logo
episode-header-image
Jul 7
49m 25s

You 2.0: The Passion Pill

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” The idea is that pursuing your passion will feel invigorating — almost magical. But passions can easily wane over time. This week, behavioral scientist Jon Jachimowicz looks at how to keep our passions alive, and how to channel old passions into new pursuits.

Do you have follow-up questions for Jon Jachimowicz, or ideas that you'd like to share after listening to this episode? If you'd be willing to share them with the Hidden Brain audience, please record a voice memo on your phone and email it to us at ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Use the subject line "passion."

And a reminder that our live tour is underway! Shankar is traveling across the U.S. and Canada to share some of the key ideas he's learned in the first decade of the show. To see if we're coming to a city near you, please visit hiddenbrain.org/tour.  

Up next
Jun 30
You 2.0: What Is Your Life For?
What should you do with your life? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. But there are scientifically-tested methods that can help you to feel more in harmony with yourself and the world. This week, and in a companion conversation for Hidden Brain+, researcher Vic ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 23
Win Hearts, Then Minds + Your Questions Answered on Identity and "Covering"
There’s a saying that’s attributed to the Dalai Lama: in the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher. It’s a nice idea. But when people don’t share our values, it’s hard for us to tolerate theirs. This week, we bring you a favorite episode with sociologist Robb Wil ... Show More
1h 25m
Jun 16
Doing it the Hard Way
Learning to play a musical instrument is hard. So is trying to run a marathon, writing a term paper, and caring for a sick child. These things involve frustration, pain, and disappointment — yet we do them anyway. This week, in part two of our look at the allure of suffering, psy ... Show More
50m 33s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Happiness Break: Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher (Encore)
Just a few moments of tuning into nature can make you feel more inspired, connected, and less lonely. Let us guide you through a five-minute noticing nature practice — you don't even have to leave your neighborhood.Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/aj34s585How to Do ... Show More
7m 3s
Jun 2024
8. The science behind love + the big fat So Cultured quiz
It’s our last episode of season 2!! We cannot believe it.Today we are going to be talking about LOVE… No, it is not valentines day but Yaz has some interesting stories about her love life and she delves into what’s going on in the science behind this crazy emotion.Dating and love ... Show More
1h 2m
Jul 2024
Ep 327: Reinventing Your Reality
In this inspiring episode, we explore "Reinventing Your Reality." If you feel stuck in a cycle, repeating the same patterns in life—whether in finances, relationships, or health—this discussion is for you. Drawing insights from Gary Zukav, we delve into the profound implications ... Show More
32m 46s
Nov 2024
The Science Of Spiritual Experiences: How To Rewire Your Brain For More Happiness & Purpose
In today’s episode, you’re going to learn about the powerful connection between neuroscience and religious experiences.Renowned medical doctor and neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Newberg, MD is here on the podcast today, and you’re going to be amazed at what he shares.Dr. Newberg is a ... Show More
1h 6m
Jul 2024
How To Make Your Life Exciting Again
New research shows that your work, your life, and your relationships will get boring. Today, you’ll learn a simple tool you can use to make your life exciting, joyful, and energizing again. This profound conversation will allow you to truly understand and connect the dots between ... Show More
45m 24s
Jul 2024
Happiness Break: Pause to Look at the Sky, With Dacher (Encore)
Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and vastness of the sky. Dacher Keltner guides us through a practice of pausing to turn your gaze to the sky as a pathway to awe, creativity and wonder.Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc5xfwp4Practice: Go someplace where you ... Show More
7m 3s
Jul 2024
The Science Of Manifestation: Can This Stanford Neuroscientist Convince A Skeptical Dan To Give It A Shot? | Dr. James R. Doty
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Our guest today is James R. Doty, a neurosurgeon who has just written a whole book about the science of manifestation – although, as you’ll hear him admit, t ... Show More
1h 15m
Feb 2025
Why Thinking Is Not All In Your Head & Secrets From the Longest Study of Happiness - SYSK Choice
We humans love novelty. We seek it out. While that can be good, it can also get us in trouble. This episode begins by exploring why we seek out new things, places and experiences and what happens after we do. Source: Winifred Gallagher author of the book New (https://amzn.to/3XsA ... Show More
51m 29s
May 2023
52. Top 6 ‘Best of’ episodes: How to NOT be boring
We’ve hit the middle of Season 7 and we’re continuing to explore our 6 most listened-to episodes. Each episode has a new introduction in which Jen and Michael reflect on why the topic resonated so much with our listeners and what we’ve learned about the topic in the interim. Comi ... Show More
31m 8s
May 2024
1. The science behind dreams + an internship gone wrong?
WELCOME to the first episode of SEASON 2! The Science behind! To kickstart the series, we are going to be exploring the science behind DREAMS. Join us as Liv delves into the mysterious world of dreams, uncovering the fascinating science behind why we dream, what they mean, and ho ... Show More
1h 7m