Get smarter. Have fun.

Pushkin

•

Channel • 55 Shows

Books

Books

Complete series
Earth Sciences

Earth Sciences

Weekly series
True Crime

True Crime

Weekly series
True Crime

True Crime

Series

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated weekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated 04/11/2025
Business

Business

Series
True Crime

True Crime

Weekly series
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Weekly series
Politics

Politics

Updated weekly
Arts

Arts

Series

1 day ago

Want More Joy? Try Taking Yourself Less Seriously with Comedian Chris Duffy

When we’re exhausted, overworked, or just going through a difficult time, our instinct is often to put our heads down and simply focus on getting through it. But those serious moments may actually be when we benefit from a little silliness and absurdity the most. Laurie explores the science of humor with comedian Chris Duffy, host of How to Be a Better Human and author of the new book Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy. Chris shares what he’s learned about how to find humor in almost any situation — and how embracing the funny can improve our wellbeing in surprising ways. Experts Mentioned: Chris Duffy, comedian, author, and host of How to Be a Better Human E. B. White, writer and essayist Mimi M.Y. Tse, Assistant Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Ross Gay, poet, essayist, and Professor of English at Indiana University Annie Rauwerda, creator of “Depths of Wikipedia” Aparna Nancherla, comedian and author Greg Bryant, Professor of Communication at UCLA Adam Mastroianni, experimental psychologist and author Resources Mentioned: Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy, by Chris Duffy (2026) How to Be a Better Human, TED podcast hosted by Chris Duffy “The impression management benefits of humorous self-disclosures: How humor influences perceptions of veracity,” by T. Bradford Bitterly and Maurice Schweitzer (Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2019) “The effect of a pratfall on increasing interpersonal attractiveness,” by Elliot Aronson, Ben Willerman, and Joanne Floyd (Human Learning and Thinking, 1966) “Humor Therapy: Relieving Chronic Pain and Enhancing Happiness for Older Adults,” Mimi Tse, Anna Lo, Tracy Cheng, Eva Chan, Annie Chan, and Helena Chung (Journal of Aging Research, 2010) The Book of Delights: Essays, by Ross Gay (2019) Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching, directed by Owen Reiser (2025) “Depths of Wikipedia” “Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations are preceded by concerns about starting one,” by Juliana Schroeder, Donald Lyons, and Nicholas Epley (Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 2022) “The Perception of Spontaneous and Volitional Laughter Across 21 Societies,” by Greg Bryant et al. (Psychological Science, 2018) “Neural substrates of spontaneous musical performance: an FMRI study of jazz improvisation,” by Charles Limb and Allen Braun (PLoS One, 2008) “Good conversations have lots of doorknobs,” by Adam Mastroianni (Experimental History, 2022) Related Episodes: “Laurie Gets a Fun-tervention (Part One)” “The Surprising Case for Oversharing” “How To Embrace Imperfection” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Apr

How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

Breaking bad habits often feels like a test of willpower. We tell ourselves we’ll stop scrolling, eat better, or exercise more — and then fall right back into the same routines. So why is lasting change so hard? As part of our spring cleaning series, we’re revisiting a powerful episode from The Happiness Lab archives that reveals a surprising truth about behavior change: it’s not about willpower at all. Dr. Laurie Santos sits down with psychologist Wendy Wood to explore what the science of habits really says about why we get stuck — and how we can finally change. Along the way, we hear the remarkable story of American soldiers in Vietnam who abruptly overcame heroin addiction after returning home, offering a powerful clue about how habits really work. If you’re looking to break a bad habit or build a better one, this episode shows how small changes to your environment can make lasting change feel almost automatic. Experts Mentioned: Wendy Wood, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business, University of Southern California. Dr. Richard Ratner, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences Resources Mentioned: Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick, by Wendy Wood (2019) “How Do People Adhere to Goals When Willpower Is Low? The Profits (and Pitfalls) of Strong Habits,” by David T. Neal, Wendy Wood, and Aimee Drolet (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2013) “The Pull of the Past: When Do Habits Persist Despite Conflict with Motives?,” by David T. Neal, Wendy Wood, Mengju Wu, and David Kurlander (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2011) “Ironic Processes of Mental Control,” by Daniel M. Wegner (Psychological Review, 1994) “How Permanent Was Vietnam Drug Addiction?,” by Lee N. Robins, Darlene H. Davis, and David N. Nurco (American Journal of Public Health, 1974) CBS News Lottery Draft 1969 (Archival Footage) "G.I. Heroin Addiction Epidemic in Vietnam" (The New York Times, 1971) G.I. Junkie (Documentary, 1971) Related Episodes: "A New Hope" "You Can Change" "Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: Sikhism and Daily Habits" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Aug

The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical

It’s hard to focus on wellbeing when we’re expected to work nonstop until retirement. Taking a break from time to time should be a given, not a privilege. Dr. Laurie works in one of the few industries that recognizes the importance of extended time off. As she begins her own year-long sabbatical from Yale, we’re revisiting her conversation with DJ DiDonna, author of Big Time Off, about what can happen when we step away from work for more than just a vacation. DJ breaks down how to manage the biggest barriers to taking a sabbatical, from money and workplace optics to family responsibilities. He also explains why extended time off can help us recover from burnout, rethink our routines, and experiment with different versions of ourselves. Whether you’re contemplating months away or just fantasizing about turning off your email, this episode makes the case that sometimes the best way to move forward is to stop for a while. Experts Mentioned: DJ DiDonna, Senior Lecturer of Business Administration at Harvard Business School Resources Mentioned: Big Time Off: The Transformative Power of Sabbaticals and How to Take One, by DJ DiDonna (2026) Recover, Explore, Practice: The Transformative Potential of Sabbaticals, by Kira Schabram, Matt Bloom, and DJ DiDonna (Academy of Management Discoveries, 2023) The Sabbatical Project Related Episodes: “You Can Change” “Happiness Lessons of the Ancients: The Day of Rest” “How to be Happier at Work (with Dan Harris)” “Burnout and How to Avoid It” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Season 3, Episode 1

Episode 1: The Bribe

A series of clandestine lunch meetings leads Sam’s editor to send him off to Vienna, in search of one man. Get ad-free access to the entire season of Hot Money: Agent of Chaos by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Access ad-free episodes, exclusive binges, full audiobooks, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows with Pushkin+. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28/12/2022

The Science of Great Sex in Long-Term Relationships

A listener in his eighties wants to know if there’s an expiration date on his sex life, and how to reconnect in the bedroom with his wife. Luckily, Emily is writing a new book about sex in long-term relationships. She delves deep into what the research reveals about couples who sustain a strong sexual connection over many years. Plus, she shares practical, science-backed sex advice on aging and navigating your changing body. If you have a question for Emily, call the Come As You Are hotline at (646) 397-8557‬ or send a voice memo to emily@pushkin.fm. Tell us your pronouns and pseudonym (pick a name, any name!) Your question might be answered on the show. Books mentioned by Emily: “Magnificent Sex” by Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz “Black Girls Guide to Surviving Menopause” by Omisade Burney-Scott “What Fresh Hell Is This?” by Heather Corinna “Why Good Sex Matters” by Nan Wise ”Couples Sexuality After 60” by Barry and Emily M See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Jul

Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead

Most of us default to small talk. It's polite, familiar, and feels like the safest way to start a conversation. But it may also be one of the biggest barriers to genuine connection. Dr. Laurie speaks with author and metal-health advocate Claire Eastham about her month-long experiment replacing small talk with deeper conversations while living with social anxiety. She also chats with psychologist Nicholas Epley about why going deeper often scares us, what research reveals about opening up, and what happens when you tell a stranger about the last time you cried. Experts Mentioned: Claire Eastham, author, blogger, and mental-health advocate Nicholas Epley, Professor of Behavioral Science and Faculty Director of the Roman Family Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Arthur Aron, Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook Elaine Aron, psychologist and author Resources Mentioned: We're All Mad Here: The No-Nonsense Guide to Living with Social Anxiety, by Claire Eastham (2016) A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection, by Nicholas Epley (2026) “The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings,” by Arthur Aron, Edward Melinat, Elaine Aron, Robert Darrin Vallone, and Renee Bator (Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1997) Related Episodes: “The Surprising Case for Oversharing” “Make Vulnerability Your Superpower (with NBA Star Kevin Love)” “Harnessing People Around us to Feel Happier (Live with Ethan Kross)” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Aug

You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough

Most of us hate asking for favors. We worry about being a burden, coming across as needy, or facing rejection for asking too much. But what if our fear of bothering people is stopping us, and the people around us, from becoming happier? Dr. Laurie explores why our instincts about asking for help are usually wrong. She speaks with psychologist Nicholas Epley about why asking others for help can actually make them like us more. And author and entrepreneur Jia Jiang shares how 100 days of asking for outlandish favors totally transformed his life. Experts Mentioned: Nicholas Epley, Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Jia Jiang, author, entrepreneur, and expert in “rejection therapy” Resources Mentioned: Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection, by Jia Jiang (2015) “What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection,” by Jia Jiang (TED, 2016) “100 Days of Rejection Therapy,” by Jia Jiang (YouTube series, 2013) RejectionTherapy.com “Surprisingly Happy to Have Helped: Underestimating Prosociality Creates a Misplaced Barrier to Asking for Help,” by Xuan Zhao and Nicholas Epley (Psychological Science, 2022) “Beautiful mess effect: Self–other differences in evaluation of showing vulnerability,” by Anna Bruk, Sabine Scholl, and Herbert Bless (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2018) Related Episodes: “Treating the Pain of a Broken Heart” “Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead” “The Surprising Case for Oversharing” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Season 14, Episode 2

The Alabama Murders - Part 2: Coon Dog Cemetery Road

Florence, Alabama. 1988. After a horrifying murder takes place, an anonymous caller names three young men as suspects. But speculation swirls about the victim’s husband. Get early, ad-free access to the full season of The Alabama Murders by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkin Subscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.com/plus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7 Sept

Stop Doing Things the Hard Way with Dr. Angela Duckworth

When we’re struggling to reach a goal, most of us assume the answer is to buckle down and try harder. But what if all that white-knuckling is actually making things more difficult than they need to be? Dr. Laurie speaks with psychologist Angela Duckworth, best known for her groundbreaking work on grit, about a surprising new approach to achievement. In her new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best, Angela explains why changing what’s around us can sometimes be more effective than trying to change ourselves. Experts Mentioned: Angela Duckworth, Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania Lee Ross, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University Richard Nisbett, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Michigan James Gross, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University Adrian Ward, Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Texas at Austin Joseph Henrich, Professor of Biological Anthropology and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University Bob Bowman, Director of Swimming and Diving and Head Men’s Coach at University of Texas at Austin Martin Seligman, Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania Anders Ericsson, Professor of Psychology at Florida State University Walter Mischel, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Columbia University Reinhold Niebuhr, Protestant theologian Viktor Frankl, Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist Resources Mentioned: Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best, by Angela Duckworth (2026) Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth (2016) The Person and the Situation: Perspectives on Social Psychology, by Lee Ross and Richard Nisbett (1991) Frog and Toad Together, by Arnold Lobel (1972) Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl (1946) “The Serenity Prayer,” by Reinhold Niebuhr The Art of War, by Sun Tzu The Golden Rules: 10 Steps to World-Class Excellence in Your Life and Work, by Bob Bowman (2016) “A Stitch in Time: Strategic Self-Control in High School and College Students,” by Angela Duckworth, Rachel White, Alyssa Matteucci, Annie Shearer, and James Gross (Journal of Educational Psychology, 2016) “Self-Control and Academic Achievement,” by Angela Duckworth, Jamie Taxer, Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, Brian Galla, and James Gross (Annual Review of Psychology, 2019) “Self-control and SAT outcomes: Evidence from two national field studies,” by Chayce Baldwin, Kyla Haimovitz, Priya Shankar, Robert Gallop, David Yeager, James Gross, and Angela Duckworth (PLoS One, 2022) “Situational Strategies for Self-Control,” by Angela Duckworth, Tamar Szabó Gendler, and James Gross (Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2016) “Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One's Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity,” by Adrian Ward, Kristen Duke, Ayelet Gneezy, and Maarten Bos. (Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2017) “A 2-Phase Labeling and Choice Architecture Intervention to Improve Healthy Food and Beverage Choices,” by Anne N Thorndike, Lillian Sonnenberg, Jason Riis, Susan Barraclough, and Douglas E Levy (American Journal of Public Health, 2012) “Innovation in the collective brain,” by Michael Muthukrishna and Joseph Henrich (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 2016) Related Episodes: “Your Environment Affects Your Happiness More Than You Think with Dr. Leidy Klotz” “How to Spend Your Time and Money Better (with Nobel Prize Winner Richard Thaler)” “The Man Who Invented Happiness Science: Marty Seligman” “How Our Screen Habits Impact Our Stress Levels” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10/12/2025

What Movies Get Right and Wrong About Poker

Maria finally gets to reveal a project she’s been working on that’s been kept under wraps, and then it’s movie night on Risky Business! Nate and Maria talk about their favorite poker movies and explain why portrayals of poker for a movie audience often don’t get the game quite right. Plus, they share what poker movie they’d like to make and who’d play them in it. For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters: The Leap from Maria Konnikova Silver Bulletin from Nate Silver See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you. With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim — using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.

1.0 (1)

Society & Culture
Educator and bestselling author Dr. Emily Nagoski answers questions about sex with the latest science. The eight-part series is a modern guide to sexual wellbeing, backed by groundbreaking research about desire, anatomy, orgasm and much more. In conversation with her producer, Mo, Dr. Nagoski debunks cultural myths and flips the script on everything you thought you knew about sex and sexuality. Come As You Are will help you unlock your most pleasurable life, in the bedroom and beyond. New episodes drop on Wednesdays. Lead production by Monique LaBorde. Come As You Are is produced by Pushkin Industries and Madison Wells. Show art by Sofie Birkin. To hear episodes a week early and ads free, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

0.0 (0)

Society & Culture
In 2020, the Financial Times exposed a €2 billion fraud at Wirecard, a high-flying German fintech. Many thought that was the end of the story. But for reporter Sam Jones, it was just the beginning. This season on Hot Money: Agent of Chaos, Jones investigates Wirecard’s chief operating officer, who vanished just as Wirecard collapsed. And turned out to also be a Russian spy. From an Ibizan sting operation to an attempted takeover of the Austrian intelligence service, his reporting spirals into a world of warlords, espionage, and disinformation. All in an attempt to answer one question: Who is the real Jan Marsalek? And what does his secret life reveal about the powerful forces he serves?

0.0 (0)

Business
About Examined: Overlooked cases that never got the real investigation they deserved. Each season features deeply reported stories about crime, punishment, and the people inside the criminal legal system. Nearly 40 years ago, in the parking lot of a community college in Port Huron, Michigan, a 20-year-old student named Scott Macklem was shot dead in broad daylight. His murder shocked the community. It made no sense. The police quickly found their suspect. There was only one problem: the man said he was nowhere near the scene of the crime. And he could prove it. In Examined: The Backfire Effect, journalist Josie Duffy Rice talks with eyewitnesses, investigators and local reporters to unravel a shocking story of judicial apathy and expedience — a story that leaves no one off the hook.

0.0 (0)

True Crime
Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

0.0 (0)

Society & Culture
Risky Business is a weekly podcast about making better decisions. The hosts, Maria Konnikova and Nate Silver, are both journalists who moonlight as high-stakes poker players. On Risky Business, they bring their analytical framework to everything from politics to poker to personal decisions. Maria has a PhD in psychology and is the author of several books including, most recently, The Biggest Bluff. While researching the book, she inadvertently became a professional poker player, with over $500,000 in tournament winnings. She is a PokerStars Team Pro. Nate is the founder and former editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight, and one of the country’s leading election forecasters. He has over $800,000 in lifetime poker tournament winnings and his forthcoming book, On the Edge, is about gambling and risk. Risky Business is a co-production of iHeart Media and Pushkin Industries.

0.0 (0)

Politics

View Subscription FAQs

There’s a world class thinker behind every show with Pushkin Industries, an award-winning audio network producing work that challenges listeners, encourages their curiosity and inspires joy. In other words: Good, Smart, Fun. Our podcasts range across many genres, including history, true crime, and music, and include founder Malcolm Gladwell’s hugely successful Revisionist History, Jonathan Goldstein's Heavyweight, Against the Rules from Michael Lewis, The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford, Broken Record, Deep Cover, Paul McCartney’s A Life in Lyrics, and Apple’s 2021 Show of the Year, A Slight Change of Plans with Dr. Maya Shankar. Pushkin also produces audiobooks, including Steve Martin’s So Many Steves, Inside Voice by Lake Bell, the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen, Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis, Heartbreak by Florence Williams, and Malcolm Gladwell’s Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon, The Bomber Mafia, and Talking to Strangers. Pushkin+ subscribers receive full series binges, bonus episodes, audiobooks, ad-free listening, and more. For more information visit pushkin.fm or follow us on social @pushkinpods.

Website

Pushkin

Unlock Ad-free Listening & Exclusive Binges

Want More Joy? Try Taking Yourself Less Seriously with Comedian Chris Duffy

How to Break Up with Your Bad Habits

The Life-Changing Power of a Sabbatical

Episode 1: The Bribe

The Science of Great Sex in Long-Term Relationships

Forget Small Talk: Go Deep Instead

You're Actually Not Bothering People Enough

The Alabama Murders - Part 2: Coon Dog Cemetery Road

Stop Doing Things the Hard Way with Dr. Angela Duckworth

What Movies Get Right and Wrong About Poker

Unlock Ad-free Listening & Exclusive Binges

The Broken Record Bonus Show

Hear Me Out: What's Up With Sub-genres?

Hear Me Out: Early Aughts Indie Rock

Hear Me Out: Beyoncé vs. Destiny's Child

Maggie Rogers

Extended Cut: Justin Richmond with Eric Vetro

Extended Cut: Henry Rollins

Extended Cut: Beastie Boys

Extended Cut: Mark Ronson

Hear Me Out: Pitchfork's New Top 200 List

About

Pushkin

Unlock Ad-free Listening & Exclusive Binges

New Shows

Top Shows

Top Episodes

Pushkin+

Unlock Ad-free Listening & Exclusive Binges

Top Pushkin+ Episodes

About