Freakonomics, M.D.

Jul 20 2023 87 ep. 27 mins 12.3k
Freakonomics, M.D. Podcast artwork

Each week, physician, economist, and author of "Random Acts of Medicine" Dr. Bapu Jena will dig into a fascinating study at the intersection of economics and healthcare. He takes on questions like: Why do kids with summer birthdays get the flu more often? Can surviving a hurricane help you live longer? What do heart surgery and grocery-store pricing have in common?

  Science  Society & Culture
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The Economics of Everyday Things: Animal Urine

Jul 20 2023 12 mins  
In the newest show from the Freakonomics Radio Network, host Zachary Crockett explores the hidden side of the things around us. This week: One creature’s trash is another’s cash. (Or, how one man found profit in pee.)

Tom Brady, A.D.H.D., and a Really Bad Headache (Bonus)

Jul 11 2023 37 mins  
A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, "Random Acts of Medicine," available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show.

78. Do Kids Cause Divorce?

Mar 30 2023 18 mins  
Couples get divorced for all kinds of reasons. Is having kids one of them? Bapu talks about research that investigates what happens to parents who unexpectedly have twins. Plus, an announcement about the future of the show.

77. They Make Minimum Wage. They Could Save Your Life.

Mar 23 2023 18 mins  
Doctors and nurses get most of the attention — but a new study suggests we can improve health care by raising wages for a group of workers who are often overlooked.

76. Is a Spoonful of Sunlight the Best Medicine?

Mar 16 2023 17 mins  
In hospitals, a softer pillow or a nicer room might be more than just amenities — they could improve outcomes for patients.

75. What Is Sugar Really Doing to You?

Mar 09 2023 19 mins  
Americans eat a lot of sugar — and it’s hard to determine how it affects our health. Bapu explains how a new study uses data from the 1950s to help solve the mystery.

74. How Does Playing Football Affect Your Health?

Mar 02 2023 16 mins  
It’s not a new question, but it’s a tricky one to study. Bapu explains why, and talks about how an N.F.L. labor dispute helped him get some answers.

73. Who Pays for Multimillion-Dollar Miracle Cures?

Feb 16 2023 29 mins  
The most expensive drugs in the world are treatments for genetic diseases. And more of these cures are on the horizon. How will anyone be able to afford them?

72. What’s Stopping Us From Curing Rare Diseases?

Feb 09 2023 31 mins  
Breakthroughs in biotech that seem like science fiction are becoming reality. Why aren’t more patients benefiting from them?

71. What Do COVID-19 and Cancer Have in Common?

Feb 02 2023 26 mins  
mRNA vaccines helped bring the pandemic under control. Could they also train the immune system to fight cancer?