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How to Be Happy and the Science of Cognitive Time Travel
Derek is joined by Laurie Santos—superstar in the crowded field of happiness research—to talk about her favorite lessons from modern happiness research, our relationship to time, and more
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Market Meltdown FAQ: Recession Fears, Global Stock Wipeout, and the Case for Calm
Bloomberg’s Conor Sen joins Derek for a special episode to examine all of the recent economic and financial fears
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Why Are Robocalls So Hard to Stop? (Plus: Kamala and the Gender Wars.)
Derek offers his thoughts on Kamala Harris and the gender polarization in this election, then is joined by Joshua Bercu to talk about the history, tech, and methods behind robocalls
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Why Are Conservatives Happier Than Progressives?
It has now been nearly two decades since a majority of Americans have told pollsters at NBC that they’re satisfied with the way things are going. This hope drought has no precedent in modern polling.
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Harsh Truths About 2024 and the Future of the U.S. Economy
On today’s episode Derek discusses the state of American politics, then the future of America’s economy with Chicago Fed president: Austan Goolsbee
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“The Weirdest Housing Market in Recent History”
Mike Simonsen and Lance Lambert join Derek to unravel the many mysteries of the current U.S. housing market
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“People Feel Lied To”: The White House, the Media, and the Joe Biden Blame Game
Derek is joined by The Atlantic’s Mark Leibovich and Alex Thompson of Axios to talk about Biden’s age, the Democratic campaign strategy that is blowing up in their faces, and more
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Whatever Happened to Serial Killers?
Why did the number of U.S. serial killers drop off after decades of rapid growth? What does this say about American society and criminology? Derek and James Alan Fox explore.
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The Radical Cultural Shift Behind America’s Declining Birth Rate
Today we go deep on the psychology of having children and not having children and the cultural revolution behind the decline in birthrates in America and the rest of the world
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Breathing Is Easy. But We’re Doing It Wrong.
James Nestor, author of ‘Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art,’ joins Derek to dive into the science of breathing
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The News Media’s Dangerous Obsession With “Fake Facts”
Derek is joined by Atlantic writer Jerusalem Demsas to talk about the most important bias influencing the media right now: a bias toward negativity and catastrophe
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Microplastics Are Everywhere. How Dangerous Are They?
Plastic can be a lifesaving technology, yet the microplastics and nanoplastics that are produced by processing and recycling plastic are potentially life-threatening. What do the latest studies tell us—and what should we ask of future research?
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Why the New NBA Deal Is So Weird. Plus, How Sports Rights Actually Work.
At a time when basketball ratings are in steady decline, the NBA is on the verge of signing a $70-plus billion sports rights deal that would grow its annual media rights revenue by almost three times. How does that make any sense?
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What America’s Bold, New Economic Experiment Is Missing
Derek is joined by David Leonhardt to examine the new movement in Washington regarding technology, trade, and growth
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The Five Superstars Who Invented the Modern NBA
Kirk Goldsberry, author of ‘Hoop Atlas,’ talks with Derek about the players who have caused paradigm shifts in the way the game is played
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Are Smartphones Really Driving the Rise in Teenage Depression?
Derek takes a closer critical look at the relationship between smartphones and mental health
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Are Flying Cars Finally Here?
Gideon Lewis-Kraus joins the show to talk about the past, present, and future of flying car technology, why flying cars don’t presently exist, and more
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How the Logic of Cults Is Taking Over Modern Life
Derek talks about his thoughts on cults, identity, and the history of news media
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How Will the Gaza War Finally End?
As protests spread around the world, Derek is joined by Natan Sachs to discuss what is currently going on in the conflict between Israel and Hamas
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A Political Scientist on How Protests Can Change Minds or Backfire
Derek and political science professor Omar Wasow talk about what made 1960s protests different, how protests succeed, how protests backfire, and how Wasow’s research applies to today
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What Kind of a Superpower Is India Becoming?
The 2024 Indian general election is already underway, and the popular and controversial Narendra Modi looks to be the favorite. How is India changing under Modi?
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Health Fads and Fictions: VO2 Max, Supplement Mania, Sunlight, and Immortality
Today’s show is a critical look at some of the most popular health fads of the moment, with return guests Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg
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U.S. Economy FAQ: Skyrocketing Insurance Prices, Stuck Inflation, Higher Rates, and Wrong Experts
Derek welcomes Jason Furman back to the show to talk about some of the most pressing economic questions right now
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If the 2024 Election Is So Important, Why Does It Feel So Boring?
Josh Barro and Derek Thompson talk about the roots of voter ambivalence, what Trump’s second administration could look like, and the biggest differences between a Biden and Trump White House
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A Psychologist Explains Four Reasons the Internet Feels So Broken
Jay Van Bavel of New York University joins Derek to explain the group psychology dynamics behind the negativity and tribalism often seen online
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Why School Absences Have “Exploded” Across America
Why school absences have exploded across the country; why some people think it doesn’t matter; why we think it might matter quite a bit; and what teachers, parents, and lawmakers should do about it
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What Evolutionary Biology Can Teach Us About Diet, Exercise, and Staying Alive
Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman joins the show to talk about his provocative "mismatch theory," why humans are dysevolved for the modern world, and why exercise is the ultimate miracle drug
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The Dangerous Dilemma Facing America’s Biggest Auto Companies
Although the media is focused on the battle between gas-powered cars and EVs right now, a bigger issue is looming: where those cars are being produced
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Should the U.S. Ban TikTok?
Derek shares his thoughts on the question of the moment in tech and tech politics: whether TikTok should be banned in the United States
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How Hollywood’s Hit Formula Flopped—and What Could Come Next
The past 18 months have seen a major change in the film industry: The old franchise models have lost their luster, and original films are dominating at the box office. Lucas Shaw joins to explain!
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What Many Economists (and I) Got Wrong About This Economy
Derek talks with economist Judd Cramer about his new paper, which posits that our inflation data doesn’t properly account for skyrocketing interest rates
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Why the “Need for Chaos” Is Eating American Politics
Many Americans today seem to embrace conspiracy theories and nihilistic burn-it-all-down messages, not because they are partisans of the left or right, but because they’ve become cynical about all elite and all major institutions of power