135. What Should You Do on Your Birthday?

No Stupid Questions

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Society & Culture

4.6 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2023

⏱️ 33 minutes

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Summary

Birthdays! Why do Americans prefer Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July to theirs? Why do they make Stephen think of molasses and chicken feed? And is “Happy Birthday” the worst song ever written?

Transcript

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0:00.0	I would love to fall into the vat of liquid peeps.
0:06.0	I'm Antelope Duckworth.
0:08.4	I'm Stephen Dubner.
0:09.4	And you're listening to no stupid questions.
0:12.8	Today on the show, why do we celebrate birthdays?
0:16.5	Is this a hallmark conspiracy theory?
0:19.0	Hey, hey, hey, you are the world.
0:26.0	You are the world.
0:27.8	Stephen, we have a lovely email, really, from a certain Edwin tan.
0:32.4	Hello, Edwin.
0:33.4	And I want to read it to you.
0:35.3	It's my birthday today.
0:37.0	I guess we're supposed to say happy birthday.
0:39.0	Yes.
0:39.8	Happy birthday, Edwin.
0:40.8	Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that.
0:42.3	Edwin, happy birthday, Edwin.
0:44.4	Was that good, fake enthusiasm?
0:46.1	It was great.
0:46.7	I think we'll sing to Edwin at the conclusion of this conversation.
0:50.0	But Edwin, this is your birthday yet.
0:52.0	We are reading your email and we're going to answer your question.
	...

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