No Stupid Questions

By Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Society & Culture

What's No Stupid Questions about?

Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of Grit) really likes to ask people questions, and believes there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So she has a podcast where she and her smartest friends 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.

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Do You Savor or Gobble? (Ep...

06.04.2023

What’s the difference between people who preserve special things and people who devour them right away? Why do we love to binge-watch? And did Adam really eat an apple?

No Stupid Questions episodes:

06.04.2023 Do You Savor or Gobble? (Ep. 91 Replay) What’s the difference between people who preserve special things and people who devour them right away? Why do we love to binge-watch? And did Adam really eat an apple?
05.28.2023 148. What Is Fun, Exactly? Why does time fly when you’re having fun? How do you teach rats to play hide and seek? And what does all this have to do with Anne Boleyn?
05.21.2023 147. Is Nudging Enough? Is it enough to toss a soda can in the recycling? Why is Maria obsessed with Nobel Prize lectures? And wait — is that a news alert or a tiger?
05.14.2023 146. How Do You Avoid Freezing Under Pressure? Should you visualize success or failure? How do you bounce back from a mistake? And will Maria hustle Angela into a poker game?
05.07.2023 145. Do You Have a Scarcity Mindset or an Abundance Mindset? Are highly effective people quicker to share credit? What does poverty do to your brain? And how did Stephen's mother teach him about opportunity costs? Plus: an announcement about the future of the show.
04.30.2023 144. What Should Be the Eighth Deadly Sin? We asked you to nominate the worst sins of the modern age. Which one do Stephen and Angela think belongs on the list? And which does Angie struggle with the most?
04.23.2023 143. How Sinful Are "No Stupid Questions" Listeners? What does the Seven Deadly Sins survey tell us about the people who listen to this podcast? Are we more afflicted by sloth or by lust? And what does Angela mutter under her breath? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: ...
04.16.2023 142. Is Pride the Worst Sin? Is pride an emotion? Where’s the line between self-esteem and hubris? And what does Stephen have against peacocks? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
04.09.2023 141. Is Greed Good? Who’s greedier — gamblers or casinos? What’s the difference between betting on sports and entering a charity raffle? And does Angela know the name of her city’s football team? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
04.02.2023 140. Is Envy Healthy? What does social media do to our self-esteem? How is envy affecting our politics? And should you go to your high school reunion? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
03.26.2023 139. Why Do We Get Angry? What’s the difference between anger and indignation? What’s Angela’s problem with turkey sandwiches? And why wasn’t a "No Stupid Questions" listener angry at the men who assaulted him? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
03.19.2023 138. Why is Everyone Having Less Sex? Are we too busy watching Friends? Is porn driving us apart? And why did New Yorkers stop vacationing in the Catskills? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
03.12.2023 137. Are We All Addicted to Ultra-Processed Foods? Is your favorite treat changing your brain? Why do so many snacks melt in your mouth? And why can’t Stephen replicate his favorite salad dressing? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
03.05.2023 136. Is Sloth a Sin or a Virtue? How can we distinguish between laziness and patience? Why do people do crossword puzzles? And how is Angie like a combination of a quantum computer and a Sherman tank? Take the Seven Deadly Sins survey: freakonomics.com/nsq-sins/
02.26.2023 135. What Should You Do on Your Birthday? Birthdays! Why do Americans prefer Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July to theirs? Why do they make Stephen think of molasses and chicken feed? And is “Happy Birthday” the worst song ever written?
02.19.2023 134. Will You Live to Be 100? How far would you go to extend your life? What’s the best way to stay sharp as your brain ages? And does Keith Richards deserve a Nobel Prize?
02.12.2023 Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money? (Ep. 81 Replay) 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?
02.05.2023 133. Can You Really Work on an Airplane? Are those travelers on their laptops just showing off? Why does V8 taste better at 35,000 feet? And why won't Angela chat with her seatmate?
01.29.2023 132. Is It Wrong to Enjoy Yourself While the World Is Burning? Are things as dire as they seem? How big is your moral circle? And should Angela spend time with her kids or answer her emails?
01.22.2023 131. Why Do We Cry? Is sobbing a survival tactic? What happened when Angela wept in front of her boss? And what do sauerkraut and sadness have in common?
01.15.2023 130. Why Is It So Hard to Resist Temptation? Why are people so inconsistent? Is there such a thing as character? And did Stephen once have the world's longest chain of gum wrappers?
01.08.2023 129. Why Do We Cheat, and Why Shouldn’t We? Is there such a thing as a victimless crime? In an unfair system, is dishonesty okay? And are adolescent vandals out of ideas?
01.01.2023 What’s So Great About Retirement? (Ep. 87 Replay) How do you know when it’s the right time to retire? What does a “good” retirement look like? And will Stephen and Angela ever really hang up their hats?
12.25.2022 128. How Can You Give Better Gifts? 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?
12.18.2022 127. How Can You Be a Better Communicator? How do you express yourself when you're not sure what you want to say? What’s the number one way to get people to listen to you? And why are letters to advice columns always well-written? Plus: An update to the ...
12.11.2022 126. Why Do People Love Horror Movies? When are negative emotions enjoyable? Are we all a little masochistic? And do pigs like hot sauce?
12.04.2022 125. Should We Replace Umpires With Robots? What do gamblers and referees have in common? When do machines make better decisions than people? And has Stephen been replaced by a computer?
11.27.2022 124. How Do You Stop Grinding Your Teeth? How can you break a bad habit if you’re not aware that you’re doing it? Does Barack Obama grind his teeth? And is Angela’s dentist a crook?
11.20.2022 123. What’s Wrong With Coveting? What’s the difference between schadenfreude and sadism? Can envy be put to good use? And how do you teach a kid to punch a clown?
11.13.2022 When Is It OK to Tell a Lie? (Replay from Ep. 66) Can a little dishonesty be a good thing? How many fibs does Angela tell every day? And why does Stephen have a forehead?
11.06.2022 122. Is Family Overrated? If you’re frustrated with your family, should you cut ties with them? Who’s more likely to break with relatives over politics, liberals or conservatives? And what would it take for Stephen to buy a baby elephant?
10.30.2022 121. How Good Are Your Snap Judgments? How much can you tell about someone from the first few seconds of a Zoom call? What did Stephen think of Angie when he first met her? And: a special message to babies from the future.
10.23.2022 120. Why Are Rich Countries So Unhappy? How does comparing yourself to others affect your well-being? What do you do when there’s no one left to blame? And should we all just move to Finland?
10.16.2022 119. J*s Ct, Angela, Why Are You Such a F*ing Potty-Mouth? What’s the purpose of profanity? Why is cursing on the rise? And will Angela finally swear off swearing?
10.09.2022 118. How Do You Keep Winter From Getting You Down? How should you treat Seasonal Affective Disorder? Would we all be happier if we hibernated? And why does Stephen think football fans have an easier time?
10.02.2022 117. What’s Wrong With Holding a Grudge? How do you let go of resentment? Do apologies even work? And what grievances have Stephen and Angela been nursing for years?
09.25.2022 116. Do People Pay Attention to Signs? Do highway warnings save lives or cost lives? How do you keep men from peeing on the floor? And what’s Angela’s plan to get more people washing their hands?
09.18.2022 115. Are You Having a Midlife Crisis? How is aging different today than it was in the past? What do young people get wrong about happiness? And what does it mean if you impulsively decide to get your ear pierced in an unusual place?
09.11.2022 114. Can You Learn to Love Hard Work? Can exercising your body boost your brain's stamina? Are some people just born lazy? And why did Angela stop reading “Us Weekly”?
09.04.2022 113. How Can You Improve Your Mental Endurance? Why do some activities tire your brain more than others? How exhausting is poverty? And could most of the world’s problems be solved with a sandwich?
08.28.2022 112. Is It Okay to Hate Highbrow Culture? Are Europeans more sophisticated than Americans? What’s wrong with preferring Taylor Swift to Puccini? And is Steve Levitt “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob”?
08.21.2022 111. Would You Be Happier if You Lived Someplace Else? Will Angela finally break up with Philadelphia? Is New York really the unhappiest city in the U.S.? And are there trash tornadoes in the metaverse?
08.14.2022 110. Why Is Angela Stepping Down as C.E.O. of the Nonprofit She Founded? Are you a problem solver or an opportunity seeker? Why is it so hard to find a good leader these days? And could you be Angela’s next boss?
08.07.2022 What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received? (Replay from Ep. 65) What risks are worth taking? When should you ignore feedback and go with your gut? And what did Stephen learn on a fishing trip with the town barber?
07.31.2022 109. What Is the Purpose of Embarrassment? What’s worse: shame, guilt, or humiliation? Does Angela have psychopathic tendencies? And where’s the worst place to sit at a magic show?
07.24.2022 108. Should You Try to Be Less Angry? What is the purpose of negative emotions? Why do we engage with things we know will upset us? And how does Angie deal with rejection?
07.17.2022 107. Is It Worth It for Charities to Harass Their Donors? Is it O.K. to bother people for a good cause? Why do people donate to charity in the first place? And do those personalized address labels actually make people get out their checkbooks?
07.10.2022 106. Did Your Early Childhood Determine the Course of Your Life? Are we all either secure, avoidant, or anxious? How does your relationship with your parents shape your romantic partnerships? And what is Stephen’s attachment style?
07.03.2022 How Does Facing Death Change Your Life? (Replay from Ep. 49) Are you more likely to experience post-traumatic stress or post-traumatic growth? How does belief in the afterlife affect how you view death? And why did Angela hike a deadly gorge with her ex-boyfriend?
06.26.2022 105. Should You Give Kids an Allowance or Make Them Get Jobs? How do kids learn about money? What’s the big problem with education? And who made "Raiders of the Lost Ark?"

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