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Life Examined

Jonathan Bastian
Mental Health
Relationships
Happiness
Psychology
Social Media
Grief
Climate Change
Gaslighting
Death
Resilience
Connection
Migration
Therapy
Perfectionism
Addiction
Divorce
Parenting
KCRW
Trauma
Boredom

A weekly exploration of psychology, philosophy, endurance sports, and finding meaning in the modern world. lifeexamined.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes336Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMental HealthSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Life Examined

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Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Please subscribe at LifeExamined.Substack.com

Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Laura Delano
Author of UNSHRUNK, a story of psychiatric treatment resistance
Inner Compass Initiative
Episode: When to medicate the mind with Laura Delano
Laurie Santos
Cognitive scientist, professor of psychology at Yale, and director of Yale's Comparative Cognition Laboratory
Yale University
Episode: Yale happiness guru Laurie Santos on the power of time off and modern parenting traps
Ocean Vuong
Vietnamese-American poet, essayist, novelist, and professor
New York University
Episode: Ocean Vuong: "The Emperor of Gladness"
Paul Elie
Senior fellow with the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs at Georgetown University, writer, and author.
Episode: “He showed us what simplicity could offer:” Pico Iyer and Paul Elie remember Pope Francis
Rebecca Lemov
Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University, and author of The Instability of Truth, Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hyper-persuasion.
Harvard University
Episode: Brainwashing; the history and complexity of coercive persuasion
Michael Sandel
Professor of philosophy at Harvard
Harvard University
Episode: Midweek Reset: The Myths of Meritocracy
Fred Luskin
Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project and author of Forgive for Good
Stanford University
Episode: Fred Luskin: ‘forgiveness is being at peace with your life.’
Charles Duhigg
Author of Supercommunicators
Episode: Midweek Reset: Super communicators
Jillian Turecki
Relationship coach and author
Author of 'It Begins With You'
Episode: Jillian Turecki; ‘when it comes to love, it begins with you.’

Host

Jonathan Bastian
Host and interviewer focusing on life questions, philosophy, and psychology; ties episodes together with thoughtful synthesis.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 501 ratings
  • Wonderful!

    Discovered randomly. So many of my favorite voices, plus new-to-me and inspiring voices, anchored by the host’s thoughtful and nuanced conversations. What a gem this show is. Gives me the vibes that On Being used to, when it was aired more frequently.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KHASL
    United States9 months ago
  • Great show!

    I love listening to Jonathan interview fascinating guests in his calm, thoughtful way. I always learn something and feel inspired after. It’s also super professional and well done. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Molly Moonchild 1
    United States2 years ago
  • Heartbreak and divorce

    I’m listening to the guy who is saying, it was a bunch of little things that led to the divorce, I wonder if his wife would say the same thing. I do congratulate him on his self reflective and admitting that he was the one in the relationship that was not caring for his wife as much as he should. I can relate with the wife.

    I really appreciate his example about the glass of water being on the counter. In my situation during a 26 year marriage, it was shoes not being taken off when walking into o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shaycr16
    United States2 years ago
  • Why not push Sapolsky on obesity?

    If obesity is genetic, why were there so many fewer morbidly obese Americans 50 years ago? Why do I suddenly see so many people over 300 pounds? Genetics is not a valid scientific conclusion here.

    People eat too much and the food is bad quality. They are sedentary due to tech. Yes, this might trigger a genetic predisposition, but it can not be solely blamed on genetics.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Wanda Laugh
    United States2 years ago
  • Great show

    Appreciate the thoughtful conversations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Proustian Madeleine
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Content often feels like a thoughtful friend guiding deep conversations.
High-quality production and consistently insightful topics across episodes.
Engaging, thoughtful conversations with guests who feel genuinely listened to.
Calm interviewing style that inspires reflection and practical takeaways.
Hosts and guests bring depth, empathy, and a humane lens on difficult subjects.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
Sword and Scale
Sword and ScaleSword and Scale
If Books Could Kill
If Books Could KillMichael Hobbes & Peter Shamshiri
Behind the Bastards
Behind the BastardsCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Dream Life Club
Dream Life ClubSumi Krishnan

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When to medicate the mind with Laura Delano
Q: Can you talk about the decision to stop taking medication?
I made the decision to stop in 2010 after realizing that the medications may not have addressed the core of my issues. I wanted to explore who I was without them and believe that my struggles might have been exacerbated by the treatments.
When to medicate the mind with Laura Delano
Q: Can you talk to me about your journey into the world of these medications?
Initially, I felt disturbed by the idea of taking pills to change who I was, but after a period of pain, I accepted medication as a form of treatment. Later, I realized my suffering was not alleviated by the medications, as I cycled through 19 different drugs without lasting relief.
Yale happiness guru Laurie Santos on the power of time off and modern parenting traps
Q: What advice do you have for those who don't have the option of a sabbatical?
Consider asking your employer about extended leave options, and try to carve out small bursts of 'time affluence' by managing your schedule effectively.
Yale happiness guru Laurie Santos on the power of time off and modern parenting traps
Q: What statistics did the Surgeon General present about parents' stress levels?
The report indicated that 40 percent of parents feel too stressed to function most days, and a significant number feel very lonely and anxious about their children's safety.
Yale happiness guru Laurie Santos on the power of time off and modern parenting traps
Q: How did it feel to take a year off for a sabbatical?
It was a hard decision, but it ultimately gave me clarity on how I wanted to spend my time and focus on what was valuable.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Life Examined

What is Life Examined about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show offers thoughtful, essay-like conversations at the intersection of psychology, philosophy, and meaning, often framed through personal storytelling and cultural observations. Episodes frequently explore topics such as grief, love, resilience, mindfulness, and the human condition, with guests ranging from writers and poets to researchers and thinkers. The host's calm, reflective interviewing style and emphasis on practical insights make it a contemplative, spiritually curious listen that still stays grounded in everyday life. A standout trait is the seamless blend of literary references, science, and real-world application, plus the occasional deep dive into art and nature as tools for understanding meaning in modern life.

Where can I find podcast stats for Life Examined?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Life Examined. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Life Examined and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Life Examined get?

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What are the audience demographics for Life Examined?

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How many subscribers and views does Life Examined have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Life Examined has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Life Examined?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Life Examined:

1. On Being with Krista Tippett
2. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
3. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Life Examined are there?

Life Examined launched 6 years ago and published 336 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Life Examined?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Life Examined?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Life Examined from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Life Examined?

Recent guests on Life Examined include:

1. Laura Delano
2. Laurie Santos
3. Ocean Vuong
4. Paul Elie
5. Rebecca Lemov
6. Michael Sandel
7. Fred Luskin
8. Charles Duhigg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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