No Stupid Questions

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 SOURCES:Max Bennett, co-founder and C.E.O. of Alby.David Epstein, author and journalist.Ayelet Fishbach, professor of behavioral science and marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.Alison Gopnik, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.Steve Jobs, co-founder and former C.E.O. of Apple.Oliver John, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Claude Shannon, 20th century mathematician and computer scientist.Jannik Sinner, professional tennis player.Christopher Soto, professor of psychology at Colby College.Dashun Wang, professor of management and organizations at Northwestern University.Kaitlin Woolley, professor of marketing at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. RESOURCES:A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains, by Max Bennett (2023)."Exploration vs. Exploitation: Adults Are Learning (Once Again) From Children," by Alison Gopnik (Observer, 2023)."Motivating Personal Growth by Seeking Discomfort," by Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach (Psychological Science, 2022)."Understanding the Onset of Hot Streaks Across Artistic, Cultural, and Scientific Careers," by Lu Liu, Nima Dehmamy, Jillian Chown, C. Lee Giles, and Dashun Wang (Nature Communications, 2021)."Improv Experience Promotes Divergent Thinking, Uncertainty Tolerance, and Affective Well-Being," by Peter Felsman, Sanuri Gunawardena, and Colleen M. Seifert (Thinking Skills and Creativity, 2020).Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein (2019)."Openness to Experience," by Robert R. McCrae and David M. Greenberg (The Wiley Handbook of Genius, 2014). EXTRAS:Big Five Personality Inventory, by No Stupid Questions (2024)."David Epstein Knows Something About Almost Everything," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).

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?  SOURCES:Aaron (Tim) Beck, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University.Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic. Brian Little, professor of psychology at the University of Cambridge.Jordi Quoidbach, professor of people management and organisation at ESADE, University Ramon Llull.Carl Rogers, 20th-century psychologist.Martin Short, actor and comedian.Richard Wiseman, professor of the public understanding of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire.Timothy Wilson, professor of psychology at the University of Virginia. RESOURCES:"I Gave Myself Three Months to Change My Personality," by Olga Khazan (The Atlantic, 2022)."You Can Be a Different Person After the Pandemic," by Olga Khazan (The New York Times, 2021)."The Theory of Modes: Applications to Schizophrenia and Other Psychological Conditions," by Aaron T. Beck, Molly R. Finkel, and Judith S. Beck (Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2020).“Brian Little: Are Human Personalities Hardwired?" by Guy Raz (TED Radio Hour, 2017).I Must Say: My Life As a Humble Comedy Legend, by Martin Short (2014)."The End of History Illusion," by Jordi Quoidbach, Daniel T. Gilbert, and Timothy D. Wilson (Science, 2013)."Age Differences in Personality Traits From 10 to 65: Big Five Domains and Facets in a Large Cross-Sectional Sample," by Christopher J. Soto, Oliver P. John, Samuel D. Gosling, and Jeff Potter (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2011)."The Rank-Order Consistency of Personality Traits From Childhood to Old Age: A Guantitative Review of Longitudinal Studies," by Brent W. Roberts and Wendy F. DelVecchio (Psychological Bulletin, 2000). EXTRAS:Big Five Personality Inventory, by No Stupid Questions (2024).Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, TV series (2012-present).

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?  SOURCES:Julie Beck, senior editor at The Atlantic.Danielle Campoamor, freelance writer and reporter.Kyle Chayka, staff writer at The New Yorker.Amelia Dennis, research associate in psychology at the University of Bath.Erica Hepper, lecturer in personality/social psychology at the University of Surrey.Lucy Hone, director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience.Imran Rahman-Jones, freelance journalist.Florence Saint-Jean, executive director of Global Trauma Research. RESOURCES:"Pancultural Nostalgia in Action: Prevalence, Triggers, and Psychological Functions of Nostalgia Across Cultures," by Erica Hepper, Constantine Sedikides, Bettina Zengel, et al. (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2024)."From Rosy Past to Happy and Flourishing Present: Nostalgia as a Resource for Hedonic and Eudaimonic Wellbeing," by Erica Hepper and Amelia Dennis (Current Opinion in Psychology, 2023)."Locating Nostalgia Among the Emotions: A Bridge From Loss to Love," by Wijnand A.P. van Tilburg (Current Opinion in Psychology, 2023)."Hindsight is 2022: The Psychology Behind Our Cultural Nostalgia," by Kyle Chayka (Town & Country, 2022)."Why We Reach for Nostalgia in Times of Crisis," by Danielle Campoamor (The New York Times, 2020)."Mulan: Disney Remakes and the Power of Nostalgia During Coronavirus," by Imran Rahman-Jones (BBC, 2020)."The Three Secrets of Resilient People," by Lucy Hone (TEDxChristchurch, 2019)."When Nostalgia Was a Disease," by Julie Beck (The Atlantic, 2013). EXTRAS:Big Five Personality Inventory, by No Stupid Questions (2024).Zoom, by Istvan Banyai (1995).Peter and Wendy, by J. M. Barrie (1911).

Does instinct trump expertise? Can playing poker improve your intuition? And why did Angela jump off of a moving trolley car? SOURCES:Tom Brady, former quarterback for the New England Patriots.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Gary Klein, cognitive psychologist and pioneer in the field of naturalistic decision making.Brock Purdy, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.Josh Waitzkin, former chess player, martial arts competitor, and author. RESOURCES:"When and How To Sleep Train Your Baby," by Cleveland Clinic (2021)."The ShadowBox Approach to Cognitive Skills Training: An Empirical Evaluation," by Gary Klein and Joseph Borders (Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making, 2016).Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2011)."Conditions for Intuitive Expertise: A Failure to Disagree," by Daniel Kahneman and Gary Klein (American Psychologist, 2009)."Dumb Ways to Die," by Metro Trains Melbourne (2009).The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance, by Josh Waitzkin (2007).Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions, by Gary Klein (1998). EXTRAS:"Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?" by No Stupid Questions (2023)."Daniel Kahneman on Why Our Judgment is Flawed — and What to Do About It," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021)."How to Make a Bad Decision," by Freakonomics Radio (2016).

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”? SOURCES:Scott Hugo, housing justice attorney at Oakland City Attorney’s Office.Bob Ladouceur, former head football coach at De La Salle High School.Jon Marcus, writer at The Hechinger Report.Amelia Nierenberg, Connecticut correspondent for The New York Times. James Pennebaker, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.Stuart Rojstaczer, writer and former professor of geophysics at Duke University. RESOURCES:"Making the (Letter) Grade: The Incentive Effects of Mandatory Pass/Fail Courses," by Kristin Butcher, Patrick J. McEwan, and Akila Weerapana (Education Finance and Policy, 2023)."To Help New Students Adapt, Some Colleges Are Eliminating Grades," by Jon Marcus (NPR from Hechinger Report, 2023)."Grade Inflation Continues to Grow in the Past Decade," by Edgar I. Sanchez and Raeal Moore (ACT Research, 2022)."Why Good Teaching Evaluations May Reward Bad Teaching: On Grade Inflation and Other Unintended Consequences of Student Evaluations," by Wolfgang Stroebe (Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2016)."Grade Inflation at American Colleges and Universities," by Stuart Rojstaczer (GradeInflation.com, 2016).Chasing Perfection: The Principles Behind Winning Football the De La Salle Way, by Bob Ladouceur and Neil Hayes (2015)."Daily Online Testing in Large Classes: Boosting College Performance while Reducing Achievement Gaps," by James W. Pennebaker, Samuel D. Gosling, and Jason D. Ferrell (PLOS One, 2013). EXTRAS:"Higher Education Is Broken. Can It Be Fixed?" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023)."Freakonomics Radio Goes Back to School," series by Freakonomics Radio (2022).

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.

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).

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).

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.

Does anyone have any real agency? What do McDonald’s and Oxford University have in common? And why did Angela give up on philosophy? SOURCESSam Harris, neuroscientist, philosopher, author, and podcast host.Brian Galla, associate professor of health and human development at University of Pittsburgh.Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology at Stanford University.Harry Emerson Fosdick, founding minister of Riverside Church in New York City.Martin E. P. Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Brian Kershisnik, American painter. Plato, ancient Greek philosopher. RESOURCESFree Will, by Sam Harris (2012).Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will, by Robert Sapolsky (2023).“Free Will Beliefs Predict Attitudes Toward Unethical Behavior and Criminal Punishment,” by Nathan D. Martin, Davide Rigoni, and Kathleen D. Vohs (PNAS, 2017).“Learned Helplessness: Theory and Evidence,” by Steven F. Maier and Martin E. P. Seligman (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 1976).“Failure to Escape Traumatic Shock,” by Martin E. P. Seligman and Steven F. Maier (Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1967). EXTRAS“Final Thoughts on Free Will” by Making Sense with Sam Harris (2021).“Sam Harris: ‘Spirituality is a Loaded Term’” by People I Mostly Admire (2021).

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).

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).

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).

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)

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!

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).

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.

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).

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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

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?  RESOURCES:"My Response to The New Yorker Article," by Hasan Minhaj (YouTube video, 2023)."Hasan Minhaj’s 'Emotional Truths,'" by Clare Malone (The New Yorker, 2023)."Lying to Spice up Life," by Holly Cole (Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 2019).Words on the Move: Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally), by John McWhorter (2016)."Literally," entry by Deathmatch1127 (Urban Dictionary, 2015)."Does Living in California Make People Happy? A Focusing Illusion in Judgments of Life Satisfaction," by David A. Schkade and Daniel Kahneman (Psychological Science, 1998).The Giver, by Lois Lowry (1993).EXTRAS:"Swearing Is More Important Than You Think," by Freakonomics Radio (2023)."The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion," S5.E3 of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2019).SOURCES:Holly Cole, assistant professor of psychology at Wesleyan College.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Mark Liberman, professor of linguistics and computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania.Lois Lowry, author.John McWhorter, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia Unviersity.Hasan Minhaj, comedian.

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.

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? RESOURCES:"Disagree Better," National Governors Association initiative led by Spencer Cox (2023-2024)."Cooling Heated Discourse: Conversational Receptiveness Boosts Interpersonal Evaluations and Willingness to Talk," by Julia Minson, David Hagmann, and Kara Luo (Preprint, 2023)."Megastudy Identifying Effective Interventions to Strengthen Americans’ Democratic Attitudes," by Jan G. Voelkel, Robb Willer, et al. (Working Paper, 2023).Conflicted: Why Arguments Are Tearing Us Apart and How They Can Bring Us Together, by Ian Leslie (2021)."How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground," by Julia Dhar (TED, 2018)."From the Fundamental Attribution Error to the Truly Fundamental Attribution Error and Beyond: My Research Journey," by Lee Ross (Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2018)."The Humanizing Voice: Speech Reveals, and Text Conceals, a More Thoughtful Mind in the Midst of Disagreement," by Juliana Schroeder, Michael Kardas, and Nicholas Epley (Psychological Science, 2017)."Worlds Apart," ad by Heineken (2017)."Gritty Educations," by Anindya Kundu (Virginia Policy Review, 2014).Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (2011)."Experiences of Collaborative Research," by Daniel Kahneman (American Psychologist, 2003).EXTRAS:TikTok with advice from Apple Store employee (2023)."Can You Change Your Mind Without Losing Face?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).12 Angry Men, film (1957).SOURCES:Spencer Cox, governor of Utah and chair of the National Governors Association.Julia Dhar, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group.David Hagmann, professor of management at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.Anindya Kundu, professor of educational leadership at Florida International University.Ian Leslie, British journalist and author.Kara Luo, Ph.D. candidate in organizational behavior at Stanford University.Julia Minson, professor of public policy at Harvard University.Pedro Noguera, professor of education and dean of the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.Jared Polis, governor of Colorado.Lee Ross, professor of psychology at Stanford University.Julia Schroeder, professor of management of organizations at the University of California, Berkeley.Jared Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics.Anne Treisman, professor of psychology at Princeton University.Jan Voelkel, Ph.D. candidate in sociology at Stanford University.

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? RESOURCES:"The Science of Why You Have Great Ideas in the Shower," by Stacey Colino (National Geographic, 2022)."So, You Think You’re Not Creative?" by Duncan Wardle (Harvard Business Review, 2021)."The Correlation Between Arts and Crafts and a Nobel Prize," by Rosie Cima (Priceonomics, 2015)."Report: State of the American Workplace," by Gallup (2014)."Poverty Impedes Cognitive Function," by Anandi Mani, Sendhil Mullainathan, Eldar Shafir, and Jiaying Zhao (Science, 2013)."Forks in the Road: The Many Paths of Arts Alumni," by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (2011)."A Meta-Analysis of 25 Years of Mood-Creativity Research: Hedonic Tone, Activation, or Regulatory Focus?" by Matthijs Baas, Carsten K. W. De Dreu, and Bernard A. Nijstad (Psychological Bulletin, 2008)."The Relationship Between Creativity and Mood Disorders," by Nancy C. Andreasen (Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 2008)."The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions," by Barbara Fredrickson (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 2004)."Happiness and Creativity: Going With the Flow," by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (The Futurist, 1997).EXTRAS:"Why Are Rich Countries So Unhappy?" by No Stupid Questions (2022)."Do You Really Need a Muse to Be Creative?" by No Stupid Questions (2021)."Does All Creativity Come From Pain?" by No Stupid Questions (2020)."How To Be Creative," series by Freakonomics Radio (2018-2019)."How to Be Happy," by Freakonomics Radio (2018).Napoleon Dynamite, film by Jared Hess (2004).The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath (1963).Connections, game by The New York Times. SOURCES:Stephen Covey, author.Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, professor of psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University.Barbara Fredrickson, professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Sigmund Freud, psychologist and founder of psychoanalysis.Jared Hess, filmmaker.Abraham Maslow, 20th-century psychologist.Sylvia Plath, 20th-century poet and novelist.Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.Duncan Wardle, former head of Innovation and Creativity at the Walt Disney Company.

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? RESOURCES"Don’t Ban Chatbots in Classrooms — Use Them to Change How We Teach," by Angela Duckworth and Lyle Ungar (Los Angeles Times, 2023)."How GPS Weakens Memory — and What We Can Do about It," by Mar Gonzalez-Franco, Gregory Dane Clemenson, and Amos Miller (Scientific American, 2021)."Habitual Use of GPS Negatively Impacts Spatial Memory During Self-Guided Navigation," by Louisa Dahmani and Véronique Bohbot (Nature Scientific Reports, 2020)."Navigational Strategy May Be More a Matter of Environment and Experience Than Gender," by Sharon A. Livingstone-Lee, Philip M. Zeman, Susan T. Gillingham, and Ronald W. Skelton (Learning and Motivation, 2014)."Acquiring 'the Knowledge' of London's Layout Drives Structural Brain Changes," by Katherine Woollett and Eleanor Maguire (Current Biology, 2011)."Is Google Making Us Stupid?" by Nicholas Carr (The Atlantic, 2008).EXTRAS"Dunder Mifflin Infinity," S4.E2 of The Office (2007).SOURCES:Véronique Bohbot, professor of psychiatry at McGill University.Nicholas Carr, journalist and writer.Winston Churchill, 20th-century Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.Louisa Dahmani, research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital.Jason Duckworth, president of Arcadia Land Company and Angela's husband.Omar Johnson, founder of ØPUS United, former C.M.O. of Beats by Dre and former V.P. of Marketing at Apple.Eleanor Maguire, professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London.Michael Scott, fictional character and protagonist of NBC sitcom The Office.Socrates, ancient Greek philosopher.Hieronimo Squarciafico, 15th-century Venetian editor.Lyle Ungar, professor of computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania.Katherine Woollett, clinical psychologist at the Kings College London Hospital.

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?  RESOURCES:"State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report," (Gallup, 2023)."What’s Really So Wrong About Secretly Working Two Full-Time Jobs at Once?" by Alison Green (Slate, 2023)."The Problem With Venting," by Ethan Kross (Character Lab, 2021)."Conan O'Brien's Final Monologue: 'Nobody in Life Gets What They Thought They Were Going to Get,'" by Lynette Rice (Entertainment Weekly, 2020)."Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes," by Ben Wigert and Sangeeta Agrawal (Gallup, 2018)."Finding Solutions to the Problem of Burnout," by Christina Maslach (Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 2017)."Maslach Burnout Inventory: Third Edition," by Christina Maslach, Susan E. Jackson, and Michael P. Leiter (Evaluating Stress: A Book of Resources, 1997).Burnout: The High Cost of High Achievement, by Herbert Freudenberger and Geraldine Richelson (1980)."Staff Burn-Out," by Herbert Freudenberger (Journal of Social Issues, 1974)."Dehumanization in Institutional Settings," by Christina Maslach and Philip Zimbardo (U.S. Office of Naval Research, 1973).EXTRAS:"How Do You Cure a Compassion Crisis?" by Freakonomics Radio (2020).Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White (1952).SOURCES:Christina Maslach, professor emertia of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.Herbert Freudenberger, 20th-century psychologist.Ethan Kross, professor of psychology and management/organizations at the University of Michigan.Conan O'Brien, podcast host, comedian, and former late-night television host.E.B. White, author.Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University.

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?  RESOURCES:Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents — and What They Mean for America's Future, by Jean Twenge (2023)."5 Things to Keep in Mind When You Hear About Gen Z, Millennials, Boomers and Other Generations," by Michael Dimock (Pew Research Center, 2023)."Lock Screens," by Jean Twenge (Character Lab, 2023)."The Blurred Lines Between Goldman C.E.O.’s Day Job and His D.J. Gig," by Emily Flitter and Katherine Rosman (The New York Times, 2023).From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, by Arthur Brooks (2022)."The Great Resistance: Getting Employees Back to the Office," by Nicholas Bloom (Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, 2022)."Generations and Generational Differences: Debunking Myths in Organizational Science and Practice and Paving New Paths Forward," by Cort W. Rudolph, Rachel S. Rauvola, David P. Costanza, and Hannes Zacher (Journal of Business and Psychology, 2021)."Patterns of Cumulative Continuity and Maturity in Personality and Well-Being: Evidence From a Large Longitudinal Sample of Adults," by Frank D. Mann, Colin G. DeYoung, and Robert F. Krueger (Personality and Individual Differences, 2021)."Global Prevalence of Gaming Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," by Matthew W.R. Stevens, Diana Dorstyn, Paul H Delfabbro, and Daniel L King (Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2020)."A Majority of Young Adults in the U.S. Live With Their Parents for the First Time Since the Great Depression," by Richard Fry, Jeffrey S. Passel, and D'Vera Cohn (Pew Research Center, 2020)."Managing the Strategy Development Process: Deliberate vs. Emergent Strategy," by Clayton Christensen (Harvard Business Review Case Study, 2019)."Distinguishing Aging, Period and Cohort Effects in Longitudinal Studies of Elderly Populations," by Robert D. Blanchard, James B. Bunker, and Martin Wachs (Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 1977)."Gaming Disorder," by the World Health Organization.EXTRAS:"Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along?" by No Stupid Questions (2021).SOURCES:Arthur Brooks, professor of the practice of public and nonprofit leadership and professor of management practice at Harvard University.David Costanza, professor of psychology and organizational sciences at The George Washington University.Clayton Christensen, professor of business administration at Harvard Business School.David Solomon, chairman and C.E.O. of Goldman Sachs (and D.J.).Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University.

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?  RESOURCES:"Why Everyone Feels Like They’re Faking It," by Leslie Jamison (The New Yorker, 2023)."The Impostor Phenomenon Revisited: Examining the Relationship between Workplace Impostor Thoughts and Interpersonal Effectiveness at Work," by Basima Tewfik (Academy of Management Journal, 2022)."You’re Not an Imposter. You’re Actually Pretty Amazing," by Kess Eruteya (Harvard Business Review, 2022)."Workplace ‘Impostor Thoughts’ May Have a Genuine Upside," by Meredith Somers (Ideas Made to Matter, 2022).The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, by Michelle Obama (2022)."Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review," by Dena M. Bravata, Sharon A. Watts, Autumn L. Keefer, Divya K. Madhusudhan, Katie T. Taylor, Dani M. Clark, Ross S. Nelson, Kevin O. Cokley, and Heather K. Hagg (Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2020)."What Is Imposter Syndrome and How Can You Combat It?" by Elizabeth Cox (TED-Ed, 2018)."Is Resilience Only Skin Deep?: Rural African Americans' Socioeconomic Status-Related Risk and Competence in Preadolescence and Psychological Adjustment and Allostatic Load at Age 19," by Gene H. Brody, Tianyi Yu, Edith Chen, Gregory Miller, Steven M. Kogan, and Steven R. H. Beach (Psychological Science, 2013).“Emotion Generation and Emotion Regulation: One or Two Depends on Your Point of View,” by James Gross and Lisa Feldman Barrett (Emotion Review, 2011)."Good C.E.O.’s Are Insecure (and Know It)," by Adam Bryant (The New York Times, 2010).Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time, by Howard Schultz (1997).EXTRAS:"Reading Dostoevsky Behind Bars," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023)."Can a Moonshot Approach to Mental Health Work?" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023)."Why Do We Get Angry?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).SOURCES:Edith Chen, professor of psychology at Northwestern University.Pauline Rose Clance, professor emerita of psychology at Georgia State University.Kess Eruteya, founder of InclusionZ and fellow at the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.Obi Felten, founder and C.E.O. of Flourish Labs.Suzanne Ament Imes, clinical psychologist and academic researcher at Georgia State University.Erika James, dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.Steven Levitt, professor of economics at the University of Chicago, host of People I (Mostly) Admire, and co-author of the Freakonomics books.Gregory Miller, professor of psychology at Northwestern University.Michelle Obama, attorney, author, and former first lady of the United States.Howard Schultz, former C.E.O. and chairman emeritus of Starbucks.Basima Tewfik, professor of work and organization studies at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management.Eric Weiner, professor of educational foundations at Montclair State University.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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? 

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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.

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? 

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/ 

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/ 

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/

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/

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/

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/ 

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/ 

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/ 

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?

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? 

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?

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? 

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?

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

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?

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

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?

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?

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.

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

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

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? 

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?

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

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?

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. 

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? 

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

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?

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

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?

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?

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

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?

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

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?

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?

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?

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

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?

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?  

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? 

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? 

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

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”?

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? 

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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?

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?

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? 

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? 

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?

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?

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? 

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? 

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?

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?

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?

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?

Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show.  

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

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

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

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing? 

Also: how much does confidence really matter?

Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity?

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

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

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

Also: which professions have the happiest people?

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

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

Also: why are humans still so tribal?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Also: life is good — so why aren’t you happy?

Also: how do awards affect motivation?

Also: why do we like what we like?

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

Also: why is music so memorable?

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

Also: why do people hate small talk?

Also: what does your desired superpower say about you?

Also: what does your perfect day look like?

Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine?

Also: is shortsightedness part of human nature?

Also: how do you recover from a bad day?

Also: does multitasking actually increase productivity?

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

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

Also: why are we so bad at assessing risk?

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

Also: why do we dislike being alone in public?

Also: what’s wrong with being impatient?

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

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

Also: what is teasing supposed to accomplish?

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

Also: do we subconsciously lie about our major influences?

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

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

Also: how can you stop ruminating?

Also: do self-help books really help?

Also: does wisdom really come with age?

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

Also: how can you become a more curious person?

Also: why is public speaking so terrifying?

Also: why do we procrastinate?

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

Also: which professions have the happiest people?

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing?

Also: why is it so hard to predict success?

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

Also: why is behavior change so darn hard?

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

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

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

Also: should everyone have their own trauma score?

Also: how is social media like a knife?

Also: is there a downside to billionaire philanthropy?

Also: what is the meaning of life?

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

Also: what’s so great about friendship?

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

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

Also: why do we procrastinate?

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

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

Also: how effective is the placebo effect?

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

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

Also: how do you avoid screwing up your kids?

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

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

Also: should we all have personal mission statements?

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

Also: is life precious because it’s finite?

Also: how does age affect happiness?

Also: why do we treat pets better than people?

Also: why can't humans handle uncertainty already?

Stephen Dubner, the host of Freakonomics Radio, and Angela Duckworth, the psychologist and author of Grit, explore the weird and wonderful ways in which humans behave. In each episode, they take turns asking each other questions, with conversations ranging from friendship and parenting to immortality and whether dogs are better than people. No Stupid Questions premieres May 18th.