Why Am I Unhappy?
We often imagine that feelings of unhappiness come from outside us — in our circumstances or the difficult people in our lives. But what if the forces that erode our happiness come from within?
Hidden Brain
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
When historian Kate Bowler was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, she became fascinated by the ways people try to impose order on events they can’t control. She joins us to explore what it means to live fully when life offers no satisfying explanation for the tragedies we may face.
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How to Make a Difference: Part 2
In the second part of our conversation with Martin Seligman, he explains how we can strengthen our sense of agency and learn to see new possibilities.
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How to Make a Difference: Part 1
Why do some people act on the possibilities before them, while others come to believe that nothing they do will make a difference? Psychologist Martin Seligman talks with us about his research on learned helplessness.
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Why Conversations Go Wrong
Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak different languages?
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Out Of The Rabbit Hole
Cognitive scientist Nafees Hamid studies the minds of people drawn to radical or fringe ideas. This week, he takes us on a deep dive into the motivations of people on the brink of extremism — and those who have already been radicalized. We examine what prompts people to turn to violence, and how to pull them back from the seductive appeal of extremist ideas.
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Blowing Up Your Life
Have you ever had a flash of insight that hit you when you least expected it? How did it change your life? This week, a look at the “jolts” that shake us out of our routines.
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The Things We Don’t Say
From childhood, we’re taught that honesty is the best policy. Yet in everyday life, we hedge, soften our words, and leave things unsaid.
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What Art Does For Your Brain
Think about the last time a piece of music stopped you in your tracks, or a novel kept you up late at night. Why do these experiences feel so powerful?
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How to Be a Better Partner
When we look at the people we love, how clearly do we really see them? This week, how our fears, desires, and insecurities can shape our perceptions of our partners — sometimes creating the very reality we expect.
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