No Stupid Questions

Are things really as bad as they seem? Has Gen Z given up hope for the world? And why was the father of positive psychology a lifelong pessimist?   SOURCES: Albert Bandura , professor of psychology at Stanford University. David Brooks , author and opinion columnist .  Andrew Grove , former C.E.O. and chairman of Intel Corporation. Kalev Leetaru , founder of the GDELT Project. Steven Maier , profes...

Does a surplus of information create a shortage of attention? Are today’s young people really unable to focus? And do goldfish need better PR?    SOURCES: Neil Bradbury , professor of physiology at Rosalind Franklin University. Nicholas Carr , writer and journalist. Johann Hari , writer and journalist. Charles Howard , University Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity & Community at the Uni...

What’s the difference between narcissism and high self-esteem? Does social media fuel arrogance or self-consciousness? And do people get less toxic with age?    SOURCES: Brené Brown , research professor at the University of Houston and visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin. Jonathan Haidt , professor of social psychology at the New York University Stern School of Bu...

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?   SOURCES: Joel Waldfogel , professor of strategic management & entrepreneurship at the University of Minnesota.   RESOURCES: “ How to Become a Truly Excellent Gift Giver ,” by Eliza Brooke ( Vox, 2022). “ How to Calculate a Holiday Tip for the D...

How does social media exploit our evolutionary instincts? How dangerous is it to post about your children online? And does Angela regret talking about her daughters on the podcast?   SOURCES: Erin Carbone , visiting assistant professor of social and decision sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. Jimmy Kimmel , comedian and late-night television host. George Loewenstein , professor of economics a...

Would you steal Halloween candy? Should people be required to identify themselves online?  And why did Angela go trick-or-treating in a trash bag?    SOURCES: Hajo Adam , professor of management at the University of Bath. Marianna Cerini , journalist. Edward Diener , professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois. Adam Galinsky , professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia Busin...

Is it better to explain a mistake or just accept responsibility? What’s the difference between an excuse and a justification? And why is it important to remember that you’re not a pizzeria on the Jersey Shore?    SOURCES: Robert Cialdini , professor of psychology at Arizona State University. Raymond Higgins , professor emeritus of psychology at University of Kansas. Martin Seligman , professor of...

What’s wrong with donating to charity for the tax write-off? Should we think less of people who do volunteer work to pad their resumes? And why is Angela stopping women in public parks to compliment them?   SOURCES: Bill Gates , co-founder of Microsoft and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Geoffrey Goodwin , professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Jon Huntsman , politician, d...

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....

When are negative emotions enjoyable? Are we all a little masochistic? And do pigs like hot sauce?   SOURCES: Carol Dweck , professor of psychology at Stanford University. Sigmund Freud , neurologist and father of psychoanalysis. Paul Rozin , professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Robert Sapolsky , professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. George...

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 p...

Who decided that we’re fully mature at 18? Should 16-year-olds have the right to vote? And why are young people bringing their parents to job interviews?   SOURCES: Jeffrey Arnett , senior research scholar in psychology at Clark University. Julie Beck , staff writer at The Atlantic . Grace Icenogle , confinement prevention administrator in the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families...

What are Mike and Angela’s favorite songs to cry to? Can upbeat music lift you out of a bad mood? And what is Angela going to sing the next time she does karaoke?   SOURCES: Matthew Desmond , professor of sociology at Princeton University. Daniel Kahneman , professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University. Joshua Knobe , professor of philosophy, psychology, and linguisti...

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...

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 (Mos...

Why does the U.S. use Fahrenheit when Celsius is better? Would you quit your job if a coin flip told you to? And how do you get an entire country to drive on the other side of the road?   SOURCES: Christian Crandall , professor of psychology at the University of Kansas. Stephen Dubner , host of Freakonomics Radio and co-author of the Freakonomics books. Scott Eidelman , professor of psychology at...

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 Ishi...

Do you see yourself the same way others see you? What’s the difference between self-perception and self-awareness? And why do Mike and Angela both hate fishing?   SOURCES: Luis von Ahn , co-founder and C.E.O. of Duolingo; former chair of the board at Character Lab. Paul DePodesta , chief strategy officer of the Cleveland Browns; former baseball executive. Daniel Kahneman , professor emeritus of ps...

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 ar...

Should government jobs have mandatory retirement ages? Is it foolish to care about your legacy? And why did Jason always call Angela’s father “Dr. Lee”?   SOURCES: William Bridges , professor emeritus of American literature at Mills College, consultant, and author. Arthur Brooks , professor of leadership at Harvard University. Jimmy Carter , former President of the United States and founder of the...

Do you get your principles from your parents — or in spite of them? Is there anything wrong with valuing conformity? And why doesn’t McDonald’s sell salads?    SOURCES: Erika James , dean of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Olivia Rodrigo , singer-songwriter. Shalom Schwartz , professor emeritus of psychology at the Hebrew ‎‎University of Jerusalem. Thomas Talhelm...

How is the brain affected by solitary confinement? How would you deal with being stranded on a deserted island? And do baby monkeys make the best therapists?    SOURCES: William Broyles Jr. , screenwriter, journalism, and former U.S. Marine Corps officer. Beatriz Flamini , Spanish mountaineer. Craig Haney , professor of psychology at the University of California Santa Cruz. Harry Harlow , 20th-cen...

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 psy...

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?   SOURCES: Max Bazerman , professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Deepak Malhotra , professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Elon Musk , owner and C.T.O. of X Corp (formerly Twitter), C.E.O. of Space X,...

Are we using technology to make ourselves numb? What’s the downside of air conditioning? And was Angela the most annoying person in her college classes?   SOURCES: Paul Bloom , professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. Ed Diener , professor emeritus at the University of Illinois. Michael Easter , author. Alex Hutchinson , journalist. Shigehiro Oishi , professor of psychology at the Uni...