72. If Everyone Hates Meetings, Why Do We Have So Many of Them?

In this episode of No Stupid Questions, Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth tackle two interconnected themes: the paradox of why people hate meetings yet continue to hold so many of them, and the modern phenomenon of prolonged adolescence extending well into one's 20s. Drawing on research from organizational psychology, cognitive science, and developmental neuroscience, they explore how meeting size—especially beyond eight people—undermines productivity and stifles participation, particularly for 'makers' who need deep, uninterrupted focus. They highlight the 'maker-manager split' as a core structural issue, where managers prioritize scheduled meetings as a proxy for productivity, while makers suffer from fragmented time. The hosts advocate for smaller, purpose-driven meetings, ideally under eight people, and even prefer one-on-one interactions. They also discuss how societal shifts—longer education, delayed marriage, and expanded career options—have extended adolescence into the 20s, making the decade a time of intense identity formation and uncertainty. While this can feel overwhelming, the hosts argue it's a necessary and fertile period of growth, marked by significant personality development and self-discovery. They encourage young adults to embrace the discomfort, redirect focus outward, and trust that the confusion will eventually yield clarity and strength.