Stephen J. Dubner (co-author of the Freakonomics books) and research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of Grit) really like to ask people questions, and came to believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So they made a podcast where they can ask each other as many “stupid questions” as they want.
Listen here or follow No Stupid Questions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. We also provide transcripts, show notes, and links to research for each episode.
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 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: what do you really mean when you say you “don’t have time”?
Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?
Also: what does your desired superpower say about you?
Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine?
Also: is short-sightedness 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?
Also: 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 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: do self-help books really help?
Also: does wisdom really come with age?
Also: how can you become a more curious person?
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: is there a downside to billionaire philanthropy?
Also: how do you know if you have a “bad personality”?
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: what is the best question you’ve ever been asked in a job interview?
Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?
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: why do we treat pets better than people?
Also: why can’t humans handle uncertainty already?
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