Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.
527 episodes transcribedEntrepreneurs typically have no shortage of passion, heart, and vision. But at Stanford University, Huggy Rao says there are other elements that may m...
We've known intuitively for centuries that spending time in nature can give us a boost. But it’s only recently that scientists have begun to identify...
It can be frustrating when people do things we don't want them to do. A friend cancels plans at the last minute. A child refuses to get dressed for sc...
For many of us, navigating the conclusion of a relationship is one of the hardest things we'll ever do. This week, we conclude our Love 2.0 series wit...
No one will deny that marriage is hard. In fact, there’s evidence it’s getting even harder. This week on the show, we revisit a favorite episode about...
When things go wrong in our relationships, we often try to change the way our partners behave. But usually, trying to fix a person only makes things w...
Many love stories end when the characters are still in the heady, euphoric early stages of a relationship. But what comes after that intoxicating firs...
The idea of being driven by a calling goes back centuries. It was the language used to describe religious people who were called to the priesthood. To...
It's not easy for most of us to receive negative feedback. Even when the person delivering that feedback is constructive and reasonable, we often feel...
Many of us have been raised to believe that if we want to get something done, we just need to set our minds to it. Where there's a will, there's a way...
When tragedy strikes, it’s natural to be devastated. But psychologist George Bonanno finds that many of us recover from life’s blows more quickly than...
Have 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...
