logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
51 m

Why Your Brain Craves Revenge and How to...

Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness
About this episode
Revenge, why do we want to get revenge so bad? And where does that urge come from? And how do we go from wanting to get revenge to being able to forgive someone or others? James Kimmel Jr., Yale lecturer and co-founder of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Studies, is on Getting Better this week to teach us just that. James gives us insight into the psycholog ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
How to Stay Hopeful (and Powerful) When Rights Are Under Threat — with Planned Parenthood’s Alexis McGill Johnson
Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson is here and we are fired up! Alexis is leading the fight to protect reproductive freedom at a time when access to healthcare is under attack across the U.S.—and she’s breaking it all down for us. JVN sat down with Alexis ... Show More
48m 42s
Oct 7
Presenting Heavyweight: The Messenger
Looking for your next favorite podcast (besides mine, of course)? Heavyweight, hosted by Jonathan Goldstein, will break your heart...and then put it back together. In each episode, Jonathan helps someone revisit a defining regret, lost connection, or unsolved mystery from their l ... Show More
38m 47s
Oct 6
AI Trump Memes, OBBBA Tax Breaks & Healthcare Cuts
We’re talking: WAYWARD’s No. 1 spot on Netflix, celeb sightings at The Corner Store, Figure Skating & Gymnastics on Peacock, bag etiquette, AI Trump posts, One Big Beautiful Bill Act tax breaks & healthcare cuts, what extreme gender ideology actually is, situationship ghosting, L ... Show More
31m 21s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 6
Are You a Grudge Holder or a Revenge Seeker? Here’s How It’s Hurting You – And How To Get Over It | James Kimmel, Jr.
The psychology and neuroscience of revenge. James Kimmel, Jr. is a lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, an expert on revenge, a lawyer, and the founder and co-director of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Control Studies. He is the creator of The Nonjustice Syst ... Show More
1h 11m
Jun 2025
James Kimmel Jr. (revenge and forgiveness expert)
James Kimmel Jr. (The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction) is a lecturer at Yale University on forgiveness and revenge. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss plotting his revenge against the other Jimmy Kimmel for months, wanting to grow up to b ... Show More
2h 6m
Sep 4
#989 - James Kimmel Jr. - Why Violence & Revenge Fantasies Feel Good
James Kimmel Jr. is a professor at Yale, a psychiatrist, and an author. Why are we drawn to revenge? From playground grudges to epic betrayals, the urge to strike back is universal. But is it a survival mechanism, or an ancient drive that no longer fits the modern age? Expect to ... Show More
1h 38m
Jun 2025
The Price of Revenge
Revenge often feels sweet, but what price do we pay for seeking it out? Researcher James Kimmel, Jr. proposes a radical theory: our desire for vengeance operates like an addiction in the brain. This week, how “revenge addiction” plays out in our everyday lives — and on a global s ... Show More
1h 6m
Oct 2023
Forgiveness, Seinfeld Grudges + The Science of Blame
It seems that the denizens of New London, Connecticut have real issues with forgiveness and letting go. Every year they throw a bizarre festival castigating the infamous American Revolutionary War-era traitor Benedict Arnold for giving information to the British forces leading th ... Show More
48m 12s
Oct 2024
How to Overcome a Painful Past & Break Codependent Attachment, Expand Consciousness, & Find Yourself, with Pete Holmes
Transform the Pain from Relationship Betrayal into Radical Self-Reinvention  & Channel Your Anger into a Powerful Protective Force!  The hilarious and brilliantly philosophical comedian Pete Holmes is in the MBB studio this week to share his thoughts on the nature of reality & co ... Show More
1h 26m
Jul 17
From Victim to Victor: Rise Above Trauma with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman
What if the biggest obstacle holding you back isn’t your past but your mindset? Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, challenges everything you think you know about trauma, resilience, and personal growth. In this episode, you’ll discover why labeling every setback as “trauma” c ... Show More
17m 30s
Aug 20
Trolleyology (MORAL DILEMMAS + THE TROLLEY PROBLEM) with Joshua Greene
Train tracks. Split decisions. And a philosophy humdinger worth debating. Dr. Joshua Greene is a Harvard Psychology professor, neuroscientist, and *actual* Trolleyologist. The moral humdinger that has been used in everything from Supreme Court decisions to board games looks at: W ... Show More
1h 22m
Jul 25
Most Replayed Moment: The Role of Dopamine in Addiction and Motivation - Anna Lembke
In today’s moment, renowned neuroscientist and author, Anna Lembke, explores the fascinating science of dopamine and its impact on our behaviour. Discover why dopamine is fundamental to survival, how it drives pleasure and motivation, and why we are more vulnerable to addiction t ... Show More
23m 8s
Aug 4
Scrolling Ourselves Sick: The Hidden Cost of Constant Connection
Social media platforms are designed to hijack our brain’s reward system, keeping us hooked through endless dopamine hits. This constant stimulation fragments our attention, reshapes our behavior, and can lead to burnout, anxiety, and even addiction—especially in developing brains ... Show More
1h 5m