If the algorithm knows what we want before we do… who’s really in charge? This week, host Amanda Montell(@amanda_montell) is joined by linguist, creator, and internet culture observer Adam Aleksic (@etymologynerd) to spiral deep into the invisible yet all powerful force shaping our attention, creativity, politics, and identities: The Algorithm. Why do we tal ... Show More
Feb 18
Overthinking About Workaholism
This week, Amanda is joined by psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch (@guywinch) to overthink workaholism. Why being “busy” feels virtuous, why burnout can masquerade as success, and how overworking often hides deeper emotional needs. Together, they unpack the psychology ... Show More
48m 29s
Jun 2025
How to transcend your normal habits and routines to have original ideas
Mental Constraints: How to change your thoughts and break invisible limits you can't see This episode is a ride through dimensions—space, time, and your own mind. It’s like stepping outside your body mid-coffee to ask, “Wait, what the hell am I doing?” From Zen bugs to aeroplane ... Show More
24m 49s
Dec 2024
Brian Keating on Fixing the Biggest Problems in Modern Science
What does it mean to go “into the impossible”? For Professor of Cosmology Dr. Brian Keating, it’s all about shattering the limiting beliefs around what a human being is capable of.
In his latest book, Into the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner, Dr. Keating explores this ... Show More
2h 3m
Sep 2025
161: Why You Overthink Love and Assume the Worst
Why do you spiral when a text takes too long, when someone says “okay” instead of “okay!” or when plans change? That’s your brain writing rejection stories to protect you. The problem? Those stories create anxiety, sabotage connection, and keep you stuck.In the 2nd episode of the ... Show More
34m 41s
Sep 2025
Part Two: The Rise of Cancel Culture, Distrust in Science & Misinformation: Dr. Steven Pinker Reveals The Hidden Psychology That Threatens Society.
The Rising Risks of Cancel Culture & The Psychology & Language That Built It! In this explosive episode of Mayim Bialik's Breakdown, Dr. Steven Pinker (renowned Harvard psychologist and author of When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows) joins Mayim Bialik and Jonathan Cohen for a ... Show More
54m 41s