No Stupid Questions

Are there downsides to “personality plagiarism”? Why did no one buy the Crayola Crayon Carver? And should Stephen feel bad for copying Angela’s email signature? This episode originally aired on May 15th, 2022.

From group chats to video calls, technology should make social connection easier than ever. So, why is everyone so lonely? In this episode, Sabrina sets out to investigate the "loneliness epidemic" that is sweeping the globe and impacting her friends and cohosts. She interviews Professor Fay Bound-Alberti, author of "A Biography of Loneliness: The History of an Emotion" to understand what loneliness is, where it comes from, and whether there is a "cure". In the process, Taha and Melissa challenge Sabrina to tackle her own loneliness through a sidequest that reveals just how hard connection can be in modern life. You can find more episodes of Corner Piece here.

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 future? This episode originally aired on May 8th, 2022.

Why are women unhappier than men? What can we do to move the needle? And is it better to be happy or to be good? This episode originally aired on May 1st, 2022.

How did Chick-fil-A become the third-largest restaurant chain in the U.S.? Why does it serve salad? And can Angie’s moral compass override her craving for a chicken sandwich? This episode originally aired on April 24th, 2022.

Can denial be a healthy way of dealing with the death of a loved one? What do the five stages of grief misrepresent about mourning? And why does Angie cover her eyes when she watches the Rocky movies? This episode originally aired on April 17th, 2022.

What is the relationship between “catastrophizing” and anxiety? How did Angela react when her mother came close to drowning? And how can you gain perspective when the worst-case scenario is all you can visualize? This episode originally aired on April 10th, 2022.

How have Angie’s views on sleep changed since she wrote her Harvard application essay? Would starting high school later in the day be worth $8.6 billion? And what should you do if your chronotype doesn’t fit the way society is structured? This episode originally aired on April 3rd, 2022.

Is evolution stacked against healthy eating? What policies could increase demand for nutritious food? And does Popeyes count as a cultural icon? This episode originally aired on March 27th, 2022.

In this episode of Stephen Dubner’s new TV talk show, Gary and Stephen talk about creativity, recovery, getting fired, and holding grudges. They also get outside and play basketball, which is a big part of how Gary stays well. If you'd like to see the video version of Better in Person, watch it on YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

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? This episode originally aired on March 20th, 2022.

Why do so many Americans say they’re satisfied with their own lives but upset about the way the country is going? Why don’t other countries experience the same gap? And what do horror movies have in common with Coca-Cola enemas? This episode originally aired on March 13th, 2022.

What’s the difference between willpower and eagerness? Is there a lifehack that can make you zestier? And could it help Stephen improve his golf game? This episode originally aired on March 6th, 2022.

Is it more important to help society or to help yourself? Does the self-improvement movement do any good for the world? And which podcast episode does Stephen cling to as proof that he’s doing something valuable? This episode originally aired on February 27th, 2022.

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? This episode originally aired on February 20nd, 2022.

What’s the difference between dispositional optimism and agentic hope? Are there benefits to taking a long shot, even if it turns out to be an air ball? And how is Angela like an N.F.L. quarterback? This episode originally aired on February 13th, 2022.

Can you quantify emotional intelligence? Who should you hire — someone smart, or someone good with people? And how did Angie do on an online emotional intelligence test? This episode originally aired on February 6th, 2022.

Why are humans so fascinated by coincidences? What do Carl Jung and an album by The Police have in common? And what did Stephen win in a bar mitzvah limbo contest? This episode originally aired on January 30th, 2022.

What is the cost of admitting you’re wrong? How can intellectual humility make you more open minded? And will Stephen finally persuade Angela that rum-raisin is the best flavor of ice cream? This episode originally aired on January 23rd, 2022.

How is “negative reinforcement” different from punishment? Could positive reinforcement encourage prosocial behavior on a national scale? And what’s the deal with Taiwan’s dog-poop lottery? This episode originally aired on Jan 16th, 2022.

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? This episode originally aired on January 9th, 2022.

Why are great accomplishments often followed by disappointment? Is it better to win and feel bummed out than to never have won at all? And where was ping-pong invented? This episode originally aired on January 2nd, 2022.

Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show. This episode originally aired on December 26th, 2021.

Also: what does your name say about who you are? This episode originally aired on December 19th, 2021.

Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk? This episode originally aired on December 12, 2021.

Also: how do phone cameras affect the way we experience live events? This episode originally aired on December 5th, 2021.

Also: how much does confidence really matter? This episode originally aired on November 21st, 2021.

Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity? This episode originally aired on November 14th, 2021.

Also: why is it so great to be part of a team, even when you lose? This episode originally aired on November 7th, 2021.

Also: why do so many people feel lost in their 20s? This episode originally aired on October 31st, 2021.

Also: what’s a food you love that seems disgusting to everyone else? This episode originally aired on October 24th, 2021.

Also: why is it smart to ignore what your podcast hosts look like? This episode originally aired on October 10th, 2021.

Also: what’s the best way to handle rejection? This episode originally aired on October 3, 2021.

Also: why are humans still so tribal? This episode originally aired on September 26th, 2021.

Also: why is it so satisfying to find a bargain? This episode originally aired on September 19th, 2021.

Also: why don’t you need a license to become a parent? This episode originally aired on August 29th, 2021.

Also: should you feel guilty if you don’t read books? This episode originally aired on August 15th, 2021.

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? This episode originally aired on August 8th, 2021.

Also: how do awards affect motivation? This episode originally aired on August 1st, 2021.

Also: why do we like what we like? This episode originally aired on July 25th, 2021.

Also: what do you really mean when you say you “don’t have time”? This episode originally aired on July 18th, 2021.

Also: why is music so memorable? This episode originally aired on July 11th, 2021.

Also: why do people hate small talk? This episode originally aired on June 27th, 2021.

Also: what does your desired superpower say about you? This episode originally aired on June 20th, 2021.

Also: what does your perfect day look like? This episode originally aired on June 13th, 2021.

Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine? This episode originally aired on June 6th, 2021.

Also: is shortsightedness part of human nature? This episode originally aired on May 30th, 2021.

Also: how do you recover from a bad day? This episode originally aired on May 23rd, 2021.

Also: does multitasking actually increase productivity? This episode originally aired on May 16th, 2021.

Also: why do people pace while talking on the phone? This episode originally aired May 9th, 2021.