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Hidden Brain

Shankar Vedantam

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.

We conclude our month-long You 2.0 series with a look at the hidden power of doubt — not as weakness or indecision, but as a tool that helps us make better choices and navigate an uncertain world. Researcher Bobby Parmar explores how doubt can sharpen judgment, and makes a case for why the ability to sit with uncertainty may be one of the most important skills of all. Then, in our latest installment of "Your Questions Answered," Emily Falk answers listeners' questions about defensiveness, and offers insights into how we can strengthen our ability to give and receive feedback. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

*Why uncertainty and doubt feel so uncomfortable to our brains. 

*Why intuition can lead us astray, and how to know when doubt can help you make better decisions. 

*How the "pursue," "protect," and "pause and piece together" systems in our brains shape our decision making.

*How stress can affect these brain systems and alter how we make decisions. 

*How our desire to avoid blame makes it more difficult to listen to our doubt. 

*Why we tend to prefer decisive leaders — and why this tendency doesn't always serve us well. 

*What researchers have learned about how experts and novices use doubt differently to navigate complex situations. 

Hidden Brain is coming to Philadelphia and New York City! Join us in March at the latest stops on our live tour. More info and tickets at hiddenbrain.org/tour

Episode illustration by Getty Images for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You 2.0: Trusting Your Doubt

Patience can sometimes feel like a lost art, particularly in a culture that prizes competition and the idea of "failing fast." But psychologist Sarah Schnitker says patience is a vital skill for success in both our personal and professional lives. We talk with Sarah about the difference between patience and passivity, and how to train ourselves to be more patient. Then, in our latest installment of "Your Questions Answered," Jennifer Tosti-Kharas responds to listeners' questions about how to find a calling, and how to set one aside if it's no longer serving you well. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

*Why our brains dislike uncertainty so much, and how this can lead to impatience and hasty decisions.

*The three different types of patience that researchers have identified — and how each one can affect your life.

*How to strengthen your own ability to practice patience. 

*The relationship between purpose and patience.

*How impatience affects our mental and physical health. 

Episode illustration by Gustopo Galang for Unsplash+

 

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You 2.0: The Practice of Patience

There are times in life when the challenges we face feel insurmountable. Authors succumb to writer’s block. Athletes and artists hit a plateau. People of a certain age fall into a midlife crisis. These are all different ways of saying: I’m stuck. This week, in a favorite conversation from 2023, psychologist Adam Alter shares his research on why we all get stuck at various points in our lives, and how to break free. Then, psychologist George Bonanno answers your questions about trauma and resilience.

In this episode, you'll learn:

*Why the beginning and the end of a project is often more manageable than the midway point.

*Techniques that can help you to get through the "plateau" phase of a project or goal. 

*How to break down daunting endeavors into smaller, more manageable pieces.

*Why perfectionism is so destructive to creativity, and how we can avoid this mental trap.

*Why it's difficult for us to see other people's "stuckness." 

*The relationship between being prolific and being successful. 

Hidden Brain is heading back out on the road in 2026! We're coming next to Philadelphia and New York City, with more tour dates across the country to be announced later this spring. More info and tickets at hiddenbrain.org/tour. 

Episode illustration by Getty Images for Unsplash+. 

 

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You 2.0: How to Get Out of a Rut

Why do some people act bravely in a crisis, while others flee or freeze up? Today, we bring you the second part of our You 2.0 series on the mental obstacles that can block us when we're charting a new path. Behavioral scientist Ranjay Gulati argues that courage is a choice, and that we can strengthen the reflexes that will help us to be brave when it matters most. 

Once you've listened to this episode, be sure to check out our companion conversation about how you can help the people around you to become more brave. You can hear that episode with a free seven-day trial to Hidden Brain+. To sign up, go to support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hiddenbrain. Your subscription helps to cover the research, writing, and audio production that go into every episode of Hidden Brain, and we appreciate your support!

Episode illustration by Eva Wahyuni for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You 2.0: Cultivating Courage

The start of a new year is a natural moment to set goals for ourselves. But doing so can also be a little daunting. Today, we kick off a series designed to help you understand and grapple with the mental obstacles that can keep you from charting a new path. We talk with psychologist Greg Walton, who studies how our minds get trapped in negative thought spirals — and how we can begin to break free. Then, in the latest installment of our segment "Your Questions Answered," psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh answers listener questions about the minds of extremely kind and generous people.

If you enjoyed our conversation with Greg Walton, don't miss our companion conversation about the emotional tools we can use to help someone who's spiraling. You can listen to that episode with a free seven-day trial to our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. To sign up, go to support.hiddenbrain.org. Or if you're using an Apple device, you can go to apple.co/hiddenbrain. Thanks, and Happy New Year!

Episode illustration by Getty Images for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You 2.0: Stop Spiraling!

Many of us rush through our days, weeks, and lives, chasing goals and just trying to get everything done. But that can blind us to a very simple source of joy that’s all around us. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Dacher Keltner, who describes what happens when we stop to savor nature, art, or simply the moral courage of those around us. Then, in our segment "Your Questions Answered," Mary Helen Immordino-Yang returns to answer listeners' questions about learning and how to keep students engaged in school. 

Looking for a last-minute holiday gift for the Hidden Brain fan in your life? How about a membership to our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+? You can learn more about gift subscriptions at patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift. And if you prefer to give the gift of an experience, consider tickets to our live tour! To see where we’re headed in 2026, go to hiddenbrain.org/tour. Thanks and Happy Holidays! 

Episode illustration by HandRush Supply for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Reset Button

This week, we bring you the second part of our 2023 conversation on the perils of too much pleasure. Psychiatrist Anna Lembke explains the neuroscience behind compulsive consumption. She also shares techniques she’s learned from her patients to overcome the lure of addictive substances and behaviors. Then, Anna responds to your questions and comments on everything from dopamine fasts to kids' use of cell phones in our segment "Your Questions Answered."

If you missed the first part of this episode, listen to it here.

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the Hidden Brain fan in your life? How about a membership to our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+? You can learn more about gift subscriptions at patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift. If t-shirts, tote bags and mugs are more your thing, you can find all kinds of Hidden Brain swag at our online store -- just go to shop.hiddenbrain.org. And if you prefer to give the gift of an experience, consider tickets to our live tour! To see where we’re headed in 2026, go to hiddenbrain.org/tour. Thanks and Happy Holidays! 

Episode illustration by Anna Kutukova for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Path to Enough

All of us think we know what addiction looks like. It’s the compulsive consumption of drugs, alcohol, or nicotine. But psychiatrist Anna Lembke argues that our conception of addiction is far too narrow — and that a broader view might help us to understand why so many people are anxious and depressed. This week, we revisit a 2023 episode that remains of the most popular in the history of our show. We'll explore how and why humans are wired to pursue pleasure, and all the ways the modern world tempts us with addictive substances and behaviors.

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for the Hidden Brain fan in your life? How about a membership to our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+? You can learn more about gift subscriptions at patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift. If t-shirts, tote bags and mugs are more your thing, you can find all kinds of Hidden Brain swag at our online store -- just go to shop.hiddenbrain.org. And if you prefer to give the gift of an experience, consider tickets to our live tour! To see where we’re headed in 2026, go to hiddenbrain.org/tour. Thanks and Happy Holidays! 

Episode image by adriandra karuniawan for Unsplash+

 

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Paradox of Pleasure

Why are so many of us drawn to horror, gore, and true crime? Why do we crane our necks to see the scene of a crash on the highway? Psychologist Coltan Scrivner says that our natural morbid curiosity serves a purpose. We talk with Coltan about our fascination with tales of murder and mayhem, and what this tendency reveals about our minds.

In this episode, you'll learn:

*Why there's often a surge of interest in scary entertainment after a violent or tragic incident in the real world. 

*The potential evolutionary roots of our curiosity about scary events or violent stories.

*What researchers have found about the impact of scary movies and books on the people who watch them. 

*How horror content can be a vehicle for connecting with other people. 

*What we know about the personality traits of people who are drawn to dark and sinister stories. 

If you have a question or personal story related to today's episode that you'd be willing to share with the Hidden Brain audience, please record a voice memo on your phone and email it to us at ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Use the subject line "scary." 

Looking for the perfect holiday present for the Hidden Brain fan in your life? We've got you covered. Give your loved one a gift membership to Hidden Brain+, or visit our online shop for t-shirts, mugs, totes, and more! Here's another idea: grab tickets for one of our upcoming live shows. We'll be in Philadelphia on March 21 and New York on March 25. Thanks and Happy Holidays!

This December, Hidden Brain is proud to join #PodsFightPoverty. We're teaming up with other podcasts to raise funds to lift three villages in Rwanda out of extreme poverty. Your donation goes directly to the families who know best what they need. Visit GiveDirectly.org/HiddenBrain to make a difference for someone who needs it most. 

Episode image by Riswan Ratta for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Murder Mystery

If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in your care. You don’t want to put children in danger, but you also don’t want to rob them of the joy of exploration. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Peter Gray. We'll talk about why independent play is so important to a child's development, and answer listeners' questions about the role parents, schools, and neighborhoods can play in giving kids more autonomy. 

In this episode, you'll learn: 

*The skills that children develop when they play without parental involvement. 

*Why American culture has shifted away from independence for children in recent decades. 

*The role of independent play in helping children to learn key lessons and thrive developmentally. 

*The simple question that parents can ask their kids to create space for more unstructured play. 

*How to know what's age-appropriate when it comes to independent play.

*How to foster independent play in your neighborhood or community. 

*What schools can do to encourage unstructured opportunities for kids. 

Episode photo by Aisiri Iyengar on Unsplash

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Parents: Keep Out!

When we head into a negotiation — whether we're asking for a raise or trying to get our spouse to do the dishes — our focus is usually on getting the other person to agree to our preferred outcome. What we don't focus on are our own biases and blind spots. Behavioral scientist Max Bazerman studies the theory and practice of negotiation, and he says that paying attention to these biases can help us to craft better deals.

Episode art by Masantocreative for Unsplash+

 
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator

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