The Economics of Everyday Things

Superhot Chili Peppers (Replay)

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn.   * SOURCES: * Ed Currie [https://puckerbuttpeppercompany.com/pages/our-roots], founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. * Stephanie Walker [https://eps.nmsu.edu/faculty/stephanie-walker.html], associate professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at New Mexico State University   * RESOURCES: * "Pepper X Dethrones Carolina Reaper as World’s Hottest Chili Pepper [https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2023/10/pepper-x-dethrones-carolina-reaper-as-worlds-hottest-chilli-pepper-759706]," by Sanj Atwal (Guinness World Records, 2023). * "The Shocking, Stupendous Rise of Superhot Chillies: ‘The Stomach Cramps Can Last for 14 Hours [https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/nov/07/the-shocking-stupendous-rise-of-superhot-chillies-the-stomach-cramps-can-last-for-14-hours],’" by Tim Dowling (The Guardian, 2023). * "14-Year-Old Dies After Trying The Paqui ‘One Chip Challenge [https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2023/09/09/14-year-old-dies-after-trying-the-paqui-one-chip-challenge/?sh=29e869984a87],’" by Bruce Y. Lee (Forbes, 2023). * "Beyond Neuronal Heat Sensing: Diversity of TRPV1 Heat-Capsaicin Receptor-Channel Functions [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2020.612480/full]," by Yaroslav M. Shuba (Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2021). * "Training Your Tongue to Love Spicy Food Benefits More Than Your Taste Buds [https://www.motherjones.com/food/2019/01/chili-peppers-devils-dinner-endorphins-genes-tomatoes/]," by Maddie Oatman (Mother Jones, 2019). * "Fire-Eaters [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/11/04/fire-eaters]," by Lauren Collins (The New Yorker, 2013). * "The Arms Race to Grow World's Hottest Pepper Goes Nuclear [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324281004578356703455812208]," by Spencer Jakab (The Wall Street Journal, 2013).   * EXTRAS: * "Why Do People Love Horror Movies? [https://freakonomics.com/podcast/why-do-people-love-horror-movies/]" by No Stupid Questions (2022). * Hot Ones [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAzrgbu8gEMIIK3r4Se1dOZWSZzUSadfZ], YouTube talk show. 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.

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.