About this episode
We tend to think of tragedies as a single terrible moment, rather than the result of multiple bad decisions. Can this pattern be reversed? We try — with stories about wildfires, school shootings, and love.
Mar 6
666. This Is How Progress Happens
Economists don’t usually talk about “culture.” But Joel Mokyr argues that it’s the engine of innovation — and the Nobel Prize committee agreed. Stephen Dubner sits down for a thousand-year conversation (including advice!) with the new Nobel laureate. SOURCES: Joel Mokyr, economic ... Show More
53m 8s
Mar 4
The Most Powerful People You’ve Never Heard Of (Update)
Just beneath the surface of the global economy, there is a hidden layer of dealmakers for whom war, chaos, and sanctions can be a great business opportunity. In this updated episode from 2025, journalists Javier Blas and Jack Farchy help us shine a light on the shadowy realm of c ... Show More
1h 6m
Feb 27
665. Werner Herzog Isn’t Afraid ...
... of bad reviews, meager financing, or artificial intelligence. But he is worried that the world is full of sloppy thinkers who mistake facts for the truth. SOURCES: Werner Herzog, writer, filmmaker, and actor. RESOURCES: The Future of Truth, by Werner Herzog (2025). Every Man ... Show More
49m 8s
Feb 2024
184. Are You Doing Too Much?
40m 51s
Oct 2023
166. Are You Suffering From Burnout?
37m 27s
Nov 2023
172. Is Marriage Worth It?
36m 38s
Mar 2024
187. Is Fear Running Your Life?
39 m
Mar 2024
188. Why Do Kids Today Get So Many A’s?
41m 41s
Nov 2023
149. Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult? (Replay)
52m 56s
Mar 2024
185. Do You Need Closure?
38m 8s
Apr 2024
EXTRA: Remembering Daniel Kahneman
<p>Nobel laureate, bestselling author, and groundbreaking psychologist Daniel Kahneman died in March. In 2021 he talked with Steve Levitt — his friend and former business partner — about his book <i>Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment </i>(cowritten with Olivier Sibony and Cass Sunst ... Show More
41m 49s
Dec 2023
173. How Important Is Your Choice of Words?
35m 28s
Jun 2024
201. Are You Dreaming Too Big?
41m 44s
<p>How can you strive for excellence without overworking yourself? Why is perfectionism on the rise? And is Angela part of the problem?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-andrus-426734223/">Kristin Andrus</a>, philanth ... Show More
<p>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 a cup of coffee? </p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li>"<a href="https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-work ... Show More
<p>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’s parents?</p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li>"<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/06/28/a-record-high-share-o ... Show More
<p>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?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/science/albert-bandura-dead.html">Al ... Show More
<p>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”?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthugo/">Scott Hugo</a>, housing just ... Show More
<p>How do friendships change as we get older? Should you join a bowling league? And also: how does a cook become a chef?</p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li>“<a href="https://compass.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/spc3.12729">Social Support From Weak Ties: Insight From ... Show More
<p>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 tickets?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://roybaumeister.com/">Roy Baumeister</a>, social psychologist ... Show More
<p>What happens when three psychologists walk into a magic show? What’s Angela’s problem with the word “talent”? And why does LeBron James refer to himself in the third person?</p><p> </p><p>SOURCES:</p><ul><li><a href="https://psychology.yale.edu/people/john-bargh">John Bargh</ ... Show More
<p>Are fantasies helpful or harmful? How is daydreaming like a drug? And what did Angela fantasize about during ninth-grade English class?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/psHQN_yANkg">Patrick Bet-David</a>, YouTuber and ... Show More
