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Episode No.

Date
Length
No. 100

Is It Weird for Adults to Have Imaginary Friends? (Replay)

Why does listening to No Stupid Questions feel like you’re hanging out with your best friends? Why did the whole world take it personally when Princess Diana died? And how do “parasocial relationships” affect your mental health?

11/30/24
36:27
No. 221

Why Are We So Pessimistic?

Are things really as bad as they seem? Has Gen Z given up hope for the world? And why was the father of positive psychology a lifelong pessimist?

11/23/24
39:21
No. 220

Is Your Attention Span Shrinking?

Does a surplus of information create a shortage of attention? Are today’s young people really unable to focus? And do goldfish need better PR?

11/16/24
37:11
No. 219

How Do You Identify a Narcissist?

What’s the difference between narcissism and high self-esteem? Does social media fuel arrogance or self-consciousness? And do people get less toxic with age?

11/9/24
40:48
EXTRA

How Can You Give Better Gifts? (Replay)

How many bottles of wine are regifted? What’s wrong with giving cash? And should Angela give her husband a subscription to the Sausage of the Month Club?

11/7/24
38:06
No. 218

Why Do Parents Overshare on Social Media?

How does social media exploit our evolutionary instincts? How dangerous is it to post about your children online? And does Angela regret talking about her daughters on the podcast?

11/2/24
34:48
No. 217

What Happens When You Put on a Costume?

Would you steal Halloween candy? Should people be required to identify themselves online? And why did Angela go trick-or-treating in a trash bag?

10/26/24
46:36
No. 216

Why Do We Make Excuses?

Is it better to explain a mistake or just accept responsibility? What’s the difference between an excuse and a justification? And why is it important to remember that you’re not a pizzeria on the Jersey Shore?

10/19/24
43:30
No. 215

Is It Okay to Do the Right Thing for the Wrong Reason?

What’s wrong with donating to charity for the tax write-off? Should we think less of people who do volunteer work to pad their resumes? And why is Angela stopping women in public parks to compliment them?

10/12/24
35:02
No. 214

What Does It Take to Survive a Scandal?

How do you come back from being “canceled”? Are we more likely to forgive someone if they cry? And what makes a successful public apology?

10/5/24
38:09
EXTRA

Why Do People Love Horror Movies? (Replay)

When are negative emotions enjoyable? Are we all a little masochistic? And do pigs like hot sauce?

10/3/24
33:10
No. 213

What Is Evil?

What makes normal people do terrible things? Are there really bad apples — or just bad barrels? And how should you deal with a nefarious next-door neighbor?

9/28/24
38:58
No. 212

When Do You Become an Adult?

Who decided that we’re fully mature at 18? Should 16-year-olds have the right to vote? And why are young people bringing their parents to job interviews?

9/21/24
38:56
No. 211

Why Do We Listen to Sad Songs?

What are Mike and Angela’s favorite songs to cry to? Can upbeat music lift you out of a bad mood? And what is Angela going to sing the next time she does karaoke?

9/14/24
36:44
No. 210

What Makes a Good Sense of Humor?

What is the evolutionary purpose of laughter? What’s the difference between Swedish depression and American depression? And why aren’t aliens interested in abducting Mike?

9/7/24
38:14
EXTRA

Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics? (Replay)

Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true? Stephen Dubner chats with Angela Duckworth in this classic episode from July 2020.

9/5/24
31:10
No. 209

Why Do We Settle?

Why does the U.S. use Fahrenheit when Celsius is better? Would you quit your job if a coin flip told you to? And how do you get an entire country to drive on the other side of the road?

8/31/24
35:12
No. 208

Can A.I. Companions Replace Human Connection?

What happens when machines become funnier, kinder, and more empathetic than humans? Do robot therapists save lives? And should Angela credit her virtual assistant as a co-author of her book?

8/24/24
35:31
No. 207

How Clearly Do You See Yourself?

Do you see yourself the same way others see you? What’s the difference between self-perception and self-awareness? And why do Mike and Angela both hate fishing?

8/17/24
36:23
No. 150

Why Do People Get Scammed? (Replay)

What makes a con succeed? Does snake oil actually work? And just how gullible is Angela?

8/10/24
35:23
No. 206

When Is It Time to Step Aside?

Should government jobs have mandatory retirement ages? Is it foolish to care about your legacy? And why did Jason always call Angela’s father “Dr. Lee”?

8/3/24
44:37
No. 205

Where Do Values Come From?

Do you get your principles from your parents — or in spite of them? Is there anything wrong with valuing conformity? And why doesn’t McDonald’s sell salads?

7/27/24
46:58
No. 204

What Happens When You’re Cut Off From All Human Contact?

How is the brain affected by solitary confinement? How would you deal with being stranded on a deserted island? And do baby monkeys make the best therapists?

7/20/24
44:12
No. 203

Do You Need a Hug?

Do humans need touch to survive? Do any of us get enough touch throughout our lives? And why doesn’t Angela want to hug anyone for eight seconds?

7/13/24
43:20
No. 161

How Effective Are Ultimatums? (Replay)

How final is a final offer, really? Does anonymity turn nice people into jerks? And should you tell your crush that you dreamed about marrying them?

7/6/24
41:45
No. 202

Why Can’t We Tolerate Discomfort?

Are we using technology to make ourselves numb? What’s the downside of air conditioning? And was Angela the most annoying person in her college classes?

6/29/24
44:45
No. 201

Are You Dreaming Too Big?

Are fantasies helpful or harmful? How is daydreaming like a drug? And what did Angela fantasize about during ninth-grade English class?

6/22/24
46:46
No. 200

What’s the Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy?

Can you ever really know how another person feels? What’s the best way to support a grieving person? And why doesn’t Hallmark sell empathy cards?

6/15/24
45:52
No. 199

What Makes a Good Gathering?

Why do so many book clubs fall apart? Do the best parties have rules? And does Angela’s husband want to date you?

6/8/24
42:42
No. 198

What Does It Mean to Be “Cool”?

What’s the difference between being popular and being cool? How has social media changed the trend cycle? And what do Taylor Swift and Walmart have in common?

6/1/24
46:17
No. 197

Is It Wrong to Lie to Children?

Why do we tell kids that a fairy will give them cash in exchange for their teeth? How should we talk to them about scary things in the world? And is Mike one of the greatest operatic tenors of all time?

5/25/24
42:49
No. 196

What’s Wrong With Being a Little Neurotic?

Is there any upside to negative emotions? What can comedians teach us about dealing with pain? And why did Angela eat off of a stranger’s plate at a sushi bar?

5/18/24
42:43
No. 195

Can You Be Too Nice?

Where is the line between a good guy and a doormat? Do people with sharp elbows make more money? And why did Angela’s mother give away her birthday present?

Take the Big Five inventory: freakonomics.com/bigfive

5/11/24
42:15
No. 194

Is It Okay to Be an Introvert?

What’s the difference between being introverted and being shy? What are extroverts so cheerful about? And does Angela’s social battery ever run out?

Take the Big Five inventory: freakonomics.com/bigfive

5/4/24
40:03
No. 193

Are You as Conscientious as You Think You Are?

Is it really that important to make your bed? What’s the benefit of hiring a lazy person? And how many cups of spinach can Mike fit in a red Solo cup?

Take the Big Five inventory: freakonomics.com/bigfive

4/27/24
43:53
No. 192

Should You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?

What do the most creative people have in common?  How open-minded are you, really? And what’s wrong with ordering eggs Benedict? 

Take the Big Five inventory: freakonomics.com/bigfive

4/20/24
45:25
No. 191

Can You Change Your Personality?

Are you the same person you were a decade ago? Do we get better as we age? And is your sixth-grade class clown still funny?

4/13/24
44:31
No. 190

What’s the Point of Nostalgia?

Is it dangerous to live in the past? Why is Disney remaking all of its classic movies? And why does Angela get sentimental over a cup of soup and a free roll?

4/6/24
39:29
No. 189

When Should You Trust Your Gut?

Does instinct trump expertise? Can playing poker improve your intuition? And why did Angela jump off of a moving trolley car?

3/30/24
43:23
No. 188

Why Do Kids Today Get So Many A’s?

Is grade inflation on the rise? How much does your G.P.A. matter in the long run? And when did M.I.T., of all places, become “the cool university”?

3/23/24
44:27
No. 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?

3/16/24
42:26
No. 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?

3/9/24
40:30
No. 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?

3/2/24
41:37
No. 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?

2/24/24
45:15
No. 183

Does Free Will Exist, and Does It Matter?

Does anyone have any real agency? What do McDonald’s and Oxford University have in common? And why did Angela give up on philosophy?

2/17/24
45:49
No. 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?

2/10/24
44:38
No. 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?

2/3/24
39:12
No. 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?

1/27/24
41:38
No. 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?

1/21/24
41:45
No. 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?

1/14/24
42:00
No. 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?

1/7/24
39:34
No. 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?

12/31/23
41:57
No. 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?

12/24/23
43:52
No. 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?

12/17/23
42:04
No. 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?

12/10/23
40:41
No. 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?

12/3/23
40:41
No. 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?

11/26/23
56:35
No. 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?

11/19/23
41:57
No. 171

Where Is the Line Between Exaggeration and Lying?

Why do we use “literally” figuratively? Does conveying an “emotional truth” justify making things up? And are Angela’s kids really starving or just hungry?

11/12/23
39:47
No. 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?

11/5/23
36:13
No. 169

Can We Disagree Better?

Do you suffer from the sin of certainty? How did Angela react when a grad student challenged her research? And can a Heineken commercial strengthen our democracy?

10/29/23
43:44
No. 168

Would You Be Happier if You Were More Creative?

Should you become an artist or an accountant? Did Sylvia Plath have to be depressed to write The Bell Jar? And what can Napoleon Dynamite teach us about the creative life?

10/22/23
37:07
No. 167

Is GPS Changing Your Brain?

Is it better to be an egocentric navigator or an allocentric navigator? Was the New York City Department of Education wrong to ban ChatGPT? And did Mike get ripped off by Michael Jackson’s cousin?

10/15/23
42:28
No. 166

Are You Suffering From Burnout?

What’s the difference between being busy and being productive? Would you be better at your job if you cared a little less? And can somebody get Mike a cup of coffee?

10/8/23
43:14
No. 165

Do “Generations” Mean Anything?

Do you get grittier as you age? What’s worse for mental health: video games or social media? And do baby boomers make the best D.J.s?

10/1/23
41:54
No. 164

Do You Have Impostor Syndrome?

Does anyone really know what they’re doing? How do we reward the competent and not the confident? And what’s wrong with using TikTok for research?

9/24/23
44:05
No. 163

Does Your DNA Determine Your Weight?

How much control do you really have over your body? Could understanding genetics help combat fat-shaming? And why is Mike’s life coach so happy all the time?

9/17/23
32:30
No. 162

How Can You Be Kinder to Yourself?

How do you practice self-care if you don’t have time for a break? Is it weird to talk to yourself? And does Mike need a bag of Doritos — or just a hug?

9/10/23
44:49
No. 161

How Effective Are Ultimatums?

How final is a final offer, really? Does anonymity turn nice people into jerks? And should you tell your crush that you dreamed about marrying them?

9/3/23
41:50
No. 160

How Do You Like Me Now?

Why would a successful person feel the need to stick it to the little guy? Is Angela a name-dropper? And why do rappers grab their crotches?

8/27/23
45:05
No. 159

How Much Personal Space Do You Need?

How do you deal with a close talker? Is Angela drinking too much water? And why can’t Mike keep his phone out of his bedroom?

8/20/23
39:08
No. 158

Bigger Fish, or Bigger Pond?

Is it better to be the best player on the worst team or the worst player on the best team? How did Angela cope with her extremely impressive freshman dorm-mates? And why won’t Shaquille O’Neal let Charles Barkley have an onion ring?

8/13/23
34:24
No. 157

How Can You Get Closer to the People You Care About?

How well do you know the people in your life, really? Are you stuck having surface-level conversations? And should we all be in couples therapy?

8/6/23
44:16
No. 156

How Do You Connect With Someone You Just Met?

How vulnerable should you get with your coworkers? What’s the benefit of telling strangers about your relationship with your mother? And why did Mike’s childhood home burn down — twice?

7/30/23
46:37
No. 155

How Do You Deal With Big Life Changes?

What’s more stressful, divorce or jail? Are you in the middle of a “lifequake”? And should we all be taking notes from Martha Stewart?

7/23/23
48:46
No. 154

Why Is There So Much Social Pressure Around Alcohol?

Why do people drink? Why do people not drink? And why specifically do Angela and Mike not drink?

7/16/23
34:54
No. 153

Should You Spend More Time in Nature?

Is a walk through the city as good as a walk through the woods? Who’s most likely to die while taking a selfie? And how does Angela protect herself from the beer cans falling onto her deck?

7/9/23
35:52
No. 152

What’s the Worst Kind of Regret?

Is it worse to regret something you’ve done, or something you haven’t done? What’s the upside of rejection? And which great American short-story writer convinced Angela to quit driving?

7/2/23
35:43
No. 151

Is It Okay to Be Average?

Must one always strive for excellence? Is perfectionism a good thing? And can Mike have two bad days in a row?

6/25/23
49:36
No. 150

Why Do People Get Scammed?

What makes a con succeed? Does snake oil actually work? And just how gullible is Angela?

6/18/23
40:21
No. 149

Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult?

How do friendships change as we get older? Should you join a bowling league? And is Angela more important to Mike than Mike is to Angela?

6/11/23
45:00
No. 91

Do You Savor or Gobble? (Replay)

What’s the difference between people who preserve special things and people who devour them right away? Why do we love to binge-watch? And did Adam really eat an apple?

6/4/23
44:08
No. 148

What Is Fun, Exactly?

Why does time fly when you’re having fun? How do you teach rats to play hide and seek? And what does all this have to do with Anne Boleyn?

5/28/23
40:38
No. 147

Is Nudging Enough?

Is it enough to toss a soda can in the recycling? Why is Maria obsessed with Nobel Prize lectures? And wait — is that a news alert or a tiger?

5/21/23
42:55
No. 146

How Do You Avoid Freezing Under Pressure?

Should you visualize success or failure? How do you bounce back from a mistake? And will Maria hustle Angela into a poker game?

5/14/23
44:37
No. 145

Do You Have a Scarcity Mindset or an Abundance Mindset?

Are highly effective people quicker to share credit? What does poverty do to your brain? And how did Stephen’s mother teach him about opportunity costs? Plus: an announcement about the future of the show.

5/7/23
52:39
No. 144

What Should Be the Eighth Deadly Sin?

We asked you to nominate the worst sins of the modern age. Which one do Stephen and Angela think belongs on the list? And which does Angie struggle with the most?

4/30/23
47:13
No. 143

How Sinful Are “No Stupid Questions” Listeners?

What does the Seven Deadly Sins survey tell us about the people who listen to this podcast? Are we more afflicted by sloth or by lust? And what does Angela mutter under her breath?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

4/23/23
46:08
No. 142

Is Pride the Worst Sin?

Is pride an emotion? Where’s the line between self-esteem and hubris? And what does Stephen have against peacocks?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

4/16/23
49:07
No. 141

Is Greed Good?

Who’s greedier — gamblers or casinos? What’s the difference between betting on sports and entering a charity raffle? And does Angela know the name of her city’s football team?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

4/9/23
45:53
No. 140

Is Envy Healthy?

What does social media do to our self-esteem? How is envy affecting our politics? And should you go to your high school reunion?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

4/2/23
41:28
No. 139

Why Do We Get Angry?

What’s the difference between anger and indignation? What’s Angela’s problem with turkey sandwiches? And why wasn’t a No Stupid Questions listener angry at the men who assaulted him?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

3/26/23
43:47
No. 138

Why is Everyone Having Less Sex?

Are we too busy watching Friends? Is porn driving us apart? And why did New Yorkers stop vacationing in the Catskills?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

3/19/23
33:20
No. 137

Are We All Addicted to Ultra-Processed Foods?

Is your favorite treat changing your brain? Why do so many snacks melt in your mouth? And why can’t Stephen replicate his favorite salad dressing?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

3/12/23
41:50
No. 136

Is Sloth a Sin or a Virtue?

How can we distinguish between laziness and patience? Why do people do crossword puzzles? And how is Angie like a combination of a quantum computer and a Sherman tank?

Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/

3/5/23
41:47
No. 135

What Should You Do on Your Birthday?

Birthdays! Why do Americans prefer Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July to theirs? Why do they make Stephen think of molasses and chicken feed? And is “Happy Birthday” the worst song ever written?

2/26/23
37:31
No. 134

Will You Live to Be 100?

How far would you go to extend your life? What’s the best way to stay sharp as your brain ages? And does Keith Richards deserve a Nobel Prize?

2/19/23
41:04
No. 81

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money? (Replay)

What’s the connection between conversations about money and financial literacy? Could the taboo against talking about your salary be fading? And why did Angie’s teenage daughter call Vanguard to learn about I.R.A.s?

2/12/23
37:08
No. 133

Can You Really Work on an Airplane?

Are those travelers on their laptops just showing off? Why does V8 taste better at 35,000 feet? And why won’t Angela chat with her seatmate?

2/5/23
40:44
No. 132

Is It Wrong to Enjoy Yourself While the World Is Burning?

Are things as dire as they seem? How big is your moral circle? And should Angela spend time with her kids or answer her emails?

1/29/23
40:52
No. 131

Why Do We Cry?

Is sobbing a survival tactic? What happened when Angela wept in front of her boss? And what do sauerkraut and sadness have in common?

1/22/23
35:39
No. 130

Why Is It So Hard to Resist Temptation?

Why are people so inconsistent? Is there such a thing as character? And did Stephen once have the world’s longest chain of gum wrappers?

1/15/23
32:30
No. 129

Why Do We Cheat, and Why Shouldn’t We?

Is there such a thing as a victimless crime? In an unfair system, is dishonesty okay? And are adolescent vandals out of ideas?

1/8/23
42:32
No. 87

What’s So Great About Retirement? (Replay)

How do you know when it’s the right time to retire? What does a “good” retirement look like? And will Stephen and Angela ever really hang up their hats?

1/1/23
33:10
No. 128

How Can You Give Better Gifts?

How many bottles of wine are regifted? What’s wrong with giving cash? And should Angela give her husband a subscription to the Sausage of the Month Club?

12/25/22
40:58
No. 127

How Can You Be a Better Communicator?

How do you express yourself when you’re not sure what you want to say? What’s the number one way to get people to listen to you? And why are letters to advice columns always well-written? Plus: An update to the NSQ drinking game.

12/18/22
38:51
No. 126

Why Do People Love Horror Movies?

When are negative emotions enjoyable? Are we all a little masochistic? And do pigs like hot sauce?

12/11/22
42:08
No. 125

Should We Replace Umpires With Robots?

What do gamblers and referees have in common? When do machines make better decisions than people? And has Stephen been replaced by a computer?

12/4/22
45:07
No. 124

How Do You Stop Grinding Your Teeth?

How can you break a bad habit if you’re not aware that you’re doing it? Does Barack Obama grind his teeth? And is Angela’s dentist a crook?

11/27/22
41:26
No. 123

What’s Wrong With Coveting?

What’s the difference between schadenfreude and sadism? Can envy be put to good use? And how do you teach a kid to punch a clown?

11/20/22
42:09
No. 66

When Is It OK to Tell a Lie? (Replay)

Can a little dishonesty be a good thing? How many fibs does Angela tell every day? And why does Stephen have a forehead?

11/13/22
24:10
No. 122

Is Family Overrated?

If you’re frustrated with your family, should you cut ties with them? Who’s more likely to break with relatives over politics, liberals or conservatives? And what would it take for Stephen to buy a baby elephant?

11/6/22
37:10
No. 121

How Good Are Your Snap Judgments?

How much can you tell about someone from the first few seconds of a Zoom call? What did Stephen think of Angie when he first met her? And: a special message to babies from the future.

10/30/22
37:38
No. 120

Why Are Rich Countries So Unhappy?

How does comparing yourself to others affect your well-being? What do you do when there’s no one left to blame? And should we all just move to Finland?

10/23/22
39:23
No. 119

J***s C****t, Angela, Why Are You Such a F***ing Potty-Mouth?

What’s the purpose of profanity? Why is cursing on the rise? And will Angela finally swear off swearing?

10/16/22
37:35
No. 118

How Do You Keep Winter From Getting You Down?

How should you treat Seasonal Affective Disorder? Would we all be happier if we hibernated? And why does Stephen think football fans have an easier time?

10/9/22
35:19
No. 117

What’s Wrong With Holding a Grudge?

How do you let go of resentment? Do apologies even work? And what grievances have Stephen and Angela been nursing for years?

10/2/22
41:00
No. 116

Do People Pay Attention to Signs?

Do highway warnings save lives or cost lives? How do you keep men from peeing on the floor? And what’s Angela’s plan to get more people washing their hands?

9/25/22
39:36
No. 115

Are You Having a Midlife Crisis?

How is aging different today than it was in the past? What do young people get wrong about happiness? And what does it mean if you impulsively decide to get your ear pierced in an unusual place?

9/18/22
41:10
No. 114

Can You Learn to Love Hard Work?

Can exercising your body boost your brain’s stamina? Are some people just born lazy? And why did Angela stop reading “Us Weekly”?

9/11/22
38:50
No. 113

How Can You Improve Your Mental Endurance?

Why do some activities tire your brain more than others? How exhausting is poverty? And could most of the world’s problems be solved with a sandwich?

9/4/22
37:26
No. 112

Is It Okay to Hate Highbrow Culture?

Are Europeans more sophisticated than Americans? What’s wrong with preferring Taylor Swift to Puccini? And is Steve Levitt “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob”?

8/28/22
37:53
No. 111

Would You Be Happier if You Lived Someplace Else?

Will Angela finally break up with Philadelphia? Is New York really the unhappiest city in the U.S.? And are there trash tornadoes in the metaverse?

8/21/22
33:31
No. 110

Why Is Angela Stepping Down as C.E.O. of the Nonprofit She Founded?

Are you a problem solver or an opportunity seeker? Why is it so hard to find a good leader these days? And could you be Angela’s next boss?

8/14/22
36:09
No. 65

What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received? (Replay)

What risks are worth taking? When should you ignore feedback and go with your gut? And what did Stephen learn on a fishing trip with the town barber?

8/7/22
25:48
No. 109

What Is the Purpose of Embarrassment?

What’s worse: shame, guilt, or humiliation? Does Angela have psychopathic tendencies? And where’s the worst place to sit at a magic show?

7/31/22
35:56
No. 108

Should You Try to Be Less Angry?

What is the purpose of negative emotions? Why do we engage with things we know will upset us? And how does Angie deal with rejection?

7/24/22
38:20
No. 107

Is It Worth It for Charities to Harass Their Donors?

Is it O.K. to bother people for a good cause? Why do people donate to charity in the first place? And do those personalized address labels actually make people get out their checkbooks?

7/17/22
38:04
No. 106

Did Your Early Childhood Determine the Course of Your Life?

Are we all either secure, avoidant, or anxious? How does your relationship with your parents shape your romantic partnerships? And what is Stephen’s attachment style?

7/10/22
40:58
No. 49

How Does Facing Death Change Your Life? (Replay)

Are you more likely to experience post-traumatic stress or post-traumatic growth? How does belief in the afterlife affect how you view death? And why did Angela hike a deadly gorge with her ex-boyfriend?

7/3/22
28:56
No. 105

Should You Give Kids an Allowance or Make Them Get Jobs?

How do kids learn about money? What’s the big problem with education? And who made Raiders of the Lost Ark?

6/26/22
34:47
No. 104

How Simple Is Too Simple?

Why are humans so eager for magic-bullet solutions? Can you explain how a pen works? And how does Angela feel about being forever branded “the grit lady”?

6/19/22
36:29
No. 103

Should Toilets Be Free?

Why do Americans tip so much? What happened when Angie eliminated grading in a college course? And why did almost every pay toilet in the U.S.A. vanish between 1970 and 1980?

6/12/22
35:21
No. 102

What’s So Bad About Nepotism?

How does the profitability of family firms stack up against the rest? Has nepotism become more taboo over time? And why are 90 percent of adoptees in Japan not children but adults?

6/5/22
40:40
No. 101

Are You Really “Addicted” to Diet Coke?

Where’s the line between an addiction and a bad habit? Why do definitions of mental illnesses change over time? And what’s the most addictive thing in the world?

5/29/22
41:26
No. 100

Is It Weird for Adults to Have Imaginary Friends?

Why does listening to No Stupid Questions feel like you’re hanging out with your best friends? Why did the whole world take it personally when Princess Diana died? And how do “parasocial relationships” affect your mental health?

5/22/22
36:59
No. 99

Do You Mind if I Borrow Your Personality?

Are there downsides to “personality plagiarism”? Why did no one buy the Crayola Crayon Carver? And should Stephen feel bad for copying Angela’s email signature?

5/15/22
39:27
No. 98

Is Having Children Worth It?

Why have fertility rates dropped so dramatically? Do fathers or mothers get more happiness from parenting? And how does birth order affect a child’s future?

5/8/22
44:12
No. 97

Are Women Really Less Happy Than Men?

Why are women unhappier than men? What can we do to move the needle? And is it better to be happy or to be good?

5/1/22
37:42
No. 96

Why Is Chick-fil-A Such a Big Deal?

How did Chick-fil-A become the third-largest restaurant chain in the U.S.? Why does it serve salad? And can Angie’s moral compass override her craving for a chicken sandwich?

4/24/22
29:04
No. 95

What’s So Bad About Denial?

Can denial be a healthy way of dealing with the death of a loved one? What do the five stages of grief misrepresent about mourning? And why does Angie cover her eyes when she watches the Rocky movies?

4/17/22
32:42
No. 94

What to Do When Everything Looks Like a Catastrophe?

What is the relationship between “catastrophizing” and anxiety? How did Angela react when her mother came close to drowning? And how can you gain perspective when the worst-case scenario is all you can visualize?

4/10/22
32:58
No. 93

Does the Early Bird Really Catch the Worm? Or Could the Night Owl Get There First?

How have Angie’s views on sleep changed since she wrote her Harvard application essay? Would starting high school later in the day be worth $8.6 billion? And what should you do if your chronotype doesn’t fit the way society is structured?

4/3/22
32:56
No. 92

Is Poor Nutrition a Supply Problem or a Demand Problem?

Is evolution stacked against healthy eating? What policies could increase demand for nutritious food? And does Popeyes count as a cultural icon?

3/27/22
34:12
No. 91

Do You Savor or Gobble?

What’s the difference between people who preserve special things and people who devour them right away? Why do we love to binge-watch? And did Adam really eat an apple?

3/20/22
43:54
No. 90

If America Is a Train Wreck, Why Am I Doing Fine?

Why do so many Americans say they’re satisfied with their own lives but upset about the way the country is going? Why don’t other countries experience the same gap? And what do horror movies have in common with Coca-Cola enemas?

3/13/22
33:57
No. 89

How Valuable Is Enthusiasm?

What’s the difference between willpower and eagerness? Is there a lifehack that can make you zestier? And could it help Stephen improve his golf game?

3/6/22
33:36
No. 88

Is Self-Improvement Too Selfish?

Is it more important to help society or to help yourself? Does the self-improvement movement do any good for the world? And which podcast episode does Stephen cling to as proof that he’s doing something valuable?

2/27/22
35:25
No. 87

What’s So Great About Retirement?

How do you know when it’s the right time to retire? What does a “good” retirement look like? And will Stephen and Angela ever really hang up their hats?

2/20/22
33:35
No. 86

Should We All Be Taking More Long Shots?

What’s the difference between dispositional optimism and agentic hope? Are there benefits to taking a long shot, even if it turns out to be an air ball? And how is Angela like an N.F.L. quarterback?

2/13/22
36:38
No. 85

Is Emotional Intelligence Really So Important?

Can you quantify emotional intelligence? Who should you hire — someone smart, or someone good with people? And how did Angie do on an online emotional intelligence test?

2/6/22
34:02
No. 84

Why Do We Find So Much Meaning in Meaningless Coincidences?

Why are humans so fascinated by coincidences? What do Carl Jung and an album by The Police have in common? And what did Stephen win in a bar mitzvah limbo contest?

1/30/22
31:07
No. 83

Can You Change Your Mind Without Losing Face?

What is the cost of admitting you’re wrong? How can intellectual humility make you more open minded? And will Stephen finally persuade Angela that rum-raisin is the best flavor of ice cream?

1/23/22
33:59
No. 82

Which Is More Powerful: Reward or Punishment?

How is “negative reinforcement” different from punishment? Could positive reinforcement encourage prosocial behavior on a national scale? And what’s the deal with Taiwan’s dog-poop lottery?

1/16/22
31:46
No. 81

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money?

What’s the connection between conversations about money and financial literacy? Could the taboo against talking about your salary be fading? And why did Angie’s teenage daughter call Vanguard to learn about I.R.A.s?

1/9/22
29:13
No. 80

Is a “Success Hangover” Real?

Why are great accomplishments often followed by disappointment? Is it better to win and feel bummed out than to never have won at all? And where was ping-pong invented?

1/2/22
29:34
No. 79

Why Do We Root for Underdogs?

Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show.

12/26/21
37:21
No. 78

Why Do We Put Things Off Until the Very Last Minute?

Also: what does your name say about who you are?

12/19/21
38:29
No. 77

How Can You Avoid Boredom?

Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk?

12/12/21
38:44
No. 76

Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along?

Also: how do phone cameras affect the way we experience live events?

12/5/21
38:33
No. 30

Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar? (Replay)

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing?

11/28/21
35:59
No. 75

How Do You Deal With Intrusive Thoughts?

Also: how much does confidence really matter?

11/21/21
39:10
No. 74

Does Reverse Psychology Really Work?

Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity?

11/14/21
37:25
No. 73

Is It Okay to Engage in “Social Loafing”?

Also: why is it so great to be part of a team, even when you lose?

11/7/21
36:16
No. 72

If Everyone Hates Meetings, Why Do We Have So Many of Them?

Also: why do so many people feel lost in their 20s?

10/31/21
40:55
No. 71

Why Is Pig Milk the One Milk We Don’t Drink?

Also: what’s a food you love that seems disgusting to everyone else?

10/24/21
28:34
No. 31

How Much Do Your Friends Affect Your Future? (Replay)

Also: which professions have the happiest people?

10/17/21
39:17
No. 70

In a Job Interview, How Much Does Timing Matter?

Also: why is it smart to ignore what your podcast hosts look like?

10/10/21
38:28
No. 69

How Can You Convince Someone They’re Wrong?

Also: what’s the best way to handle rejection?

10/3/21
39:02
No. 68

Why Do We Want What We Can’t Have?

Also: why are humans still so tribal?

9/26/21
36:42
No. 67

How Can You Escape Binary Thinking?

Also: why is it so satisfying to find a bargain?

9/19/21
41:03
No. 66

When Is It OK to Tell a Lie?

Also: is obsessing over your mental health bad for your mental health?

9/12/21
38:12
No. 24

Why Do We Forget So Much of What We’ve Read? (Replay)

Also: do we overestimate or underestimate our significance in other people’s lives?

9/5/21
36:11
No. 65

What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received?

Also: why don’t you need a license to become a parent?

8/29/21
40:09
No. 22

Why Do We Buy Things We Never Use? (Replay)

Also: why do we hoard? (Rebroadcast From Ep. 28)

8/22/21
34:12
No. 64

Are Women Required to Be Nicer Than Men?

Also: should you feel guilty if you don’t read books?

8/15/21
38:30
8/8/21
40:25
No. 62

How Can You Escape a Drama Triangle?

Also: how do awards affect motivation?

8/1/21
40:52
No. 61

Should We Just Ignore Our Weaknesses?

Also: why do we like what we like?

7/25/21
35:17
No. 60

Why Do We Complain?

Also: what do you really mean when you say you “don’t have time”?

7/18/21
33:30
No. 59

Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything?

Also: why is music so memorable?

7/11/21
40:23
No. 13

How Can You Stop Comparing Yourself With Other People? (Replay)

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

7/3/21
35:07
No. 58

What’s So Gratifying About Gossip?

Also: why do people hate small talk?

6/27/21
38:58
No. 57

Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why?

Also: what does your desired superpower say about you?

6/20/21
38:10
No. 56

Why Is Academic Writing So Bad?

Also: what does your perfect day look like?

6/13/21
40:50
No. 55

What Changes Will Stick When the Pandemic Is Gone?

Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine?

6/6/21
39:07
No. 54

Do You Really Need a Muse to Be Creative?

Also: is short-sightedness part of human nature?

5/30/21
38:22
No. 53

What’s the Secret to Making a Great Prediction?

Also: how do you recover from a bad day?

5/23/21
36:53
No. 52

How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World?

Also: does multitasking actually increase productivity?

5/16/21
41:05
No. 51

What Separates Humans From Other Animals?

Also: why do people pace while talking on the phone?

5/9/21
39:39
No. 50

Are You as Observant as You Think?

Also: Angela accidentally discovers the secret to a good night’s sleep.

5/2/21
36:44
No. 49

How Does Facing Death Change Your Life?

Also: why are we so bad at assessing risk?

4/25/21
41:14
No. 48

Do Good Deeds Invite More Bad Ones?

Also: what is the most significant choice you will ever make?

4/18/21
40:53
No. 47

Is Laziness Real?

Also: why do we dislike being alone in public?

4/11/21
34:49
No. 46

How Can You Stop Feeling So Irritable?

Also: what’s wrong with being impatient?

4/4/21
40:10
No. 45

How Much Better Do You Really Want to Be?

Also: why do we pad our speech with so much filler language?

3/28/21
39:10
No. 44

Is Empathy in Fact Immoral?

Also: is it better to “go with the wind” or to “be the wind”?

3/21/21
38:20
No. 43

What Do We Really Learn From Failure?

Also: What is teasing supposed to accomplish?

3/14/21
38:26
No. 42

How Does When You Are Born Affect Who You Are?

Also: how did Angela do with her no-sugar challenge?

3/7/21
40:08
No. 41

Why Are We So Attracted to Fame?

Also: do we subconsciously lie about our major influences?

2/28/21
37:15
No. 40

Have We All Lost Our Ability to Compromise?

Also: is it better to be right or “not wrong”?

2/21/21
37:49
No. 39

Is Everybody Cheating These Days?

Also, what’s better: to learn new skills or go deep on what you’re good at?

2/14/21
38:09
No. 38

What Does It Mean to Be a “Good” Man?

Also: how can you stop ruminating?

2/7/21
35:18
No. 37

How Do You Know if People Don’t Like You?

Also: do self-help books really help?

1/31/21
41:13
No. 36

Which Matters More, a First or Last Impression?

Also: does wisdom really come with age?

1/24/21
36:38
No. 35

Does Psychotherapy Actually Work?

Also: how many “selves” is it okay to have?

1/17/21
32:37
No. 34

Are Humans Smarter or Stupider Than We Used to Be?

Also: how can you become a more curious person?

1/10/21
35:39
No. 33

Is Optimism a Luxury Good?

Also: why is public speaking so terrifying?

1/3/21
38:41
12/27/20
37:09
No. 32

Which Gets You Further: Talent or Effort?

Also: where is the line between acronyms, initialisms, and gibberish?

12/20/20
33:36
No. 31

How Much Do Your Friends Affect Your Future?

Also: which professions have the happiest people?

12/13/20
36:38
No. 30

Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar?

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing?

12/6/20
35:12
No. 29

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Quit?

Also: why is it so hard to predict success?

11/29/20
31:39
No. 28

Why Do We Hoard?

Also: do you spend more time thinking about the past, the present, or the future?

11/22/20
29:14
No. 27

How Should You Ask for Forgiveness?

Also: why is behavior change so darn hard? 

11/15/20
37:44
No. 26

Do Checklists Make People Stupid?

Also: what’s so great about New York City anyway?

11/8/20
34:17
No. 25

Is Hedonism Better Than Self-Control?

Also: is it wrong to feel inured to the pandemic?

11/1/20
30:43
No. 24

Why Do We Forget So Much of What We’ve Read?

Also: do we overestimate or underestimate our significance in other people’s lives?

10/25/20
33:53
No. 23

Is It Wrong to Crave Praise?

Also: should everyone have their own trauma score?

10/18/20
39:32
No. 22

Why Do We Buy Things We’ll Never Use?

Also: how is social media like a knife?

10/11/20
32:30
No. 21

How Can You Identify Hidden Talent? With Eric Schmidt

Also: is there a downside to billionaire philanthropy? 

10/4/20
36:05
No. 20

Should We Separate the Art From the Artist?

Also: what is the meaning of life?

9/27/20
33:39
No. 19

Is There Such a Thing as Good Estrangement?

Also: how do you know if you have a “bad personality”? 

9/20/20
35:21
No. 18

How Do You Raise a “Likable” Kid?

Also: what’s so great about friendship?

9/13/20
30:27
No. 17

How Can We Get More Virtue and Less ‘Virtue Signaling’?

Also: is it better to be a thinker, a doer, or a charmer?

9/6/20
33:22
No. 16

What’s the Downside to Being Goal-Oriented?

Also: how does a cook become a chef? With Gabrielle Hamilton.

8/30/20
32:38
8/23/20
38:07
No. 14

Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?

Also: what is the best question you’ve ever been asked in a job interview?

8/16/20
24:00
No. 13

How Can You Stop Comparing Yourself With Other People?

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

8/9/20
33:50
No. 12

Does “As If” Thinking Really Work?

Also: how effective is the placebo effect?

8/2/20
33:50
No. 11

Are Ambitious People Inherently Selfish?

Also: why do we habituate to life’s greatest pleasures?

7/26/20
36:50
No. 10

Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics?

Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true?

7/19/20
31:19
No. 9

Why Is It So Hard to Be Alone With Our Thoughts?

Also: how do you avoid screwing up your kids?

7/12/20
34:20
No. 8

Wouldn’t It Be Better to Hear Your Eulogy Before You’re Dead?

Also: how does a comedian cope with tragedy? With Eugene Mirman.

7/5/20
36:34
No. 7

How Do You Handle Criticism?

Also: is it better to send a congratulatory note to someone who deserves it or a condolence note to someone who needs it?

6/28/20
30:47
No. 6

Is Incompetence a Form of Dishonesty?

Also: should we all have personal mission statements?

6/21/20
40:08
No. 5

What Do Tom Sawyer and the Founder of Duolingo Have in Common?

Also: is there such a thing as too much science? With special guest Luis von Ahn.

6/14/20
30:56
No. 4

Does All Creativity Come From Pain?

Also: is life precious because it’s finite?

6/7/20
33:17
No. 3

What Does It Mean to Be a “Hard Worker”?

Also: how does age affect happiness?

5/31/20
28:08
No. 2

What Is the Optimal Way to Be Angry?

Also: why do we treat pets better than people?

5/24/20
36:24
No. 1

Did Covid-19 Kill the Handshake?

Also: why can’t humans handle uncertainty already?

5/17/20
38:54

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