Social psychologist Batja Mesquita talks about why feelings differ from culture to culture — and why shame can be good.
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Why a cult survivor was drawn to the military
Daniella Mestyanek Young talks about being raised in The Children of God religious cult, her escape to build a new life, and what her later career in the military taught her about herself.
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What to say to your QAnon-believing relatives
Michael Shermer of Skeptic Magazine discusses why someone might be drawn into a conspiracy. Plus, a blog post from this episode about the dos and don’ts of talking to people who believe conspiracy theories.
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Quitting is winning when you gain personal freedom
Keith Boykins talks about his own discovery of life away from the daily grind, why he believes it’s healthy to make career leaps, and how to find identity outside your employment.
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Say less: Your teens listen more than you think
Terri Apter discusses teenagers and their changing emotions, how to better understand their emerging identities, and ways parents can strengthen relationships.
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There IS such a thing as too much pleasure
Dr. Anna Lembke, a medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine, joins us to discuss the neuroscience of pleasure, why our bodies crave it, and the consequences of overconsumption.
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How to deal with workplace bullies
Tessa West examines the different personality types that tend to make work miserable and the methods of social psychology you can employ to neutralize them. Plus, a blog post on how to deal with bulldozing coworkers.
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The benefits of being in your feels
Susan Cain discusses bittersweetness – that mix of sorrow and comfort – and why embracing it can lead to creativity and unlock empathy for one another.
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American moms are more exhausted than usual
Author Anne Helen Petersen discusses how families, especially moms, are emerging from life under Covid with new fortitude and tools for resilience.
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A woman who’s lost nearly everything has regrets — and hope
Author Angie Cruz discusses her character who, through the help of a job counselor, mines her relationship to find her fighting spirit.
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A young person’s guide to navigating the news
Dr. Seema Yasmin discusses ways to engage youth and help them learn to dispel rumors and myths about science and medicine. Plus, a bonus blog post on misinformation, disinformation and mal-information.
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What it’s like being a Black mom in a white community
Senior culture writer at The Washington Post Helena Andrews-Dyer talks about raising a Black child in a predominately white, upper-middle-class world, where her concerns about race led her to consider larger themes of belonging.
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