Stephen Dubner

Okay, to summarize John Van Rienen's economic view, the United States is a hotbed of failure, and that's a good thing. But he is talking about failed business ideas. How about failed relationships?

Okay, to summarize John Van Rienen's economic view, the United States is a hotbed of failure, and that's a good thing. But he is talking about failed business ideas. How about failed relationships?

Okay, to summarize John Van Rienen's economic view, the United States is a hotbed of failure, and that's a good thing. But he is talking about failed business ideas. How about failed relationships?

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio, and you are listening to How to Succeed at Failing. Most of the academic literature on failure is devoted to institutional and business failures. And that makes sense. That's where the money is.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio, and you are listening to How to Succeed at Failing. Most of the academic literature on failure is devoted to institutional and business failures. And that makes sense. That's where the money is.

That's coming up after the break. I'm Stephen Dubner. This is Freakonomics Radio, and you are listening to How to Succeed at Failing. Most of the academic literature on failure is devoted to institutional and business failures. And that makes sense. That's where the money is.

But let's consider another kind of failure, one that is typically the province of poets and occasionally a brave academic researcher.

But let's consider another kind of failure, one that is typically the province of poets and occasionally a brave academic researcher.

But let's consider another kind of failure, one that is typically the province of poets and occasionally a brave academic researcher.

Fisher died in August of 2024, sometime after this interview took place. She had also been chief science advisor for the dating site Match.com. In the course of her research, Fisher learned a great deal about why people start relationships and what happens when they fail.

Fisher died in August of 2024, sometime after this interview took place. She had also been chief science advisor for the dating site Match.com. In the course of her research, Fisher learned a great deal about why people start relationships and what happens when they fail.

Fisher died in August of 2024, sometime after this interview took place. She had also been chief science advisor for the dating site Match.com. In the course of her research, Fisher learned a great deal about why people start relationships and what happens when they fail.

The most obvious failed relationship is a divorce, and divorce is plenty common, but that's only the beginning, or maybe the end.

The most obvious failed relationship is a divorce, and divorce is plenty common, but that's only the beginning, or maybe the end.

The most obvious failed relationship is a divorce, and divorce is plenty common, but that's only the beginning, or maybe the end.

Let's take another step back. As we think about how to succeed at failing, does it make sense to consider a failed relationship and a failed startup as the same species? Do personal and professional failures even belong on the same spectrum? Amy Edmondson, the organizational psychologist, says yes.

Let's take another step back. As we think about how to succeed at failing, does it make sense to consider a failed relationship and a failed startup as the same species? Do personal and professional failures even belong on the same spectrum? Amy Edmondson, the organizational psychologist, says yes.

Let's take another step back. As we think about how to succeed at failing, does it make sense to consider a failed relationship and a failed startup as the same species? Do personal and professional failures even belong on the same spectrum? Amy Edmondson, the organizational psychologist, says yes.

That reminds me of something you wrote in your new book about trying to balance the life of a scholar and the life of a parent here. You wrote, I've missed important Little League games and disappointed both of my sons. The list goes on and on. How do you think about the causes and consequences of a failure like that versus an institutional or organizational failure?

That reminds me of something you wrote in your new book about trying to balance the life of a scholar and the life of a parent here. You wrote, I've missed important Little League games and disappointed both of my sons. The list goes on and on. How do you think about the causes and consequences of a failure like that versus an institutional or organizational failure?