Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

About Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

Everyone has a public story. Stephen Dubner wants the rest. On Better in Person, Dubner invites remarkable people into his home for a kind of conversation that’s hard to find: curious, free-wheeling, even profound. They talk, play, eat and drink, argue and laugh. The result? Less interview, more shared discovery. This is how a conversation works.

Publisher

Freakonomics Radio

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jul 2026

Latest episode

8 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 11 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   8 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How to Be a Double Unicorn, with John Urschel

   John Urschel, former NFL player and MIT mathematics professor, shares his journey from football to academia with host Stephen Dubner, revealing insights into his unique career path.

2. 

   1 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans

   James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble and Waterstones, reveals to host Stephen Dubner how he revitalized major bookstore chains.

3. 

   25 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   How to Run an Institution in an Anti-Institution Era

   Anne Pasternak of the Brooklyn Museum and Michael Roth of Wesleyan University share with host Stephen Dubner strategies for navigating institutional leadership during intense cultural conflicts.

4. 

   18 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT

   “I Trust Almost Anyone More Than Myself”

   Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan shares insights on confidence, luck, and the iterative writing process with host Stephen Dubner in this interview.

5. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Meet Warren Zanes, the Author and Rocker Behind the Springsteen Movie

   Host Stephen Dubner interviews author and rocker Warren Zanes about his journey from novice musician to acclaimed biographer of rock legends.

6. 

   4 Aug 2026

   What If Being a Stranger Is Actually Your Superpower?

   Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and host Stephen Dubner explore boundary-crossing, the impact of October 7, and the nature of faith in this insightful interview.

7. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Does it Take a Twisted Mind to Write Twisted Stories?

   Host Stephen Dubner interviews mega-best-selling author Harlan Coben about writing twisted stories, suburbia, and lessons learned from David Foster Wallace.

8. 

   21 Jul 2026

   How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold

   Host Stephen Dubner interviews comedian Gary Gulman about transforming depression into comedy and the role of basketball in his recovery.

9. 

   15 Jul 2026

   Introducing Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

   Host Stephen Dubner interviews remarkable individuals in his home, fostering profound conversations and shared discoveries beyond typical interviews.

10. 

    14 Jul 2026

    How a Great Architect Thinks, with Bjarke Ingels

    Host Stephen Dubner interviews architect Bjarke Ingels about how oxymorons drive innovation in design.

11. 

    14 Jul 2026

    Trusting Your Senses Over Science, with Chef Hillary Sterling

    Host Stephen Dubner interviews Chef Hillary Sterling about her culinary journey and the importance of trusting intuition in the kitchen.

Who has been a guest on Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• John Urschel
• James Daunt
• Anne Pasternak
• Michael Roth
• Jennifer Egan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.1 / 5

72 ratings

Spotify

4.5 / 5

8 ratings

Contact Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Freakonomics Radio

• 

  Fresh Air

• 

  People I (Mostly) Admire

• 

  The Economics of Everyday Things

• 

  This American Life

• 

  The Daily

Questions about Better in Person with Stephen Dubner