Are you the same person you were a decade ago? Do we get better as we age? And is your sixth-grade class clown still funny? SOURCES:Aaron (Tim) Beck, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.Daniel Gilbert, professor

190. What’s the Point of Nostalgia?

1 13 days ago 41m 14s

Is it dangerous to live in the past? Why is Disney remaking all of its classic movies? And why does Angela get sentimental over a cup of soup and a free roll? SOURCES:Julie Beck, senior editor at The Atlantic.Danielle Campoamor, freelance writ

189. When Should You Trust Your Gut?

20 days ago 44m 11s

Does instinct trump expertise? Can playing poker improve your intuition? And why did Angela jump off of a moving trolley car? SOURCES:Tom Brady, former quarterback for the New England Patriots.Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology a

188. Why Do Kids Today Get So Many A’s?

27 days ago 45m 46s

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”? SOURCES:Scott Hugo, housing justice attorney at Oakland City Attorney’s Office.Bob Ladouceur, fo

187. Is Fear Running Your Life?

1 Mar 17th, 2024 43m 6s

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? SOURCES:Albert Bandura, professor of psychology at Stanford University.Marc Brackett, founding dire

186. Do You Need a Routine?

Mar 10th, 2024 44m 27s

Would you be more adventurous if you had more structure? Do you multitask while brushing your teeth? And what would Mike’s perfect brother Peter do? SOURCES:David Brooks, opinion columnist for The New York Times.Colin Camerer, professor of eco

185. Do You Need Closure?

Mar 3rd, 2024 43m 35s

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? SOURCES:Roy Baumeister, social psychologist and visiting scholar at Harvard University.Daniel G

184. Are You Doing Too Much?

Feb 25th, 2024 40m 51s

How can you strive for excellence without overworking yourself? Why is perfectionism on the rise? And is Angela part of the problem? SOURCES:Kristin Andrus, philanthropist.Aaron (Tim) Beck, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of

183. Does Free Will Exist, and Does It Matter?

Feb 18th, 2024 46m 39s

Does anyone have any real agency? What do McDonald’s and Oxford University have in common? And why did Angela give up on philosophy? SOURCESSam Harris, neuroscientist, philosopher, author, and podcast host.Brian Galla, associate professor of he

182. Is It Good or Bad to Keep Secrets?

Feb 11th, 2024 40m 6s

Should you shout your sins from the rooftops? How many skeletons are in the average person’s closet? And what has Angela been hiding? SOURCES:Maya Angelou, memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist.Stephen Baum, postdoctoral researcher at Olin

181. What’s So Great About Meritocracy?

Feb 4th, 2024 38m 27s

Do you really deserve the credit for your accomplishments? Should college admissions be determined by lottery? And how did Mike’s contribution to a charity auction change his life? SOURCES:Warren Buffett, investor and philanthropist.James Flyn

180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?

Jan 28th, 2024 43m 21s

Where does sentimental value come from? Why did Angela throw out her childhood journals? And would Mike wear Hitler’s sweater? SOURCES:Jeffrey Galak, professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University.John Irving, author.Marie Kondo, profess

179. Can You Really “Manifest” Success Through Positive Visualization?

Jan 21st, 2024 36m 29s

Is there any scientific basis for the law of attraction? Are people who believe in “cosmic collaboration” more successful? And what happens when you write yourself a check for $10 million? SOURCES:Rhonda Byrne, writer and TV producer.Jim Carrey

178. Do Kids Need More Independence?

Jan 14th, 2024 41m 46s

Are modern parents too protective? Why do we worry so much about things that almost never happen? And how did Mike learn about bus stops? SOURCES:David Bjorklund, professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University.Peter Gray, professor of p

177. What Does Success Look Like?

Jan 7th, 2024 42m 30s

What matters more: meeting our own ambitions, or winning fame and glory? What’s it like to earn a gold medal at the Olympics? And why didn’t Mike’s grandfather get a watch? SOURCES:Alain de Botton, writer and founder of The School of Life.Kirk

63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay)

Dec 31st, 2023 36m 30s

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? SOURCES:Albert Bandura, professor emeritus of psychology at Stanford University.John Bargh, professor of psychology

176. Why Is It So Hard to Make Decisions?

Dec 24th, 2023 40m 17s

Why do we get overwhelmed when we have too many choices? Should we make our own decisions or copy other people's? And how can Angela manage her sock inventory? SOURCES:Arie Kruglanski, professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Coll

175. Why Is Astrology So Popular?

Dec 17th, 2023 37m 32s

Why does your horoscope seem so accurate? Is it possible to believe and not believe in something at the same time? And is Mike a classic Gemini? SOURCES:P. T. Barnum, 19th-century American showman and businessman.David Brooks, New York Times Op

174. What’s the Point of I.Q. Testing?

Dec 10th, 2023 35m 42s

Are gifted and talented programs discriminatory? Why do so many adults still remember their SAT scores? And how did Angela transform from a party girl to an Ivy League psychologist? SOURCES:Alfred Binet, 19th-century French psychologist.Stefan

173. How Important Is Your Choice of Words?

Dec 3rd, 2023 40m 9s

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? SOURCES:John Bargh, professor of psychology at Yale University.Derren

149. Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult? (Replay)

Nov 26th, 2023 52m 56s

How do friendships change as we get older? Should you join a bowling league? And also: how does a cook become a chef? RESOURCES:“Social Support From Weak Ties: Insight From the Literature on Minimal Social Interactions,” by Joshua Moreton, Cait

172. Is Marriage Worth It?

Nov 19th, 2023 40m 43s

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? RESOURCES:"A Record-High Share of 40-Year-Olds in the U.S. Have Never Been Married,"

171. Where Is the Line Between Exaggeration and Lying?

Nov 12th, 2023 40m 31s

Why do we use “literally” figuratively? Does conveying an "emotional truth" justify making things up? And are Angela’s kids really starving or just hungry? RESOURCES:"My Response to The New Yorker Article," by Hasan Minhaj (YouTube video, 2023

170. Are We Getting Lonelier?

Nov 5th, 2023 30m 15s

How can you be lonely when so many people showed up at your birthday party? Can you fight loneliness by managing expectations? And where can you find company while enjoying the best garlic cheeseburger in the greater Salt Lake City metro area?

169. Can We Disagree Better?

Oct 29th, 2023 43m 41s

Do you suffer from the sin of certainty? How did Angela react when a grad student challenged her research? And can a Heineken commercial strengthen our democracy? RESOURCES:"Disagree Better," National Governors Association initiative led by Spe