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Research shows that having a distinctively black name doesn’t affect your economic future. But what is the day-to-day reality of living with such a name? (episode)
A kid’s name can tell us something about his parents — their race, social standing, even their politics. But is your name really your destiny? (episode)
Why does tipping still exist? It’s an acutely haphazard way of paying workers, and yet it keeps expanding. We dig into the data to find out why. (episode)
For decades, there’s been a huge gender disparity both on-screen and behind the scenes. But it seems like cold, hard data may finally be moving the needle. (episode)
A recent outbreak of illness and death has gotten everyone’s attention — including regulators. But would a ban on e-cigarettes do more harm than good? We smoke out the facts. (episode)
Most high-school math classes are still preparing students for the Sputnik era. Steve Levitt wants to have kids learn what they really need in the modern era: data fluency. (episode)
Do economic sanctions work? Are big democracies good at spreading democracy? What is the root cause of terrorism? It turns out that data analysis can help answer all these questions. (episode)
There is strong evidence that exercise is wildly beneficial. So if a pill could mimic the effects of working out, why wouldn’t we want to take it? (episode)
Aisle upon aisle of fresh produce, cheap meat, and sugary cereal — a delicious embodiment of free-market capitalism, right? Not quite. (episode)
We visit London to see if the British spirit of discovery is still alive. Guests include the mayor of London and a theoretical physicist who helped Liverpool win the Champions League. (episode)