In job interviews and in life, perfectionism is often seen as a selling point – an asset disguised as a flaw. But as psychologists have found rising rates of perfectionism in the United States and around the world in recent decades, they’ve begun to recognize the toll that the drive to be perfect can take on people’s mental health and well-being. Thomas Curr ... Show More
Jun 3
How children learn culture — and create it, with Dorsa Amir, PhD
Which aspects of human cognition are universal and which are shaped by the culture we grow up in? Dorsa Amir, PhD, director of the Mind & Culture Lab at Duke University, talks about how children learn cultural norms around things like sharing, risk-taking and cooperation; what sh ... Show More
42m 47s
May 29
Introducing: Call to Mind
Today, we're sharing an episode of another podcast we think you'll enjoy: Call to Mind, from American Public Media. Call to Mind is American Public Media's initiative to foster new conversations about mental health. This episode, The Strain of Stress, looks at the many pressures ... Show More
53m 1s
May 27
How to feel more loved, with Harry Reis, PhD
Even in our closest relationships, we can sometimes feel misunderstood and disconnected. Relationship researcher Harry Reis, PhD, coauthor of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, talks about the difference between being loved and feeling lo ... Show More
29m 24s
Nov 2025
353. The psychology of perfectionism
We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m such a perfectionist”, like it’s a badge of honour. But what does perfectionism really mean - and what’s hiding beneath it? In today’s bonus episode, we unpack the psychology of perfectionism: the fear, the origins, and how to finally let go of “ ... Show More
27m 19s
Mar 2025
how to overcome PERFECTIONISM: embrace progress, let go of pressure & stop preforming! letting youreself be HUMAN
in today’s episode, we’re diving into something I know we all struggle with from time to time… PERFECTIONISM! 💭✨ While holding yourself to a high standard can be motivating, there’s a fine line where it can lead to insecurity, never feeling fulfilled, and an inability to embrace ... Show More
36m 20s
Sep 2025
336. Why do we crave external validation?
In our twenties, the feedback sources that once defined our worth - grades, report cards, and parental praise - start to disappear. This leaves a void, which many of us instinctively turn to external sources like social media, career achievements, and the opinions of others, to f ... Show More
42m 34s
May 2025
The Roots of Perfectionism and How We Can Change
Perfectionism can help us succeed, but it can also be a detriment to our mental health and our lives. Understanding it is the first step to better management. In this episode, psychologist Thomas Greenspon shares research about perfectionism, where it comes from, how it can impac ... Show More
29m 56s
Jan 2025
Dealing with Perfectionism
High standards, attention to detail, and self-control are invaluable qualities at work. They’re also aspects of perfectionism, something to which many high achievers credit much of their success. But Ellen Hendriksen, clinical psychologist at Boston University's Center for Anxiet ... Show More
26m 52s
Jan 2025
What If Healing Your Mind Starts in Your Body?
Trauma has become a buzzword in the zeitgeist over the years, but do we really understand what it means and how it impacts the body? Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, to explore what both psychologists and th ... Show More
39m 7s
