Why do intelligent people give money to self-proclaimed psychics or get sucked into Ponzi schemes? Why are most of us so bad at judging risk? Journalist, psychologist and professional poker player Maria Konnikova, PhD, author of the “The Biggest Bluff” and “The Confidence Game,” talks about why anyone can fall for a con, the psychology of risk, and how her k ... Show More
Aug 19
Encore: The psychology of sports fans, with Daniel Wann, PhD
Are you a sports superfan? Or do you wonder what’s driving the superfans in your life? Daniel Wann, PhD, of Murray State University, talks about why being a fan is usually good for people’s mental health, how they choose the teams they root for, why some are fair-weather fans whi ... Show More
41m 35s
Aug 12
Encore: Why psychopathy is more common than you think, with Abigail Marsh, PhD
Most of us think we know what a psychopath looks like. The word brings to mind images of horror movies and criminals. But psychopathy is far more common than most people realize, and actually hard to recognize in other people. Abigail Marsh, PhD, of Georgetown University, discuss ... Show More
43m 57s
Aug 5
Encore: How living with secrets can harm you, with Michael Slepian, PhD
We all keep secrets—on average, people have about 13 secrets at any one time, five of which they have never told another person. Psychologist Michael Slepian, PhD, of Columbia Business School, talks about what types of secrets people keep, why keeping a secret bottled up inside c ... Show More
24m 40s
Jul 2025
How to Make Your Own Luck (Update)
<p>Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are in a deck. But she did have a Ph.D. in psychology, a brilliant coach, and a burning desire to know whether life is driven more by skill or chance. She found some answers in poker — and she ... Show More
58m 7s
Oct 2019
Trust Issues : Poker Face with Maria Konnikova
Have you ever been conned? Did you ask yourself why you didn’t see it coming? Or have you been wary of trusting people since? In this fascinating episode, Rachel is joined by Maria Konnikova, the award-winning author and psychology writer, who in 2018 surprised everyone – includi ... Show More
29m 47s
Jun 2016
Maria Konnikova on psychology, work, and why we all get conned
Maria Konnikova, a writer and author of “The Confidence Game: Why We Fall For It… Every Time” talks to host Cardiff Garcia about her work and the challenge of judging the quality of social-science research. The two also discuss big data, open-plan offices, sleep and the psycholog ... Show More
1h 12m
Jul 2020
424. How to Make Your Own Luck
<p>Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are in a deck. But she did have a Ph.D. in psychology, a brilliant coach, and a burning desire to know whether life is driven more by skill or chance. She found some answers in poker — and in ... Show More
1 h
May 2021
1. How to Make Your Own Luck
Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are in a deck. But she did have a Ph.D. in psychology, a brilliant coach, and a burning desire to know whether life is driven more by skill or chance. She found some answers in poker — and in her ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2023
Our psychological need for certainty and closure: Is that our biggest weakness? | with Maria Konnikova
Maria Konnikova is the best-selling author of the books The Biggest Bluff, The Confidence Game, and Mastermind: How To Think Like Sherlock Holmes. Topics discussed include: the human desire for certainty and story/narrative, and our discomfort with ambiguity and uncertainty; how ... Show More
48m 24s
Aug 2020
#89 Maria Konnikova: Less Certainty, More Inquiry
Professional poker player, psychologist and author of two New York Times best-sellers, Maria Konnikova discusses her mentors, making decisions in environments of uncertainty, the importance of reflection, cooling down your emotions and Sherlock Holmes. -- Want even more? Members ... Show More
1h 37m