No Stupid Questions - podcast cover

No Stupid Questions

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcherfreakonomics.com
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.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

18. How Do You Raise a “Likable” Kid?

Also: what’s so great about friendship? This episode originally aired on September 13, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 20, 202530 minEp. 18

17. How Can We Get More Virtue and Less ‘Virtue Signaling’?

Also: is it better to be a thinker, a doer, or a charmer? This episode originally aired on September 6, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 13, 202533 minEp. 17

16. What’s the Downside to Being Goal-Oriented?

Also: how does a cook become a chef? With Gabrielle Hamilton. This episode originally aired on August 30, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apr 06, 202532 minEp. 16

15. How Much of Your Life Do You Actually Control?

Also: why do we procrastinate? This episode originally aired on August 23, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 30, 202537 minEp. 15

14. Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?

Also: what is the best question you’ve ever been asked in a job interview? This episode originally aired on August 16, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 23, 202524 minEp. 14

13. How Can You Stop Comparing Yourself With Other People?

Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation? This episode originally aired on August 9, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 16, 202534 minEp. 13

12. Does “As If” Thinking Really Work?

Also: how effective is the placebo effect? This episode originally aired on August 2, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 09, 202533 minEp. 12

11. Are Ambitious People Inherently Selfish?

Also: why do we habituate to life’s greatest pleasures? This episode originally aired on July 26, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 02, 202536 minEp. 11

10. Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics?

Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true? This episode originally aired on July 19, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 23, 202530 minEp. 10

9. Why Is It So Hard to Be Alone With Our Thoughts?

Also: how do you avoid screwing up your kids? This episode originally aired on July 12, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 16, 202534 minEp. 9

8. Wouldn’t It Be Better to Hear Your Eulogy Before You’re Dead?

Also: how does a comedian cope with tragedy? With Eugene Mirman. This episode originally aired on July 5, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 09, 202537 minEp. 8

7. How Do You Handle Criticism?

Also: is it better to send a congratulatory note to someone who deserves it or a condolence note to someone who needs it? This episode originally aired on June 28, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 02, 202530 minEp. 7

6. Is Incompetence a Form of Dishonesty?

Also: should we all have personal mission statements? This episode originally aired on June 21, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 26, 202539 minEp. 6

5. What Do Tom Sawyer and the Founder of Duolingo Have in Common?

Also: is there such a thing as too much science? Plus, our special guest, Luis von Ahn, an inventor of CAPTCHA and a pioneer of free online language learning. This episode originally aired on June 14, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 19, 202530 minEp. 5

4. Does All Creativity Come From Pain?

Also: is life precious because it’s finite? This episode originally aired on June 7, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 12, 202532 minEp. 4

3. What Does It Mean to Be a “Hard Worker”?

Also: how does age affect happiness? This episode originally aired on May 31, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 05, 202527 minEp. 3

2. What is the Optimal Way to Be Angry?

Also: why do we treat pets better than people? This episode originally aired on May 24, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 29, 202435 minEp. 2

1. Did Covid-19 Kill the Handshake?

Also: why can't humans handle uncertainty already? We’re replaying No Stupid Questions, starting here with the very first episode, from May 17, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 22, 202439 minEp. 1

223. What About All the Questions We Haven’t Answered?

How can you learn to love uncertainty? Is it better to cultivate acceptance or strive for change? And, after 223 episodes, what is the meaning of life? SOURCES: Jessica Alquist , professor of psychology at Texas Tech University. Roy Baumeister , professor of psychology at The University of Queensland. Raymond Carver , 20th-century American short story writer and poet. Stephen Colbert , comedian and late-night TV host. Matt Damon , actor and film producer. Viktor Frankl , 20th-century Austrian ne...

Dec 15, 202444 minEp. 223

222. What Makes an Idea Interesting?

What do Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Malcolm Gladwell have in common? Are interesting theories more significant than true ones? And what has been keeping Angela up at night? Plus: an important announcement about the show. SOURCES: Charles Darwin , 19th-century naturalist and biologist. Murray Davis , cultural sociologist. Malcolm Gladwell , journalist and author. Adam Grant , professor of management and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. B. F. Skinner , 20th-century American psycholo...

Dec 08, 202435 minEp. 222

Is It Weird for Adults to Have Imaginary Friends? (Replay)

Why does listening to No Stupid Questions feel like you’re hanging out with your best friends? Why did the whole world take it personally when Princess Diana died? And how do “parasocial relationships” affect your mental health? SOURCES: Bradley Bond , professor of communication studies at the University of San Diego. John Cacioppo , professor of psychology at the University of Chicago. Joe Cobbs , professor of marketing at Northern Kentucky University. Nick Epley , professor of behavioral scien...

Dec 01, 202436 minEp. 100

221. Why Are We So Pessimistic?

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 , professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder. Michelle Obama , attorney, author...

Nov 24, 202439 minEp. 221

220. Is Your Attention Span Shrinking?

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 University of Pennsylvania. Felicity Huntingford , emeritus professor of functional ecology at the uni...

Nov 17, 202437 minEp. 220

219. How Do You Identify a Narcissist?

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 Business. Michael Lewis , author. Cooper McAllister , senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. Jean Twen...

Nov 10, 202441 minEp. 219

How Can You Give Better Gifts? (Replay)

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 Doorman ,” by Ronda Kaysen ( The New York Times, 2022). “ Least Favorite Gifts to Receive for Christm...

Nov 07, 202438 minEp. 128

218. Why Do Parents Overshare on Social Media?

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 and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. Taylor Swift , singer-songwriter. Christie Tate , essayis...

Nov 03, 202435 minEp. 218

217. What Happens When You Put on a Costume?

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 Business School. J. Nathan Matias , assistant professor at the Cornell University Departments of Communicatio...

Oct 27, 202441 minEp. 217

216. Why Do We Make Excuses?

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 psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Rick Snyder , professor emeritus of psychology at Univers...

Oct 20, 202438 minEp. 216

215. Is It Okay to Do the Right Thing for the Wrong Reason?

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, diplomat, and businessman. Immanuel Kant , 18th-century German philosopher. Emrys Westacott , profe...

Oct 13, 202435 minEp. 215

214. What Does It Take to Survive a Scandal?

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. presidents. Benjamin Ho , professor and chair of economics at Vassar College. Monica Lewinsky , activi...

Oct 06, 202438 minEp. 214
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android