Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.
This Hidden Brain podcast episode explores the psychological reasons behind stubbornness and the reluctance to change one's mind, interviewing organizational psychologist Adam Grant. The discussion covers the "first instinct fallacy," the difference between task conflict (debating ideas) and relationship conflict (per...
This Hidden Brain podcast episode explores the phenomenon of "choking under pressure," using examples from sports, academics, and even presidential inaugurations. The interview with psychologist Sian Beilock details how pressure impacts working memory, causing even highly skilled individuals to underperform on simple ...
This Hidden Brain podcast episode interviews psychologist Emily Balcetis about how vision affects behavior and goal achievement. The interview explores three techniques: narrow focus (concentrating on a specific target), materializing (making abstract goals tangible), and visual framing (arranging the environment to e...
This podcast episode explores the concept of self-knowledge and the obstacles to achieving it. It highlights the mismatch between self-perception and reality, and how other people may have a better understanding of our true selves. The episode also discusses the limitations of introspection and affective forecasting, a...
This podcast episode explores the concept of the inner voice, known as "chatter," and its profound impact on our well-being. It shares personal stories of individuals experiencing the negative effects of chatter, such as anxiety, guilt, and a loss of control. The episode discusses the drivers of chatter, including unce...
This podcast episode explores the power of mindsets and beliefs in influencing our experiences, outcomes, and behaviors. It delves into the placebo effect in medicine and discusses how reframing side effects as positive signs of treatment can improve outcomes. The impact of genetic information on mindsets and physical ...
This podcast episode explores the concept of mindsets and their impact on self-doubt, stress, performance, and physical well-being. The episode highlights the power of the mind in overcoming challenges and achieving personal growth. It emphasizes the close connection between mindset and perception, and how changing our...
This Hidden Brain podcast episode explores how group dynamics profoundly impact individual behavior, shifting perspectives and actions. The interview with psychologist Mina Cikara uses personal anecdotes (a Yankees game, family history in Yugoslavia) and research studies to illustrate how group membership can override...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews anthropologist Bill Maurer about the origins and nature of money. They discuss the traditional economic story of barter and how anthropological research suggests that money emerged more as a means of tracking social obligations and relationships rather than s...
This podcast episode unveils the psychological underpinnings of financial behavior, exploring how non-recurring expenses, the "what-the-hell" effect, and mental accounting create a cycle of overspending, leading us to overlook the unexpected costs that, paradoxically, are quite predictable. By examining how context inf...
This podcast episode explores the influence of psychological factors on our financial outcomes. It discusses the role of psychological beliefs and behaviors in shaping our financial successes and failures, highlighting common traps such as struggling to save, overspending, and focusing too much on long-term savings at ...
Follow this podcast in Podwise
Sign in to get AI summaries, transcripts and mind maps for any episode, including new ones.
