Freakonomics
Alina Kulman is an Associate Producer at Freakonomics, managing episode production and scripting while also overseeing the weekly radio show. With experience as a Production Associate at WNYC Radio and Research Assistant at McGee Media, Alina has contributed to various podcasts and radio shows. Their background includes work as a Reporting Intern for Brown Alumni Magazine, a Podcast Producer for Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and an Editor at The College Hill Independent. Alina also has experience in writing and reporting for various publications and won accolades for their work as a Podcast Editor at WBRU. Their educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in History from Brown University and a semester abroad in environmental studies at The Arava Institute.
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Freakonomics
It began when New York journalist and author Stephen J. Dubner went to Chicago to write about award-winning economist Steven D. Levitt for The New York Times Magazine. Dubner had been reluctant to take the assignment (he was in the middle of writing a book about the psychology of money). Levitt was reluctant to be shadowed by a journalist (but his mother loved the Times Magazine, so he gave in). The article came out, and led to an unexpected partnership. Levitt and Dubner wrote Freakonomics, a book about cheating teachers, bizarre baby names, self-dealing Realtors, and crack-selling mama’s boys. They figured it would sell about 80 copies. Instead, it took up long-term residency on the Times best-seller list, and went on to sell more than 4 million copies in 35 languages. Then they wrote SuperFreakonomics. It also became a worldwide best-seller. A lot of other stuff happened, too. A blog. A documentary film. Jon Stewart and Beauty and the Geek! Lectures. A pair of pants. A radio show. Not bad for a partnership born of such profound reluctance.