No Stupid Questions 72. If Everyone Hates Meetings, Why Do We Have So Many of Them?
117 snips
Apr 26, 2026 They explore why meetings multiply and how group size, status dynamics, and maker versus manager schedules shape who speaks and who gets protected time. They examine optimal meeting sizes and rules for focused work. The conversation also turns to feeling lost in your 20s, brain development, changing social timelines, and why the decade can feel turbulent yet formative.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Two Is A Different Conversation
- Group size changes conversational dynamics drastically, with dyads being qualitatively different from groups of three or more.
- Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner cite Alexandra Horowitz's dog-play observation: the intimacy and conversational spotlight collapse once a third participant joins.
Match Meeting Size To Its Purpose
- Limit attendees based on the meeting goal: decision-making under eight, brainstorming up to 18, large rallies for many people.
- Stephen Dubner references the HBR 8-18-1800 rule to match group size to meeting purpose.
Meetings Survive Because They're Social and Easy
- Meetings persist because they're easy, social, and familiar, serving as low-effort breaks and status markers.
- Stephen Dubner defends meetings as social respites that keep people in the loop and can elevate status even when inefficient.