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Exploring the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior | Team: Host and Executive Editor Shankar Vedantam & Executive Producer
Hidden Brain’s Tweets
"That's the two word words I never forgot: 'Just drive.'"
Majid Hadji was doing a high-stakes driving test when he became overcome with anxiety — until someone unexpected helped him get through it.
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This week, we continue our series on persuasion. We explore how these techniques can be used for both good and evil. (4/4)
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“We don't just give them evidence of any neighbors,” said . “We give them evidence of comparable neighbors, those who have the same size home, the same type of air conditioning units, and the same number of bedrooms and so on.” (3/4)
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In one study, for example, researchers got people to conserve more energy by telling them their neighbors were reducing their energy use. (2/4)
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If people around us behave a certain way, we tend to follow suit. This can sometimes lead to terrible outcomes, but it can also influence our behavior for the better. (1/4)
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“If the other side is saying it, then we don't want to do it. If our side is taking this position, it almost doesn't matter what the merits of it are.”
In Part 2 of our series on persuasion, explains the influence of “we vs. them.”
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Struggling to keep your New Year’s resolutions? It might help to remember that the struggle is real. This and more in our weekly newsletter:
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“And what shocked me was how small the footprint was of those principles that were in common across all of those settings and professions. I only counted six.”
This week, the first episode in a two-part series about the psychology of persuasion. (2/2)
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Psychologist has spent years studying influencers – and not of the TikTok variety. He looked at salespeople, recruiters, fundraisers. People whose job is to convince others to take action. He wanted to see what techniques they had in common. (1/2)
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"I'll just never forget that kindness and generosity."
Sabrina Kronk recalls the crew of car mechanics who made it possible for her to get her daughter to daycare, some twenty years ago.
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This week on Hidden Brain, what happens when a psychologist turns into a spy. (2/2)
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In the 1980s, psychologist attended dozens of training seminars for salespeople – all to understand how they influence us to buy products.
“I worked undercover to learn what they had learned were the most powerful influences on the influence process.” (1/2)
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Influencers aren’t limited to TikTok creators and Instagram personalities. We all influence each other in ways small and profound.
This week, we talk with about how we’re swayed, and the techniques we can use to influence others.
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We like to think that with enough hard work, anyone can get ahead. But is that always true? This week, the surprising link between friendships and upward mobility. (2/2)
Listen + follow:
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“It’s easy for us to underestimate how much our trajectory in life is determined by the connections that we have.” – (1/2)
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"It was just the idea that someone saw me, was willing to acknowledge that there was some grief inside me that was unresolved."
recalls the classmate in middle school who stepped up to offer support when no one else would.
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You’ve heard the phrase, “birds of a feather flock together.” Humans tend to do the same — we’re often drawn to people like us.
That can bring unintended consequences, for us and for others. This week, the benefits of branching out. Listen and follow:
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Across the world, wealth inequality is a growing concern. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Policymakers spend countless hours debating answers.
This week, we look at one source of rising inequality – and one possible solution.
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Find us wherever you get your podcasts, and...in Times Square! 🤩🥰
Big thanks to and for featuring us on some of the coolest real estate around.
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How do our minds process information differently, depending on whether we read or listen to that information? This and more in our weekly newsletter:
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This week on My Unsung Hero: After Vanessa Grace Miller had a life-threatening allergic reaction in a foreign country, her young tour guide stepped in to help.
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This week, what we get wrong about goals – and how to set more meaningful ones. (2/2)
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Have you ever reached a goal and felt…empty?
“People aren't very good at all at knowing how achieving their goals will affect them,” says psychologist Ken Sheldon. We think our goals will make us happy, but often they don’t. (1/2)
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What do you want to be when you grow up?
We’re asked this question all the time as children. When we finally become adults, we sometimes still don’t know the answer.
This week, the psychology of figuring out what to do with your life.
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We think of our lives as existing in chapters. And a new chapter can be an ideal time to kickstart a goal or habit. has researched the power of fresh starts. Listen + follow:
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Be curious, be humble and be brave. Such a timely reminder as we look towards 2024! Thank you for this!ted.com/talks/shankar_ via
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“This year, I enjoyed producing our sister show, My Unsung Hero. Every episode has that warm feeling a lot of us are craving right now. Jennifer’s story captures how much one act of kindness can impact someone for the rest of their life.” –
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“The best of Hidden Brain teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. With that in mind, I adored the perspective of Batja Mesquita on emotions and how they might change across relationships, situations, and even cultures.” –
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“My favorite episode is the one featuring psychologist Naomi Rothman, talking about her research on the upside of ambivalence. Naomi's work is so fascinating and she is such a good storyteller." -
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"It's hard to pick one episode! But one I think about a lot is our chat with Erica Boothby, who says we underestimate how much other people actually like us. It's a reassuring takeaway, and a reminder to be kinder to ourselves." –
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“I loved our episode about a man who dreamt he would die at age 54. The episode raises interesting questions: How does anxiety about the future affect us in the present? What matters in our lives? Gorgeous storytelling by ” –
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“My favorite episode of the year is Why Conversations Go Wrong with linguist Deborah Tannen. A good conversation is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and Deborah reveals the complicated machinery underneath even the simplest exchange.” –
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“My own favorite episode of the year is Being Kind to Yourself with Kristin Neff. Remembering the importance of self-compassion is a message we can't hear enough. Beautifully mixed and written by and @thewildong.” –
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In our busy lives, we often forget to stop and appreciate the blessings. In that spirit, we want to say thank you to our listeners. You inspire us to do this work.
We also want to take a moment to celebrate our team. Here are their favorite episodes of the year. 🧵
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“That's the beauty of gratitude. It ensures that there's going to be more blessings to come.” –@daviddesteno
bit.ly/3YO1cJk
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“That's the beauty of gratitude. It ensures that there's going to be more blessings to come.” –
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We all deserve the occasional treat. But ironically, we may find it hard to treat ourselves when we’re most in need of some TLC. This and more in our weekly newsletter:
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This week, how we can all complain a little bit less – or at least a little bit better. (3/3)
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In a study, people listed their pet peeves with a partner. While most everyone had annoyances, the happiest people expressed them differently.
“It's not that they don't complain..but they are very strategic in how they go about complaining," said researcher Robin Kowalski. (2/3)
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Everybody complains. But some research suggests that happy people complain differently. (1/3)
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