Hidden Brain

Psychologist Anthony Klotz studies the jolts that shake people out of their routines and how these moments can help them make more intentional decisions about the people they want to become. Psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis returns to the show to answer questions about creative breakthroughs as a specific kind of jolt. A bonus conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers explores when it makes sense to quit a job and why many people who do quit regret not doing so sooner.

Psychologist Steven Pinker joins Hidden Brain to explore the hidden logic of indirect speech. Pinker explains why humans so often avoid saying exactly what they mean, revealing how veiled language, politeness, and plausible deniability serve crucial social functions. The conversation examines how indirectness helps us navigate relationships, manage status, and cooperate without confrontation.

Psychobiologist Daisy Fancourt discusses the science behind how engaging with the arts—from music and literature to visual art—affects our minds. Her research shows that creative activities can help regulate emotions, build resilience, and support long-term mental well-being. She also shares practical ways to bring more creativity into everyday life, emphasizing that meaningful arts engagement doesn't require formal training.

Psychologist Edward LeMay explains how our fears, desires, and insecurities can distort how we perceive romantic partners—sometimes creating the very reality we expect. He shares strategies to see our partners more clearly, fostering greater trust and connection. The episode also features Sonja Lyubomirsky, who answers listener questions about the gap between being loved and feeling loved, offering insights from her research on happiness and relationships.

This episode features psychologist Peter Salovey, who pioneered the concept of emotional intelligence. He explains that some people have a remarkable ability to read the emotional temperature of a situation, manage their own emotions, and respond effectively. Salovey shares the science behind how feelings can enhance our judgment, relationships, and overall decision-making.

Shankar Vedantam revisits a conversation with researcher Amy Edmondson about how to make mistakes work for you — distinguishing constructive failures from preventable ones — and how to get the most out of failure. Then, John Dinsmore tackles listener questions on the psychology of debt, exploring the mental patterns that shape our financial decisions.

Psychologist Ben Rogers explores the enduring appeal of unlikely hero stories and the hero's journey, explaining how framing our own lives as a narrative can build resilience and purpose. Then, in a listener Q&A, psychologist Jay Van Bavel returns to answer questions about the science of group identities, offering insights into how our social groups shape our thoughts and behavior.

Pain feels like a simple message from the body, but psychologist Rachel Zoffness explains that the mind plays a far larger role in our experience of pain than many of us realize. This episode explores what's really happening when we experience pain and how a better understanding can open new possibilities for treatment and healing.

Psychologist Norman Farb explores how our brains use mental maps—automatic frameworks that guide behavior—to navigate the world efficiently. While these maps enable us to function, they can also trap us in patterns of negativity and unhappiness. The episode examines how awareness and deliberate practice can update these internal maps, allowing us to perceive and respond to the world more clearly. Dave Evans also discusses radical acceptance as a tool for mental flexibility.

Psychologist Lisa Miller explores how spiritual experiences emerge in everyday life through moments of connection, intentional practices, and periods of suffering. The episode examines the neuroscience of meaning-making and how spiritual awakening manifests beyond formal religion. Behavioral scientist Dave Evans joins to answer listener questions about designing meaningful lives.

Psychologist Lisa Miller shares her research on spirituality, arguing that our brains are wired for transcendence. She explains how cultivating a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves can protect against depression, foster resilience, and bring a deeper sense of fulfillment. This is the first of a two-part series on the science of spirituality.

In this episode, psychologist Alison Ledgerwood explores the negativity bias, why we dwell on bad experiences and overlook good ones. She explains the cognitive mechanisms behind this tendency and shares research on how to rebalance attention. Then, in a 'Your Questions Answered' segment, psychologist David Pizarro returns to discuss the surprising role of disgust in our lives, from moral judgments to social interactions. The episode offers insights into why negative moments stick and how to shift focus toward the positive.

Psychologist Amit Kumar explores the psychological barriers that prevent people from acting on their good intentions to help others. Then, psychologist Gordon Flett returns to discuss why mattering is a fundamental human need and responds to listener questions about feeling significant in relationships.

Political scientist Eric Oliver explores the psychological phenomenon of presenting different versions of ourselves across contexts — with friends, colleagues, and family — and examines why this fragmentation feels like a contradiction rather than adaptation. Scott Barry Kaufman discusses the science of intelligence and responds to listener questions about cognitive capacity and potential.

Psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis explores the unconscious mental processes that drive moments of creative insight. He explains how breakthroughs often emerge when the mind is at rest rather than actively focused, challenging the notion that creativity is purely a conscious, effortful endeavor. The episode examines how the brain continues to work on problems in the background, leading to sudden flashes of inspiration that feel mysterious but are grounded in hidden cognitive work.

Anthropologist Joseph Henrich explains how culture shapes not just our languages and foods, but also our bodies and minds. He introduces the concept of a 'collective brain'—the accumulated knowledge of human societies that allows progress. This episode explores how our culture's past remains embedded in who we are today.

Psychologist Jamil Zaki argues that empathy is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be strengthened, like a muscle. This episode revisits that conversation, exploring how to exercise empathy. Then, Leslie John answers listener questions about the benefits of opening up to others and how vulnerability can deepen relationships.

The life and philosophy of Riley Shepard, a multi-pseudonym musician, writer, and con artist who lived by unconventional rules. Hidden Brain explores how Shepard's deliberate reinvention and philosophical approach to deception challenge our assumptions about identity, authenticity, and what it means to live deliberately. The episode includes a segment with psychologist Leslie John on the ethics of secrets.

In the second part of a conversation with behavioral scientist Dave Evans, Hidden Brain explores the concept of radical acceptance — why it is so difficult to fully embrace reality as it is, and why such acceptance is an essential first step in building a meaningful life. The episode also features a Your Questions Answered segment where psychologist Sarah Schnitker returns to address listeners' questions about patience.

Behavioral scientist Dave Evans challenges common myths about meaning — that it comes from impact, passion, or finding a single "right path." Using design thinking principles, Evans explores how to build lives that feel alive, flexible, and real by treating life design as an iterative process rather than a destination.

Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky explores the critical distinction between being loved and feeling loved—why external affection doesn't always translate to internal experience. The episode examines what creates genuine closeness in relationships and why perception matters as much as behavior. Greg Walton returns to answer listener questions about breaking negative thought spirals.

Political scientist Erica Chenoweth presents research on over 100 years of revolutions and insurrections, challenging the assumption that violence is the most effective path to social change. The episode explores what actually works in producing systemic change, along with Ranjay Gulati's insights on cultivating personal courage in the face of resistance.

Political scientist Erica Chenoweth's research on 100+ years of revolutions: nonviolent resistance succeeds twice as often as violent resistance. The 3.5% rule — no government has survived a challenge if 3.5% of the population mobilized against it.

John Dinsmore on the mental biases that push people into debt: optimism bias (it won't happen to me), loss aversion (can't give up what I have), and misunderstanding compound interest. The psychology of why smart people make terrible financial decisions.

Psychologist Emma Levine on the unwritten rules governing acceptable dishonesty. We say we value honesty but routinely lie — and expect to be lied to — in specific social contexts. The hypocrisy about honesty is universal.

Jay Van Bavel on how group identity shapes what we perceive, believe, and do. You literally see the world differently depending on which group you identify with. Partisan perception isn't a choice — it's a perceptual filter that operates below conscious awareness.

Jonathan Rottenberg on the evolutionary roots of depression — it may not be a malfunction but an adaptive response that got stuck. And the hopeful finding: many people don't just recover from depression, they go on to flourish.

David Pizarro on how the emotion of disgust — evolved to protect us from pathogens — has been co-opted to shape our moral judgments and political views. People who are more easily disgusted are more politically conservative.

How charismatic leaders gain followers by offering clarity in uncertain times. The psychology of why we're drawn to people who seem certain — and the vulnerability this creates to manipulation.

Gordon Flett on 'mattering' — the psychological need to feel significant to others. His research shows that feeling like you don't matter is distinct from loneliness and is a better predictor of depression and suicidality than traditional measures.

Scott Barry Kaufman on how assumptions about intelligence limit human potential. His updated version of Maslow's hierarchy based on modern research — replacing the pyramid with a sailboat metaphor.

Leslie John on the psychology of self-disclosure — when sharing personal information builds trust and when it backfires. The research says we overestimate the risks and underestimate the benefits of being open.

We all carry secrets, from harmless omissions to life-changing truths. But secrecy isn’t neutral: hiding takes mental work and can harm our health and relationships.

We conclude our month-long You 2.0 series with a look at the hidden power of doubt — not as weakness or indecision, but as a tool that helps us make better choices and navigate an uncertain world.

Patience can sometimes feel like a lost art, particularly in a culture that prizes competition and the idea of "failing fast." But psychologist Sarah Schnitker says patience is a vital skill for success in both our personal and professional lives.

There are times in life when the challenges we face feel insurmountable. Authors succumb to writer’s block. Athletes and artists hit a plateau. People of a certain age fall into a midlife crisis. These are all different ways of saying: I’m stuck.

Greg Walton on how negative thoughts become self-fulfilling prophecies — and how brief 'wise interventions' can break the cycle. A single reframing exercise can produce effects that last years.

The start of a new year is a natural moment to set goals for ourselves. But doing so can also be a little daunting. Today, we kick off a series designed to help you understand and grapple with the mental obstacles that can keep you from charting a new path.

Many of us rush through our days, weeks, and lives, chasing goals and just trying to get everything done. But that can blind us to a very simple source of joy that’s all around us.

This week, we bring you the second part of our 2023 conversation on the perils of too much pleasure. Psychiatrist Anna Lembke explains the neuroscience behind compulsive consumption.

Anna Lembke — Stanford psychiatrist, author of Dopamine Nation. How modern society has turned ordinary behaviors into potentially addictive activities. The pleasure-pain balance: every pleasure has a corresponding pain, and chasing pleasure too aggressively tips the balance toward pain.

Why are so many of us drawn to horror, gore, and true crime? Why do we crane our necks to see the scene of a crash on the highway? Psychologist Coltan Scrivner says that our natural morbid curiosity serves a purpose.

If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in your care. You don’t want to put children in danger, but you also don’t want to rob them of the joy of exploration. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Peter Gray.

There’s a tradition around many Thanksgiving dinner tables that’s as consistent as pumpkin pie: the family stories that get told year after year. Sometimes these stories are funny; sometimes they make us roll our eyes.

Entrepreneurs typically have no shortage of passion, heart, and vision. But at Stanford University, Huggy Rao says there are other elements that may matter more when it comes to whether their projects succeed or fail.

Psychologist Clay Routledge on nostalgia as a psychological resource — not sentimental weakness but a tool the brain uses to maintain meaning, social connection, and forward momentum.

Marc Berman on how nature exposure improves cognitive function and mental health. Even brief exposure to trees and green space measurably improves attention, mood, and working memory. The effect works even with photos of nature.

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 school. Before long, our resentment builds, and we're tempted to issue more rules, reminders, and consequences.

For many of us, navigating the conclusion of a relationship is one of the hardest things we'll ever do.

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 the history of marriage and how it has evolved over time.

Economist Sendhil Mullainathan on how scarcity — of money, time, or social connection — narrows focus and degrades decision-making. Poverty isn't just about money; it's a cognitive tax.

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 worse. Last week, we talked to psychologist James Cordova about why this tendency can be so damaging, and what to do instead.

Many love stories end when the characters are still in the heady, euphoric early stages of a relationship. But what comes after that intoxicating first phase of love is over? Today, we kick off a new series on the challenges specific to long-term relationships.

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. Today, millions of people in secular professions yearn to be similarly galvanized by their work.

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 the urge to defend ourselves. This week, we look at the psychology of defensiveness with neuroscientist Emily Falk.

Psychologist Nicholas Epley on why we think we know what others are thinking — and why we're usually wrong. The illusion of insight into other minds.

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, right? Yet somehow we end up polishing off that pint of ice cream in the freezer, or spending more than our budget allows.

Perfectionism is everyone’s favorite flaw. It’s easy to assume that our push to be perfect is what leads to academic, athletic, and professional success. But how do we distinguish between high standards and unrealistic expectations?

George Bonanno — Columbia professor, world's leading resilience researcher. The counterintuitive finding: most people are naturally resilient after trauma. The PTSD narrative is overblown — it applies to a minority, not the majority. Expecting trauma to break you can actually make it worse.

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 topic that had no relevance to you.

Eli Finkel and Stephanie Coontz on how marriage has changed. For most of history, marriage was about survival and economics. Now it's about self-actualization. The bar has never been higher — and neither has the potential.

Brad Klontz on unconscious 'money scripts' inherited from childhood that drive financial behavior. Four categories: money avoidance, money worship, money status, and money vigilance. Most people are running inherited financial programs without knowing it.

Phil Fernbach on the illusion of explanatory depth — we think we understand far more than we actually do. Most people can't explain how a toilet works, a zipper operates, or why their political positions are correct — but they're confident they can.

Max Bazerman — Harvard negotiation pioneer. How cognitive biases sabotage negotiations: anchoring, the fixed-pie assumption, and the winner's curse. The best negotiators create value instead of claiming it.

Kenji Yoshino on 'covering' — how people hide or downplay aspects of their identity to fit in. Even in theoretically inclusive environments, people cover their race, sexuality, disability, religion, or age to avoid standing out.

Alison Wood Brooks on why conversations go wrong. Her research: most people overestimate how much they should talk and underestimate how much they should ask questions. The single best conversational habit: ask follow-up questions.

Gillian Sandstrom on why casual interactions with acquaintances and strangers matter more for happiness than most people realize. We invest in close relationships (correctly) but neglect 'weak ties' that provide belonging, perspective, and serendipity.

Vedantam explores research on how other people contribute to our happiness, identity, and well-being. Covers why we underestimate the impact of social connection and why loneliness is more dangerous than smoking.

Vedantam explores the science of purpose and meaning, including why some people feel their lives have direction while others feel adrift. Covers how purpose improves health outcomes and why meaning often emerges from responsibility to others.

Vedantam explores how growth mindset research has evolved beyond individual psychology to organizational and societal applications. Covers why some organizations learn from failure while others repeat mistakes.