In You Have More Influence Than You Think (Norton, 2023) social psychologist Vanessa Bohns draws from her original research to illustrate why we fail to recognize the influence we have, and how that lack of awareness can lead us to miss opportunities or accidentally misuse our power. Weaving together compelling stories with cutting edge science, Dr. Bohns an ... Show More
Aug 21
Samuel Holleran and Max Holleran, "Scattered Steel: The Afterlife of the World Trade Center" (Cornell UP, 2026)
Scattered Steel: The Afterlife of the World Trade Center (Cornell UP, 2026) traces the extraordinary journey of the twisted remnants of the World Trade Center. When the Towers fell on September 11, 2001, nearly all that remained was pulverized concrete and contorted steel. Dr. Sa ... Show More
49m 54s
Apr 2026
Alex Diamond, "Governing the Excluded: Rural Livelihoods Beyond Coca in Colombia's Peace Laboratory" (U Chicago Press, 2026)
The Colombian village of Briceño might, at first glimpse, look like many communities in the rural Global South. Many of the people living there rely on small-scale farming, even as a newly constructed hydroelectric dam threatens traditional livelihoods. Yet after decades where Br ... Show More
1h 4m
Aug 20
Claudia Kreklau, "The Making of Modern Eating: How the German Middle Class Forged the Way We Eat, 1780–1910" (Berghahn, 2026)
Nineteenth-century Germany invented the way we eat. Women experimenting in households, French chefs fleeing guillotines, and one of the most rapidly evolving food industries in the world forged recognizably modern eating practices between 1780 and 1910. While central Europeans me ... Show More
43m 55s
Aug 2023
Research From Princeton: 13 Proven Hacks That Boost Your Influence & Make You More Confident
<p>In this episode, you’re getting a crash course in 13 essential hacks that will help you be more successful, and they’re backed by surprising research out of Princeton.</p><p> </p><p>Vanessa Van Edwards is the founder of the behavior lab The Science of People, a behavioral inve ... Show More
53m 7s
Aug 2025
Body Language Expert: The #1 Cue That Makes People Dislike You
Ever wonder why some people just click with everyone? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Vanessa Van Edwards—behavioral investigator, author, and founder of Science of People—to break down the science behind first impressions, charisma, and connection. We dig into what pe ... Show More
55m 56s
<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>It can be difficult to grasp how much power of persuasion we actually have, or how to wield it wisely. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>In tod ... Show More
