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.
What should you do with your life? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. But there are scientifically-tested methods that can help you to feel more in harmony with yourself and the world. This week, and in a companion conversation for Hidden Brain+, researcher Victor Strecher explores the science of creating a life full of meaning. It's the kickoff to our annual You 2.0 series, which this year will focus on purpose and passion. If you’ve reached the midpoint of the year and you’r...
This episode explores effective persuasion techniques, particularly in overcoming political and interpersonal divides. Sociologist Robb Willer shares how understanding others' perspectives and framing arguments around their values (moral reframing) is more effective than forceful debate. Legal scholar Kenji Yoshino discusses "covering" – hiding parts of ourselves to conform – highlighting its universality and the importance of creating safe spaces for authenticity and allyship.
Despite being wired to seek pleasure and avoid difficulty (the law of least effort), we often find meaning and satisfaction in hard things. Psychologist Michael Inslicht explains this "effort paradox," sharing research showing that effortful tasks, while less pleasurable, are often more meaningful. The episode explores personal anecdotes and studies illustrating how pushing through challenges builds competence, resilience, and a sense of accomplishment, even when the experience is uncomfortable.
Why do we sometimes seek out pain and discomfort? Psychologist Paul Bloom explores the human drive for "benign masochism," looking at everything from electric shocks and spicy food to streaking and scary movies. Discover how shared suffering can create bonds, the role of contrast, and how engaging with unpleasant experiences, even in fiction, might serve an adaptive purpose.
Revenge feels just and necessary, but what is its true cost? Researcher James Kimmel, Jr. proposes that the desire for vengeance operates like an addiction in the brain, offering a brief, destructive pleasure. The episode explores personal stories, like that of Michael Stokes and Kimmel's own experience, and the neuroscience behind revenge cravings. It also examines the non-justice system intervention designed to help individuals process grievances and highlights the global impact of revenge addiction in conflicts and politics.
Explore the spectrum of facial recognition, from super recognizers who never forget a face to those with face blindness (prosopagnosia). Hear from a police super recognizer, a neuroscientist studying the brain's face network, and individuals navigating daily life with these differing abilities. This special episode includes a segment from Revisionist History on how face recognition shapes social interactions.
We often think we understand the world in much greater detail than we actually do, a phenomenon called the “illusion of knowledge.” Cognitive scientist Phil Fernbach explains why this happens, using examples ranging from everyday objects like toilets to complex systems like automated cockpits and financial markets. He also explores how this illusion impacts our views on political issues and offers strategies, like explaining concepts in detail, to bridge the gap between what we know and what we think we know.
This episode explores the science of forgetting, revealing it as a crucial function of memory rather than a flaw. Psychologist Ciara Greene discusses how forgetting helps us process experiences, manage emotional health, and even propagate our genes. The conversation covers topics from traumatic memories to the evolutionary benefits of selective forgetting, offering insights on how to approach our own memories with skepticism and compassion.
Ethan Kross discusses the science of emotion regulation, exploring how emotions can sometimes lead us astray and offering practical strategies for managing them effectively. He delves into techniques like distanced self-talk, expressive writing, and harnessing the senses, and the importance of strategic avoidance. Kross emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and highlights the value of using a variety of tools to achieve emotional fitness.
This episode explores how to maintain passion and romance in long-term relationships. Psychologist Arthur Aron shares insights from his research, including the importance of novelty, self-disclosure, and shared experiences. The conversation covers how couples can combat boredom and foster deeper connections through various activities and interactions.
This episode explores the psychological concept of 'theory of mind,' our ability to understand others' intentions, and how it influences our moral judgments and relationships. Featuring psychologist Liane Young, the discussion covers how we read intentions, the impact of misreading them, and the brain regions involved. Later, Fred Luskin answers listener questions about managing grudges and forgiveness in various contexts.
This episode explores the power of tiny interactions and authenticity in relationships, featuring insights from psychologist Gillian Sandstrom on boosting social connections through weak ties, like the "hot dog lady," and researcher Erica Bailey answering listener questions about revealing our true selves. Sandstrom shares strategies for talking to strangers and overcoming social anxieties, while Bailey discusses navigating authenticity on social media, in the workplace, and across diverse cultural contexts. The episode highlights the importance of embracing novelty, practicing vulnerability, and understanding how authenticity contributes to well-being and meaningful connections.
When we head into a negotiation — whether we're asking for a raise or trying to get our spouse to do the dishes — our focus is usually on getting the other person to agree to our preferred outcome. What we don't focus on are our own biases and blind spots. Behavioral scientist Max Bazerman studies the theory and practice of negotiation, and he says that paying attention to these biases can help us to craft better deals. Do you have a follow-up question after listening to this episode? If you'd b...
All of us want to "seen" by the people around us. We want to be recognized as unique individuals. Yet the experience of being seen in this way can be dispiritingly rare. This week, we kick off our "Relationships 2.0" series by talking with researcher Allison Pugh about the psychological benefits of what she calls "connective labor." She explains why this labor is often overlooked, and how to cultivate the superpower of making other people feel seen. In this episode, you'll learn: *The definition...
Often in life, we find ourselves wrestling with a decision. But in running these mental calculations, there's something we rarely consider about the future: we might not be the same person when we get there. This week, philosopher L.A. Paul explores how life-altering events reshape who we are. Want more of our work on understanding your future self? Give these Hidden Brain episodes a listen: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/you-2-0-how-to-see-yourself-clearly/ https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/you-...
This episode of Hidden Brain explores the perplexing phenomenon of false confessions, delving into why innocent individuals sometimes admit to crimes they didn't commit. Psychologist Saul Kassin discusses the psychological tactics used in police interrogations, the different types of false confessions (voluntary, compliant, and internalized), and the real-world consequences, including wrongful convictions. The episode also examines how false confessions can taint other evidence and highlights the application of interrogation techniques in corporate settings, offering potential solutions to mitigate this issue.
This episode explores the science of inflection points, using case studies like Coca-Cola, Gillette, and Blockbuster to understand when to pivot versus staying the course. Rita McGrath explains why businesses and individuals often miss these crucial turning points and provides strategies for spotting them. The episode also covers the four stages of inflection points and the importance of adapting to changing market conditions.
Have you ever downplayed some aspect of your identity? Maybe you don’t hide it, but you don’t bring it up with certain people, either. It turns out that these subtle disguises can have powerful effects on how we view ourselves. This week, we talk with legal scholar Kenji Yoshino about what happens when we soften or edit our true selves. Do you have a follow-up question for Kenji Yoshino after listening to this episode? If you'd be comfortable sharing your question with the larger Hidden Brain au...
This episode explores the psychology of compliance and defiance, examining why individuals often conform to unjust rules and authority. Personal stories and research reveal the pressures that lead to silence and the strategies for aligning actions with values. The conversation highlights the importance of questioning authority, managing emotions, and recognizing personal values to foster courage and resist undue influence.
Last week on the show, we looked at the science of conversation, and how even ordinary chats can involve a delicate dance of coordination. This week, we explore the discussions we all dread: the tough ones. Telling someone they treated us poorly. Demanding a raise. Taking away an elderly relative's car keys. We talk with Alison Wood Brooks about what makes difficult conversations difficult, and a series of psychological techniques to help you navigate them. If you missed part one of our conversa...
Just because we’ve been doing something for a long time doesn’t mean we’re doing it right. One part of our lives where this may be particularly true is when we're talking with others. This week, we bring you the first of a two-part look at what makes someone skilled at socializing. Behavioral scientist Alison Wood Brooks explains why conversations are much more complex than most of us realize — and how to engage in a more meaningful back-and-forth with another person. For more of our work on the...
Holding a grudge can feel like a form of justice, a way of punishing those who have wronged us. But psychologist Fred Luskin says that more often than not, grudges don't hurt the targets of our anger. Instead, they only hurt us. This week, we explore the lingering effects of long-standing animosities, and how to let them go. If you enjoyed today's conversation, be sure to check out these classic Hidden Brain episodes about apologies and forgiveness: The Power of Mercy Healing 2.0: The Power of A...
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." It's been 45 years since John Lennon sang that line, yet it's an idea that continues to speak to an uncomfortable truth. While we all like to think we have some measure of control over how our lives will unfold, our plans are often upended by unknown events and curveballs we couldn't have predicted. This week, we conclude our Wellness 2.0 series by talking with political scientist Brian Klaas . He studies how we respond to the r...
It’s no exaggeration to say that the world in 2025 can be ... a lot. Sometimes it may seem that tuning it all out is our only option. This week on Hidden Brain, we talk with researcher Sarah Jaquette Ray about how we can reclaim our sense of efficacy and purpose in the face of big, systemic problems like climate change. Then, we bring you an audio essay from writer Pico Iyer , who shares his thoughts on how we can regain our footing when life is overwhelming. If you're not yet a member of Hidden...
We all have to make certain choices in life, such as where to live and how to earn a living. Parents and peers influence our major life choices, but they can also steer us in directions that leave us deeply unsatisfied. This week: a favorite conversation with psychologist Ken Sheldon about the science of figuring out what you want. He says there are things we can do to make sure our choices align with our deepest values. If you're not yet a member of Hidden Brain+, this is a particularly good ti...
From time to time, all of us are called upon to do hard or even seemingly impossible things. Do we rise to the occasion, or do we fall short? Today on the show, we examine the psychology of pushing through a crisis. We talk with psychologist Adam Galinsky about great leaders, and what they can teach us about being steadfast in the face of challenges. For more on leading during moments of crisis, please check out "Wellness 2.0: The Power of Perspective," our companion conversation with Adam Galin...
We’re often drawn to people who appear to be true to themselves. Yet showing our authentic selves to the world can be terrifying. This week, we kick off 2025 with a new series, “Wellness 2.0.” We’ll go beyond New Year’s resolutions to take a deep look at how we can approach our lives with a sense of meaning and purpose. Today on the show, we begin our series with researcher Erica Bailey , who studies authenticity and what it means to truly be ourselves. Happy New Year from all of us at Hidden Br...
It's happened to all of us: We're in the shower, or on a walk, and boom — a big idea or a brilliant solution appears out of nowhere. These sorts of insights often seem to arise without explanation. But researchers increasingly find there is a science to cultivating creativity. This week, social psychologist Sheena Iyengar shares research and case studies of innovation, and discusses what these examples tell us about the alchemy of creative breakthroughs. Looking for a last-minute holiday gift fo...
Every day, we leave small traces of ourselves online. And we might not realize what these traces say about us. This week, computational social scientist Sandra Matz explores how understanding what we actually do online – not just what we think we do – can help us improve our lives. Looking for a last-minute holiday gift for a fellow Hidden Brain fan? You can now give a gift subscription to Hidden Brain+!...
With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are hunting for that special something for the special someones in our lives. It’s how we show we care about them. So why is it so hard to find the right gift? This week, we revisit a favorite 2022 conversation with researcher Jeff Galak . We'll discuss why the presents we give for holidays and birthdays often miss their mark, and how to become a better gift-giver. Looking for a holiday gift for a fellow Hidden Brain fan? You can now give a gift sub...
