Why Shaming Other Countries Often Backfires, with Rochelle Terman
How do you stop a government from continuing to commit human rights abuses? You could take them to an international court of justice, or file a complaint at the UN. But none of those bodies have any e...
22 Feb 202433min
Can Trump Legally Be President?, with William Baude
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether Colorado can take former President Donald Trump off the ballot in the 2024 election may be one of the most consequential in its history. The case will turn on t...
6 Feb 202436min
What Our Hand Gestures Reveal About Our Thoughts, with Susan Goldin-Meadow
Language shapes our world. But when we speak, there is actually a secret conversation happening beyond our words. It’s happening not with our mouths—but with our hands.Prof. Susan Goldin-Meadow is a d...
25 Jan 202426min
Psychedelics Without Hallucinations: A New Mental Health Treatment? with David E. Olson
The United States is facing a real mental health crisis. In the last few years, one possible treatment has gotten a lot of press: psychedelic drugs. But what is actually happening in a person’s brain ...
11 Jan 202432min
The Science Of Happiness
The Big Brains team is taking some time off during the holidays but for all those travelers out there heading home, we wanted to make sure you still had your favorite podcast in your feed. So, we’re r...
28 Dec 202329min
Do We Really Have Free Will? With Robert Sapolsky
Here’s the question you’re going to be asking for the next 30 minutes: Did I freely choose to listen to this podcast, or did I actually have no choice at all? Most of us probably believe we have free ...
14 Dec 202334min
A Radical Solution To Address Climate Change, with David Keith
Climate change can feel like an impossible crisis these days. Every week there is some new report about the irreversible damage we’re doing to our planet and the havoc it will bring to people’s lives....
30 Nov 202333min
How PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Are Harming Our Health, with Linda Birnbaum
By now, you've probably heard about the dangers of PFAS “forever chemicals.” These chemicals are all around us—they're in waterproof hiking boots, electronics, nonstick pans and even our drinking wate...
16 Nov 202329min
