About this episode
Daniel Kahneman left his mark on academia (and the real world) in countless ways. A group of his friends and colleagues recently gathered in Chicago to reflect on this legacy — and we were there, with microphones.
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 20
664. Are Thousands of Medical Cures Hiding in Plain Sight?
Existing drugs can sometimes be repurposed to treat rare diseases. But making that match can be hard — and the financial incentives are weak. Guest host Steve Levitt tries to solve the puzzle. SOURCES: Chris Snyder, professor of economics at Dartmouth College. David Fajgenbaum, c ... Show More
51m 45s
Feb 18
All You Need Is Nudge (Update)
When Richard Thaler first published Nudge, the world was just starting to believe in his brand of behavioral economics. In this 2021 episode, we ask: How has nudge theory held up in the face of a global financial meltdown, a pandemic, and other existential crises? SOURCES:Richard ... Show More
57m 23s
Nov 2024
221. Why Are We So Pessimistic?
39m 8s
Sep 2024
Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics? (Replay)
31m 2s
Aug 2024
207. How Clearly Do You See Yourself?
36m 23s
Dec 2024
Turning Work into Play (Update)
50m 24s
Nov 2024
219. How Do You Identify a Narcissist?
40m 48s
Nov 2024
220. Is Your Attention Span Shrinking?
37m 11s
Jul 2024
205. Where Do Values Come From?
41m 47s
Sep 2024
209. Why Do We Settle?
35m 2s
Dec 2024
223. What About All the Questions We Haven’t Answered?
44m 6s
Feb 2025
A Legacy of Social Psychology w/ Dr. Elliot Aronson & Dr. Joshua Aronson
In this special episode, Scott is joined by two legendary figures in social psychology: Dr. Elliot Aronson and his son, Dr. Joshua Aronson. At 93, Elliot Aronson remains a towering influence in psychology, known for pioneering the Jigsaw Classroom—a groundbreaking cooperative lea ... Show More
1h 18m
<p>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?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/29/science/albert-bandura-dead.html">A ... Show More
<p>Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true? Stephen Dubner chats with Angela Duckworth in this classic episode from July 2020.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1938/buck/biographical/">Pe ... Show More
<p>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 hate fishing?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-von-ahn-duolingo/">Lui ... Show More
<p>How psychologist Dan Gilbert went from high school dropout to Harvard professor, found the secret of joy, and inspired Steve Levitt's divorce.</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCE:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/daniel-gilbert">Daniel Gilbert</ ... Show More
<p>What’s the difference between narcissism and high self-esteem? Does social media fuel arrogance or self-consciousness? And do people get less toxic with age? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://brenebrown.com/">Brené Brown</a>, research profes ... Show More
<p>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? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/faculty/neil-a-bradbury/">Nei ... Show More
<p>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 sell salads? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.wharton.upenn.edu/senior-leadership/">Erika Ja ... Show More
<p>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 drive on the other side of the road?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://psychology.ku.edu/peop ... Show More
<p>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? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.depts.ttu.edu/psy/people/jalquist/">Jessica Alquist ... Show More
