No Stupid Questions

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 swimme...

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...

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 nov...

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 Princeto...

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-cent...

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...

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...

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 Y...

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...

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...

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 Min...

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...

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 ,...

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...

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 Generation...

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 Bas...

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.