From the podcast that explores the hidden side of everything, hear authors like you’ve never heard them before. Stephen Dubner and a stable of Freakonomics friends talk with the writers of mind-bending books, and we hear the best excerpts as well. You’ll learn about skill versus chance, the American discomfort with death, the secret life of dogs, and much more.
The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)
Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of commodity traders.
- SOURCES:
- Javier Blas, opinion columnist at Bloomberg News.
- Jack Farchy, energy and commodities senior reporter at Bloomberg News.
- RESOURCES:
- The World For Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources, by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy (2021)
- The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich, by Daniel Ammann (2010).
- EXTRAS:
- "How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War (Update)" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
- "The First Great American Industry," by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.