. Nobu Yamanashi, president of Yama Seafood. RESOURCES: "Wild or Fa…
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Why do millions of people pay to have one of the world’s deadliest toxins injected into their faces? Zachary Crockett looks surprised. SOURCES: Dana Berkowitz, sociologist and author. Jean Carruthers, pioneer of cosmetic Botox, clinical professor of ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia, and owner of Carruthers Cosmetic. Steven Willia…
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Almost everyone who buys a home spends thousands of dollars on title insurance. Most of them don’t understand it, and almost none of them use it. So why does it exist? Zachary Crockett closes the deal. SOURCES: Christy Bieber, personal finance writer. Laurie Goodman, institute fellow at the Urban Institute Housing Finance Policy Center. Kathy Kwak,…
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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. SOURCES: Jason McKinney, co-founder and C.E.O. of Truffle Shuffle. Besart Morina, truffle dealer. RESOURCES: "Dogs Pay the Price in Italian Truffle War," by Margherita Stancat…
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Once considered noble and heroic, pigeons are now viewed as an urban nuisance — one that costs cities millions of dollars a year. Zachary Crockett tosses some crumbs. SOURCES: Andrew Blechman, journalist and author. David Champagne, owner of Bird Busters, Inc. RESOURCES: "Racing Pigeon Sells For A Record-Breaking $1.9 Million At Auction," by Carlie…
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How do criminals turn their ill-gotten gains into taxable income? And how does law enforcement stop them? Zachary Crockett follows the money. SOURCES: Patrick McKenzie, fraud prevention expert and strategic advisor at Stripe. Kerry Myers, associate professor of instruction at the University of South Florida and former F.B.I. special agent. RESOURCE…
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Thanks to online booking platforms, the way we make reservations has changed — but a table at a hot restaurant on a Friday night is still a valuable commodity. Zachary Crockett books a four-top for 7 p.m. SOURCES: Lisa Blount, director of marketing and public relations at Antoine’s Restaurant. Adam Iscoe, writer. RESOURCES: "Why You Can’t Get a Res…
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There are more firefighters than ever — and fewer fires for them to fight. So the job has changed. Zachary Crockett slides down the pole. SOURCES: Joshua Hurwitz, lecturer in economics at Tufts University. Eric Mackintosh, administrative battalion fire chief for San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department. Steve Pegram, retired fire chief and township a…
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How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. SOURCES: Delaney Diamond, romance novelist. Danielle Flores, high school math teacher and avid romance novel reader. Brenda Hiatt, romance novelist. Diane Moggy, vice president of editorial at Har…
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Performing at a strip club can be lucrative, but it requires financial and psychological savvy — and an eye for social trends. Zachary Crockett takes a look. SOURCES: Layla, stripper. Dave Manack, publisher and editor-in-chief of Exotic Dancer. RESOURCES: "A Look at Washington State’s ‘Strippers’ Bill of Rights’," by Aimee Ortiz (The New York Times…
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Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina to find out. SOURCES: Steve Anderson, emergency medicine business unit leader at BTG Pharmaceuticals. Nick Brandehoff, professor of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado and executive director of the Asclepius Snakebite Found…
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Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the sheets. SOURCES: Derek Hales, founder and editor-in-chief of NapLab.com. Joe Megibow, C.E.O. of Casper Sleep. RESOURCES: "Drake Has a $400,000 Bed − We Asked Why and Where You Can Buy It," by Emilia Hitching …
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Channeling the voices of celebrities can be a lucrative career — one that requires empathy and discretion as well as literary chops. Zachary Crockett checks the acknowledgements. SOURCES: Valerie Frankel, ghostwriter. Madeleine Morel, President and Lead Agent of 2M Communications. Daniel Paisner, ghostwriter. RESOURCES: "Ghostwriting History: Churc…
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How did mobile kitchens become popular with hipster gourmands? And just how much money can a popular truck make from a lunch shift? Zachary Crocket drops some napkins. SOURCES: Mariel-Leona Edwards, senior operations manager for Señor Sisig. Matthew Geller, founding president of the National Food Truck Association and C.E.O. of the Southern Califor…
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Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peers inside the dugout. SOURCES: Linda Flanagan, author. Nick Mackenzie, future New York Yankees shortstop. R.J. Mackenzie, physical education teacher and baseball dad. John Miller, journalist and basebal…
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Why do we use a specific kind of tree-bark tissue to seal up 70 percent of wine bottles? Zachary Crockett takes a sniff and gives the waiter a nod. SOURCES: Carlos De Jesus, director of communications at Amorim Cork. RESOURCES: "This Ancient Material Is Displacing Plastics and Creating a Billion-Dollar Industry," by Marta Vidal (The Washington Post…
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Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner. SOURCES: Sara Alloy, experience retail lead for North America at Publicis Sapient. Christopher Andrews, professor of sociology at Drew University. Phil Lempert, founder and C.E.O. of SupermarketGuru. RESOURCES: "Feeling Reward…
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Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. SOURCES: Matthew Gryczan, retired journalist and engineer. Elliot Simmons, former carnival game worker. Olivia Turner, general manager of Redbone Products. RESOURCES: "AG Platkin Announces 10-Year Ban of Amusement Games Licenses and a Fine for Wildwood Games Operator," by t…
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With industries relying on them and profits to be made, weather forecasts are more precise and more popular than ever. But there are clouds on the horizon. Zachary Crockett grabs an umbrella. SOURCES: Steve Adelman, head of Adelman Law Group, PLLC and vice president of the Event Safety Alliance. Peter Neilley, director of weather forecasting scienc…
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A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the party. SOURCES: Anthony Anderson, member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Danielle Logan, owner of Fraternity Management. Charlie O’Neill, member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Stephen J…
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How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. SOURCES: Joshua Page, professor of sociology and law at the University of Minnesota. Steven Zalewski, criminal defense attorney and co-owner of Affordable Bails New York. RESOURCES: "Does Bail Reform Increase Crime in New York State: Evidence from Interrupted Time-Ser…
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So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences may be changing lanes. Zachary Crockett surveys the lot. SOURCES: Tom Crockett, classic car enthusiast. Mark Gutjahr, global head of design at BASF. Nikkie Riedel, carline planning manager at Subaru of America. RESOURCES: BASF Colo…
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Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all has become a $45 billion business. Zachary Crockett cleans out the garage. SOURCES: Zachary Dickens, executive vice president and chief investment officer of Extra Space Storage. Anne Mari DeCoster, self-storage consultant. Kara Kolodziej, self-storage uni…
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The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley artists. Zachary Crockett makes some noise. SOURCE: Gregg Barbanell, foley artist at Universal Studios. RESOURCES: "The Weird, Analog Delights of Foley Sound Effects," by Anna Wiener (The New Yorker, 20…
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Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Crockett follows the links. SOURCES: Vince Cate, technical contact for the .ai domain in Anguilla. Kim Davies, Vice President of Internet Assigned Numbers Authority Services and President of Public Technic…
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The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are buried. SOURCES: Terry Arellano, co-founder and president of Cemetery Property Resales, Inc. Jeff Lindeman, C.E.O. and General Manager of Mountain View Cemetery. Tanya Marsh, professor of law at Wake F…
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Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits at the airport, holding a sign saying "Fluffy." SOURCES: Amelia Barklow, owner of two pet ducks, Wobbles and Bean. Mike Gays, managing director of Global Pet Relocation. Gemma Tappin, pet relocation consultant team leader at G…
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More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. SOURCES: Jordan Beckwith, YouTuber and advocate. Eric Neufeld, owner and medical director of Agile Orthopedics. RESOURCES: "Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment & Other Devices," by Medicare (2024). "…
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Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. SOURCES: Justin Hancock, director of research and development at Costa Farms. Brian Williams, co-owner of Brian's Botanicals. Sarah Williams, co-owner Brian's Botanicals. RESOURCES: "Bidding Wars and $1,000 Su…
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Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up. SOURCES: Mike Leong, owner of Bel Mateo Bowl. Devon Stewart, head coach of Florida State University bowling team, C.E.O. of Bowl Connect, and consultant with the Hansell Group. RESOU…
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Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mailbox. SOURCES: Brett Chamberlin, program manager at Catalog Choice. Aaron Gordon, journalist. Mike Gunderson, president of Gunderson Direct. RESOURCES: "U.S. Postal Service Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Res…
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If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. SOURCES: Jason Abraham, managing partner of Hupy & Abraham. Nora Engstrom, professor at Stanford Law School. Kyle Hebenstreit, C.E.O. of Practice Made Perfect. RESOURCES: “Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples (2024 Guid…
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Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. SOURCES: Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, professor in the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University. Patricia Tuz, president of New York ATM. Jon Weilbaker, general manager of New York ATM. Sasha Weilbaker, freelance writer and daughter of…
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Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES: Brad Bolman, postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics. Wendell Potter, president of the Cent…
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Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers. SOURCES: Kusum Ailawadi, professor of marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Eric Beringause, C.E.O. of Winland Foods. Ryan Boyle, vice president of sales at Kitche…
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Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts. SOURCES: Alicia Rodis, intimacy coordinator. Matthew Swanlund, founder and principal attorney at Aesthetic Legal. RESOURCES: "Romance or No…
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American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. SOURCES: Todd Hutchinson, president and owner of BallHawker. Lashan Wanigatunga, founder of Two Guys With Balls. RESOURCES: "BallHawker, Challenge Enterprises Turn Wayward Golf Shots Into Successful End…
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The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES: Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. Stephanie Walker, associate professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at New Mexico State University RESOURCES: "Pepper X Dethrones Carolina Reaper as World’s Hottest Chili Pepper…
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Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES: "Ben," former professional card counter. Bill Zender, co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm. RESOURCES: "Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged…
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Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. SOURCES: Nick Kokonas, founder and co-owner of The Alinea Group. Charlie Mitchell, executive chef and co-owner of Clover Hill restaurant. RESOURCES: "Michelin Announces 2022 Stars for New York City," by Ryan Sutto…
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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. SOURCES: Mia Mercado, writer and former editor at Hallmark. George White, president of Up With Paper and form…
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