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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
Intellectual Humility
Disinformation
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 monthlyEpisodes343Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for You Are Not So Smart

Latest Episodes

The suffering is real, but the source may not be what you assume. That's the essence of the nocebo effect, the placebo effect's evil twin. As neuroscientist Dr. Helen Pilcher explains, illness is not simply a matter of biology. Our thoughts, consciou... more

MIT professor Thomas Levenson, the author of the book A Pox on Fools, takes us through the same repeating patterns throughout history which have led to antivaxxers and vaccine hesitancy since the very first vaccines.

Previous Episodes

How Minds Cha... more

Can intellectual humility be measured? What influences it and affects it, limits it and enhances it? What even is it, scientifically speaking? We explore all of this and then play an episode of How to Be A Better Human featuring psychologist Tenelle ... more

What is misinformation? How does it differ from disinformation or just plain ‘ole propaganda? How do we protect ourselves from people with nefarious intentions using all of these things to affect our thoughts, feelings, and behavior? That’s what we d... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
David McRaney
Host of You Are Not So Smart, author of How Minds Change
You Are Not So Smart / How Minds Change
Episode: 342 - The Conspiracy Theorist Who Changed His Mind
Heather Barnes
Founder and CEO of Improvet Work; Professor at Northwestern University
Improvet Work; Northwestern University
Episode: 341 - Positive Rants - Heather Barnes
Jennifer Shahade
Chess champion, poker player, author of Thinking Sideways
Author, Thinking Sideways
Episode: 340 - Thinking Sideways - Jennifer Shahade
Brad Zakarin
Curriculum Director at The Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement
The Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement, Northwestern University
Episode: 339 - Enlightened Disagreement
Eli Finkel
Professor, Northwestern University; co-founder of the Center for Enlightened Disagreement
Northwestern University
Episode: 339 - Enlightened Disagreement
Noor Qatayli
Professor of management and organizations, Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern University
Episode: 339 - Enlightened Disagreement

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
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States3 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 States4 months ago
  • Favorite psychology pod

    Never stop

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jj89888
    Germany6 months ago
  • What a great trip this pod cast has been

    This podcast enriches my life. It’s been a voice of sanity in a crazy world. It’s taught me to be compassionate and humble when faced with adversarial conversations. I’ve learned a bit of resilience against the seemingly impossibly divided world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BlueHeatherBlue
    Canada6 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.

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.
344 - Intellectual Humility - Tenelle Porter
Q: Can you give a concrete example illustrating intellectual humility for listeners to relate to?
Tenille describes a personal experience involving being in the wrong seat on a plane to illustrate the everyday moment of recognizing error and apologizing, which embodies intellectual humility in action.
342 - The Conspiracy Theorist Who Changed His Mind
Q: Just tell us a little bit about the things Charlie believed before he came into contact with the BBC program, and what conversations changed his mind?
Charlie initially believed in a 9/11 inside-job narrative, driven by emotional needs and a sense of community; exposure to compelling evidence and empathetic engagement, including conversations with experts and witnesses, gradually opened him to doubt and ultimately to change.
338 - May Contain Lies - Alex Edmans (rebroadcast)
Q: Can you explain the two components of confirmation bias you mentioned?
The two components are biased interpretation and biased search; interpretation is how we process information once it's received, and search is how we seek information in the first place to confirm what we already think.
338 - May Contain Lies - Alex Edmans (rebroadcast)
Q: What is confirmation bias, Alex?
Confirmation bias is the tendency to accept a result uncritically if it confirms what we want to be true, and to reject or doubt information that contradicts our desires or worldview.

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. Science Vs
2. Hidden Brain
3. Ologies with Alie Ward
4. Radiolab
5. Philosophize This!

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

You Are Not So Smart launched 14 years ago and published 343 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. Thomas Levenson
2. Tenille Porter
3. Matthew Facciani
4. David McRaney
5. Heather Barnes
6. Jennifer Shahade
7. Brad Zakarin
8. Eli Finkel

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