The Economics of Everyday Things

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.

111. Product Recalls

Every year, thousands of products are recalled from store shelves. How does the process work — and who foots the bill? Zachary Crockett gets a refund on his frozen shrimp.   * SOURCES: * Chris Harvey [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-harvey-44028944/], senior vice president at Sedgwick.   * RESOURCES: * "FDA Advises Public Not to Eat, Sell, or Serve Certain Imported Frozen Shrimp from an Indonesian Firm [https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-public-not-eat-sell-or-serve-certain-imported-frozen-shrimp-indonesian-firm]," (FDA, 2025). * "U.S. product recalls reach second-highest level in six years during 2024 [https://www.sedgwick.com/press-release/u-s-product-recalls-reach-second-highest-level-in-six-years-during-2024/]," (Sedgwick, 2025). * "Lot Codes For Food Tracing: How Are They Used? [https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasburke/2021/02/25/lot-codes-for-food-tracing-how-are-they-used/]" by Thomas Burke (Forbes, 2021). * "How Globalization Challenges Safety In The Food Supply Chain [https://www.foodlogistics.com/safety-security/food-safety/article/12095450/how-globalization-challenges-safety-in-the-food-supply-chain]," by Elliot Maras (Food Logistics, 2015).   * EXTRAS: * "Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts [https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts]," (FDA). * "Recalls & Public Health Alerts [https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls]," (USDA). * "Recalls & Product Safety Warnings [https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls]," (CPSC). * "Check for Recalls [https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls]," (NHTSA). 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.

110. Formula 1 Teams

In a sport that generates more than $3.5 billion a year, teams compete in cars that cost $70 million to develop and build — and a split-second to crash. Zachary Crockett assesses the damage.   * SOURCES: * Steve Cripps [https://www.williamsf1.com/team/steve-cripps], chief financial officer at Williams Racing.   * RESOURCES: * "Everything you need to know about F1 – Drivers, teams, cars, circuits and more [https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/drivers-teams-cars-circuits-and-more-everything-you-need-to-know-about.7iQfL3Rivf1comzdqV5jwc]," (Formula 1, 2025). * "How Williams, F1’s ultimate underdog, found success — and might again [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6473647/2025/07/05/williams-f1-history-frank-williams/]," by Madeline Coleman (New York Times, 2025). * "How fast do F1 cars go? [https://www.redbull.com/us-en/how-fast-do-f1-cars-go]" by Amanda Clark (Red Bull, 2024). * "Aerodynamics in Formula 1 | F1 Explained [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuEvK-zCqio]," (Formula 1 Youtube, 2024),  * "Williams Racing [https://www.formulaonehistory.com/teams/williams/]," (Formula One History).   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.