Hidden Brain Staff

Adrianne Drazin’s Story

Adrianne is on a long overseas flight with her baby and two young children. After she exits the plane, she notices a family nearby, waiting for something.  Podcast: Subscribe to the My Unsung Hero Podcast on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode. Newsletter: Go behind the scenes, see what Shankar is […]

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Lesia Day’s Story

Lesia’s mother, Stephany, is used to coming over for a visit on Sundays. But one Sunday, Stephany doesn’t show up. Podcast: Subscribe to the My Unsung Hero Podcast on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode. Newsletter: Go behind the scenes, see what Shankar is reading and find more useful resources and

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Work 2.0: Game on!

The world of play and the world of work are often seen as opposites. But they may have more in common than we think. In the second installment of our new Work 2.0 series, Ethan Mollick makes the case that we can make our jobs more engaging by incorporating elements of games.  If you like

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We Broke the Planet. Now What?

We’ve grown accustomed to viewing climate change as an enemy we must urgently defeat. But is that the right metaphor for the greatest existential problem of our time? This week, we consider how to reframe the way we think about life on a changing planet. If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See

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Terri Powers’ Story

It’s a few days after her mother’s death, and Terri is at the checkout line in a grocery store. As she turns to leave, the bagger stops her, and asks a question.  Podcast: Subscribe to the My Unsung Hero Podcast on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode. Newsletter: Go behind the

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Jackie Briggs’ Story

A stranger notices Jackie at a conference, and realizes something is wrong. Podcast: Subscribe to the My Unsung Hero Podcast on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode. Newsletter: Go behind the scenes, see what Shankar is reading and find more useful resources and links. Subscribe

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Group Think

How do the groups you identify with shape your sense of self? Do they influence the beer you buy? The way you vote? Psychologist Jay Van Bavel says our group loyalties affect us more than we realize, and can even shape our basic senses of sight, taste and smell.  If you like our work, please

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You 2.0 Where Happiness Hides

We all think we know what will make us happy: more money. A better job. Love. But psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky says happiness doesn’t necessarily work like that. This week, we explore why happiness often slips through our fingers, and how to savor — and stretch out — our joys.

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You, But Better

Think about the resolutions you made this year: to quit smoking, eat better, or get more exercise. If you’re like most people, you probably abandoned those resolutions within a few weeks. That’s because change is hard. Behavioral scientist Katy Milkman explains how we can use our minds to do what’s good for us. If you

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The Power of Mercy

Granting forgiveness for the wrongs done to us can be one of the hardest things we face in life. But forgiveness can also be transformative. In the first of a two-part series on apologies and mercy, we talk with psychologist Charlotte Witvliet about the benefits of forgiveness, for both the mind and the body.   If

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