Hidden Brain

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 us make better choices and navigate an uncertain world. Researcher Bobby Parmar explores how doubt can sharpen judgment, and makes a case for why the ability to sit with uncertainty may be one of the most important skills of all. Then, in our latest installment of "Your Questions Answered," Emily Falk answers listeners' questions about defensiveness, and offers insights into how we can strengthen our ability to give and receive feedback. 
In this episode, you'll learn:
*Why uncertainty and doubt feel so uncomfortable to our brains. 
*Why intuition can lead us astray, and how to know when doubt can help you make better decisions. 
*How the "pursue," "protect," and "pause and piece together" systems in our brains shape our decision making.
*How stress can affect these brain systems and alter how we make decisions. 
*How our desire to avoid blame makes it more difficult to listen to our doubt. 
*Why we tend to prefer decisive leaders — and why this tendency doesn't always serve us well. 
*What researchers have learned about how experts and novices use doubt differently to navigate complex situations. 
Hidden Brain is coming to Philadelphia and New York City! Join us in March at the latest stops on our live tour. More info and tickets at hiddenbrain.org/tour
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Patience can sometimes feel like a lost art, particularly in a culture that prizes competition and the idea of "failing fast." But psychologist Sarah Schnitker says patience is a vital skill for success in both our personal and professional lives. We talk with Sarah about the difference between patience and passivity, and how to train ourselves to be more patient. Then, in our latest installment of "Your Questions Answered," Jennifer Tosti-Kharas responds to listeners' questions about how to find a calling, and how to set one aside if it's no longer serving you well. 
In this episode, you'll learn:
*Why our brains dislike uncertainty so much, and how this can lead to impatience and hasty decisions.
*The three different types of patience that researchers have identified — and how each one can affect your life.
*How to strengthen your own ability to practice patience. 
*The relationship between purpose and patience.
*How impatience affects our mental and physical health. 
Episode illustration by Gustopo Galang for Unsplash+
 

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There are times in life when the challenges we face feel insurmountable. Authors succumb to writer’s block. Athletes and artists hit a plateau. People of a certain age fall into a midlife crisis. These are all different ways of saying: I’m stuck. This week, in a favorite conversation from 2023, psychologist Adam Alter shares his research on why we all get stuck at various points in our lives, and how to break free. Then, psychologist George Bonanno answers your questions about trauma and resilience.
In this episode, you'll learn:
*Why the beginning and the end of a project is often more manageable than the midway point.
*Techniques that can help you to get through the "plateau" phase of a project or goal. 
*How to break down daunting endeavors into smaller, more manageable pieces.
*Why perfectionism is so destructive to creativity, and how we can avoid this mental trap.
*Why it's difficult for us to see other people's "stuckness." 
*The relationship between being prolific and being successful. 
Hidden Brain is heading back out on the road in 2026! We're coming next to Philadelphia and New York City, with more tour dates across the country to be announced later this spring. More info and tickets at hiddenbrain.org/tour. 
Episode illustration by Getty Images for Unsplash+. 
 

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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 mental obstacles that can block us when we're charting a new path. Behavioral scientist Ranjay Gulati argues that courage is a choice, and that we can strengthen the reflexes that will help us to be brave when it matters most. 
Once you've listened to this episode, be sure to check out our companion conversation about how you can help the people around you to become more brave. You can hear that episode with a free seven-day trial to Hidden Brain+. To sign up, go to support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hiddenbrain. Your subscription helps to cover the research, writing, and audio production that go into every episode of Hidden Brain, and we appreciate your support!
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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 series designed to help you understand and grapple with the mental obstacles that can keep you from charting a new path. We talk with psychologist Greg Walton, who studies how our minds get trapped in negative thought spirals — and how we can begin to break free. Then, in the latest installment of our segment "Your Questions Answered," psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh answers listener questions about the minds of extremely kind and generous people.
If you enjoyed our conversation with Greg Walton, don't miss our companion conversation about the emotional tools we can use to help someone who's spiraling. You can listen to that episode with a free seven-day trial to our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. To sign up, go to support.hiddenbrain.org. Or if you're using an Apple device, you can go to apple.co/hiddenbrain. Thanks, and Happy New Year!
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