212. When Do You Become an Adult?
Who decided that we’re fully mature at 18? Should 16-year-olds have the right to vote? And why are young people bringing their parents to job interviews? SOURCES:Jeffrey Arnett, senior research schola...
22 Sep 202438min
211. Why Do We Listen to Sad Songs?
What are Mike and Angela’s favorite songs to cry to? Can upbeat music lift you out of a bad mood? And what is Angela going to sing the next time she does karaoke? SOURCES:Matthew Desmond, professor of...
15 Sep 202436min
210. What Makes a Good Sense of Humor?
What is the evolutionary purpose of laughter? What’s the difference between Swedish depression and American depression? And why aren’t aliens interested in abducting Mike? SOURCES:Jennifer Aaker, pro...
8 Sep 202438min
Why Are Stories Stickier Than Statistics? (Replay)
Also: are the most memorable stories less likely to be true? Stephen Dubner chats with Angela Duckworth in this classic episode from July 2020. SOURCES:Pearl S. Buck, 20th-century American novelist.Ja...
6 Sep 202431min
209. Why Do We Settle?
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? SOURCES:Christ...
1 Sep 202435min
208. Can A.I. Companions Replace Human Connection?
What happens when machines become funnier, kinder, and more empathetic than humans? Do robot therapists save lives? And should Angela credit her virtual assistant as a co-author of her book? SOURCES:R...
25 Aug 202435min
207. How Clearly Do You See Yourself?
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? SOURCES:Luis von Ahn, co-founder and C....
18 Aug 202436min
Why Do People Get Scammed? (Replay)
What makes a con succeed? Does snake oil actually work? And just how gullible is Angela? SOURCES:Robert Cialdini, professor emeritus of psychology and marketing at Arizona State University.Yaniv Hanoc...
11 Aug 202435min
