Hidden Brain

New to Hidden Brain? Here's a great place to start. hiddenbrain.org/featured-episo…

Bethany Renfree was feeling overwhelmed as a single mom with three small children. But one small act of kindness by a neighbor let her know she'd be okay. hiddenbrain.org/unsunghero/bet…

Northern California, we’re heading your way! Join us @stanford on Saturday, May 16 for the latest stop on our live tour. More info and tickets here: alu.ms/hiddenbrain-st…

“It’s a very risky business to decide that's the only way my life is meaningful.” @DaveEvansDYL Many of us dream of making a big impact on the world. But this aspiration doesn’t always bring us happiness. And sometimes, it can get in the way of making a smaller but still meaningful difference. In this week’s episode, we look at the misguided beliefs that get in the way of  a rich and meaningful life — and a better way to find the answers we need. open.spotify.com/episode/4gzj4X…

“The better question is not ‘What's the meaning of life?’ But ‘How might I live a more meaningful life now?’” We tell ourselves that meaning comes from impact, passion, or finding the one right path. But these beliefs can leave us feeling stuck — even when our lives look perfectly fine on paper. In the first episode of a two-part series, behavioral scientist @DaveEvansDYL describes a new approach to help us build lives that feel more alive, flexible, and real. hiddenbrain.org/podcast/design…

More than forty years ago, Rebecca Stuhlmiller sat at a stoplight in a new city, crying. She felt trapped in a relationship she didn’t know how to leave. Then a stranger in a neighboring car offered a gesture of kindness she'll always remember. hiddenbrain.org/unsunghero/reb…

Northern California, we’re heading your way! Join us @Stanford on Saturday, May 16 for the latest stop on our live tour. More info and tickets here: alu.ms/hiddenbrain-st…

“If I want to make myself feel loved, the first step is to try to make the other person feel loved. That's really what comes first.” In this week’s episode, we talk with psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky about what we truly want from our intimate relationships— and how to get it. apple.co/4cEJPCt

“That lack of responsiveness did not make me feel loved.” Love can feel powerful at first. Then, like so many good things, it fades into the background. This week, psychologist @slyubomirsky explores the distinction between being loved and *feeling* loved. Then, psychologist Greg Walton answers listener questions about downward spirals. hiddenbrain.org/podcast/do-you…

“These movements aren’t out there to melt the heart of the dictator. They’re out there to remove the bases of the dictator’s support.” In this week’s episode, the surprising truth about what actually produces radical change. apple.co/4mAwf7U

At 15, Everett Miller was about to steal a shirt at the mall when a girl saw him and whispered, “It’s not worth it.” He stopped, and decades later, he still thinks about that moment. hiddenbrain.org/unsunghero/eve…

“Humor is really important as a way to really poke at the invincibility myth or narrative that exists among many different autocrats or autocratic movements. If there's one thing that we know that autocrats don't like, it's people laughing at them.” In this week’s episode, we talk to political scientist @EricaChenoweth about why nonviolent movements might seem less likely to succeed than violent campaigns, but end up being more effective in the long term. open.spotify.com/episode/4DCwFe…

“Nonviolent campaigns were twice as likely to have succeeded as their violent counterparts.” Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Political scientist @EricaChenoweth, who has studied more than 100 years of revolutions and insurrections, says the answer is counterintuitive. This week, the surprising truth about what actually produces radical change. hiddenbrain.org/podcast/how-to…

“There's lots of things that influence us without our knowing it....tiny influences that change people's preferences and choices without them being willing to acknowledge that it does affect them.” In this week’s episode, the unseen traps that influence our behavior when it comes to money,  and how to break free from their influence. apple.co/41uLhlU

“The more complex something becomes, the more energy we have to dedicate to it, and the greater the likelihood that we're going to have a breakdown in our self-control.” Financial decisions aren’t just about willpower or spreadsheets. There are psychological forces that can derail us from making good choices about our money. This week, we explore the hidden biases that push us toward overspending, procrastinating, or avoiding tough money conversations, and what it takes to break those patterns. open.spotify.com/episode/6b5ZrE…

After making a series of unfortunate choices, Jay found himself sitting in a jail cell, alone and hopeless. But a fellow inmate's words brought him comfort and changed how he saw his life.  hiddenbrain.org/unsunghero/jay…

“Optimism is not always great for dealing with finances.” We like to think that good financial decisions come down to discipline and basic math. But the psychology of money is far more complicated. Researcher John Dinsmore explains the hidden mental biases that shape how we think about spending, borrowing, and the future. We explore how these forces can steer us toward costly mistakes — and how to guard against them. hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-de…

It was an unforgettable evening with fans at our sold-out show in Portland, ME on Friday night. Huge thanks to @Loom for sponsoring the Perceptions Tour, and for sharing our commitment to clear communication. Record it. Share it. Keep work moving with Loom. It’s a team changer. #ad