Hidden Brain

Weekly investigations into the psychology behind everyday life decisions AI summary

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam Visit website › Science · EN · 634 episodes · latest 2026-11-09

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What it is about

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.

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Latest episodes

Dropping the Mask

2026-11-09 · 1 hr 43 min

Have you ever downplayed some aspect of your identity? Maybe you don’t hide it, but you don’t bring it up with certain people, either. It turns out that these subtle disguises can have powerful effects on how we view…
How Love Really Works

2026-11-02 · 1 hr 31 min

Most of us have ideas about what we’re looking for in a romantic partner. But psychologist Paul Eastwick says these preferences are surprisingly poor guides for finding love. He explains why attraction is so difficult…
The Story of Stories

2026-10-26 · 1 hr 31 min

Why is my friend late? How does nuclear fission work? What can I do to help my baby sleep through the night? We all feel the need to understand why certain things happen. Some researchers think the drive to explain the…
Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?

2026-10-19 · 1 hr 31 min

Millions of us move through our days without getting enough sleep. We know that sleep deprivation can affect our physical health and our mood. But sleep researcher Chris Barnes says a chronic lack of good sleep can also…
Why Am I Unhappy?

2026-10-12 · 1 hr 34 min

We often imagine that feelings of unhappiness come from outside us — in our circumstances or the difficult people in our lives. But what if the forces that erode our happiness come from within? Psychologist George…
When Bad Things Happen to Good People

2026-10-05 · 1 hr 32 min

When historian Kate Bowler was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, she became fascinated by the ways people try to impose order on events they can't control. She joins us to explore what it means to live fully when life…
How to Make a Difference: Part 2

2026-09-28 · 49 min

Think about the last time you had a discouraging thought. Maybe you told yourself, "This won't work. I'm not cut out for this." Did you take that thought as fact? Last week, we talked with psychologist Martin Seligman…
How to Make a Difference: Part 1

2026-09-21 · 48 min

Why do some people act on the possibilities before them, while others come to believe that nothing they do will make a difference? Psychologist Martin Seligman describes his groundbreaking research on learned…
Why Conversations Go Wrong

2026-09-14 · 1 hr 39 min

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…
Blowing Up Your Life

2026-09-07 · 1 hr 26 min

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…

Episode details from the publisher’s feed. Playback happens at the publisher.

Publisher details

Owner: Hidden Brain Media
Oldest episode in feed: 08/2015 · over 11 years
Typical length: 45 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone

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