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Hidden Brain

liuo
Altruism
Patience
Self-Disclosure
Relationships
Education
Creativity
Nature
Peter Gray
Narrative Psychology
Mattering
Perfectionism
Love
Charisma
Nonviolent Resistance
Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs
Awe
Empathy
Collaborative Problem Solving
Value System
Aging

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.

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Artwork for Hidden Brain

Latest Episodes

You’re not the same person with your friends as you are with your co-workers or your kids. So...who are you, really? This week, political scientist Eric Oliver explores why we often feel divided within ourselves, and how we can learn to live more pea... more

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

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Recent Guests

Ap Dijksterhuis
Psychologist; author of Inspiration, Where the Best Ideas Come From
Radboud University (Netherlands) / author
Episode: Unleashing Your Creativity
Joseph Henrich
Anthropologist at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: The Past is Never Dead
Wafa Bilal
Performance artist known for the month-long paintball installation
Independent artist
Episode: The Empathy Gym
Jamil Zaki
Professor of psychology at Stanford University, author of The War for Kindness
Stanford University
Episode: The Empathy Gym
Dave Evans
At Stanford University, co-author of How to Live a Meaningful Life
Stanford University
Episode: Radical Acceptance
Sonja Lyubomirsky
UC Riverside psychologist and co-author on How to Feel Loved
University of California, Riverside
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?
Harry Reese
Co-author with Sonja Lyubomirsky on How to Feel Loved
University of California, Riverside
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?
Greg Walton
Stanford psychologist, author of Ordinary Magic
Stanford University
Episode: Do You Feel Loved?
Erica Chenoweth
Political scientist studying nonviolent resistance and conflict
Harvard University
Episode: How to Change the World

Host

Shankar Vedantam
Host of the show, experienced science journalist.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

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Unleashing Your Creativity
Q: How do you reconcile the idea of focusing on a problem with the finding that taking breaks or being distracted can improve unconscious problem solving?
Research shows that letting the mind wander or engaging in a distraction can allow the unconscious to continue working on a problem, often producing better answers than sustained conscious focus alone.
Unleashing Your Creativity
Q: Tell me about the discovery moment that involved Henri Poincaré and how his approach changed after the breakthrough.
Poincaré experienced a sudden insight while on a bus, felt a strong sense of certainty, and only afterwards verified the result; the episode illustrates how unconscious processing can produce complete solutions that conscious effort later confirms.
Unleashing Your Creativity
Q: Ap, you are familiar with the story of Friedrich August Kekulé, a German chemist born in 1829. What was the great research project of his life?
Kekulé struggled with the structure of benzene and, after repeatedly wrestling with the problem, dreamed of a snake biting its own tail, which revealed that benzene is ring-shaped; this insight came during sleep and later transformed the understanding of chemical structure.
Ouch! That Feels Great
Q: Paul, what is benign masochism and why does it matter for everyday behavior?
Benign masochism is the tendency to seek out low, controlled bouts of pain or discomfort because they are not dangerous and can be socially meaningful or personally rewarding, helping explain why people enjoy spicy foods, hot baths, or intense experiences.
Win Hearts, Then Minds + Your Questions Answered on Identity and "Covering"
Q: What are practical examples of applying moral reframing to issues like same-sex marriage or military spending?
For conservatives, framing same-sex marriage in terms of patriotism and national belonging can increase support; for liberals, framing military spending as a vehicle for upward mobility for the disadvantaged can bolster support; the key is tailoring the frame to the audience's values rather than repeating the same liberal frame.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Brain

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

This show explores how the human mind works through rigorous, research-informed conversations with scientists and thinkers across psychology, neuroscience, political science, and leadership. Episodes frequently center on how we think, feel, and relate—covering topics like courage and doubt, self-disclosure and trust, intelligence and creativity, and the psychology of belonging. Guests are typically researchers, professors, and practitioners who translate complex data into practical insights for everyday life, leadership, education, and public behavior. The program often combines historical or real-world case examples with accessible explanations of experiments, highlighting actionable takeaways such as decision-making strategies, communicat... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hidden Brain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hidden Brain:

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

How many episodes of Hidden Brain are there?

Hidden Brain launched 2 months ago and published 612 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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What guests have appeared on Hidden Brain?

Recent guests on Hidden Brain include:

1. Ap Dijksterhuis
2. Joseph Henrich
3. Wafa Bilal
4. Jamil Zaki
5. Dave Evans
6. Sonja Lyubomirsky
7. Harry Reese
8. Greg Walton

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