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The edge of a fence near the U.S.-Mexico border in Hidalgo, Texas, in 2014.

The edge of a fence near the U.S.-Mexico border in Hidalgo, Texas, in 2014. Kainaz Amaria/NPR hide caption

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Government

Episode 675: The Cost Of Crossing

Sneaking people across the U.S.-Mexico border is a well established, booming business. Today on the show, we meet a businessman and a client in the evolving industry of human smuggling.

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The Planet Money peacock pie, in all its glory.

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Trade

Episode 674: We Cooked A Peacock

In the 1600s, a good spice rub was the ultimate display of wealth. People would risk their lives for a sack of cloves. On today's show, we cook a recipe from the spice trade days.

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Rocky economic times in 2015 for Greece, the oil industry, and NYC's yellow cab owners.
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Podcast

Episode 673: The Rest of the Story, 2015 Edition

Not every story has an ending. Sometimes after we finish a podcast and send it to you, the facts change, a new chapter unfolds. Today on the show, we update some of our favorite episodes from 2015.

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Insider trading in the act
United States Attorney's Office

Podcast

Episode 671: An Insider Trader Tells All

Today on the show: A man who got caught insider trading explains everything — what he did, how he did it, and why. Though he's still struggling with that last one.

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Planet Fitness's bagel breakfast is the second Tuesday of every month.

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Podcast

Episode 590: The Planet Money Workout

Today on the show: The mind games that gyms play with you. From design to pricing to free bagels, gyms want to be a product that everyone buys, but no one actually uses.

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Frank Sinatra poses for a mug shot after being arrested and charged with "carrying on with a married woman".

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Podcast

Episode 668: Frank Sinatra's Mug

When you die you can pass on your money, your house. But your image--what you look and sound like--that's trickier. Today on the show: How Frank Sinatra made his image, and maybe yours, last forever.

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Images of the new noted of the Brazilian currency.
AFP/Getty Images

Government

Episode 216: How Four Drinking Buddies Saved Brazil

Two decades ago, shoppers in Brazil would run ahead of the worker who raised prices every day. Inflation was crazy. Today on the show: How four economists --who were also drinking buddies-- fixed it.

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Planet Money's very own hoverboard.

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Trade

Episode 666: The Hoverboard Life

The hottest toy this holiday season has no identifiable logo, no main distributor, and no widely agreed upon name. Today, we seek out the origin of the hands-free, two wheeled, self-balancing scooter.

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Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker listens to a question as he appears before the Senate Banking Committee.
Chick Harrity/AP

Government

Episode 664: The Great Inflation

For much of the 70s inflation was bad. Prices rose at over 10 percent a year. Nothing could stop it — until one powerful person did something very unpopular. Today's show: How we beat inflation.

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J.P. Morgan

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Government

Episode 505: A Locked Door, A Secret Meeting And The Birth Of The Fed

A 70-year-old man with a bad cold and many mistresses, a nation that's ambivalent about a central bank, and a secret meeting on an island. Today on the show: The origin story of the Federal Reserve.

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Trade representatives attend a press conference for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
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Currency

Episode 662: OMG TPP

The text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership isn't secret anymore. We dove in. From tariffs for waterproof overalls to copyright rules, we tell you what we found. Also, a way countries can get around it.

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Alaskan fisherman David Fry and his baited hooks.

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Jobs

Episode 661: The Less Deadly Catch

Today on the show, how an economic fix took the deadliest job in America and made it safer. And why a lot of people are mad about it.

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Fossils are becoming a booming business.
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Podcast

Episode 660: The T-Rex In My Backyard

There's a boom going on for dinosaur bones, a veritable gold rush for fossils buried in the badlands of North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Today on the show: the T-Rex that started it all.

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