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Artwork for Hidden Brain
Psychology
Mental Health
Creativity
Innovation
Interpersonal Relationships
Memory
Social Media
Entrepreneurship
Resilience
Grief
Human Behavior
Relationships
Trauma
Depression
Behavioral Science
Social Connections
Anxiety
Goal Setting
Covid-19 Pandemic
Connective Labor

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes688Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSciencePerforming ArtsSocial Sciences

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Artwork for Hidden Brain

Latest Episodes

For centuries, people have described creativity as something mysterious: a flash of insight, a whisper from the muse, a sudden idea that seems to arrive out of nowhere. Psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis explores the hidden mental processes that lead to th... more

How does the culture in which you live shape the life that you lead? We all know that culture affects the languages we speak and the foods we eat. But anthropologist Joseph Henrich says the impact of culture goes even further, reaching into our bodie... more

Some people are good at putting themselves in another person's shoes. Others may struggle to relate. But psychologist Jamil Zaki argues that empathy isn't a fixed trait. This week, we revisit a favorite episode about how to exercise our empathy muscl... more

In 2009, an old man died in a California nursing home. His obituary included not just his given name, but a long list of the pseudonyms he’d been known to use. In this classic 2019 episode, we trace the life of Riley Shepard, a hillbilly musician, wr... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Joseph Henrich
Anthropologist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: The Past is Never Dead
Steve Winnick
Folklorist at Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Stasha Shepard Silverman
Daughter of Riley Shepard
Private individual
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Kevin Coffey
Music researcher and writer
Independent researcher
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Leslie John
Psychologist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: The Cowboy Philosopher
Dave Evans
Co-author of How to Live a Meaningful Life, Stanford engineer
Stanford University / Author
Episode: Designing a Life that Matters
Sonja Lyubomirsky
Psychologist at University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?
Gregory Walton
Psychologist at Stanford University
Stanford University
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?
Erica Chenoweth
Political scientist, Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: How to Change the World

Host

Shankar Vedantam
Host of the show, a veteran science journalist who guides discussions with leading researchers.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 60.8k ratings
  • Love ❤️ My Favourite Podcast🥰

    Dependably interesting. Shankar has the best podcast voice! Topics are awesome. Just love this show

    One year later and this continues to be true.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    20Smith
    Canada10 days ago
  • Well!

    This is a terrific show ! You could learnt a lot from this great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    best handsome in moon
    Chinaa month ago
  • Love Shankar - excellent!

    I'm always impressed by the comprehensive knowledge presented in these podcast episodes. I very much appreciate the background work to bring us these succinct presentations. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shel Lynn
    United Statesa month ago
  • We know your name

    Hi Shankar, no doubt great topics and guests and interview style. Just one thing grinds me that throughout each pod you repeat your name ad nauseum.

    Please accept this feedback is constructive and comes from a good place.

    Keep on keeping on!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mark33.
    Australiaa month ago
  • 👌🏽 great one

    Designing a life that Matters, so many people need to listen to this

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🐾muddypaws
    Canadaa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners critique audio quality and pacing, but overall the show remains highly valued for its rigor and relevance.
Guests and topics are consistently diverse and deeply engaging, offering practical psychology insights.
Listeners praise the host's curiosity and questioning style, calling the show insightful and well-researched.
There is appreciation for the balance of storytelling with scholarly content, making complex ideas accessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Empathy Gym
Q: How does trauma influence empathy in the long term, according to the discussion?
Trauma can lead to altruism born of suffering, where enduring pain can increase care for others and push people toward helping roles, though outcomes vary and depend on social support.
The Empathy Gym
Q: What are the core components of empathy as described by the guest?
Emotional empathy, cognitive empathy, and empathic concern (compassion) are the three components, each sometimes operating independently and supported by different brain systems; a well-functioning empathy repertoire involves all three.
The Cowboy Philosopher
Q: Why do people keep secrets despite knowing there are costs?
People weigh fear of judgment, rejection, and the disruption secrets might cause, against potential relief and closer understanding that can come from disclosure; the decision is complex and context-dependent.
Radical Acceptance
Q: What is the compass exercise and how does it help people live coherently?
The compass exercise helps people articulate life view, work view, and present story, then extract core values to align actions with who they are and what they believe.
Radical Acceptance
Q: Can you talk about this idea of not just acceptance, but radical acceptance as the heart of design thinking?
Radical acceptance is the starting point; you must accept the current reality fully, without resistance, before you can empathize, understand, and design meaningful life changes.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Brain

What is Hidden Brain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful conversations grounded in behavioral science explore why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Episodes frequently feature psychologists, economists, historians, and policy researchers who unpack topics like self-disclosure, happiness, leadership, group dynamics, and decision making. Across formats, expect data-driven insights, real-world experiments, and practical guidance for personal growth, healthier relationships, and more effective organizations. A standout aspect is the rigorous use of research and expert perspectives to illuminate everyday psychology, often framed with compelling stories and accessible explanations. If you're curious about the science behind human behavior and how to apply it to work, life, and rel... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hidden Brain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hidden Brain:

1. This American Life
2. Radiolab
3. TED Radio Hour
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Hidden Brain are there?

Hidden Brain launched 11 years ago and published 688 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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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.

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What guests have appeared on Hidden Brain?

Recent guests on Hidden Brain include:

1. Joseph Henrich
2. Steve Winnick
3. Stasha Shepard Silverman
4. Kevin Coffey
5. Leslie John
6. Dave Evans
7. Sonja Lyubomirsky
8. Gregory Walton

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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