Zelda Gamson tried for decades to stop smoking. But while one part of her wanted to quit, another part just didn't want to let go. So, how do you win a tug-of-war with yourself? We decided to ask one of the greatest negotiators of our time for some advice. Adam Davidson from Planet Money introduces us to Nobel Prize-winning economist Thomas Schelling, whose tactical skills saw him through high-stakes conflicts during the Cold War. But while his strategies worked wonders during nuclear stand-offs, it turns out they fell apart when he tried them on himself...in his own battle to quit smoking. Then one day, he had an idea so diabolical we thought no one would try it. Until we met Zelda, and her friend Mary Belenky, who came up with a contract powerful enough to give Zelda a fighting chance. Neuroscientist David Eagleman helps us untangle the tricky business of cutting deals with oursleves. And producer Pat Walters complicates things--in a good way--with the story of two brothers, Dennis and Kai Woo, who forged a deal with each other that wound up determining both of their futures.
Comments [19]
Hey, just listened to this podcast and the massage parlor brothers' story reminded me of a TED talk that I heard about synthetic happiness. The brother said that he woke up one day and loved his job, and he has no idea how this happened. According to this study, on from a lecturer, Dan Gilbert, on TED, it's our brains dealing with and coming to terms with our second choices. Look it up, synthetic happiness.
While we are giving credit to the Greeks, the problem of knowing the best thing to do but not doing it, called akrasia in Greek, was a staple of ancient philosophy. In the Protagoras, (355a ff.), Plato came up with the explanation of the hegemony of the here and now offered by your neuroscientist.
The guitar track around 22 minutes is "Kita Kita" by Gaspar Lawal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn94aegRKFQ
This piece is AMAZING!!! I have long tried to explain the "battle in my head" about quitting smoking and drinking and this describes it PERFECTLY. I am finishing my MAC and this just blows my mind....way to go guys!!
an epic mistake of small proportion
--as noted above good ol' ulysses/odysseus has himself roped to the mast in the odyssey not the illiad-although if anyone could head home before leaving for home it just might be the master of wiles himself
"Her and Mary made a deal?"
What? Public Radio? Let's demand more.
To all of you looking for the Woo family massage joint: It's called Health Trail, and it's located at 23 Pell Street. Or wait, was it 32 Mott. Or ... just kidding! Thanks for listening, everybody!
Chad, I'm afraid Ulysses didn't sail past the Sirens in the Iliad as this took place after the events at Troy, on his journey back to Ithaca.
If you would like a Homeric reference maybe Odysseus in the Odyssey (or Ulysses in the Odyssey but I never liked mixing the Latin and Greek)?
"Her and Mary made a deal" ?
You said it in this program.
UGH!
Do you guys post the names of your musical bumps anywhere? What's the guitar song at 22:17?
Thanks!
what is the name and where is the foot massage business? you should post it!!!!
Where is the Woo family foot massage practice located?
What's the lovely piano & violin music at 20:00-21:00? Anybody know?
I thought this was such a cool concept for breaking a habit of any kind. It does seem like you would have to be READY if you were setting an ultimatum like Zelda did, but maybe you just have to do it and then you'll be ready? She is awesome.
In mentioning the "Ulysses Contract," you mistake the "Iliad" for the "Odyssey." Odysseus lashes himself to his mast, etc... during the "Odyssey." (The 11:43 mark of the show- Book 12 of the "Odyssey.")
An alternative to Stickk is http://goalfinch.com - similar concept, but a much simpler way to set up give yourself a financial incentive to complete a goal.
After 25 years of smoking, I quit on September 13th, 2003 at 10AM. When Zelda mentioned dreaming that she was smoking, I had to smile. They're not as often now, but I still have what I call "the smoking dream", where I'm dreaming that I'm smoking, knowing that I shouldn't be, and relieved when I wake up and realize it was just a dream and I wasn't really smoking.
Ugh! You were so close but danced right around it! You have got to check out www.stickk.com - a commitment website (maybe you cannot feature them for some reason?)
I am currently in a commitment to lose 20 pounds in 20 weeks. Any week that I do not keep up the 1 lb/week average, I lose $15. So, for the entire commitment, I have $300 at stake.
Not much... especially when you consider the creator of the site, Ian Ayres. He went on a 52-week, $500 per week diet. Near the bottom of the free online excerpt of his book, you can see how he did: http://ylsmediaserv.law.yale.edu/ayres/$500Diet_Kindle.htm
I am a HUGE fan of the show! I just finished re-listening to every show and podcast. Thank you for the amazing show!
whats the song at the 40min mark, anyone know?
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