Explore every episode of the podcast No Stupid Questions
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98. Is Having Children Worth It? | 25 Oct 2026 | 00:37:02 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 97. Are Women Really Less Happy Than Men? | 18 Oct 2026 | 00:36:26 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 96. Why is Chick-fil-A Such a Big Deal? | 11 Oct 2026 | 00:27:50 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 95. What’s So Bad About Denial? | 04 Oct 2026 | 00:32:07 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 94. What to Do When Everything Looks Like a Catastrophe? | 27 Sep 2026 | 00:31:43 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 93. Does the Early Bird Really Catch the Worm? Or Could the Night Owl Get There First? | 20 Sep 2026 | 00:30:03 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 92. Is Poor Nutrition a Supply Problem or a Demand Problem? | 13 Sep 2026 | 00:32:25 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| How Gary Gulman Turned Depression Into Comedy Gold | Better in Person | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:47:30 | |
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.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 91. Do You Savor or Gobble? | 06 Sep 2026 | 00:39:33 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 90. If America Is a Train Wreck, Why Am I Doing Fine? | 30 Aug 2026 | 00:30:16 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 89. How Valuable Is Enthusiasm? | 23 Aug 2026 | 00:28:34 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 88. Is Self-Improvement Too Selfish? | 16 Aug 2026 | 00:34:17 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 87. What’s So Great About Retirement? | 09 Aug 2026 | 00:30:54 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 86. Should We All Be Taking More Long Shots? | 02 Aug 2026 | 00:31:43 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 85. Is Emotional Intelligence Really So Important? | 26 Jul 2026 | 00:31:07 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 84. Why Do We Find So Much Meaning in Meaningless Coincidences? | 19 Jul 2026 | 00:28:09 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 83. Can You Change Your Mind Without Losing Face? | 12 Jul 2026 | 00:32:55 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 82. Which Is More Powerful: Reward or Punishment? | 05 Jul 2026 | 00:27:29 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 81. Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money? | 28 Jun 2026 | 00:28:58 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 80. Is a “Success Hangover” Real? | 21 Jun 2026 | 00:29:00 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 79. Why Do We Root for Underdogs? | 14 Jun 2026 | 00:35:14 | |
Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show. This episode originally aired on December 26th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 78. Why Do We Put Things Off Until the Very Last Minute? | 07 Jun 2026 | 00:38:09 | |
Also: what does your name say about who you are? This episode originally aired on December 19th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 77. How Can You Avoid Boredom? | 31 May 2026 | 00:37:50 | |
Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk? This episode originally aired on December 12, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 76. Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along? | 24 May 2026 | 00:38:08 | |
Also: how do phone cameras affect the way we experience live events? This episode originally aired on December 5th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 75. How Do You Deal With Intrusive Thoughts? | 17 May 2026 | 00:38:51 | |
Also: how much does confidence really matter? This episode originally aired on November 21st, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 74. Does Reverse Psychology Really Work? | 10 May 2026 | 00:37:03 | |
Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity? This episode originally aired on November 14th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 73. Is It Okay to Engage in “Social Loafing”? | 03 May 2026 | 00:32:23 | |
Also: why is it so great to be part of a team, even when you lose? This episode originally aired on November 7th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 72. If Everyone Hates Meetings, Why Do We Have So Many of Them? | 26 Apr 2026 | 00:37:57 | |
Also: why do so many people feel lost in their 20s? This episode originally aired on October 31st, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 71. Why Is Pig Milk the One Milk We Don’t Drink? | 19 Apr 2026 | 00:28:11 | |
Also: what’s a food you love that seems disgusting to everyone else? This episode originally aired on October 24th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 70. In a Job Interview, How Much Does Timing Matter? | 12 Apr 2026 | 00:35:35 | |
Also: why is it smart to ignore what your podcast hosts look like? This episode originally aired on October 10th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 69. How Can You Convince Someone They’re Wrong? | 05 Apr 2026 | 00:37:23 | |
Also: what’s the best way to handle rejection? This episode originally aired on October 3, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 68. Why Do We Want What We Can’t Have? | 29 Mar 2026 | 00:35:41 | |
Also: why are humans still so tribal? This episode originally aired on September 26th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 67. How Can You Escape Binary Thinking? | 22 Mar 2026 | 00:38:36 | |
Also: why is it so satisfying to find a bargain? This episode originally aired on September 19th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 65. What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received? | 15 Mar 2026 | 00:39:42 | |
Also: why don’t you need a license to become a parent? This episode originally aired on August 29th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 64. Are Women Required to Be Nicer Than Men? | 08 Mar 2026 | 00:37:41 | |
Also: should you feel guilty if you don’t read books? This episode originally aired on August 15th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay) | 01 Mar 2026 | 00:36:23 | |
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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 62. How Can You Escape a Drama Triangle? | 22 Feb 2026 | 00:39:44 | |
Also: how do awards affect motivation? This episode originally aired on August 1st, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 61. Should We Just Ignore Our Weaknesses? | 15 Feb 2026 | 00:33:35 | |
Also: why do we like what we like? This episode originally aired on July 25th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 60. Why Do We Complain? | 08 Feb 2026 | 00:31:45 | |
Also: what do you really mean when you say you “don’t have time”? This episode originally aired on July 18th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 59. Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything? | 01 Feb 2026 | 00:38:35 | |
Also: why is music so memorable? This episode originally aired on July 11th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 58. What’s So Gratifying About Gossip? | 25 Jan 2026 | 00:37:04 | |
Also: why do people hate small talk? This episode originally aired on June 27th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 57. Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why? | 18 Jan 2026 | 00:36:24 | |
Also: what does your desired superpower say about you? This episode originally aired on June 20th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 56. Why Is Academic Writing So Bad? | 11 Jan 2026 | 00:39:13 | |
Also: what does your perfect day look like? This episode originally aired on June 13th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 55. What Changes Will Stick When the Pandemic Is Gone? | 04 Jan 2026 | 00:37:33 | |
Also: would you take a confirmation-bias vaccine? This episode originally aired on June 6th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 54. Do You Really Need a Muse to Be Creative? | 28 Dec 2025 | 00:36:52 | |
Also: is shortsightedness part of human nature? This episode originally aired on May 30th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 53. What’s the Secret to Making a Great Prediction? | 21 Dec 2025 | 00:34:42 | |
Also: how do you recover from a bad day? This episode originally aired on May 23rd, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 52. How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World? | 14 Dec 2025 | 00:38:52 | |
Also: does multitasking actually increase productivity? This episode originally aired on May 16th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 51. What Separates Humans From Other Animals? | 07 Dec 2025 | 00:37:15 | |
Also: why do people pace while talking on the phone? This episode originally aired May 9th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 50. Are You as Observant as You Think? | 30 Nov 2025 | 00:34:30 | |
Also: Angela accidentally discovers the secret to a good night’s sleep. This episode originally aired on May 2, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| 49. How Does Facing Death Change Your Life? | 23 Nov 2025 | 00:39:01 | |
Also: why are we so bad at assessing risk? This episode originally aired on April 25, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||