Why do some people scarf down anchovies by the pound while others recoil at the thought of a tuna fish sandwich? Why do the textures of certain foods, like mushrooms, turn people off? Not only is taste a biologically complex experience, it is quite psychological. Our guest is psychologist Linda Bartoshuk, PhD, an international leader in taste research, who i ... Show More
Today
Can envy be good for you? With Jens Lange, PhD, and Sara Protasi, PhD
We've all felt a pang of envy watching a friend's success or a colleague's promotion. But does this much-maligned emotion deserve its negative reputation? Psychologist Jens Lange, PhD, and philosopher Sara Protasi, PhD, discuss the difference between envy and jealousy; why we're ... Show More
41m 58s
Sep 23
Are you burned out or ‘bored out’? With Lotta Harju, PhD, and Sharon K. Parker, PhD
Burnout gets all the attention, but some employees struggle with a different problem: chronic boredom on the job, sometimes called "boreout." Lotta Harju, PhD, of EM Lyon Business School, and Sharon K. Parker, PhD, of Curtin University, discuss how boreout differs from burnout, h ... Show More
43m 5s
Sep 16
The Science of Suicide Prevention, with Matthew Nock, PhD
The U.S. suicide rate today is almost identical to what it was a century ago, even as death rates from many other causes have dropped. Matthew Nock, PhD, of Harvard University, discusses why it’s so hard to predict who will act on suicidal thoughts -- and when; how new tools, fro ... Show More
38m 55s
Apr 2023
All the Feels: How Texture Makes Taste
The squish of bananas, the squeak of mushrooms, the pop of a grape: for some people, these textures are a delight—but for others, they’re a total nightmare. Texture plays a huge role in how we experience food, and yet it’s kind of a scientific conundrum. Why do people—and entire ... Show More
52m 7s
Jan 2025
Ep89 "Why do you love some flavors and not others?"
Why do you like the taste of things that your friend doesn't? Why do kids not like coffee but adults do? What does any of this have to do with smelling people’s armpits, whether women really synchronize their menstruation, whether your culture eats a lot of spicy foods, and how a ... Show More
35m 42s
Nov 2022
Food for Thought, Literally
Can you picture your favorite comfort food? Whether it’s a steaming bowl of your grandmother’s homemade soup or a chewy chocolate candy bar from your childhood, food evokes all sorts of emotions. But the way we experience food also depends on lots of different factors like smell, ... Show More
29m 2s
Apr 2019
How to Trick Your Taste Buds
In this interview, Dr. Oz sits down with Dr. Douglas Lisle, a renowned psychologist whose work focuses on how food affects the way we think. Together, they explore the biggest misconceptions about fat in our diet, and how we can all lose weight, without losing out minds. Plus, Dr ... Show More
38m 38s
Apr 2023
Why do we like some foods, but not others?
Do you have a favorite food that your friend doesn't like at all? Do you look at what your parents are eating and say, "No, thank you!" Well, you’re not alone! Lots of people have different food preferences. But why do some people like certain foods and others don’t? And what’s a ... Show More
34m 21s
Jul 2025
ReThinking: The science of taste and smell with Rachel Herz
Do you hate the taste of cilantro and chocolate? You might be a super taster! Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist at Brown University who specializes in taste and smell. In this episode, Adam, Rachel, and Adam’s wife Allison Sweet Grant investigate the sources of their different food ... Show More
34m 30s
Aug 2025
The science of taste and smell with Rachel Herz | from ReThinking with Adam Grant
Do you hate the taste of cilantro and chocolate? You might be a super taster! Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist at Brown University who specializes in taste and smell. In this episode, Adam, Rachel, and Adam’s wife Allison Sweet Grant investigate the sources of their different food ... Show More
35m 18s