logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2019
53m 11s

You 2.0: The Empathy Gym

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
About this episode
Some people are good at putting themselves in another person's shoes. Others may struggle to relate. But psychologist Jamil Zaki argues that empathy isn't a fixed trait. This week: how to exercise our empathetic muscles. It's the first episode in our You 2.0 summer series. 
Up next
Sep 14
Why Conversations Go Wrong
Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak different languages? This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with linguist Deborah Tannen. She shows how our conversational styles can cause unintended conflicts, and what we ... Show More
1h 38m
Sep 7
Blowing Up Your Life
Have you ever had a flash of insight that hit you when you least expected it? How did it change your life? Psychologist Anthony Klotz studies the "jolts" that shake us out of our routines, and how these moments can help us make more intentional decisions about the people we want ... Show More
1h 26m
Aug 31
The Things We Don't Say
From childhood, we're taught that honesty is the best policy. Yet in everyday life, we hedge, soften our words, and leave things unsaid. This week, we talk with psychologist Steven Pinker about why indirect speech is such a fundamental part of human relationships. How long can yo ... Show More
50m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2020
How (and Why) to Hack Your Empathy | Jamil Zaki
<p>Kindness and empathy are loaded propositions right now. When you hear those words, you might think: Eh, those are soft skills that won't help me get ahead. Or: If I'm too nice, I will get trampled. Or: I need my anger to be effective. Or: I am plenty nice -- it's other people ... Show More
1h 15m
Jul 2019
Ep 210. Empathy
<p>Join me on the podcast this week as I explain my stance on empathy, why it might not work exactly the way you think it does, but also why it's wonderful and an amazing part of being a human being. Some people might find this a touchy subject, but take a listen before you make ... Show More
21m 36s
Jul 2020
Empathy
On this week's episode we are talking about empathy. Empathy is something that is extremely important in today's society and not everyone knows that it is actually a skill that can be taught. Take a listen to find out why empathy is so important, where it originates from and how ... Show More
37m 13s
Oct 2021
Selects: How Empathy Works
<p>Empathy can often be confused with sympathy and regular old compassion. But it's not exactly either one of those. Some say a lack of empathy can indicate sociopathic tendencies, but that's not always true either. So what is empathy and what makes someone prone to empathize? Li ... Show More
52m 21s
Jan 2021
Jamil Zaki
Jamil Zaki (The War for Kindness) is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. Jamil joins the Armchair Expert to discuss all things empathy: why he was drawn to the topic, the roadblocks of it, the erosion of empat ... Show More
1h 31m
May 2022
The Hot-Cold Empathy Gap
You may think you know yourself, but humans have a striking inability to predict their own behavior in differing emotional states. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the hot-cold empathy gap.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
55m 43s
Feb 2025
The Cookie Theory: What Grandma Knew About Empathy
Ever notice how the world feels a bit like a recipe gone wrong - all the ingredients are there, but something essential is missing? In this episode, we explore how empathy might be that missing ingredient in everything from neighborhood disputes to global conflicts. Discover prac ... Show More
13m 44s
Jun 2025
730 Empath Boundaries
tail spinning
23m 32s
Aug 2024
How to be less cynical (w/ Jamil Zaki)
It’s an age-old question - are people innately good or bad? Watching the news and constantly consuming social media, many of us are cynical about human nature. Psychologist Jamil Zaki suggests that we may be being fooled, that empathy is all around us - we just have to pay a litt ... Show More
36m 34s