logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
48m 29s

Finding Focus

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode
We spend more and more of our lives staring at screens. Our cellphones, smartwatches and laptops allow us to communicate instantly with people across the globe, and quickly look up obscure facts. But our digital devices are also altering our brains in profound ways. This week, psychologist Gloria Mark explores how our ability to focus is shrinking, and offer ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Keeping Secrets
We all carry secrets, from harmless omissions to life-changing truths. But secrecy isn’t neutral: hiding takes mental work and can harm our health and relationships. In this week’s show, and in our episode next week, psychologist Leslie John explores the costs of concealment — an ... Show More
50m 15s
Jan 26
You 2.0: Trusting Your Doubt
We conclude our month-long You 2.0 series with a look at the hidden power of doubt — not as weakness or indecision, but as a tool that helps us make better choices and navigate an uncertain world. Researcher Bobby Parmar explores how doubt can sharpen judgment, and makes a case f ... Show More
1h 37m
Jan 19
You 2.0: The Practice of Patience
Patience can sometimes feel like a lost art, particularly in a culture that prizes competition and the idea of "failing fast." But psychologist Sarah Schnitker says patience is a vital skill for success in both our personal and professional lives. We talk with Sarah about the dif ... Show More
1h 40m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2022
E81: Consciousness In A World Of Distraction | Consciousness Anywhere Podcast: Shannon O’Hara
Does being distracted create the life and world you would like to live in? The world is full of distractions and it’s only getting better and better at distracting us. Distractions come in many forms, thoughts, feelings, our phones, friends, relationships, food, just to name a fe ... Show More
35m 46s
Mar 2022
ATG 64: Go with your head or trust your gut? Your body knows the answer. My mind-blowing conversation with Annie Murphy Paul
<p>Your brain is powerful, but it’s limited. Sometimes it’s able to tell you exactly what you feel, how you can respond to a challenge, or how you can create ideas. Other times, it can’t. Enter Annie Murphy Paul, an acclaimed science writer whose book The Extended Mind: The Power ... Show More
48m 28s
Jan 2023
How To Focus Your Distracted Mind with Adam Gazzaley
<p>How do you focus a distracted mind?</p> <p>Attention and focus come up a lot in the Kwik Brain community. In the world of dings and pings, staying on task can become increasingly difficult, especially when your to-do list is a mile long. But attention exists to help you not on ... Show More
20m 43s
May 2013
Ventriloquism: The Science of Dummies
<p>Ventriloquism: The Science of Dummies: It's time to rediscover ventriloquism, the surprisingly deft art of illusion that relies on a keen sense of comic timing and obsessive technique from the performer, as well as a buy-in into the illusion from the audience member. Why do we ... Show More
30m 25s
Jul 2017
Communicate Like A Mind Reader
Mind reading tricks can be unnerving, but they don't have to be as scary as some people think they are. Mentalist Jonathan Pritchard explains how he convinces people he can read minds by using the same psychological techniques employed by sales, marketing, and other business lead ... Show More
41m 7s
Jun 2024
3226: This is How to Find Your Inspiration, Creativity and Focus by The NeuroGym Team of MyNeuroGym
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3226: Discover how historical geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci and Marie Curie harnessed their creativity and focus. Learn a ... Show More
10m 1s
Jul 2024
How to Reclaim Focus in the Age of Distraction | Johann Hari
tail spinning
1h 8m
Jun 2017
Extended Cognition: Brain, Fingers, Web and Krang
<p>It’s easy to think yourself a mere brain within a human body -- a cognitive machine making sense out of all the incoming sense data from outside world. But what if other parts of the body and even objects beyond the body serve a vital role in our cognition? In this episode of ... Show More
1h 10m
Mar 2024
Limitless Mindset - Beyond the Barriers of Your Brain
Breaking Boundaries: Dive into this mind-expanding episode where we explore strategies, insights, and fascinating discoveries that challenge the limits of your brain. Unleash your cognitive potential and embark on a journey to push the boundaries of what your mind can achieve. Sp ... Show More
26m 27s