The Economics of Everyday Things
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The Economics of Everyday Things
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. To get every show...
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117. Cut Flowers
Grab a simple bouquet from your local grocery store and you're activating a global network of farms, shipping companies, wholesalers, distributors, an...
116. Cobblers
Shoe repair shops are a dying breed — but for those that remain, demand is higher than ever. Zachary Crockett goes in for a shine.
Superhot Chili Peppers (Replay)
The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn.
Hosted by Simplecast, an Ads...
115. Miniature Golf
How much does it cost to design and build a mini-golf course? And what’s it like to run one? Zachary Crockett putts things in perspective.
114. Natural and Artificial Flavors
How do flavorists capture the essence of a fruit and put it in a can of sparkling water, or a tub of yogurt? Zachary Crockett takes a bite.
113. Laundromats
A day on the job includes hundreds of quarters, giant balls of lint, and fishing weird stuff out of machines. Zachary Crockett throws in a load.
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112. Campgrounds
Running a campground isn’t all eating s'mores around the campfire. Zachary Crockett fans the flames.
Hosted by Simplecas...
Gas Stations (UPDATED)
When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from? Zachary Crockett pulls up to the pump.
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111. Product Recalls
Every year, thousands of products are recalled from store shelves. How does the process work — and who foots the bill? Zachary Crockett gets a refund...
110. Formula 1 Teams
In a sport that generates more than $3.5 billion a year, teams compete in cars that cost $70 million to develop and build — and a split-second to cras...
109. Billboards
The world’s oldest advertising medium has reconfigured itself for the digital age. Zachary Crockett looks up.
Hosted by Simpleca...
108. Matchmakers
Some singles choose to skip the apps and get fixed up the old-fashioned way — but it doesn't come cheap. Zachary Crockett puts himself out there.
107. Megachurches
They have thousands of congregants and millions of dollars in income. Zachary Crockett passes the collection plate.
Host...
106. Maple Syrup
Pure maple syrup can be five times as expensive as “pancake syrup,” but maple farmers — and breakfast connoisseurs — say it’s worth it. Zachary Crocke...
105. Light Bulbs
Why did it take so long to invent a longer-lasting bulb? Zachary Crockett finds the answer illuminating.
Hosted by Simpl...
EXTRA: Emoji and the Law
How do courts interpret those little icons on your phone? Zachary Crockett brings down the hammer.
Hosted by Sim...
Home Staging (Replay)
How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain.
Hosted by Simplecast,...
104. Private Investigators
They expose fraud, catch cheating spouses, and track down missing assets — but they don’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett takes the case.
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103. Satellites
There are now nearly 12,000 satellites orbiting Earth. What does it cost to put them there, and how do they make money? Zachary Crockett launches an i...
102. “The Starry Night”
How does a museum place a value on a priceless work of art? And how much does it cost to keep it safe? Zachary Crockett appraises the situation.
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101. Street Performers
Performing for passersby takes more than talent. Buskers have to cope with hecklers, civic regulations, aggressive competitors — and uncertain pay. Za...
Mobile Home Parks (Replay)
They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail.
100. Podcasts
What goes into creating an episode of The Economics of Everyday Things? And how do shows like this one make money? Zachary Crockett turns the mic on h...
99. Emoji
We send 10 billion of them every day. Where do they come from? Zachary Crockett hearts this topic.
Hosted by Simplecast,...
98. Police Sketches
When security cameras and facial recognition tools fail, law enforcement investigators fall back on a witness's memory and an artist's hand. Zachary C...
EXTRA: Fireworks Stands
How does an industry built on roadside pop-ups make billions of dollars in two weeks of the year? Zachary Crockett gets pyrotechnical.
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Car Washes (Replay)
Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood.
Hoste...
97. Elevators
Americans take more than 20 billion elevator rides every year — and keeping them safe is an expensive proposition. Zachary Crockett makes small talk.<...
96. School Buses
Districts across the country are facing shortages of school bus drivers. Can technology help? Zachary Crockett takes a seat in the back.
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95. Airplane Food
Everyone loves to complain about it — but preparing a meal that tastes good at 35,000 feet is harder than you might think. Zachary Crockett will have...
94. Fireworks Shows
Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and b...
93. Pearls
These glistening round gemstones have come a long way since your grandmother's time, but procuring them is still a lot of work. The world is Zachary C...
Little League (Replay)
Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peers...
92. Data Centers
Where is “the cloud,” anyway? It’s in a bunch of nondescript warehouses all over the country. Zachary Crockett serves up the story.
91. Roller Coasters
A new thrill ride can cost an amusement park $20 million or more — but roller coasters attract customers like nothing else. Zachary Crockett must be a...
90. Closed Captions
It takes a highly skilled stenographer — and some specialized equipment — to transcribe TV dialogue in real time at 300 words per minute. Will A.I. re...
89. Locksmiths
The ability to get into any home, car, or safe can be lucrative — but fixing locks is a tough business. Zachary Crockett gets the key information.
88. Fortune Cookies
Those tiny treats that predict your future may come free at the end of a Chinese meal, but they’re big business (and not Chinese). Zachary Crockett wi...
87. Ski Areas
When you hit the slopes, you might not be thinking about water rights, controlled avalanches, and liability insurance — but someone has to. Zachary Cr...
86. Toothpaste
We reach for it twice a day — without thinking about the decades of research and engineering that went into that squeezable tube of minty goo. Zachary...