Best David Pinsof Podcasts (2025)

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#980 - David Pinsof - This is Your Brain on Bullsh*t 1:12:26

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27d ago1:12:26

1:12:26

David Pinsof is a research scientist at UCLA, co-creator of Cards Against Humanity, and an author. Everything is bullshit. Your opinions, your arguments, even your thoughts. Most of it’s manufactured, borrowed, or absorbed without question. So if all that’s fake, what’s real? And if we can’t trust our own minds, or anyone else’s, what can we trust?…

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Language and Communication with Thom Scott-Phillips 1:38:25

1h ago1:38:25

1:38:25

What do the lindy hop, ostensive communication, and the evolution of language all have in common? Thom Scott-Phillips! In this episode, we discuss if language is an adaptation, why art museums have that certain vibe, the theory crisis in the behavioral sciences, the state of scientific publishing, and why Thom loves the lindy hop. More about Thom S…

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#991 - Dr John Delony - The Blueprint for Better Relationships & a Peaceful Life 1:48:10

3d ago1:48:10

1:48:10

Dr. John Delony is a mental health expert, author, YouTuber, and speaker. How you we build a thriving relationship in the modern world? With constant distractions and endless options at our fingertips, trust between partners can feel harder than ever. So what does it really take to create a relationship rooted in trust, intimacy, and growth in toda…

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#990 - Dr Tara Swart - How to Use Your Intuition as a Superpower 1:24:39

5d ago1:24:39

1:24:39

Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, senior lecturer at MIT Sloan, and an author. What is intuition? We’ve all heard the phrase “trust your gut,” but where does that feeling actually come from? Is it grounded in neuroscience or something more mysterious? And most importantly, can you rely on it, and how do you get better at listening to it? Expect to…

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#989 - James Kimmel Jr. - Why Violence & Revenge Fantasies Feel Good 1:38:57

6d ago1:38:57

1:38:57

James Kimmel Jr. is a professor at Yale, a psychiatrist, and an author. Why are we drawn to revenge? From playground grudges to epic betrayals, the urge to strike back is universal. But is it a survival mechanism, or an ancient drive that no longer fits the modern age? Expect to learn why the feeling of revenge exists and how it is adaptive, what t…

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The Evolutionary Psychology of Humor 1:45:51

7d ago1:45:51

1:45:51

Humor is one of the great puzzles of evolutionary psychology. Co-host David Pinsof (UCLA) presents the coordinating “mix-up” hypothesis of humor, in which….well, you’ll have to listen to find out. By Dave’s account, it is one of the best accounts of the psychology of humor out there (but what do we know?) Content warning: this episode does contain …

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#988 - Dr Rahul Jandial - Brain Surgeon: Inside The Dreaming Brain 2:05:09

10d ago2:05:09

2:05:09

Dr Rahul Jandial is a brain surgeon, neuroscientist, and an author. Why do we dream? For centuries, people have debated their meaning. Are they hidden messages, random brain activity, or something else entirely? Today, modern neuroscience is uncovering how the brain creates, processes, and remembers dreams, and what they may reveal about the inner …

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#987 - Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett - The New Science Of Emotions, Anxiety & Brain Health 1:29:07

11d ago1:29:07

1:29:07

Lisa Feldman Barrett is a professor at Northeastern University, psychologist, and a neuroscientist. Why do we feel emotions? From happiness and joy to anger, anxiety, and sorrow, emotions shape how we experience life. But what purpose do they serve, and how can we learn to manage them more effectively? Expect to learn the unique way each of us expe…

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#986 - Esther Perel - How Love Dies: The Psychology of Cheating & Attraction 1:24:50

13d ago1:24:50

1:24:50

Esther Perel is a psychotherapist, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author. Why do modern relationships feel so difficult? Even the happiest couples on the outside often hide unspoken rules and silent expectations that slowly erode intimacy. Resentment grows, trust fractures, and love feels harder to sustain. So how can men and women build…

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Plants, Infants, and the Evolution of Social Learning with Annie Wertz 1:58:02

14d ago1:58:02

1:58:02

Plants are mini chemical weapon factories! Learning and evolution are not opposed! This week, Annie Wertz (UCSB) joins us to describe her groundbreaking world on the evolutionary psychology of what babies know about plants, and how infants selectively use social information to guide their interactions with them. A lovely example of how adopting an …

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#985 - Dr David Spiegel - Hypnosis, Brain Hacking, & Mental Mastery 1:33:36

16d ago1:33:36

1:33:36

Dr. David Spiegel is a psychiatrist, Stanford professor, and leading authority on hypnosis and stress-related health. What exactly is hypnosis? Most of us picture it as a magician’s trick, when someone dangles a watch, your eyes get heavy, and suddenly you’re suggestible. But that barely scratches the surface. The real question is, what’s the true …

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#984 - Coltan Scrivner - Why We’re Drawn to Death, Crime, & Danger 1:06:47

18d ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Coltan Scrivner is a behavioral scientist, an expert on morbid curiosity in horror and true‑crime media, and an author. Why are humans so curious about death? From car accidents to scary stories, roller coasters, and horror movies, some people are fascinated while others are repulsed. What draws us toward the very things we should naturally want to…

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#983 - Gay Hendricks - Deeply Connected Relationships 1:32:04

20d ago1:32:04

1:32:04

Gay Hendricks is a psychologist, teacher, and an author renowned for his work on relationship transformation. Conscious loving is about more than just romance, it’s about clarity, commitment, and growth. With endless advice on the internet on how to optimize your love life, what if the real answer is aligning your expectations and evolving together…

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Cooperation with Pat Barclay 1:55:07

21d ago1:55:07

1:55:07

Pat Barclay (Guelph) joins us to discuss his work solving the mysteries of the evolution of cooperation. Pat is a wonderful human being and an exceptional scientist, whose work is at the forefront of understanding how and why we solve the problem of cooperation as a species. More about Pat Barclay: http://patbarclay.com/ More about David Pinsof: ht…

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#982 - Jesse Michels - UFOs, Aliens, Antigravity & Government Secrets 2:10:23

23d ago2:10:23

2:10:23

Jesse Michels is a YouTuber and show host, exploring subjects like UFOs, consciousness, and reality. For nearly a century, UFOs have captured our imagination as one of humanity’s greatest mysteries. Are they secret technology, alien visitors, or something else entirely? Who is behind them, what has been concealed, and what has been revealed about t…

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#981 - MacKenzie Price - Alpha School: A New Approach To Education 1:11:21

26d ago1:11:21

1:11:21

MacKenzie Price is an entrepreneur, podcaster, and co-founder of Alpha Schools. Just how broken is education? For fifty years, lofty promises in education have yielded dismal results. Now, with AI, infinite knowledge at our fingertips, and personalized one-on-one learning, how radically different could the school of the future look? Expect to learn…

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Drugs, Delusions, and Depression with Ed Hagen 2:00:20

28d ago2:00:20

2:00:20

Why would a mind ever be delusional or depressed, and can we understand these as functional or maladaptive outcomes? Why do humans take drugs, and why do plants make them in the first place? (And why might the answer to the second question also answer the first?) Join us on a fun, wide-ranging conversation with guest Ed Hagen (Washington State, Van…

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#979 - Dwarkesh Patel - AI Safety, The China Problem, LLMs & Job Displacement 2:45:59

1M ago2:45:59

2:45:59

Dwarkesh Patel is a writer, researcher & podcaster. The rise of AI marks the next great technological revolution, one that could reshape every aspect of our lives in just a few years. But how close are we to its golden age? And what warnings does the global AI race hold about the double-edged nature of progress? Expect to learn what Dwarkesh has re…

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#978 - Spencer Greenberg - How Much Does IQ Matter? 1:28:59

1M ago1:28:59

1:28:59

Spencer Greenberg is a mathematician, founder, CEO & creator of ClearerThinking.org How much does IQ really matter? Most of us have met people on both ends of the spectrum and wondered where we stand and what that means for our future. But is IQ truly fixed, or can it be shaped in some very surprising ways? Expect to learn how much IQ matters in al…

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#977 - Dr Robert King - Why Does The Female Orgasm Exist? 1:32:32

1M ago1:32:32

1:32:32

Dr Robert King is a psychologist, professor at University College Cork, and researcher on the evolutionary function of female orgasm. What makes the female orgasm so mysterious? For generations, men across the globe have sought to decipher it, and many women share their curiosity as well. So why does the female orgasm even exist? What’s its evoluti…

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Conspiracy Theories and Group Boundaries with Cristina Moya 2:01:04

1M ago2:01:04

2:01:04

Guest Cristina Moya (UC Davis) is one of our favorite evolutionary behavioral scientists. In this episode, we discuss her work in Peru on ethnolinguistic group boundaries, why we all believe crazy things, and what the lay of the land is in the evolutionary behavioral sciences. More about Cristina Moya: https://sites.google.com/site/cristinasolermoy…

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#976 - Ray Dalio - The Changing World Order: How Countries Go Broke 1:26:09

1M ago1:26:09

1:26:09

Ray Dalio is the founder of Bridgewater Associates, billionaire investor, philanthropist and an author. How do countries actually go broke? In a world of abundance, it’s easy to think the good times will last. But with global debt soaring, we may be nearing an unprecedented economic reckoning. History shows these cycles repeat; the question is, can…

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#975 - James Bloodworth - The Manosphere, Pickup Culture & Male Loneliness 1:18:16

1M ago1:18:16

1:18:16

James Bloodworth is a journalist reporting on working-class life and society, podcaster, and an author. The manosphere isn’t what you think. Even though it is often labeled as toxic and extreme, the truth is a bit more complicated. So what’s really going on with men, dating, and masculinity as of today? Expect to learn what the current state of the…

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#974 - Joe Folley - Existential Philosophy, Nietzsche, Suffering & Self-Awareness 1:25:56

1M ago1:25:56

1:25:56

Joe Folley is a philosopher, writer, and host of the Unsolicited Advice YouTube channel. Philosophy has a way of finding us in one form or another, sometimes in a book, sometimes in a moment of crisis. Thinkers like Nietzsche and Camus have helped shape how we see life, death, and everything in between. But can these ideas truly help us live better…

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Thoughtful Warriors with Brenda Bowser 2:22:45

1M ago2:22:45

2:22:45

Guest Brenda Bowser (CalState Fullerton) recounts a life spent studying conflict and politics in Canambo, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with her late husband and colleague John Q. Patton. Brenda shares first and second hand accounts of incredible events (including death by phantasm), and how she thinks about status, violence, and conflict, and how thes…

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From First Offer to Final Minute: Lessons from Unstructured Bargaining | with Emin Karagözoğlu 32:18

1M ago32:18

32:18

In this episode, we dive into the world of experimental research on unstructured bargaining, exploring how real-world negotiations unfold when stripped of rigid rules and scripts. Our guest Emin explains how opening offers shape the conversation, the unspoken dance of reputation, and the ticking clock of deadlines – showing that even in seemingly m…

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#973 - Rory Sutherland - Waymo, Texas Culture, Airline Lounges, OpenAI & Uber Eats 1:53:14

1M ago1:53:14

1:53:14

Rory Sutherland is one of the world’s leading consumer behaviour experts, the Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Advertising and an author. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace. With the rise of AI, we're witnessing a collision between the old world and the new. As technology advances, the question becomes: how can innovation repair outdated systems…

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#972 - 3.7M Q&A - Fatherhood Plans, Medical Update & New Hairstyle 1:32:21

2M ago1:32:21

1:32:21

I hit 3.7 million Subscribers on YouTube!! To celebrate, I asked for questions from YouTube, X, and Instagram, so here’s another 90 minutes of me trying to answer as many as possible. Expect to learn all about my new hairstyle, how to best deal with procrastination, which people are up next on my "Mount Rushmore" of podcast guests, what the current…

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#971 - Adam Lane Smith - 13 Semi-Controversial Truths About Masculinity 1:25:44

2M ago1:25:44

1:25:44

Adam Lane Smith is a psychotherapist and an author. Are men the problem? In a time when blame is easily assigned, it’s worth asking whether men need to re-examine how they show up in the world, including their values, behavior, & accountability. In doing so, they might uncover surprising ways to help heal much of what’s broken. Expect to learn why …

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Egalitarianism in the Amazon with Chris Von Rueden 1:57:59

2M ago1:57:59

1:57:59

Egalitarianism is not what you think it is! Guest Chris Von Rueden (URichmond) has wrapped his head around what egalitarianism is and shares his insights and what he’s learned living with and studying the Tsimane, hunter horticulturists in the Bolivian rainforest. TL;DR: How to make a more just society requires respecting the complexity of our evol…

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#970 - Dr Mike Israetel - Exercise Scientist’s Masterclass On Motivation, Habits & Discipline 2:19:39

2M ago2:19:39

2:19:39

Dr Mike Israetel is a Professor of Exercise and Sport Science at Lehman College and the Co-Founder of Renaissance Periodization. How do you boost motivation and actually follow through on the things you know you should do, but don’t feel like doing? The answer isn’t more stimulants, thankfully, it’s something far more grounded in neuroscience and b…

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#969 - Dr Michael Eisenberg - How To Protect & Improve Your Fertility As A Man 1:04:37

2M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Dr Michael Eisenberg is a professor of Urology at Stanford, a urologic surgeon, and a leading expert in male fertility and reproductive medicine. It's no secret that global population decline is accelerating, but what's driving it? Male fertility might be a major piece of the puzzle. So why are so many men struggling with infertility and low testos…

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#968 - Dr Rick Hanson - The Psychology of Obsession, Rumination & Letting Go 1:39:01

2M ago1:39:01

1:39:01

Dr. Rick Hanson is a psychologist, speaker, and an author. How often do you find yourself stuck replaying a situation you wish you could just forget? No matter how much you want to move on, your mind keeps circling back. So what are the practical strategies to break free from rumination, quiet the mental noise, and finally reclaim control of your t…

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Disgust, Morality, and Kinship with Deb Lieberman 2:31:40

2M ago2:31:40

2:31:40

Why do we appeal to disgust when we moralize, and why do we moralize what we find disgusting? Guest Deb Lieberman (UMiami) explains why our human propensity to gang up on others may be driving a lot of our moral sentiments, and why she gets uncomfortable when people appeal to disgust to argue for what is right and wrong. More about Debra Lieberman:…

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Impact or Innocence? Game Theoretic Clues to Why We Give | with Dennie van Dolder 29:18

2M ago29:18

29:18

In this episode we explore what motivates people to give, using insights from a Dutch TV game show where a live audience decides how to split €10,000 among three contestants. We discuss how real-world data from natural experiments can help answer questions about fairness, impact, and generosity - and what this means for fundraisers and policymakers…

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#967 - Jeffrey Katzenberg & Hari Ravichandran - Hollywood Trouble, Big Tech & The Crisis With Kids 1:59:36

2M ago1:59:36

1:59:36

Jeffrey Katzenberg is a media mogul, film producer, and co-founder of DreamWorks. Hari Ravichandran is a serial entrepreneur, founder, and CEO of Aura. From bringing joy to millions of childhoods through beloved Disney films to now addressing the digital challenges facing today’s youth, Jeffrey Katzenberg has partnered with Hari Ravichandran to lea…

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#966 - Dr Scott Eilers - Why Does Life Sometimes Feel Emotionally Numb? 1:16:38

2M ago1:16:38

1:16:38

Dr. Scott Eilers is a clinical psychologist, mental health coach, and an author. Depression gets thrown around a lot these days. Feeling off for a day or two, and suddenly it’s labeled as depression. But what does real depression actually feel like? And more importantly, how do you claw your way out when it feels like there’s no light at the end of…

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#965 - Rick Beato - AI Bands, Spotify, TikTok & The Death Of Songwriting 2:01:29

2M ago2:01:29

2:01:29

Rick Beato is a multi-instrumentalist musician, YouTuber, and a music producer. Music and the industry around it have changed dramatically over the past few decades. With the rise of AI, the dominance of streaming platforms like Spotify, and the fading relevance of traditional Popstars, the old model of making and producing music is on its last bre…

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Terrorism, Drag Queens, and International Humanitarian Law with Michael Moncrieff 1:53:49

2M ago1:53:49

1:53:49

From offering the UN insights into the psychology of terrorists to interviewing victims of war-torn Croatia, guest Michael Moncrieff has seen a lot of life and yet remains hopeful. Dave wonders aloud why we are so blind to the civilian impacts of war and David and Michael discuss predatory rationality. Michael explains the history of the drag-queen…

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#964 - Simon Sinek - How To Find Meaning When Life Feels Overwhelming 1:43:49

2M ago1:43:49

1:43:49

Simon Sinek is a speaker, founder, and an author. We live in an age of uncertainty, where finding purpose in your life feels harder than ever. So, how do you find a purpose that moves you and trust that it’s worth pursuing? How can you be sure your purpose serves both yourself and the world? In a world starved for meaning, finding yours might be th…

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#963 - John Lisle - Investigating The True History Of MKUltra & CIA Mind Control 1:19:31

2M ago1:19:31

1:19:31

John Lisle is a historian and an author. The government’s history of secret experiments feels stranger than fiction. Covert projects, UFOs, mind reading, even studies of the occult. But no operation is more infamous than MKUltra. What really happened inside the CIA’s most notorious mind control experiment, and how much of its legacy still shapes ou…

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Bonus: Dave & David (and guest Pat Barclay) Read Some Reviews 17:16

2M ago17:16

17:16

Dave and David read a review of the podcast, and future guest Pat Barclay (Guelph) joins them for a second reading. Topics include why it may be good to be skeptical of high production values, and the tradeoff between focusing on basic research findings versus their broader implications.By Dave Pietraszewski & David Pinsof

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#962 - Lyman Stone - The Real Reason Birth Rates Are Falling 1:47:53

2M ago1:47:53

1:47:53

Lyman Stone is a demographer, researcher, and a writer. It’s no surprise that birth rates are plummeting; raising kids feels harder than ever. Life is expensive, the future feels uncertain, and chaos is everywhere. So how do we reverse course? What would actually convince people to have more children and pull us back from a looming population crisi…

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Examples of Good Evolutionary Psychology 2:18:36

2M ago2:18:36

2:18:36

Dave and David move beyond the controversies to explain—and give examples of—evolutionary psychology done well. Topics covered include the science of racial categorization and why we get angry. If you’re looking for examples of novel insights in evolutionary psychology, this episode is for you. More about Evolutionary Psychology The Center for Evol…

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From Clicks to Chatbots: The Future of Online Advertising | with Dirk Bergemann 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

In this episode we dive deep into the economics of digital markets with Dirk Bergemann. We discuss how search platforms like Google created entirely new marketplaces around user attention and private information, what makes digital markets so unique, and how auction design evolved to match the scale and complexity of internet advertising. Dirk also…

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#961 - Mark Manson - 19 Raw Lessons To Not Mess Up Your Life 2:11:40

2M ago2:11:40

2:11:40

Mark Manson is a writer, entrepreneur, and a New York Times best-selling author. Mark is one of my favorite thinkers. His blog, books, and X account are packed with timeless lessons I come back to again and again. Today, we get to go through some of his best lessons on life, love, and everything that makes us human. Expect to learn how to actually …

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#960 - Dr Jerry Coyne - The Spiciest Ideas Of Evolutionary Biology 1:21:34

2M ago1:21:34

1:21:34

Dr Jerry Coyne is an evolutionary biologist, professor at the University of Chicago, and an author. Has ideology hijacked academia? In fields like evolutionary biology, the data should speak for itself, but what happens when scientific findings clash with cultural taboos? How do researchers navigate this minefield, and what can be done to protect s…

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#959 - Underoath - The Hidden Struggles Of Mental Health In Music 2:45:41

3M ago2:45:41

2:45:41

Aaron Gillespie is the drummer, vocalist, and songwriter for Underoath. Tim McTague is the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and songwriter for Underoath. Sex, drugs, and rock & roll, the dream every young man grows up hearing about. But is it all it’s made out to be? Aaron and Tim, from one of Metal’s most legendary bands, Underoath, have lived th…

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Childhood in the Congo Basin with Sheina Lew-Levy 1:52:55

3M ago1:52:55

1:52:55

Helicopter parenting is not a human universal! Guest Sheina Lew-Levy (Durham) explains what drew her to studying childhood among BaYaka foragers in the Congo Basin, and what parenting and childhood is like there and how this helps us understand who we are and what we need growing up. In this episode we also cover why field anthropologists are bad*s…

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#958 - Dr Daniel Amen - The 11 Risk Factors That Are Destroying Your Brain 1:48:39

3M ago1:48:39

1:48:39

Dr. Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist, brain-health researcher, founder of the Amen Clinics & New York Times bestselling author. You only get one brain, so how do you keep it healthy for life? Dr. Daniel Amen has scanned over half a million brains and knows exactly what helps and what hurts your brain. Using cutting-edge research and science-backed str…