Art is universal – there has never been a human society without it. But we don’t always agree on what makes for good art, or even what makes something art at all. Ellen Winner, PhD, of Boston College, talks about how psychology can help answer the question “What is art?” why even non-experts can tell the difference between a child’s painting and an abstract ... Show More
Yesterday
Why can’t you remember being a baby? With Nicholas Turk-Browne, PhD
Why can’t you remember your first birthday party? Or the house you lived in at age 2? Nicholas Turk-Browne, PhD, talks about new studies that suggest that babies and toddlers may form early memories; why we aren’t able to retrieve them as adults; and how evolving brain imaging te ... Show More
42m 42s
Jul 2
How to be happier, with Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD
Want to be happier? Some of our happiness level is due to genes or life circumstances, but research shows much of it is within our control. Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, talks about the habits and mindsets that lead to lasting happiness, the complex relationship between money and happi ... Show More
35m 30s
Jun 25
The psychology of wealth, empathy and entitlement, with Paul Piff, PhD
Can money make you mean? Most of us like to think we’d stay grounded if we were to become wealthy, but psychologists’ research suggests that money, status and power shape people’s beliefs and behavior – sometimes in surprising ways. Paul Piff, PhD, of the University of California ... Show More
45 m
Oct 2021
Alana Jelinek, "Between Discipline and a Hard Place: The Value of Contemporary Art" (Bloomsbury, 2020)
Some fields have an easier time describing themselves than others. "History is the study of past events." "Biology is the study of living organisms." But art? Is art a discipline? Is it a practice? Who gets to answer this most fundamental of questions, and why do we prefer not to ... Show More
59m 14s
Jul 2023
Neuroaesthetics: How Art Can Improve and Extend Your Life | Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Did you know that just 20 minutes of art a day is as beneficial as exercise and mindfulness? Or that participating in one art experience per month can extend ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 2016
The Art of Perception: How to See and Say What Really Matters
What if success was less about mastery and more about sight?Simple truth: Most of us don’t see what is right in front of us.Instead, we see mental models and imprints of what things “should” look like or what we’ve been told to see. And, we miss what's actually happening, along w ... Show More
57m 53s
Mar 2023
Lisa Olivera on Why Making Art is Great for the World
Today Amie had the pleasure of interviewing the author of Already Enough, creator of Human Stuff on substack, and one of our instagram heroes, Lisa Olivera.
Topics Discussed by Lisa and Amie:
The magic of being introverted and quiet as a creative.
How to create when it feels lik ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2024
Artist Mothers and Education in the Arts with Artist Jennifer Combe
Jennifer Combe is a mother, artist, and associate professor of art at The University of Montana. Before shifting to higher education, she taught K12 in Washington State public schools for fifteen years. Her artwork investigates gender, contemporary mothering, and children’s devel ... Show More
39m 1s
Oct 2023
The Art of Living Well with Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
Tara sits down with the co-authors of “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us,” Ivy Ross & Susan Magsamen, to discuss the importance of including art in your daily life, how just 20 minutes in nature can lower cortisol levels and increase focus and making versus beholding. ... Show More
58m 56s
Feb 2024
You're Looking Wrong!: Episode 22 of The Painting Podcast
How are we taught to look at art, and why does it get everything wrong? In this episode I look at conventional ways of teaching students to look at art, and offer an alternative that allows for more intuition, experiementation, and a familiarity with the medium.
33m 22s