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 Angel...
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 346 episodesAll the Lonely People | Corner Piece
From group chats to video calls, technology should make social connection easier than ever. So, why is everyone so lonely? In this episode,...
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...
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? This episode originally air...
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 h...
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...
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...
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...
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 i...
How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold | Better in Person
In this episode of Stephen Dubner’s new TV talk show, Gary and Stephen talk about creativity, recovery, getting fired, and holding grudges....
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 d...
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...
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...
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...