Being social scares us. It also makes us happier.

Being social scares us. It also makes us happier.

What if being more social could change your life? University of Chicago behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley talks with Kara about the surprising bump in happiness we get from being a little more social. Being less lonely also has huge health benefits that often go unrecognized. But, as Epley points out, people routinely overestimate how unpleasant it will be to reach out to others. And they almost always underestimate how enjoyable the discussions will be. Why do we put up these barriers to our own happiness? And how can introverts and extroverts effectively change their behavior? Epley is the author, most recently, of A Little More Social (Knopf). Subscribe to our Substack [https://itturnsoutwithkara.substack.com/] for Kara's take on each show! Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@ItTurnsOutPodcast]

Is College Worth It? (Plus, waitlists and marriage markets)

Is a college degree actually worth it, or do universities simply accept students who were already destined for success? Using a clever natural experiment - in an era when lots more folks doubt the usefulness of a college degree - University of Chicago economist Jack Mountjoy tries to figure out whether college really pays off. And for who? Plus, how does your life change when you get off a waiting list from an elite college? And how are your marriage prospects altered depending on your major? Subscribe to our Substack [https://itturnsoutwithkara.substack.com/]! Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@ItTurnsOutPodcast]

What we get wrong about weight and nutrition

Former NIH researcher Kevin Hall explains the science of why we eat what we eat, and debunks persistent myths about willpower, metabolism, and protein. He shares his startling findings from studying The Biggest Loser contestants—revealing why extreme exercise doesn’t prevent metabolic slowing—and explains how our modern food environment is engineered to override our conscious control. Plus, why MAHA has some good ideas, but isn’t on track to make America much healthier. Hall is a co-author of Food Intelligence [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334/food-intelligence-by-julia-belluz-and-kevin-hall-phd/], published by Avery Books. Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@ItTurnsOutPodcast] Subscribe to our Substack! [https://itturnsoutwithkara.substack.com/]

Should Americans have more kids?

The fertility rate in America has fallen more than 20 percent in the last two decades. Why is this happening, and should we try to turn it around? The drop is even more stark, if you look back several decades, to a time when women were having - on average - close to four kids each. Kara is joined by Notre Dame economist Kasey Buckles, who argues that the numbers aren't what they seem. She explains why the post-war "Baby Boom" was actually a historical anomaly, and discusses whether the Trump administration's proposed $5,000 baby bonuses might actually move the needle. Plus, could increasing political divisions between men and women be slowing family formation? And which segments of society are most likely to say they aren’t having the number of children they want? Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@ItTurnsOutPodcast] Sign up for our Substack! [https://www.itturnsoutshow.com/]

Why white collar jobs are heading to China

A generation ago, a "China Shock" decimated American manufacturing. Today, a second wave is looming—and this time, it’s coming for engineers, scientists, and tech professionals. In this episode, Kara sits down with MIT economist David Autor to discuss why the U.S. is uniquely unprepared for China Shock 2.0. From the "apex predators" of the Chinese EV market to the rapid migration of biotech innovation to the East, Autor explains why American "chauvinism" and a political attention span he describes as being similar to "a squirrel on cocaine" are putting our most strategic industries at risk. We explore the existential threat to companies like Ford, the potential hollowing out of hubs like Cambridge and Silicon Valley, and the "callous" myth that displaced workers can simply re-train for a new career. Did you know you can also watch the show? Subscribe to the show on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@ItTurnsOutPodcast] Sign up for our Substack [https://itturnsoutwithkara.substack.com/]!