How to Succeed at Failing, Part 4: Extre...

A ruthless (and ruthlessly efficient) industry is using digital tools to supercharge one of the world’s oldest behaviors. We look at how the industry works, and ask the scam-fighters what they’re doing about it. SOURCES: Kati Daffan, former assistant director at the Federal Trade ... Show More

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

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

We all know Silicon Valley’s mantra: fail fast, fail often. But when is it OK to fail in the real world? Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson says it depends on how and why you fail. She’s an expert on psychological safety and the author of the book, Right Kind of Wron ... Show More

Amy Edmondson: Right Kind of Wrong Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, where she studies people and organizations seeking to make a positive difference in the world through the work they do. She has pioneered the co ... Show More

This week, JVN sits down with existential psychotherapist and author Dr. Sara Kuburic, widely recognized as the @Millennial.Therapist in Instagram, to delve into the phenomenon of "trauma dumping." We’re exploring the nuances between sharing personal experiences and overloading o ... Show More

What if success isn’t about working harder or even more achievement, but about how we feel day to day? In this episode, Mike Winnet invites us to reconsider the very stories we tell about ambition and achievement. The culture around entrepreneurship often creates illusions; mirag ... Show More

In this episode of Failure Ryan Kavanaugh and Chris Johnson dive deep into the personal struggles and triumphs of life beyond success. Joined by basketball legend Dwyane Wade, they explore the challenges of identity, failure, and mental endurance in the face of monumental change. ... Show More

<p>Steven Pinker’s new book argues that all our relationships depend on shared assumptions and “recursive mentalizing” — our constant efforts to understand what other people are thinking. He and Steve talk about the psychology of eye contact, the particular value of Super Bowl ad ... Show More

<p><strong>TOPIC:</strong> Grit, Confidence, and Intuition.</p> <p>This week, Dan and Merlin begin a conversation on what researchers and educators are learning about why students of all ages do or don't succeed. Yes, it's about intelligence and other cognitive skills, but it's ... Show More