S28 E1: Why Do You Say “Yes” When You Want to...

Hard work is often treated as a virtue with no downside—but what if the story we tell about work keeps us from living well? Journalist Adam Chandler questions the American self-reliance myth in 99% Perspiration: A New Working History of the American Way of Life, and how work shap ...  Show more

A strange invitation to a castle sends Jon Ronson into a much bigger mystery: What happens when men lose their sense of purpose—and the internet offers to supply a new one? In The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unraveling Men, he explores a world of algorithms, AI flattery, and ...  Show more

When someone asks us to do something we don’t want to do, we often say yes even though we want to say no, because we think that saying no will feel terrible. But my guest, Dr. Vanessa Patrick, says the opposite is true: we actually feel great when we say no.So why do we have such ...  Show more

Saying no to someone who asks for something is often easier said than done. Maybe it's a boss who wants you to take on a new assignment. Or your kid's teacher, seeking volunteers for a field trip. Or a friend who asks you to lend her money. How should we respond to these deman ...

Not all answers in life are 'yes' or 'no'. Learn why with this phrase. 

Saying no can seem risky. We worry about offending others, damaging relationships, or hurting our own reputation. But as Vanessa Patrick says, no is an empowering word that gives us greater agency in our lives. ...