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Freakonomics, M.D.

Author: Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

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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?
87 Episodes
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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.) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A sneak peek at Bapu's new book, Random Acts of Medicine, available now from Doubleday, and an announcement about the show. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In hospitals, a softer pillow or a nicer room might be more than just amenities — they could improve outcomes for patients. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
 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.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Breakthroughs in biotech that seem like science fiction are becoming reality. Why aren’t more patients benefiting from them? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
mRNA vaccines helped bring the pandemic under control. Could they also train the immune system to fight cancer? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Success and failure are hard to measure in medicine. Bapu looks at how surgeons are judged after a bad outcome — and whether men and women are treated the same. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We take it for granted that, when people are acutely ill, they should be in the hospital. Is there a better way? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Figuring out which patients to hospitalize and which to safely send home can be tricky. Is there a way to make this decision easier for doctors — and get better outcomes, too? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A small number of patients with multiple chronic conditions use a lot of resources. Dr. Jeffrey Brenner found a way to identify and treat them. Could it reduce health-care spending too? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Bapu tries to stump master clinician Dr. Gurpreet Dhaliwal with a medical mystery.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It’s a surprisingly hard question to answer. Bapu talks with a health economist about a natural experiment that led to some unexpected findings.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
At the start of the 20th century, there weren’t many hospitals in the U.S. That changed in 1918, thanks to the Great Influenza pandemic. Its effects on health care are still being felt today. Which makes us wonder: will the impact of Covid-19 also be felt 100 years from now? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Half the world's population uses social media — and a new study suggests that it causes anxiety and depression. Can anything be done, or is it too late? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Some diagnostic tests give distorted results for Black patients. How are doctors trying to change that? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Promising drugs keep failing in trials. Allegations of fraud have cast a shadow over the field. An expert explains why Alzheimer’s treatments have been so hard to find — and why one clue may lie in the Andes Mountains. 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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Comments (34)

Tammy Buchanan

not a naysayer, but try being a mother rushing to her 2nd shift at fast food and telling your bosses the kid got no antibiotics. It sucks

Jul 29th
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Tammy Buchanan

sucks is, this is the sort of thing cheering on antivacc and going to osteopathy and chiropractor or worse. I'm not the best science communicator. I get frustrated.

Jul 29th
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Tammy Buchanan

interviewed peds Doskey when pregnant30yrsago. Ffw me holding phone keep away at night while all my family' telling me get new ped in my early 20s wi mdmiddle ear virus scream nfection that within 4 hrs went from a distressing 2yo screaming in back seat to Mommy it doesn't hurt smiling w/ rupture. I was crucified by family. I wouldn't change a thing. Obv we got tubes clean up ostomy. Dr. Doskey knew I knew. We need less adds and more common sense on TV supporting mothers.

Jul 29th
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Tammy Buchanan

I work in a nursing home, and C. diff strikes fear in our hearts. Of course we must best practice, but we're working with residents who hide these sorts of things (they're embarrassed). I have no idea why there's not PSA on this as prolific as every drug ever touted on TV. I'm not thrilled with drug reps going into see my doctor before me, but at least I know we have two profess talking it over instead of every concerned patient with 300 options wanting know "ask your doctor if it's right for..

Jul 29th
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Shelly Miller

Amy Berger, is a nutritionist and journalist. She shows how diet can have a significant effect on Alzheimers and cognitive decline. Please check her out. She wrote "The Alzheimers Antidote" https://www.dietdoctor.com/authors/amy-berger#:~:text=Amy%20Berger%20is%20a%20nutritionist,Memory%20Loss%2C%20and%20Cognitive%20Decline.

Feb 16th
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David Garnon

The comment of the average of one hour and four minutes per appointment but only 20 minutes face to face with the provider is misleading. You then say that is all time waiting. There are many diagnostics that are conducted without a provider present. Please do not misconstrue the data.

Dec 12th
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Jurry Taalib-Deen

very informative and valuable information to have

Jul 29th
Reply

Jurry Taalib-Deen

Excellent show! I listened to it twice; back to back & learned so much. Thank you & your guests.

Jul 29th
Reply

albus

nice

Jun 5th
Reply (1)

Marina Ell

Important: when the temperature is hot enough, fans will make you WARMER, not cooler. Wind increases heat transfer and 99% of the time, this happens to cool you down because the air is cooler than your body temperature. However, when the temperatures were above 110°F in Portland, fans killed people.

Jun 4th
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albus

intereting

May 27th
Reply (1)

albus

wow

May 22nd
Reply (1)

albus

whoa

May 19th
Reply (1)

albus

wow

May 18th
Reply (1)

albus

ooh

May 15th
Reply (1)

albus

interesting

May 12th
Reply (1)

albus

dang

May 9th
Reply (1)

albus

cute

Apr 30th
Reply (1)

albus

wow

Apr 21st
Reply (1)

albus

fascinating

Apr 6th
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