“A lot of these assumptions we have about human potential are really outdated and just wrong.” Measures like IQ tests tend to categorize our abilities. But as @sbkaufman explains, these tests only tell us so much. t.co/ONiknjGRSv

Ever noticed how people instinctively defend themselves when receiving feedback? Maybe you’ve caught yourself doing it, too. This week, we continue our conversation with neuroscientist Emily Falk to explore why we tend to push back against suggestions—and how we can become better listeners. Plus, how to offer feedback in a way that truly resonates. t.co/YCg35Jfx47

It’s almost time for our next Hidden Brain live show! Join Shankar at the Orpheum in Los Angeles on November 22. He’ll be sharing seven key insights from Hidden Brain’s first decade. More info and tickets at t.co/UevJCsZUFh

You want to get up earlier. You really do. It would make your morning so much smoother. But that alarm goes off and, against all reason, you do it — you hit the snooze button. In this week’s episode, why our minds often conspire against our best interests, and how we can regain some control. t.co/OfXyxUMVDk

Just a few days left until our next Hidden Brain live show! Join Shankar at the Orpheum in Los Angeles on November 22. He’ll be sharing seven key insights from Hidden Brain’s first decade. More info and tickets at t.co/UevJCt0suP

When it comes to our goals, plans, or pursuits, it’s very easy to get lost in romantic ideas about the future. The poetry, if you will. But the poetry can often get in the way of the planning and preparation needed to execute those ideas in the first place. In this week’s episode, we talk to @huggyrao about how to combine poetry and plumbing to turn vision into reality. t.co/YB562UmstZ

We like to think our choices, our thoughts, and our habits are entirely our own. But in reality, our individual choices are often echoes of centuries of cultural evolution. This week, a conversation with anthropologist @JoHenrich about how culture, history, and psychology intersect. t.co/mDzbabxaR4

A few years ago, John’s 12-year-old daughter developed a sudden illness, and for months she could barely leave the house. On the first warm day of the year, he brought her outside. A man drove by, rolled down his window, and said something John will never forget. t.co/EijLYaw4Cr

Aging isn’t just a biological process. Our outlooks and emotions also change as we age, often in ways that boost our well-being. This week on the show, psychologist Laura Carstensen unpacks the science behind this surprising finding, and shares what all of us can learn from older people. Then, as part of our ongoing series, “Your Questions Answered,” we bring Laura Carstensen back to answer listeners' questions and share more of her research on what it means to live well as we age. t.co/Tto39mo3Ct

New York and Philly, we’re heading your way in 2026! Join Shankar for the next stops on Hidden Brain’s live tour – more info and tickets at t.co/UevJCt0suP

This week on the show, we learned about how having a sense of purpose can grant us energy, agency, and willpower. In a companion episode, exclusively for members of Hidden Brain+, researcher Victor Strecher explores how a sense of purpose shapes our physical health. We discuss why people with a strong sense of purpose may have stronger immune systems, be less likely to relapse from addictions, and even lead longer lives. t.co/CuKzzDm2ok

“If you're lucky enough to find work that you love doing, that's great. But for those who haven't yet found it — or maybe will never find it — don't despair. That's not a personal or moral failing as we sometimes make it seem. There are so many ways that we can feel like we're making a difference and a contribution.” The idea of being driven by a calling goes back centuries. It was the language used to describe religious people who were called to the priesthood — called, in effect, by God. Today, millions of people in secular professions yearn to be similarly galvanized by their work. Researcher Jennifer Tosti-Kharas explores the immense power — and the downsides — of finding a job that gives you purpose. t.co/i9jT1fFZVx

“If you want beautiful, graceful music in your life, you have to practice. If you want deep, sustaining intimacy in your relationship, you have to practice.” When things go wrong in our relationships, we often try to change the way our partners behave. We tell ourselves that if only they would change their ways, we would both be happy. But usually, trying to fix a person only makes things worse. Last week, we talked to psychologist James Cordova about why this tendency can be so damaging. This week, we continue our conversation with a look at a difficult but effective way to change how we approach our relationships. t.co/eVLFi4nq8X

Did you catch this week’s episode about innovation? In our companion discussion for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, we explore how to avoid getting caught up in the beauty of an idea without thinking through the details that actually get a project off the ground. t.co/Y5Gxq97VY4

“Our spouse has replaced a lot of what we used to look to our broader social network to help us do.” Psychologist @EliJFinkel says marriages have become “all-or-nothing” relationships. He argues that if we want to save the institution of marriage, we must update our expectations of it. This week, we revisit an episode all about how marriage has changed over the years— and how we can make it better. t.co/JHjY1OMEPf

“The idea with disgust that separates it from many of our other emotions is that it spreads through contagion — through contamination.’” Disgust is a strong emotion. It’s designed by evolution to protect us from danger and diseases. But disgust also spills into other areas of our lives, influencing our morals, our intuitions about right and wrong, even our politics. This week, we talk with psychologist @peez about the power of disgust, its historical use as a tool to persuade and divide, and why it remains such a potent force in public life today. Then, in our latest installment of “Your Questions Answered,” Huggy Rao returns to respond to listeners’ thoughts and questions about why big ideas fail. t.co/SflWrDNRi4