Freakonomics Radio Steve Levitt Quits His Podcast, Joins Ours
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Jan 21, 2026 
Steven D. Levitt, an influential economist and co-author of Freakonomics, shares insights as he transitions from hosting his own podcast to joining another. He discusses the impact of his transformative trip to India on his views of spirituality. Levitt dives into his educational initiatives, emphasizing mastery learning and redesigning success in schools. He explores AI's dual role in education and reflects on his most memorable guests, including personal stories with his daughters. His journey highlights how interviewing has reshaped his thinking.
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Seeing Joel Osteen Live Changed Levitt
- Steven D. Levitt traveled to Houston to watch Joel Osteen preach and found the experience unexpectedly powerful.
- He wanted to ask Osteen how he speaks so compellingly when he isn't on stage.
India Trip Led To Surprising Calm
- On a reluctant month-long trip to India with his wife, Levitt had a spiritual awakening of acceptance.
- He described a lasting peaceful openness that resembled Buddhist non-striving.
Podcasting Reoriented Levitt's Work
- Hosting People I (Mostly) Admire shifted Levitt from idea-creator to idea-consumer.
- Regular deadlines forced him to read broadly and develop discipline he previously lacked.
