Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES:Brad Bolman, postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study.Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics.Wendell Potter, president of the Center for Health and Democracy; former executive at Cigna. RESOURCES:"Dental Medical Loss Ratios: Understanding the Landscape in Massachusetts and Beyond," by Shaza Stevenson, Megan D’Alessandro, Sandra Wilkniss, and Nicole Evans (National Academy for State Health Policy Blog, 2023)."Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2021," by Katherine Keisler-Starkey and Lisa N. Bunch (U.S. Census Bureau Reports, 2022)."Medicare and Dental Coverage: A Closer Look," by Meredith Freed, Nancy Ochieng, Nolan Sroczynski, Anthony Damico, and Krutika Amin (KFF, 2021)."Dentists’ Group Fights Plan to Cover Dental Benefits Under Medicare," by Julie Bykowicz (The Wall Street Journal, 2021)."Antisocial Dentistry," by Brad Bolman (Hypocrite Reader, 2021). EXTRAS:"'Insurance Is Sexy.' Discuss," by Freakonomics Radio (2023)."Does Health Insurance Make You Healthier?" by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).

Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers. SOURCES:Kusum Ailawadi, professor of marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.Eric Beringause, C.E.O. of Winland Foods.Ryan Boyle, vice president of sales at Kitchen Innovations.Samantha Burd, co-owner of Lady Burd Cosmetics.Dean Erstad, senior vice president of sales at Seneca.Harry Overly, president and C.E.O. of Flagstone Foods. RESOURCES:"The Backlash to Price Hikes Is Building," by Julia Waldow (Modern Retail, 2024)."For U.S. Consumers, It’s a Matter of ‘And’ — Not ‘Or,'" by Kari Alldredge and Warren Teichner (McKinsey & Company, 2023)."Those Doritos Too Expensive? More Stores Offer Their Own Alternatives," by Julie Creswell (The New York Times, 2023)."Why Private Label Brands Are Having Their Moment," by Errol Schweizer (Forbes, 2022)."The Hidden Makers of Costco’s Kirkland Signature and Trader Joe’s O’s," by Nathaniel Meyersohn (CNN Business, 2022)."Pursuing the Value-Conscious Consumer: Store Brands versus National Brand Promotions," by Kusum Ailawadi, Scott A. Neslin, and Karen Gedenk (Journal of Marketing, 2001)."The Effect of Generic Products on Consumer Perceptions and Brand Choice," by John J. Wheatley (NA - Advances in Consumer Research, 1981). EXTRAS:"Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s?" by Freakonomics Radio (2018)."How to Save $1 Billion Without Even Trying," by Freakonomics Radio (2014).

Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts.  SOURCES:Alicia Rodis, intimacy coordinator.Matthew Swanlund, founder and principal attorney at Aesthetic Legal. RESOURCES:"Romance or Nomance? Adolescents Prefer to See Less Sex, More Friendships, Platonic Relationships on Screen," by Elizabeth Kivowitz (UCLA Newsroom, 2023)."You're Not Seeing Things —'Nudity Creep' in Streaming TV Reveals More of Its Stars," by Neda Ulaby (All Things Considered, 2023)."Jennifer Aniston Rejected Offer for an Intimacy Coordinator in Sex Scenes with 'Gentleman' Jon Hamm," by Esther Kang (People, 2023)."How the Sausage Gets Made: Inside Hollywood's Prosthetic Penis Craze," by Emma Fraser (Thrillist, 2022)."The Disturbing Story Behind the Rape Scene in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris, Explained," by Anna North (Vox, 2018)."Two James Francos. Porn. 1970s New York. The Deuce Could Go So Wrong — but It Doesn't," by Emily St. James (Vox, 2017)."Shooting Film and TV Sex Scenes: What Really Goes On," by Melena Ryzik (The New York Times, 2015)."Sexually Explicit Casting Contract for HBO’s ‘Westworld’ Extras Has SAG-AFTRA Concerned," by Jonathan Handel (The Hollywood Reporter, 2015). EXTRAS:"Why is Everyone Having Less Sex?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. SOURCES:Todd Hutchinson, president and owner of BallHawker.Lashan Wanigatunga, founder of Two Guys With Balls. RESOURCES:"BallHawker, Challenge Enterprises Turn Wayward Golf Shots Into Successful Endeavor," Natalie Gilstrap (Clay Today, 2023)."Temecula Golf Ball Diver Nets $100,000 a Year," by Jeff Zevely (CBS8, 2022)."Golf’s Recycled Ball Market is Big Business," by Erik Matuszewski (Link, 2021)."The Inside Story of What the Original Titleist Pro V1 Launch Was Really Like," Andrew Tursky (Golf Digest, 2020)."Head of Golf Ball Retrieval Company Sentenced for Manslaughter After Diving Death at Wales Golf Course," by Alex Myers (Golf Digest, 2017)."Man Dies While Illegally Diving for Golf Balls," by Alex Myers (Golf Digest, 2015). EXTRAS:"Greg Norman Takes On the P.G.A. Tour," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023).

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES:Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company.Stephanie Walker, associate professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at New Mexico State University RESOURCES:"Pepper X Dethrones Carolina Reaper as World’s Hottest Chili Pepper," by Sanj Atwal (Guinness World Records, 2023)."The Shocking, Stupendous Rise of Superhot Chillies: ‘The Stomach Cramps Can Last for 14 Hours,’" by Tim Dowling (The Guardian, 2023)."14-Year-Old Dies After Trying The Paqui ‘One Chip Challenge,’" by Bruce Y. Lee (Forbes, 2023)."Beyond Neuronal Heat Sensing: Diversity of TRPV1 Heat-Capsaicin Receptor-Channel Functions," by Yaroslav M. Shuba (Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2021)."Training Your Tongue to Love Spicy Food Benefits More Than Your Taste Buds," by Maddie Oatman (Mother Jones, 2019)."Fire-Eaters," by Lauren Collins (The New Yorker, 2013)."The Arms Race to Grow World's Hottest Pepper Goes Nuclear," by Spencer Jakab (The Wall Street Journal, 2013). EXRAS:"Why Do People Love Horror Movies?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).Hot Ones, YouTube talk show.

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES:"Ben," former professional card counter.Bill Zender, co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm. RESOURCES:"Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged Detainment for Card Counting," by Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton (The Denver Post, 2023)."Why Does the House Always Win? A Look at Casino Profitability," by J. B. Maverick (Investopedia, 2023)."Counting the Cost," by Bill Zender (GGB News, 2022)."Nevada Supreme Court Orders Casino To Pay Card Counter," by I. Nelson Rose (Gambling and the Law, 2017)."Counting Cards Is Legal, But ..." by Mark Pilarski (Detroit Free Press, 2016)."Card Counter Sues Planet Hollywood Over Detention, Confiscated Casino Chips," by Carri Geer Thevenot (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2015)."Real People Behind Story of '21' Discuss Film's Facts," by Ed Symkus (The State Journal-Register, 2008).Blackbelt in Blackjack: Playing 21 as a Martial Art, by Arnold Snyder (1997). EXTRAS:"How to Make Your Own Luck," by Freakonomics Radio (2020)."The Economics of Sports Gambling (Replay)," by Freakonomics Radio (2020)."Could the Next Brooklyn Be … Las Vegas?!" by Freakonomics Radio (2015).21, film by Robert Luketic (2008).

Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. SOURCES:Nick Kokonas, founder and co-owner of The Alinea Group.Charlie Mitchell, executive chef and co-owner of Clover Hill restaurant. RESOURCES:"Michelin Announces 2022 Stars for New York City," by Ryan Sutton and Luke Fortney (Eater, 2022)."What’s Wrong With the Michelin Guide?" by Tim Hayward (Financial Times, 2021)."Eating A 6-Course Dinner From The Best Restaurant In The Country," by Number Six With Cheese (2020)."Expert Opinion and Restaurant Pricing: Quantifying the Value of a Michelin Star," by Carly Shin (Stanford Economic Review, 2018)."Here's How Michelin Stars Actually Affect the Restaurant Business," by Hillary Eaton (Food & Wine, 2017)."Three-Star Chef Asks Michelin Guide To Leave Him Out: 'I Will Be Able To Feel Free,'" by Laurel Wamsley (The Two-Way, 2017)."Lunch with M.," by John Colapinto (The New Yorker, 2009)."Alinea," review by the Michelin Guide. EXTRAS:"Why You Shouldn’t Open a Restaurant (Update)," by Freakonomics Radio (2019).

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day.   SOURCES:Mia Mercado, writer and former editor at Hallmark.George White, president of Up With Paper and former president of the American Greeting Card Association. RESOURCES:34th Louie Awards - Finalists & Winners, (2022-2023)."Season’s (and Other...) Greetings," by Maria Ricapito (Marie Claire, 2020)."Hallmark Greeting Cards Have Adjusted to the Digital Revolution," by Trent Gillies (CNBC, 2017)."Testimony of Don Hall, Jr. President and CEO of Hallmark Cards, Inc. Before a Joint Hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security and the House, Postal Service and the District of Columbia" (2010).

How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply?  Zachary Crockett wades in. SOURCE:Dina Fine Maron, senior wildlife crime investigative reporter at National Geographic. RESOURCES:"When the Horseshoe Crabs Are Gone, We’ll Be in Trouble," by Deborah Cramer (The New York Times, 2023)."Horseshoe Crab Blood Is Vital to Modern Medicine. A New Lab-Made Alternative Could Save the Species," by Kristoffer Whitney, Jolie Crunelle, and The Conversation (Fortune, 2023)."Horseshoe Crab Blood Saves Lives. Can We Protect These Animals From Ourselves?" by Dina Fine Maron (National Geographic, 2022)."For Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs, Love Is a Battlefield," by Dina Fine Maron (National Geographic, 2022)."Horseshoe Crab Blood: The Miracle Vaccine Ingredient That's Saved Millions of Lives," by Katie Pavid (Natural History Museum, 2020)."The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability," by Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon, Anthony L. Dellinger, et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2018)."Video: Horseshoe Crabs Mate in Annual Beach 'Orgy,'" by Heather Duner MacAdam (National Geographic, 2014)."Crash: A Tale of Two Species," S26.E7 of Nature (2011). EXTRAS:"Baby Blue Blood Drive," by Radiolab (2020).

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away.  SOURCES:Delaney Diamond, romance novelist.Danielle Flores, high school math teacher and avid romance novel reader.Brenda Hiatt, romance novelist.Diane Moggy, vice president of editorial at Harlequin.RESOURCES:"Even as Overall Book Sales Are Declining, Romance Novels Are on the Rise," by Elena Burnett, Sarah Handel, and Juana Summers (All Things Considered, 2023)."Key Takeaways from the Authors Guild’s 2023 Author Income Survey," press release by the Authors Guild (2023)."How Amazon Turned Everyone Into a Romance Writer (and Created an Antitrust Headache)," by Ann Kjellberg (Observer, 2022)."Vivian Stephens Helped Turn Romance Writing Into a Billion-Dollar Industry. Then She Got Pushed Out," by Mimi Swartz (Texas Monthly, 2020)."A Brief History of the Romance Novel," by Amanda Pagan (New York Public Library Blog, 2019)."How Harlequin Became the Most Famous Name in Romance," by Kelly Faircloth (Jezebel, 2015)."Fifty Shades of Amish: A Strange Genre of the Romance Novel," by Leah McGrath Goodman (Newsweek, 2015).

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. RESOURCES:"The Knack Sue Run-DMC Over 'It’s Tricky' Riff," (Rolling Stone, 2006).Clip of "My Sharona" in the film Reality Bites (1994)."The Knack: Where Are They Now?" by David Fricke (Rolling Stone, 1986)."Top Singles of the Year," (Billboard, 1979)."My Bologna," by Weird Al Yankovic (1979)."My Sharona," by The Knack (1979).EXTRAS:"What’s Wrong with Being a One-Hit Wonder?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).

 Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. RESOURCES:"Philadelphia Graffiti Pier: A Love Letter to the City’s Underground Arts," by Honora Feinberg (Guide to Philly, 2023)."USA TODAY Names Philadelphia 'Best City for Street Art,'" (Visit Philadelphia, 2023)."Cornbread, the First Graffiti Artist, Shows New Work at Philadelphia Gallery," by Peter Crimmins (WHYY, 2019)."Porch Light Program: Final Evaluation Report," by Jacob Kraemer Tebes, Samantha L. Matlin, Bronwyn Hunter, Azure B. Thompson, Dana M. Prince, and Nathaniel Mohatt (Yale School of Medicine, 2015)."Graffiti Triggers Crime, Littering, Study Shows," by Jeanna Bryner (NBC News, 2008)."Problem-Oriented Guides for Police: Graffiti," by Deborah Lamm Weisel (D.O.J. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2004).EXTRA:"Urinetown," by Tell Me Something I Don't Know (2017).

Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. Zachary Crockett prepares for takeoff. RESOURCES:"High Flyers 2023: How Ultra-Rich Private Jet Travel Costs the Rest of Us and Burns Up the Planet," by Chuck Collins, Omar Ocampo, and Kalena Thomhave (joint report by The Patriotic Millionaires and the Institute for Policy Studies, 2023)."French Green MPs Want to Ban Private Jet Flights, to 'Bring the Rich Back Down to Earth,'" by Stéphane Mandard (Le Monde, 2023)."Markey, Velázquez Announce Legislation to Make the Rich Pay for the Public Costs of Private Jet Pollution," press release by Senator Edward J. Markey (2023)."Private Planes and Luxury Yachts Aren’t Just Toys for the Ultrawealthy. They’re Also Huge Tax Breaks," by Paul Kiel (ProPublica, 2023)."A Teenager Tracked Elon Musk’s Jet on Twitter. Then Came the Direct Message," by Neil Vigdor (The New York Times, 2022)."This Article is More Than 1 Year Old: A 17-Minute Flight? The Super-Rich Who Have ‘Absolute Disregard for the Planet,’" by Oliver Milman (The Guardian, 2022)."Private Jets — the Achilles Heel of EU Air Traffic Security?" by Crina Boros and Juliet Ferguson (EUobserver, 2018)."In Defence of the Ever-Unpopular Corporate Aircraft," by Joe Nocera (Financial Post, 2017).EXTRAS:"Freakonomics Radio Takes to the Skies," series by Freakonomics Radio (2023).

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. RESOURCES:"Almond Acreage Decline Prompts Industry Introspection," by Mitch Lies (West Coast Nut, 2023).American Pistachio Industry 2021 Annual Report, by American Pistachio Growers (2023)."California’s Agricultural Water Policies Are Nuts," by Douglas R. Noble (The Gainesville Sun, 2021)."Amid Drought, Billionaires Control a Critical California Water Bank," by Chloe Sorvino (Forbes, 2021)."Wonderful Pistachios Achieves Billion-Dollar Brand Milestone," press release by The Wonderful Company (2020)."Pistachios: The Quirks of Agricultural Trade in a Nutshell," by Andrea Durkin (Global Trade, 2020)."California Pistachios With Perfect Timing," by Mark Blackburn (The New York Times, 1979).

In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. RESOURCES"Inside the Largely Unregulated Market for Bodies Donated to Science: 'It's Harder to Sell Hot Dogs on a Cart,'" by Justin Sherman (CBS News, 2023)."Bilirakis, Fletcher, Murphy and Tillis Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Stop Brokering of Body Parts, Preserve Integrity of Organ Donation Process," press release by the office of Congressman Gus Bilirakis (2023)."Sunset Mesa Funeral Home Operators Sentenced to Federal Prison For Illegal Body Part Scheme," press release by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado (2023)."Cashing in on the Donated Dead: The Body Trade," series by Reuters (2017).Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Bone$: A Personal Account of a 'Body Broker's' Thirteen Year Journey Through the Legal and Lucrative Body Parts Business, by Philip Guyett (2011).EXTRAS"Cadavers – Part 1," by The Economics of Everyday Things (2023).

In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry that has emerged around them. RESOURCES:"From Grave Robbing to Giving Your Own Body to Science – A Short History of Where Medical Schools Get Cadavers," by Susan Lawrence and Susan E. Lederer (The Conversation, 2023)."Box of Human Heads Stolen From Truck in Denver," by Carly Moore (FOX4, 2022)."A Body Donated to Science - but Used to Test Bombs," by Rozina Sini (BBC News, 2019)."How an American Company Made a Fortune Selling Bodies Donated to Science," by John Shiffman and Brian Grow (Reuters, 2017)."From Sacrilege to Privilege: The Tale of Body Procurement for Anatomical Dissection in the United States," by Raphael Hulkower (The Einstein Journal of Biology and Medicine, 2011).The Anatomy Murders, by Lisa Rosner (2010).

Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. RESOURCES:"Private Equity Wants to Wash Your Car," by Miriam Gottfried (The Wall Street Journal, 2022)."California Labor Commissioner Recovers $282,000 for Car Wash Wage Citations," State of California Department of Industrial Relations News Release (2022)."Sgt. Clean’s Future Shines Bright Thanks to Subscription Model, Strong Reputation," by Vince Guerrieri (Crain's Cleveland Business, 2018)."One California Drought Winner? The Local Car Wash," by Lauren Sommer (Marketplace, 2015).Sonny's CarWash College.

More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its head. Zachary Crockett dips into the ink. RESOURCES:"32% of Americans Have a Tattoo, Including 22% Who Have More Than One," by Katherine Schaeffer and Shradha Dinesh (Pew Research Center, 2023)."Tattoo Removal Business Draws Up High-Growth Potential," by Tim Clark (Forbes, 2023)."The Secret, Chronic Pain of Tattoo Artists," by Devon Abelman (Allure, 2020).The Other End of the Needle: Continuity and Change Among Tattoo Workers, by David C. Lane (2020)."How Instagram Revolutionized the Tattoo Industry," by Salvador Rodriguez (CNBC, 2020)."How Do Tattoo Artists Get Paid?" by Erica Salvalaggio (Inside Out, 2019)."Hey, Pro Athletes: Your Tattoo Is Going to Get You Sued," by Ira Boudway (Bloomberg, 2013).

There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. RESOURCES"Who Is the Fastest Pizza Box Folder?! World Pizza Games 2021," video by The Laughing Lion (2021)."Pizza Box Contamination Doesn’t Impede Recyclability, Association Says," by Megan Smalley (Recycling Today, 2020)."Scott's Pizza Chronicles: A Brief History of the Pizza Box," by Scott Wiener (Serious Eats, 2018)."Apple Patented a Pizza Box, for Pizzas," by Jacob Kastrenakes (The Verge, 2017)."We Eat 100 Acres of Pizza a Day in the U.S.," by Lenny Bernstein (The Washington Post, 2015).Pizza Tiger, by Thomas Monaghan (1986).

Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when we love ’em and leave ’em.

They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail.

It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end up on your plate. Zachary Crockett picks up the scent.

Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the  money. 

How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain.

How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in.

The most popular song of the 20th century — and a key part of a ubiquitous American ritual — was also the subject of a years-long legal battle. Zachary Crockett blows out the candles.

Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up.

Most sports bars rarely screen women's games. Zachary Crockett taps into the strategy of one woman who changed the channel.

Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia. Zachary Crockett tugs at the thread.

Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu.

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up.

Vanity plates might be 2KUL4U, but in the Blue Hen State, low-digit plates command high-digit prices. Zachary Crockett sums up a big market in a small state.

One creature’s trash is another’s cash. Zachary Crockett flushes out the numbers with a man who found profit in pee.

How do they emerge from the Upper Cretaceous period to end up in natural-history museums and private collections? Zachary Crockett digs for answers.

We’re not sure what that creature cavorting on the sidelines is — but it doesn’t come cheap. Zachary Crockett gets the ballpark figures on everyone’s favorite ballpark figures.

Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when we love ’em and leave ’em.

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out.

How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in.

In our first episode, host Zachary Crockett sidles up to the pump to ask:  Who owns your local gas station, and where do their profits really come from? 

A new show is coming to the Freakonomics Radio Network. Stay tuned for The Economics of Everyday Things, hosted by Zachary Crockett.