Podcast Episodes
Back to Search164. Unravelling the Universe, Again
Episode 164
More than two decades ago, Adam Riess’s Nobel Prize-winning work fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe. His new work is reshaping cosmology for a second time.
RESOURCES:Adam Riess, …
Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago
163. The Data Sleuth Taking on Shoddy Science
Episode 163
Uri Simonsohn is a behavioral science professor who wants to improve standards in his field — so he’s made a sideline of investigating fraudulent academic research. He tells Steve Levitt, who's spent…
Published on 3 months, 1 week ago
Arne Duncan Says All Kids Deserve a Chance — and Criminals Deserve a Second One (Update)
Episode 43
Former U.S. Secretary of Education, 3x3 basketball champion, and leader of an anti-gun violence organization are all on Arne’s resume. He’s also Steve’s neighbor. The two talk about teachers caught c…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
162. Will We Solve the Climate Problem?
Episode 162
Kate Marvel spends her days playing with climate models, which she says are “like a very expensive version of The Sims.” As a physicist she gets tired of being asked to weigh in on economics, geopoli…
Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago
161. How to Captivate an Audience
Episode 161
Twenty years ago, before the Freakonomics book tour, Bill McGowan taught Steve Levitt to speak in public. In his new book he tries to teach everyone else.
SOURCES:Bill McGowan, founder and C.E.O. of …
Published on 4 months, 1 week ago
Annie Duke Thinks You Should Quit (Update)
Episode 93
Former professional poker player Annie Duke wrote a book about Steve’s favorite subject: quitting. They talk about why quitting is so hard, how to do it sooner, and why we feel shame when we do somet…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
160. How to Help Kids Succeed
Episode 160
Psychologist David Yeager thinks the conventional wisdom for how to motivate young people is all wrong. His model for helping kids cope with stress is required reading at Steve’s new high school.
SOU…
Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago
159. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Manifesto for a Gift Economy
Episode 159
She’s a botanist, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and the author of the bestselling Braiding Sweetgrass. In her new book she criticizes the market economy — but she and Steve find a surpri…
Published on 5 months, 1 week ago
Does Death Have to Be a Death Sentence? (Update)
Episode 69
Palliative physician B.J. Miller asks: Is there a better way to think about dying? And can death be beautiful?
SOURCES:B.J. Miller, palliative-care physician and President at Mettle Health.
RESOURCES…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
158. Why Did Rome Fall — and Are We Next?
Episode 158
Historian Tom Holland narrowly escaped a career writing vampire novels to become the co-host of the wildly popular podcast The Rest Is History. At Steve’s request, he compares President Trump and Jul…
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago