Where is “the cloud,” anyway? It’s in a bunch of nondescript warehouses all over the country. Zachary Crockett serves up the story. SOURCES: Chris Kimm, senior vice president of global customer care and customer experience at Equinix.Raul Martynek, C.E.O. of DataBank.Clayton Rosati, associate professor of geography at Bowling Green State University. RESOURCES:"How Data Center Alley Is Changing Northern Virginia," by Mac Carey (Oxford American, 2025)."Noisy, Hungry Data Centers Are Catching Communities by Surprise," by Sean Patrick Cooper (The New York Times, 2024)."As Data Centers for AI Strain the Power Grid, Bills Rise for Everyday Customers," by Evan Halper and Caroline O'Donovan (The Washington Post, 2024)."Data Plantation: Northern Virginia and the Territorialization of Digital Civilization in 'The Internet Capital of the World'," by Clayton Rosati, Aju James, and Kathryne Metcalf (Online Media and Global Communication, 2023)."A New Front in the Water Wars: Your Internet Use," by Shannon Osaka (The Washington Post, 2023). EXTRAS:"Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) to Build Anything in America?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).Data Center Map.
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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 at least this tall to host this episode. SOURCES:Korey Kiepert, engineer and partner at The Gravity Group.Dennis Spiegel, owner and founder of International Theme Park Services. RESOURCES:"These two amusement park giants just merged. Rollercoaster fans are nervous," by Nathaniel Meyersohn (CNN, 2024)."1,000-foot-tall roller coaster may soon be a reality," by Brady MacDonald (Seattle Times, 2024)."A Century of Screams: The History of the Roller Coaster," (PBS)."The Business of Building Roller Coasters," by Zachary Crockett (Priceonomics, 2014).Roller Coaster Census Report.The Gravity Group. EXTRAS:"January 1884: First U.S. Patent for a Roller Coaster," by LaMarcus Thompson (Advancing Physics, 2004).American Coaster Enthusiasts.
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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. rewrite the script? Zachary Crockett tries to keep up. SOURCES:Doug Karlovits, general manager at Verbit.Katie Ryan, live steno captioner at Verbit. RESOURCES:"The Long Case for Machine Shorthand," by Sam Corbin (New York Times, 2024)."Caption This: Why Subtitling Is Big Business Amid the Content Boom," by Kirsten Chuba (The Hollywood Reporter, 2023)."Everyone Watches TV with Subtitles Now. How’d That Happen?" by Wilson Chapman (IndieWire, 2023)."When is Captioning Required?" (National Association of the Deaf).
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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. SOURCES:Wayne Winton, owner of Tri-County Locksmith Service.Philip Mortillaro Sr., co-owner of Greenwich Locksmiths.Philip Mortillaro Jr., co-owner of Greenwich Locksmiths. RESOURCES:"Tools of the Trade," by Tim O'Leary (Locksmith Ledger International, 2022)."KeyMe Plans To Use New $35 Million Funding Round To Build 10,000+ Retail Locations," by Marley Coyne (Forbes, 2020).Tri-County Locksmith Service.Greenwich Locksmiths. EXTRAS:LockPickingLawyer Youtube Channel.
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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 will go on a long journey. SOURCES: Jennifer 8. Lee, documentarian and author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles.Norman Wong, C.E.O. of Wonton Food. RESOURCES: "Canadian Influencer’s Amazement at Absence of Fortune Cookies in China Restaurants Triggers Amusing Online Discussion About Origins of Snack," by Yating Yang (South China Morning Post, 2024)."Fortune Cookies: They’re Japan’s Best-Kept Secret!" by Thalia Harris (Sakuraco, 2023)."What I Learned Eating at 8,000 Chinese Restaurants," by Zhaoyin Feng (BBC News, 2021).The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, by Jennifer 8. Lee (2008)."Lottery Winners Find Good Fortune in Cookies," (NBC News, 2005). EXTRAS: "Girl Scout Cookies," by The Economics of Everyday Things (2023).
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 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.
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