A legend in the field, economic psychologist Barry Schwartz talks about how having too many options can be paralytic and tiresome to the human psyche. Schwartz also discusses the destructive force of an “only the best will do” mentality. We contemplate the implications of these concepts across topics like parenting consumerism, creativity, the prevalence of ... Show More
Dec 2025
End of an Era — Reflections on 11 Years of The Psychology Podcast w/ Annie Murphy Paul
After 11 years, 478 episodes, and countless conversations exploring the depths of human potential, this episode marks the final chapter of The Psychology Podcast in its current form. In this deeply meaningful farewell episode for Scott, he sits down with acclaimed science writer ... Show More
46m 52s
Nov 2025
How Mindsets Shape Reality w/ Dr. Alia Crum
This week, Scott sits down with his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Alia Crum—one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of mindsets. Dr. Crum’s groundbreaking work investigates how our subjective beliefs and interpretations can produce real, measurable changes in b ... Show More
1 h
Nov 2025
The Gentle Power of Sisu w/ Dr. Elisabet Lahti
This week, Scott welcomes Dr. Elisabet Lahti—educator, applied psychology researcher, and founder of the Sisu Lab. Dr. Lahti is the world’s leading expert on sisu, a Finnish concept that embodies extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity. Toget ... Show More
48m 45s
Oct 2024
Endless options, endless anxiety: Understanding the paradox of choice (Part 1)
Is having too many options a problem? Most of us see choice as a hallmark of freedom, but in today’s world, too many choices can lead to stress, anxiety, and even decision paralysis. In this episode, Monica explores the paradox of choice—the surprising downsides of endless option ... Show More
8m 2s
Nov 2019
Decision Fatigue: The Psychology of Choice Overload
We tend to think having more options is better, but the science shows too many choices can drain mental energy, increase anxiety, and make us feel worse about making decisions, even when those decisions seem trivial. Dr. Laurie explores the psychology of choice overload and decis ... Show More
35m 7s
Nov 2024
Endless options, endless anxiety: Understanding the paradox of choice (Part 2)
In this follow-up episode, Monica dives deeper into the paradox of choice, offering practical strategies to help reduce decision fatigue, increase satisfaction, and simplify decision-making. From limiting options and setting realistic thresholds to practicing gratitude and embrac ... Show More
7m 46s
Dec 2023
Too Many Choices Mean No Choice
Too Many Choices Mean No Choice
My wife and I were looking for something on Netflix and found ourselves repeating the scroll several times. Finally, the screen changed, and the graphic offered us a choice. It said, "just play something?"
Yes, please. Just play something so I can ... Show More
11m 35s
Jun 2017
TLCS Special Edition: Overwhelm
In today’s society, we have an incredible amount of options for everything – food, drink, entertainment, jobs, business, marketing, shopping… you name it. It’s a beautiful thing. However, a lot of people feel overwhelmed by the number of options available and often get paralyzed, ... Show More
31m 56s