Episode notes
Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk? This episode originally aired on December 12, 2021.
No Stupid Questions
by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher · English · Society & Culture
Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of "Grit") and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there’s no such thing as a stupid one. So they have a podcast where they can ask each other as many “stupid questions” as they want.
More from No Stupid Questions
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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.
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E79 · 14 Jun 2026 · 35 min
79. Why Do We Root for Underdogs?
Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show. This episode originally aired on December 26th, 2021.
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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.
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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.
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E75 · 17 May 2026 · 39 min
75. How Do You Deal With Intrusive Thoughts?
Also: how much does confidence really matter? This episode originally aired on November 21st, 2021.
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E74 · 10 May 2026 · 37 min
74. Does Reverse Psychology Really Work?
Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity? This episode originally aired on November 14th, 2021.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
