Best Stephen J Dubner And Stitcher Podcasts (2025)

1
Extra: A Modern Whaler Speaks Up (Update) 26:47

3h ago26:47

26:47

Bjørn Andersen has killed hundreds of minke whales. He tells us how he does it, why he does it, and what he thinks would happen if whale-hunting ever stopped. (This bonus episode is a follow-up to our series “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”) SOURCES: Bjørn Andersen, Norwegian whaler. RESOURCES: "Digestive physiology of minke whales," by S…

1
What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life? (Update) 48:08

5d ago48:08

48:08

In the final episode of our whale series, we learn about fecal plumes, shipping noise, and why Moby-Dick is still worth reading. (Part 3 of "Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.") SOURCES: Michele Baggio, professor of economics at the University of Connecticut. Mary K. Bercaw-Edwards, professor of maritime English at the University of Connectic…

1
Why Do People Still Hunt Whales? (Update) 37:32

12d ago37:32

37:32

For years, whale oil was used as lighting fuel, industrial lubricant, and the main ingredient in (yum!) margarine. Whale meat was also on a few menus. But today, demand for whale products is at a historic low. And yet some countries still have a whaling industry. We find out why. (Part 2 of “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”) SOURCES: Jay A…

1
The First Great American Industry (Update) 45:02

19d ago45:02

45:02

Whaling was, in the words of one scholar, “early capitalism unleashed on the high seas.” How did the U.S. come to dominate the whale market? Why did whale hunting die out here — and continue to grow elsewhere? And is that whale vomit in your perfume? (Part 1 of “Everything You Never Knew About Whaling.”) SOURCES: Eric Hilt, professor of economics a…

1
Why Does Tipping Still Exist? (Update) 47:25

21d ago47:25

47:25

It’s a haphazard way of paying workers, and yet it keeps expanding. With federal tax policy shifting in a pro-tip direction, we revisit an episode from 2019 to find out why. SOURCES: John List, economist at the University of Chicago. Michael Lynn, professor of consumer behavior and marketing at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. U…

1
643. Why Do Candles Still Exist? 47:22

26d ago47:22

47:22

They should have died out when the lightbulb was invented. Instead they’re a $10 billion industry. What does it mean that we still want tiny fires inside our homes? SOURCES: Tim Cooper, professor emeritus of sustainable design and consumption at Nottingham Trent University. Gökçe Günel, professor of anthropology at Rice University. Steve Horenzi…

1
642. How to Wage Peace, According to Tony Blinken 1:06:28

1M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

The former secretary of state isn’t a flamethrower, but he certainly has strong opinions. In this wide-ranging conversation with Stephen Dubner, he gives them all: on Israel, Gaza, China, Iran, Russia, Biden, Trump — and the rest of the world. SOURCES: Antony Blinken, former Secretary of State. RESOURCES: "Evaluating the impact of two decades of US…

1
Why Does One Tiny State Set the Rules for Everyone? (Update) 47:02

1M ago47:02

47:02

Until recently, Delaware was almost universally agreed to be the best place for companies to incorporate. Now, with Elon Musk leading a corporate stampede out of the First State, we revisit an episode from 2023 that asked if Delaware’s “franchise” is wildly corrupt, wildly efficient … or both? SOURCES: John Cassara, retired Special Agent detailee t…

1
641. What Does It Cost to Lead a Creative Life? 46:22

1M ago46:22

46:22

For years, the playwright David Adjmi was considered “polarizing and difficult.” But creating Stereophonic seems to have healed him. Stephen Dubner gets the story — and sorts out what Adjmi has in common with Richard Wagner. SOURCES: David Adjmi, author and playwright. RESOURCES: "The West End is enjoying a theatre revival. Can Broadway keep up?" b…

1
640. Why Governments Are Betting Big on Sports 50:12

2M ago50:12

50:12

The Gulf States and China are spending billions to build stadiums and buy up teams — but what are they really buying? And can an entrepreneur from Cincinnati make his own billions by bringing baseball to Dubai? SOURCES: Simon Chadwick, professor of afroeurasian sport at Emlyon Business School. Derek Fisher, high school basketball coach, former N.B.…

1
How to Make Your Own Luck (Update) 58:07

2M ago58:07

58:07

Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are in a deck. But she did have a Ph.D. in psychology, a brilliant coach, and a burning desire to know whether life is driven more by skill or chance. She found some answers in poker — and she’s willing to tell us everything she learned. SOURCES: Maria Konnikova, a…

1
639. “This Country Kicks My Ass All the Time” 53:46

2M ago53:46

53:46

Cory Booker on the politics of fear, the politics of hope, and how to split the difference. SOURCES: Cory Booker, senior United States Senator from New Jersey. RESOURCES: "'When Are More Americans Going to Speak Up?'" by The New Yorker Radio Hour (2025). "Cory Booker’s Marathon Floor Speech," (2025). "Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girl…

1
638. Are You Ready for the Elder Swell? 54:53

2M ago54:53

54:53

In the U.S., there will soon be more people over 65 than there are under 18 — and it’s not just lifespan that’s improving, it’s “healthspan” too. Unfortunately, the American approach to aging is stuck in the 20th century. In less than an hour, we try to unstick it. (Part three of a three-part series, “Cradle to Grave.”) SOURCES: James Chappel, prof…

1
What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common? (Update) 36:13

2M ago36:13

36:13

In this episode from 2013, we look at whether spite pays — and if it even exists. SOURCES: Benedikt Herrmann, research officer at the European Commission. Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics and host of People I (Mostly) Admire. Dave O'Connor, president of Times Studios. Lisi Oliver, professor of English at Louisiana State University. E.O. Wils…

1
637. What It’s Like to Be Middle-Aged (in the Middle Ages) 45:54

2M ago45:54

45:54

The simplicity of life back then is appealing today, as long as you don’t mind Church hegemony, the occasional plague, trial by gossip — and the lack of ibuprofen. (Part two of a three-part series, “Cradle to Grave.”) SOURCES: Jordan Cavalier, performer at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire. Matt Schwarz, harpist at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire. …

1
636. Why Aren’t We Having More Babies? 50:28

2M ago50:28

50:28

For decades, the great fear was overpopulation. Now it’s the opposite. How did this happen — and what’s being done about it? (Part one of a three-part series, “Cradle to Grave.”) SOURCES: Matthias Doepke, professor of economics at the London School of Economics. Amy Froide, professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Diana…

1
An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update) 39:52

3M ago39:52

39:52

A famous essay argues that “not a single person on the face of this earth” knows how to make a pencil. How true is that? In this 2016 episode, we looked at what pencil-making can teach us about global manufacturing — and the proper role of government in the economy. SOURCES: Caroline Weaver, creator of the Locavore Guide. Matt Ridley, science write…

1
635. Can a Museum Be the Conscience of a Nation? 50:55

3M ago50:55

50:55

Nicholas Cullinan, the new director of the British Museum, seems to think so. “I'm not afraid of the past,” he says — which means talking about looted objects, the basement storerooms, and the leaking roof. We take the guided tour. SOURCES: Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum. RESOURCES: "Inside the British Museum: stolen treasures an…

1
634. “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job” 1:02:15

3M ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Austan Goolsbee, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, is less reserved than the average banker. He explains why vibes are overrated, why the Fed’s independence is non-negotiable, and why tariffs could bring the economy back to the Covid era. SOURCES: Austan Goolsbee, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of …

1
633. The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of 1:05:42

3M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. Javier Blas and Jack Farchy, the authors of The World for Sale, help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders. SOURCES: Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News. Jack…

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency (Update) 52:50

3M ago52:50

52:50

Everyone makes mistakes. How do we learn from them? Lessons from the classroom, the Air Force, and the world’s deadliest infectious disease. (Part four of a four-part series.) SOURCES: Will Coleman, founder and C.E.O. of Alto. Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School. Babak Javid, physician-scientist and associat…

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit (Update) 1:03:37

3M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Giving up can be painful. That's why we need to talk about it. Today: stories about glitchy apps, leaky paint cans, broken sculptures — and a quest for the perfect bowl of ramen. (Part three of a four-part series.) SOURCES: John Boykin, website designer and failed paint can re-inventor. Angela Duckworth, host of No Stupid Questions, co-founder of C…

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 2: Life and Death (Update) 53:19

4M ago53:19

53:19

In medicine, failure can be catastrophic. It can also produce discoveries that save millions of lives. Tales from the front line, the lab, and the I.T. department. (Part two of a four-part series.) SOURCES: Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School. Carole Hemmelgarn, co-founder of Patients for Patient Safety U.S.…

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 1: The Chain of Events (Update) 55:38

4M ago55:38

55:38

We tend to think of tragedies as a single terrible moment, rather than the result of multiple bad decisions. Can this pattern be reversed? We try — with stories about wildfires, school shootings, and love. (Part one of a four-part series.) SOURCES: Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership management at Harvard Business School. Helen Fisher, former se…

1
632. When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries? 54:21

4M ago54:21

54:21

It used to be that making documentary films meant taking a vow of poverty (and obscurity). The streaming revolution changed that. Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler talks to Stephen Dubner about capturing Billie Eilish’s musical genius and Martha Stewart’s vulnerability — and why he really, really, really needs to make a film about the New York Me…

1
631. Will "3 Summers of Lincoln" Make It to Broadway? 46:19

4M ago46:19

46:19

It’s been in development for five years and has at least a year to go. On the eve of its out-of-town debut, the actor playing Lincoln quit. And the producers still need to raise another $15 million to bring the show to New York. There really is no business like show business. (Part three of a three-part series.) SOURCES: Christopher Ashley, artisti…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Stephen J Dubner And Stitcher Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Freakonomics Radio

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

1
Tell Me Something I Don't Know

Stephen J. Dubner and Stitcher

1
Extra: A Modern Whaler Speaks Up (Update) 26:47

1
What Can Whales Teach Us About Clean Energy, Workplace Harmony, and Living the Good Life? (Update) 48:08

1
Why Do People Still Hunt Whales? (Update) 37:32

1
The First Great American Industry (Update) 45:02

1
Why Does Tipping Still Exist? (Update) 47:25

1
643. Why Do Candles Still Exist? 47:22

1
642. How to Wage Peace, According to Tony Blinken 1:06:28

1
Why Does One Tiny State Set the Rules for Everyone? (Update) 47:02

1
641. What Does It Cost to Lead a Creative Life? 46:22

1
640. Why Governments Are Betting Big on Sports 50:12

1
How to Make Your Own Luck (Update) 58:07

1
639. “This Country Kicks My Ass All the Time” 53:46

1
638. Are You Ready for the Elder Swell? 54:53

1
What Do Medieval Nuns and Bo Jackson Have in Common? (Update) 36:13

1
637. What It’s Like to Be Middle-Aged (in the Middle Ages) 45:54

1
636. Why Aren’t We Having More Babies? 50:28

1
An Economics Lesson from a Talking Pencil (Update) 39:52

1
635. Can a Museum Be the Conscience of a Nation? 50:55

1
634. “Fault-Finder Is a Minimum-Wage Job” 1:02:15

1
633. The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of 1:05:42

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extreme Resiliency (Update) 52:50

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 3: Grit vs. Quit (Update) 1:03:37

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 2: Life and Death (Update) 53:19

1
How to Succeed at Failing, Part 1: The Chain of Events (Update) 55:38

1
632. When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries? 54:21

1
631. Will "3 Summers of Lincoln" Make It to Broadway? 46:19

Quick Reference Guide