No Stupid Questions
Episodes
57. Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why?
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what does your desired superpower say about you? This episode originally aired on June 20th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...
56. Why Is Academic Writing So Bad?
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what does your perfect day look like? This episode originally aired on June 13th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...
55. What Changes Will Stick When the Pandemic Is Gone?
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine? This episode originally aired on June 6th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.a...
54. Do You Really Need a Muse to Be Creative?
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is shortsightedness part of human nature? This episode originally aired on May 30th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...
53. What’s the Secret to Making a Great Prediction?
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how do you recover from a bad day? This episode originally aired on May 23rd, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.co...
52. How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World?
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: does multitasking actually increase productivity? This episode originally aired on May 16th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...
51. What Separates Humans From Other Animals?
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why do people pace while talking on the phone? This episode originally aired May 9th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ad...
50. Are You as Observant as You Think?
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: Angela accidentally discovers the secret to a good night’s sleep. This episode originally aired on May 2, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWi...
49. How Does Facing Death Change Your Life?
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why are we so bad at assessing risk? This episode originally aired on April 25, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....
48. Do Good Deeds Invite More Bad Ones?
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what is the most significant choice you will ever make? This episode originally aired on April 18, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compan...
47. Is Laziness Real?
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why do we dislike being alone in public? This episode originally aired on April 11, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...
46. How Can You Stop Feeling So Irritable?
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what’s wrong with being impatient? This episode originally aired on April 2, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.c...
45. How Much Better Do You Really Want to Be?
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why do we pad our speech with so much filler language? This episode originally aired on March 28, 2021 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....
44. Is Empathy in Fact Immoral?
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is it better to “go with the wind” or to “be the wind”? This episode originally aired on March 21, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...
43. What Do We Really Learn From Failure?
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what is teasing supposed to accomplish? This episode originally aired on March 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...
42. How Does When You Are Born Affect Who You Are?
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how did Angela do with her no-sugar challenge? This episode originally aired on March 7, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm...
41. Why Are We So Attracted to Fame?
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: do we subconsciously lie about our major influences? This episode originally aired on February 28, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compan...
40. Have We All Lost Our Ability to Compromise?
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is it better to be right or “not wrong”? This episode originally aired on February 21, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See p...
39. Is Everybody Cheating These Days?
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also, what's better: to learn new skills or go deep on what you're good at? This episode originally aired on February 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, ...
38. What Does It Mean to Be a “Good” Man?
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how can you stop ruminating? This episode originally aired on February 7, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com fo...
37. How Do You Know if People Don’t Like You?
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: do self-help books really help? This episode originally aired on January 31, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...
36. Which Matters More, a First or Last Impression?
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: does wisdom really come with age? This episode originally aired on January 14, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.c...
35. Does Psychotherapy Actually Work?
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how many “selves” is it OK to have? This episode originally aired on January 17, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...
34. Are Humans Smarter or Stupider Than We Used to Be?
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how can you become a more curious person? This episode originally aired on January 10, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.a...
33. Is Optimism a Luxury Good?
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why is public speaking so terrifying? This episode originally aired on January 3, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswiz...
32. Which Gets You Further: Talent or Effort?
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: where is the line between acronyms, initialisms, and gibberish? This episode originally aired on December 20, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an Ads...
31. How Much Do Your Friends Affect Your Future?
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: which professions have the happiest people? This episode originally aired on December 13, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...
30. Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar?
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing? This episode originally aired on December 6, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See ...
29. How Do You Know When It’s Time to Quit?
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why is it so hard to predict success? This episode originally aired on November 29, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adsw...
28. Why Do We Hoard?
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: do you spend more time thinking about the past, the present, or the future? This episode originally aired on November 22, 2020. Hosted by Simple...
27. How Should You Ask for Forgiveness?
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why is behavior change so darn hard? This episode originally aired on November 15, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...
26. Do Checklists Make People Stupid?
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what’s so great about New York City anyway? This episode originally aired on November 8, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See p...
25. Is Hedonism Better Than Self-Control?
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is it wrong to feel inured to the pandemic? This episode originally aired on November 1, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm...
24. Why Do We Forget So Much of What We’ve Read?
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: do we overestimate or underestimate our significance in other people’s lives? This episode originally aired on October 25, 2020. Hosted by Sim...
23. Is It Wrong to Crave Praise?
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: should everyone have their own trauma score? This episode originally aired on October 18, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pc...
22. Why Do We Buy Things We’ll Never Use?
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how is social media like a knife? This episode originally aired on October 11, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz...
21. How Can You Identify Hidden Talent? With Eric Schmidt.
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is there a downside to billionaire philanthropy? This episode originally aired on October 4, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. S...
Presenting “Smart Girl Dumb Questions”
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nayeema Raza describes her podcast as “a curiosity party.” In this episode of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, she asks chef and food writer J. Kenji L...
20. Should We Separate the Art From the Artist?
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what is the meaning of life? This episode originally aired on September 27, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.co...
19. Is There Such a Thing as Good Estrangement?
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how do you know if you have a “bad personality”? This episode originally aired on September 20, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz com...
18. How Do You Raise a “Likable” Kid?
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: what’s so great about friendship? This episode originally aired on September 13, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...
17. How Can We Get More Virtue and Less ‘Virtue Signaling’?
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 compa...
16. What’s the Downside to Being Goal-Oriented?
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how does a cook become a chef? With Gabrielle Hamilton. This episode originally aired on August 30, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...
15. How Much of Your Life Do You Actually Control?
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why do we procrastinate? This episode originally aired on August 23, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for inf...
14. Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, a...
13. How Can You Stop Comparing Yourself With Other People?
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how can we stop confusing correlation with causation? This episode originally aired on August 9, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company....
12. Does “As If” Thinking Really Work?
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how effective is the placebo effect? This episode originally aired on August 2, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....
11. Are Ambitious People Inherently Selfish?
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: why do we habituate to life’s greatest pleasures? This episode originally aired on July 26, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...
10. Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics?
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true? This episode originally aired on July 19, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compan...
9. Why Is It So Hard to Be Alone With Our Thoughts?
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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.adswiz...
8. Wouldn’t It Be Better to Hear Your Eulogy Before You’re Dead?
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how does a comedian cope with tragedy? With Eugene Mirman. This episode originally aired on July 5, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...
7. How Do You Handle Criticism?
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 aire...
6. Is Incompetence a Form of Dishonesty?
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: should we all have personal mission statements? This episode originally aired on June 21, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See ...
5. What Do Tom Sawyer and the Founder of Duolingo Have in Common?
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 le...
4. Does All Creativity Come From Pain?
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: is life precious because it’s finite? This episode originally aired on June 7, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswi...
3. What Does It Mean to Be a “Hard Worker”?
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Also: how does age affect happiness? This episode originally aired on May 31, 2020. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com fo...
2. What is the Optimal Way to Be Angry?
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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.adswiz...
1. Did Covid-19 Kill the Handshake?
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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....
223. What About All the Questions We Haven’t Answered?
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
222. What Makes an Idea Interesting?
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Malcolm Gladwell have in common? Are interesting theories more significant than true ones? And what has been kee...
Is It Weird for Adults to Have Imaginary Friends? (Replay)
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Princ...
221. Why Are We So Pessimistic?
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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? SOU...
220. Is Your Attention Span Shrinking?
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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? SO...
219. How Do You Identify a Narcissist?
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the difference between narcissism and high self-esteem? Does social media fuel arrogance or self-consciousness? And do people get less toxic ...
How Can You Give Better Gifts? (Replay)
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
218. Why Do Parents Overshare on Social Media?
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does social media exploit our evolutionary instincts? How dangerous is it to post about your children online? And does Angela regret talking about...
217. What Happens When You Put on a Costume?
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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? ...
216. Why Do We Make Excuses?
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 importan...
215. Is It Okay to Do the Right Thing for the Wrong Reason?
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 A...
214. What Does It Take to Survive a Scandal?
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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? SOUR...
Why Do People Love Horror Movies? (Replay)
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When are negative emotions enjoyable? Are we all a little masochistic? And do pigs like hot sauce? SOURCES:Carol Dweck, professor of psychology at St...
213. What Is Evil?
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes normal people do terrible things? Are there really bad apples — or just bad barrels? And how should you deal with a nefarious next-door n...
212. When Do You Become an Adult?
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who decided that we’re fully mature at 18? Should 16-year-olds have the right to vote? And why are young people bringing their parents to job interv...
211. Why Do We Listen to Sad Songs?
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are Mike and Angela’s favorite songs to cry to? Can upbeat music lift you out of a bad mood? And what is Angela going to sing the next time she...
210. What Makes a Good Sense of Humor?
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is the evolutionary purpose of laughter? What’s the difference between Swedish depression and American depression? And why aren’t aliens inte...
Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics? (Replay)
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true? Stephen Dubner chats with Angela Duckworth in this classic episode from July 2020. SOURC...
209. Why Do We Settle?
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why does the U.S. use Fahrenheit when Celsius is better? Would you quit your job if a coin flip told you to? And how do you get an entire country to d...
208. Can A.I. Companions Replace Human Connection?
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when machines become funnier, kinder, and more empathetic than humans? Do robot therapists save lives? And should Angela credit her virtu...
207. How Clearly Do You See Yourself?
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you see yourself the same way others see you? What’s the difference between self-perception and self-awareness? And why do Mike and Angela both h...
Why Do People Get Scammed? (Replay)
11 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a con succeed? Does snake oil actually work? And just how gullible is Angela? SOURCES:Robert Cialdini, professor emeritus of psychology an...
206. When Is It Time to Step Aside?
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Should government jobs have mandatory retirement ages? Is it foolish to care about your legacy? And why did Jason always call Angela’s father “Dr....
205. Where Do Values Come From?
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you get your principles from your parents — or in spite of them? Is there anything wrong with valuing conformity? And why doesn’t McDonald’s ...
204. What Happens When You’re Cut Off From All Human Contact?
21 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is the brain affected by solitary confinement? How would you deal with being stranded on a deserted island? And do baby monkeys make the best ther...
203. Do You Need a Hug?
14 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do humans need touch to survive? Do any of us get enough touch throughout our lives? And why doesn’t Angela want to hug anyone for eight seconds? S...
How Effective Are Ultimatums? (Replay)
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How final is a final offer, really? Does anonymity turn nice people into jerks? And should you tell your crush that you dreamed about marrying them? ...
202. Why Can’t We Tolerate Discomfort?
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are we using technology to make ourselves numb? What’s the downside of air conditioning? And was Angela the most annoying person in her college clas...
201. Are You Dreaming Too Big?
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are fantasies helpful or harmful? How is daydreaming like a drug? And what did Angela fantasize about during ninth-grade English class? SOURCES:Patri...
200. What’s the Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy?
16 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you ever really know how another person feels? What’s the best way to support a grieving person? And why doesn’t Hallmark sell empathy cards? ...
199. What Makes a Good Gathering?
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do so many book clubs fall apart? Do the best parties have rules? And does Angela’s husband want to date you? SOURCES:Fredrik Backman, author...
198. What Does It Mean to Be “Cool”?
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the difference between being popular and being cool? How has social media changed the trend cycle? And what do Taylor Swift and Walmart have ...
197. Is It Wrong to Lie to Children?
26 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we tell kids that a fairy will give them cash in exchange for their teeth? How should we talk to them about scary things in the world? And is M...
Extra: Angela Duckworth on “Masters of Scale”
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
WaitWhat C.E.O. Jeff Berman interviews Angela about “grit-scaling” and her unlikely path to academic celebrity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz c...
196. What’s Wrong With Being a Little Neurotic?
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is there any upside to negative emotions? What can comedians teach us about dealing with pain? And why did Angela eat off of a stranger’s plate at a...
195. Can You Be Too Nice?
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where is the line between a good guy and a doormat? Do people with sharp elbows make more money? And why did Angela’s mother give away her birthday ...
194. Is It Okay to Be an Introvert?
05 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the difference between being introverted and being shy? What are extroverts so cheerful about? And does Angela’s social battery ever run ou...
193. Are You as Conscientious as You Think You Are?
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it really that important to make your bed? What’s the benefit of hiring a lazy person? And how many cups of spinach can Mike fit in a red Solo cu...
Should You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?
21 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do the most creative people have in common? How open-minded are you, really? And what’s wrong with ordering eggs Benedict? Take the Big Five...
191. Can You Change Your Personality?
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you the same person you were a decade ago? Do we get better as we age? And is your sixth-grade class clown still funny? SOURCES:Aaron (Tim) Bec...
190. What’s the Point of Nostalgia?
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is it dangerous to live in the past? Why is Disney remaking all of its classic movies? And why does Angela get sentimental over a cup of soup and a fr...
189. When Should You Trust Your Gut?
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does instinct trump expertise? Can playing poker improve your intuition? And why did Angela jump off of a moving trolley car? SOURCES:Tom Brady, form...