No Stupid Questions

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of "Grit") and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So they have a podcast where they can ask each other as many “stupid questions” as they want. New episodes each week. "No Stupid Questions" is a production of the Freakonomics Radio Network. Join the Freakonomics Radio Plus membership program for weekly member-only episodes of Freakonomics Radio. You’ll also get every show in our network without ads. To sign up, visit our show page on Apple Podcasts or go to freakonomics.com/plus. read less

Our Editor's Take

No Stupid Questions is a podcast for humans who are curious about humans. The hosts are Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan. Stephen J. Dubner (Freakonomics)used to host the program, and Maughan took over in 2023. Sometimes Maria Konnikova joins the team. She is the author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes.They all enjoy asking questions which lead to more questions. Sometimes, these questions inspire themes for future episodes.

Over a period of 20 episodes, the podcast hosts dedicated questions about what they called the Seven Deadly Sins. Do people need more rest? Why are people having less sex? Is it wrong to want more, or is coveting part of human nature? Is it a virtue to love hard work or a way to perpetuate dependence on capitalism?

Many No Stupid Questions episodes zoom in on questions about personal development. The podcast hosts discuss issues like whether talent or effort gets one further in life. They ask when is it time to give up. Other episodes ask why people get scammed and whether it is better to savor or gobble food. The hosts also give advice on how to master a crisis.

The hosts support the debate with knowledge and research. They also share their own experiences. In one No Stupid Questions episode, they discuss how pressure impacts performance. Maria explains how focusing on external things can be more reliable than focusing on one's body. She says a golfer would rather concentrate on the ball than think about his posture.

The end of each episode features an informative fact-check. One of the hosts is curious about tickling. The fact-check provides psychological evidence and advice. This podcast is an enjoyable balance of wonderment and examination. No Stupid Questions may appeal to those who want to hear the answers to life's many questions. New episodes debut each week.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

187. Is Fear Running Your Life?
2d ago
187. Is Fear Running Your Life?
How can you summon courage when you’re terrified? Is hiking more dangerous than skiing? And what is the stupidest thing that Mike has ever done? SOURCES:Albert Bandura, professor of psychology at Stanford University.Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and professor in the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine.Lisa Damour, clinical psychologist and senior advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University.Christopher Peterson, professor of psychology and organizational studies at the University of Michigan.Stanley Rachman, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia.Mikaela Shiffrin, Olympic alpine skier.Lindsey Vonn, Olympic alpine skier.Shaun White, Olympic snowboarder.Joseph Wolpe, 20th-century South African psychiatrist. RESOURCES:The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, by Lisa Damour (2023)."What Scares the World’s Most Daring Olympians," by John Branch, Mark Boyer, Larry Buchanan, Emily Rhyne, Bedel Saget, Joe Ward, and Jeremy White (The New York Times, 2022)."The Upside of Anxiety," by Christina Caron (The New York Times, 2022).Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive, by Marc Brackett (2019)."World With No Fear," by Invisibilia (2015).Abū Zayd Al-Balkhī''s Sustenance of the Soul: The Cognitive Behavior Therapy of a Ninth Century Physician, by Malik Badri (2013)."Searching for the Source of a Fountain of Courage," by Natalie Angier (The New York Times, 2011).Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification, by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman (2004).Fear and Courage, by Stanley Rachman (1978)."Relative Efficacy of Desensitization and Modeling Approaches for Inducing Behavioral, Affective, and Attitudinal Changes," by Albert Bandura, E. B. Blahard, and B. Ritter (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1969). EXTRAS:"Fear No Mort," S7.E10 of Rick and Morty (2023)."Can Fear Be Good Medicine?" by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).How We Feel, smartphone app.
186. Do You Need a Routine?
Mar 10 2024
186. Do You Need a Routine?
Would you be more adventurous if you had more structure? Do you multitask while brushing your teeth? And what would Mike’s perfect brother Peter do?  SOURCES:David Brooks, opinion columnist for The New York Times.Colin Camerer, professor of economics at the California Institute of Technology.James Clear, writer.Mason Currey, author.David Goggins, ultra-endurance athlete and retired U.S. Navy SEAL.Jesse Itzler, entrepreneur and author.Katy Milkman, professor of operations, information and decisions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and host of the Choiceology podcast.Aneesh Rai, professor of management and organization at the University of Maryland.Tony Robbins, author, motivational speaker, and life coach.Sydney Scott, professor of marketing at Washington University in St. Louis.Cass Sunstein, professor and founding director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School.Elanor Williams, professor of marketing at Washington University in St. Louis. RESOURCES:"A Field Experiment on Subgoal Framing to Boost Volunteering: The Trade-Off Between Goal Granularity and Flexibility," by Aneesh Rai, Marissa A. Sharif, Edward H. Chang, Katherine L. Milkman, and Angela L. Duckworth (Journal of Applied Psychology, 2023)."What’s Next? Advances and Challenges in Understanding How Environmental Predictability Shapes the Development of Cognitive Control," by Yuko Munakata, Diego Placido, and Winnie Zhuang (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2023)."A Neural Autopilot Theory of Habit: Evidence From Consumer Purchases and Social Media Use," by Colin Camerer, Yi Xin, and Clarice Zhao (Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2023)."In Goal Pursuit, I Think Flexibility Is the Best Choice for Me but Not for You," by Sydney E. Scott and Elanor F. Williams (Journal of Marketing Research, 2022).Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear (2018).Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond (2016).Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet, by Jesse Itzler (2015)."The Good Order," by David Brooks (The New York Times, 2014).Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, by Mason Currey (2013).
185. Do You Need Closure?
Mar 3 2024
185. Do You Need Closure?
What’s the best way to carry out random acts of kindness? What’s wrong with making an “Irish exit”? And why is Mike secretly buying lottery tickets? SOURCES:Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and visiting scholar at Harvard University.Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University.John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington.Kurt Lewin, 20th-century German-American psychologist.E. J. Masicampo, professor of psychology at Wake Forest University.Timothy Wilson, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia.Bluma Zeigarnik, 20th-century Soviet psychologist. RESOURCES:"Life and Work of the Psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik," by M. Marco (Neurosciences and History, 2018)."Why We Need Answers," by Maria Konnikova (The New Yorker, 2013)."Consider It Done! Plan Making Can Eliminate the Cognitive Effects of Unfulfilled Goals," by E. J. Masicampo and Roy Baumeister (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2011).The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples, by John Gottman (2011)."'Let Me Dream On!' Anticipatory Emotions and Preference for Timing in Lotteries," by Martin Kocher, Michal Krawczyk, and Frans van Winden (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper, 2009)."Explaining Away: A Model of Affective Adaptation," by Timothy Wilson and Daniel Gilbert (Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2008)."On Finished and Unfinished Tasks," by Bluma Zeigarnik (A Source Book of Gestalt Psychology, 1938). EXTRAS:Big Five Personality Inventory, by No Stupid Questions (2024)."Can We Disagree Better?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."Would You Be Happier if You Were More Creative?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."How Can You Be Kinder to Yourself?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."What’s Wrong With Holding a Grudge?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, by Eileen Spinelli (1991).
184. Are You Doing Too Much?
Feb 25 2024
184. Are You Doing Too Much?
How can you strive for excellence without overworking yourself? Why is perfectionism on the rise? And is Angela part of the problem? SOURCES:Kristin Andrus, philanthropist.Aaron (Tim) Beck, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.Thomas Curran, professor of psychological and behavioral science at the London School of Economics.Julia DiGangi, neuropsychologist.Zac Efron, actor.Scott Hugo, housing justice attorney at Oakland City Attorney's Office. RESOURCES:"For Happiness in the New Year, Stop Overdoing Everything," by Julia DiGangi (The Wall Street Journal, 2023)."Good Enough," by Thomas Curran (Character Lab, 2023).The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough, by Thomas Curran (2023)."Perfectionism Is Not the Secret to Success (and Pursuing It May Guarantee the Opposite)," by Next Big Idea Club (Fast Company, 2023)."Zac Efron Rides Again," by Lauren Larson (Men's Health, 2022)."Tim Beck’s Final Brainstorms," by Stephen Fried (The Philadelphia Gazette, 2022)."Perfectionism Is Increasing Over Time: A Meta-Analysis of Birth Cohort Differences From 1989 to 2016," by Thomas Curran and Andrew P. Hill (Psychological Bulletin, 2019)."UCLA Senior From Alamo Among 32 Rhodes Scholars," by Steve Rubenstein (SFGate, 2008). EXTRAS:"What Does Success Look Like?" by No Stupid Questions (2024)."Is Perfectionism Ruining Your Life?" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023)."Are You Suffering From Burnout?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).Happy Days, TV series (1974-1984).The Period Project.
182. Is It Good or Bad to Keep Secrets?
Feb 11 2024
182. Is It Good or Bad to Keep Secrets?
Should you shout your sins from the rooftops? How many skeletons are in the average person’s closet? And what has Angela been hiding? SOURCES:Maya Angelou, memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist.Stephen Baum, postdoctoral researcher at Olin Business School at Washington University.Clayton Critcher, professor of marketing, cognitive science, and psychology at Berkeley Haas School of Business.John Legend, singer-songwriter and pianist.Kareem Abdul Jabbar, former professional basketball player.Michael Slepian, professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Business School.Jason Sudeikis, actor, writer, and producer.Chrissy Teigen, model and TV personality.Vauhini Vara, journalist and author.Lindsey Vonn, alpine ski racer.John Wooden, men’s basketball coach at the University of California, Los Angeles. RESOURCES:"The Bright Side of Secrecy: The Energizing Effect of Positive Secrets," by Michael Slepian, Katharine Greenaway, Nicholas Camp, and Adam Galinsky (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2023)."Ghosts," by Vauhini Vara (The Believer, 2021)."The Costs of Not Disclosing," by Stephen Baum and Clayton Critcher (Current Opinion in Psychology, 2020)."Why the Secrets You Keep Are Hurting You," by Michael Slepian (Scientific American, 2019)."The Benefits and Burdens of Keeping Others' Secrets," by Michael Slepian and Katharine Greenaway (Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2018)."The Experience of Secrecy," by Michael Slepian, Jinseok Chun, and Malia Mason (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2017).Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court, by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2017)."Survey Says 1 In 5 People Are Keeping A Major Secret From Their Spouse," by Taryn Hillin (HuffPost, 2014). EXTRAS:Ted Lasso, TV show (2020-2023)."All of Me," song by John Legend (2013).
181. What’s So Great About Meritocracy?
Feb 4 2024
181. What’s So Great About Meritocracy?
Do you really deserve the credit for your accomplishments? Should college admissions be determined by lottery? And how did Mike’s contribution to a charity auction change his life?  SOURCES:Warren Buffett, investor and philanthropist.James Flynn, political philosopher at the University of Otago.Robert Frank, professor emeritus of management at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.Rogé Karma, staff writer at The Atlantic.Nicholas Lemann, professor of journalism and dean emeritus at Columbia Journalism School.Daniel Markovits, professor of law at Yale Law School.Charles Munger, investor and philanthropist.John Rawls, 20th-century legal and political philosopher.Guy Raz, creator and host of How I Built This and Wisdom from the Top; founder and C.E.O. of Built-It Productions.Michael Sandel, professor of government at Harvard University.Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Ryan Smith, founder and executive chairman of Qualtrics; owner of the Utah Jazz. RESOURCES:The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? by Michael Sandel (2020).The Meritocracy Trap: How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite, by Daniel Markovits (2019)."'The Meritocracy Trap,' Explained," by Rogé Karma (Vox, 2019)."Reflections About Intelligence Over 40 Years," by James Flynn (Intelligence, 2018)."Here’s Why Warren Buffett Says That He and Charlie Munger Are Successful," by Emmie Martin (CNBC, 2018).Success and Luck: Good Fortune and the Myth of Meritocracy, by Robert Frank (2016).The Lottery, film by Madeleine Sackler (2010).The Big Test: The Secret History of the American Meritocracy, by Nicholas Lemann (1999).“The Psychology of Human Misjudgment,” speech by Charles Munger (1995). EXTRAS:"What’s the Point of I.Q. Testing?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."What’s So Bad About Nepotism?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).
180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?
Jan 28 2024
180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?
Where does sentimental value come from? Why did Angela throw out her childhood journals? And would Mike wear Hitler’s sweater?  SOURCES:Jeffrey Galak, professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University.John Irving, author.Marie Kondo, professional organizer and consultant.Paul Rozin, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Yang Yang, research scientist at the Institute of Behavioral Research at Texas Christian University. RESOURCES:"Experiences Endure," by Angela Duckworth (Character Lab, 2022)."Study Finds That THESE Are the Most Valued Family Heirlooms," by SWNS Staff (SWNS, 2021)."Micro Wave: How 'Bout Dem Apple...Seeds," by Thomas Lu, Madeline K. Sofia, and Brit Hanson (Short Wave, 2021)."Sentimental Value and Its Influence on Hedonic Adaptation," by Yang Yang and Jeffrey Galak (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2015)The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo (2010)."A Real-Life Version of the Hitler’s Sweater Experiment," by David Berreby (Big Think, 2010)."The Makings of the Magical Mind: The Nature and Function of Sympathetic Magical Thinking," by Carol Nemeroff and Paul Rozin (Imagining the Impossible: Magical, Scientific, and Religious Thinking in Children, 2000)."Operation of the Laws of Sympathetic Magic in Disgust and Other Domains," by Paul Rozin, Linda Millman, and Carol Nemeroff (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1986). EXTRAS:"How Do You Connect With Someone You Just Met?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."Do You Savor or Gobble?" by No Stupid Questions (2022)."Why Do We Hoard?" by No Stupid Questions (2020).The Twilight Saga, by Stephanie Meyer (2005-2020).A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving (1989).
179. Can You Really “Manifest” Success Through Positive Visualization?
Jan 21 2024
179. Can You Really “Manifest” Success Through Positive Visualization?
Is there any scientific basis for the law of attraction? Are people who believe in “cosmic collaboration” more successful? And what happens when you write yourself a check for $10 million? SOURCES:Rhonda Byrne, writer and TV producer.Jim Carrey, actor.Christopher Clarey, sports journalist and author.Peter Gollwitzer, professor of psychology at New York University.Dave Levin, co-founder and executive director of KIPP Public Charter Schools.Gabriele Oettingen, professor of psychology at New York University.Wallace Wattles, self-help writer. RESOURCES:"'The Secret' to Success? The Psychology of Belief in Manifestation," by Lucas J. Dixon, Matthew J. Hornsey, and Nicole Hartley (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2023)."Making Dreams Come True: Inside the New Age World of Manifesting," by Stuart McGurk (The Guardian, 2022)."TikTok's ‘Manifesting’ Craze, Explained," by Stuart McGurk (GQ, 2021)."From Feeling Good to Doing Good," by Gabriele Oettingen and Peter M. Gollwitzer (The Oxford Handbook of Positive Emotion and Psychopathology, 2019)."Self-Regulation of Time Management: Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions," by Gabriele Oettingen, Heather Barry Kappes, Katie B. Guttenberg, and Peter M. Gollwitzer (European Journal of Social Psychology, 2015)."Olympians Use Imagery as Mental Training," by Christopher Clarey (The New York Times, 2014).“Self-Fulfilling Prophecy,” by R. Rosenthal (Encyclopedia of Human Behavior - Second Edition, 2012).The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne (2006).The Science of Getting Rich, by Wallace Wattles (1910)
178. Do Kids Need More Independence?
Jan 14 2024
178. Do Kids Need More Independence?
Are modern parents too protective? Why do we worry so much about things that almost never happen? And how did Mike learn about bus stops? SOURCES:David Bjorklund, professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University.Peter Gray, professor of psychology at Boston College.David Lancy, professor emeritus of anthropology at Utah State University.Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement. RESOURCES:"Decline in Independent Activity as a Cause of Decline in Children’s Mental Well-being: Summary of the Evidence," by Peter Gray, David Lancy, and David Bjorklund (The Journal of Pediatrics, 2023)."Parental Intrusive Homework Support and Math Achievement: Does the Child's Mindset Matter?" by Daeun Park, Elizabeth Gunderson, Erin Maloney, Eli Tsukayama, Sian Beilock, Angela Duckworth, and Susan Levine (Developmental Psychology, 2023)."Children Today Have Less Independence. Is That Fueling a Mental Health Crisis?" by Caitlin Gibson (The Washington Post, 2023)."Yes, the ‘Old Enough!’ Kids Really Think the Camera Crew Are ‘Electricians’," by Charlotte Walsh (Tudum by Netflix, 2022)."Kidnapped Children Make Headlines, but Abduction Is Rare in U.S.," by Jonathan Allen (Reuters, 2019)."Utah’s ‘Free-Range Parenting’ Law Said to Be First in the Nation," by Meagan Flynn (The Washington Post, 2018)."Mother Who Left Baby Outside New York Restaurant in 1997 Says Arrest Was Unjust," (The Guardian, 2017)."Children’s Independent Mobility: An International Comparison and Recommendations for Action," by Ben Shaw, Martha Bicket, Bridget Elliott, Ben Fagan-Watson, and Elisabetta Mocca (Policy Studies Institute, 2015)."I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone. I Got Labeled the ‘World’s Worst Mom,’" by Lenore Skenazy (The Washington Post, 2015)."Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone," by Lenore Skenazy (The New York Sun, 2008). EXTRAS:"Should You Give Kids an Allowance or Make Them Get Jobs?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).Old Enough!
177. What Does Success Look Like?
Jan 7 2024
177. What Does Success Look Like?
What matters more: meeting our own ambitions, or winning fame and glory? What’s it like to earn a gold medal at the Olympics? And why didn’t Mike’s grandfather get a watch? SOURCES:Alain de Botton, writer and founder of The School of Life.Kirk Flatow, head coach of co-ed varsity track and field at Monta Vista High School.Katie Ledecky, competitive swimmer.Diana Nyad, long-distance swimmer.Michael Phelps, former competitive swimmer.Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Kerri Walsh Jennings, professional beach volleyball player.John Wooden, men's basketball coach at the University of California, Los Angeles. RESOURCES:"Why Success Doesn’t Lead to Satisfaction," by Ron Carucci (Harvard Business Review, 2023)."Katie Ledecky Matches Michael Phelps Record With Dominant World Championships Win," by Patrick Andres (Sports Illustrated, 2023).Success Index, by Populace and Gallup (2019)."PERMA and the Building Blocks of Well-Being," by Martin Seligman (The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2018)."Michael Phelps: ‘I Am Extremely Thankful That I Did Not Take My Life,’" by Susan Scutti (CNN, 2018)."The PERMA-Profiler: A Brief Multidimensional Measure of Flourishing," by Julie Butler and Margaret L. Kern (International Journal of Wellbeing, 2016)."Diana Nyad: Dream Accomplished," by Michel Martin (Tell Me More, 2013)."A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success," by Alain de Botton (TEDGlobal, 2009)."The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding," by John Wooden (TED, 2001). EXTRAS:"Where Is the Line Between Exaggeration and Lying?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."Is a 'Success Hangover' Real?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).
63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay)
Dec 31 2023
63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay)
Why do we mirror other people’s accents? Does DJ Khaled get tired of winning? And also: life is good — so why aren’t you happy? SOURCES:Albert Bandura, professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University.John Bargh, professor of psychology and cognitive science at Yale University.Tanya Chartrand, professor of marketing at Duke University.Clay Cockrell, psychotherapist and founder of Walk and Talk Therapy.Iain Couzin, director of the department of collective behavior at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior.William Irvine, professor of philosophy at Wright State University.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology at Princeton University.Stephen Kosslyn, professor emeritus of psychology at Harvard University.Cristine Legare, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.Kevin Ochsner, professor of psychology at Columbia University.Amos Tversky, professor of psychology at Stanford University. RESOURCES:"How to Escape the Hedonic Treadmill and Be Happier," by Anna Katharina Schaffner (Positive Psychology, 2016).“Revealing the Hidden Networks of Interaction in Mobile Animal Groups Allows Prediction of Complex Behavioral Contagion,” by Sara Brin Rosenthal, Colin R. Twomey, Andrew T. Hartnett, Hai Shan Wu, and Iain Couzin (PNAS, 2015).“A Calm Look at the Most Hyped Concept in Neuroscience — Mirror Neurons,” by Christian Jarrett (WIRED, 2013).“The Chameleon Effect: The Perception–Behavior Link and Social Interaction,” by Tanya Chartrand and John Bargh (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1999).“Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision Under Risk,” by Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky (The Econometric Society, 1979).“Transmission of Aggression Through Imitation of Aggressive Models,” by Albert Bandura, Dorothea Ross, and Sheila A. Ross (Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1961). EXTRAS:"Why Are Rich Countries So Unhappy?" by No Stupid Questions (2022)."Do You Mind if I Borrow Your Personality?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).“Episode 2: The Unhappy Millionaire,” by The Happiness Lab (2019).The Happiness Lab.
176. Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?
Dec 24 2023
176. Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?
Why do we get overwhelmed when we have too many choices? Should we make our own decisions or copy other people's? And how can Angela manage her sock inventory? SOURCES:Arie Kruglanski, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park.Katy Milkman, professor of operations, information, and decisions at the University of Pennsylvania.Sylvia Plath, 20th-century American novelist and poet.Barry Schwartz, professor of social theory and social action at Swarthmore College.Herbert Simon, professor of computer science and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.Will Smith, actor and film producer. RESOURCES:"Choice Deprivation, Choice Overload, and Satisfaction with Choices Across Six Nations," by Elena Reutskaja, Nathan N. Cheek, Barry Schwartz, et al. (Journal of International Marketing, 2021).Will, by Will Smith with Mark Manson (2021)."Can’t Decide What to Stream? Netflix’s New Feature Will Choose for You," by Katie Deighton (The Wall Street Journal, 2021).The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, by Barry Schwartz (2004)."The Tyranny of Choice," by Barry Schwartz (Scientific American, 2004)."Maximizing Versus Satisficing: Happiness Is a Matter of Choice," by Barry Schwartz, Andrew Ward, John Monterosso, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Katherine White, and Darrin R. Lehman (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002)."Self-Determination: The Tyranny of Freedom," by Barry Schwartz (American Psychologist, 2000)."To 'Do the Right Thing' or to 'Just Do It': Locomotion and Assessment as Distinct Self-Regulatory Imperatives," by Arie Kruglanski, Erik P. Thompson, E. Tory Higgins, M. Nadir Atash, Antonio Pierro, James Y. Shah, and Scott Spiegel (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000)."Rational Choice and the Structure of the Environment," by Herbert Simon (Psychological Review, 1956).Administrative Behavior, by Herbert Simon (1947). EXTRA:"Do You Mind if I Borrow Your Personality?" by No Stupid Questions (2022)."How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World?" by No Stupid Questions (2021)."Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?" by No Stupid Questions (2020).Cars.com Superbowl Ad (2009).
175. Why Is Astrology So Popular?
Dec 17 2023
175. Why Is Astrology So Popular?
Why does your horoscope seem so accurate? Is it possible to believe and not believe in something at the same time? And is Mike a classic Gemini? SOURCES:P. T. Barnum, 19th-century American showman and businessman.David Brooks, New York Times Opinion columnist.Bertram Forer, 20th-century American psychologist.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Irving Kirsch, associate director of the Program in Placebo Studies and lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School.Sten Odenwald, Director of STEM Resource Development at NASA.Sydney Page, staff reporter for The Washington Post. Jane L. Risen, professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. RESOURCES:"Young People Are Flocking to Astrology. But It Comes With Risks," by Sydney Page (The Washington Post, 2023)."The Age of Aquarius, All Over Again!" by David Brooks (The New York Times, 2019)."Response Expectancy and the Placebo Effect," by Irving Kirsch (International Review of Neurobiology, 2018)."Believing What We Do Not Believe: Acquiescence to Superstitious Beliefs and Other Powerful Intuitions," by Jane L. Risen (Psychological Review, 2016).Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2011)."Effects of Stress and Tolerance of Ambiguity on Magical Thinking," by Giora Keinan (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1994).Changing Expectations: A Key to Effective Psychotherapy, by Irving Kirsch (1990)."The Fallacy of Personal Validation: A Classroom Demonstration of Gullibility," by Bertram Forer (The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1949).Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. EXTRAS:"What Do Broken-Hearted Knitters, Urinating Goalkeepers, and the C.I.A. Have in Common?" by Freakonomics Radio (2022)."Sam Harris: 'Spirituality Is a Loaded Term,'" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).
174. What’s the Point of I.Q. Testing?
Dec 10 2023
174. What’s the Point of I.Q. Testing?
Are gifted and talented programs discriminatory? Why do so many adults still remember their SAT scores? And how did Angela transform from a party girl to an Ivy League psychologist? SOURCES:Alfred Binet, 19th-century French psychologist.Stefan Dombrowski, professor of psychology and director of the School Psychology Program at Rider University.Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 18th- to 19th-century German author.Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs in the N.F.L.Robert O'Connell, writer and reporter.Robert Rosenthal, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside.Amy Tan, author. RESOURCES:"What’s the Best Way to Find a Gifted 4-Year-Old?" by Ginia Bellafante (The New York Times, 2022)."Without the Wonderlic, the N.F.L. Finds Other Ways to Test Football I.Q.," by Robert O’Connell (The New York Times, 2022)."The Dark History of I.Q. Tests," by Stefan Dombrowski (TED-Ed, 2020).Grinnell College 2019 Commencement Address, by Amy Tan (2019)."Universal Screening Increases the Representation of Low-Income and Minority Students in Gifted Education," by David Card and Laura Giuliano (PNAS, 2016)."The Supreme Court Ruling That Led To 70,000 Forced Sterilizations," by Terry Gross (Fresh Air, 2016)."Intelligence Is Not Enough: Non-IQ Predictors of Achievement," by Angela Lee Duckworth (Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, 2006)."Pygmalion in the Classroom," by Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson (The Urban Review, 1968). EXTRAS:"Are Humans Smarter or Stupider Than We Used to Be?" by No Stupid Questions (2021)."America’s Math Curriculum Doesn’t Add Up," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).The Hundred Secret Senses, by Amy Tan (1995).The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan (1989).
173. How Important Is Your Choice of Words?
Dec 3 2023
173. How Important Is Your Choice of Words?
What happens when three psychologists walk into a magic show? What’s Angela’s problem with the word “talent”?  And why does LeBron James refer to himself in the third person? SOURCES:John Bargh, professor of psychology at Yale University.Derren Brown, mentalist.Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Ethan Kross, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.Barbara Mellers, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Daniel Southwick, visiting professor of psychology at Brigham Young University and former N.F.L. quarterback.Lior Suchard, mentalist.RESOURCES:"4 Ways to Get Into the Magic Castle," by Stephanie Breijo (TimeOut, 2023)."The Trouble With Talent: Semantic Ambiguity in the Workplace," by Daniel A. Southwick, Zhaoying V. Liu, Chayce Baldwin, Abigail L. Quirk, Lyle H. Ungar, Chia-Jung Tsay, and Angela L. Duckworth (Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2023)."A Decade of Power Posing: Where Do We Stand?" by Tom Loncar (The Psychologist, 2021)."Influencing Choices With Conversational Primes: How a Magic Trick Unconsciously Influences Card Choices," by Alice Pailhès and Gustav Kuhn (PNAS, 2020)."If You Want Your Marketing Campaign To Succeed, Choose Your Words Carefully," by Allan Hug (Forbes, 2019)."What's Next for Psychology's Embattled Field of Social Priming," by Tom Chivers (Nature, 2019)."Silent Third Person Self-Talk Facilitates Emotion Regulation," by Christopher Bergland (Psychology Today, 2017)."Disputed Results a Fresh Blow for Social Psychology," by Alison Abbott (Scientific American, 2013)."A Proposal to Deal With Questions About Priming Effects," email by Daniel Kahneman (2012)."Behavioral Priming: It's All in the Mind, but Whose Mind?" by Stéphane Doyen, Olivier Klein, Cora-Lise Pichon, and Axel Cleeremans (PLoS One, 2012).Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2011).
149. Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult? (Replay)
Nov 26 2023
149. Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult? (Replay)
How do friendships change as we get older? Should you join a bowling league? And also: how does a cook become a chef? RESOURCES:“Social Support From Weak Ties: Insight From the Literature on Minimal Social Interactions,” by Joshua Moreton, Caitlin S. Kelly, and Gillian Sandstrom (Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2023).Join or Die, documentary (2023).“I Tried Bumble BFF for 30 Days — Here’s What Happened,” by Beth Gillette (The Everygirl, 2022).Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends, by Marisa Franco (2022).“Grocery Store Opens ‘Chat Registers’ for Lonely Customers,” by Gabriel Geiger (Vice, 2021).“The State of American Friendship: Change, Challenges, and Loss,” by Daniel A. Cox (Survey Center on American Life, 2021).“Number of Close Friends Had by Adults in the United States in 1990 and 2021,” by Michele Majidi (Survey Center on American Life, 2021).“You’re Not Uncool. Making Friends as an Adult Is Just Hard,” by Peter O’Dowd and Kalyani Saxena (WBUR, 2021)."My Restaurant Was My Life for 20 Years. Does the World Need It Anymore?" by Gabrielle Hamilton (The New York Times Magazine, 2020).“Why You Miss Those Casual Friends So Much,” by Gillian Sandstrom and Ashley Whillans (Harvard Business Review, 2020).“The Bros Who Met Their BFFs on Bumble,” by Rebecca Nelson (GQ, 2016).“Sex Differences in Social Focus Across the Life Cycle in Humans,” by Kunal Bhattacharya, Asim Ghosh, Daniel Monsivais, Robin I. M. Dunbar, and Kimmo Kaski (Royal Society Open Science, 2016).Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef, by Gabrielle Hamilton (2011).“Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review,” by Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy B. Smith, and J. Bradley Layton (PLoS Medicine, 2010).Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert Putnam (2000).The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community, by Ray Oldenburg (1999).Character Lab.EXTRAS:“How Much Are the Right Friends Worth?” by People I (Mostly) Admire (2022).“Is It Weird for Adults to Have Imaginary Friends?” by No Stupid Questions (2022).“How Much Do Your Friends Affect Your Future?” by No Stupid Questions (2020).“Is There Really a ‘Loneliness Epidemic’?” by Freakonomics Radio (2020).Tell Me Something I Don’t Know (2017).SOURCES:Daniel Boulud, chef and restaurateur.Pete Davis, co-founder of the Democracy Policy Network.Wylie Dufresne, chef and restaurateur.Marisa Franco, assistant clinical professor at The University of Maryland.Beth Gillette, beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.Gabrielle Hamilton, chef, restauranteur, and writer.Daniel Humm, chef and restaurateur.Ray Oldenburg, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of West Florida.Robert Putnam, author and professor of public policy at Harvard University.René Redzepi, chef and restaurateur.Gillian Sandstrom, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Sussex.Dieter Uchtdorf, Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and former Senior Vice President Flight Operations at Lufthansa Airlines.Lyle Ungar, professor of computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania.
172. Is Marriage Worth It?
Nov 19 2023
172. Is Marriage Worth It?
Can long-term relationships do more harm than good? Where is the line between intimacy and codependence? And should we all try to be more like Mike’s parents? RESOURCES:"A Record-High Share of 40-Year-Olds in the U.S. Have Never Been Married," by Richard Fry (Pew Research Center, 2023)."Divorce Skyrocketing Among Aging Boomers," by Sharon Jayson (AARP, 2023)."Don’t Let Love Take Over Your Life," by Faith Hill (The Atlantic, 2023)."Marriage Provides Health Benefits – and Here’s Why," by Libby Richards, Melissa Franks, and Rosie Shrout (The Conversation, 2023)."The Benefits of Diversifying Your Social Portfolio," by Samantha Boardman (Psychology Today, 2023)."Satisfying Singlehood as a Function of Age and Cohort: Satisfaction With Being Single Increases With Age After Midlife," by Yoobin Park, Elizabeth Page-Gould, and Geoff MacDonald (Psychology and Aging, 2022)."Pathology in Relationships," by Susan C. South (Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2021)."Behind 'the Collateral Heartbreak' and Intense Devotion of the Reagans' Decades-Long Romance," by Virginia Chamlee (People, 2021)."U.S. Marriage Rate Plunges to Lowest Level on Record," by Janet Adamy (The Wall Street Journal, 2020)."The Suffocation Model: Why Marriage in America Is Becoming an All-or-Nothing Institution," by Eli J. Finkel, Elaine O. Cheung, Lydia F. Emery, Kathleen L. Carswell, and Grace M. Larson (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2015).EXTRAS:"Are We Getting Lonelier?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."The Facts Are In: Two Parents Are Better Than One," by Freakonomics Radio (2023).“Why Did You Marry That Person? (Replay),” by Freakonomics Radio (2023).“The Fracking Boom, a Baby Boom, and the Retreat From Marriage,” by Freakonomics Radio (2017).SOURCES:Eli Finkel, professor of psychology and of management and organizations at Northwestern University.Katie Genadek, economist at the U.S. Census Bureau and faculty research associate at the Institute for Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder.Faith Hill, senior associate editor of culture at The Atlantic.Abraham Maslow, 20th-century psychologist.Katherine K. Merseth, senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
170. Are We Getting Lonelier?
Nov 5 2023
170. Are We Getting Lonelier?
How can you be lonely when so many people showed up at your birthday party? Can you fight loneliness by managing expectations? And where can you find company while enjoying the best garlic cheeseburger in the greater Salt Lake City metro area? RESOURCES:"Surgeon General: We Have Become a Lonely Nation. It’s Time to Fix That," by Vivek H. Murthy (The New York Times, 2023)."Home Alone: More Than A Quarter of All Households Have One Person," by Lydia Anderson, Chanell Washington, Rose M. Kreider, and Thomas Gryn (United States Census Bureau, 2023)."Loneliness Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis," by Mareike Ernst, Daniel Niederer, Antonia M. Werner, Sara J. Czaja, Christopher Mikton, Anthony D. Ong, Tony Rosen, Elmar Brähler, and Manfred E. Beutel (American Psychologist, 2022)."Loneliness Across Time and Space," by Maike Luhmann, Susanne Buecker, and Marilena Rüsberg (Nature Reviews Psychology, 2022).Will, by Will Smith with Mark Manson (2021)."Loneliness and Social Isolation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan: An International Survey," by Bianca DiJulio, Liz Hamel, Cailey Muñana, and Mollyann Brodie (KFF, 2018)."Work and the Loneliness Epidemic," by Vivek Murthy (Harvard Business Review, 2017)."The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone," by Maria Popova (The Marginalian, 2016).EXTRAS:"Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."The Side Effects of Social Distancing," by Freakonomics Radio (2020)."Is There Really a 'Loneliness Epidemic'?" by Freakonomics Radio (2020).SOURCES:Wendell Berry, novelist and poet.Ty Burrell, actor.William James, 19th-century psychologist.Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States.Maria Popova, essayist, author, and poet.Will Smith, actor and film producer.