How can I use EarPods with a dumb phone
The issue here is a little more interesting than it appears on the surface.

Both your old Nokia and the EarPods use a 3.5mm audio jack with support for four "poles", each one providing a different purpose. Each one has left, right, ground, and microphone. However, your old Nokia uses the OMTP standard, while the EarPods use the CTIA/AHJ standard. This means the ground and microphone are switched between the two.



You'll need an adapter like this one to get the EarPods working properly.