The Economics of Everyday Things

Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all has become a $45 billion business. Zachary Crockett cleans out the garage. This episode was originally published on April 21st, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2026

The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley artists. Zachary Crockett makes some noise. This episode was originally published on April 14th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2026

Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Crockett follows the links. This episode was originally published on April 7th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2026

The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are buried. This episode was originally published on March 31st, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2026

Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits at the airport, holding a sign saying "Fluffy." This episode was originally published on March 24th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2026

More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. This episode was originally published on March 17th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2026

Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. This episode was originally published on March 10th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2026

Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mailbox. This episode was originally published on February 25th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 11 May 2026

If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. This episode was originally published on February 18th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2026

Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. This episode was originally published on February 11th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. This episode was originally published on February 4th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2026

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. This episode was originally published on January 28th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2026

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. This episode was originally published on January 21st, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2026

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. This episode was originally published on January 14th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2026

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. This episode was originally published on January 7th, 2024.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2026

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. This episode was originally published on December 31st, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 13 April 2026

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. This episode was originally published on December 17th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2026

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. This episode was originally published on December 10th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2026

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. This episode was originally published on December 3rd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2026

Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started. This episode was originally published on November 19th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2026

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. This episode was originally published on November 12th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2026

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks open the story. This episode was originally published on November 5th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 23 March 2026

In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial — career in the body parts business. This episode was originally published on October 29th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2026

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. This episode was originally published on October 22nd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under the hood. This episode was originally published on October 15th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2026

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. This episode was originally published on October 3rd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 9 March 2026

There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid. This episode was originally published on October 1st, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2026

They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail. This episode was originally published on September 17th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2026

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. This episode was originally published on September 10th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2026

Who makes the stacks of fake cash used in movies — and how do they stay clear of counterfeit law? Zachary Crockett follows the fake money. This episode was originally published on September 3rd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2026

How do you turn an empty house into a buyer’s dream home? Zachary Crockett pulls back the curtain. This episode was originally published on August 27th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2026

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. This episode was originally published on August 13th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2026

Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up. This episode was originally published on August 6th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2026

Most sports bars rarely screen women's games. Zachary Crockett taps into the strategy of one woman who set out to change the channel. This episode was originally published on July 30th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2026

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. This episode was originally published on July 23rd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2026

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. This episode was originally published on July 16th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2026

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. This episode was originally published on July 9th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2026

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. This episode was originally published on June 2nd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2026

One creature’s trash is another’s cash. Zachary Crockett flushes out the numbers with a man who found profit in pee. This episode was originally published on June 25th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2026

How do they emerge from the Upper Cretaceous period to end up in natural-history museums and private collections? Zachary Crockett digs for answers. This episode was originally published on June 18th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2026

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. This episode was originally published on June 11th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2026

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. This episode was originally published on February 12th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out. This episode was originally published on February 2nd, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2026

How does America's cutest sales force get billions of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs into our hands every year? Zachary Crockett digs in. This episode was originally published on January 29th, 2023.

Transcribed - Published: 5 January 2026

The Economics of Everyday Things is going on an indefinite hiatus.

Transcribed - Published: 29 December 2025

Would you pay a professional $2,500 or more to put up your holiday lights? Zachary Crockett is walking in a winter wonderland.

Transcribed - Published: 22 December 2025

Trees are more than decoration — they’re living economic assets, with measurable costs and benefits for cities and neighborhoods. Zachary Crockett takes a walk on the shady side of the street.

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2025

Grab a simple bouquet from your local grocery store and you're activating a global network of farms, shipping companies, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. Zachary Crockett stops to smell the roses.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2025

Shoe repair shops are a dying breed — but for those that remain, demand is higher than ever. Zachary Crockett goes in for a shine.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn.

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025