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You Are Not So Smart

You Are Not So Smart
Psychology
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Biases
Critical Thinking
Confirmation Bias
Social Media
3.5% Rule
Misinformation
Mental Health
Media Literacy
Quit
Political Polarization
Deliberation
Wicked Problems
Social Psychology
Disinformation
Intellectual Humility
Decision-Making
Propaganda
Public Discourse

You Are Not So Smart is a show about psychology that celebrates science and self delusion. In each episode, we explore what we've learned so far about reasoning, biases, judgments, and decision-making.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes349Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for You Are Not So Smart

Latest Episodes

Philosopher, neuroscientist, and psychologist, Joshua Greene tells us how the brain generates morality and how his research may have solved the infamous trolley problem, and in so doing created a way to encourage people to contribute to charities tha... more

What have scientists learned about the social infrastructure of megachurches that not only explains their growth but also their resilience, and how can we apply what we've learned to institutions that are not megachurches? Political scientist Hahrie ... more

There are several ways to define pluralistic ignorance, and that’s because it’s kind of a brain twister when you try to put it into words. Strange and harmful behavior can follow from the fact that, on certain issues, most people believe that most pe... more

Jesse Richardson wants to improve our critical thinking about AI risk through the gamification of our rampant speculation. In this episode he explains AI safety isn't just one thing, there are a bunch of different risk profiles and each needs to be c... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Hahrie Han
Political scientist who studies collective action, organizing movements, and how people build common life
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: 351 - Megachurches - Hahrie Han
Deborah Prentice
Princeton University psychology professor and provost
Princeton University
Episode: 350 - Pluralistic Ignorance
Robb Willer
Stanford psychologist and sociologist who studies social norms and group behavior
Stanford University
Episode: 350 - Pluralistic Ignorance
Pascal Wollish
Neuroscientist studying color perception and cognitive diversity
New York University
Episode: 348 - The Dress - Decoder Ring
Phil Plait
Astronomer and science communicator, author of four books including Under Alien Skies
Unknown (guest in episode)
Episode: 347 - Under Alien Skies - Phil Plait
Helen Pilcher
Neuroscientist and science journalist
Episode: 346 - No Nocebo Effect - Helen Pilcher
Thomas Levenson
Author and MIT science writer
MIT
Episode: 345 - A Pox on Fools - Thomas Levenson
Tenille Porter
Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rowan University
Rowan University
Episode: 344 - Intellectual Humility - Tenelle Porter
Matthew Facciani
Sociologist and interdisciplinary social scientist; expert on media literacy and misinformation
University of Notre Dame; Misguided author
Episode: 343 - Misguided - Matthew Facciani

Host

David McRaney
Host of You Are Not So Smart; a primary voice and interviewer focused on psychology, biases, and decision-making.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 3.5k ratings
  • Great Show

    “Pluralistic Ignorance” really needs a new name. Maybe “Super Ignorance”, but at any rate, this was such an excellent episode, that I listened to it twice. I sincerely hope that as may people as possible will listen just once. And soon!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    goorooo
    Canadaa month ago
  • Great host, Great content

    Interesting, informative and wonderful host

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scformosa
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Consistently excellent

    This is one of the few long-form podcasts that still remains from when I first started listening to podcasts. Most every podcast I used to love has either ended or switched formats to appeal to a different kind of audience. This show remains outstanding.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheUltimateparadox
    United States4 months ago
  • Subject Matter A+ Delivery C-

    Love every stimulating moment, but just get crushed when he speaks. Too much. Dude is smart and likes to talk.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    mexican edison
    United States5 months ago
  • Great Pod!

    My wife told me I’d love it and she is So Smart and she was right. Super fun and interesting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoelSkyzer
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners wish for less hosting interruptions to allow guests to speak
Thoughtful and accessible explorations of psychology and bias
High-quality guests and evidence-driven discussions
Strong on how minds change and persuasion strategies

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

351 - Megachurches - Hahrie Han
Q: How important is it, based off of what you know so far, that this is actually done in person in a group of people who are looking at each other?
Han says the key distinction is between interaction and durable relationships, not simply online versus offline. Organizing can work in either setting when people develop relationships with shared expectations and move beyond transactional exchanges.
351 - Megachurches - Hahrie Han
Q: What's up with megachurches?
Han says megachurches are more prominent in American church attendance than many people assume: the largest churches attract tens of thousands in person, and church attendance is concentrated in the largest congregations.
350 - Pluralistic Ignorance
Q: What creates an environment in which such false enforcement would become prevalent in the real world? And then the back end of that is, knowing what we know about it, what options do we have if we wanted to prevent, mitigate or break something like that?
Willer says false enforcement is more likely when social anxiety about conformity is high. He recommends seeking accurate information, voicing genuine views, encouraging dissent without punishing it, and providing safe settings for people to speak openly.
350 - Pluralistic Ignorance
Q: What is pluralistic ignorance for someone who has never heard of it, who's never heard that term before, but they may kind of understand it if they hear more about it? What is it?
Prentice describes it as illusory deviance: people feel different from the group even though they share the majority's private views.
344 - Intellectual Humility - Tenelle Porter
Q: How do you study intellectual humility scientifically?
Researchers use questionnaires and experimental tasks, such as measuring how people engage with opposing viewpoints and how they respond to feedback, to assess levels of intellectual humility and how it correlates with behavior like openness to revision.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About You Are Not So Smart

What is You Are Not So Smart about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on psychology, biases, reasoning, and decision-making, with a focus on how people think, persuade, and sometimes misjudge. Episodes frequently feature researchers, authors, and journalists who unpack concepts like misinformation, intellectual humility, and effective discourse, often tying theory to real-world examples and practical applications. Noteworthy strengths include a steady stream of rigorous ideas conveyed with accessible storytelling, guest diversity across academia and media, and programs that explore how to have constructive conversations across deep divides. Listeners likely include curious, science-minded professionals who want better thinking tools and evidence-based insights for public discourse and persona... more

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1. Hidden Brain
2. Unexplainable
3. Science Vs
4. Science Friday
5. Ologies with Alie Ward

How many episodes of You Are Not So Smart are there?

You Are Not So Smart launched 15 years ago and published 349 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on You Are Not So Smart?

Recent guests on You Are Not So Smart include:

1. Hahrie Han
2. Deborah Prentice
3. Robb Willer
4. Pascal Wollish
5. Phil Plait
6. Helen Pilcher
7. Thomas Levenson
8. Tenille Porter

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