Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher · Education

People I (Mostly) Admire

Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down other high achievers for surprising, revealing conversations about their lives and obsessions. Join Levitt as he goes through the most interesting midlife crisis you’ve ever heard — and learn how a renegade sheriff is transforming Chicago's jail, how a biologist is finding the secrets of evolution in the Arctic tundra, and how a trivia champion memorized 160,000 flashcards. 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.

Episodes

85. What It Takes to Know Everything

06 Aug 2022

43m

84. Yuval Noah Harari Thinks Life Is Meaningless and Amazing

23 Jul 2022

53m

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This podcast episode explores the thought-provoking concepts presented in the book Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. It challenges traditional storytelling conventions by focusing on ideas rather than characters, and explores the meaning of being human. The success of Sapiens demonstrates that people are interested in thou...

This podcast episode delves into the success of Honest Tea, a company that challenged the beverage industry by focusing on high-quality tea and finding the optimal level of sweetness. It explores the economic principles behind their business model, the importance of financing and understanding the value of the business...

79. Solar Geoengineering Would Be Radical. It Might Also Be Necessary.

11 Jun 2022

55m

78. Giving It Away

04 Jun 2022

51m

77. Can Games Prepare Us for Catastrophes? (Part 2)

28 May 2022

34m

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This podcast episode explores the importance of envisioning and preparing for future challenges, highlighting the need to increase mental flexibility and adaptability in order to acknowledge the need for change. The speaker discusses the value of simulations in predicting social behaviors and understanding ordinary peo...

76. Is Gaming Good for You?

21 May 2022

41m

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This podcast episode explores the mindset and benefits of playing games, both video games and traditional games like golf. It emphasizes the development of skills, the growth of collective intelligence, and the optimization of game design. The concept of a gameful mindset is discussed, highlighting its application in e...