Are you elevated by sad songs? Have you ever been brought to tears by a TV commercial? Do you relish rainy days? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you know the power of the bittersweet. Yet chances are there have been times when you’ve struggled to square your melancholic disposition with our culture of counterfeit cheer. Well, you won’t fe ... Show More
Jan 29
Does "Mattering" Explain Everything?
In her new book, Mattering, Jennifer Wallace argues that our deepest crises — loneliness, anxiety, political rage — stem from a single unmet need: the need to matter. How did this happen, and what can we do about it? The Next Big Idea is now on YouTube! Check out our episodes ... Show More
54m 10s
Jan 22
The Superpower You Didn’t Know You Had
You know that feeling when you meet someone and something just … clicks? Scientists have a name for it. They call it “interpersonal synchrony.” Turns out we subconsciously mimic other people’s movements, postures, facial expressions, and gestures. We even sync involuntary functio ... Show More
49m 8s
Jan 15
‘It’s a Real Company Run by Fake People’
Evan Ratliff started a company last summer. He and his co-founders came up with a name, hired a team, built a website, and launched an app. They interviewed interns, planned a company hiking trip, and fielded inbound interest from VCs. Normal startup stuff. Except for one thing: ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2022
The hidden power of sad songs and rainy days | Susan Cain
Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invites you to embrace the feeling of longing -- or the place where joy and sorrow meet -- as a gateway to creativity, connection and ... Show More
24m 29s
Mar 2022
The hidden power of sad songs and rainy days | Susan Cain and Min Kym
Have you ever wondered why you like sad music? Do you find comfort or inspiration in rainy days? In this profound, poetic talk, author Susan Cain invites you to embrace the feeling of longing -- or the place where joy and sorrow meet – as a gateway to creativity, connection and l ... Show More
16m 51s
Jul 2022
What is Sadness Good For? | Susan Cain
<p><em>New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.</em></p> <p>---</p> <p>Many of us may have a reflexive reaction when we notice we're feeling down: we want it to go away. Maybe we think something is wron ... Show More
58m 36s
Nov 2022
The Sweet Bitter with Susan Cain
<p>There’s something profound in life’s bitter moments. The transformative beauty of a sad song, the anguished past of a story’s hero, the unexpected turnout of a crowded funeral. Turns out we often need darkness in order to appreciate the light. </p><p>In our modern world, we f ... Show More
25m 19s
Aug 2022
The power in embracing your sadness
In the U.S., there's a relentless focus on positivity. But as we all know, with life comes death — and with happiness, sadness. Susan Cain, author of Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, opens our eyes to the transformative power of melancholy.
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22m 34s
Jun 2022
478: Susan Cain - Using Pain To Be More Creative, Finding The Right Life Partner, & A New Way To Think About Death
<p>Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You along with 10's of thousands of other learning leaders will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right!</p> <p>Full show notes at <a href= "http://www.LearningLe ... Show More
57m 49s