You didn't choose to live this life, but you can still make it beautiful.

If you're living in a city in America right now, there's a nuclear weapon pointed directly at you.

Life is full of moral dilemmas. How do you know you're making the right calls? • Subscribe to our newsletter • Download... more

Today, friend-of-the-pod Steven Johnson stops by to share a few big ideas from his recent book "Extra Life," which President... more

Have you ever been afraid to speak up? You're not alone, says Elaine Lin Hering, a lecturer at Harvard Law... more

To close out the week, let's hear from Reddit's Global Brand Ambassador, Will Cady, who has a few surprising tips... more

Robin Reames grew up in a fundamentalist Christian, white, and very conservative family in the Deep South. "Up until about... more

In this episode, CNN anchor and chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto warns that another world war could be looming. •... more

Keto, Atkins, paleo, and Whole30 — it seems like fad diets are everywhere these days. How did they get so... more

Today, indispensable financial advice from Jill Schlesinger, Emmy and Gracie Award winning business analyst for CBS News and author of... more

Can Joseph Campbell’s "hero’s journey" help you find fulfillment?

Is the design of the internet to blame for our current crises of disinformation, mental illness, and hyper-partisan division? • Subscribe... more

Why does living in the so-called Information Age only seem to make life more confusing? Amanda Montell has some surprising... more

Today, a few brainy insights from neuroscientist Chantel Prat, author of "The Neuroscience of You," which our pal Adam Grant... more

How smart leaders make the right things easier and the wrong things harder. • Subscribe to our newsletter • Download our app •... more

For the past few years, Scott Rick, a behavioral scientist at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, has... more

William Ury wrote the world’s best-selling book on negotiation. Now he's here to help us navigate conflict.

Linguist and professor Anne Curzan encourages us all to lighten up when it comes to grammar rules.

As a teenager, Andrew Leland started to lose his sight. One day, in all likelihood, he will be blind. In... more

Carol Dweck’s "Mindset" transformed our view of individual potential. Now her protégé, Mary Murphy, is here to explain how mindset can... more

Do you ever feel kind of ... meh? Corey Keyes is here to help. • Subscribe to our newsletter • Download our... more

Journalist Josie Cox stops by to share highlights from the story of women’s fight for financial freedom.

Could Generation Z's focus on ethics, climate change, and purpose change capitalism forever? • Subscribe to our newsletter • Download our app •... more

Nobel Prize-winning molecular biologist Venki Ramakrishnan walks us through the ongoing revolution in biology that could allow us to live... more

Anxiety can be painful and embarrassing, even downright debilitating. But author and podcaster Morra Aarons-Mele says it's also a force... more

Guy Kawasaki has spent 40 years working with game-changing organizations like Apple, Google, Mercedes, and Canva. More recently, he's been... more

It's not enough to be inclusive. Denise Hamilton, a nationally recognized workplace culture and DEI expert, says we should strive... more

The ability to tell a good story is more than just a social skill. It’s a key element in good... more

Today, Joshua Fletcher (a.k.a. Anxiety Josh) takes us on a tour of the inner mind of a therapist. • Subscribe to... more

Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality. Those are Cal Newport's three strategies for achieving "Slow... more

Why do we assume romantic relationships are more important than friendships? Rhaina Cohen, award-winning producer and editor for NPR's Embedded, has... more

Today, we hear from Angelique Bellmer Krembs, global head of brand at BlackRock, about the micro-offenses women encounter in the... more

Today, join scientist Nicholas Humphrey on an epic quest to uncover the evolutionary history of consciousness.

In his new book, "Tornado of Life: A Doctor's Journey through Constraints and Creativity in the ER," physician and writer... more

The average human lifespan is just over four thousand weeks. How will you spend your days? How should you spend... more

In the early days of the Covid lockdown, many of us found ourselves taking up new hobbies, like playing guitar... more

What is it about American political culture that has kept women from the presidency for so long? NBC News correspondent... more

You might have heard of Einstein and Newton and Galileo, but can you name the woman whose work led to... more

Neuroscientist and psychologist Charan Ranganath reframes how we think about remembering and shares the tools we can use to hold... more

Today, learn how to perform at your very best from the psychologist who has advised elite military operators, Olympic medalists,... more

Ad exec Bonnie Wan shares her playbook for navigating life’s decisions, crossroads, and curveballs. • Subscribe to our newsletter • Download our... more

Historian Deborah Plant takes us on a personal exploration of America’s obsession with continuing human bondage.

Charles Duhigg, the bestselling author of "Power of Habit," is on the show today to explain what marital spats, NASA... more

We’ve become mad for our devices. Our devices are driving us mad.

Today, MIT's Andrew McAfee stops by to share a few key insights from his recent book "The Geek Way: The... more

Happy Friday, friends! To close out the week, here are a few tips on how to have a great day,... more

Today, the true story of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to land on American soil — more than half... more

In an alarming new book "Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons," journalist Sarah Scoles explores the current state of... more

Today, clinical psychologist and mind-body expert Scott Lyons turns the notion of the drama queen on its head.

Want to become the best at what you do? First, says Ron Friedman ("Decoding Greatness"), you must learn how to... more

Humans, it turns out, are pretty decent. That's according to Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, whose book "Humankind: A Hopeful History"... more

Nick Romeo, a writer for The New Yorker, has spent the last several years covering the most compelling economic policies... more

Today, we hear from Rick Hanson, senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, about his latest book, "Making... more

In "Little Treatments, Big Effects," Harvard-trained psychologist Jessica Schleider explains how you can reboot your mental health in a single... more

Shellye Archambeau was an executive at IBM, Blockbuster's president, and then MetricStream's CEO. She currently serves on the boards of Verizon... more

Today, five lessons, "Learning to Love Midlife," a blueprint for aging gracefully by Chip Conley, CEO of the Modern Elder... more

For her first book, Antonia Hylton, a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist, unearthed the 93-year-old history of a segregated asylum... more

Rebecca Boyle stops by to discuss her new book, "Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution,... more

In "Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments," science journalist Gary Taubes argues that when it... more

How did Apple overcome a culture of secrecy? How did Pixar out-innovate Disney? In their new book, "Brave Together," Chris... more

Stop trying to be perfect. Try this instead.

False narratives about post-racism and meritocracy have been used to condone egregious economic outcomes. What can we do to fix... more

Last week, Stanford neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky came on the show to make the case that free will does not exist.... more

Craig Smith has been a heart surgeon for more than 40 years, and in that time he's saved the lives... more

Charisma. Some people have it, some people don’t. Or so we’ve been led to believe. But speaker, researcher, and bestselling... more

Curiosity may not seem like a skill, but it is. You can cultivate it. Scott Shigeoka will teach you how. •... more

What does it take to open someone's mind? We asked David McRaney for his science-backed tips.

Increasing longevity and the explosion of technology are reshaping the world. What will it mean for your education, career, and... more

"The art of losing isn't hard to master," Elizabeth Bishop wrote in her poem "One Art." Psychotherapist Gina Moffa agrees.... more

With the rise of hybrid work, intergeneration offices, and flexible schedules, it has never been harder to build a successful... more

To close out the week, let's hear from two philosophers about what it means to be happy, good, and to... more

Every day, in offices around the world, there are an estimated 200 million one-on-one meetings. In "Glad We Met," Steven... more

Does free will exist? Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky says, "Hell no!" Which sounds scary, we know, but he's here today... more

We don't just want to live for a long time — we want to thrive as we age. Today, science... more

It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which has us thinking about the state of our nation — specifically, the state... more

Madeleine Dore went in search of the secret to productivity, only to find that there isn't one. Instead, we're being... more

How innovative are our times really? Not very, according to Thomas Ramge and Rafael Laguna de la Vera. And they've... more

You may know David Leonhardt from his wildly popular New York Times newsletter, "The Morning." What you may not know... more

Today, Dr. Jeremy Nobel unpacks our personal and national experiences of loneliness to discover its roots and to show how... more

Do you have what it takes to be a great leader? Find out by listening to Kirstin Ferguson, who joins... more

Today, author Maggie Jackson offers a guide to flourishing in times of flux and angst by harnessing the overlooked power... more

Have you ever met an airborne cryptologic linguist? No? Well, today's your lucky day. We're joined by Ian Fritz who... more

A structural engineer examines the basic building blocks of engineering that have shaped the modern world.

Exercise isn't just our modern obsession: the ancients were keen on it, too. That's according to award-winning journalist Bill Hayes,... more

Change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, Brad Stulberg ("Master of Change") tells us how to deal with... more

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks shares... more

Actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson ("The Office") explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for... more

Today, Shankar Vedantam, host of "Hidden Brain," walks us through the surprising role of self-deception in human flourishing.

Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of... more

This week, we're looking back at some of our favorite episodes from the last year. Today, we'll hear from award-winning... more

To close out the week, we called up Mara Glatzel to share her unique approach to identifying, honoring, and advocating... more

“It’s the year 2050… and racism has ended.” Could this really be our future?

Today, we're joined by Morgan Housel, author of the mega-bestseller The Psychology of Money, who'll discuss his new book, Same... more

In this episode, the New York Times–bestselling author of Wintering invites us to rediscover the feelings of awe and wonder available to... more

We are living in a strange world. Felix Salmon calls it “the New Not Normal.” Today, he explores the economic ramifications... more

Can the ancient wisdom of the Stoics help you live a better life today?

Technology is rapidly reshaping our lives. And not always for the better. In this episode, three Stanford professors argue that... more

Egyptian-American astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance shares how she boldly carved out a place in the field of astrophysics, grounding herself... more

Today, physician and New York Times bestselling author Michael Greger shares simple hacks you can use to stay healthy as... more

Over the past two decades, Rich Horwath has helped more than a quarter million leaders develop their strategic thinking and... more

Today, journalist and podcaster Liel Leibovitz explores how the Talmud — an ancient work of Jewish ethics, law, and tradition... more

Today, Wendy Wong, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, stops by to tell us why we... more

The fear of playing the fool is a universal psychological phenomenon and an underappreciated driver of human behavior, says Tess... more

CW: This episode contains references to suicide. In his 20s, Andy Dunn launched a DTC men’s fashion brand called Bonobos.... more

Today, Ozan Varol, the acclaimed author of "Think Like a Rocket Scientist" shares five tools you can use to unlock your originality... more

Today, to close out the week, we'll hear psychologist Michael Gervais's groundbreaking guide for overcoming what may be the single... more

College isn’t for everyone. Could high-value apprenticeships provide an alternative pathway to economic opportunity?

Today, one of the world’s most creative mathematicians offers a new way to look at math.

"There are little things that we can do daily that lower our risk of dementia and Alzheimer's by anywhere from... more

In her two decades researching organizations, Michelle King has discovered that people who succeed possess a particularly unique skill: They... more

To cap off the week, we'll hear from Chris Bailey, who offers up a guide to achieving calm, navigating anxiety,... more

Ian Leslie, a columnist for the New Statesman, is here today to teach us how to transform the heat of... more

Today, a deep dive into cancel culture, an account of its dangers to all Americans, and the much-needed antidote from... more

Many of us mistakenly view the arts as mere entertainment. But today Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross show us how... more

We're often told to tough things out. But Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Julia Keller wanted to know: is grit all it's... more

Do you pause before you speak and think before you act? Do you tune into subtle details and make connections... more

Today, Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former administrator of President Barack Obama’s United States Agency for International... more

Most of us believe that what we see is what’s really there. But new discoveries in neuroscience and psychology have... more

Today, Dr. Amy Shah shares a science-based plan designed to help you take charge of your health and your cravings,... more

As an editor at Harper's and GQ, Christopher Cox learned the power of a good deadline. Then he began to... more

We're capping off the week with an eye-opening journey through the magical, yet surprisingly little-understood, human emotion that is wonder... more

We all have a vague sense that social media is bad for us, but the truth, according to New York... more

A surprising vision of how human intelligence will coevolve with digital technology and revolutionize how we think and behave from... more

Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of... more

Few things will change your trajectory in life or business as much as learning to think clearly. Today, Shane Parrish,... more

John Kim and Vanessa Bennett are marriage therapists. They are also partners. Today, they tell us how analyzing their own... more

Zoe Chance teaches the most popular class at the Yale School of Management. But you don't have to got to... more

Has a healthy appreciation for the culture and heritage of minority groups transformed into a counterproductive obsession with group identity... more

Today, a top expert on decision-making explains why it’s so hard to make good choices about your health — and... more

Happy Monday! Today, Bloomberg reporter Zeke Faux is here to tell the story of the greatest financial mania the world... more

Today, we hear from Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of the definitive book on the rise of toxic achievement culture that... more

Can civility help bridge our political divide?

MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan isn’t one to avoid arguments. He relishes them as the lifeblood of democracy and the only surefire... more

If memory is a simple thing, why does it so often go awry? Why is forgetting so common? How can... more

Today, Adam Alter, author of "Anatomy of a Breakthrough," offers up a groundbreaking guide to breaking free from the thoughts,... more

The things we tell ourselves affect how well or poorly our path in life goes. Today, we're going to flip... more

Today we dig into the unprecedented risks that AI and other fast-developing technologies pose to global order, and how we might contain them... more

Today, New York Times bestselling author Cal Newport offers a bold vision for liberating workers from the tyranny of the inbox... more

In this episode, Rina Bliss, a genetics expert and professor challenges our understanding of intelligence, explaining what it truly means... more

Change is not the exception, it’s the rule. Today, Brad Stulberg tells us how to deal with it.

We are stuck in “Infinite Browsing Mode” — swiping through endless dating profiles without committing to a single partner, jumping... more

As an award-winning science journalist, Melinda Wenner Moyer was regularly asked to investigate and address all kinds of parenting questions:... more

Today: a fascinating exploration into how the brain creates our conscious experiences — potentially revolutionizing neuroscience and the future of... more

Sportswriter Sally Jenkins has spent 30 years observing, interviewing, and analyzing elite coaches and playmakers, such as Bill Belichick, Peyton... more

Spend 13 minutes with us today and develop the life-changing ability to excel in spontaneous communication situations—from public speaking to... more

Today, licensed therapist and bestselling relationship expert Nedra Glover Tawwab offers clear advice for identifying dysfunctional family patterns and choosing... more

Many of the problems we face today, from climate change to work anxiety, are the result of short-term thinking. But... more

Social scientist Dan Ariely explores the behavior of misbelief that leads people to distrust accepted truths and embrace conspiracy theories.

In their groundbreaking book, "Random Acts of Medicine," Anupam Jena and Christopher Worsham reveal the hidden side of medicine and... more

Today, in just eight minutes, award-winning Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson is going to transform your relationship with failure.

The pursuit of perfection can become a dangerous obsession that leads to burnout and depression — keeping us from achieving... more

Racism, says Heather McGhee in her award-winning book "The Sum of Us," is the common denominator of our most vexing... more

Today, Shankar Vedantam, host of "Hidden Brain," walks us through the surprising role of self-deception in human flourishing.

Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas teach the popular course "Humor: Serious Business" at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where... more

In 2006, John Warren and John Thompson led Marines into combat in the world’s most dangerous city: Ramadi, Iraq. In "Lead... more

You can get happier. And getting there will be the adventure of your lifetime. Today, Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks... more

Tribalism is one of the most complex and ancient evolutionary forces. But in our vast modern world, has this blessing... more

In "High Conflict," bestselling author and award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley investigates how good people get captured by high conflict—and how they... more

Today, Paul Bloom takes us on a brisk tour through modern psychology.

What distinguishes the great from the truly exceptional? After five years of writing The Profile, Polina Marinova Pompliano has studied thousands... more

Jane Ferguson has covered nearly every war front and humanitarian crisis of our time. Today, she shares career advice inspired... more

Actor, producer, and writer Rainn Wilson explores the problem-solving benefits that spirituality gives us to create solutions for an increasingly... more

Today, our curator Adam Grant stops by to share the key takeaways from his #1 New York Times bestseller "Think... more

Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a leading political and intellectual historian and a certified fitness instructor, explores the complex and far-reaching implications... more

Today, Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member, serial entrepreneur, and investor David Dodson details the five skills every great... more

To write "Beginners," Tom Vanderbilt embarked on a yearlong quest of learning just for the sake of it. Along the... more

In "On Disinformation," Lee McIntyre shows how the war on facts began, and how ordinary citizens can fight back against the... more

In "Imaginable," Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our... more

In "Remember," neuroscientist and novelist Lisa Genova delves into how memories are made and how we retrieve them.

The chasm separating managers from leaders is widening as the skills required to be an effective leader grow in number... more

Most of us try to avoid feeling sad, but therapist Chelsea Harvey Garner believes the future will be brighter if... more

In his new book, award-winning journalist Jeff Goodell explains how extreme heat will dramatically change the world as we know... more

In "How to Think like a Philosopher," Julian Baggini turns to eminent philosophers, past and present, to find practical solutions for... more

Jessica Carew Kraft, an urban wife and mom of two, was firmly rooted in the modern world, complete with a... more

The traditional ways of earning a living are outdated, if not outright rigged. That’s why a growing number of enterprising... more

Today, Juliet Funt provides strategies you can use to regain control of days, liberate yourself from burnout and busy work,... more

What can a 19th-century naturalist teach us about reclaiming our attention?

Today, two-time Guinness World Record memory champ Dave Farrow shares practical tips you can use to “rewire” your brain and... more

Our most precious resource isn’t money. It’s time. We are allotted just 24 hours a day, and we live in... more

You may have noticed that the kind of focus we all need to get stuff done is harder and harder... more

In the final installment of the master class based on her book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam says... more

Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini masterclass.

To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself. --- Download the Next Big Idea app and... more

You know what you need? An adventure. That's right. You don't have to wait until your next vacation. You can... more

In "Tranquility by Tuesday," time management guru Laura Vanderkam shares tools you can use to finally make time for the... more

In the final installment of her interview, Vanessa Patrick ("The Power of Saying No") gives us tips for turning down... more

Today: The difference between "pass the salt" and "bake your favorite lasagna" asks.

In this episode, Vanessa Patrick shares a strategy for saying "no" inspired by one of the most famous people in... more

Today, Vanessa explains how the super skill of "empowered refusal" can help you say "no" no in a way that... more

Too often, we say "yes" to friends, bosses, and even strangers when what we really want to say is "absolutely... more

In the final installment of our week-long exploration into the art and science of decision-making, we hear from acclaimed science... more

Today, you'll how to make smart decisions about two vexing subjects: money and love. • Myra Strober is a labor economist... more

As a U.S. fighter pilot, Hasard Lee has had to make split-second decisions under extreme pressure. Now he's here to... more

Today, we're continuing our deep dive into decision-making with a few big ideas from Eric Johnson, director of the Center... more

Sometimes it seems that all we do in life is make decisions, and yet it’s a surprisingly difficult skill to... more

For any trade-off between your current and future self, it's always the you of today who has to make the... more

Today, Hal Hershfield ("Your Future Self") explains how you can make life better tomorrow by making grand plans now to... more

Does your future self seem kinda blurry? Try writing them a letter.

It may sound strange, but if you can learn to treat your future self like someone you really care about,... more

Can vividly imagining your future self help you make better decisions? Hal Hershfield thinks so, and he’s got the research... more

In the final installment of his mini-masterclass, Brett Crozier shares advice for being a staunch defender of your personal time.

Today, retired Navy captain Brett Crozier ("Surf When You Can") explains why in order to achieve big success, you've first... more

Whether you're flying, captaining, or working, always focus on the alligator closest to the canoe.

We are stronger when we work together. Literally.

"Talk to me, Goose." Actually, this week we're saying, "Talk to me, Chopper." That was Brett Crozier's call sign when... more

We're wrapping up our collection of summery Book Bites with a few lessons from Smiley Poswolsky's "Friendship in the Age... more

Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley who helped Pixar make “Inside Out,” explores the history and science of... more

When David Pogue (CBS Sunday Morning) realized that we are already living through the beginnings of climate chaos, he decided... more

Ice ice baby! Today, journalist and historian Amy Brady shares the astonishing 200-year history of ice in America, from ice... more

We're trying something different this week. Instead of hearing from one author, you'll hear from five. Together, they'll help you... more

What can the global response to climate change tell us about the health of modern democratic states? • Ben Ansell is... more

Today, Ben explains why democracy and security are such uneasy bedfellows. • Ben Ansell is professor of comparative democratic institutions at... more

Why is it so hard to create a sense of national unity and civic responsibility here in the Divided States... more

Why has the American political system failed to arrest accelerating inequality, and is there anything we can do about it? •... more

As you may have noticed, modern democracies aren’t doing so hot. In country after country, income inequality soars while solidarity... more

In her final mini masterclass, Shelby warns you not to be so focused on reaching the finish line that you... more

When scaling a steep rock wall or surfing gnarly waves, it’s easy to let fear get the better of you,... more

Before you embark on a wild adventure, you obviously need to do some planning. But don’t go overboard. Give yourself... more

If you have a strong why for pursuing a wild adventure, you’re more likely to find a way to get... more

Where are you listening to this podcast? In your car? At your desk? Puttering around your house? If Shelby Stanger... more

Data, demographics — these things only take you so far. That's the final lesson Marcus Collins has to share with... more

"Meaning," says Marcus Collins ("For the Culture") in today's episode, "is culturally mediated based on how we see the world.... more

Today, Marcus Collins ("For the Culture") says that if you want to understand someone, you can learn much more from... more

Welcome back to our week-long masterclass with marketing magician Marcus Collins. He ran digital strategy for Beyoncé; teaches at the... more

This week: Marcus Collins, who teaches marketing at the University of Michigan's business school and serves as the chief strategy... more

When we work all the time, it doesn’t just take our best hours; it often takes our best energy, too.... more

Your job isn't your soulmate. If it's good enough, then maybe that's good enough.

Many of us have internalized the message that there’s one dream job for us and we shouldn’t stop until we... more

In today's episode, Simone Stolzoff ("The Good Enough Job") tells Michael that when you think about the role work plays... more

Do you live to work or work to live? Journalist Simone Stolzoff tackles that age-old question with renewed energy in... more

Our time with Tiago Forte may be over, but hopefully your journey to building a second brain has only just... more

Today, Tiago explains how mastering the art of subtraction can strengthen your creative output.

Today’s lesson: “Before you shut off new sources of information and converge on an end result, take time to diverge. Expand... more

Today, Tiago Forte, author of “Building a Second Brain: A Proven Method to Organize Your Digital Life and Unlock Your... more

Do you ever struggle to keep track of all the information swirling around in your head? The idea you had... more

Anticipating regrets can often work to our advantage. It slows our thinking. It taps our cerebral breaks, allowing us time... more

So, what can we do to turn our existing regrets into engines of progress? Science suggests a three-step process.

After analyzing thousands of regrets from people in more than 100 countries, Daniel Pink (”The Power of Regret”) has identified... more

Regret makes us feel worse, but it can make us do better. Indeed, the way it makes us do better is by making us... more

It’s popular to claim you have no regrets. Popular, but perilous. Because regrets aren’t anything to be ashamed of —... more

Today, meditation expert Sharon Salzberg shares one final insight from her new book "Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to... more

Today, Sharon Salzberg tells us how practicing loving-kindness meditation can change how we treat others and understand ourselves.

What if instead of demanding that a painful emotion disappear or becoming all consumed by it, you began to relate... more

Society’s prescriptions for freedom, happiness, and abundance may not be your own.

Sharon Salzberg has been meditating since 1971 — “since before it was cool,” she likes to say. That practice has... more

All week, Wharton professor Katy Milkman has been giving us research-backed tips for making changes that stick. Now, in the... more

Struggling to achieve a goal? Form a club with people who have your back.

How do you make change fun? By bundling an arduous task (exercising) with an enjoyable one (binge-watching lowbrow TV). --- Have you... more

New Year’s. Your birthday. The start of a new season. These are days when the slate is wiped clean. Which... more

How do you get from where you are to where you want to be — from procrastinator to optimizer, couch... more

Have you figured out how to live the good life? Don't worry if you're still working on it. It's only... more

You can’t take bits and pieces of different philosophical traditions and put them together into a roadmap to the good... more

"What matters most in life?" There's a reason Matt and Ryan, theology professors at Yale and our guests this week,... more

Today, we learn why the deepest question — the one that can truly change our lives, ground us, and give... more

This week: Matt Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz, professors at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, share key insights from... more

Even your suboptimal behaviors have a function. Understanding what they are can help you make a change.

You say self-sabotage, your brain says self-protection. In today's master class, Britt Frank explains how your brain tries to keep... more

This week we’re getting unstuck. We’re passing Go. We’re collecting $200. We’re finding a way forward. How? By utilizing the... more

In our brains, there is no such thing as a true “lack of motivation.” But how can we harness this... more

This week on The Next Big Idea Daily: psychotherapist Britt Frank shares five key insights from her book "The Science... more

In the final installment of the master class based on her book “Tranquility by Tuesday,” productivity expert Laura Vanderkam says... more

Do effortful fun before effortless fun. But what's the difference? Laura explains in today's mini master class.

To renew your spirits, Laura says you need to take some time for yourself. --- Download the Next Big Idea app and... more

You know what you need? An adventure. That's right. You don't have to wait until your next vacation. You can... more

In "Tranquility by Tuesday," time management guru Laura Vanderkam shares tools you can use to finally make time for the... more

All good things must come to an end. It's our last day with Mónica Guzmán, journalist, political de-polarizer, and author... more

What's the most powerful question you can ask in a politically charged conversation? "How did you come to believe that?"

“The paths we walk to our views are rich and long,” Mónica Guzmán says in today’s episode, “and it is... more

“I don’t understand this person!” You know you’ve thought it. About the uncle or neighbor or co-worker whose worldview is... more

This week, award-winning journalist Mónica Guzmán stops by to teach us how to cross the political divide, find common ground,... more