No Stupid Questions
Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
SummaryEver find yourself wondering why we procrastinate, why we root for the underdog, or why achieving a long-sought goal sometimes leaves us feeling strangely empty? Welcome to No Stupid Questions, a podcast that turns the lens on the quirks, contradictions, and hidden mechanics of human behavior. Hosted by researcher Angela Duckworth and journalist Stephen Dubner, the show serves as a deep dive into the fascinating world of social science and psychology. Each episode takes listener-submitted questions—ranging from the deeply personal, like how to manage intrusive thoughts, to the social, such as why different generations struggle to connect—and pulls them apart with data, expert insight, and thoughtful, sometimes playful debate. The brilliance of this show lies in its ability to take mundane frustrations or complex abstract feelings and ground them in research. You will learn about the planning fallacy, the arrival fallacy, and the psychological roots of our everyday habits. Whether they are discussing the nuances of risk perception or the tension between productivity and burnout, the hosts maintain a tone of genuine curiosity. By stripping away the judgment, they provide a space to explore what really makes us tick. If you are looking to better understand your own motivations and the messy, beautiful reality of the human experience, this show offers a brilliant, evidence-based roadmap.
Updated Jun 30, 2026
Episodes
80. Is a “Success Hangover” Real?
Achieving a long-awaited goal often leads to a success hangover, but is it possible to avoid the inevitable letdown?
79. Why Do We Root for Underdogs?
Discover why people love to support underdogs and how that psychological identification can actually boost motivation.
78. Why Do We Put Things Off Until the Very Last Minute?
We examine whether waiting until the very last minute is a clever way to optimize time or a sign of procrastination.
77. How Can You Avoid Boredom?
Stop rushing through life and learn how to beat boredom by adjusting the challenge or finding deeper purpose.
76. Why Can’t Baby Boomers and Millennials Just Get Along?
Ease the tension between generations by shifting your mindset from irritation to curiosity about human development.
75. How Do You Deal With Intrusive Thoughts?
Intrusive thoughts are common, involuntary, and often benign, but they become problematic when we obsess over them.
60. Why Do We Complain?
59. Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything?
58. What’s So Gratifying About Gossip?
57. Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why?
56. Why Is Academic Writing So Bad?
55. What Changes Will Stick When the Pandemic Is Gone?
54. Do You Really Need a Muse to Be Creative?
53. What’s the Secret to Making a Great Prediction?
52. How Much Should We Be Able to Customize Our World?
51. What Separates Humans From Other Animals?
50. Are You as Observant as You Think?
49. How Does Facing Death Change Your Life?
48. Do Good Deeds Invite More Bad Ones?
47. Is Laziness Real?
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