People I (Mostly) Admire Podcast By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher cover art

People I (Mostly) Admire

People I (Mostly) Admire

By: Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Listen for free

Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down other high achievers for surprising, revealing conversations about their lives and obsessions. Join Levitt as he goes through the most interesting midlife crisis you’ve ever heard — and learn how a renegade sheriff is transforming Chicago's jail, how a biologist is finding the secrets of evolution in the Arctic tundra, and how a trivia champion memorized 160,000 flashcards. 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.2024 All Rights Reserved Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 22. Sal Khan: “If It Works for 15 Cousins, It Could Work for a Billion People.”

    22. Sal Khan: “If It Works for 15 Cousins, It Could Work for a Billion People.”
    May 16 2026

    Khan Academy grew out of Sal Khan’s online math tutorials for his extended family. It’s now a platform used by more than 115 million people in 190 countries. So what does Khan want to do next? How about reinventing in-school learning, too? Find out why Steve nearly moved to Silicon Valley to be part of Khan's latest venture. This episode originally aired on April 2nd, 2021.


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    44 mins
  • 21. Pete Docter: “What If Monsters Really Do Exist?”

    21. Pete Docter: “What If Monsters Really Do Exist?”
    May 9 2026

    He’s the chief creative officer of Pixar, and the Academy Award-winning director of Soul, Inside Out, Up, and Monsters, Inc. Pete Docter and Steve talk about Pixar’s scrappy beginnings, why it costs $200 million to make an animated film, and the movie moment that changed Steve’s life. This episode originally aired on March 26th, 2021.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    43 mins
  • 20. John Donohue: “I'm Frequently Called a Treasonous Enemy of the Constitution.”

    20. John Donohue: “I'm Frequently Called a Treasonous Enemy of the Constitution.”
    May 2 2026

    He’s a law professor with a Ph.D. in economics and a tendency for getting into fervid academic debates. Over 20 years ago, he and Steve began studying the impact of legalized abortion on crime. John and Steve talk about guns, the death penalty, the heat they took from their joint research, and why it’s frustratingly difficult to prove truth in the social sciences. This episode originally aired on March 19th, 2021.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    37 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
thank you for introducing me to Carolyn and to her discovery. both give one hope

a great person and chemist

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I love listening to inspired, brilliant problem-solving people put their minds on important topics. They convey such expertise and such normal humanity. Makes me want to linger around the dinner table long after the meal, half-finished glasses of wine and the candles burning low, while respectful, funny, and wicked-smart minds explore and debate topics important to all of us.

Enjoyable and SO Important.

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When both an interviewer and an interviewee are brilliant people, the conversation rises to the unusual level. Sometimes it's like you're not even there - they don't care if anyone listens. The only things that matter are bold ideas, brave people, and intellectual honesty.

I couldn't love it more.

ok interviewer, brilliant conversation partner

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