The Economics of Everyday Things
Alle afleveringen
231 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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88. Fortune Cookies
5 november 2026 · 20 min
Those tiny treats that predict your future may come free at the end of a Chinese meal, but they’re big business (and not Chinese). Zachary Crockett will go on a long journey. This episode was originally published on April 13th, 2025. Lees meer
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87. Ski Areas
2 november 2026 · 20 min
When you hit the slopes, you might not be thinking about water rights, controlled avalanches, and liability insurance — but someone has to. Zachary Crockett shreds the pow. This episode was originally published on April 6th, 2025. Lees meer
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86. Toothpaste
29 oktober 2026 · 17 min
We reach for it twice a day — without thinking about the decades of research and engineering that went into that squeezable tube of minty goo. Zachary Crockett extracts the last bit. This episode was originally published on March 30th, 2025. Lees meer
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85. Executive Recruiters
26 oktober 2026 · 21 min
When a Fortune 500 company needs a new leader, it turns to a well-connected headhunter who assesses candidates with psychological tests and mock TV interviews. Zachary Crockett activates his network. This episode was originally published on March 23rd, 2025. Lees meer
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84. Mall Cops
22 oktober 2026 · 18 min
Security guards make malls feel safer, but what can they do when there’s trouble? Zachary Crockett observes and reports. This episode was originally published on March 16th, 2025. Lees meer
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83. Game Show Winnings
19 oktober 2026 · 19 min
How do TV producers decide how much money to give away? A little psychology and a lot of math. Zachary Crockett phones a friend. This episode was originally published on March 9th, 2025. Lees meer
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82. Chain Restaurant Recipes
15 oktober 2026 · 17 min
A fast-food burger has to taste the same — and cost the same — thousands of times a day at restaurants across the country. Zachary Crockett mans the fryer. This episode was originally published on March 2nd, 2025. Lees meer
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81. Guide Dogs
12 oktober 2026 · 22 min
Before a guide dog can help a blind person navigate the world, it has to pass a series of tests, then go through $75,000 worth of training. Zachary Crockett sniffs around. This episode was originally published on February 16th, 2025. Lees meer
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80. Going-Out-of-Business Sales
8 oktober 2026 · 16 min
Behind that 70% off sign, there’s a liquidation consultant trying to maximize retailer profits. Zachary Crockett seeks a deal. This episode was originally published on February 9th, 2025. Lees meer
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79. School Photos
5 oktober 2026 · 18 min
Picture day is an annual tradition for American families — and, for the companies that take the photos, a lucrative one. Zachary Crockett smiles for the camera. This episode was originally published on February 2nd, 2025. Lees meer
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78. Porta-Potties
1 oktober 2026 · 20 min
They're not always the nicest places to go — but for their owners, portable toilets are a lucrative revenue stream. Zachary Crockett lifts the lid. This episode was originally published on January 26th, 2025. Lees meer
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77. Hand Models
28 september 2026 · 16 min
You can be a top model and still not get recognized on the street — as long as you keep your cuticles healthy and your moons white. Zachary Crockett points a finger. This episode was originally published on January 19th, 2025. Lees meer
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76. Hotel Art
24 september 2026 · 17 min
A watercolor of a harbor? A black-and-white photo of a pile of rocks? Some hotels are trying to do better. Zachary Crockett unpacks. This episode was originally published on January 12th, 2025. Lees meer
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75. Butchers
21 september 2026 · 20 min
Before beef ends up at your favorite steakhouse, it passes through the hands of a trained specialist with an encyclopedic knowledge of bovine anatomy. Zachary Crockett chews the fat. This episode was originally published on January 5th, 2025. Lees meer
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Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans | Better in Person
17 september 2026 · 33 min
He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. In this episode of Stephen Dubner’s new TV talk show, James Daunt tells Stephen exactly how he does it. Lees meer
If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, you can watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts.
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74. Fonts
14 september 2026 · 22 min
Behind almost every character you see displayed on a page or a screen, there’s a complex — and sometimes lucrative — web of licensing deals. Zachary Crockett is just your type. This episode was originally published on December 15th, 2024. Lees meer
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73. Used Bookstores
10 september 2026 · 17 min
Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is just browsing. This episode was originally published on December 8th, 2024. Lees meer
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72. Helium
7 september 2026 · 20 min
It’s unreactive, lighter than air, and surprisingly important to the global economy. Zachary Crockett goes up an octave. This episode was originally published on November 24th, 2024. Lees meer
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71. Mannequins
3 september 2026 · 19 min
Mannequins may be made out of plastic or fiberglass, but for retailers they’re pure gold. Zachary Crockett strikes a pose. This episode was originally published on November 17th, 2024. Lees meer
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70. Prison Labor
31 augustus 2026 · 21 min
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 episode was originally published on November 10th, 2024. Lees meer
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69. Highway Signs
27 augustus 2026 · 20 min
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 November 3rd, 2024. Lees meer
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68. Zoo Animals
24 augustus 2026 · 18 min
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 published on October 27th, 2024. Lees meer
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67. Tow Trucks
20 augustus 2026 · 22 min
Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked. This episode was originally published on October 20th, 2024. Lees meer
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66. Stradivarius Violins
17 augustus 2026 · 20 min
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 episode was originally published on October 13th, 2024. Lees meer
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65. Stock Photos
13 augustus 2026 · 23 min
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 on September 29th, 2024. Lees meer
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64. Sushi Fish
10 augustus 2026 · 21 min
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 originally published on September 22nd, 2024. Lees meer
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63. Botox
6 augustus 2026 · 17 min
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. Lees meer
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62. Title Insurance
3 augustus 2026 · 15 min
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 deal. This episode was originally published on September 8th, 2024. Lees meer
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61. Pigeons
30 juli 2026 · 19 min
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 published on August 25, 2024. Lees meer
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60. Money Laundering
27 juli 2026 · 21 min
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, 2024. Lees meer
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59. Restaurant Reservations
23 juli 2026 · 19 min
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 p.m. This episode was originally published on August 11th, 2024. Lees meer
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58. Firefighters
20 juli 2026 · 22 min
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. Lees meer
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57. Strippers
16 juli 2026 · 19 min
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 July 21st, 2024. Lees meer
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56. Snake Venom
13 juli 2026 · 22 min
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. Lees meer
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55. Direct-to-Consumer Mattresses
9 juli 2026 · 21 min
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 7th, 2024. Lees meer
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54. Ghostwriters
6 juli 2026 · 20 min
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 originally published on June 30th, 2024. Lees meer
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53. Food Trucks
2 juli 2026 · 19 min
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 published on June 23rd, 2024. Lees meer
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52. Little League
29 juni 2026 · 21 min
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 published on June 16th, 2024. Lees meer
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51. Wine Corks
25 juni 2026 · 16 min
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, 2024. Lees meer
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50. Self-Checkout
22 juni 2026 · 19 min
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. Lees meer
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49. Weather Forecasts
18 juni 2026 · 14 min
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 episode was originally published on May 19th, 2024. Lees meer
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48. College Fraternities
15 juni 2026 · 19 min
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 May 12th, 2024. Lees meer
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47. Bail Bonds
11 juni 2026 · 18 min
How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2024. Lees meer
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46. Car Colors
8 juni 2026 · 18 min
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 originally published on April 21st, 2024. Lees meer
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45. Storage Units
4 juni 2026 · 16 min
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 published on April 21st, 2024. Lees meer
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44. Movie Sound Effects
1 juni 2026 · 19 min
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 episode was originally published on April 14th, 2024. Lees meer
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43. Top-Level Domains
28 mei 2026 · 19 min
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 originally published on April 7th, 2024. Lees meer
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42. Cemeteries
25 mei 2026 · 19 min
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 March 31st, 2024. Lees meer
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41. Pet Movers
21 mei 2026 · 16 min
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 published on March 24th, 2024. Lees meer
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40. Prosthetic Limbs
18 mei 2026 · 17 min
More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. This episode was originally published on March 17th, 2024. Lees meer
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