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.
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist and neuroscientist Mary Helen Immordino-Yang about the science of engagement and motivation in educational settings. Immordino-Yang shares her personal experiences with disengagement in school and how she later found passion in science and woodwo...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews Stanford psychologist Laura Carstensen about her research on aging and happiness. Carstensen recounts a near-fatal car accident at age 21 that shifted her perspective on life and led her to study the psychology of aging. Her research challenges the grim conse...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh about the science of altruism. Marsh shares a personal story of being rescued by a stranger after a car accident, which sparked her interest in studying extreme altruists, particularly altruistic kidney donors. Th...
This episode of Hidden Brain explores narrative psychology with Jonathan Adler, focusing on how the stories we tell ourselves shape our well-being and life outcomes. Adler shares his personal experiences and research, explaining concepts like redemption and contamination sequences, accommodative processing, agency, com...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedanta interviews philosopher Massimo Pigliucci about Stoicism and how the ancient philosophy can help people navigate the challenges of modern life. Pigliucci recounts how he rediscovered Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations" during a difficult period in his life and how the book's ...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews Iris Mauss, a psychologist at UC Berkeley, about the paradox of pursuing happiness. Mauss shares personal anecdotes and research findings that reveal how the intense pursuit of happiness can ironically lead to lower levels of well-being, increased depressive ...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews behavioral scientist Jan Jachimowicz about the nature of passion, particularly in the context of work. Jachimowicz shares his personal journey of initially wanting to change the world, inspired by Paul Farmer, and his subsequent disillusionment when his resea...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews Victor Strecher, a public health researcher, about finding purpose in life. Strecher shares the personal story of his daughter's heart transplant and subsequent passing, which led him to re-evaluate his own life and career. The conversation explores the scien...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedanta interviews Robb Willer about the challenges of political persuasion and strategies for more effective communication across divides. Willer recounts personal experiences, including conflicts with roommates and his work as a union organizer, to illustrate how empathy and u...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist Michael Inzlicht about the "effort paradox," the idea that while humans are wired to seek the path of least resistance, exerting effort can lead to increased feelings of competence, mastery, and meaning. Inzlicht discusses studies showing that pe...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist Paul Bloom about the human tendency to seek out discomfort and suffering. They discuss the concept of "benign masochism," where people voluntarily engage in activities that cause pain or embarrassment, such as eating spicy food, watching horror m...
In this episode of Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam interviews James Kimmel Jr., a lecturer at Yale University, about the psychology of revenge. The conversation explores a case study of Michael Stokes, who committed a double murder fueled by rejection and rage, and Kimmel's own experience with bullying that nearly led h...
This episode of Hidden Brain explores the spectrum of facial recognition abilities, featuring stories of individuals with exceptional and poor facial recognition skills. It begins with Alison, a police officer in London's Super Recogniser Unit, who recounts her experiences using her talent to identify criminals. The po...
This episode explores the "illusion of knowledge," the phenomenon where individuals overestimate their understanding of the world, using historical incidents and research findings to illustrate this cognitive bias. Against the backdrop of Lewis Slotin's fatal nuclear experiment and the Air France flight 447 crash, the ...
This episode explores the science of forgetting, challenging the common perception of forgetfulness as a flaw and highlighting its functional role in memory and psychological well-being. Against the backdrop of Ciara Greene's personal experience of a traumatic bike accident and subsequent painful memories, the discussi...
This episode explores the science of emotion regulation, focusing on how individuals can manage their feelings to avoid regretful actions and improve overall well-being. Against the backdrop of Charles Darwin's theory that emotions are adaptations for survival, the discussion pivots to why emotions sometimes lead to ne...
This episode explores the enduring nature of passionate love in long-term relationships, challenging the common belief that romantic intensity inevitably fades over time. Against the backdrop of research showing high divorce rates, psychologist Arthur Aron presents findings from his studies revealing that a significan...
This episode explores the human capacity for "theory of mind"—our ability to understand the intentions, beliefs, and desires of others—and its profound impact on our social interactions and moral judgments. The discussion begins with everyday examples, such as interpreting sarcasm or appreciating the humor in a movie ...
This episode explores the significance of weak ties—casual relationships with acquaintances—in boosting happiness and combating loneliness. Against the backdrop of a growing global loneliness problem, psychologist Gillian Sandstrom shares her research on the positive impact of everyday interactions with strangers, such...
This episode explores the science of negotiation and how cognitive biases hinder effective deal-making. Against the backdrop of the iconic "Godfather" scene, the podcast contrasts the popular notion of coercive negotiation with a more nuanced approach grounded in behavioral science. The discussion features case studi...
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