About this episode
Nov 17
How to survive awkward encounters
We all know what awkwardness feels like. It's that jolt of discomfort when the social script breaks down, and no one knows what to do next. But what if awkwardness isn’t a flaw to fix but a window into how we live together?
Sean’s guest today is Alexandra Plakias, associate p ... Show More
56m 52s
Nov 10
Truth in an age of doublethink
We use “Orwellian” to describe everything from campus dust-ups to authoritarian crackdowns. But what did George Orwell actually stand for, what did he get wrong, and what can we learn from him about our age of surveillance capitalism and distraction? Sean’s guest is Laura Beers, ... Show More
52m 16s
Nov 3
The case against free will
We all think of ourselves as authors of our lives. The difference between our happy ending and someone else’s tragic one are the choices we each make. But what if none of that’s true? Sean’s guest today is Robert Sapolsky, a biologist and neuroscientist at Stanford University and ... Show More
58m 50s
May 2021
2. Adam Grant on Changing Your Mind, the Flaws of Intuition, Horizontal Hostility, and More
Adam Grant is one of my heroes. He is an author, organizational psychologist, the top rated professor at Wharton School of Business, and not only a TED speaker, but also a TED podcaster. He has a TED podcast called Work Life. I first learned about Adam Grant from his 2016 book “T ... Show More
1h 17m
Mar 2024
186. Do You Need a Routine?
38m 34s
Jan 2017
64: The Power of Meaning
<p>On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, friend of the show Emily Esfahani Smith sheds light on how we can craft a life that truly matters. Finding meaning in life is a crtitical existential good, and with today’s discussion we take a science backed look at how we can achiev ... Show More
48m 38s
Jan 2024
5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Replay)
49m 12s
Oct 2023
Seek Safely: Jean Brown & Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle on the Self-Help Industry
<p>Today’s episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. </p> <p>The self-help book industry alone is expected to grow from $10.5 billion annually to $15 billion by 2025. Of course, with that kinda dough floating around, a raging demand for personal growth has led to a plethora of tools ai ... Show More
1h 5m
Dec 2023
63. How Contagious Is Behavior? With Laurie Santos of “The Happiness Lab.” (Replay)
36m 30s
Jan 2024
179. Can You Really “Manifest” Success Through Positive Visualization?
36m 29s
Apr 2022
Did we just invent telepathy?
A groundbreaking new study claims to have found a way for a fully paralyzed person to communicate entirely via thought. But the scientists behind it have a checkered past.
This episode was produced by Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Collette, engineered by Efim Shapiro, fact-checked ... Show More
26m 6s
Sep 2023
Sadistic Empathy: Are There Downsides to Empathy?
Healthy//Toxic
Healthy versus Toxic is a podcast where licensed mental health professionals explore what makes a relationship healthy or unhealthy. Our hosts aim to provide a scientifically informed perspective on what factors go into making healthy relationships, how to build se ... Show More
18m 10s
May 2024
The Science Of Getting Out Of Your Head | Annie Murphy Paul
57m 23s
There are many ways people are trying to know themselves these days – from taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test to analyzing their astrological birth charts to identifying their attachment styles. But are any of these methods helpful? Allie Volpe, a senior reporter at Vox, discusses this with Mitch Green, a philosophy professor at the University of Co ... Show More
<p>Would you be more adventurous if you had more structure? Do you multitask while brushing your teeth? And what would Mike’s perfect brother Peter do? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/david-brooks">David Brooks</a>, opi ... Show More
<p>We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too.</p><p> </p><ul><li><str ... Show More
<p>Why do we mirror other people’s accents? Does DJ Khaled get tired of winning? And also: life is good — so why aren’t you happy?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://news.stanford.edu/2021/07/30/psychology-professor-albert-bandura-dead-95/">Alber ... Show More
<p>Is there any scientific basis for the law of attraction? Are people who believe in “cosmic collaboration” more successful? And what happens when you write yourself a check for $10 million?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.rhondabyrne.com ... Show More
<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>An acclaimed science writer on how to upgrade your mind by using more than your head.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>When you think about thi ... Show More