I should quite.

You're listening to Radio Lab.

The podcast from New York Public Radio.

Public Radio WNYC.

And NPR.

Hey, I'm Chad Aboumrod.

And I'm Robert Crowicz.

This is Radio Lab, the podcast.

And let me just throw something out here to set up what is going to be an awesome podcast. New Year's resolutions, okay? Yes. Now, I know that's a few months out of date, but that's exactly my point. By now, most of us are the same old schmucks that we were last year. We've completely forgotten about all the promises we made to ourselves. We've slipped back into old patterns. How are you doing out of curiosity? I didn't make any, so I don't have any problem with them at all. But had I made them, because in previous years I did, I would have long since failed. Long since failed. Now, do you ever wonder why with things like New Year's resolutions, which require willpower? Why none of us are any good? Well, I'm not sure

none of us. I know people. I'm married to a person who seems to be able to make a resolution and fiercely indeterminately stick to it. See, there you go. See, some of us can do it. Some of us can't. Because I was born under a dark star. There you go. There you go. See, the real question is, are some of us just doomed because we're born under a dark star to not have willpower where others do have it?

Or is it something that can be taught?

Do you ever wonder about that?

Yeah.

Hello, test, test, test, test, test.

So you're monitoring the sound?

Well, I want to introduce you to somebody. His name's Walter. Walter, he's a psychologist. test, test, test, test. So you're monitoring the sound?

Well, I want to introduce you to somebody.

His name's Walter.

Walter Michelle.

He's a psychologist.

At Columbia University of the psychology department.

And if you've ever asked yourself questions about willpower, like, what is it exactly?

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