Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain
  • 4.6 (105)
  • SOCIAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Hidden Brain

Exclusive Episodes + Your Questions Answered

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Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    What's Hidden in Your Words

    I. Me. My. You. He. She. They. It. To. Of. For. These are all words we use without a second thought. But psychologist James Pennebaker says if we pay close attention to the patterns in speech and writing, we can understand profound things about others, and even ourselves.

    54 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO • HIDDEN BRAIN+ ONLY

    Dear Diary

    How do you deal with hard times? Do you rage, cry, or rage-cry? Do you go for a walk, rant to a friend, or practice meditation? In this bonus episode for Hidden Brain+, psychologist James Pennebaker explores how another technique — writing — can be a critical tool in healing. If you know someone who would benefit from today's conversation, please share this episode and show them how they can try Hidden Brain+ with a free seven-day trial. Thanks for your support!

    42 min

  3. 30 SEPT

    Sitting With Uncertainty

    It can sometimes be exciting when we don't know what's coming next. Other times, the unknown can be deeply troubling. This week, we talk with researcher Dannagal Goldthwaite Young about how we respond to uncertainty, and why this psychological trait plays a surprisingly large role in shaping our behavior, perspectives — even our political beliefs.

    51 min

  4. 23 SEPT

    Rewrite Your Money Story

    Money worries are one of the biggest sources of anxiety in our lives. Psychologist Brad Klontz says these worries are shaped by more than the number in our bank accounts — they’re often driven by our unconscious beliefs. This week, we bring you a favorite 2022 conversation with Klontz, who says it’s possible to identify and change what he calls our “money scripts."

    51 min

  5. 16 SEPT

    You 2.0: Fighting Despair

    Every morning, you wake up and face the world. What does it look like to you? Do you see a paradise of endless opportunities, where people are friendly and helpful? Or a world filled with injustice, where people cannot be trusted? In the final installment of this year's You 2.0 series, we talk with psychologist Jamil Zaki about how we become disillusioned and distrustful of the world, and how to balance realism with hope.

    49 min

  6. 14 SEPT • HIDDEN BRAIN+ ONLY

    You 2.0: The Art of Becoming Yourself

    Where do our personalities come from, and what power do we have to modify who we are? This week, we explore new and fascinating research into the mysteries of personality. Psychologist Brian Little examines how our traits are shaped by both our biology and our environment — but also how the choices we make can shape who we become. If you've missed any of the other episodes in our You 2.0 series, be sure to check them out in this podcast feed. Thanks for listening!

    51 min

  7. 9 SEPT

    You 2.0: Remember More, Forget Less

    It happens to the best of us — we blank on someone's name, or forget an important meeting, or bomb a test we thought we'd ace. In this week's installment of our You 2.0 series, we talk to cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham about the mysteries of memory: how it works, why it fails us, and how to build memories that stick.

    54 min

  8. 7 SEPT • HIDDEN BRAIN+ ONLY

    Your Questions Answered: Ethan Kross on Mental Chatter

    Our brains process an astonishing amount of information. We imagine what's happening in the minds of other people. We invent, and dream, and create. Unfortunately, there's a downside. Our brains can also torment us with intrusive and negative thoughts. We talked about this with psychologist Ethan Kross, who studies the concept of mental chatter. Today, Ethan returns to the show to answer listeners' follow-up questions about how we can cope with these harsh and incessant voices in our heads. If you missed our original episode with Ethan Kross, be sure to check it out! It's the episode called "Befriending Your Inner Voice." You can find it in this podcast feed, or on our website. https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/you-2-0-befriending-your-inner-voice/

    30 min
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4.6
out of 5
105 Ratings

About

Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.

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