1. Gas Stations

FromThe Economics of Everyday Things

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1. Gas Stations

FromThe Economics of Everyday Things

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Length:

14 minutes

Released:

Jan 23, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

In our first episode, host Zachary Crockett sidles up to the pump to ask: Who owns your local gas station, and where do their profits really come from?

Released:

Jan 23, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (53)

Zachary Crockett uncovers the hidden side of the things that surround us. Who decides what snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a 100-year-old elm tree on a suburban block worth — and to whom? And what makes Girl Scout Cookies a billion-dollar business?

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Coming Soon: The Economics of Everyday Things: A new show is coming to the Freakonomics Radio Network. Stay tuned for The Economics of Everyday Things, hosted by Zachary Crockett. by The Economics of Everyday Things
1 min listen
11. Cashmere: Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia. Zachary Crockett tugs at the thread. by The Economics of Everyday Things
15 min listen
2. Girl Scout Cookies: How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in. by The Economics of Everyday Things
13 min listen
1. Gas Stations: In our first episode, host Zachary Crockett sidles up to the pump to ask: Who owns your local gas station, and where do their profits really come from? by The Economics of Everyday Things
14 min listen
8. Delaware License Plates: Vanity plates might be 2KUL4U, but in the Blue Hen State, low-digit plates command high-digit prices. Zachary Crockett sums up a big market in a small state. by The Economics of Everyday Things
13 min listen
7. Animal Urine: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. Zachary Crockett flushes out the numbers with a man who found profit in pee. by The Economics of Everyday Things
12 min listen
4. Used Hotel Soaps: Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when we love ’em and leave ’em. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
3. My Sharona: Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out in the third episode of our newest podcast, "The Economics of Everyday Things." by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
12. Women’s Sports Bars: Most sports bars rarely screen women's games. Zachary Crockett taps into the strategy of one woman who changed the channel. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
9. Bowling Alleys: Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
10. Michelin Stars: Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
5. Sports Mascots: We’re not sure what that creature cavorting on the sidelines is — but it doesn’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett gets the ballpark figures on everyone’s favorite ballpark figures. by The Economics of Everyday Things
14 min listen
6. T. rex Skeletons: How do they emerge from the Upper Cretaceous period to end up in natural-history museums and private collections? Zachary Crockett digs for answers. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
13. Carnival Games: Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
19. Pizza Boxes: There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. by The Economics of Everyday Things
15 min listen
21. Car Washes: Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
18. Mobile Home Parks: They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
14. “Happy Birthday to You”: The most popular song of the 20th century — and a key part of a ubiquitous American ritual — was also the subject of a years-long legal battle. Zachary Crockett blows out the candles. by The Economics of Everyday Things
12 min listen
Girl Scout Cookies (Ep. 2 Replay): How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in. by The Economics of Everyday Things
13 min listen
15. Home Staging: How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. by The Economics of Everyday Things
20 min listen
22. Cadavers - Part 1: In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around them. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
17. Truffles: It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end up on your plate. Zachary Crockett picks up the scent. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
16. Prop Money: Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the money. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
23. Cadavers - Part 2: In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
28. Horseshoe Crab Blood: How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply? Zachary Crockett wades in. by The Economics of Everyday Things
14 min listen
4. Used Hotel Soaps (Replay): Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when we love ’em and leave ’em. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
25. Private Jets: Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
20. Tattoo Parlors: More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into the ink. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
24. Pistachios: How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
35. Dental Insurance: Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen

More Episodes from The Economics of Everyday Things

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47. Bail Bonds: How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
46. Car Colors: 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. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
45. Storage Units: 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. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
44. Movie Sound Effects: 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. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
43. Top-Level Domains: 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. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
42. Cemeteries: 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. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
41. Pet Movers: 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." by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
40. Prosthetic Limbs: More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
39. Houseplants: Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. by The Economics of Everyday Things
15 min listen
Bowling Alleys (Replay): Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
38. Junk Mail: Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mailbox. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
37. Personal Injury Lawyers: If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
36. ATMs: Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. by The Economics of Everyday Things
20 min listen
35. Dental Insurance: Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
34. Store-Brand Products: Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
33. Sex Scenes: Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
32. Used Golf Balls: American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
31. Superhot Chili Peppers: The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
30. Card Counting: Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
10. Michelin Stars (Replay): Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
29. Greeting Cards: The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
28. Horseshoe Crab Blood: How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply? Zachary Crockett wades in. by The Economics of Everyday Things
14 min listen
27. Romance Novels: How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. by The Economics of Everyday Things
19 min listen
3. My Sharona (Replay): Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen
26. Graffiti: Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. by The Economics of Everyday Things
14 min listen
25. Private Jets: Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
24. Pistachios: How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
23. Cadavers - Part 2: In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. by The Economics of Everyday Things
16 min listen
22. Cadavers - Part 1: In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around them. by The Economics of Everyday Things
18 min listen
21. Car Washes: Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. by The Economics of Everyday Things
17 min listen

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122. Is Family Overrated?: If you’re frustrated with your family, should you cut ties with them? Who’s more likely to break with relatives over politics, liberals or conservatives? And what would it take for Stephen to buy a baby elephant? by No Stupid Questions
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1. Gas Stations

1. Gas Stations

Description

Titles in the series (53)

More Episodes from The Economics of Everyday Things

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