Podcast Summary: The Economics of Everyday Things

Episode 104: Private Investigators
Host: Zachary Crockett (Freakonomics Radio Network)
Guest: Ashley Wardlow, Chief Operating Officer at Nathan’s Investigations (Florida)
Date: August 25, 2025

Overview

This episode delves into the world of private investigators (PIs), examining the work they perform, the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession, and the economics behind sleuthing services. Host Zachary Crockett interviews Ashley Wardlow, an experienced PI and COO at Nathan’s Investigations, offering listeners a candid, insider look at the realities—versus the popular myths—of private detective work in America today.

Key Discussion Points

What Do Private Investigators Really Do?

• Dispelling Myths: TV and movies exaggerate PI exploits with wild stunts and impossible missions.
  • “We cannot jump out of the helicopter and get you the evidence that you need. … We’re not mermaids. Yet.”
    — Ashley Wardlow (02:31)
• Day-to-Day Work:
  • Hours of surveillance, following routines, and gathering evidence (03:09)
  • Disguise and adaptability are part of the job.
    “I will throw on a wig. I will put on the fat suit. Like you won’t even know it’s me.”
    — Wardlow (03:09)
• Typical Cases:
  • Infidelity, worker’s comp fraud, romance scams, long-lost relatives, and corporate malfeasance (05:47, 06:53)
  • 25% of Nathan’s cases deal with suspected infidelity (07:40)
  • “If you think of it, we probably offer it.” — Wardlow (05:47)
• Client Diversity: Insurance companies, attorneys, families, and corporations seek out PIs for matters police won’t address.

Who Becomes a PI?

• Many PIs are ex-police or military (04:57)
• Wardlow opted for private investigation straightaway to avoid the long climb through police ranks (04:57)

Licensing and Legal Limits

• Most states require PIs to be licensed (05:23)
• PIs don’t enjoy police powers:
  • No search warrants, no force, can’t tap phones (08:54)
  • Must respect privacy boundaries: can’t look through windows, record in homes/bathrooms, or trespass (09:23)
  • Clients often request illegal actions.
    “All the time. … We’re not going to do it.” — Wardlow (09:53)
• PI industry’s reputation can be murky—some have crossed ethical lines, but Wardlow asserts her firm operates legally (10:25)

How Investigations Work

Surveillance in Action

• Preparation and Setup:
  • Stakeouts often involve parking inconspicuously, using disguises, and planning for long waits (15:10)
    • “You can hope that there’s a nearby bathroom, something small to snack on. You cannot sleep … you have to have a full tank of gas.” — Wardlow (15:10)
  • Props like construction vests, gym clothes, and even swimsuits for blending in (15:55)
• Capturing Evidence:
  • Discreetly filming using advanced tech (glasses with cameras, disguised cameras) (16:40-17:16)
    • “The Ray Ban glasses with the camera … those are amazing.” — Wardlow (17:16)
  • Acting natural while filming:
    “You’re supposed to look like you’re taking a selfie when you’re recording someone.” — Wardlow (16:30)

Notable Stories

• Quick Success on Infidelity Case:
  • Client suspicious of wife, weeklong surveillance reveals clear evidence late in the week
  • “The sign was when he gave her a smooch and squares her behind. We call it the golden ticket.” — Wardlow (18:25)

Risks and Escapes

• Discovery by target or local residents is always a risk (18:57)
  • “Every PI has been found out before.” — Wardlow (18:57)
  • If discovered, may recommend switching agents or pausing (19:07)
  • One case became a “Fast and Furious” car chase when the subject realized she was being followed (19:07)

Digital Detective Work

• Increasingly reliant on social media and digital footprints (19:48)
  • “Some people, they like to post everything … every place they go.” — Wardlow (19:48)
  • Solving cases using photos from Cash App and linking to social media profiles

Economics and Costs

• Rates: $125–$150 per hour for clients; PIs at Nathan’s earn around $40/hour (industry avg. is $25/hr) (20:21)
• Minimum investigation cost: ~$700; can rise into thousands for extensive surveillance (20:58)
• Workers comp cases resolve faster; infidelity cases can take weeks (20:58)
• Costs cover admin, equipment, travel, and investigator pay

Case Closure and Reporting

• Clear end-point: PI compiles findings into a digital report, complete with video and hour-by-hour breakdown (22:04)
  • Reports used in court must be obtained legally
• 80% of the time, clients’ suspicions are justified (22:04)
  • “At least they have the evidence that they need from a licensed agency.” — Wardlow (22:41)
• PIs deliver evidence; the next steps are up to the client—not the investigator (22:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lifelong Curiosity:
  • “I investigated everything… I remember trying to use tape to lift his fingerprint off the refrigerator so that I could then see if it matched the fingerprint on my empty bottle. I knew it was him.” — Wardlow on her childhood (01:34)
• Balancing Empathy and Duty:
  • “Because I’m a hopeless romantic, I want people’s relationships to work out. But… I have a job to do.” — Wardlow (07:49)
• Digital Sleuthing:
  • “Any type of digital footprint that someone leaves, we are going to go on the hunt for it.” — Wardlow (19:48)
• Family PI:
  • “My mom probably isn’t happy, but I do research and background checks on anyone that she thinks she’s going to date.” — Wardlow (23:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:26 – Ashley Wardlow’s path to becoming a PI
• 02:31 – Debunking pop culture myths about PIs
• 04:57 – Who becomes a private investigator?
• 05:47 – Types of cases handled by Nathan’s Investigations
• 07:40 – Infidelity inquiries (largest case category)
• 08:54 – Legal boundaries and client requests
• 15:10 – Surveillance techniques and tools
• 18:25 – “Golden ticket” infidelity case anecdote
• 19:48 – Using digital footprints in cases
• 20:21 – How much does a PI cost?
• 22:04 – Reporting findings and case closure

Tone and Takeaways

Engaging, slightly cheeky, and grounded in the everyday reality of detective work, this episode highlights both the patience and dexterity required of modern private investigators. Myths are replaced with humor and the nitty-gritty truth about surveillance, the relentless search for answers, and the growing importance of digital evidence. Listeners gain a fascinating, practical understanding of how and why people hire investigators, and what it really takes to thrive in the industry.

Prepared for listeners who want the full story without the stakeout.