Freakonomics Radio

680. Can Universities Win Back Our Trust?

Listen Later

Dartmouth president Sian Beilock, a psychologist by training, made her name studying why people choke. Now she’s applying those insights to one of the most scrutinized jobs in America. No pressure!

 

  • SOURCES:
    • Sian Beilock, president of Dartmouth College.

      •  

      • RESOURCES:
        • "Growing share of Americans say the U.S. higher education system is headed in the wrong direction," by Kim Parker (Pew Research Center, 2025).
        • "Standardized Test Scores and Academic Performance at Ivy-Plus Colleges," by John N. Friedman, Bruce Sacerdote, Douglas O. Staiger, and Michele Tine (NBER, 2025).
        • "Americans’ Trust in One Another," by Laura Silver, Scott Keeter, Stephanie Kramer, Jordan Lippert, Sofia Hernandez Ramones, Alan Cooperman, Chris Baronavski, and Bill Webster (Pew Research Center, 2025).
        • Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To, by Sian Beilock (2011)

          •  

          • EXTRAS:
            • "Why Does Vanderbilt Keep Winning?" by Freakonomics Radio (2026).
            • "'A Low Moment in Higher Education,'" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
            • "'If We’re All in It for Ourselves, Who Are We?'" by Freakonomics Radio (2024).
            • "Why We Choke Under Pressure (and How Not To)," by Freakonomics Radio (2018).

              • Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store
              Freakonomics RadioBy Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5
              • 4.5

              4.5

              30,597 ratings

              More shows like Freakonomics Radio

              View all
              This American Life by This American Life

              This American Life

              90,994 Listeners

              TED Radio Hour by NPR

              TED Radio Hour

              21,790 Listeners

              Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

              Stuff You Should Know

              78,636 Listeners

              Radiolab by WNYC Studios

              Radiolab

              43,898 Listeners

              Fresh Air by NPR

              Fresh Air

              38,062 Listeners

              Planet Money by NPR

              Planet Money

              30,666 Listeners

              Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

              Hidden Brain

              43,528 Listeners

              99% Invisible by Roman Mars

              99% Invisible

              26,197 Listeners

              Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast by Earwolf and Scott Aukerman

              Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast

              13,243 Listeners

              Marketplace by Marketplace

              Marketplace

              8,776 Listeners

              The Sporkful by Dan Pashman

              The Sporkful

              3,938 Listeners

              The Daily by The New York Times

              The Daily

              111,948 Listeners

              Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

              Ologies with Alie Ward

              24,554 Listeners

              The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

              The Indicator from Planet Money

              9,532 Listeners

              Throughline by NPR

              Throughline

              16,399 Listeners

              No Dogs in Space by The Last Podcast Network

              No Dogs in Space

              2,239 Listeners

              No Stupid Questions by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              No Stupid Questions

              3,626 Listeners

              The Walkout by SiriusXM

              The Walkout

              185 Listeners

              Coaches Clubhouse by SiriusXM

              Coaches Clubhouse

              32 Listeners

              SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

              SmartLess

              58,066 Listeners

              Rise and Schein by SiriusXM

              Rise and Schein

              115 Listeners

              People I (Mostly) Admire by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

              People I (Mostly) Admire

              2,027 Listeners

              Aussie Football Rules America with Eddie McGuire by SiriusXM

              Aussie Football Rules America with Eddie McGuire

              22 Listeners

              Book Club with Michael Smerconish by SiriusXM

              Book Club with Michael Smerconish

              88 Listeners

              Shattering Gleam: A Podcast About Music and Gender by SiriusXM

              Shattering Gleam: A Podcast About Music and Gender

              18 Listeners

              LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City by The Last Podcast Network

              LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

              432 Listeners

              The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

              The Mel Robbins Podcast

              19,524 Listeners

              Andy Cohen’s Daddy Diaries Podcast by SiriusXM

              Andy Cohen’s Daddy Diaries Podcast

              417 Listeners

              Owned with Rex Chapman by SmartLess Media

              Owned with Rex Chapman

              163 Listeners

              The Economics of Everyday Things by Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

              The Economics of Everyday Things

              1,637 Listeners

              The Bone Whisperers by SiriusXM & NYU Langone

              The Bone Whisperers

              27 Listeners

              Victoria & Friends by SiriusXM

              Victoria & Friends

              18 Listeners

              Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast by SiriusXM Podcasts

              Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast

              801 Listeners

              Smith Sisters Live Deep Dive by SiriusXM

              Smith Sisters Live Deep Dive

              96 Listeners

              The Trendcast by SiriusXM Media

              The Trendcast

              2 Listeners