You Are Not So Smart Podcast

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You Are Not So Smart

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35.3K - 58.8K listeners Female/Male 4.5 rating 2352 reviews 312 episodes USA

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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.

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https://youarenotsosmart.com/about/

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Recent Hosts, Guests & Topics

Here's a quick summary of the last 5 episodes on You Are Not So Smart.

Hosts

David McRaney Unknown

Previous Guests

Alex Edmans

Alex Edmans is a professor of finance at London Business School, specializing in behavioral finance and responsible investment.

Brian Klaas

Brian Klaas is an author and political scientist known for his work on power, politics, and societal issues. He has written extensively on topics related to governance, democracy, and the influence of randomness and chaos in societal outcomes. His book 'Fluke' explores the role of chance and randomness in life and history, challenging traditional notions of causality and control.

Erica Chenoweth

Erica Chenoweth is a political scientist and a leading expert on civil resistance and nonviolent conflict. She is a professor at the University of Denver and co-director of the University’s Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy. Chenoweth's research has significantly contributed to the understanding of how nonviolent movements can effectively challenge authoritarian regimes and has been published in various academic journals and books, including her influential work 'Why Civil Resistance Works'.

Neil Theise

Professor Neil Theise is a prominent figure in the field of complexity science and is known for his work on how complex systems operate across various domains, including biology and ecosystems. He is the author of 'Notes on Complexity,' which delves into the principles governing complex systems and their behaviors. His research contributes to a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of life and the universe.

Greg Satell

Greg Satell is a communication expert and author known for his work on the dynamics of change and innovation. He is the author of the book 'Cascades', which explores how rapid and widespread change can occur within groups and organizations. Satell's insights focus on the psychological mechanisms that drive change and the resistance that often accompanies it. He has contributed to various publications and is active on social media, sharing his expertise on communication and change.

Topics Discussed

reasoning biases judgments decision-making misinformation narratives statistics psychology randomness chaos chance proportionality bias conspiratorial thinking grand conspiracy theories 3.5 Percent Rule overthrow a dictator resist authoritarian regime create a movement national status quo civil resistance complexity complex systems cells human beings ecosystems universe Ian Malcolm Jurassic Park communication change psychological mechanisms resistance Cascades

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YouAreNotSoSmart

@YouAreNotSoSmart

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Channel Stats

Subscribers: 14,700

Total Videos: 15

Total Views: 1,421,981

Joined: Sep 6, 2011

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Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on You Are Not So Smart.

0:00 39:43

315 - May Contain Lies - Alex Edmans

June 09, 2025

David McRaney

Alex Edmans

reasoning biases judgments decision-making misinformation narratives statistics

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 what we believe is true, assume is true, and wish were true.

Alex Edmans

May Contain Lies

What to Test in a Post Trust World

How Minds Change

David McRaneys Twitter

David McRaneys BlueSky

0:00 54:19

314 - Fluke - Brian Klaas (rebroadcast)

May 26, 2025

Unknown

Brian Klaas

psychology reasoning biases judgments decision-making randomness chaos chance proportionality bias conspiratorial thinking grand conspiracy theories

In this episode we sit down with Brian Klaas, author of Fluke, and get into the existential lessons and grander meaning for a life well-lived (once one finally accepts the power and influence of randomness, chaos, and chance). In addition, we learn not to fall prey to proportionality bias - the tendency for human brains to assume big, historical, or massively impactful events must have had big causes and/or complex machinations underlying their grand outcomes. It’s one of the cognitive biases that most contributes to conspiratorial thinking and grand conspiracy theories, one that leads to an assumption that there must be something more going on when big, often unlikely, events make the evening news. Yet, as Brian explains, events big and small are often the result of random inputs in complex systems interacting in ways that are difficult to predict.

David McRaney’s Twitter

David McRaney’s BlueSky

David McRaney’s Twitter

David McRaney’s BlueSky

0:00 59:25

313 - The 3.5 Percent Rule - Erica Chenoweth

May 12, 2025

David McRaney

Erica Chenoweth

3.5 Percent Rule overthrow a dictator resist authoritarian regime create a movement national status quo civil resistance

If you want to overthrow a dictator, resist an authoritarian regime, or create a movement that can change the national status quo, you don't need half the country, you only need 3.5 percent of the population to join – but there are some caveats, and Erica Chenoweth whose research led to the discovery of the 3.5 Percent Rule, explains them to us in this episode.

Previous Episodes

Erica Chenoweth's Website

Why Civil Resistance Works (the paper)

Why Civil Resistance Works (the book)

The TED Talk

The Q&A

How Minds Change

David McRaney’s Twitter

David McRaney's BlueSky

0:00 59:34

312 - Chaos and Complexity - Neil Theise (rebroadcast)

April 28, 2025

David McRaney

Neil Theise

chaos complexity complex systems cells human beings ecosystems universe Ian Malcolm Jurassic Park

Professor Neil Theise, the author of Notes on Complexity, provides an introduction to the science of how complex systems behave – from cells to human beings, to ecosystems, the known universe, and beyond – and we explore if Ian Malcolm was right when he told us in Jurassic Park that "Life, um, finds a way."

Previous Episodes

Neil Theise's Website

Notes on Complexity

Conway's Game of Life

The Santa Fe Institute

Technosphere

How Minds Change

David McRaney’s Twitter

YANSS Twitter

Newsletter

Patreon

0:00 1:06:52

311 - Cascades of Change - Greg Satell (rebroadcast)

April 14, 2025

David McRaney

Greg Satell

communication change psychological mechanisms resistance Cascades

In this episode we sit down with Greg Satell, a communication expert whose book, Cascades, details how rapid, widespread change can sweep across groups of people big and small, and how understanding the psychological mechanisms at play in such moments can help anyone looking to create change in a family, institution, or even nation, prepare for the inevitable resistance they will face.

• Special Offer From Greg Satell

• Greg Satell's Website

• Greg Satell's Blog

• Greg Satell's Twitter

• Newsletter

• How Minds Change

• David McRaney’s Twitter

• Kitted

• YANSS Twitter

• Show Notes