logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
49 m

Why Your Brain Craves Revenge and How to...

Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Mar 11
Dopamine Dressing: How Clothes Can Boost Your Mood with Marie Claire’s Editor-in-Chief (Nikki Ogunnaike)
What if getting dressed could actually help you feel better? This week, JVN sits down with Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Nikki Ogunnaike to talk about dopamine dressing, personal style, and why fashion is so much deeper than just clothes. Together, they get into how to figure out ... Show More
40m 55s
Mar 9
WMD Playbook, Escalation in Iran, Daylight Savings
This week we’re talking: prepping for the Hot & Healed comedy tour, self-tape adventures, new Instagram follows, shopping quirks, our weekly spelling bee, dermatologist updates, geopolitical reflections on the military action Iran, answering your listener questions, and of course ... Show More
29m 33s
Mar 4
How To Stop Editing Yourself for the Wrong People (with MattLovesHair)
What happens when you meet someone who looks like your long-lost twin… and then they also have an iconic backstory to match? JVN is joined by Matt Newman (aka MattLovesHair on social media) for one helluva delightful conversation. From photoshoot fiascos, an ANTM-era detour, and ... Show More
51m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2025
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.
tail spinning
1h 11m
Jun 2025
James Kimmel Jr. (revenge and forgiveness expert)
<p>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 t ... Show More
2h 6m
Sep 2025
#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
<p>Revenge often feels sweet, but what price do we pay for seeking it out? Researcher <a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/james-kimmel/">James Kimmel, Jr.</a> proposes a radical theory: our desire for vengeance operates like an addiction in the brain. This week, how “reven ... 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
51m 57s
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 realit ... Show More
1h 30m
Jul 2025
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 2025
Trolleyology (MORAL DILEMMAS + THE TROLLEY PROBLEM) with Joshua Greene
<p>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 ... Show More
1h 22m
Jul 2025
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 2025
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