No Stupid Questions

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...

188. Why Do Kids Today Get So Many A’s?

24 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is grade inflation on the rise? How much does your G.P.A. matter in the long run? And when did M.I.T., of all places, become “the cool university”...

187. Is Fear Running Your Life?

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can you summon courage when you’re terrified? Is hiking more dangerous than skiing? And what is the stupidest thing that Mike has ever done? SO...

186. Do You Need a Routine?

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Would you be more adventurous if you had more structure? Do you multitask while brushing your teeth? And what would Mike’s perfect brother Peter do?...

185. Do You Need Closure?

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the best way to carry out random acts of kindness? What’s wrong with making an “Irish exit”? And why is Mike secretly buying lottery ti...

184. Are You Doing Too Much?

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How can you strive for excellence without overworking yourself? Why is perfectionism on the rise? And is Angela part of the problem? SOURCES:Kristin ...

183. Does Free Will Exist, and Does It Matter?

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does anyone have any real agency? What do McDonald’s and Oxford University have in common? And why did Angela give up on philosophy? SOURCESSam Har...

182. Is It Good or Bad to Keep Secrets?

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Should you shout your sins from the rooftops? How many skeletons are in the average person’s closet? And what has Angela been hiding? SOURCES:Maya ...

181. What’s So Great About Meritocracy?

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you really deserve the credit for your accomplishments? Should college admissions be determined by lottery? And how did Mike’s contribution to a ...

180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?

28 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Where does sentimental value come from? Why did Angela throw out her childhood journals? And would Mike wear Hitler’s sweater?  SOURCES:Jeffrey Ga...

179. Can You Really “Manifest” Success Through Positive Visualization?

21 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there any scientific basis for the law of attraction? Are people who believe in “cosmic collaboration” more successful? And what happens when y...

178. Do Kids Need More Independence?

14 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Are modern parents too protective? Why do we worry so much about things that almost never happen? And how did Mike learn about bus stops? SOURCES:Dav...

177. What Does Success Look Like?

07 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What matters more: meeting our own ambitions, or winning fame and glory? What’s it like to earn a gold medal at the Olympics? And why didn’t Mike’...

63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay)

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we mirror other people’s accents? Does DJ Khaled get tired of winning? And also: life is good — so why aren’t you happy? SOURCES:Albert ...

176. Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we get overwhelmed when we have too many choices? Should we make our own decisions or copy other people's? And how can Angela manage her sock i...

175. Why Is Astrology So Popular?

17 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why does your horoscope seem so accurate? Is it possible to believe and not believe in something at the same time? And is Mike a classic Gemini? SOUR...

174. What’s the Point of I.Q. Testing?

10 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are gifted and talented programs discriminatory? Why do so many adults still remember their SAT scores? And how did Angela transform from a party girl...

173. How Important Is Your Choice of Words?

03 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when three psychologists walk into a magic show? What’s Angela’s problem with the word “talent”?  And why does LeBron James refe...

149. Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult? (Replay)

26 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do friendships change as we get older? Should you join a bowling league? And also: how does a cook become a chef? RESOURCES:“Social Support Fro...

172. Is Marriage Worth It?

19 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Can long-term relationships do more harm than good? Where is the line between intimacy and codependence? And should we all try to be more like Mike’...

171. Where Is the Line Between Exaggeration and Lying?

12 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we use “literally” figuratively? Does conveying an "emotional truth" justify making things up? And are Angela’s kids really starving or j...

170. Are We Getting Lonelier?

05 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How can you be lonely when so many people showed up at your birthday party? Can you fight loneliness by managing expectations? And where can you find ...

169. Can We Disagree Better?

29 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you suffer from the sin of certainty? How did Angela react when a grad student challenged her research? And can a Heineken commercial strengthen ou...

168. Would You Be Happier if You Were More Creative?

22 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should you become an artist or an accountant? Did Sylvia Plath have to be depressed to write The Bell Jar? And what can Napoleon Dynamite teach us abo...

167. Is GPS Changing Your Brain?

15 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to be an egocentric navigator or an allocentric navigator? Was the New York City Department of Education wrong to ban ChatGPT? And did Mi...

166. Are You Suffering From Burnout?

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the difference between being busy and being productive? Would you be better at your job if you cared a little less? And can somebody get Mike...

165. Do "Generations" Mean Anything?

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you get grittier as you age? What's worse for mental health: video games or social media? And do baby boomers make the best D.J.s?  RESOURCES:Gen...

164. Do You Have Impostor Syndrome?

24 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Does anyone really know what they’re doing? How do we reward the competent and not the confident? And what’s wrong with using TikTok for research?...

163. Does Your DNA Determine Your Weight?

17 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How much control do you really have over your body? Could understanding genetics help combat fat-shaming? And why is Mike’s life coach so happy all ...

162. How Can You Be Kinder to Yourself?

10 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you practice self-care if you don’t have time for a break? Is it weird to talk to yourself? And does Mike need a bag of Doritos — or just a...

161. How Effective Are Ultimatums?

03 Sep 2023

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? H...

160. How Do You Like Me Now?

27 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why would a successful person feel the need to stick it to the little guy? Is Angela a name-dropper? And why do rappers grab their crotches? Hosted by...

159. How Much Personal Space Do You Need?

20 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do you deal with a close talker? Is Angela drinking too much water? And why can’t Mike keep his phone out of his bedroom? Hosted by Simplecast, ...

158. Bigger Fish, or Bigger Pond?

13 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to be the best player on the worst team or the worst player on the best team? How did Angela cope with her extremely impressive freshman ...

157. How Can You Get Closer to the People You Care About?

06 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How well do you know the people in your life, really? Are you stuck having surface-level conversations? And should we all be in couples therapy? Hoste...

156. How Do You Connect With Someone You Just Met?

30 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How vulnerable should you get with your coworkers? What’s the benefit of telling strangers about your relationship with your mother? And why did Mik...

155. How Do You Deal With Big Life Changes?

23 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s more stressful, divorce or jail? Are you in the middle of a “lifequake”? And should we all be taking notes from Martha Stewart? Hosted by...

154. Why Is There So Much Social Pressure Around Alcohol?

16 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Why do people drink? Why do people not drink? And why specifically do Angela and Mike not drink? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...

153. Should You Spend More Time in Nature?

09 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is a walk through the city as good as a walk through the woods? Who’s most likely to die while taking a selfie? And how does Angela protect herself ...

152. What’s the Worst Kind of Regret?

02 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is it worse to regret something you’ve done, or something you haven’t done? What’s the upside of rejection? And which great American short-story...

151. Is It Okay to Be Average?

25 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Must one always strive for excellence? Is perfectionism a good thing? And can Mike have two bad days in a row?  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz comp...

150. Why Do People Get Scammed?

18 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a con succeed? Does snake oil actually work? And just how gullible is Angela? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com...

149. Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult?

11 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do friendships change as we get older? Should you join a bowling league? And is Angela more important to Mike than Mike is to Angela? Hosted by Si...

Do You Savor or Gobble? (Ep. 91 Replay)

04 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

148. What Is Fun, Exactly?

28 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hosted by...

147. Is Nudging Enough?

21 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hoste...

146. How Do You Avoid Freezing Under Pressure?

14 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Should you visualize success or failure? How do you bounce back from a mistake? And will Maria hustle Angela into a poker game?  Hosted by Simplecast...

145. Do You Have a Scarcity Mindset or an Abundance Mindset?

07 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 cost...

144. What Should Be the Eighth Deadly Sin?

30 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 wi...

143. How Sinful Are "No Stupid Questions" Listeners?

23 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 A...

142. Is Pride the Worst Sin?

16 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 surve...

141. Is Greed Good?

09 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who’s greedier — gamblers or casinos? What’s the difference between betting on sports and entering a charity raffle? And does Angela know the na...

140. Is Envy Healthy?

02 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Deadl...

139. Why Do We Get Angry?

26 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the difference between anger and indignation? What’s Angela’s problem with turkey sandwiches? And why wasn’t a No Stupid Questions list...

138. Why is Everyone Having Less Sex?

19 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 surve...

137. Are We All Addicted to Ultra-Processed Foods?

12 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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? ...

136. Is Sloth a Sin or a Virtue?

05 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

135. What Should You Do on Your Birthday?

26 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

134. Will You Live to Be 100?

19 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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?  Hos...

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money? (Ep. 81 Replay)

12 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the connection between conversations about money and financial literacy? Could the taboo against talking about your salary be fading? And why...

133. Can You Really Work on an Airplane?

05 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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?  Hosted ...

132. Is It Wrong to Enjoy Yourself While the World Is Burning?

29 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hosted by Simplecast, ...

131. Why Do We Cry?

22 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is sobbing a survival tactic? What happened when Angela wept in front of her boss? And what do sauerkraut and sadness have in common? Hosted by Simple...

130. Why Is It So Hard to Resist Temptation?

15 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hosted by Sim...

129. Why Do We Cheat, and Why Shouldn’t We?

08 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Is there such a thing as a victimless crime? In an unfair system, is dishonesty okay? And are adolescent vandals out of ideas?  Hosted by Simplecast,...

What’s So Great About Retirement? (Ep. 87 Replay)

01 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 the...

128. How Can You Give Better Gifts?

25 Dec 2022

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 ...

127. How Can You Be a Better Communicator?

18 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

126. Why Do People Love Horror Movies?

11 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When are negative emotions enjoyable? Are we all a little masochistic? And do pigs like hot sauce? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.a...

125. Should We Replace Umpires With Robots?

04 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What do gamblers and referees have in common? When do machines make better decisions than people? And has Stephen been replaced by a computer? Hosted ...

124. How Do You Stop Grinding Your Teeth?

27 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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?  Ho...

123. What’s Wrong With Coveting?

20 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hosted by Simpleca...

When Is It OK to Tell a Lie? (Replay from Ep. 66)

13 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can a little dishonesty be a good thing? How many fibs does Angela tell every day? And why does Stephen have a forehead? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...

122. Is Family Overrated?

06 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 conserv...

121. How Good Are Your Snap Judgments?

30 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

120. Why Are Rich Countries So Unhappy?

23 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 Finla...

119. J***s C****t, Angela, Why Are You Such a F***ing Potty-Mouth?

16 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the purpose of profanity? Why is cursing on the rise? And will Angela finally swear off swearing? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. S...

118. How Do You Keep Winter From Getting You Down?

09 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ti...

117. What’s Wrong With Holding a Grudge?

02 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you let go of resentment? Do apologies even work? And what grievances have Stephen and Angela been nursing for years? Hosted by Simplecast, an ...

116. Do People Pay Attention to Signs?

25 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

115. Are You Having a Midlife Crisis?

18 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

114. Can You Learn to Love Hard Work?

11 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can exercising your body boost your brain's stamina? Are some people just born lazy? And why did Angela stop reading “Us Weekly”? Hosted by Simple...

113. How Can You Improve Your Mental Endurance?

04 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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...

112. Is It Okay to Hate Highbrow Culture?

28 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are Europeans more sophisticated than Americans? What’s wrong with preferring Taylor Swift to Puccini? And is Steve Levitt “Team Edward” or “T...

111. Would You Be Happier if You Lived Someplace Else?

21 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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? Ho...

110. Why Is Angela Stepping Down as C.E.O. of the Nonprofit She Founded?

14 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hosted b...

What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received? (Replay from Ep. 65)

07 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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? ...

109. What Is the Purpose of Embarrassment?

31 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What’s worse: shame, guilt, or humiliation? Does Angela have psychopathic tendencies? And where’s the worst place to sit at a magic show?  Hosted...

108. Should You Try to Be Less Angry?

24 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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? Hosted by Simple...

107. Is It Worth It for Charities to Harass Their Donors?

17 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ma...

106. Did Your Early Childhood Determine the Course of Your Life?

10 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are we all either secure, avoidant, or anxious? How does your relationship with your parents shape your romantic partnerships? And what is Stephen’s...

How Does Facing Death Change Your Life? (Replay from Ep. 49)

03 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

105. Should You Give Kids an Allowance or Make Them Get Jobs?

26 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do kids learn about money? What’s the big problem with education? And who made "Raiders of the Lost Ark?" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compa...

104. How Simple Is Too Simple?

19 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why are humans so eager for magic-bullet solutions? Can you explain how a pen works? And how does Angela feel about being forever branded “the grit ...

103. Should Toilets Be Free?

12 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why do Americans tip so much? What happened when Angie eliminated grading in a college course? And why did almost every pay toilet in the U.S.A. vanis...

102. What’s So Bad About Nepotism?

05 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How does the profitability of family firms stack up against the rest? Has nepotism become more taboo over time? And why are 90 percent of adoptees in ...

101. Are You Really "Addicted" to Diet Coke?

29 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Where’s the line between an addiction and a bad habit? Why do definitions of mental illnesses change over time? And what’s the most addictive thin...

100. Is It Weird for Adults to Have Imaginary Friends?

22 May 2022

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...

99. Do You Mind if I Borrow Your Personality?

15 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Are there downsides to “personality plagiarism”? Why did no one buy the Crayola Crayon Carver? And should Stephen feel bad for copying Angela’s ...

98. Is Having Children Worth It?

08 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Why have fertility rates dropped so dramatically? Do fathers or mothers get more happiness from parenting? And how does birth order affect a child’s...