Hidden Brain

Host Shankar Vedant interviews Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, who argues that not all mistakes are equal.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews researcher Ben Rogers about the psychological power of the "hero's journey" narrative framework.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews pain psychologist Rachel Zofnes, who challenges the biomedical model by explaining that pain is constructed by the brain as a danger alarm.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist Norman Farb about how the brain’s default mode network creates mental maps that can become rigid and inaccurate.

Columbia psychologist Lisa Miller discusses the "awakened brain," arguing that spiritual practices and viewing synchronicities as meaningful signs can enhance health and resilience.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist Lisa Miller about the science of transcendence and its impact on mental health.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist Alison Ledgerwood about the brain’s evolutionary negativity bias, which causes us to fixate on threats and mistakes.

Host Shankar Vedantam explores the "pro-sociality paradox" with psychologist Amit Kumar, revealing why we often withhold kindness due to fears of awkwardness.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews Eric Oliver, author of *How to Know Yourself, who argues that the quest for a single, static self is a modern illusion.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis to explore the neuroscience of creativity, revealing how the unconscious mind generates insights during relaxation or sleep.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews anthropologist Joseph Henrich on how history and culture shape modern psychology.

Host Shankar Vedantam interviews Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki about the complexities of empathy, exploring how trauma, anonymity, and tribalism influence our capacity for kindness.