You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough

You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough

August 10, 2026 · 26 min · Season 11 · Episode 32

About this episode

Dr. Laurie Santos discusses the misconceptions around asking for help and how it can enhance happiness with guests Nicholas Epley and Jia Jiang.

Most of us hate asking for favors. We worry about being a burden, coming across as needy, or facing rejection for asking too much. But what if our fear of bothering people is stopping us, and the people around us, from becoming happier? Dr. Laurie explores why our instincts about asking for help are usually wrong. She speaks with psychologist Nicholas Epley about why asking others for help can actually make them like us more. And author and entrepreneur Jia Jiang shares how 100 days of asking for outlandish favors totally transformed his life. Experts Mentioned: Nicholas Epley , Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Jia Jiang , author, entrepreneur, and expert in “rejection therapy” Resources Mentioned: Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection , by Jia Jiang (2015) “ What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection ,” by Jia Jiang ( TED , 2016) “ 100 Days of Rejection Therapy ,” by Jia Jiang (YouTube series, 2013) RejectionTherapy.com “ Surprisingly Happy to Have Helped: Underestimating Prosociality Creates a Misplaced Barrier to Asking for Help ,&rdquo…

People in this episode

Host: Laurie Santos

Guests: Nicholas Epley, Jia Jiang

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: RejectionTherapy.com

Books & works: Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection, What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection, 100 Days of Rejection Therapy, Surprisingly Happy to Have Helped: Underestimating Prosociality Creates a Misplaced Barrier to Asking for Help, Beautiful mess effect: Self–other differences in evaluation of showing vulnerability

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