So I taped an interview with Angela Duckworth for people I mostly admire a while back, but

before we published it, Steven Dubner gave it a listen, and he said, wow, I really love

that interview.

Is there any way that I could take it and publish it instead in the Freakonomics Radio

feed?

And look, I will do anything for Steven, so I said, sure no problem, you take it.

We published it, and always good, but you know, I went back a few days ago, and I listened

to it, and I love it too.

So I decided I'm going to repossess that interview, and today, back where it belongs,

and it's right for home, I'm people I mostly admire, my conversation with Angela Duckworth.

Welcome to People I mostly admire with Steve Levitt.

I first encountered Angela Duckworth 15 years ago when she came to the University of

Chicago Department of Economics to give an academic seminar.

I don't remember many details, only that my colleagues who are always rock as in-rude

were particularly outspoken that day.

It was the first time I remember a psychologist being invited to give a seminar in the economics

department, and also the last.

I'm not sure what my colleagues so disliked about Angela's work back then, but I think

it's fair to say that Angela has definitely had the last lap.

It is hard to imagine how anyone could have been much more successful than she has been

over the last 15 years, both inside and outside of academics.

Let me make a prediction before we get started today.

...