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Artwork for Human Potential Lab

Human Potential Lab

Scott Barry Kaufman
Mental Health
Psychology
Personal Growth
Trauma
Creativity
Resilience
Social Media
Mindfulness
Self-Actualization
Masculinity
Education
Emotional Intelligence
Identity
Consciousness
Self-Awareness
Happiness
Parenting
Self-Censorship
Toxic Productivity
Personality Change

For eleven years and 478 episodes, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman hosted The Psychology Podcast, one of the most listened-to psychology shows in the world, with more than 30 million downloads. Human Potential Lab is what that show has become.

The questions have moved. What is a mind? What makes something conscious? What happens to being human when the things we build start to look like minds themselves?... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes482Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Human Potential Lab

Latest Episodes

L.A. Paul joins Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to explore transformative experiences, the nature of personal change, and why some of life's most important decisions cannot be fully understood until we experience them. They discuss how trauma can lead to gro... more

Michael Levin joins Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to explore intelligence beyond the human brain, the hidden minds of cells and biological systems, the origins of genius and inspiration, and the possibility that intelligence and creativity may not be somet... more

What if the AI systems we're building aren't simply tools, but the beginnings of something more?

In this episode, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman sits down with cognitive scientist Cameron Berg to explore one of the most unsettling questions at the frontier... more

After 12 years, The Psychology Podcast has become the Human Potential Lab. New conversations with the scientists, philosophers and technologists whose work is actively deciding the future of humanity. The first three episodes drop October 28, 2026.

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Recent Guests

L.A. Paul
Philosopher of mind, cognitive scientist, and metaphysician
Episode: The Person You Become | L.A. Paul
Michael Levin
Biologist studying intelligence, bioelectricity, and the origins of biological form
Episode: Where Does Genius Come From? | Michael Levin
Cameron Berg
Cognitive scientist researching AI cognition, consciousness, alignment and welfare
Episode: What Is It Like to Be an AI? | Cameron Berg
Dr. Elisabet Lahti
Awarded educator and applied researcher of psychology, founder of Sisu Lab
Sisu Lab
Episode: The Gentle Power of Sisu w/ Dr. Elisabet Lahti
RaQuel Hopkins
Certified coach and expert in adult development and capacity.
Episode: From Coping to Capacity w/ RaQuel Hopkins
Dr. Ben Rein
Neuroscientist at Stanford University and science communicator
Stanford University
Episode: Why Brains Need Friends w/ Dr. Ben Rein
Joe Nucci
Psychotherapist and writer, author of the book Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths and the Truths to Set You Free.
Episode: Busting Viral Mental Health Myths w/Joe Nucci
Dr. Alex Auerbach
Licensed counseling and sport performance psychologist who works with top athletes across various sports and domains.
Episode: The Psychology of Athletic Excellence w/Dr. Alex Auerbach
Dr. Marc Brackett
Founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author.
Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Episode: Dealing with Feelings w/ Dr. Marc Brackett

Host

Scott Barry Kaufman
Scott Barry Kaufman is a prominent psychologist and author known for his exploration of human potential and creativity. He engages in insightful conversations with various experts in psychology, mental health, and personal growth. His work emphasizes the importance of understanding one's self and others in the context of psychological well-being and self-actualization.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 4.3k ratings
  • Fantasy pretending to be sciencey

    Every episode is just complete fantasy packaged to make you think science backs up your "feelings"

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bixboglethorpe
    United States2 months ago
  • Interview w/ Bialik (& Cohen)

    Ever in interviews involving duos where one is more renowned than the other do I wish that the host would learn manage the interest in the two equally and adroitly. This host was barely able to pull that off. While, Ms Bialik is certainly a galvanizing subject, it exudes a failure to penetrate the tandem worth of the duo and convey that well to your audience. It’s worth some examination, maybe?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    b-spoke
    United States3 months ago
  • Kristin Neff

    I came here to listen to the podcast with Kristin Neff. I didn’t love how he spoke over her and mansplained things. Especially as they talked about gender roles.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Sarlbro
    United States5 months ago
  • You Will Be Missed

    SBKs podcast is super candid and offer so many actionable takeaways to implement into your everyday life. I have learned heaps and I look forward to hearing about your next adventure. Rock on Scott!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cape Cod Wahine
    United States6 months ago
  • Great podcast

    I very much enjoy the insights of his guests. Very informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M Doss
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many reviews highlight the insights gained from episodes, suggesting that the content is enriching and thought-provoking for audiences interested in psychology.
Listeners appreciate the variety of guests and the depth of discussions on psychological theories and personal development.
There is frequent criticism of the host's interviewing style, with some finding it less engaging or at times condescending.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#93
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#80
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#119
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#79
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#111
Italy/Science
Apple Podcasts
#176
France/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Is It Like to Be an AI? | Cameron Berg
Q: So are you really saying training could potentially someday build the machine equivalent of pleasure and pain?
Berg says this may already be possible in systems trained through reinforcement learning. If consciousness depends on goal-directed learning and reward signals rather than biological material specifically, those processes could potentially support functional positive and negative experiences.
What Is It Like to Be an AI? | Cameron Berg
Q: What have you been finding along the lines of whether or not it's possible, there's a kind of consciousness there that can suffer?
Berg describes evidence related to emotional valence and reinforcement learning, explaining that reward and punishment signals may be relevant to whether AI systems could have positive or negative experiences. He stresses that the evidence does not establish whether current systems are sentient.
Where Does Genius Come From? | Michael Levin
Q: How do you see the difference between intelligence and consciousness?
Levin regards intelligence as a set of observable behavioral competencies and consciousness as a different, harder question. He suspects consciousness may track intelligence to some extent but says they are not identical or necessarily linked one-to-one.
Where Does Genius Come From? | Michael Levin
Q: How do you define intelligence? And are you also equally as resistant as I am to measuring intelligence on a single spectrum?
Levin defines intelligence for experimental purposes as competency in problem-solving and reaching goals as circumstances change. He does not claim this captures every aspect of intelligence, including play and creativity, and argues against relying on a single measure.
The Person You Become | L.A. Paul
Q: Do you think we should adopt a precautionary principle for rapid technological change that could unleash destructive forces on civilization?
Paul agrees that precaution is warranted when potential harms are serious and outcomes are uncertain, while noting that money, power, and enthusiasm for discovery can influence how people assess the risks.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Human Potential Lab

What is Human Potential Lab about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The episodes explore a diverse range of topics primarily centered around psychology, human potential, and personal growth. Listeners are introduced to various experts, including psychologists, authors, and thought leaders, who share insights on emotional intelligence, resilience, and self-actualization. Discussions often confront societal misconceptions about mental health, the nuances of identity, and the impact of mindsets on personal and collective well-being. Each episode seeks to enrich listeners' understanding of the complexities of human nature and the principles that foster personal transformation and growth, making it appealing for individuals interested in self-development and psychological well-being.

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Which podcasts are similar to Human Potential Lab?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Human Potential Lab:

1. Speaking of Psychology
2. Psychology Unplugged
3. Therapist Uncensored Podcast
4. Hidden Brain
5. Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

How many episodes of Human Potential Lab are there?

Human Potential Lab launched 12 years ago and published 482 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 Human Potential Lab?

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What guests have appeared on Human Potential Lab?

Recent guests on Human Potential Lab include:

1. L.A. Paul
2. Michael Levin
3. Cameron Berg
4. Dr. Elisabet Lahti
5. RaQuel Hopkins
6. Dr. Ben Rein
7. Joe Nucci
8. Dr. Alex Auerbach

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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