Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.

It's happened to all of us: We're in the shower, or on a walk, and boom — a big idea or a brilliant solution appears out of nowhere. These sorts of insights often seem to arise without explanation. But researchers increasingly find there is a science to cultivating creativity. This week, social psychologist <a href="https://business.columbia.edu/faculty/people/sheena-iyengar">Sheena Iyengar</a> shares research and case studies of innovation, and discusses what these examples tell us about the alchemy of creative breakthroughs. Looking for a last-minute holiday gift for a fellow fan of Hidden Brain? Consider giving them a <a href="https://patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift">gift subscription to Hidden Brain+</a>!

Hidden Brain

How to Be More Creative

Every day, we leave small traces of ourselves online. And we might not realize what these traces say about us. This week, computational social scientist <a href="https://business.columbia.edu/faculty/people/sandra-matz" target="_blank">Sandra Matz</a> explores how understanding what we actually do online –  not just what we think we do – can help us improve our lives. Looking for a last-minute holiday gift for a fellow Hidden Brain fan? You can now <a href="https://www.patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift">give a gift subscription</a> to Hidden Brain+!

What Your Online Self Reveals About You

With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are hunting for that special something for the special someones in our lives. It’s how we show we care about them. So why is it so hard to find the right gift? This week, we revisit a favorite 2022 conversation with researcher <a href="https://scholars.cmu.edu/2187-jeffrey-galak">Jeff Galak</a>. We'll discuss why the presents we give for holidays and birthdays often miss their mark, and how to become a better gift-giver. Looking for a holiday gift for a fellow Hidden Brain fan? You can now <a href="https://www.patreon.com/hiddenbrain/gift">give a gift subscription to Hidden Brain+</a>! Or if material gifts are more your style, go to <a href="https://www.podswag.com/collections/hidden-brain">shop.hiddenbrain.org</a> to find Hidden Brain t-shirts, mugs, stickers and more.

The Secret to Gift-Giving

What makes ordinary people do evil things? It was a question that long fascinated the psychologist Philip Zimbardo, who died in October. Zimbardo was best known for the controversial Stanford prison experiment, in which he created a simulated prison in the basement of a university building and recruited volunteers to act as prisoners and guards. This week, we explore how Zimbardo came to create one of psychology's most notorious experiments – and inadvertently became the poster child for the human weaknesses he was trying to study.  We're bringing Hidden Brain to the stage in San Francisco and Seattle in February 2025! Join our host Shankar Vedantam as he shares seven key insights from his first decade hosting the show. <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/tour/">Click here for more info and tickets</a>.

Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Episodes