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In graduate school, neuroscientist Richard Davidson learned to use scientific tools as a way to examine the brain. At the same time, he also started studying under master meditators — who deeply contemplated their internal and external lives. This week, two ways of understanding the mind.

Most of us assume hope is something that happens to us, an emotion that’s largely out of our control. But psychologist Jennifer Cheavens says hope is much more than a feeling — it’s a way of thinking about your future. And there are concrete steps you can take to make yourself more hopeful.

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There are plenty of talented people in the world. So why do only a tiny percentage of us reach the highest peaks of achievement? This week, we conclude our "Success 2.0" series by talking with researcher Justin Berg about whether there's a secret recipe for finding — and sustaining — success.

The writer Morgan Housel once noticed that pessimists always seem like honest people. Optimists, on the other hand, feel as if they’re trying to sell us something. Why is this, and is there a way to resist the pull toward negativity? Today, we kick off our new podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. We talk with Morgan about pushing back against our tendency to emphasize the negative and overlook the positive.

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We recently talked with psychologist Bob Cialdini, who has identified seven techniques that we regularly use to persuade other people to do something. Today on Hidden Brain+, Bob comes back to the show to answer listeners’ follow-up questions. We ask Bob how to use persuasion techniques to get our kids to do what we want. And we ponder how to use these strategies to get ourselves to do something we’re avoiding.

Hidden Brain+ is where you'll find even more of the ideas and insights that we feature on the show. If you know someone who might enjoy Hidden Brain+, let them know they can try it for free here in this podcast feed, or by going to apple.co/hiddenbrain.

We all have times when we feel like a fraud. In the latest installment of our Success 2.0 series, we revisit a favorite 2021 conversation with psychologist Kevin Cokley. We'll explore the corrosive effects of self-doubt, and how we can turn that negative voice in our heads into an ally.