The Economics of Everyday Things

115. Miniature Golf

How much does it cost to design and build a mini-golf course? And what’s it like to run one? Zachary Crockett putts things in perspective.   * SOURCES: * Katie Conaboy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-conaboy-350136b1/], CEO and co-owner of Harris Miniature Golf. * Sal Conaboy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatore-conaboy-aa83818b/], president and co-owner of Harris Miniature Golf. * Mike Matsinger [https://www.surfsupminigolf.com/], owner of Surf's Up Mini Golf.   * RESOURCES: * "The Evolution of Miniature Golf [https://www.ngf.org/short-game/the-evolution-of-miniature-golf/]," (National Golf Foundation, 2022). * "Who Made Mini-Golf? [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/magazine/who-made-mini-golf.html]" by Hilary Greenbaum and Dana Rubinstein (New York Times, 2012).   * EXTRAS: * Harris Miniature Golf [https://www.harrisminigolf.com/about-harris-mini-golf/]. * Surf's Up Mini Golf [https://www.surfsupminigolf.com/]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

114. Natural and Artificial Flavors

How do flavorists capture the essence of a fruit and put it in a can of sparkling water, or a tub of yogurt? Zachary Crockett takes a bite.   * SOURCES: * Terry Miesle [https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrymiesle/], master flavorist at Sensient Technologies Corporation.   * RESOURCES: * "Flavor and Well‐Being: A Comprehensive Review of Food Choices, Nutrition, and Health Interactions [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12082435/]," by Sakhawot Hossain, Abdul Wazed, Sharmin Asha, Alomgir Hossen, Nur Muhammad Fime, Shamiha Tabassum Teeya, Lubna Yeasmin Jenny, Diptho Dash, and Islam Shimul (Food Science & Nutrition, 2025). * "What is artificial banana flavor made of? A food neuroscientist reveals the truth [https://www.inverse.com/science/artificial-banana-flavor-real-science]," by Elana Spivack (Inverse, 2024). * "Are ‘Natural Flavors’ Really Natural? [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/well/eat/are-natural-flavors-really-natural.html]" by Roni Caryn Rabin (New York Times, 2019). * "The Inexorable Rise Of Synthetic Flavor: A Pictorial History [https://www.popsci.com/history-flavors-us-pictorial/]," by Nadia Berenstein (Popular Science, 2015). * "The Flavor Industry: From 1945-1995 [https://flavorchemists.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/earlmerwin_flavor_history-1.pdf]," (Chemical Sources Association). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

113. Laundromats

A day on the job includes hundreds of quarters, giant balls of lint, and fishing weird stuff out of machines. Zachary Crockett throws in a load.   * SOURCES: * Jordan Berry [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-l-berry/], owner of Laundromat Resource.   * RESOURCES: * "Appliances in U.S. homes, by housing unit type, 2020 [https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2020/hc/pdf/HC%203.1.pdf]," (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2023). * "How the Washing Machine Liberated The Masses [https://allentherisa.substack.com/p/how-the-washing-machine-liberated]," by Allen Therisa (Culturescape, 2023). * "Industry Overview [https://laundryassociation.org/for-investors/industry-overview/]," (Coin Laundry Association). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

112. Campgrounds

Running a campground isn’t all eating s'mores around the campfire. Zachary Crockett fans the flames.   * SOURCES: * Mark Lemoine [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lemoine-349677/], owner, Coloma/St. Joseph KOA Holiday campground; sr. vice president, franchise operations at Kampgrounds of America.   * RESOURCES: * "The Economic Impact of Parks [https://www.nrpa.org/contentassets/f568e0ca499743a08148e3593c860fc5/2023-economic-impact-report.pdf]," (National Recreation and Park Association, 2023). * "Campground Industry Analysis [https://www.nps.gov/subjects/policy/upload/CHMGS_Final_Campground_Trends_Report_Jan_2020.pdf]," (CHM Government Service, 2020).   * EXTRAS: * Coloma/St. Joseph KOA [https://koa.com/campgrounds/coloma/]. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gas Stations (UPDATED)

When gas prices skyrocket, do station owners get a windfall? And where do their profits really come from? Zachary Crockett pulls up to the pump.   * SOURCES: * Garrett Golding [https://www.dallasfed.org/cd/people/golding], assistant vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. * Jeetander P. Sethi [https://apca.us/about-us/#:~:text=Bank%20of%20Fresno.-,JEETANDER%20P.%20SETHI,-Alumni%20and%20ex], founding member of the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association. * Kai Trimble-Lea [https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2022/03/26/black-owned-gas-station-a-survivor/], owner of a B.P. gas station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.   * RESOURCES: * "Top Numbers Driving America's Gasoline Demand [https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/blog/2022/05/26/top-numbers-driving-americas-gasoline-demand#:~:text=It%27s%20now%20expected%20to%20increase,in%20the%20U.S.%20per%20day]," by Lem Smith (American Petroleum Institute, 2022). * "Electric Cars Are Coming. How Long Until They Rule the Road? [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/10/climate/electric-vehicle-fleet-turnover.html]" by Brad Plumer, Nadja Popovich and Blacki Migliozzi (The New York Times, 2021). * "Petroleum & Other Liquids [https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/]," (U.S. Energy Information Administration).   * EXTRAS: * "In the 1890s, the Best-Selling Car Was … Electric [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/in-the-1890s-the-best-selling-car-was-electric/]," by Freakonomics Radio (2022). * "Is it Too Late for General Motors to Go Electric? [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/is-it-too-late-for-general-motors-to-go-electric-ep-442/]" by Freakonomics Radio (2020).   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.