What We Gain from Pain
04 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard the saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." But is there any truth to th...
A Founding Contradiction
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Those words, penned by Th...
The Premonition
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Paul Burnham was a teenager, he received what felt like a premonition: he would die at the age ...
Why You're Smarter Than You Think
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the time we are schoolchildren, we are ranked and sorted based on how smart we are. But what if...
Do Less
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The human drive to invent new things has led to pathbreaking achievements in medicine, science and s...
Money 2.0: Let's Go Shopping!
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do the things you buy say about you? Many of us like to think of ourselves as immune to slick a...
Money 2.0: The Rich and the Rest of Us
23 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Where do you stand on the income ladder? Do you think of yourself as rich, as poor, or as somewhere ...
Money 2.0: Emotional Currency
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What’s the point of money? The answer might seem obvious: we need it to get paid for our work and ...
Money 2.0: Why We Bust Our Budgets
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you had a recent surprise expense? You're not alone. More than half of American households repo...
Money 2.0: Rewrite Your Money Story
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Money worries are one of the biggest sources of anxiety in the lives of Americans. This week, we kic...
The Logic of Rage
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neuroscientist Doug Fields was on a trip to Europe when a pickpocket stole his wallet. Doug, normall...
When Doing Right Feels Wrong
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been in a position where you had to choose between someone you care about and a value ...
A Conspiracy of Silence
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all self-censor at times. We keep quiet at dinner with our in-laws, or nod passively in a work me...
How Rude!
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s not your imagination: rudeness appears to be on the rise. Witnessing rude behavior — whethe...
Healing Your Heart
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard about the five stages of grief. But what happens when your experience doesn’t fo...
You Don't Need a Crystal Ball
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When disaster strikes — from the explosion of a space shuttle to the spread of a deadly virus — ...
How to Change the World
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Pop culture and conventional history often teach us ...
You Can't Hit Unsend
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Social media sites offer quick and easy ways to share ideas, crack jokes, find old friends. They can...
The Benefits of Mixed Emotions
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been in situations where we experience mixed emotions. Maybe you've felt both joy and sadn...
Putting Our Assumptions to the Test
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever stop to wonder if the way you see the world is how the world really is? Economist Abhi...
Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak ...
Mind Reading 2.0: Our Better Angels
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Turn on the news, and you'll be bombarded with stories of people who lie, cheat, and kill. Most of o...
Mind Reading 2.0: The Double Standard
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to spot bias in other people, especially those with whom we disagree. But it’s not s...
Mind Reading 2.0: How others see you
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's not easy to know how we come across to others, especially when we're meeting people for the fir...
Mind Reading 2.0: Why did you do that?
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we go through life, we’re constantly trying to figure out what other people are thinking and fe...
My Unsung Hero: Sanaa Kerroumi's Story
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sanaa is on her train ride home when an angry man begins threatening her. Before he gets too close, ...
Minimizing Pain, Maximizing Joy
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Life is often filled with hardships and tragedies. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up...
What Makes Relationships Thrive
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated. But psychologist Harry Reis says there’s another ingre...
My Unsung Hero: Wendy McDowell's Story
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1979, and Wendy is eight years old, crying alone in an airport. Then she sees a woman in white ...
Changing Behavior, Not Beliefs
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The rift between police and Black Americans can feel impossible to bridge. But in his work with poli...
Choose Carefully
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
All of us make choices all the time, and we may think we're making those choices freely. But psychol...
Creatures of Habit
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the beginning of the year, many of us make resolutions for the months to come. We resolve to work...
My Unsung Hero: Justin Horner's Story
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Justin is sitting on the side of the freeway, hoping someone will help him fix his busted wheel. R...
Bringing Up Baby
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bababa, dadada, ahgaga. Got that? Babies are speaking to us all the time, but most of us have no clu...
The Psychology of Self-Doubt
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all have times when we feel like a fraud. Psychologist Kevin Cokley studies the corrosive effects...
My Unsung Hero: Leah Bartell's Story
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's 1994, and two men corner Leah on a dark street as she's walking home. Then she sees a car, and ...
Both Things Can Be True
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s psychologically simpler to see the world in black and white. But reality often comes in shade...
Work 2.0: The One-Room Commute
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re working from home, you might be reveling in your daily commute to the dining room table....
My Unsung Hero: Tony Ludlow's Story
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tony is angry at his English teacher, Mrs. Holman, for making him stay after class. But on the last ...
Work 2.0: Rebel with a Cause
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Editor's note, December 6, 2024: Since we first published this episode with Francesca Gino in 2018, ...
Work 2.0: Life, Interrupted
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us spend our workdays responding to a never-ending stream of emails and texts. We feel stres...
My Unsung Hero: Terri Powers' Story
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're sharing another episode of our new podcast, My Unsung Hero. To hear more stories like th...
Work 2.0: Game On!
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The world of play and the world of work are often seen as opposites. But they may have more in commo...
Work 2.0: The Obstacles You Don't See
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing new ideas is hard. Most of us think the best way to win people over is to push harder. B...
We Broke the Planet. Now What?
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve grown accustomed to viewing climate change as an enemy we must urgently defeat. But is that ...
My Unsung Hero: Rick Mangnall's Story
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're sharing another episode of our new podcast, My Unsung Hero. Subscribe, and enjoy! In 200...
The Halo Effect
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1978, Judy, Lyn and Donna Ulrich were driving to a volleyball game when their Ford Pinto was hit ...
Being Kind to Yourself
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Self-criticism is often seen as a virtue. But psychologist Kristin Neff says there’s a better path...
My Unsung Hero: Jackie Briggs' Story
08 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
My Unsung Hero is here! We're excited to share one of the first episodes of our new podcast. Episode...
When You Need It To Be True
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When we want something very badly, it can be hard to see warning signs that might be obvious to othe...
Passion Isn't Enough
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many Americans feel an obligation to keep up with political news. But maybe we should be focusing ou...
Introducing My Unsung Hero
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Longtime Hidden Brain listeners know that for years, we've thanked an unsung hero at the end of ever...
Group Think
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How do the groups you identify with shape your sense of self? Do they influence the beer you buy? Th...
Just Sex
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Casual sex typically isn't about love. But what if it's not even about lust? Sociologist Lisa Wade s...
Where Happiness Hides
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all think we know what will make us happy: more money. A better job. Love. But psychologist Sonja...
You 2.0: Regrets, I Have a Few...
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We all have regrets. By some estimates, regret is one of the most common emotions we experience in o...
You 2.0: Did That Really Happen?
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our memories are easily contaminated. We can be made to believe we rode in a hot air balloon or kiss...
You 2.0: When Did Marriage Become So Hard?
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Marriage is hard — and there are signs it's becoming even harder. In the third episode of our You ...
You 2.0: In the Heat of the Moment
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In a fit of anger or in the grip of fear, many of us make decisions that we never would have anticip...
You 2.0: Cultivating Your Purpose
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Having a sense of purpose can be a buffer against the challenges we all face at various stages of li...
Losing Alaska
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As floods, wildfires, and heatwaves hit many parts of the world, signs of climate change seem to be ...
Stage Fright
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pressure. The expectations. The anxiety. If there's one thing that connects the athletes gatheri...
Playing the Gender Card
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is it like to be the only woman at the (poker) table? Or a rare man in a supposedly "feminine" ...
You, But Better
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Think about the resolutions you made this year: to quit smoking, eat better, or get more exercise. I...
The Influence You Have
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Think about the last time you asked someone for something. Maybe you were nervous or worried about w...
What Twins Tell Us
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In December 1988, two sets of identical twins became test subjects in a study for which they had nev...
The Power of Apologies
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it so hard to say 'I'm sorry?' In part two of our series on forgiveness and apologies, we tal...
The Power of Mercy
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Granting forgiveness for the wrongs done to us can be one of the hardest things we face in life. But...
What are the Odds?
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coincidences can feel like magic. When we realize that a co-worker shares our birthday or run into a...
This is Your Brain on Ads
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever opened your computer with the intention of sending one email — only to spend an hour...
Why We Hold on to Things
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do the things you own say about who you are? Psychologist Bruce Hood studies our relationship w...
Loss and Renewal
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
No matter how hard we work, we won’t always achieve the goals we set for ourselves. When cognitive...
Tribes and Traitors
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the past weeks, headlines around the world have focused on the violent conflict between Israelis ...
Our Noisy Minds
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Daniel Kahneman says there are invisible factors that distort our judgment. He calls th...
The Fake Bride
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever felt as if someone else was writing your personal narrative? Controlling what you do, ...
Josh Gitelson: My Unsung Hero
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of every episode, we take a moment to thank an Unsung Hero: someone who’s not on the st...
One Head, Two Brains
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Your brain is divided in two: a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere. In this 2019 episode of Hidd...
Deb Pierce: My Unsung Hero
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In every episode of Hidden Brain, we thank an Unsung Hero — a colleague, a friend or a family memb...
Why Conversations Go Wrong
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak ...
Unsung Hero: A Cold Nevada Night
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In every episode of Hidden Brain, we thank an Unsung Hero. Many listeners have written to say they l...
Humor Us
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hahaha! The average four-year-old child laughs 300 times a day. By contrast, it takes more than two ...
An Unfinished Lesson
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
More than a century ago, millions of people around the world died in a massive influenza pandemic. T...
Useful Delusions
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Podcast hosts are used to being the ones asking the questions. This week, though, we’re going to f...
Made of Honor
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stories help us make sense of the world, and can even help us to heal from trauma. They also shape o...
The Story of Your Life
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We can’t go back and change the past. We can’t erase trauma and hardship. But what if there was ...
The Story of Stories
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is my friend late? How does nuclear fission work? What occurs when I sneeze? We all need to unde...
Radically Normal
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For generations, it was difficult, even dangerous, to express a sexual orientation other than hetero...
The Snowball Effect
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some companies become household names, while others flame out? How do certain memes go viral?...
The Match
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We get messages all the time from listeners who say Hidden Brain has helped them to think differentl...
Creating God
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you've taken part in a religious service, have you ever stopped to think about how people become ...
Is It Better to Know?
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Being able to see what’s happening around us can help us make smart decisions. But knowledge — e...
Love is Blind
13 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why do some relationships last, while others falter? In this bonus episode, Shankar looks at one thi...
How They See Us
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stereotypes are all around us, shaping how we see the world – and how the world sees us. On the su...
The Easiest Person to Fool
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Physicist Richard Feynman once said, “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and ...
Afraid of the Wrong Things
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Around the world, people are grappling with the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. How do our min...
Our Brands, Our Selves
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
All of us are surrounded by brands. Designer brands. Bargain-shopper brands. Brands for seemingly ev...
The Secret Life of Secrets
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s human nature to hide parts of ourselves that produce shame or anxiety. We tend to skip over d...
The Double Standard
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to spot bias in other people, especially those with whom we disagree. But it’s not so e...
A Creature of Habit
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
At the beginning of the year, many of us make resolutions for the months to come. We resolve to work...
Waiting Games
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For so many people across the globe, 2020 has been a year of waiting and uncertainty. Waiting to see...