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You Are Not So Smart

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

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 monthlyEpisodes337Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

There are more possible chess moves than atoms in the universe, and chess champion Jennifer Shahade tells us how we can borrow from the best chess players' decision-tree approach to avoid considering every possible option and instead "think sideways"... more

Northwestern University just launched the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement, a real-world institution devoted to "research-backed approaches to cultivating open-mindedness, identifying one’s own cognitive biases, working collaboratively wi... more

Alex Edmans, a professor of finance at London Business School, tells us how to avoid the Ladder of Misinference by examining how narratives, statistics, and articles can mislead, especially when they align with our preconceived notions and confirm wh... more

How is AI reshaping human reasoning? What is cognitive surrender, and how do we avoid its negative impact? What is system three thinking, and how can we get the most out of it? Artificial intelligence researchers Gideon Nave and Steven D. Shaw have s... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Monica Guzmán
Journalist; senior fellow at Braver Angels
Braver Angels
Episode: 339 - Enlightened Disagreement
Patti Wolter
Journalism professor at Medill; presenter in the segment
Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University
Episode: 339 - Enlightened Disagreement
Gideon Nave
Dr. Gideon Nave, Professor of Marketing at Wharton, co-author on cognitive surrender study
University of Pennsylvania/Wharton School of Management
Episode: 337 - Cognitive Surrender - Gideon Nave and Steven D. Shaw
Steven D. Shaw
Dr. Steven D. Shaw, co-author on cognitive surrender study
Wharton School of Management
Episode: 337 - Cognitive Surrender - Gideon Nave and Steven D. Shaw
Jay Van Bavel
Professor of psychology and neuroscience at New York University and the director of the Center for Conflict and Cooperation.
New York University
Episode: YANSS 333 - Selective Perception - Jay Van Bavel

Host

David McRaney
Host and creator of the show, focusing on psychology, biases, and decision-making through engaging conversations and experiments.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 3.4k ratings
  • 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 Statesa month ago
  • Favorite psychology pod

    Never stop

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jj89888
    Germany3 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • But You Will Be Smarter For Listening

    David does a fantastic job of illuminating many aspects of the way the human brain works and doesn’t work. Some listeners are critical of his left H political comments, but compared to other academics I have listened to and read, he keeps politics out of it except when the topic is closely tied to politics or United States culture. I personally enjoyed and benefitted greatly from the episodes which discuss logical fallacies. David makes learning fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NutellaOnMelbaToast
    United States8 months ago
  • Everybody should listen

    This honestly is one of my favorite podcasts! I’m a psych nerd too but I wish more people would listen and learn about these concepts. The topics are pertinent and really helps me make sense of the people around me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crazykrizzy
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise clear thinking, curiosity, and accessible science communication.
Many appreciate humility and thoughtful questioning, with some noting political bias complaints.
Guests and topics are repeatedly highlighted as informative and thought-provoking.
Critiques mention host-led moments or perceived slants, but overall high engagement and impact.
Fans value practical insights that improve dialogue and critical thinking in daily life.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
YANSS 333 - Selective Perception - Jay Van Bavel
Q: What did it feel like for you when you noticed how people were watching the same thing but not seeing the same thing?
I saw that video probably the first time it flashed through my social media feed and I knew instantly that this was going to be one of those they saw a game moments.
331 - Wicked Problems - Martin Carcasson
Q: Is there a cause for optimism in this difficult time in world democracy?
Yes, because we know how to create discussions that bring people together, despite toxic polarization and other challenges.
331 - Wicked Problems - Martin Carcasson
Q: How did this become your life's work?
It started with my frustration in analyzing how presidents talk about complex issues and realizing that we need better ways of having conversations about contentious topics.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

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?

This show explores how people think, why biases creep in, and how reasoning can improve through scientific insight. Across recent episodes, listeners encounter practical takes on decision making, cognitive biases, and the social dynamics of disagreement, featuring researchers, educators, and thinkers who translate complex psychology into actionable ideas for everyday life and professional settings. Noteworthy elements include experiments and concepts like the ladder of mis-inference, cognitive offloading, selective perception, and the art of asking better questions, all presented with a mix of rigorous analysis and accessible storytelling. It's particularly distinctive for weaving academic perspectives with real-world applications, panel-st... more

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1. Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. 99% Invisible
4. Science Vs
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How many episodes of You Are Not So Smart are there?

You Are Not So Smart launched 14 years ago and published 337 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. Jennifer Shahade
2. Brad Zakarin
3. Eli Finkel
4. Noor Qatayli
5. Monica Guzmán
6. Patti Wolter
7. Gideon Nave
8. Steven D. Shaw

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