The Economics of Everyday Things
Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett
Who decides which snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories.
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To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
Episodes
Mentioned books
22 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 18min
17. Truffles
Jason McKinney, a chef and high-volume truffle buyer from The French Laundry, and Basart Marina, a truffle merchant who built a major U.S. import business, walk through the wild, secretive world of truffle commerce. They talk about hunting with dogs, theft and sabotage, global sourcing and shifting climates, short shelf life and rapid logistics, and the clandestine late-night deals that feed fine dining.
16 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 19min
16. Prop Money
Rich Rappaport, longtime prop maker and owner of RJR Props in Atlanta, discusses crafting realistic film and TV prop money while navigating legal limits. He talks about design tweaks to fool the camera, interactions with federal reviewers, and why productions avoid real cash. The conversation also covers the flood of online prop notes and the industry challenges that follow.
Feb 19, 2026 • 20min
15. Home Staging
Cindy Lin, a staging-course founder who runs staging logistics and inventory. Karen Prince, an author who shaped staging practice as online listings rose. Meredith Baer, a screenwriter-turned luxury stager who built a major high-end firm. They talk about staging as product preparation, choosing furniture and visual tricks, the economics and operations of running a staging business, and staging’s role as storytelling.
7 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 12min
14. “Happy Birthday to You”
Robert Bruneis, an IP law scholar who explains the song's copyright history. Jennifer Nelson, a filmmaker who led the fight to free the tune. They trace the Hill sisters' original children's melody, how it became 'Happy Birthday', decades of licensing and Warner's acquisition, and the lawsuit that challenged the song's claimed copyright.
20 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 17min
13. Carnival Games
Elliot Simmons, a former carnival-worker who recounts running and sometimes rigging games. Matthew Greisen, a retired journalist-engineer who collected data on win rates. Olivia Turner, GM of Redbone Products who builds and supplies carnival-game parts. They talk about how games are engineered to favor operators, payout strategies and metrics, rigged setups, costs of running midways, and how to spot a gaffed game.
Feb 9, 2026 • 16min
12. Women’s Sports Bars
Cheryl Cooky, a professor who studies gender and sports, provides expert commentary on cultural and media barriers. Jenny Wynn, a chef-turned-entrepreneur who founded The Sports Bra, tells the origin story and business journey. They discuss scarcity of women's game broadcasts, launching a women-focused sports bar during a pandemic, costs of sourcing streams, and early financial success and community impact.
29 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 15min
11. Cashmere
Miig Marjav Serchu (Miiga), a Mongolian herder who manages the Mongolian Sustainable Cashmere Platform for the UN, shares her perspective. She talks about how cashmere became booming commodity, the shift to privatized herding and how fibers are harvested and graded. She discusses market routes, quality decline from mass production, and environmental strains on Mongolia’s grasslands.
71 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 17min
10. Michelin Stars
Charlie Mitchell, chef and co-owner of Clover Hill in Brooklyn Heights, shares his culinary journey from surprise at winning a Michelin star to the rush of new reservations. He talks about how inspections work, the surge in customers and price changes after a star, and the intense pressure of keeping Michelin recognition while balancing life and ambition.
39 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 16min
9. Bowling Alleys
A deep dive into bowling's fall from its 1960s heyday and why lanes keep disappearing. Stories about buying and renovating a classic alley and the tricky costs of pins, shoes, oiling, and vintage machinery. How centers reinvent themselves with lights, music, food, and nightlife to lure new players. A look at consolidation, new technology, and the tough choices behind raising prices to survive.
20 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 13min
8. Delaware License Plates
A deep dive into how low-digit Delaware license plates became coveted status symbols. Short histories explain how a transfer-friendly DMV and online marketplaces turned tags into tradable assets. Collectors, valuation estimates, renewal risks, and international luxury-plate parallels show why numbers, not metal, carry the value.
