About this episode
Ellen Langer is a psychologist at Harvard who studies the mind-body connection. She’s published some of the most remarkable scientific findings Steve has ever encountered. Can we really improve our physical health by changing our mind?
Feb 28
10. Suzanne Gluck: “I'm a Person Who Can Convince Other People to Do Things”
She might not be a household name, but Suzanne Gluck is one of the most powerful people in the book industry. Her slush pile is a key entry point to the biggest publishers in the U.S., and the authors she represents have sold more than 100 million books worldwide. Steve Levitt ta ... Show More
36m 7s
Feb 21
8. Peter Attia: “I Definitely Lost a Lot of IQ Points That Day”
He’s been an engineer, a surgeon, a management consultant, and even a boxer. Now he’s a physician focused on the science of longevity. Peter Attia talks with Steve Levitt about the problem with immortality, what’s missing from our Covid response, and why nicotine is underrated. T ... Show More
38m 36s
Feb 14
7. Caverly Morgan: "I Am Not This Voice. I Am Not This Narrative."
She showed up late and confused to her first silent retreat, but Caverly Morgan eventually trained for eight years in silence at a Zen monastery. Now her mindfulness-education program Peace in Schools is part of the high-school curriculum in Portland, Ore. Steve Levitt finds out ... Show More
38m 38s
Dec 2023
173. How Important Is Your Choice of Words?
35m 28s
Apr 2024
191. Can You Change Your Personality?
39m 3s
Dec 2023
175. Why Is Astrology So Popular?
37m 32s
Jun 2024
201. Are You Dreaming Too Big?
41m 44s
Feb 2024
184. Are You Doing Too Much?
40m 51s
Sep 2023
164. Do You Have Impostor Syndrome?
38m 43s
Jan 2024
180. What Makes Some Objects Feel Special?
38m 29s
Apr 2024
Should You Get Out of Your Comfort Zone?
40m 24s
Dec 2023
174. What’s the Point of I.Q. Testing?
35m 42s
Apr 2024
Extra: Why Is 23andMe Going Under? (Update)
<p>Five years ago, we published an episode about the boom in home DNA testing kits, focusing on the high-flying firm 23andMe and its C.E.O. Anne Wojcicki. Their flight has been extremely bumpy since then. This update includes an additional interview with the <i>Wall Street Journa ... Show More
1h 2m
<p>What happens when three psychologists walk into a magic show? What’s Angela’s problem with the word “talent”? And why does LeBron James refer to himself in the third person?</p><p> </p><p>SOURCES:</p><ul><li><a href="https://psychology.yale.edu/people/john-bargh">John Bargh</ ... Show More
<p>Are you the same person you were a decade ago? Do we get better as we age? And is your sixth-grade class clown still funny? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9768518/">Aaron (Tim) Beck</a>, professor emer ... Show More
<p>Why does your horoscope seem so accurate? Is it possible to believe and not believe in something at the same time? And is Mike a classic Gemini?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-pt-barnum-greatest-hu ... Show More
<p>Are fantasies helpful or harmful? How is daydreaming like a drug? And what did Angela fantasize about during ninth-grade English class?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/psHQN_yANkg">Patrick Bet-David</a>, YouTuber and ... Show More
<p>How can you strive for excellence without overworking yourself? Why is perfectionism on the rise? And is Angela part of the problem?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-andrus-426734223/">Kristin Andrus</a>, philanth ... Show More
<p>Does anyone really know what they’re doing? How do we reward the competent and not the confident? And what’s wrong with using TikTok for research? </p><p> </p><p>RESOURCES:</p><ul><li>"<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/13/the-dubious-rise-of-impostor-syndrome ... Show More
<p>Where does sentimental value come from? Why did Angela throw out her childhood journals? And would Mike wear Hitler’s sweater? </p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/faculty-and-research/faculty-by-area/profiles/galak-jeffrey.h ... Show More
<p>What do the most creative people have in common? How open-minded are you, really? And what’s wrong with ordering eggs Benedict? </p><p>Take the Big Five inventory: </p><p><a href="http://freakonomics.com/bigfive">freakonomics.com/bigfive</a></p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES ... Show More
<p>Are gifted and talented programs discriminatory? Why do so many adults still remember their SAT scores? And how did Angela transform from a party girl to an Ivy League psychologist?</p><p> </p><ul><li><strong>SOURCES:</strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biograp ... Show More
