Stephen Dubner Returns Again

Episode overview

Stephen Dubner (Freakonomics, When to Rob a Bank, Freakonomics Radio) is an award-winning journalist, author, and radio host. Stephen returns once again to the Armchair Expert to discuss the power and necessity of disgust, the ethics of yelling at AI, and reflecting on the 20th publishing anniversary of Freakonomics. Stephen and Dax talk about being prodded by society into binary thinking, the compulsions in being perpetually online that don’t jibe with human nature, and what he does when presented with a ‘for us or against us’ argument. Stephen explains the concept of the illusion of explanatory depth, why during these times he’s in give-a-stranger-a-hug mode, and being exhausted in a good way about this human world.

Episode descriptions and transcript text can contain errors. Verify important details against the original recording.

Short transcript highlights

These brief excerpts are navigation aids selected from different points in the transcript.

1. 0:00Welcome, welcome, welcome to Armchair Expert, experts on expert. I'm Dan Dubner and I'm joined by Stephen Padman.
2. 59:10club jacket and go to these clubs that were founded 1700 something and you go
3. 2:00:49job, Sophia. Good job reporting them, Monica. Thank you, Rob. Good job. Good job.