Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.
516 episodes transcribedHave you ever fallen asleep in school or during a work meeting? Maybe you felt your eyes glaze over as your boss or a teacher droned on and on about a...
Why do some people risk their own lives to help another person, or give away their fortunes for the benefit of strangers? This week, we talk with psyc...
We all tell stories about ourselves, often without realizing we’re doing so. How we frame those stories can profoundly shape our lives. In our latest...
What does it mean to be stoic? Many of us assume it means you have a stiff upper lip, or that you suppress your emotions. That's what Massimo Pigliucc...
Many of us believe that hard work and persistence are the key to achieving our goals. But is that true when it comes to the pursuit of happiness? This...
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The idea is that pursuing your passion will feel invig...
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...
There’s a saying that’s attributed to the Dalai Lama: in the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher. It’s a nice idea. But when people...
Learning to play a musical instrument is hard. So is trying to run a marathon, writing a term paper, and caring for a sick child. These things involve...
We generally think of pain as something to be avoided. But psychologist Paul Bloom says that as much as we're wired to avoid suffering, we also seek i...
Revenge often feels sweet, but what price do we pay for seeking it out? Researcher James Kimmel, Jr. proposes a radical theory: our desire for vengean...
Have you ever encountered someone who clearly knows you, but you have no idea who they are? This week, we feature a classic Hidden Brain episode about...
You probably know someone who thinks they know more about something than they really do. But you could never be described that way . . . could you? Th...
Forgetting something — whether it's a colleague's name or where we put our keys — can be deeply frustrating. This week, psychologist Ciara Greene help...
Do you feel like you control your emotions, or do your emotions control you? What scientists call "emotion regulation" turns out to be one of the most...
There's no magic potion that can make someone adore you. But there are things you can do to promote a deep and enduring connection — and even feelings...
As we go through life, we’re constantly trying to figure out what other people are thinking and feeling. Psychologist Liane Young says this ability to...
As you go about your day, you likely interact with family, friends and coworkers. These relationships can help you feel cared for and connected. But w...
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...
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...
