The Best Years of Your Life
Hidden Brain11 Aug 2025

The Best Years of Your Life

Aging isn’t just a biological process. Our outlooks and emotions also change as we age, often in ways that boost our well-being. This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Laura Carstensen, who helps us unpack the science behind this surprising finding, and shares what all of us can learn from older people. Then, as part of our ongoing series "Your Questions Answered," we revisit our follow-up chat with Laura, who responds to listeners' thoughts and questions and shares more of her research on what it means to live well as we age.

Come see Shankar in person and help us to celebrate Hidden Brain's tenth anniversary! Our next stops on our "Perceptions" tour are Mesa, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. For more info and tickets, visit https://hiddenbrain.org/tour/

Episode photo by Hector Reyes on Unsplash


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Episoder(602)

Episode 7: Lonely Hearts

Episode 7: Lonely Hearts

Jesse always wanted to fall in love. So when the perfect woman started writing him letters, it seemed too good to be true. Because it was. This week, a story about a con — with a twist. When the con w...

3 Nov 201533min

Episode 6: The Science of Fear

Episode 6: The Science of Fear

This week, for Halloween, the Hidden Brain podcast gets spooky. We explore the science of fear — traveling to a haunted house curated by a scientist to investigate what scares us, and why some people ...

27 Okt 201520min

Episode 5: Compassion

Episode 5: Compassion

On this week's episode of Hidden Brain, we'll explore the science of compassion, and how being kind to others can make a real difference in your own life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...

20 Okt 201518min

Episode 4: Students and Teachers

Episode 4: Students and Teachers

In this episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, the connections between students and teachers, and how finding things in common between them might be a tool for closing the achievement gap. Hosted by Sim...

13 Okt 201518min

Episode 3: Stereotype Threat

Episode 3: Stereotype Threat

Annie Duke was often the only woman at the poker table, which influenced the way people saw her, and the way she saw herself. Feeling like an outsider can come at a cost, but also can be an advantage....

6 Okt 201521min

Brain Bonus: Magic Brain

Brain Bonus: Magic Brain

In time for your Friday commute, we introduce you to a new segment called Magic Brain. Shankar explores the social science behind magic, and discovers that free choice is sometimes just an illusion. H...

2 Okt 20154min

Episode 2: Near Victories

Episode 2: Near Victories

Shankar Vedantam explores "almosts" and "not quites" on this episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, with the help of Monica Wadhwa, Dan Pink, and country music singer Kacey Musgraves. Hosted by Simpleca...

29 Sep 201522min

Episode 1: Switchtracking

Episode 1: Switchtracking

The first episode of Hidden Brain explores switchtracking: a common pattern in conversations you'll be accusing your partner of in no time! Plus speedy science, a cup of tea and a song from Adam Cole....

22 Sep 201527min

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