Podcast Episodes

Teens, AI and the science of risky decisions, with Valerie Reyna, PhD

Episode 348

You might think the best way to make decisions is to know all the facts. But psychologists’ research suggests that getting the “gist” – the core meaning behind the facts – is more important than focu…

Published on 8 hours ago

How to support children after traumatic events, with Robin Gurwitch, PhD

Episode 347

From hurricanes to wildfires to gun violence, trauma and disaster touch the lives of millions of children each year. Robin Gurwitch, PhD, discusses how disasters affect children’s mental health, how …

Published on 1 week ago

Financial scams: Why some older adults are at risk, with Duke Han, PhD

Episode 346

Financial scams targeting people over age 60 cost victims more than $3.4 billion in 2023. Neuropsychologist Duke Han, PhD, talks about why some older adults are at risk, financial vulnerability as an…

Published on 2 weeks ago

Hot flashes, heart health and hormones: Rethinking menopause, with Rebecca Thurston, PhD

Episode 345

For many women, the shifting hormones of midlife bring troubling symptoms like hot flashes, mood and memory changes. Now, researchers are learning more about the short- and long-term health effects o…

Published on 3 weeks ago

Why “boy" culture is creating a crisis of connection, with Niobe Way, PhD

Episode 344

Many boys form deep friendships in childhood. But as they become teens, they report fewer close, rich friendships. Niobe Way, PhD, author of “Rebels With a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves and Our …

Published on 4 weeks ago

Why numeracy counts in everyday life, with Ellen Peters, PhD

From deciding whether to buy a house to weighing the risks and benefits of taking a new medication, many important life decisions hinge on understanding numbers, statistics and probability. Ellen Pet…

Published on 1 month ago

Encore - How science can help you change your behavior for the better, with Katy Milkman, PhD

What can you learn from the science of behavior change that can help you make the changes you want to see in your life? Katy Milkman, PhD, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Penns…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Encore -- Why we choose to suffer, with Paul Bloom, PhD

Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD,  discusse…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Encore -- Why is it so hard for adults to make friends? With Marisa Franco, PhD

As an adult, making new friends—and maintaining old friendships—can be tough. Life is busy and friends end up taking a backseat to other relationships and responsibilities. Marisa Franco, PhD, psycho…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

What the movies get right (and wrong) about relationships, with Paul Eastwick, PhD, and Eli Finkel, PhD

Episode 342

For many of us, movies offer our earliest lessons in love and help shape our expectations about what romance and relationships might look like. Relationship researchers Paul Eastwick, PhD, and Eli Fi…

Published on 2 months ago