Question of the Day

How do two friends say goodbye to each other? If you're Stephen Dubner and James Altucher, you do so by recording a podcast. Question of the Day has produced 177 episodes and a live special over the span of just one year, and now our hosts are putting the show on hiatus in order to launch and grow their other endeavors. On today's final episode, for now, hear James and Stephen talk about goodbyes, backgammon matches, what they've learned, and what they'll miss once this episode comes to a close.This episode is sponsored by Squarespace.

Why didn't Stephen invite James to his children's bar and bat mitzvahs? Did it have something to do with how James acted at Stephen's 50th birthday party? Today, James and Stephen contemplate what it's like making new friends as middle-aged introverts compared to during adolescence, and discuss how it's easier to broadcast your social signals as mature adults.

Is it more important to set an actual price when you're negotiating a deal, or to control the terms on which a price is to be set? When James was selling his first company, he ended up with millions less than he anticipated because the other party tipped the scales in their favor. Now, James uses this same technique in his own favor when he's sitting at the negotiating table. Learn more about this technique and how Stephen crowdsourced the asking price of his house on today's Question of the Day.This episode is sponsored by Warby Parker.

Two questions in one day? Today, James and Stephen take on questions from two listeners who want to know if a more active and socially engaged electorate would create a better political system. Would the populace actually be better informed by watching cable news on a regular basis and reading their tabloid or broadsheet of choice, or would they just be further cementing the ideological divide that media outlets are polarized to? Our hosts also discuss the potential for compulsory mail-in and internet voting and see if maybe the Swiss are on to something that America's missing.This episode is sponsored by Squarespace.

What's the greatest factor that lead to Donald Trump securing the Republican presidential nomination? If you're Stephen Dubner, you'll say that electoral politics is a form of entertainment and Donald Trump has put in lots of deliberate practice as an entertainer, while 'traditional' politicians only appear in the spotlight every two-to-six years. However, will Trump's entertaining expertise and the billions of dollars of free airtime he's receiving be enough to secure the White House?This episode is sponsored by Wealthfront Veritone.

You have to get uptown to your office for a meeting. You can hail an Uber and be there in 8 minutes, or you can walk and arrive in 24 minutes. Which option is the "lazy" one? This disagreement is the crux of today's conversation about what constitutes laziness and to what degree it is actually a productive creative trait. Would you pay to sit in the car and arrive quickly, or do the exercise but arrive later than the person you're meeting?This episode is sponsored by Magoosh.

If NASA were to give the opportunity to leave everything behind and settle on Mars, with no return ticket, would you take them up on the offer? Some might jump at the offer, but many people haven't even explored outside of their own country, nonetheless planet. Today, James and Stephen discuss the prospects of leaving the Earth, literally, as well as what other options might present themselves for people who aren't trying to escape the bulk of humanity.

Are Stephen and James recommending "The Purge"? No, but today they and QOD social media followers are chiming in on what single law they think should be eliminated. James channels his inner-Ron Paul and makes a stance that the FDA should be abolished or drastically weakened, but can he convince Stephen that it's a legitimately good idea?

What can James take away from having a comedian in the booth with him for four days? Today, on Marina Franklin's final guest co-hosting episode, James and Stephen give Marina a lightning round of questions about comedy and the comedy business. Some of the topics touched upon include: Getting your set ready for late night talk shows, Jerry Seinfeld's mom jeans, and Marina's one piece of advice for up-and-coming comedians.This episode is sponsored by Magoosh.

How do you when your podcast co-host sponsors the same English soccer team as you? What about when your comedian friend gets her own TV show and major movie deals? The intersection of competition and cooperation are just the beginning of today's engaging conversation between our hosts and guest Marina Franklin.