No Stupid Questions

Are fantasies helpful or harmful? How is daydreaming like a drug? And what did Angela fantasize about during ninth-grade English class?   SOURCES: Patrick Bet-David , YouTuber and founding C.E.O. of PHP Agency Inc. Barbara Corcoran , "Shark" and executive producer on ABC’s Shark Tank and founder of The Corcoran Group. Peter Gollwitzer , professor of psychology at New York University. Danny Kahnema...

Can you ever really know how another person feels? What’s the best way to support a grieving person? And why doesn’t Hallmark sell empathy cards?    SOURCES: Daniel Batson , professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Kansas. Paul Bloom , professor of psychology at University of Toronto. Paul Polman , businessman, author, and former C.E.O. of Unilever.   RESOURCES: “ Empathy, Sympathy, a...

Why do so many book clubs fall apart? Do the best parties have rules? And does Angela’s husband want to date you?    SOURCES: Fredrik Backman , author. David Chavis , senior fellow at Community Science. Daniel Gilbert , professor of psychology at Harvard University. Sebastian Junger , journalist and author. David McMillan , clinical and community psychologist. Priya Parker , strategic advisor and...

What’s the difference between being popular and being cool? How has social media changed the trend cycle? And what do Taylor Swift and Walmart have in common?   SOURCES: Anette Asp , project manager and research coordinator at the California Institute of Technology. Lalin Anik , professor of marketing at Vrije University Amsterdam. Marc Bain , journalist. Judy Blume , young adult author. Colin Cam...

Why do we tell kids that a fairy will give them cash in exchange for their teeth? How should we talk to them about scary things in the world? And is Mike one of the greatest operatic tenors of all time?    SOURCES: Laura Wheatman Hill , journalist. George Lin , Ph. D. student in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Melinda Wenner Moyer , journalist and author. Luciano Pavarotti , Italian...

WaitWhat C.E.O. Jeff Berman interviews Angela about “grit-scaling” and her unlikely path to academic celebrity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 , neurolog...

Where is the line between a good guy and a doormat? Do people with sharp elbows make more money? And why did Angela’s mother give away her birthday present? Take the Big Five inventory:  freakonomics.com/bigfive   SOURCES: Kristen Bell , actor. Jeff Bezos , founder and executive chairman of Amazon. Harry Connick Jr. , singer, pianist, and actor. Juli Fraga , psychologist and writer. Adam Grant , p...

What’s the difference between being introverted and being shy? What are extroverts so cheerful about? And does Angela’s social battery ever run out? Take the Big Five inventory:  freakonomics.com/bigfive   SOURCES: Susan Cain , author. Will Fleeson , professor of psychology at Wake Forest University. Sigmund Freud , neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis. Adam Grant , professor of management an...

Is it really that important to make your bed? What’s the benefit of hiring a lazy person? And how many cups of spinach can Mike fit in a red Solo cup?   Take the Big Five inventory:  freakonomics.com/bigfive   SOURCES: David Barack , philosopher and neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania. Randall Bell , socio-economist and C.E.O. of Landmark Research Group. Julia Cameron , author, poet,...

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. A...

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 Cambridg...

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 Hepp...

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 ,...

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 Th...

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 psycholo...

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...

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 , 2...

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....

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 , foundin...

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 Bus...

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 K...

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 Instit...

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...

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 fou...