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...
Radio and PodcastLive Radio & PodcastsSociety & Culture
No Stupid Questions
Stephen Dubner (co-author of the Freakonomics book series) and research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of Grit) really like to ask people questions, and came to believe there’s no suc...
Episodes
20 of 335 episodes89. 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...
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 ep...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 Angel...
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? An...
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?...
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 w...
79. Why Do We Root for Underdogs?
Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show. This episode originally aired on December 26th, 2021.
78. Why Do We Put Things Off Until the Very Last Minute?
Also: what does your name say about who you are? This episode originally aired on December 19th, 2021.
77. How Can You Avoid Boredom?
Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk? This episode originally aired on December 12, 2021.
76. Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along?
Also: how do phone cameras affect the way we experience live events? This episode originally aired on December 5th, 2021.
75. How Do You Deal With Intrusive Thoughts?
Also: how much does confidence really matter? This episode originally aired on November 21st, 2021.
74. Does Reverse Psychology Really Work?
Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity? This episode originally aired on November 14th, 2021.
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? This episode originally aired on November 7th, 2021.
72. If Everyone Hates Meetings, Why Do We Have So Many of Them?
Also: why do so many people feel lost in their 20s? This episode originally aired on October 31st, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co...
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? This episode originally aired on October 24th, 2021. Hosted by Simpleca...