Was 2016 Really Better Or Are You Just Depressed And Exhausted?

This week on Questionable Content, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer explore why so many people feel like life was better in the past and whether nostalgia is telling us the truth.

They discuss the psychology of memory, why certain years like 2016 get mythologized, and how our brains prioritize emotional comfort over accuracy. The conversation also looks at long-term human progress, wealth, systems, and whether society is actually improving even when it feels unstable.

Throughout the episode, they answer curiosity-driven science questions about heartbeats, lightning, space, water usage, and everyday misconceptions that reveal how intuition often fails us.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about time, memory, science, and perspective.

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Hosted by Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer

Stay curious.