The One Human Need That Explains (Almost) Everything
First up, Philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein argues that the mattering instinct is the hidden engine behind nearly everything we do. Then we hear from rabbi Sharon Brous, author of ...
13 Jan 35min
Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life
First up, Ezekiel ("Zeke") Emanuel, one of America's leading physicians, makes the case that enjoying life — cheesecake included — might be the healthiest choice of all. His new book is Eat Your Ice C...
12 Jan 27min
How to Navigate Your Career in Uncertain Times
Whether you're plotting a job change or just trying to survive another uncertain year at work, the truth is most of us spend 90,000 hours of our lives working. That's too much time to spend feeling st...
9 Jan 24min
The Impact of Alcohol on Our Bodies and Culture
Some of us may have overindulged during the holidays, and some of us may be trying a Dry January — or at least rethinking our relationship with booze. This is the time of year when we might notice how...
8 Jan 31min
Forget Self-Improvement. Try This Instead in 2026.
Maybe you’ve already set some resolutions for 2026 — exercise more, eat better, be more patient. But here’s the problem: We make these promises to improve ourselves as if our selves are solid, fixed e...
7 Jan 25min
Why a Tough Childhood Might Help Some Kids Survive
An evolutionary perspective reveals how early adversity can sometimes accelerate development. The Nature of Nurture by Jay Belsky The Social Genome by Dalton Conley 📱 Follow The Next Big I...
6 Jan 23min
New Year, Same Patterns? Here’s Why That’s OK.
Now that we’re in early January, a lot of us are thinking about what we want to change this year. But here’s the thing — we often focus on adding new habits when the real question might be, Why do we ...
5 Jan 25min
A Spy's Guide to Parenting
Emily Oster is a professor of economics at Brown University and the author of the 2021 book The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years. She makes a fascin...
2 Jan 35min
