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Science & Medicine

Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain

Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.

Hidden Brain Podcast Guide

Listen to Hidden Brain, a Science & Medicine podcast by Hidden Brain. Stream 608 episodes in English, follow new audio stories, and play episodes online on Radio and Podcast.

Show Topic

Browse this show under Science & Medicine podcasts.

Episodes

20 episodes are loaded now from a catalog of 608. More episodes can be opened from this page.

Episodes

20 of 608 episodes

The Cowboy Philosopher

In 2009, an old man died in a California nursing home. His obituary included not just his given name, but a long list of the pseudonyms he’d...

01:29:00May 11, 2026

Radical Acceptance

Last week, we looked at the hidden beliefs that can leave us feeling stuck in life. This week, in the second part of our conversation with b...

01:30:05May 4, 2026

Designing a Life that Matters

We tell ourselves that meaning comes from impact, passion, or finding the “one right path.” But these beliefs can leave us feeling stuck — e...

00:51:06Apr 27, 2026

Do You Feel Loved?

What’s the difference between being loved and feeling loved? Psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky joins us to discuss the distinction, and how we...

01:33:11Apr 20, 2026

How to Change the World

Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Pop culture and conventional history often teach us that violence is the most effective way...

01:30:33Apr 13, 2026

The Debt Trap

We like to think that good financial decisions come down to discipline and basic math. But the psychology of money turns out to be deeply co...

01:40:26Apr 6, 2026

When It's Okay to Lie

Should you tell a harsh truth if it will only cause pain? Or is it sometimes kinder to keep someone in the dark? Psychologist Emma Levine ex...

00:51:48Mar 30, 2026

Group Think

How do the groups you identify with shape your sense of self? Do they influence the beer you buy? The way you vote? In this favorite episode...

01:27:56Mar 23, 2026

Rethinking Depression

We tend to see depression as an illness to eliminate, evidence that something has gone wrong in the brain. But what if low mood serves a pur...

00:53:07Mar 16, 2026

Yuck! The Science of Disgust

Disgust is a strong emotion, one designed by evolution to protect us from danger and diseases. But disgust also spills into other areas of o...

01:37:18Mar 9, 2026

The Secret of Charisma

Charismatic leaders can inspire devotion and give people a powerful sense of meaning. They can also make us vulnerable. This week, we explor...

01:34:16Mar 2, 2026

Do You Feel Invisible?

What does it do to a person to feel overlooked? This week, psychologist Gordon Flett examines how the absence of “mattering” can fuel loneli...

01:27:47Feb 23, 2026

Why You're Smarter Than You Think

From the time we're schoolchildren, we're ranked and sorted based on how smart we are. But what if our assumptions about intelligence limit...

01:34:13Feb 16, 2026

Coming Clean

Last week, we talked with psychologist Leslie John about the costs of keeping secrets. Today, Leslie returns with a look at the psychologica...

01:37:28Feb 9, 2026

Keeping Secrets

We all carry secrets, from harmless omissions to life-changing truths. But secrecy isn’t neutral: hiding takes mental work and can harm our...

00:50:15Feb 2, 2026

You 2.0: Trusting Your Doubt

We conclude our month-long You 2.0 series with a look at the hidden power of doubt — not as weakness or indecision, but as a tool that helps...

01:37:06Jan 26, 2026

You 2.0: The Practice of Patience

Patience can sometimes feel like a lost art, particularly in a culture that prizes competition and the idea of "failing fast." But psycholog...

01:40:43Jan 19, 2026

You 2.0: How to Get Out of a Rut

There are times in life when the challenges we face feel insurmountable. Authors succumb to writer’s block. Athletes and artists hit a plate...

01:38:02Jan 12, 2026

You 2.0: Cultivating Courage

Why do some people act bravely in a crisis, while others flee or freeze up? Today, we bring you the second part of our You 2.0 series on the...

00:51:31Jan 5, 2026

You 2.0: Stop Spiraling!

The start of a new year is a natural moment to set goals for ourselves. But doing so can also be a little daunting. Today, we kick off a ser...

01:33:15Dec 29, 2025

Questions About Hidden Brain

Where can I listen to Hidden Brain episodes?

You can listen to Hidden Brain episodes online on Radio and Podcast. Open an episode and the site player will stream the available audio.

What is Hidden Brain about?

Hidden Brain is listed as a Science & Medicine show. The show language is listed as English.

How many Hidden Brain episodes are listed?

This page lists 608 episodes for Hidden Brain. More episodes are available from the View more button when the list continues.