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No Stupid Questions

Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of Grit) and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So they have a podcast where they can ask each other as many “stupid questions” as they want. New episodes each week. No Stupid Questions is a production of the Freakonomics Radio Network.

Listen here or follow No Stupid Questions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,  YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. We also provide transcripts, show notes, and links to research for each episode.

Episode No.
Date
Length
No. 81

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money?

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?

1/9/22
29:13
No. 80

Is a “Success Hangover” Real?

Why are great accomplishments often followed by disappointment? Is it better to win and feel bummed out than to never have won at all? And where was ping-pong invented?

1/2/22
29:34
No. 79

Why Do We Root for Underdogs?

Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show.

12/26/21
37:21
No. 78

Why Do We Put Things Off Until the Very Last Minute?

Also: what does your name say about who you are?

12/19/21
38:29
No. 77

How Can You Avoid Boredom?

Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk?

12/12/21
38:44
No. 76

Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along?

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

12/5/21
38:33
No. 30

Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar? (Replay)

Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing?

11/28/21
35:59
No. 75

How Do You Deal With Intrusive Thoughts?

Also: how much does confidence really matter?

11/21/21
39:10
No. 74

Does Reverse Psychology Really Work?

Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity?

11/14/21
37:25
No. 73

Is It Okay to Engage in “Social Loafing”?

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

11/7/21
36:16
No. 72

If Everyone Hates Meetings, Why Do We Have So Many of Them?

Also: why do so many people feel lost in their 20s?

10/31/21
40:55
No. 71

Why Is Pig Milk the One Milk We Don’t Drink?

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

10/24/21
28:34
No. 31

How Much Do Your Friends Affect Your Future? (Replay)

Also: which professions have the happiest people?

10/17/21
39:17
No. 70

In a Job Interview, How Much Does Timing Matter?

Also: why is it smart to ignore what your podcast hosts look like?

10/10/21
38:28
No. 69

How Can You Convince Someone They’re Wrong?

Also: what’s the best way to handle rejection?

10/3/21
39:02
No. 68

Why Do We Want What We Can’t Have?

Also: why are humans still so tribal?

9/26/21
36:42
No. 67

How Can You Escape Binary Thinking?

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

9/19/21
41:03
No. 66

When Is It OK to Tell a Lie?

Also: is obsessing over your mental health bad for your mental health?

9/12/21
38:12
No. 24

Why Do We Forget So Much of What We’ve Read? (Replay)

Also: do we overestimate or underestimate our significance in other people’s lives?

9/5/21
36:11
No. 65

What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received?

Also: why don’t you need a license to become a parent?

8/29/21
40:09
No. 22

Why Do We Buy Things We Never Use? (Replay)

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

8/22/21
34:12
No. 64

Are Women Required to Be Nicer Than Men?

Also: should you feel guilty if you don’t read books?

8/15/21
38:30
No. 63

How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.”

Also: life is good — so why aren’t you happy?

8/8/21
40:25
No. 62

How Can You Escape a Drama Triangle?

Also: how do awards affect motivation?

8/1/21
40:52
No. 61

Should We Just Ignore Our Weaknesses?

Also: why do we like what we like?

7/25/21
35:17
No. 60

Why Do We Complain?

Also: what do you really mean when you say you “don’t have time”?

7/18/21
33:30
No. 59

Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything?

Also: why is music so memorable?

7/11/21
40:23
No. 13

How Can You Stop Comparing Yourself With Other People? (Replay)

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation?

7/3/21
35:07
No. 58

What’s So Gratifying About Gossip?

Also: why do people hate small talk?

6/27/21
38:58
No. 57

Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why?

Also: what does your desired superpower say about you?

6/20/21
38:10
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