No Stupid Questions (Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher)

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? 

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?

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).

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?

Also: what’s so great about friendship? This episode originally aired on September 13, 2020. 

Also: how can you become a more curious person?

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?

Also: why do we procrastinate? This episode originally aired on August 23, 2020.

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

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?

Also: why do we dislike being alone in public?

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?

• SOURCES:
  • Robert Cialdini, professor emeritus of psychology at Arizona State University.
  • Reid Hoffman, co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn; co-founder and board member of Inflection AI.
  • Kazuo Ishiguro, novelist and screenwriter.
  • Ethan Mollick, professor of management and co-director of the Generative A.I. Lab at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Ann Patchett, author.
  • Kevin Roose, technology columnist for The New York Times and co-host of the podcast Hard Fork.
  • Niko Tinbergen, 20th-century Dutch biologist and ornithologist.
  • Lyle Ungar, professor of computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • E. B. White, 20th-century American author.

• RESOURCES:
  • Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, by Ethan Mollick (2024).
  • "Meet My A.I. Friends," by Kevin Roose (The New York Times, 2024).
  • "Loneliness and Suicide Mitigation for Students Using GPT3-Enabled Chatbots," by Bethanie Maples, Merve Cerit, Aditya Vishwanath, and Roy Pea (NPJ Mental Health Research, 2024).
  • "AI Can Help People Feel Heard, but an AI Label Diminishes This Impact," by Yidan Yin, Nan Jia, and Cheryl J. Wakslak (PNAS, 2024).
  • "Romantic AI Chatbots Don’t Have Your Privacy at Heart," by Jen Caltrider, Misha Rykov and Zoë MacDonald (Mozilla Foundation, 2024).
  • Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021).
  • The Study Of Instinct, by Niko Tinbergen (1951).
  • Pi.

• EXTRAS:
  • "Are Our Tools Becoming Part of Us?" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2024).
  • "Is GPS Changing Your Brain?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).
  • "How to Think About A.I.," series by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
  • "Would You Rather See a Computer or a Doctor?" by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).

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?

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?

• SOURCES:
  • Jonathan Haidt, professor of ethical leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
  • Christina Maslach, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.
  • Stanley Milgram, 20th century professor of psychology at Yale University.
  • Edward R. Murrow, 20th century American broadcast journalist and war correspondent.
  • Alexander Pope, 17-18th century English poet.
  • Adrian Raine, professor of criminology, psychiatry, and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Oskar Schindler, 20th century German businessman.
  • Philip Zimbardo, professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Mental Illness and Violence: Debunking Myths, Addressing Realities," by Tori DeAngelis (Monitor on Psychology, 2021).
  • "Debunking the Stanford Prison Experiment," by Thibault Le Texier (American Psychologist, 2019).
  • "How 'Evil' Became a Conservative Buzzword," by Emma Green (The Atlantic, 2017).
  • "The Double-Edged Sword: Does Biomechanism Increase or Decrease Judges' Sentencing of Psychopaths?" by Lisa G. Aspinwall, Teneille R. Brown, and James Tabery (Science, 2012).
  • "The Psychology of Evil," by Philip Zimbardo (TED Talk, 2008).
  • The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, by Philip Zimbardo (2007).
  • "When Morality Opposes Justice: Conservatives Have Moral Intuitions that Liberals may not Recognize," by Jonathan Haidt and Jesse Graham (Social Justice Research, 2007).
  • "Abu Ghraib Whistleblower Speaks Out," by Michele Norris (All Things Considered, 2006).
  • Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View, by Stanley Milgram (1974).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Does Free Will Exist, and Does It Matter?" by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • "Are You Suffering From Burnout?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).
  • Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov (1955).
  • "Essay on Man, Epistle II," poem by Alexander Pope (1733).

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

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/

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

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?

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

Also: is there such a thing as too much science?

Plus, our special guest, Luis von Ahn, an inventor of CAPTCHA and a pioneer of free online language learning. This episode originally aired on June 14, 2020.

Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show.  

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? 

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).

Also: how effective is the placebo effect? This episode originally aired on August 2, 2020.

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).

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

Also: why are humans still so tribal?

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? 

• SOURCES:
  • Karen Cerulo, professor emeritus of sociology at Rutgers University.
  • Bill Clinton, former president of the United States.
  • David Gergen, professor emeritus of public leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School; former White House adviser to four U.S. presidents.
  • Benjamin Ho, professor and chair of economics at Vassar College.
  • Monica Lewinsky, activist.
  • John List, professor of economics at the University of Chicago.
  • Brandon Rottinghaus, professor of political science at the University of Houston.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Slut-Shamed at 22, an Icon at 50 — How Monica Lewinsky Got Her Life Back," by Helen Rumbelow (The Times, 2024).
  • "Do Scandals Matter?" by Brandon Rottinghaus (Political Research Quarterly, 2023).
  • "Toward An Understanding of the Economics of Apologies: Evidence from a Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment," by Basil Halperin, Benjamin Ho, John List, and Ian Muir (The Economic Journal, 2022).
  • "Embodied Remorse: Physical Displays of Remorse Increase Positive Responses to Public Apologies, but Have Negligible Effects on Forgiveness," by Matthew J. Hornsey, Michael J. A. Wohl, Emily A. Harris, Tyler G. Okimoto, Michael Thai, and Michael Wenzel (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2020).
  • "Commentary: Time for Bill Clinton to Go Away," by Will Rahn (CBS News, 2018).
  • "The Price of Shame," by Monica Lewinsky (TED Talk, 2015).
  • "Apologies Demanded Yet Devalued: Normative Dilution in the Age of Apology," by Tyler G. Okimoto, Michael Wenzel, and Matthew J. Hornsey (Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2015).
  • "Apologies of the Rich and Famous: Cultural, Cognitive, and Social Explanations of Why We Care and Why We Forgive," by Janet M. Ruane and Karen Cerulo (Social Psychology Quarterly, 2014).

• EXTRAS:
  • "How to Optimize Your Apology," by Freakonomics Radio (2018).
  • "Coal Digger," S1.E5 of Modern Family (2009).

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).

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.

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

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

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?

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

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing? 

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

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation? This episode originally aired on August 9, 2020.

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

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?

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 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?

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).

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?  

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 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/

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing?

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.

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?

Also: which professions have the happiest people?

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?

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?

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

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

Also: how do awards affect motivation?

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 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”?

How can you learn to love uncertainty? Is it better to cultivate acceptance or strive for change? And, after 223 episodes, what is the meaning of life? 

• SOURCES:
  • Jessica Alquist, professor of psychology at Texas Tech University.
  • Roy Baumeister, professor of psychology at The University of Queensland.
  • Raymond Carver, 20th-century American short story writer and poet.
  • Stephen Colbert, comedian and late-night TV host.
  • Matt Damon, actor and film producer.
  • Viktor Frankl, 20th-century Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher.
  • Steve Heine, professor of psychology at University of British Columbia.
  • Charles Krauthammer, journalist.
  • Reinhold Niebuhr, 20th-century American theologian.
  • Keanu Reeves, actor.
  • Elisabeth Sifton, author, editor, and book publisher.

• RESOURCES:
  • Start Making Sense: How Existential Psychology Can Help Us Build Meaningful Lives in Absurd Times, by Steve Heine (2025).
  • "Learning to Love Uncertainty," by Jessica L. Alquist and Roy F. Baumeister (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2024).
  • "Confused or Curious? Openness/Intellect Predicts More Positive Interest-Confusion Relations," by Kirill Fayn, Paul J. Silvia, Egon Dejonckheere, Stijn Verdonck, and Peter Kuppens (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2019).
  • "A Note to Readers," by Charles Krauthammer (The Washington Post, 2018).
  • "Interest — The Curious Emotion," by Paul J. Silvia (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2008).
  • The Serenity Prayer: Faith and Politics in Times of Peace and War, by Elisabeth Sifton (2003).
  • "Late Fragment," by Raymond Carver (A New Path to the Waterfall, 1989).
  • Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl (1946).

• EXTRAS:
  • "What Makes an Idea Interesting?" by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • "Should You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?" by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • "Do You Need Closure?" by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • "Secret o’ Life," by James Taylor (JT, 1977).

Also: how does age affect happiness? This episode originally aired on May 31, 2020. 

Also: why do we habituate to life’s greatest pleasures? This episode originally aired on July 26, 2020.

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

• SOURCES:
  • Robert Cialdini, professor emeritus of psychology and marketing at Arizona State University.
  • Yaniv Hanoch, professor of decision sciences at Coventry University.
  • Hugo Mercier, research scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
  • George Parker, 19-20th century American con artist.
  • Clark Stanley, 19th century American herbalist and quack doctor.
  • William Thompson, 19th century American criminal and con artist.
  • Danny Wallace, British filmmaker, comedian, writer, and actor.
  • Stacey Wood, professor of psychology at Scripps College.

• RESOURCES:
  • "They Thought Loved Ones Were Calling for Help. It Was an A.I. Scam," by Pranshu Verma (The Washington Post, 2023).
  • "Who Experiences Scams? A Story for All Ages," by the Federal Trade Commission (2022).
  • "The Scams Among Us: Who Falls Prey and Why," by Yaniv Hanoch and Stacey Wood (Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2021).
  • "The Nigerian Prince Scam Is Still Fooling People. Here’s Why," by Eleanor Cummins (Popular Science, 2020).
  • "How Gullible Are We? A Review of the Evidence From Psychology and Social Science," by Hugo Mercier (Review of General Psychology, 2017).
  • "The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice," by Jeff Maysh (Smithsonian Magazine, 2016).
  • "Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling," by Paul J. Zak (Harvard Business Review, 2014).
  • "A History Of 'Snake Oil Salesmen,'" by Lakshmi Gandhi (Code Switch, 2013).
  • Yes Man, by Danny Wallace (2005).
  • "For You, Half Price," by Gabriel Cohen (The New York Times, 2005).
  • Influence, by Robert Cialdini (1984).
  • "Arrest of the Confidence Man," (New York Herald, 1849).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Are N.F.T.s All Scams?" by Freakonomics Radio (2022).
  • "Trust Me," by Freakonomics Radio (2016).

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

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? 

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.

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 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).

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

• SOURCES:
  • Pearl S. Buck, 20th-century American novelist.
  • Jack Gallant, professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.
  • Steve Levitt, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Chicago, host of People I (Mostly) Admire, and co-author of the Freakonomics books.
  • George Loewenstein, professor of economics and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University.
  • Deborah Small, professor of marketing at Yale University.
  • Adin Steinsaltz, rabbi, philosopher, and author.
  • Diana Tamir, professor of neuroscience and psychology at Princeton University.

• RESOURCES:
  • "The Representation of Semantic Information Across Human Cerebral Cortex During Listening Versus Reading Is Invariant to Stimulus Modality," by Fatma Deniz, Anwar O. Nunez-Elizalde, Alexander G. Huth and Jack L. Gallant (Journal of Neuroscience, 2019).
  • "Reading Fiction and Reading Minds: The Role of Simulation in the Default Network," by Diana Tamir, Andrew B. Bricker, David Dodell-Feder, and Jason P. Mitchell (Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 2016).
  • Think Like a Freak, by Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt (2014).
  • SuperFreakonomics, by Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt (2009).
  • Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure, by the Department of Defense (2009).
  • "Stories or Statistics? Farmers' Attitudes Toward Messages in an Agricultural Safety Campaign," by S. E. Morgan, H. P. Cole, T. Struttmann, and L. Piercy (Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 2002).
  • "Explaining the Identifiable Victim Effect," by Karen Jenni and George Loewenstein (Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 1997).
  • "Explanation-Based Decision Making: Effects of Memory Structure on Judgment," by N. Pennington and R. Hastie (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 1988).
  • The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck (1931).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Abortion and Crime, Revisited (Update)," by Freakonomics Radio (2022).
  • "This Is Your Brain on Podcasts," by Freakonomics Radio (2016).

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? 

• SOURCES:
  • Jennifer Aaker, professor of marketing at Stanford University.
  • Judd Apatow, film director, screenwriter, and comedian.
  • Fredrik Backman, author.
  • Naomi Bagdonas, lecturer in management at Stanford University.
  • James Corden, actor, comedian, and former late-night television host.
  • Dick Costolo, former C.E.O. of Twitter.
  • Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at Stanford University.
  • Jimmy Fallon, comedian and late-night television host.
  • Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.
  • Jimmy Kimmel, comedian and late-night television host.
  • Larry LaPrise, 20th-century American singer-songwriter.
  • Jerry Seinfeld, comedian, actor, and writer.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Fredrik Backman on Creative Anxiety and Procrastination," by Fredrik Backman (Simon & Schuster Centennial Celebration, 2024).
  • "The Relative Importance of Joke and Audience Characteristics in Eliciting Amusement," by Hannes Rosenbusch, Anthony M. Evans, and Marcel Zeelenberg (Psychological Science, 2022).
  • "The 100-Million-Year Origin Story of Laughter and Humor," by Dean Russell (Endless Thread, 2022).
  • Humor, Seriously: Why Humor Is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life (And How Anyone Can Harness It. Even You.), by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas (2021).
  • "What Makes Things Funny? An Integrative Review of the Antecedents of Laughter and Amusement," by Caleb Warren, Adam Barsky, and A. Peter McGraw (Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2020).
  • Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy, by Judd Apatow (2015).
  • How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie (1936).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Can A.I. Take a Joke?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).
  • "The Comedian-Ophthalmologist Will See You Now," by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).
  • There's Something About Mary, film (1998).

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

Also: how can you stop ruminating?

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

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?

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

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

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?

Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine?

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

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

• SOURCES
  • Sam 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.

• RESOURCES
  • Free 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).

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’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? 

Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity?

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

Also: do self-help books really help?

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

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?

• SOURCES:
  • Bradley Bond, professor of communication studies at the University of San Diego.
  • John Cacioppo, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.
  • Joe Cobbs, professor of marketing at Northern Kentucky University.
  • Nick Epley, professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago.
  • Katy Milkman, professor of operations, information, and decisions at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University.
  • Anuj Shah, professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago.

• RESOURCES:
  • "Knowledge About Others Reduces One’s Own Sense of Anonymity," by Anuj K. Shah and Michael LaForest (Nature, 2022).
  • "Tragic but True: How Podcasters Replaced Our Real Friends," by Rachel Aroesti (The Guardian, 2021).
  • "The Development and Influence of Parasocial Relationships With Television Characters: A Longitudinal Experimental Test of Prejudice Reduction Through Parasocial Contact," by Bradley J. Bond (Communication Research, 2020).
  • "A Mind like Mine: The Exceptionally Ordinary Underpinnings of Anthropomorphism," by Nicholas Epley (Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2018).
  • "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance," by Angela Duckworth (TED, 2013).
  • "How Soap Operas Changed the World," by Stephanie Hegarty (BBC, 2012).
  • "The Power of TV: Cable Television and Women's Status in India," by Robert Jensen and Emily Oster (The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2009).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Can A.I. Companions Replace Human Connection?" by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • "Rivalry," by Tell Me Something I Don't Know (2017).
  • Behavior Change for Good Initiative.
  • Everything Is Alive.
  • The Know Rivalry Project.

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?

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

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?

• SOURCES:
  • Ophelia Deroy, chair of the department of philosophy of mind and cognitive neuroscience at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
  • Kory Floyd, professor of communications at the University of Arizona.
  • Harry Harlow, 20th-century American psychologist.
  • Sirin Kale, associate editor at Vice.
  • Christy Kane, clinical mental health counselor.
  • Carmen Rasmusen Herbert, country music artist and columnist.
  • Virginia Satir, 20th-century clinical social worker and family therapist.

• RESOURCES:
  • "A Systematic Review and Multivariate Meta-Analysis of the Physical and Mental Health Benefits of Touch Interventions," by Julian Packheiser, Helena Hartmann, Kelly Fredriksen, Valeria Gazzola, Christian Keysers, and Frédéric Michon (Nature Human Behaviour, 2024).
  • "WHO Advises Immediate Skin to Skin Care for Survival of Small and Preterm Babies," by the World Health Organization (2022).
  • "Affective Interpersonal Touch in Close Relationships: A Cross-Cultural Perspective," by Agnieszka Sorokowska, Supreet Saluja, Ilona Croy, et al. (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2021).
  • "Results Revealed for The Touch Test: The World’s Largest Study of Touch," (BBC Media Centre, 2020).
  • "How 8-Second Hugs Can Counteract the Negative Side Effects From Electronics," by Carmen Rasmusen Herbert (Deseret News, 2018).
  • "Confidence is Higher in Touch Than in Vision in Cases of Perceptual Ambiguity," by Merle T. Fairhurst, Eoin Travers, Vincent Hayward, and Ophelia Deroy (Nature: Scientific Reports, 2018).
  • "The Life of the Skin-Hungry: Can You Go Crazy from a Lack Of Touch?" by Sirin Kale (Vice, 2016).
  • "Warm Partner Contact Is Related to Lower Cardiovascular Reactivity," by Karen M. Grewen, Bobbi J. Anderson, Susan S. Girdler, and Kathleen C. Light (Behavioral Medicine, 2010).
  • "The Nature of Love," by Harry Harlow (American Psychologist, 1958).

• EXTRAS:
  • "Did Covid-19 Kill the Handshake?" by No Stupid Questions (2020).

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. 

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

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

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.

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

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

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?

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

Also: why is music so memorable?

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

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

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? 

• SOURCES:
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, 18th-19th century composer and pianist.
  • Jen Christensen, reporter and producer at CNN.
  • Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, professor of management & organizations at Northwestern University.
  • Sigmund Freud, neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis.
  • Shirley MacLaine, actor.
  • George Vaillant, professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.
  • Ali Wong, comedian.

• RESOURCES:
  • "The Sad Clown: The Deep Emotions Behind Stand-Up Comedy," by Jen Christensen (CNN, 2018).
  • "Neuroticism," by Jennifer L. Tackett and Benjamin B. Lahey (The Oxford handbook of the Five Factor Model, 2017).
  • "Thinking Too Much: Self-Generated Thought as the Engine of Neuroticism," by Adam M. Perkins, Danilo Arnone, Jonathan Smallwood, and Dean Mobbs (Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2015).
  • "Survivor Mission: Do Those Who Survive Have a Drive to Thrive at Work?" by Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, Elizabeth Shulman, and Angela Duckworth (The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2014).
  • "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).
  • "Adaptive Mental Mechanisms: Their Role in a Positive Psychology," by George Vaillant (American Psychologist, 2000).
  • The Harvard Study of Adult Development.

• EXTRAS:
  • Big Five Personality Inventory, by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • “Personality: The Big Five,” series by No Stupid Questions (2024).
  • Terms of Endearment, film by James L. Brooks (1983).
  • "Invictus," poem by William Ernest Henley (1888).

Also: how does age affect happiness?