Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. 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.
Are Private Equity Firms Plundering the U.S. Economy? (Update)
They say they make companies more efficient through savvy management. Critics say they bend the rules to enrich themselves at the expense of consumers and employees. Can they both be right? (Probably not.)
SOURCES:
Brendan Ballou (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-ballou-2546801b7/), C.E.O. of the Public Integrity Project.
Dan Glickberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-glickberg-b539476a/), venture-capital investor.
Hannah Howard (https://hannahhoward.nyc/), food writer.
Sachin Khajuria (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachinkhajuria/), investor.
RESOURCES:
Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America (https://amzn.to/3SJapSL), by Brendan Ballou (2023).
Two and Twenty: How the Masters of Private Equity Always Win (https://amzn.to/3SM83m3), by Sachin Khajuria (2022).
"Local Journalism under Private Equity Ownership (https://www.nber.org/papers/w29743)," by Michael Ewens, Arpit Gupta, and Sabrina T. Howell (NBER Working Paper, 2022).
“Owner Incentives and Performance in Healthcare: Private Equity Investment in Nursing Homes (https://www.nber.org/papers/w28474),” by Atul Gupta, Sabrina T. Howell, Constantine Yannelis, and Abhinav Gupta (NBER Working Paper, 2021).
“Leveraged Buyouts and Financial Distress (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1544612320301549),” by Brian Ayash and Mahdi Rastad (Finance Research Letters, 2021).
EXTRAS:
"Is This What a 'Good Billionaire' Looks Like? (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/is-this-what-a-good-billionaire-looks-like/)" by Freakonomics Radio (2026).
"Is the Public Ready for Private Equity? (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/is-the-public-ready-for-private-equity/)" by Freakonomics Radio (2025).
"Should You Trust Private Equity to Take Care of Your Dog? (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/should-you-trust-private-equity-to-take-care-of-your-dog/)" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
"Do You Know Who Owns Your Vet? (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/do-you-know-who-owns-your-vet/)" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
"The Secret Life of a C.E.O. (https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/the-secret-life-of-c-e-o-s/)," series by Freakonomics Radio (2018).
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16 Oct 2026
691. Is This What a “Good Billionaire” Looks Like?
David Rubenstein, a product of the old bipartisan D.C., made his fortune in private equity. He’s been spending it on “patriotic philanthropy” and institutions like the Kennedy Center, where Trump fired him as chairman. Now he wonders if the center can hold.
SOURCES:
David Rubenstein (https://www.davidrubenstein.com/), co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group, principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles.
RESOURCES:
Inside the Owner's Box: Conversations on Power and Leadership in Sports (https://amzn.to/4scMs6c), by David M. Rubenstein (2026).
The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream (https://amzn.to/4joOf5K), by David M. Rubenstein (2021).
The American Story: Conversations With Master Historians (https://amzn.to/3WrEHNA), by David M. Rubenstein (2019).
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (https://amzn.to/4yPYDYN), by Michael Lewis (2003).
EXTRAS:
"The Merger You Never Knew You Wanted (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-merger-you-never-knew-you-wanted/)," by Freakonomics Radio (2025).
"The Secret Life of a C.E.O. (https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/the-secret-life-of-c-e-o-s/)," series by Freakonomics Radio (2018).
"Extra: David Rubenstein Full Interview (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/extra-david-rubenstein-full-interview/)," by Freakonomics Radio (2018).
"The Longest Long Shot (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-longest-long-shot/)," by Freakonomics Radio (2016).
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9 Oct 2026
690. It’s Show Business, Baby!
Podcasting started as a niche-nerd pursuit. Now it’s a $9 billion industry. Is that a lot? The strange economics of this thing we do.
SOURCES:
Jim Bankoff (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbankoff/?isSelfProfile=false), chairman and C.E.O. of Vox Media.
Ben Davis (https://www.insideradio.com/podcast_power_players_2020/ben-davis---partner-wme-digital/article_04ea4b38-d841-11ea-a58c-5782a8512a58.html), head of digital at WME.
Will Page (https://tarzaneconomics.com/), former chief economist at Spotify and author of Pivot.
Jenna Weiss-Berman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-weiss-berman-67558525/?isSelfProfile=false), head of Paper Kite Audio and executive producer of Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
Jeanine Wright (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeaninepercivalwright/?isSelfProfile=false), co-founder and C.E.O. of Liquid Studios (Inception Point AI).
RESOURCES:
"U.S. AI infrastructure buildout is surpassing every prior investment in American history (https://qz.com/us-ai-infrastructure-buildout-biggest-economic-bet-history-092426)," by Cris Tolomia (Quartz, 2026).
"The AMP Accords (https://www.ampaccords.com/)," (Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting, 2026).
"Owl & Co: Global Podcast Economy Grew 23% To $9.2 Billion In 2025. (https://www.insideradio.com/free/owl-co-global-podcast-economy-grew-23-to-9-2-billion-in-2025/article_adec67bf-e80e-4f07-a2e5-f5deca3065b6.html)" (Inside Radio, 2026).
"James Murdoch to Buy New York Magazine, Other Vox Assets for Around $300 Million (https://www.wsj.com/business/media/vox-media-selling-new-york-magazine-podcast-network-to-james-murdoch-7f48edfc)," by Isabella Simonetti and Jessica Toonkel (The Wall Street Journal, 2026).
"Patreon Says Podcasters Earned $629 Million in 2025, Up 33%, as Platform's Biggest Content Category Keeps Growing (https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/patreon-podcaster-earnings-2025-biggest-content-category-1236710779/)," by Todd Spangler (Variety, 2026).
EXTRAS:
"How to Think About A.I. (https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/how-to-think-about-a-i/)," series by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
"How Spotify Saved the Music Industry (But Not Necessarily Musicians) (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/how-spotify-saved-the-music-industry-but-not-necessarily-musicians-ep-374/)," by Freakonomics Radio (2019).
"Our 100th Episode! (https://freakonomics.com/podcast/our-100th-episode)" by Freakonomics Radio (2012).
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