logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
40m 48s

200. What’s the Difference Between Empat...

Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
About this episode
Can you ever really know how another person feels? What’s the best way to support a grieving person? And why doesn’t Hallmark sell empathy cards? 
Up next
Yesterday
59. Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything?
Also: why is music so memorable? This episode originally aired on July 11th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 
38m 35s
Jan 25
58. What’s So Gratifying About Gossip?
Also: why do people hate small talk? This episode originally aired on June 27th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 
37m 4s
Jan 18
57. Which Incentives Are Best at Boosting Vaccination, and Why?
Also: what does your desired superpower say about you? This episode originally aired on June 20th, 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 
36m 24s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
33: The Problem with Empathy feat. Jade E. Davis
<p>Abby and Patrick welcome Jade E. Davis, author of the new book <em>The Other Side of Empathy. </em>They discuss Jade’s critique of naïve notions of “empathy” and what she calls “empathy culture.” They examine the ways empathy can flatten suffering, demand particular performanc ... Show More
1h 27m
Jul 2024
596. Farewell to a Generational Talent
tail spinning
52m 41s
Oct 2025
Brené and Adam Grant on Empathy vs. Enmeshment
In the fourth episode of a special “Dare to Lead” series with Adam Grant, Brené and Adam explore the attack on empathy, the difference between cognitive empathy and affective empathy, and what separates empathy from enmeshment. Brené shares a personal story that led to a breakthr ... Show More
32m 19s
Oct 2025
Brené and Adam Grant on the Skillsets of Empathy
In the fifth episode of a special “Dare to Lead” series with Adam Grant, Brené and Adam break down the skillsets of empathy, empathy misses, and how empathy is trickier than walking in someone else’s shoes. They discuss the way empathy can show up as being curious and caring — ir ... Show More
48m 9s
Oct 2025
Episode 319: The Shadow of the Object (Freud's "Mourning and Melancholia")
David and Tamler transfer their libidinal energy to Freud's 1917 article "Mourning and Melancholia," in which he tries to understand what's going on with depression, attempts to distinguish it from normal grief, and arrives at some ideas that laid the groundwork for his later the ... Show More
1h 35m
May 2025
Some More News: The Right's War on Empathy
<p>Hi. Elon Musk says that empathy is "the fundamental weakness of Western civilization." In this episode, we look at why the right hates empathy and how they're trying to get more Americans to approve of their antisocial behavior.</p><p><br></p><p>Hosted by Cody Johnston &amp; W ... Show More
1h 25m
Jun 2024
#25 - AJ Jacobs - The Power of Social Experimentation
<p>How literally should we take the US Constitution? What about the bible? Should we experiment with radical honesty with strangers? Those are just some of the questions human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs spends his life trying to answer. An author and journalist, he regularly immerse ... Show More
1h 39m
Mar 2025
How Is Trauma Dumping Affecting My Relationships?
This week, JVN sits down with existential psychotherapist and author Dr. Sara Kuburic, widely recognized as the @Millennial.Therapist in Instagram, to delve into the phenomenon of "trauma dumping." We’re exploring the nuances between sharing personal experiences and overloading o ... Show More
41m 20s
Sep 2025
Weekend Woman’s Hour: Davina McCall, Papua New Guinea, Jung Chang, Fawning, Sophie Ellis Bextor
Davina McCall, one of TV’s most popular presenters has a new book out, Birthing, co-written with the midwife, Marley Henry. Davina joined Anita Rani to talk about her stellar career so far, including hosting Big Brother for 10 years, campaigning for better menopause care and buil ... Show More
55m 13s
Jan 2025
How Do I Stop Being Such A People Pleaser?
JVN sits down with Kati Morton, a licensed therapist and bestselling author, to dive deep into the world of people-pleasing. Together, they unpack why people-pleasing isn’t just about being nice—it’s about discomfort with other people’s discomfort, and why it leaves so many of us ... Show More
51m 15s