Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWhat Is Normal?
Anthropologist Tom Pearson was devastated after his daughter Michaela was diagnosed with Down syndrome. When he began to examine that emotional response, he found himself wrestling with questions tha…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
The Transformative Ideas of Daniel Kahneman
If you've ever taken an economics class, you were probably taught that people are rational. But about 50 years ago, the psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky began to chip away at this basic…
Published on 1 year, 8 months ago
Are You Listening?
Have you ever sat across from your spouse, colleague or friend and realized that while they may be hearing what you're saying, they aren't actually listening? Poor listening can lead to arguments, hu…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
The Ventilator
Many of us believe we know how we’d choose to die. We have a sense of how we’d respond to a diagnosis of an incurable illness. This week, we revisit a 2019 episode featuring one family’s decades-long…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
Escaping the Matrix
A little more than a decade ago, researchers began tracking an alarming trend: a dramatic uptick in anxiety and depression among young Americans. Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, like many other research…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
Fear Less
Fear is a normal and healthy response to things that may harm us. But fear can also hold us back from doing the things we want to do. This week, we talk to psychiatrist and neuroscientist Arash Javan…
Published on 1 year, 9 months ago
US 2.0: Lincoln's Dilemma
Over the past few weeks, we've been exploring the psychology of partisanship, and how to effectively handle disagreements with those around us. This week, we conclude our US 2.0 series by turning to …
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
US 2.0: Not at the Dinner Table
We typically divide the country into two distinct groups: Democrats and Republicans. But what if the real political divide in our country isn’t between “left” and “right”? What if it’s between those …
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
US 2.0: Living With Our Differences
Conflicts are inevitable — both at a global scale and in our personal lives. This week, in the latest in our US 2.0 series, psychologist Peter Coleman explains how minor disagreements turn into major…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago
US 2.0: Win Hearts, Then Minds
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 in reality, when people don't share our values, it's hard fo…
Published on 1 year, 10 months ago