70. Prison Labor
Aug 30, 2026
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. This…
End credits
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.
PodSkip has analyzed 1 episode of The Economics of Everyday Things, averaging 1.0 ads per episode (2% of runtime).
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69. Highway Signs
Aug 26, 2026
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. This episode was originally published on…
68. Zoo Animals
Aug 23, 2026
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. This episode was originally…
67. Tow Trucks
Aug 19, 2026
Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked. This episode was originally published on October 20th, 2024.
66. Stradivarius Violins
Aug 16, 2026
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. This…
65. Stock Photos
Aug 12, 2026
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. This episode was originally published…
64. Sushi Fish
Aug 09, 2026
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. This episode was…
63. Botox
Aug 05, 2026
Why do millions of people pay to have one of the world’s deadliest toxins injected into their faces? Zachary Crockett looks surprised. This episode was originally published on September 15th, 2024.
62. Title Insurance
Aug 02, 2026
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…
61. Pigeons
Jul 29, 2026
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. This episode was originally…
60. Money Laundering
Jul 26, 2026
How do criminals turn their ill-gotten gains into taxable income? And how does law enforcement stop them? Zachary Crockett follows the money. This episode was originally published on August 18th…
59. Restaurant Reservations
Jul 22, 2026
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…
58. Firefighters
Jul 19, 2026
There are more firefighters than ever — and fewer fires for them to fight. So the job has changed. Zachary Crockett slides down the pole. This episode was originally published on August 4, 2024.
57. Strippers
Jul 15, 2026
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. This episode was originally published on…
56. Snake Venom
Jul 12, 2026
Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina to find out. This episode was originally published on July 14th, 2024.
55. Direct-to-Consumer Mattresses
Jul 08, 2026
Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the sheets. This episode was originally published on July…
54. Ghostwriters
Jul 05, 2026
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. This episode was…
53. Food Trucks
Jul 01, 2026
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. This episode was originally…
52. Little League
Jun 28, 2026
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. This episode was originally…
51. Wine Corks
Jun 24, 2026
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. This episode was originally published on June 9th…
50. Self-Checkout
Jun 21, 2026
Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner. This episode was originally published on June 2nd, 2024.
49. Weather Forecasts
Jun 17, 2026
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. This…
48. College Fraternities
Jun 14, 2026
A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the party. This episode was originally published on…
47. Bail Bonds
Jun 10, 2026
How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2024.
46. Car Colors
Jun 07, 2026
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. This episode was…
45. Storage Units
Jun 03, 2026
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. This episode was originally…
44. Movie Sound Effects
May 31, 2026
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. This…
43. Top-Level Domains
May 27, 2026
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. This episode was…
42. Cemeteries
May 24, 2026
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. This episode was originally published on…
41. Pet Movers
May 20, 2026
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." This episode was originally…