No Stupid Questions

Psychology & Relationships

About

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. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

Episodes

  • 74. Does Reverse Psychology Really Work?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses if reverse psychology works and the impact of family history on identity.

  • 73. Is It Okay to Engage in “Social Loafing”?

    This episode of "No Stupid Questions" discusses social loafing and the benefits of being part of a team, even when failing. It originally aired on November 7th, 2021.

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

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the reasons behind the abundance of meetings and why many people experience a sense of being lost in their twenties. The episode originally aired on October 31st, 2021.

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

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why pig milk is not consumed and explores different food preferences. The episode was originally aired on October 24, 2021.

  • 70. In a Job Interview, How Much Does Timing Matter?

    This episode of "No Stupid Questions" discusses the importance of timing in job interviews. It also touches on why it might be beneficial to disregard the appearance of podcast hosts.

  • 69. How Can You Convince Someone They’re Wrong?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses strategies for convincing someone they are wrong and how to handle rejection. It originally aired on October 3, 2021.

  • 68. Why Do We Want What We Can’t Have?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why humans desire what they cannot have and why they remain tribal. The episode originally aired on September 26, 2021.

  • 67. How Can You Escape Binary Thinking?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions, originally aired on September 19th, 2021, explores how to escape binary thinking. It also discusses the satisfaction of finding a bargain.

  • 65. What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the best advice the hosts have ever received. It also explores the question of why a license isn't needed to become a parent. This episode originally aired on August 29th, 2021.

  • 64. Are Women Required to Be Nicer Than Men?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions explores the question of whether women are required to be nicer than men. It also considers if people should feel guilty for not reading books.

  • 63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay)

    This episode of "No Stupid Questions" features Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab,” discussing the contagiousness of behavior and the reasons behind varying levels of happiness. Topics include mirroring accents and DJ Khaled. This episode…

  • 62. How Can You Escape a Drama Triangle?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses how to escape a drama triangle. It also considers the impact of awards on motivation.

  • 61. Should We Just Ignore Our Weaknesses?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions explores the idea of ignoring weaknesses. It also delves into why people like the things they like. The episode originally aired on July 25th, 2021.

  • 60. Why Do We Complain?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why people complain and what is implied when someone says they "don't have time." The episode originally aired on July 18, 2021.

  • 59. Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the meaning of dreams and the memorability of music.

  • 58. What’s So Gratifying About Gossip?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the gratification of gossip and why people dislike small talk. It originally aired on June 27th, 2021.

  • 57. Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why?

    This episode discusses the effectiveness of various vaccination incentives. It also explores what a person's desired superpower might indicate about them. The episode originally aired in June 2021.

  • 56. Why Is Academic Writing So Bad?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why academic writing is often considered bad. It also briefly touches on the hosts' perfect day. The episode first aired on June 13th, 2021.

  • 55. What Changes Will Stick When the Pandemic Is Gone?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions, originally aired on June 6th, 2021, discusses what societal changes from the pandemic are likely to persist. It also touches on the concept of a "confirmation-bias vaccine."

  • 54. Do You Really Need a Muse to Be Creative?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the necessity of a muse for creativity and the concept of shortsightedness as a part of human nature.

  • 53. What’s the Secret to Making a Great Prediction?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the secret to making a great prediction and how to recover from a bad day. It originally aired on May 23, 2021.

  • 52. How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the extent to which we should be able to customize our world. It also explores the topic of multitasking and its impact on productivity.

  • 51. What Separates Humans From Other Animals?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses what separates humans from other animals. It also explores why people pace while talking on the phone.

  • 50. Are You as Observant as You Think?

    This episode of "No Stupid Questions" explores how observant people truly are and Angela's accidental discovery of a good night's sleep secret. The episode originally aired on May 2, 2021.

  • 49. How Does Facing Death Change Your Life?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses how facing death can change one's life and examines why people are often poor at assessing risk. The episode originally aired on April 25, 2021.

  • 48. Do Good Deeds Invite More Bad Ones?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses if good deeds invite more bad ones. It also considers the most significant choice one will ever make.

  • 47. Is Laziness Real?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses if laziness is real and explores reasons why people may dislike being alone in public. It originally aired on April 11, 2021.

  • 46. How Can You Stop Feeling So Irritable?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions, originally aired on April 2, 2021, discusses how to stop feeling irritable and examines the nature of impatience.

  • 45. How Much Better Do You Really Want to Be?

    This episode of "No Stupid Questions" discusses the desire for self-improvement and the prevalence of filler language in speech. It originally aired on March 28, 2021.

  • 44. Is Empathy in Fact Immoral?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions, originally aired on March 21, 2021, discusses the question of whether empathy is immoral. It also considers the idea of "going with the wind" versus "being the wind".

  • 43. What Do We Really Learn From Failure?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions, originally aired on March 14, 2021, discusses what lessons can be learned from failure and the role of teasing.

  • 42. How Does When You Are Born Affect Who You Are?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses how the time of year one is born might affect their personality. It also includes an update on Angela's no-sugar challenge.

  • 41. Why Are We So Attracted to Fame?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why people are attracted to fame and whether individuals subconsciously lie about their major influences. It originally aired on February 28, 2021.

  • 40. Have We All Lost Our Ability to Compromise?

    This episode from "No Stupid Questions" discusses the topic of compromise. It also explores the concept of whether it is better to be right or "not wrong."

  • 39. Is Everybody Cheating These Days?

    This episode discusses the prevalence of cheating and the dilemma of whether to acquire new skills or deepen existing ones. It originally aired on February 14, 2021.

  • 38. What Does It Mean to Be a “Good” Man?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions explores the question of what it means to be a "good" man. It also addresses the topic of how to stop ruminating.

  • 37. How Do You Know if People Don’t Like You?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions addresses the question of how to know if people don't like you. It also explores whether self-help books are truly helpful. This episode originally aired on January 31, 2021.

  • 36. Which Matters More, a First or Last Impression?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions explores the importance of first versus last impressions and the relationship between wisdom and age. It originally aired on January 14, 2021.

  • 35. Does Psychotherapy Actually Work?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses the effectiveness of psychotherapy and explores the concept of having multiple "selves." The episode originally aired on January 17, 2021.

  • 34. Are Humans Smarter or Stupider Than We Used to Be?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses whether humans are smarter or stupider than before and how to cultivate curiosity. It was originally released on January 10, 2021.

  • 33. Is Optimism a Luxury Good?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions, originally aired on January 3, 2021, explores the question of whether optimism is a luxury good. It also addresses the common fear of public speaking.

  • 32. Which Gets You Further: Talent or Effort?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions explores the question of whether talent or effort leads to greater success. It also delves into the distinctions between acronyms, initialisms, and gibberish.

  • 31. How Much Do Your Friends Affect Your Future?

    This episode discusses the extent to which friends influence one's future. It also explores professions associated with the happiest individuals.

  • 30. Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar?

    This episode from No Stupid Questions discusses why people seek comfort in familiar things. It also examines the idea that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

  • 29. How Do You Know When It’s Time to Quit?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses how to know when it's time to quit and why predicting success is challenging. It originally aired on November 29, 2020.

  • 28. Why Do We Hoard?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why people hoard. It also explores whether people spend more time thinking about the past, present, or future.

  • 27. How Should You Ask for Forgiveness?

    This episode explores the topic of asking for forgiveness. It also delves into the challenges associated with behavior change. The episode originally aired on November 15, 2020.

  • 26. Do Checklists Make People Stupid?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions explores the question of whether checklists make people stupid. It also discusses the appeal and notable aspects of New York City.

  • 25. Is Hedonism Better Than Self-Control?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses if hedonism is better than self-control. It also touches on the feeling of being inured to the pandemic.

  • 24. Why Do We Forget So Much of What We’ve Read?

    This episode of No Stupid Questions discusses why people forget what they've read. It also explores the concept of overestimating or underestimating one's significance in other people's lives.