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Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam · Science

Hidden Brain

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.

Episodes

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Are Your Memories Real?

22 Jan 2024
49m
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This podcast episode blends captivating case studies, featuring subjects like Beth's personal experiences and remarkable research, to offer thought-provoking insights into the nature of memory and its susceptibility to manipulation. By diving into real cases of false memories, repressed memories, and eyewitness testimo...

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Finding Focus

15 Jan 2024
48m
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This podcast episode delves into the effects of technology on human attention and focus, emphasizing the need for sustained attention and managing stress for a fulfilling life. Gloria Mark, a psychologist, shares her research, personal experiences, and strategies for reducing distractions and maintaining focus in an in...

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Where Do Feelings Come From?

08 Jan 2024
50m
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This podcast episode sheds light on the complex relationship between the brain's predictive nature and our perception of emotions. The discussion encompasses themes such as how we construct reality through our brains, the influences of childhood experiences and emotional manipulation on our emotions, and the significan...

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Making the Most of Your Mistakes

01 Jan 2024
51m
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This podcast delves into the importance of errors and failures, emphasizing the necessity of differentiating between different types of failures and understanding their roles in learning, growth, and innovation. It explores real-life examples from healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, and personal experiences to highlig...

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What Would Socrates Do?

25 Dec 2023
50m
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This podcast episode explores Socrates' philosophical teachings and their relevance to modern psychology and literature. It delves into the idea of the divided self, Plato's tripartite soul, and the concept of habits. The speakers draw connections between ancient philosophical concepts and modern research on the brain,...

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How to Believe in Yourself

18 Dec 2023
49m
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This podcast episode discusses the concept of feeling stuck and facing mental blocks in various aspects of life. It explores different strategies for overcoming these obstacles and reaching one's potential. The episode emphasizes the importance of perseverance, embracing alternative approaches, and seeking guidance fro...

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The Ugly Side of Beauty

11 Dec 2023
50m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of beauty bias and its impact on our judgments and perceptions of others. It highlights the need to look beyond external appearances and consider the qualities and abilities of individuals. The episode discusses various studies and experiments that reveal the power of attractiv...

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The Mystery of Beauty

04 Dec 2023
49m
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This podcast episode explores various aspects of art, aesthetics, and the human brain. It discusses the impact of dopamine agonists on artists with Parkinson's disease, the changes in artistic expression after a left hemisphere stroke, the perception of human beauty, the evolutionary basis of aesthetic preferences, the...

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Healing 2.0: The Power of Apologies

27 Nov 2023
49m
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This podcast episode discusses the power and consequences of apologies, using real-life incidents such as Ryan Lochte's false robbery claim and BP's response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as examples. It emphasizes the importance of genuine remorse and the harm caused by insincere apologies. The episode explores t...

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Healing 2.0: Disrupting Death

20 Nov 2023
52m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of versonas, digital personas created to preserve memories and cheat death. The episode follows Justin Harrison's journey as he creates an AI-powered versona of his deceased mother. Justin's dedication allows him to have conversations with his mom and find solace in their excha...

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Healing 2.0: Life After Loss

13 Nov 2023
49m
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This podcast episode explores the stages of grief, the aftermath of a tragic accident, receiving grief counseling, collective grief, and the concept of grief ambushes. The speaker shares personal experiences and discusses different approaches to managing grief, emphasizing the importance of active coping strategies and...

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Healing 2.0: What We Gain from Pain

06 Nov 2023
49m
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This podcast episode explores the concept of adversity as a secret source of success. It discusses the belief that difficult times make individuals stronger and promote personal growth. The episode examines the American cultural perspective on trauma and suffering, highlighting the idea that adversity leads to strength...

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Healing 2.0: Change Your Story, Change Your Life

30 Oct 2023
55m
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This podcast episode delves into the impact of narrative psychology on our well-being and the role of storytelling in our lives. It features personal stories of individuals who have encountered setbacks, challenges, and transformation. The episode emphasizes how the narratives we construct about ourselves can greatly i...

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The Enemies of Gratitude

23 Oct 2023
49m
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Psychologist Tom Gilovich delves into the concept of gratitude, exploring its profound impact on our well-being and relationships. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the challenges faced by others and appreciating the good things in life. Gilovich also discusses the psychology behind how humans tend to focus o...

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Follow the Anomalies

16 Oct 2023
48m
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This podcast delves into behavioral economics, focusing on the work of Richard Thaler and his book "Misbehaving". It explores how traditional economic models often fail to account for the psychological factors influencing human behavior, leading to predictable biases. The episode examines various phenomena challenging ...

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How to Spot a Scam

09 Oct 2023
51m
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This podcast delves into the psychology of scams, exploring how con artists manipulate our trust and cognitive biases to deceive us. It provides insights into famous scams like Theranos, Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, and the President's scam, highlighting the importance of skepticism, critical thinking, and recognizing...

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Escaping Perfectionism

02 Oct 2023
52m
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This podcast episode delves into the psychological consequences of living in a culture that values appearance and achievement, exploring themes of anxiety, self-doubt, perfectionism, and the pressure to succeed. The speakers discuss the negative impact of these pressures on mental health, highlighting the importance of...

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The Secret to Great Teams

25 Sep 2023
50m
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This podcast episode explores the science of teamwork, delving into the factors that affect team effectiveness. By challenging common assumptions and highlighting the importance of factors like diversity, social perceptiveness, and shared understanding, the episode provides valuable insights for building high-performin...

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Outsmarting Yourself

18 Sep 2023
46m
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This podcast episode comprehensively analyzes the psychological phenomenon of cognitive dissonance. It examines various real-life scenarios and experiments to illustrate how individuals rationalize and justify their actions, especially when faced with conflicting beliefs or consequences. The discussions delve into the ...

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How We Live With Contradictions

11 Sep 2023
53m
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Elliot Aronson delves into the complexities of human behavior and societal imperfections, uncovering why people self-justify harmful actions and use cognitive dissonance to rationalize inconsistencies. This podcast episode explores the depths of these concepts through Aronson's research, shedding light on the human cap...

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