Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

Stephen J. Dubner

Booking Overview

An interview show focused on wide-ranging, deeply personal conversations with prominent authors, cultural figures, religious leaders, and heads of major institutions. Credible pitches include bestselling or award-winning writers, influential academics and clergy, senior cultural executives, and other accomplished public figures with distinctive life stories; booking difficulty is high.

Metrics

Episodes: 10

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.3/5.0

Estimated listeners: 1k-10k

Gender skew: Neutral

Location: USA

YouTube: 120.0k subscribers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

radio@freakonomics.com

nsq@freakonomics.com

pima@freakonomics.com

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Host

Stephen J. Dubner - Journalist, author, and co-author of Freakonomics, Stephen J. Dubner is the host of Freakonomics Radio and a prominent interviewer of thinkers, leaders, and cultural figures.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

high

Typical Credentials:

Established authors, award-winning writers, prominent religious figures, senior leaders of major cultural or educational institutions, and accomplished public figures with unusual career trajectories or substantial intellectual and cultural influence.

Required Achievements:

Pulitzer Prize or other major literary recognition, Multiple bestselling or acclaimed books, Leadership of a major museum or university, Significant contributions to religion, music, literature, or public culture

Recent Guest Discussions

Michael Roth - Running A University, Maintaining Institutional Stability, And Managing Conflict In An Anti-institution Era.

Anne Pasternak - Leading A Major Cultural Institution, Managing Cultural Conflict, And Navigating The Current Culture War.

Jennifer Egan - Confidence, Luck, Creative Process, And The Extensive Revision Required To Complete A Novel.

Warren Zanes - Music, Creative Careers, Failure, And The Path From Performing In A Rock Band To Writing Acclaimed Music Biographies.

Angela Buchdahl - Boundary-crossing, Jewish Identity, Religious Belief, And The Aftermath Of October 7.

Recent Topics

Literature, Leadership, Religion, Art, Institutions

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on

Better in Person with Stephen Dubner

Amazon Was Supposed to Kill the Bookstore. James Daunt Had Other Plans

September 01, 2026

He started with one small shop in London. He has since resuscitated both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. He tells Stephen Dubner exactly how he does it.

How to Run an Institution in an Anti-Institution Era

August 25, 2026

Anne Pasternak (Brooklyn Museum) and Michael Roth (Wesleyan University) tell Stephen Dubner how they keep the peace in the middle of a culture war.

“I Trust Almost Anyone More Than Myself”

August 18, 2026

The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Jennifer Egan talks about confidence, luck, and why it takes 35 drafts to get to the finish line.

Publicly listed emails

radio@freakonomics.com

nsq@freakonomics.com

pima@freakonomics.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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