No Stupid Questions

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 of psychology at Harvard University.
  • Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic. 
  • Brian Little, professor of psychology at the University of Cambridge.
  • Jordi Quoidbach, professor of peopl...

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 writer and reporter.
  • Kyle Chayka, staff writer at The New Yorker.
  • Amelia Dennis, research associate in psychology at the University of Bath.
  • Erica Hepper, lecturer in personality/social psyc...

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 and public affairs at Princeton University.
  • Gary Klein, cognitive psychologist and pioneer in the field of naturalistic decision making.
  • Brock Purdy, quarterback for the San Francisco 49...

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, former head football coach at De La Salle High School.
  • Jon Marcus, writer at The Hechinger Report.
  • Amelia Nierenberg, Connecticut correspondent for The New York Times. 
  • James Pennebaker, p...

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 director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and professor in the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine.
  • Lisa Damour, clinical psychologist and senior advisor to the Schu...

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 economics at the California Institute of Technology.
  • James Clear, writer.
  • Mason Currey, author.
  • David Goggins, ultra-endurance athlete and retired U.S. Navy SEAL.
  • Jesse Itzler, entrepreneur ...

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 Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University.
  • John Gottman, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Washington.
  • Kurt Lewin, 20th-century German-American psycholog...

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 Pennsylvania.
  • Thomas Curran, professor of psychological and behavioral science at the London School of Economics.
  • Julia DiGangi, neuropsychologist.
  • Zac Efron, actor.
  • Scott Hugo, housing j...

Does anyone have any real agency? What do McDonald’s and Oxford University have in common? And why did Angela give up on philosophy?

• SOURCES
  • Sam Harris, neuroscientist, philosopher, author, and podcast host.
  • Brian Galla, associate professor of health and human development at University of Pittsburgh.
  • Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology at Stanford University.
  • Harry Emerson Fosdick, founding minister of Riverside Church in New...

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 Business School at Washington University.
  • Clayton Critcher, professor of marketing, cognitive science, and psychology at Berkeley Haas School of Business.
  • John Legend, singer-songwrite...

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 Flynn, political philosopher at the University of Otago.
  • Robert Frank, professor emeritus of management at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.
  • Rogé Karma, staff writer at The Atlantic.
  • N...

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, professional organizer and consultant.
  • Paul Rozin, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Yang Yang, research scientist at the Institute of Behavioral Research at Texas Chr...

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, actor.
  • Christopher Clarey, sports journalist and author.
  • Peter Gollwitzer, professor of psychology at New York University.
  • Dave Levin, co-founder and executive director of KIPP Public ...

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 psychology at Boston College.
  • David Lancy, professor emeritus of anthropology at Utah State University.
  • Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement.
  ...

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 Flatow, head coach of co-ed varsity track and field at Monta Vista High School.
  • Katie Ledecky, competitive swimmer.
  • Diana Nyad, long-distance swimmer.
  • Michael Phelps, former competitive ...

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 and cognitive science at Yale University.
  • Tanya Chartrand, professor of marketing at Duke University.
  • Clay Cockrell, psychotherapist and founder of Walk and Talk Therapy.
  • Iain Couzin, di...

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, College Park.
  • Katy Milkman, professor of operations, information, and decisions at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Sylvia Plath, 20th-century American novelist and poet.
  • Barry Schwartz, prof...

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 Opinion columnist.
  • Bertram Forer, 20th-century American psychologist.
  • Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.
  • Irving Kirsch, associate...

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 Dombrowski, professor of psychology and director of the School Psychology Program at Rider University.
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 18th- to 19th-century German author.
  • Travis Kelce, tig...