89. How Valuable Is Enthusiasm?
Episode Date: March 6, 2022What’s the difference between willpower and eagerness? Is there a lifehack that can make you zestier? And could it help Stephen improve his golf game?...
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. New episodes each week. "No Stupid Questions" is a production of the Freakonomics Radio Network. Join the Freakonomics Radio Plus membership program for weekly member-only episodes of Freakonomics Radio. You’ll also get every show in our network without ads. To sign up, visit our show page on Apple Podcasts or go to freakonomics.com/plus.
236 episodes transcribedWhat’s the difference between willpower and eagerness? Is there a lifehack that can make you zestier? And could it help Stephen improve his golf game?...
Is it more important to help society or to help yourself? Does the self-improvement movement do any good for the world? And which podcast episode does...
How do you know when it’s the right time to retire? What does a “good” retirement look like? And will Stephen and Angela ever really hang up their hat...
What’s the difference between dispositional optimism and agentic hope? Are there benefits to taking a long shot, even if it turns out to be an air bal...
Can you quantify emotional intelligence? Who should you hire — someone smart, or someone good with people? And how did Angie do on an online emotional...
Why are humans so fascinated by coincidences? What do Carl Jung and an album by The Police have in common? And what did Stephen win in a bar mitzvah l...
What is the cost of admitting you’re wrong? How can intellectual humility make you more open minded? And will Stephen finally persuade Angela that rum...
How is “negative reinforcement” different from punishment? Could positive reinforcement encourage prosocial behavior on a national scale? And what’s t...
What’s the connection between conversations about money and financial literacy? Could the taboo against talking about your salary be fading? And why d...
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 p...
Also: Angela proposes an upgrade to the show.
Also: what does your name say about who you are?
Also: are we getting any better at assessing COVID risk?
Also: how do phone cameras affect the way we experience live events?
Also: is a little knowledge truly a dangerous thing?
Also: how much does confidence really matter?
Also: does knowing your family history affect your identity?
Also: why is it so great to be part of a team, even when you lose?
Also: why do so many people feel lost in their 20s?
Also: what’s a food you love that seems disgusting to everyone else?