Podcast Episodes

Are you and I (and everyone) the same person? A talk on Open Individualism with Joe Kern

What if your sense of existence, your self-awareness, isn’t unique at all—but the very same “I” that exists in everyone, everywhere? What if you and I—and everyone—are essentially the same person? In…

Published on 9 hours ago

The psychology of Bad Vegan: Sarma Melngailis on narcissistic abuse and life after

The documentary "Bad Vegan" was about Sarma Melngailis’s nightmarish journey from successful New York City restaurant owner to Rikers inmate jailed for stealing millions. How did this happen? Sarma w…

Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago

The surprising power of nostalgia — and how it can be used on you

What does nostalgia do to our minds — and our wallets? In this talk with Jannine Lasaleta, we talk about her research into the surprising psychological and emotional effects of nostalgia. Why do peop…

Published on 3 weeks, 6 days ago

My life-changing experience with meditation

In the summer of 2024, I went on a five-day solo retreat in the mountains of New Mexico. It was the first time I’d ever really committed to meditation, and to my surprise it turned out to be a deeply…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Are you a psychopath? Debunking myths and looking for nuance in "dark" traits

What does the word “psychopath” really mean—and how often are we getting it wrong? Can someone have some psychopathic traits and still be empathetic? How often are we embracing simplistic ideas of wh…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Penalty kick mind games: Reading and using body language in sports

I talk with sports psychology and behavior researcher Philip Furley about how athletes' body language communicates far more than we realize — and how it can affect teammates, opponents, judges, and e…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Madness explained: How trauma and stress can break the mind

I talk to psychologist Richard Bentall about psychosis, schizophrenia, and the psychological roots of mental illness. Bentall is the author of the well known book "Madness Explained." We explore how …

Published on 2 months ago

How our memories shape—and distort—who we are

Psychologist Anne Wilson studies how we construct our identities over time—how we remember the past, imagine the future, and tell ourselves stories that shape who we believe we are. In this episode, …

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

Are you a narcissist? The psychology and spectrum of narcissism

What if we’ve been thinking about narcissism all wrong — and some forms of it are not only normal, but healthy? Why do we so often confuse genuine confidence or ambition with something pathological? …

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

The "deep whys" behind autistic behaviors | with Barry Prizant

Episode 178

I talk to Barry Prizant, author of the popular book "Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism," about the often misunderstood world of autism. We explore the idea that many so-called “autisti…

Published on 3 months ago