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Hidden Brain

Author: Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

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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.
533 Episodes
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How Monsters are Made

How Monsters are Made

2024-12-0249:449

What makes ordinary people do evil things? It was a question that long fascinated the psychologist Philip Zimbardo, who died in October. Zimbardo was best known for the controversial Stanford prison experiment, in which he created a simulated prison in the basement of a university building and recruited volunteers to act as prisoners and guards. This week, we explore how Zimbardo came to create one of psychology's most notorious experiments – and inadvertently became the poster child for the human weaknesses he was trying to study.  We're bringing Hidden Brain to the stage in San Francisco and Seattle in February 2025! Join our host Shankar Vedantam as he shares seven key insights from his first decade hosting the show. Click here for more info and tickets. 
The Power of Family Stories

The Power of Family Stories

2024-11-2501:01:3812

There's a tradition around many Thanksgiving dinner tables that's as consistent as stuffing and pumpkin pie: the family stories that get told year after year. Sometimes these stories are funny; sometimes they make us roll our eyes. No matter how we feel about these tales, we rarely pause to consider how they shape who we are and how we view the world. This week, we talk to psychologist Robyn Fivush about the profound impact that family stories can have on our lives.  If you enjoyed today's conversation, here are more Hidden Brain episodes you might like:Healing 2.0: Change Your Story, Change Your Life The Story of Your LifeRewinding & RewritingThanks for listening! 
Neuroscientist Doug Fields was on a trip to Europe when a pickpocket stole his wallet. Doug, normally mild-mannered, became enraged — and his fury turned him into a stranger to himself. This week, we revisit a favorite 2020 episode about the secret logic of irrational anger.This is the final episode in our Emotions 2.0 series. If you missed any of the episodes in the series, you can find them here in this podcast feed, or at hiddenbrain.org. And if there's someone in your life who you think would enjoy this series, please tell them about it. Thanks for listening! 
Many of us go to great lengths to be happy. But is our singular focus on feeling good actually making us miserable? This week, psychologist Jordi Quoidbach explores what happens when we try to live in an emotional monoculture, and makes a case for letting it all in — the ups ... and the downs.Be sure to check out the other episodes in our Emotions 2.0 series. And for more of our work on the topic of happiness, here are some other episodes you might enjoy: You 2.0: Where Happiness HidesHappiness 2.0: The Path to ContentmentHappiness 2.0: The Reset Button  
Sometimes we feel just one single feeling with overwhelming force. We're joyously happy. We're crushingly sad. But sometimes it's more complicated than that: We feel happy and sad at the same time. This week, we revisit a favorite 2022 episode with psychologist Naomi Rothman, who shares her research on the mixed emotion of ambivalence. She explores how being of two minds changes the way we think, and how it changes the way others see us. Did you catch the first two episodes in our Emotions 2.0 series? You can find them in this podcast feed, or on our website, hiddenbrain.org. Thanks for listening! 
For centuries, philosophers and theologians have warned about the dangers of pride and hubris. It’s an emotion that can make us arrogant, egotistical, and reckless. But psychologist Jessica Tracy suggests this caution is too broad. She argues that when we see pride only as a negative emotion, we miss out on all the powerful ways it can also be a driver of creativity, altruism, and accomplishment. Did you catch last week's conversation about collective emotions? It's the episode in this feed called "Emotions 2.0: When I Feel What You Feel."    
This week, we kick off our new series, Emotions 2.0, with a special double episode about the emotions we experience with other people. We often think that emotions like happiness or sadness live inside our individual minds. But if you’ve ever gone to a music concert in a big stadium or attended a political rally with like-minded voters, you know that emotions can move through crowds in powerful ways. We begin with psychologist Amit Goldenberg, who studies how emotions spread and ratchet up in intensity as more people experience them. Then, we bring you a favorite 2022 conversation with anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas, who takes us inside the world of fire walking to explore the emotional power of rituals. If you love Hidden Brain, you can help support our work by becoming a member of Hidden Brain+! Your subscription includes bonus episodes you won't hear anywhere else, plus you'll be helping us to continue bringing you ideas and insights for years to come. You can sign up via Apple Podcasts or our Patreon page. Thanks for your support! 
How to Win People Over

How to Win People Over

2024-10-1455:0341

We humans are a social species, and so it's not surprising that we care a lot about what other people think of us. It's also not surprising that many of us stumble when we try to manage others' views of us. This week, organizational psychologist Alison Fragale explains why that is, and offers better ways to win friends and influence people. Enjoy today's episode? Be sure to check out some of these other Hidden Brain conversations: How Others See YouYou 2.0: How to See Yourself ClearlyInnovation 2.0: The Influence You Have  
I. Me. My. You. He. She. They. It. To. Of. For. These are all words we use without a second thought. But psychologist James Pennebaker says if we pay close attention to the patterns in speech and writing, we can understand profound things about others, and even ourselves.For more on the relationship between language and our minds, check out this classic Hidden Brain episode: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/watch-your-mouth/
Sitting With Uncertainty

Sitting With Uncertainty

2024-09-3054:3250

It can sometimes be exciting when we don't know what's coming next. Other times, the unknown can be deeply troubling. This week, we talk with researcher Dannagal Goldthwaite Young about how we respond to uncertainty, and why this psychological trait plays a surprisingly large role in shaping our behavior, perspectives — even our political beliefs. If you'd like to learn more about the intersection between psychology and our political views, check out these other Hidden Brain episodes: Moral CombatUS 2.0: Not at the Dinner TableUS 2.0: What We Have in Common    
Rewrite Your Money Story

Rewrite Your Money Story

2024-09-2354:3631

Money worries are one of the biggest sources of anxiety in our lives. Psychologist Brad Klontz says these worries are shaped by more than the number in our bank accounts — they’re often driven by our unconscious beliefs. This week, we bring you a favorite 2022 conversation with Klontz, who says it’s possible to identify and change what he calls our “money scripts.”For more of our work, please consider joining our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. It's our home for conversations and ideas you won't hear anywhere else. Plus, you'll be providing vital support for the work that we do. If you listen on Apple Podcasts, you can find us at apple.co/hiddenbrain. If you use other podcast platforms or devices, you can sign up at support.hiddenbrain.org. Thanks for your support! 
You 2.0: Fighting Despair

You 2.0: Fighting Despair

2024-09-1653:0835

Every morning, you wake up and face the world. What does it look like to you? Do you see a paradise of endless opportunities, where people are friendly and helpful? Or a world filled with injustice, where people cannot be trusted? In the final installment of this year's You 2.0 series, we talk with psychologist Jamil Zaki about how we become disillusioned and distrustful of the world, and how to balance realism with hope.Did you miss any of the other episodes in the You 2.0 series? Make sure to give them a listen here or on our website: You 2.0: The Gift of Other PeopleYou 2.0: Taking Control of Your Time You 2.0: How To Say NoYou 2.0: Remember More, Forget LessAnd if you like today's conversation with Jamil Zaki, be sure to check out our earlier conversation with him, "The Empathy Gym."  
It happens to the best of us — we blank on someone's name, or forget an important meeting, or bomb a test we thought we'd ace.   In this week's installment of our You 2.0 series, we talk to cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham about the mysteries of memory: how it works, why it fails us, and how to build memories that stick. For more of our You 2.0 series, listen to our episode on how to say no.
You 2.0: How To Say No

You 2.0: How To Say No

2024-09-0253:4536

Saying no to someone who asks for something is often easier said than done. Maybe it's a boss who wants you to take on a new assignment. Or your kid's teacher, seeking volunteers for a field trip. Or a friend who asks you to lend her money. How should we respond to these demands on our time, energy, and resources? This week, psychologist Vanessa Patrick explores why it's so hard to say no, and how we can set boundaries that will make it easier to do so. If you haven't yet caught the first two episodes in this year's You 2.0 series, you can find them in this podcast feed, or on our website: You 2.0: The Gift of Other PeopleYou 2.0: Taking Control of Your Time Thanks for listening! 
Many of us feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. We struggle to make time for all the competing demands at work and at home, and inevitably feel like we're letting someone down. But what if there were a way to reclaim our time and, as a result, get more joy out of our lives?  In the second episode of this year's You 2.0 series, psychologist Cassie Mogilner Holmes explains how we've fallen victim to the illusion of time scarcity, and what we can do to spend our time more wisely. If you enjoy today's episode, check out last week's kick-off to our series, "You 2.0: The Gift of Other People."
Are you someone who strikes up a conversation with the person next to you on the train? Or do you keep your eyes fixed on your phone? Do you offer gratitude to friends and family? Or do you assume that they already know how you feel? This week, in the kickoff to our annual You 2.0 series, we talk with psychologist Nicholas Epley about our interactions with other people, and how we can make them more rewarding.If you enjoy today's episode, check out these classic Hidden Brain episodes: A Secret Source of ConnectionHow Others See You Relationships 2.0: An Antidote to Loneliness
Whether in your personal life or at work, you've probably experienced what it’s like to have people reject your requests. To be told that what you want is unfair, or heavy-handed. And you've likely been in the opposite position as well — pushing back against requests that step on your freedom. This week, we talk to psychologist Benjamin Rosenberg about how we respond to infringements on our sense of autonomy, and how we can avoid sparking this resistance in our interactions with other people. If you know someone who would like today's episode, please share it with them! And if you enjoy our show, please consider trying a free seven-day trial of our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. If you use an iPhone, you can sign up at apple.co/hiddenbrain. If you use an Android device, you can find Hidden Brain+ at support.hiddenbrain.org. Thanks for listening!  
When we meet new people, we’re often drawn to those with a commanding presence or a dazzling personality. But it turns out that a very different trait — humility — is important in the long term. This week, in the first of a two-part discussion, we talk with psychologist Daryl Van Tongeren about different kinds of humility, and how this overlooked quality can play a powerful role in workplace dynamics and romantic relationships. If you like today's episode, be sure to check out part two of our conversation, exclusively for Hidden Brain+ listeners. We talk with Daryl Van Tongeren about existential humility — being open to the idea we might be wrong about life's biggest unknowns. It's the episode called "Asking the Big Questions." To listen to Hidden Brain+ with a free seven-day trial, go to apple.co/hiddenbrain or support.hiddenbrain.org. 
Where Truth Lies

Where Truth Lies

2024-07-2955:2521

When we think about misinformation, we often focus on blatant errors or deliberate attempts to deceive us. But in recent years, social scientists have found that misinformation comes in many flavors — many of which are far more subtle than obvious falsehoods. These forms of misinformation prey on our mental blindspots, and take advantage of our passions and loyalties. This week, economist Alex Edmans explores the many insidious forms of misinformation, and how we can all get better at separating fact from fiction.For more of our work, please consider joining our podcast subscription. Hidden Brain+ is where you’ll find exclusive interviews and deeper dives into the ideas we explore on the show. You can try Hidden Brain+ with a free seven-day trial at apple.co/hiddenbrain. Or if you’re an Android user, sign up at support.hiddenbrain.org.
How To Be Alone

How To Be Alone

2024-07-2253:4160

We're always told to reach for that next ring, work that third job, go to that boisterous party after a long day at work. You only live once ... right? But psychologist Netta Weinstein says that when we constantly engage in achievement and distraction, we lose something essential about ourselves. This week, she makes a case for solitude, and examines what happens when we seek a quieter, more reflective interior life.If you like today's episode, check out our two-part series on mindfulness:Seeking Serenity: Part 1Seeking Serenity: Part 2
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Comments (1222)

hamid setodeh

🔥🔥🔥

Nov 25th
Reply

Setareh

Uncertainty is not just a lack of knowledge; it is an opportunity to explore, discover, and redefine possibilities.

Nov 19th
Reply

saba

recently, I feel empty and lonely. I thought that after graduation and moving to Germany, I would gain something. I'll have something that I'll honor. But, everything has changed. I've been suffering from being not useful even for myself. I'm just passing days and pretending to live... I don't know what I'm doing in my life, I don't know what makes me happy, I'm tired of this modern ridiculous world that nothing makes any sense to me. I'm tired and I wanna finish it but I don't know how!

Oct 29th
Reply (1)

Negar

I really liked this episode thanks Shankar

Oct 27th
Reply

Famida Jasemi

It was really practical and precious episod,thank you

Oct 23rd
Reply

Sara Kh

Very interesting episode. I found the editing to be very distracting. Was that added by AI?

Oct 14th
Reply

GunsDontKill

j

Oct 14th
Reply

squogg

Was really enjoying this episode and then it got real uncomfortable when discussing their study of Reddit posts. The fact they studied the post history of user's who had shared their breakup story is a great reminder about how truly public posts are 😬

Oct 12th
Reply

Jill Wood

This used to be a good station to listen to. It's not anymore it has too many commericals

Oct 12th
Reply

morris touriel

I would caution listeners to not accept the interviewee's conclusions about changing vocabulary does not impact emotion/ depression, anxiety. It is the basis of the most documented successful tx of MH disorders - cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This story is more complex than this episode suggests. The basis of CBT is that our thoughts greatly influence our emtional state, and may be altered by changing the self-talk/the way we think and talk about our situation.

Oct 12th
Reply

Mona Peterson

Hidden Brain is a masterclass in storytelling! Each episode is a captivating journey into the complexities of the human mind, blending science with relatable anecdotes. Always leaves me with new insights! https://firmania.com/brooklyn/nyc-packaging-solution-14587320

Oct 8th
Reply

Ario joleini

she sounds like someone from the system trying to cover up their mess 😂

Oct 6th
Reply

Silvia PJ

To much academic talk and not enough practical knowledge unfortunately.

Oct 6th
Reply

Jejj

Such good points made here, it helps to see the benefits of different ways of thinking and recognizing we will have large blind spots without engaging people who come from both perspectives I. dealing with uncertainty.

Oct 2nd
Reply

Niloofar Mohsenizadeh

Intresting!!

Sep 26th
Reply

Atefeh Esmaeili

where can I find transcription?

Sep 18th
Reply

Arman Seyfi

Insightful.

Sep 17th
Reply

Jessie Ross

I’m consistently amazed by how 'Hidden Brain' delves into the complexities of human behavior and thought. The podcast’s ability to weave together scientific research with compelling storytelling makes each episode both enlightening and engaging. https://sites.google.com/view/custom-kraft-paper/home The insights provided are not only thought-provoking but also incredibly relevant to everyday life. Kudos to the team for consistently producing such high-quality content that challenges our perspectives and deepens our understanding of the world!

Sep 15th
Reply

True

47:00

Sep 3rd
Reply

Roxanne Weaver

This is a rebroadcast from last year. I appreciate when a podcast mentions that in the description...would be nice if Hidden Brain would do that, too.

Aug 29th
Reply (1)