Freakonomics Radio

Governments started the space age. Now, billionaires and private firms are reinventing it. Guest host Steve Levitt explores what the past can teach us about a high-stakes future. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES: Blaise Agüera y Arcas, vice president and fellow at Google, C.T.O. of technology and society. Rosanna Hoffman, head of space law, policy, and sustainability at the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. Alex Macdonald, former first chief economist at NASA, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Will Marshall, co-founder and C.E.O. of

Gary and Stephen talk about creativity, recovery, getting fired, and holding grudges. They also get outside and play basketball, which is a big part of how Gary stays well. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

At first it sounds ridiculous. But it might be inevitable. Guest host Steve Levitt talks to a team that hopes to push A.I. infrastructure off the planet. Part one of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Blaise Agüera y Arcas, vice president and fellow at Google, C.T.O. of technology and society. Travis Beals, senior director of product management at Google, Project Suncatcher lead. Will Marshall, co-founder and C.E.O. of Planet Labs.   RESOURCES: What Is Intelligence?, by Blaise Agüera y Arcas (2025). "Towards a future space-based, highly scalable AI infrastructure system design," by Blai

Hillary Sterling was a Brooklyn kid raised on cream cheese sandwiches and canned potatoes. So how did she become one of New York City's best chefs? The Ci Siamo executive chef explains on the second episode of Better in Person. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Like tens of millions of people, Stephen Dubner thought he had a penicillin allergy. Like the vast majority, he didn’t. This misdiagnosis costs billions of dollars and causes serious health problems, so why hasn’t it been fixed? We find out in this update of a 2025 episode. SOURCES: Kimberly Blumenthal, allergist-immunologist and researcher at the Mayo Clinic. Theresa MacPhail, associate professor of science and technology studies at Stevens Institute of Technology. Thomas Platts-Mills, professor of medicine at the University of Virginia. Elena Resnick, allergist and immunologist at Mount S

Is the oxymoron really “the secret sauce to everything”? That’s the case Ingels makes in this debut episode of our new video show Better in Person, filmed in Stephen Dubner’s living room.   If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stephen Dubner had an idea for a new project. So he drove to Connecticut and knocked on the door of the master. Dubner’s new TV talk show Better in Person launches July 14 on the Freakonomics YouTube channel. SOURCES: Dick Cavett, writer, former talk show host.   RESOURCES: Eye on Cavett, by Dick Cavett and Christopher Porterfield (1983). Cavett, by Dick Cavett and Christopher Porterfield (1974). "The Dick Cavett Show" YouTube Channel. "Better in Person" Trailer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal da

Dartmouth president Sian Beilock, a psychologist by training, made her name studying why people choke. Now she’s applying those insights to one of the most scrutinized jobs in America. No pressure! SOURCES: Sian Beilock, president of Dartmouth College.   RESOURCES: "Growing share of Americans say the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction," by Kim Parker (Pew Research Center, 2025). "Standardized Test Scores and Academic Performance at Ivy-Plus Colleges," by John N. Friedman, Bruce Sacerdote, Douglas O. Staiger, and Michele Tine (NBER, 2025). "Americans’ Trust in

It’s a hard time to run a university: public trust is low, political pressure is high, and finances are fragile. But Daniel Diermeier, who trained as a political scientist, has Vanderbilt humming. How? He says the key is choosing magnets over wedges. SOURCES: Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University.   RESOURCES: "Higher Ed’s New Crisis Managers," by Lee Gardner (The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2026). "Professors Need to Diversify What They Teach," by Jon Shields, Yuval Avnur, and Stephanie Muravchik (Persuasion, 2025). "A Call for Constructive Engagement," (American As

Insurance forms that make no sense. Subscriptions that can’t be cancelled. A never-ending blizzard of automated notifications. In this update of a 2025 episode, Stephen Dubner discovers where all this sludge comes from — and how much it’s costing us.   SOURCES: Benjamin Handel, professor of economics at UC Berkeley. Neale Mahoney, professor of economics at Stanford University. Richard Thaler, professor of economics at The University of Chicago.   RESOURCES: "Selling Subscriptions," by Liran Einav, Ben Klopack, and Neale Mahoney (Stanford University, 2023). "The ‘Enshittification’ of

New York is the latest state to legalize medical aid in dying. Stephen Dubner speaks with the governor who signed the law, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, a death doula — and an ethicist who thinks the very idea is wrong. SOURCES: Kathy Hochul, governor of New York. Suzanne O'Brien, death doula, founder of Doulagivers Institute. Al Roth, economist at Stanford University. Daniel Sulmasy, physician, philosopher, director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University.   RESOURCES: Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal Abou

It brings strangers together. It teaches probability, strategy, and emotional control. It has even helped N.F.L. teams win the Super Bowl. Stephen Dubner explores why this ancient game is having a renaissance. (Part two of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”) SOURCES:  Remington Davenport, founder of NYC Backgammon Club. Frank Frigo, game strategy expert & two-time world backgammon champion. Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki, professional backgammon player. Marc Olsen, C.E.O. of Backgammon Galaxy. Robert Wachtel, author and professional backgammon player.   RESOURCES: The Backgammon Chronicles

As the Trump administration rolls back environmental regulations, we revisit a 2022 episode that explored the hidden cost of an invisible threat: air pollution.   SOURCES: Angela Duckworth, psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael Greenstone, economist at the University of Chicago, director of the Energy Policy Institute, co-director of the Climate Impact Lab. Stephan Heblich, economist at the University of Toronto. Andrea La Nauze, economist at Deakin University. Steve Levitt, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Chicago. Edson Severnini, economist at Bost

Another war in the Middle East. A retreat from the international order. A presidency built on self-dealing and arbitrary power. It’s enough to make you think the U.S. is in a steep decline — but Fareed Zakaria thinks otherwise. SOURCES: Fareed Zakaria, journalist and author.   RESOURCES: "Iran is an imperial trap. America walked right in." by Fareed Zakaria (The Washington Post, 2026). "‘Bomb and hope’ is not a strategy," by Fareed Zakaria (The Washington Post, 2026). Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present, by Fareed Zakaria (2024). The Accidental Superpower

In his final years, Richard Feynman's curiosity took him to some surprising places. We hear from his companions on the trips he took — and one he wasn’t able to. (Part three of a three-part series originally published in 2024.)    SOURCES:  Alan Alda, actor and screenwriter. Barbara Berg, friend of Richard Feynman. Helen Czerski, physicist and oceanographer at University College London. Michelle Feynman, photographer and daughter of Richard Feynman. Cheryl Haley, friend of Richard Feynman. Debby Harlow, friend of Richard Feynman. Ralph Leighton, biographer and film producer. Charles Mann

What happens when an existentially depressed and recently widowed young physicist from Queens gets a fresh start in California? We follow Richard Feynman out west, to explore his long and extremely fruitful second act. (Part two of a three-part series originally published in 2024.)   SOURCES: Seamus Blackley, video game designer and creator of the Xbox. Carl Feynman, computer scientist and son of Richard Feynman. Michelle Feynman, photographer and daughter of Richard Feynman. Ralph Leighton, biographer and film producer. Charles Mann, science journalist and author. John Preskill, profess

From the Manhattan Project to the Challenger investigation, the physicist Richard Feynman loved to shoot down what he called “lousy ideas.” Today, the world is awash in lousy ideas — so maybe it’s time to get some more Feynman in our lives? (Part one of a three-part series originally published in 2024.)   SOURCES: Helen Czerski, physicist and oceanographer at University College London. Michelle Feynman, photographer and daughter of Richard Feynman. Ralph Leighton, biographer and film producer. Charles Mann, science journalist and author. John Preskill, professor of theoretical physics at

Not exactly. But their runaway success with games like Wordle says something bigger about the way we live now. (Part one of a series, “We Are All Gamers Now.”) SOURCES: Alex Hardiman, chief product officer at The New York Times. Jonathan Knight, S.V.P. and general manager for New York Times Games. Eric Zimmerman, game designer, professor of game design at the N.Y.U. Game Center.   RESOURCES: "Wordle Is a Love Story," by Daniel Victor (New York Times, 2022). The Rules We Break: Lessons in Play, Thinking, and Design, by Eric Zimmerman (2022). Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Cros

Great. Then depressed. Then great again. Stephen Dubner gets the full story from David Lang; we also hear from some fans, and the New York Philharmonic’s president. The math and the aftermath of wealth of nations. (Part two of a series.)   SOURCES: David Lang, composer and professor at the Yale School of Music. Matías Tarnopolsky, president and C.E.O. of the New York Philharmonic.   RESOURCES: "Finally, an Opera About Economics," by Stacey Vanek Smith (Bloomberg, 2026). "The Little Match Girl Passion," by David Lang (2023). The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith (1776).   EXTRAS:

Economists and politicians have turned him into a mascot for free-market ideology. Some on the left say the right has badly misread him. In this updated replay of a 2022 episode, we hold a very Smithy tug of war.   SOURCES: Eamonn Butler, co-founder and director of the Adam Smith Institute. Glory Liu, a political scientist and Adam Smith scholar at Georgetown University. Mariana Mazzucato, professor in the economics of innovation and public value at University College London. Dennis Rasmussen, a professor of political science at Syracuse University. Russ Roberts, president of Shalem Coll

That’s what the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang wanted to learn. So he turned Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations into an oratorio. We tag along as Lang’s piece heads toward its world premiere with the New York Philharmonic. (Part one of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Fleur Barron, opera singer and mezzo-soprano. David Lang, composer and professor at the Yale School of Music.   RESOURCES: "Finally, an Opera About Economics," by Stacey Vanek Smith (Bloomberg, 2026). "The Little Match Girl Passion," by David Lang (2023). The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith (1776).   EXTRA

Epic Systems manages the electronic health records for hundreds of millions of people. This makes Faulkner a healthcare heavyweight and one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in history. So why haven’t we ever heard much from her? Stephen Dubner travels to Verona, Wisc., to explore the Faulknerverse.   SOURCES: Judy Faulkner, C.E.O. and founder of Epic Systems. Seth Howard, executive vice president of research and development at Epic Systems.   RESOURCES: "Epic Systems (MyChart)," by Acquired (2025). "Federal antitrust lawsuit against Wisconsin-based Epic Systems will move

New York City’s mayor called them “public enemy number one.” History books say they caused the Black Death — although recent scientific evidence disputes that claim. In an updated episode from 2025, we ask: Is the rat a scapegoat? And what does our rat hatred say about us?   SOURCES: Bethany Brookshire, author of Pests: How Humans Create Animal Villains. Kathy Corradi, senior vice president of resident services, partnerships, and initiatives at the New York City Housing Authority. Ed Glaeser, professor of economics at Harvard University. Nils Stenseth, professor of ecology and evolution

One possibility: a leading hypothesis pursued by researchers (and funders) was built on science that now appears to be fraudulent. Stephen Dubner speaks with the scientist and the journalist who blew the whistle.   SOURCES: Charles Piller, investigative journalist for Science, author of Doctored. Matthew Schrag, associate professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.   RESOURCES: Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance, and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer's, by Charles Piller (2025). "The brain makes a lot of waste. Now scientists think they know where it goes," by Jon H

How do beekeepers make a living? Why is there so much honey fraud? And why did billions of bees suddenly disappear? To find out, guest host Steve Levitt activates his hive mind.   SOURCES: Alex Sapoznik, historian, reader in late medieval history at King’s College London. Chris Hiatt, past president of the American Honey Producers Association, owner of Hiatt Honey Company. Michael Roberts, founding executive director of the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy at U.C.L.A. Law School. Walter "Wally" Thurman, professor emeritus of agricultural economics at North Carolina State University

Nearly everything that politicians say about taxes is at least half a lie. They are also dishonest when it comes to the national debt. In this update of an episode from 2025, Stephen Dubner finds one of the few people in Washington who is willing to tell the truth — and it’s even worse than you think.   SOURCES: Jessica Riedl, budget and tax fellow at the Brookings Institution.   RESOURCES: "How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?" by Emily Badger, David Fahrenthold, Alicia Parlapiano, and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times, 2025). "Correcting the Top 10 Tax Myths," by

Is it tradition … or protectionism? And what happens when the bourbon boom turns into a glut?   SOURCES: Andrew Muhammad, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee. Brad Patrick, executive in residence and lecturer at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, bourbon fellow at the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits. Danny Kahn, master distiller and distillation and aging operations director at Sazerac. Ken Troske, labor economist and chair of the economics department at the University of Kentucky.   RESOURCES: "America's Bourbon Boom

As one researcher told us: “We’ve engineered a world where the most distracting device ever made is also the one we use to listen to music in the car." A new study tries to measure the cost.   SOURCES: Bapu Jena, economist, physician, and professor at Harvard Medical School. Chris Worsham, pulmonary and critical-care physician at Mass General Hospital, health-policy and public-health researcher at Harvard Medical School. Vishal Patel, surgery resident at Brigham and Women's Hospital, researcher at Harvard Medical School.   RESOURCES: "Smartphones, Online Music Streaming, and Traffic

In blue cities across the country, unions and politicians want to ban self-driving cars. In this episode from the Search Engine podcast, PJ Vogt visits Boston to sort the facts from the propaganda. (Part two of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Carl Richardson, ADA coordinator for the Massachusetts State House, president of the Guide Dog Users of Massachusetts. Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Boston City councilor from District 1. Julia Mejia, Boston City councilor at-large. Timothy B. Lee, author of Understanding AI newsletter.   RESOURCES: "Waymo Hits a Rough Patch in Washington, DC," by Aa

How a secret project at Google led to driverless cars on American roads.  Freakonomics Radio shares a story from our friends at Search Engine. (Part one of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Alex Davies, author of Driven: The Race To Create the Autonomous Car. Chris Urmson, co-founder and C.E.O. of Aurora. Don Burnette, founder and C.E.O. of Kodiak AI. PJ Vogt, reporter, writer, and host of the Search Engine podcast. Sebastian Thrun, roboticist, C.E.O. of Sage AI Labs, adjunct faculty at Stanford University. Timothy B. Lee, author of Understanding AI newsletter.   RESOURCES: "Very few o

A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doing about it.   SOURCES: Kati Daffan, former assistant director at the Federal Trade Commission's Division of Marketing Practices. Marti DeLiema, assistant professor of social work at the University of Minnesota. Mark Frank, professor of communications at the University at Buffalo.   RESOURCES: "Cambodian Scam Tycoon Wanted by U.S. Extradited to China," by Gabriele Steinhauser (Wall Stree

Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate.   SOURCES: Joel Mokyr, economic historian at Northwestern University.   RESOURCES: Two Paths to Prosperity: Culture and Institutions in Europe and China, 1000–2000, by Avner Greif, Joel Mokyr, and, Guido Tabellini (2025). "The Outsize Role of Immigrants in US Innovation," by Shai Bernstein, Rebecca Diamond, Abhisit Jiranaphawiboon, Timo

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. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.   SOURCES: Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News. Jack Farchy, energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News. RESOURCES: The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources, by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (2021) The King of Oil: The Secr

... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth.   SOURCES: Werner Herzog, writer, filmmaker, and actor.   RESOURCES: The Future of Truth, by Werner Herzog (2025). Every Man for Himself and God Against All: A Memoir, by Werner Herzog (2023).   EXTRAS: "When Did We All Start Watching Documentaries?" by Freakonomics Radio (2025). "Werner Herzog Thinks His Films Are a Distraction," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads

Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle.   SOURCES: Chris Snyder, professor of economics at Dartmouth College. David Fajgenbaum, co-founder and president of Every Cure, physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Heather Stone, health science policy analyst at the Food & Drug Administration. Sarrin Chethik, senior policy analyst at the Market Shaping Accelerator.   RESOURCES: Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope i

When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises?   SOURCES: Richard Thaler, professor of economics at the University of Chicago.   RESOURCES: Nudge: The Final Edition, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein (2021). Sludge: What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do About It, by Cass Sunstein (2021). "Sludge: Americans Spend 11.4 Billion Hours Filling Out Federal Paperwor

The science says no, at least not in the athletic sense. But the psychic benefits can be large — just ask former N.F.L. star Ricky Williams. He says athletes should consider cannabis a healing drug, not a party drug. Even the N.F.L. is starting to agree. (Part two of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: Angela Bryan, professor, associate chair for faculty development in the department of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Ricky Williams, former N.F.L. running back, founder of Highsman.   RESOURCES: "Using A Lab On Wheels To Study Weed From Dispensaries," by Scienc

In sports, the rules are meant to be sacrosanct. But when it comes to performance-enhancing drugs, the slope is super-slippery. (Part one of a two-part series.)   SOURCES: April Henning, associate professor of international sport management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Aron D'Souza, founder of the Enhanced Games. Floyd Landis, former professional cyclist, founder of Floyd's of Leadville. Louisa Thomas, staff writer at The New Yorker.   RESOURCES: Doping: A Sporting History, by April Henning and Paul Dimeo (2022). "The Man Who Brought Down Lance Armstrong," by Matt Hart

They used to be the N.F.L.’s biggest stars, with paychecks to match. Now their salaries are near the bottom, and their careers are shorter than ever. In this updated episode from 2025, we speak with an analytics guru, an agent, an economist, and some former running backs to understand why.   SOURCES: Brian Burke, sports data scientist at ESPN. Roland Fryer, professor of economics at Harvard University. LeSean McCoy, former running back in the N.F.L., co-host for Fox's daily studio show, "The Facility." Robert Smith, former running back for the Minnesota Vikings, N.F.L. analyst. Robert Turbin,

For 50 years, the healthcare industry has been trying (and failing) to harness the power of artificial intelligence. It may finally be ready for prime time. What will this mean for human doctors — and the rest of us? (Part four of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”)   SOURCES: Bob Wachter, professor, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Pierre Elias, cardiologist, assistant professor of biomedical informatics at Columbia University, medical director for artificial intelligence at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.   RESOURCES: A Gian

Zeke Emanuel (a physician, medical ethicist, and policy wonk) has some different ideas for how to lead a healthy and meaningful life. It starts with ice cream. (Part three of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”)   SOURCES: Zeke Emanuel, oncologist, bioethicist, professor at the University of Pennsylvania.   RESOURCES: Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life, by Zeke Emanuel (2026). "Nutrition Science’s Most Preposterous Result," by David Merritt Johns (The Atlantic, 2023).   EXTRAS: "Is Ozempic as Magical as It Sounds?" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).

After five years, Levitt is ending People I (Mostly) Admire, and will start hosting the occasional Freakonomics Radio episode. We couldn’t be happier.   SOURCES: Steve Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics and host of People I (Mostly) Admire.   RESOURCES: "How to Help Kids Succeed," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2025). "Feeling Sound and Hearing Color," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024). "Richard Dawkins on God, Genes, and Murderous Baby Cuckoos," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024). "Arnold Schwarzenegger Has Some Advice for You," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024). "Drawing from Life (and Dea

It regulates 20 percent of the U.S. economy, and its commissioner has an aggressive agenda — faster drug approvals, healthier food, cures for diabetes and cancer. How much can he deliver? (Part two of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”)   SOURCES: Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.   RESOURCES: "Clinical Trials Affected by Research Grant Terminations at the National Institutes of Health," by Vishal Patel, Michael Liu, and Anupam Jena (JAMA Internal Medicine, 2025). "What the evidence tells us about Tylenol, leucovorin, and autism," by Matthew Herp

We all want to stay sharp, and forestall the cognitive effects of aging. But do brain supplements actually work? Are they safe? And why doesn’t the F.D.A. even know what’s in them? (Part one of “The Freakonomics Radio Guide to Getting Better.”)   SOURCES: Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Peter Attia, physician, author, and host of The Peter Attia Drive. Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, physician at the Cambridge Health Alliance.   RESOURCES: "Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead," by Paris Martineau (Co

One Yale economist certainly thinks so. But even if he’s right, are economists any better? We find out, in this update of a 2022 episode.   SOURCES: James Choi, professor of finance at the Yale School of Management. Morgan Housel, personal finance author and partner at the Collaborative Fund.   RESOURCES: The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life, by Morgan Housel (2025). “Popular Personal Financial Advice versus the Professors,” by James J. Choi (Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2022). “Media Persuasion and Consumption: Evidence from the Dave Ramsey Show,” by Felix Chopr

Behavioral scientists have been exploring whether a psychological reset can lead to lasting change. In this update of a 2021 episode, we survey evidence from the London Underground, Major League Baseball, and New Year’s resolutions to look at accidental fresh starts, forced fresh starts, fresh starts that backfire — and the ones that succeed.    SOURCES: Katy Milkman, professor at the Wharton School. Andy Byford, former commissioner of Transport for London. Ferdinand Rauch, economist at the University of St. Gallen. Hengchen Dai, professor at U.C.L.A.’s Anderson School of Management. Bob Tewk

A series of academic studies suggest that the wealthy are, to put it bluntly, selfish jerks. It’s an easy narrative to embrace — but is it true? As part of GiveDirectly’s “Pods Fight Poverty” campaign, we revisit a 2017 episode.   SOURCES: Jim Andreoni, professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego. Nikos Nikiforakis, professor of economics at New York University in Abu Dhabi. Paul Piff, associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Irvine. Jan Stoop, associate professor of applied economics at the Erasmus School of Economics.   RESOURCES: "Are the R

All sorts of people have put their mark on Messiah, and it has been a hit for nearly 300 years. How can a single piece of music thrive in so many settings? You could say it’s because Handel really knew how to write a banger. (Part three of “Making Messiah.”)   SOURCES: Charles King, political scientist at Georgetown University. Jane Glover, classical music scholar, conductor. Katharine Hogg, musicologist, head librarian at the Foundling Museum. Susannah Heschel, religion professor, chair of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth College. Mark Risinger, teacher at St. Bernard’s School. Michael Marissen,

In the 18th century, Handel relied on royal patronage. Today, it’s donors like Gary Parr who keep the music playing. In this bonus episode of our “Making Messiah” series, Parr breaks down the economics of the New York Philharmonic.   SOURCES: Gary Parr, senior managing director and on the management committee at Apollo, philanthropist.   RESOURCES: "A Notoriously Jinxed Concert Hall Is Reborn, Again," by Michael Kimmelman (New York Times, 2022). "Apollo’s New Guy Is a Legend in Banking, a Novice in Buyouts," by Sonali Basak (Bloomberg, 2017). “Handel’s Messiah,” performed by The London Symp

When he wrote Messiah (in 24 days), Handel was past his prime and nearly broke. One night in Dublin changed all that. (Part two of “Making Messiah.”)   SOURCES: Charles King, political scientist at Georgetown University. Chris Scobie, curator of music, manuscripts, and archives at the British Library. Ellen Harris, musicologist and professor emeritus at MIT. Mark Risinger, teacher at St. Bernard's School. Philip Rushforth, organist and master of the choristers at the Chester Cathedral. Proinnsías Ó Duinn, conductor and music director of Our Lady's Choral Society.   RESOURCES: Every Valley: