79. Why Do We Root for Underdogs?

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1. 

   E82 · 5 Jul 2026 · 27 min

   82. Which Is More Powerful: Reward or Punishment?

   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.

2. 

   E81 · 28 Jun 2026 · 29 min

   81. Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Money?

   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.

3. 

   E80 · 21 Jun 2026 · 29 min

   80. Is a “Success Hangover” Real?

   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.

4. 

   E78 · 7 Jun 2026 · 38 min

   78. Why Do We Put Things Off Until the Very Last Minute?

   Also: what does your name say about who you are? This episode originally aired on December 19th, 2021.

5. 

   E77 · 31 May 2026 · 38 min

   77. How Can You Avoid Boredom?

   Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk? This episode originally aired on December 12, 2021.

6. 

   E76 · 24 May 2026 · 38 min

   76. Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along?

   Also: how do phone cameras affect the way we experience live events? This episode originally aired on December 5th, 2021.

7. 

   E95 · 4 Oct 2026 · 32 min

   95. What’s So Bad About Denial?

   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.

8. 

   E94 · 27 Sep 2026 · 32 min

   94. What to Do When Everything Looks Like a Catastrophe?

   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.

9. 

   E93 · 20 Sep 2026 · 30 min

   93. Does the Early Bird Really Catch the Worm? Or Could the Night Owl Get There First?

   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.

10. 

    E92 · 13 Sep 2026 · 32 min

    92. Is Poor Nutrition a Supply Problem or a Demand Problem?

    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.

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