We have listened to these podcasts for several years, but it seems like Steven Dubner and the team have lost their way and started doing shows that are just not interesting to my demographic. Maybe that is intentional as they target a different group, but they certainly lost me as a regular listener and subscriber. I wish them success as they go through this apparent change.

Of all the podcasts I listen to, this is the one that is most likely to leave me thinking and the most likely for me to bore people with “I heard on a podcast that. . . .” I listen to every episode because I have learned that I enjoy even the ones that don’t sound like they will interest me. We need more interviewers like Steven Dubner. He presents experts on both sides of an issue, presses both with hard questions, and is invariably kind and polite.

So much to absorb, always well done.

I love listening to this podcast. I learn so much on subjects I didn't even know interested me. I gave my best friend a copy of the Freakonomics book and she objected accusing me of being an academic snob. Until she read it and told me how fun and fascinating it was to read. Thank you for the fun way you present your topics and the show.

Some of your host on this show have a bad habit of interrupting the guests when they’re talking. Especially when they’re in the middle of or finishing up a good thought or point. And most of the time, the interruption is so immature, like a bad or immature joke or a joke at the wrong time. It’s irritating because most of the time, the guest loses their chain of thought and doesn’t return to their point. Have your host to work on this. There’s a time and place for everything. If things can be edited later, LET THEM TALK AND FINISH THEIR POINT. Interrupting in uncontrollable ADD of thoughts that are irrelevant or could have waited is driving me crazy. Other than this, it’s a really good show.

The name of the podcast may lead you to think it’s going to be some far out intellectual, academic mumbo jumbo. But instead, it’s an extremely thoughtful and easily accessible conversation about interesting current events and topics that are relevant to our everyday lives. Steven Dubner is a stellar interviewer (and very smart guy) whose only agenda is to learn more from the experienced and knowledgeable guests he invites on the show. I eagerly await each weekly podcast. Do yourself a favor and CHECK IT OUT!

I love that the show digs into interesting and important issues and people. Inquiry, evidence, and thoughtfulness are valued, wherever they can be found. I learn something whenever I listen, and often come away thinking differently.

Great podcast to leave something new, especially if you’re interested in why decisions are made. It’s worth it to go through the early catalogue, where they really focus on unique connections, and podcast titles could be a chapter in their books. Lately it’s more of a focus on individuals being interviewed, with a series every now and then that does a deep dive into a particular topic. Stephen is a great interviewer, and it’s a great research team.

About 60% of the way through I realized that no matter what kind of parade it is, this guy is perfectly willing to be led to the front to lead it. And then when it is done, no matter who is in the parade, he is willing to criticize them.

I can’t for the life of me understand why Stephen Dubner canceled Bapu Jena. It makes me question his discernment. “The Economics of Everyday Things” is a characature of intelligent examination. Perhaps some franchises just outlive their ability to be useful.

One of the only podcasts I can think of that has maintained its level of quality for years.

Not sure why, but this has just gotten further and further left and hard to listen to any more

Some cute stories relayed through a demented lense.

This episode on Vienna is lovely. Special thanks to the music chosen (especially the Mahler and Bruckner excerpts), they really helped set the mood for the whole discussion.

They lost all credibility for me when they (an economics podcast) fawned over Justin Trudeau for an hour.

It’s getting more politically biased. A recent episode w a CNN host showed strong left bias, esp against Trump. Well, no shocker, it’s CNN. But even the hosts failure to differentiate between legal and illegal immigration was not what I expected. A previous episode on immigration reinforced this; must be an election year. Too many good shows for me to just drop it. But it’s feeling like it’s run it’s course. We’ll see. [old review] Nearly always interesting and based on good research rather than just anecdotes or unsupported opinions. Old ones like the one on nurses, gluten and visual effects were terrific. But now new ones like google search and personal finance were even better. A few like they were mailed in, but those are mostly in the past. I have to comment on the Roland Fryer one on black america. How can you do this? You must know that any speaker who says anything against what BLM, WAPO or the others are reporting is going to be crushed. Whether I agree or not with Fryer, you and he are courageous. Good for you. Too many on the left and right have given up on journalism and objectivity in order to cater to their tribe. The ones on nurses, gluten and the visual effects industry were terrific; objective, surprising and fun. But every once in a while we get a Larry Summers (plodding and biased) or Trevor Noah (Larry without the plodding). Early on there were a few back to back that were just being mailed in and I considered unsubscribing, but they've gotten better and now this is one of my 7 go to podcasts.

I want to listen to a 3 part series, however, the search takes you only to the first of the 3. How do you find the 2nd or 3rd parts of a series.

So super cool!

I’ve been listening to and loving this show for years, but am also beginning to feel a lack of balance in presentation. I have to agree with the earlier comment, that giving Trudeau what effectively was a 45 minute political infomercial calls for some balance from the other side. Perhaps Harper, who is a very thoughtful, well spoken economist and presided over a very successful decade in Canada’s history, should get 45 minutes as well.

I welcomed the Trudeau interview, but it was cowardly and weak not to challenge Trudeau and allow him to ignore clear policy failures and levy generalized bumper sticker pejoratives against good faith citizen opposition. Mr. Dubner, do you expect listeners to respect the show if all opposition to Trudeau policy are dismissed as far right populists?!? I’m not a communist deplatformer. So I listened for 20+ minute until I couldn’t take any more generalities and half truths. If you’re allowing Trudeau a relatively unchallenged 45 minute infomercial, then please welcome a rebuttal presenting a different vision from another polite frank Canadian. And what the heck is a ‘far right populist’ anyway? Someone who opposes unseen levels of immigration? Someone who distrusts ever-expanding govt power and a black-face wearing silver spoon authoritarian over-compensating racist elitist who has introduced pre-crime laws, censorship laws under the conspicuous guise of hate speech, enacted Emergency Powers for the first in Canadian history to arrest and de-bank many working citizens freely assembling and protesting under the guise of hate and safety, among many other “problematic” behaviors and policies. Please, Mr. Dubner, don’t become Stephen Colbert. Stay true to what makes your show, personality and writing and conversation styles so attractive. Think openly. Talk to and understand everyone. Please.

I’ll start at the end. For me the show is summed up in the sign off “Take care of yourself and if possible someone else “. Week after week the shows’s subject is a matter of how we interact with each other and challenges us to think about how to improve the relationship between us all. I look forward to the next and return to listen to many previous episodes. In the glut of information this cuts through and offers real insight and value.

I have always loved the content on the show. I’ve listened to many episodes over the years, but I am disappointed by the leftward movement lean slowly taking place. I don’t think the show has ever criticized Joe Biden or his economic policies. Every issue talked about on this show avoids blaming the Biden administration and finds a different factor to blame it on.

Recently got into this show and it’s so fun. It challenges my thinking and perceptions and helps me to see from different perspectives.

Couldn’t believe the unabashed touting of U.S. as the “good guy” in the 20th century, without the slightest objection! Pointing fingers everywhere, only to forget that imperialism didn’t disappear after WWII, just euphemised as “interventions”, fervently carried out by our government, well into the 21st century. “Free-market” and “globalization” are co-opted as the cover for resource exploitation, and used to impose laws to benefit a few. In the name of anti-communism, anti-terrorism, and “democracy”, all the propped-up dictators, assassinations of dissenters, slaughtering of millions of innocents and crushed economies, are deemed acceptable even necessary, in keeping of American hegemony. These and more are conveniently left out of the conversation, so as to avoid any moral dissonance. If this is the kind of media the majority of the public is fed, little wonder of the apathy and bias towards people from those places. “Not very different from commodities and goods”, commented by the host without missing a beat.

I’m a long time fan of this podcast. It’s clear to me that Stephen Dubner is respected by those he interviews, or he wouldn’t get the high quality guests that he has on the show. They don’t want to waste their time, and his preparation must have earned him a reputation for being knowledgeable, forthright, and honest in their eyes. Definitely worth your time.

I really enjoy this show and appreciate how the topics and interviews help your critical thinking skills!

I really like the recent episodes about immigrants and the latest episode interviewing Fareed Zakaria. They were not mainly about economics but gave me a great more understanding about how we got here. Recommend to everyone!

This podcast has turned into mainstream media. There is little critical analysis. You guys are establishment shills now. Pathetic.

A longtime fan of freaknonics podcasts, I only have good words to say about the quality of the conversations. But I never understand why gambling ads are constantly pushed when I listen, esp when my kids are around. Those gambling ads all end with something like, after promoting a gambling venue, “If you have gambling problems, we can help too”! This could turn many fans away, unfortunately.

Good show me learn alor

I’ve loved Freakonmics for years, and I’ve loved Feynman for even longer. It all made so much sense when Dubner talked so excitedly about Feynman and his legacy. There’s definitely a common thread that has drawn me to both. So when Dubner took so much time and thought to dive deep into Feynman it brought literal tears to my eyes. This show has inspired me and enriched my life in so many ways. Thank you all for the beautiful work that you do.

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Analysis of immigration was interesting, but left biased. There was no acknowledgment of the differences between immigration today and immigration of the 20th century. Ideological blindness.

This used to be my must-listen to podcast 3 or 4 years ago. I unsubscribed then due to its decision to talk incessantly about politics with a clear bias towards the left, and I mean far left. Didn’t want to subscribe to listen to political rhetoric so I unsubscribed. Just tried listening again recently and can see that Freakonomics went all-in on their decision to go away from economics and instead focus on socialism and politics. Too bad

I absolutely love the new Americas Messed Up Immigration Series deep dive!! Please keep producing stuff like this and interesting conversations we are having!!! womp womp womp ❤️

The whistling audio is painful. No one enjoys whistling except the whistler.

Liberal bias podcast. Far left ideals. Exact reason it’s so easy for the Democratic Shepard lead the heard of democratic sheep.

Really awful, unchallenged and recurring anti-Arab racist attitudes. Held my nose as I listened through episode 480, then recognized similar tropes resurfacing in 574, and now with the most recent sportswashing episode, the guest was allowed to go off on an unchecked racist tirade about “our values versus theirs” (shoehorning in a rant about Hamas and October 7th in an episode focused on Qatar’s FIFA World Cup and Saudi Arabia‘s LIV golf league). It is clear the hosts and frequent guests of the show do not even have a baseline level of understanding of Middle Eastern geopolitics and lean heavily on their vague, ignorant, orientalist understandings of “those people over there” to deliver a stale American-centric narrative that would not be out of place in the years of the Bush administration.

Really enjoyed the Feynman series. As a fellow Jew who grew up in Queens, I didn’t realize what a rich and amazing life Richard Feynman had. Kudos to the Freakonomics team for bringing Feynman’s legacy to life! He sure lived life to the max! Will read about him with my kids during our family reading time! Thank you!

This is one of my go to podcasts, I am always checking to see if there is a new episode. At the end the host used to say, “take care of yourself, and if you can, someone else” and that always spoke to me and I often quote him, because it’s good advice

In Google episode , lot of whining from host. That was really bothers me!

This podcast literally changed my life! The host Stephen J. Dubner’s voice is perfect for podcasts. He speaks clearly, in a calm tone, and not too fast. Super smart guy surrounded guy by super smart friends with great sense of humor. I even went to their live podcast in LA and it was so much fun. The trademark music in the beginning is on point too, I got excited every time I hear it. Best podcast!

Stephen Dubner seems to have the ability to make something that, on the surface, seems boring be profoundly interesting. I always end an episode feeling more knowledgeable and often inspired. Thanks for your work!

Such a tremendous series on Richard Feynman! I just finished the last episode — in awe that someone like him existed, sad that he’s not here today, and so grateful to have heard this story. I’ve listened to Freakonomics only occasionally in the past but now I’m obsessed — I’m diving into the back catalog and starting at episode #1

Thank you Stephen Dubner for bringing Mr Feynman into my life, I kept bumping into his name in the places where I like to listen and read, I had it in my list of “people I need to know what the fuss is all about”. Oh wow, did I find out listening to this series. Thanks for the wonderful journey, we certainly need to bring and inspire more of his brand of open hearted curiosity. He is now probably going to be filed under “One of those teachers for life I never knew, but now I have”. Fantastic.

Wonderful and inspiring thanks

Fascinating, educational and enriching. Excellent interviews and narration. I will listen to that one again for sure.

I think if this show had a tag line it would be, “it’s complicated”. Everything is much more complicated, and fascinating, than first glance. Stephen’s curiosity and search for truth is infectious.

Look at the map. Los Alamos is in the mountains, not the desert. New Mexico isn't an unrelieved flat desert.

My favorite podcast channel! Interesting topics, well researched, informative discussions with fascinating guests. I look forward to each new episode…just listening makes me feel smarter! ;-) This is my top podcast channel recommendation!