Designed to Tear Us Apart (SBTI Ep. 1)

When online anger turned to offline violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, the big social media companies responded by kicking some users — including the president himself — off their platforms. What led to that decision? Was it an overreach? And what role did they really play in the events that took place? Sudhir explores how social media is built...

2d

Is Laziness Real? (NSQ Ep. 47)

Also: why do we dislike being alone in public? * * * Relevant Research & References Here’s where you can learn more about the people and ideas in this episode: SOURCES Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University. RESOURCES “From the Fundamental Attribution Error to the Truly Fundamental Attribution Error...

3d

Greg Norman & Mark Broadie: Why Golf Beats an Orgasm and Why Data Beats Everything (People I (Mostly) Admire Ep. 23)

Steve Levitt is obsessed with golf — and he’s pretty good at it too. As a thinly-veiled ploy to improve his own game, Steve talks to two titans of the sport: Greg “The Shark” Norman, who was the world’s top-ranked golfer for more than six years; and Mark Broadie, a Columbia professor whose data analysis changed how pros play the game. Listen and follow...

4d

Is Dialysis a Test Case of Medicare for All? (Ep. 457)

Kidney failure is such a catastrophic (and expensive) disease that Medicare covers treatment for anyone, regardless of age. Since Medicare reimbursement rates are fairly low, the dialysis industry had to find a way to tweak the system if they wanted to make big profits. They succeeded. Listen and subscribe to our podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher,...

6d

How Can You Stop Feeling So Irritable? (NSQ Ep. 46)

Also: what’s wrong with being impatient? *      *      * Relevant Research & References Here’s where you can learn more about the people and ideas in this episode: SOURCES Amy Morin, editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind. Matthew Lieberman, professor of social psychology. Mother Teresa, saint in the Catholic Church. RESOURCES...

2w

Sal Khan: “If It Works for 15 Cousins, It Could Work for a Billion People.” (People I (Mostly) Admire, Ep. 22)

Khan Academy grew out of Sal Khan’s online math tutorials for his extended family. It’s now a platform used by more than 115 million people in 190 countries. So what does Khan want to do next? How about reinventing in-school learning, too? Find out why Steve nearly moved to Silicon Valley to be part of Khan’s latest venture. Listen and follow on Apple...

2w

How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. Healthcare (Ep. 456)

Medicine has evolved from a calling into an industry, adept at dispensing procedures and pills (and gigantic bills), but less good at actual health. Most reformers call for big, bold action. What happens if, instead, you think small? Listen and subscribe to our podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or elsewhere. Below is a transcript of the episode,...

2w

How Much Better Do You Really Want to Be? (NSQ, Ep. 45)

Also: why do we pad our speech with so much filler language?  *      *      * Relevant Research & References Here’s where you can learn more about the people and ideas in this episode: SOURCES Daniel Kahneman, Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University. Herbert Marsh, Professor of Psychology at...

3w

Pete Docter: “What If Monsters Really Do Exist?” (People I (Mostly) Admire, Ep. 21)

He’s the chief creative officer of Pixar, and the Academy Award-winning director of Soul, Inside Out, Up, and Monsters, Inc. Pete Docter and Steve talk about Pixar’s scrappy beginnings, why it costs $200 million to make an animated film, and the movie moment that changed Steve’s life. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Radio Public, Spotify,...

3w

Policymaking Is Not a Science (Yet) (Ep. 405 Rebroadcast)

Why do so many promising solutions — in education, medicine, criminal justice, etc. — fail to scale up into great policy? And can a new breed of “implementation scientists” crack the code? Listen and subscribe to our podcast at Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or elsewhere. Below is a transcript of the episode, edited for readability. For more information...

3w