"The minister of loneliness" | Sarah Kay
Host Elise Hugh introduces poet Sarah Kay, who performs a spoken word piece about loneliness, connection, and curiosity. Kay begins with a real statistic about suicide and COVID-19 in Japan and the creation of a government role called the "minister of loneliness." She then imagines, in poetic detail, what such a minister might do to reweave social bonds, from buddy systems and intergenerational contact to shared art, hotlines, and his own shy crush that keeps listeners engaged with life.
Why Scott Galloway Wants Us To Celebrate Masculinity, Not Diminish It | On With Kara Swisher
Kara Swisher interviews Scott Galloway about his book "Notes on Being a Man," exploring the crisis facing young men and his attempt to redefine masculinity as a positive, aspirational code built around providing, protecting, and procreating responsibly. Galloway grounds the discussion in his own upbringing with a single mother, the absence and later partial redemption of his father, his drive to become financially secure, and his evolving role as a father of two sons. They also discuss how politics, culture, education, and policy can better support boys and men without diminishing the progress and rights of women and other marginalized groups.
8 Simple Mindset Shifts to Feel Gratitude Even When Your Life Isn't Where You Want it To Be
Jay Shetty explores how to practice authentic gratitude when life is not where you want it to be, emphasizing that gratitude should coexist with pain rather than deny it. He shares several mindset shifts and practical exercises, such as emotional granularity, contrast with your past self, microgratitude, embracing waiting seasons, borrowing others' joy, and thanking your past self. The episode focuses on using gratitude as a tool for resilience, self-compassion, and perspective rather than forced positivity.
Essentials: Using Hypnosis to Enhance Mental & Physical Health & Performance | Dr. David Spiegel
Andrew Huberman interviews Dr. David Spiegel about hypnosis as a state of highly focused attention that can enhance control over mind and body rather than diminish it. They discuss the underlying brain networks involved in hypnosis, including changes in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, insula, and posterior cingulate cortex, and how these changes support dissociation, cognitive flexibility, and altered bodily control. The conversation covers clinical applications such as stress reduction, sleep, pain management, phobias, trauma and PTSD treatment, hypnotizability assessment, the eye‑roll test, the role of breathing, and how hypnotic-like states show up in performance, children, and group settings.
AI Expert: We Have 2 Years Before Everything Changes! We Need To Start Protesting! - Tristan Harris
Stephen speaks with technology ethicist Tristan Harris about how incentives in the tech industry led from social media harms to a new wave of powerful AI systems, and why current AI development is on a trajectory most people would not choose if they saw it clearly. Tristan explains the race toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), the private beliefs and fears of AI leaders, the likely impacts on jobs, politics, and social fabric, and the emerging risks from AI companions and therapy bots. They conclude by outlining potential governance, design, and civic responses that could steer AI onto a narrower, safer path if enough people act in time.
Try This Today: How to Use Gratitude to Feel Happier & Improve Your Relationships
Mel Robbins explores gratitude as a practical, science-backed tool for rewiring the brain away from negativity and reducing stress, rather than as a superficial positivity practice. Drawing on research studies and expert insights, she introduces three main gratitude tools: an unsent gratitude letter, a three-minute nightly gratitude journal (and morning variations), and a gratitude-focused text chain. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes how small, consistent gratitude practices can improve mental and physical health, deepen relationships, and help listeners reclaim control over their attention and emotional state.
#626 - Baby Me
Theo Von records a Thanksgiving-themed solo episode with producer Riley Mao, reflecting on the holiday, American history, the current state of the world, and the importance of focusing on tangible relationships and small joys. He shares a humorous yet sincere list of little life experiences he appreciates, updates listeners on recent charity efforts, and reacts to several heartfelt listener calls about mental health, painful family dynamics, impending parenthood, and spiritual questions. Throughout, he and Riley also discuss Riley's upcoming fatherhood, Theo's evolving sense of purpose, and his desire to deepen his relationship with God and better care for himself.
#837: How to Simplify Your Life in 2026 - New Tips from Derek Sivers, Seth Godin, and Martha Beck
Tim Ferriss departs from his usual long-form interview format to explore how a few key decisions can dramatically simplify life in the coming year. He frames the episode with the idea of finding single choices that eliminate hundreds of downstream decisions, drawing on lessons from past guests and management thinkers. Derek Sivers, Seth Godin, and Martha Beck each share specific philosophies and concrete personal rules they've used to reduce complexity, set boundaries, and orient their lives around simplicity, focus, and deep joy.
#2418 - Chris Williamson
Joe Rogan and Chris Williamson discuss how smartphones, social media and emerging AR technologies shape attention, mental health and groupthink, and contrast that with the value of time, presence and physical experience. They debate climate change activism, pollution, perverse incentives around green funding and why some protest tactics may backfire, then broaden into existential risks like AI, engineered pandemics and nuclear war alongside concerns about censorship and the UK online safety regime. The conversation also covers trans athletes and fairness in women's sports, high‑stakes boxing matchmaking, hypnosis and memory reliability, and what it means to pursue greatness while trying to remain happy and authentic in an AI‑mediated world.
"We're in Way Over Our Heads With $1.5 Million in Debt"
Dave Ramsey and co-host Jade Warshaw take calls from listeners facing intense financial situations, from a young couple buried under $1.3 million in mostly business debt to people wrestling with car purchases, payday loans, and complex relationship money dynamics. They emphasize avoiding risky business and consumer debt, listening to internal red flags, setting firm boundaries when helping others, and aligning financial decisions with long-term goals and emotional health. The episode also covers topics like life insurance coverage, child support resentment, hiding wealth from a fiancée, grief after losing a sibling, and why 50-year mortgages are a dangerous political gimmick.
I Reached a Major Milestone! 8 Life-Changing Lessons I've Learned From Incredible Guests Along the Way
Jay Shetty celebrates reaching 5 million YouTube subscribers for On Purpose by revisiting powerful moments from past conversations with guests including Tom Holland, Kobe Bryant, Emma Watson, Madonna, Benny Blanco, Selena Gomez, and President Biden. The episode highlights lessons on sobriety and addiction, mastering fear, building relationships from wholeness, integrating spirituality with success, cultivating mature love, and coping with loneliness and grief through presence and family support.
Will AI make humans useless? | Akram Awad
Host Elise Hu introduces AI futurist Akram Awad, who explores how artificial intelligence may not only displace jobs but also trigger a deeper crisis of identity and purpose. Awad argues that as AI automates more work, societies must decouple human worth from economic productivity and build new systems that value contribution, connection, and meaning. He proposes a framework of future human roles-guardians, adapters, and pioneers-and outlines changes needed in compensation, education, emotional infrastructure, and cultural norms to support purpose in the age of AI.
X's Foreign Trolls, Google's AI Wins, and MTG's Resignation
Hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss foreign-operated troll accounts on X, broader Russian and other foreign influence operations on U.S. politics, and the GOP's shifting stance on Russia, including Marco Rubio's role in a controversial Ukraine peace plan. They analyze Google's new Gemini 3 model and Alphabet's AI strategy versus OpenAI, evaluate market jitters around the AI boom and crypto, and cover Marjorie Taylor Greene's announced resignation, Eli Lilly's GLP-1-fueled valuation, elite wealth and political power, and the importance of competent public servants and everyday gratitude practices.
"My Husband Has Been Cheating On Me For 30 Years"
Rachel Cruze and Dr. John Deloney take live calls about marriage crises, debt, taxes, student loans, housing, retirement decisions, and career choices. Callers wrestle with issues like a 46-year marriage marred by decades of infidelity, large IRS bills, car and student loan debt, an inheritance weighed down by tax liens, and how much to give or save while paying off debt. Throughout the episode the hosts stress values-based decision-making, refusing to borrow, facing financial reality, and aligning money choices with identity, relationships, and long-term peace.
Parents: Keep Out!
Psychologist Peter Gray argues that modern societies have dramatically reduced children's opportunities for independent, self-directed play, replacing it with constant adult supervision, structured activities, and academic pressure. Drawing on anthropological work with hunter-gatherer societies, his own research, and personal stories, he explains how free, age-mixed play builds social skills, problem solving, independence, and psychological resilience, and links the loss of such play to rising anxiety and depression in young people. He and host Shankar Vedantam also discuss practical ways for parents, schools, and communities to restore more autonomy and unstructured play to children's lives.
6 Lessons I Wish I Knew in My 20's & 30's (This Will INSTANTLY Give You Direction!)
Jay Shetty, speaking directly to people in their 20s and 30s, shares six psychological and life lessons about loving the process over results, distinguishing your inner voice from external noise, and separating success from happiness. He explains how real confidence is built through self-trust and small follow-throughs, why most rejection is statistical rather than personal, and how healing often feels messy and disorienting even as your brain and nervous system genuinely change. He frames the 20s as a training ground of "firsts" and identity disruption, encouraging listeners to treat confusion and failure as emotional data and practice rather than proof of inadequacy.
Kevin Hart: They're Lying To You About How To Become A Millionaire! I Was Doing 28 Sets A Weekend!
The host interviews Kevin about his journey from an unfocused teenager in North Philadelphia to a globally successful stand-up comic, actor, and entrepreneur. Kevin describes how his strict mother, his father's failures, and his own 'dummy moments' taught him to finish what he starts, persist through a 13-year grind before his big break, and later learn the worlds of business and investing by admitting ignorance and asking questions. They also explore the costs of relentless ambition, his approach to fatherhood and masculinity, setting boundaries to manage stress, and his evolving perspective as reflected in his stand-up special "Acting My Age."
This One Study Will Change How You Think About Your Entire Life: The Cornell Legacy Project
Mel Robbins interviews gerontologist Dr. Carl Pillemer about the practical life lessons, regrets, and advice he gathered from people in their 80s, 90s, and 100s through his Legacy Project at Cornell. Drawing on hundreds of in-depth interviews, he shares elders' guidance on worry, relationships, work, health, choosing a partner, self-acceptance, and learning to be "happy in spite of" difficult circumstances. The conversation emphasizes acting now on what truly matters, because almost every very old person reports that life feels shockingly short in retrospect.
#625 - Matthew McConaughey
Theo Von talks with Matthew McConaughey about childhood memories, old-school wrestling, and the daredevil legacy of Evel Knievel before exploring how modern technology has shifted our relationship to moments, identity, and validation. They dig into ego versus confidence, redefining humility, courage in the face of fear, and the psychology of peak performance in college football and SEC culture. McConaughey also shares deeply about fatherhood, marriage, family rituals, faith, prayer, his writing process for "Poems and Prayers," and the importance of pursuing transformation rather than a purely transactional life.
#836: The 4-Hour Workweek Principles - 13 Mistakes to Avoid, The Art of Mini-Retirements, and Navigating the Dizziness of Freedom
Tim Ferriss presents an experimental episode featuring three full chapters from the audiobook of his book The 4-Hour Workweek, narrated by Ray Porter. The chapters explore the concept of mini-retirements and mobile living, how to handle the psychological and existential void that can appear once work is removed, and the 13 most common mistakes made by people adopting the New Rich lifestyle. The episode combines parables, case studies, detailed how-to checklists, and philosophical reflections on freedom, meaning, learning, and service.
How to Deal with Difficult People & Not Get Stressed Out
Mel Robbins explains her "Let Them Theory" as a framework for handling difficult and emotionally immature people, especially within families, without losing your peace or power. She emphasizes that you cannot change other people, only your own responses, and that most adults behave like emotionally overwhelmed children when triggered. Through research-backed insights and concrete tools, she teaches how to accept people as they are, manage your own emotional reactions, set practical boundaries, and create healthier family dynamics.
Selects: How Personality Tests Work
Josh and Chuck explore the history and mechanics of personality tests, focusing on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Big Five traits, the Rorschach test, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). They discuss how these instruments were developed, how they are used in workplaces and legal settings, and the major scientific criticisms around their validity, reliability, and potential for misuse. The episode also touches on how people relate to labels, why these tests feel accurate, and ends with an email about anxiety, productivity guilt, and stepping away from television.
Jay & Radhi Talk About Why People Feel the Need to Overshare
Jay and Radhi discuss the modern phenomenon of oversharing, especially online, and explore how to decide what to share, with whom, and why. They examine the intentions behind vulnerability, how oversharing can drain energy or create confusion, and how selective, intentional sharing can foster genuine connection and protect personal wellbeing. They also talk about normalizing relationship struggles, the duality of people's lives, and why authenticity doesn't require exposing everything to the public.
Quantum Refuge
Radiolab host Lulu speaks with 28-year-old Gazan physicist Qasem Walid about how quantum physics has become both a language and an inner refuge for him while living through war, displacement, and loss in Gaza. Over months of conversations, he describes daily life under bombardment, the deaths of his professor and relatives, and his experience of feeling like Schrödinger's cat-trapped in a box where his survival is uncertain and unseen by the outside world. He uses concepts like superposition, quantum tunneling, and harmonic oscillators to make sense of his own existence and to plead for the world to "open the box" and truly look at what is happening in Gaza.
#2412 - Adam Carolla
Joe Rogan and Adam Carolla reconnect after several years and discuss aging, time perception, and the uniquely human ability to change. They explore insecurity, the value of coaching and criticism, the importance of developing real skills, and how many people drift through life without a passion or craft. The conversation ranges through sports, construction, Malibu fires and Los Angeles regulation, climate and COVID responses, media dishonesty, over-sterilized modern life, curiosity, motivation, and advice for younger people to take risks before they are weighed down by obligations.
How to Move On When You Still Miss Your Ex (4 Hard Truths That Will FINALLY Set You Free)
Jay Shetty explores why breakups can feel so difficult to move on from, connecting the pain of missing an ex to brain chemistry, identity, and emotional needs rather than to the person themselves. He debunks common myths about time and closure, reframes what we actually miss in a relationship, and offers specific practices to stop romanticizing the past, rebuild structure, and focus on self-worth and personal growth. He closes by normalizing setbacks in healing and encouraging listeners to see heartbreak as a meaningful chapter that can humanize and strengthen them rather than define them.
Most Replayed Moment: Why You're Never Satisfied! The 4 Pillars of Lasting Happiness
The conversation explores the components of happiness, distinguishing between pleasure, enjoyment, and satisfaction, and explaining how social connection and struggle contribute to deeper fulfillment. It examines the hedonic treadmill, the arrival fallacy, and an equation for satisfaction that emphasizes managing desires rather than accumulating more. The discussion then shifts to setting better goals around faith, family, friendship, and work that serves others, using fitness and habits as examples, and concludes with a framework for life meaning based on coherence, purpose, and significance, illustrated through two probing questions about why one is alive and what one is willing to die for.
#624 - Sketch
Theo Von talks with streamer and content creator Sketch about the realities of live streaming, his recent experiences touring college football stadiums, and the mental and physical toll the lifestyle can take. They discuss relationships, shame, therapy, and faith, including how Sketch handled a highly publicized leaked video and how it changed his dating life. The conversation also covers college and pro football culture, future creative ambitions like reality TV and treasure-hunt style content, and various comedic riffs about health, doctors, sexuality, and identity.
Essentials: Breathing for Mental & Physical Health & Performance | Dr. Jack Feldman
Andrew Huberman and respiratory neuroscientist Dr. Jack Feldman discuss how breathing is generated and controlled by the brain, with emphasis on the pre-Bötzinger complex, the diaphragm, and the evolution of mammalian respiration. They explore physiological sighs, how breathing patterns influence emotional and cognitive states, rodent studies of slow breathing and fear, and potential mechanisms involving the vagus nerve, olfaction, and carbon dioxide regulation. In the latter part, they discuss magnesium threonate's effects on synaptic plasticity and cognitive aging, including animal and human data on learning, memory, and mild cognitive decline.
Tim Ferriss: 4 Science-Backed Tools That Rewired Decades of Childhood Trauma & Depression
Tim Ferriss discusses his frameworks for learning quickly, choosing projects, and structuring life around relationships and energy rather than rigid long-term plans. He shares in depth about his history of childhood sexual abuse, severe depression, and near-suicide, and explains how he has used tools like psychedelic-assisted therapy, brain stimulation, and metabolic psychiatry to dramatically improve his mental health. The conversation also explores emerging bioelectric medicine, the importance of social connection, the pitfalls of modern dating, and practical practices like annual mini-retirements to sustain long-term well-being and productivity.
The Exact Words You Need to Hear Today If It Feels Like Nothing's Working
Mel Robbins speaks with poet and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo, joined by her husband Chris Robbins, about reconnecting to life, opening the heart, and finding meaning through love, suffering, and everyday ritual. Mark shares stories behind his seminal book "The Book of Awakening," his cancer journey, and his new work on creativity in the second half of life. Together they explore practical ways to honor your gifts, practice self-love, cultivate resilience, and participate more fully in the present moment.
#2410 - Jeff Dye
Joe Rogan talks with comedian Jeff Dye about social media, stand-up comedy, MMA, politics, and the future of work. They discuss Ronda Rousey's legacy, how fame and distraction affect elite fighters, and why maintaining focus is critical for high performance. The conversation also covers culture-war polarization, media manipulation, assisted suicide policy in Canada, skepticism toward certain health practices, sports gambling scandals, AI-driven automation, and why doing work you genuinely love matters more than chasing status.
Gabrielle Bernstein: The Simple 4-Step Method to Heal Anxiety, Stop Overthinking, and Stop People-Pleasing for Good
Gabrielle Bernstein discusses Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and how it transformed her life, explaining the model of "parts" and the concept of Self as a calm, compassionate inner presence. She and the host explore how protector parts like anxiety, addiction, control, people-pleasing, and workaholism develop to guard against childhood pain, and how befriending rather than banishing them can reduce anxiety, overthinking, and people-pleasing. Gabrielle teaches a simple four-step daily check-in process, guides a live exercise, and shows how this work can improve self-judgment, relationships, parenting, boundaries, leadership, and self-forgiveness.
#623 - Gary Sinise
Actor and musician Gary Sinise discusses his decades-long mission to support military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families through visits, performances, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. He explains how his experiences with Vietnam veterans, his role as Lieutenant Dan, and the post-9/11 wars led him into deep service work, including hospital visits, base tours, mental wellness initiatives, and programs for families of the fallen. Sinise also shares the story of his son Mac's rare cancer, profound faith, and musical legacy, and how Mac's compositions now support the foundation's work and help the family process their grief.
The Woman Who Makes Millionaires: Only 1% of People Do This! The PPF Framework Will 10x Your Income!
Steven interviews Natalie, an entrepreneur who has co-founded two nine-figure companies, Cardone Ventures and Tenex Health, and worked directly with over 15,000 business owners to grow and scale their organizations. She explains her frameworks for goal setting, hiring, communication, time management, and sales, and contrasts the mindset and behaviors of the top 1% with those who struggle to build wealth. The conversation also explores hard work versus burnout, respect versus likability, AI-enabled opportunities, the coming women's wealth transfer, and the importance of believing you can learn any skill you need.
Selects: How Conversion Therapy Doesn't Work
The hosts examine the history, methods, and impact of conversion therapy, also known as reparative or ex-gay therapy, which claims to change a person's sexual orientation from gay to straight. They trace its roots from early pseudo-scientific psychological practices to its adoption by the Christian right as a major culture-war issue, and detail why the medical and psychological communities now condemn it as ineffective and harmful. The episode also covers specific abuse stories, research findings on mental health risks, legal efforts to ban conversion therapy for minors, and the movement's public unraveling through high-profile ex-gay leaders who later renounced it.
Jay & Radhi Talk About Why Men Feel So Lonely
Jay Shetty and Radhi Devlikhia discuss why so many men feel lonely, drawing on recent research about a "friendship recession" and their own personal experiences. They explore how male friendships are often structured around activities rather than emotional sharing, the stigma men face when being vulnerable, and how online narratives about masculinity can discourage openness. They offer practical ideas for building deeper connections, reframing vulnerability as a strength, and intentionally cultivating a small circle of trusted friends.
#2407 - Billy Bob Thornton
Joe Rogan talks with Billy Bob Thornton about aging, nostalgia, and growing up in the American South, along with the violence and roughness that shaped his early life. They dig into Southern stereotypes, Hollywood prejudice, and Thornton's philosophy of acting, music, and fame, including the creation of "Sling Blade" and his band The Boxmasters. The conversation also explores social media, critics, awards, the impact of technology on attention and culture, and how to stay grounded and sane while navigating fame and modern life.
He's Still Living With His Ex's Parents and Needs a Way Out
Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze take calls on money, careers, housing, medical debt, and family dynamics while emphasizing personal responsibility, peace of mind, and avoiding financial entanglements that create stress. They interview generosity content creator Jimmy Darts about his "Undercover Kindness" book and how small acts of giving transform both givers and receivers, and talk with Ramsey Personality Jade Warshaw about the emotional side of money and her journey out of heavy debt. The episode also features a couple celebrating paying off their home and becoming completely debt-free.
Essentials: Erasing Fears & Traumas Using Modern Neuroscience
Andrew Huberman explains the neuroscience of fear, trauma, and post-traumatic stress, detailing the brain and body circuits that generate and maintain these states. He describes how the autonomic nervous system, HPA axis, and amygdala-based threat circuitry interact with memory and prefrontal narrative systems to create adaptive and maladaptive fear responses. The episode reviews behavioral therapies, drug-assisted psychotherapies, physiological breathing protocols, lifestyle factors, and certain supplements that can help extinguish and replace fearful and traumatic memories.
INTRODUCING: I Need You Guys with Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate and Max Silvestri (w/ Sean Hayes)
Sean Hayes joins Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and Max Silvestri for a loose, comedic conversation about their early experiences making jokes, physical comedy bits, and nostalgia for old commercials and landlines. They discuss Jenny's discomfort with the White House using her Parks and Rec character in a political meme, how to handle online nastiness without engaging, and the challenges of keeping long-term friendships strong while turning them into a professional podcast. The group also fields an etiquette question about nose-picking in public, swaps stories about sleep struggles, ADHD, and old-school phone and internet habits, and ends by reflecting on Sean's "Olympic level" comedy on Will & Grace.
No.1 Brain Scientist: Your Brain Is Lying To You! Here's How I Discovered The Truth!
Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte-Taylor explains how four anatomically distinct brain systems shape our thoughts, emotions, and behavior, and argues that we can learn to consciously choose which "character" to lead with in any moment. She recounts her catastrophic left-hemisphere hemorrhagic stroke, eight-year recovery, and how losing her left brain radically shifted her perspective on identity, trauma, and the preciousness of life. Throughout the conversation she connects brain anatomy to practical tools for emotional regulation, trauma integration, lifestyle choices, and cultivating a more balanced, peaceful mind.
How to Use AI to Make Money, Save Time, and Be More Productive
Mel Robbins interviews AI expert Allie K. Miller about how everyday people can practically use artificial intelligence to save time, make money, and improve their lives. Allie explains what AI and generative AI are in simple terms, outlines four main ways to interact with AI tools, and shares concrete examples from travel planning and cooking to job searches and caregiving. They also address risks and concerns such as hallucinations, job loss, over-reliance, data privacy, and environmental impact, while emphasizing that learning to use AI now is crucial, especially for women and knowledge workers.
#834: David Baszucki, Co-Founder of Roblox - The Path to 150M+ Daily Users, Critical Business Decisions, Ketogenic Therapy for Brain Health, Daily Routines, The Roblox Economy, and More
Tim Ferriss interviews Roblox founder and CEO David Bazuki about his family's multi‑year struggle with his son Matthew's severe bipolar disorder and how a medically supervised ketogenic diet produced dramatic improvements after many medications and hospitalizations. They discuss metabolic psychiatry, ketosis, continuous glucose and ketone monitoring, and how physiology can underpin mental health. The conversation then shifts to the origin and growth of Roblox, its user‑generated economy, safety and civility at scale, the role of AI in the platform's future, and David's own health routines and long‑term decision‑making as a public company CEO.
#622 - Miles Teller
Theo Von sits down with actor Miles Teller for a wide-ranging conversation about his life, career, and new film "Eternity." They talk about growing up in Florida and moving frequently as a kid, his family background and early injuries, and how experiences with illness and loss in his family shaped his empathy and outlook. They also dive into the themes of love, mortality, and the afterlife in "Eternity," discuss military service and veterans' mental health, and reflect on prioritizing relationships and normal life over constant work.
How Nature Heals Us
Host Shankar Vedantam speaks with psychologist Mark Berman about why exposure to nature can improve mood, reduce stress, and restore attention. They explore historical and personal stories, research on hospital recovery and nature walks, theories like attention restoration and biophilia, and how design choices-from walking routes to architecture and indoor greenery-can bring nature's benefits into everyday life.
Neuroscientist Emily McDonald: #1 Science-Based Hack to Rewire Your Brain to ACTUALLY Manifest the Life You Want
Neuroscientist Emily McDonald explains how understanding and rewiring the brain can help people break out of feeling stuck, overcome procrastination, and consciously create a life that aligns with their values. She connects neuroscience concepts like the default mode network, dopamine, vagus nerve tone, and neuroplasticity to practical tools for identity shifting, managing fear, structuring rewards, and manifestation. The conversation also explores self-worth, jealousy, money beliefs, relationships, and Emily's own journey from heavy labeling and health issues to designing a life and career that feel authentic and joyful.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself to Figure Out What You Really Want
Mel Robbins guides listeners through a three-question framework called the Odyssey Plan, developed by Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, to rethink their current life trajectory. She uses examples, research, and personal stories to show how visualizing your current path, imagining a forced change, and dreaming without constraints can reveal "unfinished business" and new possibilities. The episode concludes with practical advice on turning these insights into small daily experiments that gradually redesign your life.
Jay & Radhi Talk About the Pressure and Expectations Around Parenthood
The hosts discuss the intense social, biological, financial, and emotional pressures surrounding the decision to have children, especially for women. They explore why the common question "When are you having kids?" can be insensitive given issues like miscarriage, infertility, financial strain, and differing life goals. The conversation emphasizes defining your own timeline, recognizing many valid ways to express maternal and paternal energy, and rejecting the idea that parenthood is the only path to a meaningful or successful life.
#484 - Dan Houser: GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar, Absurd & Future of Gaming
Lex Fridman speaks with game writer and Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser about his creative process, influences, and the design of story-driven open world games like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Dan explains how films, literature, and war stories shaped his approach to world-building and character creation, including the tragic arcs of Niko Bellic, John Marston, and Arthur Morgan. He also discusses his new company Absurd Ventures, its universes such as A Better Paradise and American Caper, his views on AI and large language models, and reflects on mortality, family, and advice for young people.
Nvidia Hits $5 Trillion, Elon Musk Launches Grokipedia, and OpenAI's IPO Future
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway open with personal updates about travel, anxiety when far from home, co-sleeping and parenting, as well as Kara's visit to a Ken Burns screening and Scott receiving a Spirit of Hope award from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Toronto. They then dive into OpenAI's shift to a public benefit corporation structure and potential IPO, AI's use in mental health and risks for minors, Nvidia's explosive valuation and Jensen Huang's praise of Donald Trump, Elon Musk's Grokpedia and Truth Social's prediction market, Tesla's proposed trillion‑dollar pay package, major tech earnings and AI-driven capex, CNN's new streaming strategy, and the broader impact of AI as a "corporate Ozempic" driving layoffs and inequality.
7 Micro Habits That Will INSTANTLY Reset Your Mind & Boost Energy (Without Changing Your Whole Routine!)
The host shares seven small, immediately usable habits designed to reset your mind, regulate stress, and boost energy without overhauling your entire routine. He explains when to use each habit, how to practice it in under a few minutes, and why it works psychologically and biologically. Throughout, he emphasizes using micro-habits to create emotional regulation, presence, and better decision-making in everyday situations.
What Loneliness Does To Your Brain with Ben Rein
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gary O'Reilly, and Chuck interview neuroscientist Ben Rein about what loneliness and social isolation do to the brain and body. They distinguish between objective isolation and the subjective feeling of loneliness, explain the stress and inflammatory pathways involved, and discuss how personality, aging, technology, and drugs like alcohol, painkillers, and MDMA affect social behavior and health. Rein also shares research on empathy, dogs and oxytocin, and practical ideas for rebuilding social connection in an increasingly automated world.
#2403 - Andrew Gallimore
Joe Rogan talks with Andrew, a scientist and author of "Death by Astonishment," about the phenomenology and neuroscience of DMT and why he believes the DMT state is one of the deepest mysteries in science. They explore how the brain constructs reality, how DMT experiences differ from dreams and ordinary hallucinations, and the possibility that DMT may allow contact with non-human intelligences or post-biological civilizations. The conversation also covers near-death experiences, artificial superintelligence, simulation-like views of reality, Japanese urban culture, and a new continuous-infusion DMT research approach known as DMTX.
Kamala Harris: America Is At Breaking Point & I'm Deeply Concerned About The State Of The Country!
Kamala Harris discusses her upbringing in a civil-rights-oriented family, her legal career, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to justice and public service. She reflects in detail on serving as vice president, the 107‑day presidential campaign, internal tensions within the Biden White House, and her experiences debating Donald Trump. Harris also talks about media dynamics, disinformation, her regrets about not having more time to campaign, the emotional impact of losing the 2024 election, and how she is thinking about a potential future run for president.
The Alabama Murders - Part 6: The Porterfield Sessions
Malcolm Gladwell explores the life and psyche of death row prisoner Kenny Smith through the work of psychologist Kate Porterfield, who evaluated him after Alabama's botched attempt to execute him by lethal injection. Porterfield explains the unique physiological and psychological impact of mock and botched executions, situates Kenny's crime within a history of severe childhood abuse and family dysfunction, and reflects on how trauma and unconditional child-to-parent love shape later violence. The episode ends by tracing Kenny's deteriorating mental state, previewing his second execution via nitrogen gas, and questioning the human cost of the system that tried to kill him twice.
#621 - Andrew Santino
Theo Von and comedian Andrew Santino catch up about touring, filming stand-up specials, and the intense pressure that comes with trying to "capture lightning in a bottle" on camera. They discuss Theo's turbulent Netflix taping, mental health struggles, paranoia after a government video used his clip, and the way online media distorted what happened. The conversation widens into technology and AI, Saudi and Qatari comedy festivals, hypocrisy in public outrage, aging, family, community, and what to do when having children may not be in the cards.
#2402 - Miranda Lambert
Joe Rogan speaks with a touring musician about hearing protection, life on the road, and the role of hobbies like mounted shooting, golf, archery, and pool in maintaining focus and mental balance. They discuss her animal rescue nonprofit work, experiences with allergies and moving between cities, and how the COVID shutdown changed her relationship to touring. The conversation also explores fate, early stage experiences, education, ADHD-like traits, impactful teachers, and the mental challenges of high-pressure performance and skill-based pursuits.
#833: Jack Canfield - Selling 600+ Million Books, Success Principles, and How He Made The 4-Hour Workweek Happen
Tim Ferriss interviews Jack Canfield about his life, from a difficult childhood and early teaching career to becoming co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of The Success Principles. Jack explains how mentorship from W. Clement Stone shaped his views on responsibility, goal setting, and success, and details the persistence and grassroots marketing that turned Chicken Soup for the Soul into a global phenomenon. He also discusses plant medicine experiences, limiting beliefs, decluttering "messes," aging, and why he is partly retiring to focus on family and creative hobbies.
Lori Gottlieb: Stop Mistaking Calm for Boring! (Follow THIS Simple Rule to Build REAL Love)
In this live episode recorded at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., therapist and author Laurie Gottlieb joins the host to unpack common relationship challenges around love, acceptance, communication, and vulnerability. They discuss why people feel they must "perform" to earn love, how to create true emotional safety, the difference between chemistry and compatibility, and how childhood patterns show up in adult conflicts. The conversation includes a live on-stage exercise with a couple from the audience and a Q&A addressing conflict timing, gift-giving stress, asking for attention, and relationships involving neurodivergence.
Reframing the Battle of Wills
Host Shankar Vedantam talks with psychologist Stuart Ablon about why attempts to change others' behavior often fail when we assume the problem is a lack of motivation or willpower. Ablon explains how many challenging behaviors arise from lagging cognitive, emotional, and social skills, and describes his collaborative problem solving approach that emphasizes empathy, identifying unmet concerns, and jointly generating solutions. He illustrates the method with cases from psychiatric hospitals, juvenile detention, families, and workplaces, and discusses research showing it reduces challenging behavior and builds skills in both the people being helped and the helpers themselves.
The surprising science of adolescent brains | Jennifer Pfeifer
Neuroscientist Jennifer Pfeiffer argues that adolescence is not a period of dysfunction but a transformative stage of growth spanning roughly ages 10 to 25. She explains how puberty, brain development, and social context shape adolescent behavior, debunks common myths about smartphones and mental health, and highlights the far greater importance of relationships and caregiver well-being. The talk calls for changing the cultural narrative about young people from doom and blame to respect, support, and shared opportunity.
12 Minutes to a Better Brain: Neuroscientist Reveals the #1 Habit for Clarity & Focus
Mel Robbins talks with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Amishi Jha about how attention works in the brain and why it is both powerful and fragile. They break down the three systems of attention (selective "flashlight," alerting "floodlight," and executive "juggler"), how stress and chronic demand degrade these systems, and how neuroplasticity allows them to be trained. Drawing on decades of research with military service members, first responders, athletes, and others, Dr. Jha explains why a minimum of 12 minutes of mindfulness practice, four days a week, can stabilize and improve attention, mood, and stress, and she demonstrates practical exercises listeners can start immediately.
TED Talks Daily Book Club: You are not alone in your loneliness | Jonny Sun (re-release)
Host Elise introduces a re-release of Johnny Sun's 2019 TED talk, framing it within a current TED Talks Daily virtual read-along of Oliver Berkman's book about embracing limitations and the feelings of loneliness that can surface when we sit with ourselves. In his illustrated talk, writer and artist Johnny Sun uses the story of an alien named Jomny and his own experiences of feeling alienated to explore how vulnerability, online sharing, and small moments of connection can make us feel less alone in our loneliness. He reflects on both the harms and the redemptive potential of social media, emphasizing the power of micro-communities and brief human connections as tiny slivers of light in a chaotic world.
#2400 - Katee Sackhoff
Joe Rogan talks with actor Katie Sackhoff about her career-defining role as Starbuck in the Battlestar Galactica reboot, how that show reshaped science fiction television, and what it was like to gender-swap a beloved male character amid early internet backlash. They dive into the emotional power of sci‑fi and entertainment as escapism, the rise of AI in art and media, parenting in a social‑media-saturated world, and the profound perspective she gained from her young daughter's rare cancer diagnosis and the broken pediatric healthcare system. The conversation widens into AI as an emerging life form, homelessness and addiction, underfunded education and pediatric medicine, the possibility of extraterrestrial life and strange objects like 31 Atlas, and why strong female characters in sci‑fi mattered so much to her.
Constantly Overthinking or Doubting Yourself? (Do THIS 5-Minute Reset to Break Your Negative Spiral!)
Jay Shetty delivers a solo episode about how to interrupt negative self-talk and the inner critic that sabotages progress. He explains why self-criticism feels like control but actually undermines performance, how shame differs from guilt, why our brains focus on mistakes, and why progress and healing are non-linear. Through research references, practical reframes, and examples, he offers seven mindset shifts to replace self-beating with self-compassion, accountability, gratitude, and strategic rest.
Most Replayed Moment: Why Does Commitment Feel So Scary? How to Build a Strong, Lasting Relationship
The host and an unnamed relationship expert discuss whether traditional institutions like marriage and the nuclear family still make sense in modern society, examining both their social functions and personal trade-offs. They explore what actually predicts satisfaction in long-term partnerships, emphasizing individual well-being, resilience, and open-mindedness over rigid value alignment. The conversation also covers gendered dating preferences, evolutionary versus socialized drivers of attraction, and how self-esteem and societal narratives shape who we choose and how we evaluate potential partners.
Advice Line with John Zimmer of Lyft
Host Guy Raz speaks with Lyft co-founder John Zimmer about his transition out of day-to-day leadership, the emotional and mental health challenges of stepping away, and his interest in building new, mission-driven consumer businesses. Together they take calls from three founders: a UK inventor of a soap-mixing showerhead seeking to scale to the U.S., a rucking gear entrepreneur struggling with inventory financing and tariffs, and a craft chocolate maker wrestling with work-life balance and long-term employee ownership. The episode focuses on practical advice around focus, financing, go-to-market tests, and personal sustainability for founders.
#832: The Return of The Lion Tracker - Boyd Varty on The Wild Man Within, Nature's Hidden Wisdom, and How to Feel Fully Alive
Tim Ferriss speaks with lion tracker, storyteller, and retreat leader Boyd Varty about formative experiences in the African bush, including leading an "elite" firefighting team, assisting his wild filmmaker uncle, and close calls with dangerous animals. They explore what Boyd has learned from a decade of nature-based retreats, the power of silence and wordlessness, and how time in the wilderness reawakens innate capacities for awareness, healing, and meaning. The conversation also covers Bushmen persistence hunting, modern masculinity and men's groups, and comedic but revealing encounters with a notorious baboon named Lunch.
How to Overcome Inner Resistance | Steven Pressfield
Andrew Huberman interviews author Stephen Pressfield about his concept of resistance, the difference between amateurs and professionals, and the daily habits and mindsets that support sustained creative work. They discuss Pressfield's military and physical training background, his writing process and use of the "muse," his experiences with failure and delayed success, and broader topics such as calling, addiction, social media, mortality, competition, and life trade-offs in pursuing one's craft.
If You're Feeling Overwhelmed, You Need to Hear This
Mel Robbins explains the crucial difference between stress and overwhelm and why confusing the two can contribute to burnout. Drawing on insights from psychiatrist Dr. K and physician Dr. Aditi Noorakar, she outlines a four-step, science-based process: label whether you're stressed or overwhelmed, use a specific breathing technique to reset your nervous system, perform a "brain dump" to offload mental load, and deliberately add a small, chosen challenge to restore a sense of control. The episode emphasizes that stress and overwhelm are biological states, not personal failings, and shows how simple practices can help listeners feel clearer and more in control.
#618 - Sam and Colby
Sam and Colby, two YouTube creators known for exploring haunted and abandoned locations, talk with Theo about how they met in small‑town Kansas, built an online career from Vine days, and eventually shifted from illegal urban exploration to structured paranormal investigations. They describe the pivotal Queen Mary experience that changed their beliefs about the afterlife, the methods and equipment they use to investigate alleged hauntings, and some of the most disturbing locations they have visited, including Pendle Hill, the Paris catacombs, and the Smurl house. Throughout, they and Theo connect paranormal exploration to faith, intention, manifestation, and how people show up in their lives and relationships.
Feel Better Now: Neurosurgeon Reveals the New Science of Healing Your Body & Stopping Pain Today
Mel Robbins speaks with neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta about the new science of pain, why chronic pain develops, and how it can often be reduced or prevented. They explore how pain is generated in the brain, the role of factors like sleep, mood, stress, and prior pain experiences, and why movement, meditation, and other non-drug approaches can change the brain's pain circuits. Gupta shares research-backed strategies such as the MEAT protocol, virtual reality, nerve blocks, and pain journaling, along with his wife Rebecca's long journey with chronic pain, to offer hope and practical tools for listeners.
Protect & Improve Your Hearing & Brain Health | Dr. Konstantina Stankovic
Andrew Huberman and Dr. Konstantina Stankovic discuss how the auditory system works from the ear to the brain, emphasizing its extraordinary sensitivity and importance for communication, emotion, and cognition. They cover causes and types of hearing loss, tinnitus, noise exposure thresholds, and practical strategies to protect hearing, including sound level limits, earplugs, and possibly magnesium intake. The conversation also explores links between hearing loss and dementia, cochlear implants, genetic and environmental contributors to hearing loss, inner ear regeneration research, and broader issues such as environmental noise pollution and sensory-driven brain plasticity.
MALALA: The Story The World Hasn't Heard Until Now
Jay Shetty interviews Malala about her journey from a mischievous schoolgirl in Pakistan to a globally recognized girls' education activist after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt at age 15. She describes the loss of her old life, the pressure of being turned into a global symbol, her struggles with loneliness, PTSD, and therapy, and the long process of reclaiming her own identity, humor, and desires. Malala also explains her ongoing work through Malala Fund, the situation of girls in places like Afghanistan, and how she navigated love, self-image, and marriage while staying committed to girls' education.
How to Create a Successful Mindset: The Science of Passion and Perseverance
Mel Robbins interviews psychologist and author Angela Duckworth about grit-the combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals-and how it predicts success better than talent alone. Duckworth explains the science behind growth mindset, deliberate practice, interest, purpose, and hope, and how each contributes to developing grit at any age. The conversation offers concrete strategies such as sampling interests, practicing deliberately, reframing "should" into "I want to," designing supportive environments, and building small wins to increase agency and resilience.
TED Talks Daily Book Club: Essential questions to ask your future self | Meg Jay (re-release)
Elise Hu introduces a re-released TED Membership conversation featuring clinical psychologist Meg Jay on the concept of the empathy gap between our present and future selves. In her talk, Jay explains how difficulty imagining our future selves can lead us to neglect long-term well-being, and she offers practical questions and thought exercises to build a connection with who we will be at around age 35. She then speaks with Whitney Pennington-Rogers about how these ideas apply not only to people in their 20s but at any stage of life, and how to turn a one-time reflection into an ongoing practice.
How to raise confident kids in an age of anxiety | Lenore Skenazy
Journalist and free-range parenting advocate Lenore Skenazy discusses why children's independence has dramatically shrunk over recent decades and how this shift is linked to rising anxiety and depression among kids. She explains the cultural and media forces that fueled overprotective parenting, outlines concrete steps for parents, schools, and communities to safely restore age-appropriate freedom, and describes legal reforms like the Reasonable Childhood Independence Law. The conversation emphasizes how letting kids do things on their own builds competence, confidence, and resilience while revitalizing neighborhoods and preparing young people for adult life and work.
#2391 - Duncan Trussell
Joe Rogan and Duncan Trussell discuss contemporary political polarization, authoritarian drift, economic frustration, homelessness, immigration policy, and how social media algorithms fuel fear and division. They range into speculative territory on UFOs, possible alien involvement in human evolution, and the social impact of potential disclosure while also exploring spirituality, Christianity, evil, and the importance of family and individual responsibility. Throughout, they contrast large-scale systemic problems with the need to focus on personal action, compassion, and tending to one's immediate community.
#616 - Retired Boston Detective
Retired Boston police detective Kara Connolly discusses her 31-year career, from working busy 1990s patrol beats in Dorchester and South Boston to becoming a detective and later joining the human trafficking unit. She shares detailed stories about major cases, including armed robberies, a man who cut off his own penis, a baby abandoned in a trash can, long-term human trafficking investigations, and undercover stings targeting sex buyers. The conversation also explores how TV crime shows affect juries, the impact of politics and prosecutors on street-level policing, the emotional toll of the job, and how she is transitioning into retirement in South Carolina.
Louis Tomlinson: "The Room Was Cold That Day". When The Police Knocked... I Just Knew
Louis Tomlinson discusses his journey from a working-class upbringing in Doncaster to global fame with One Direction, and the impact that sudden success and its end had on his identity and mental health. He opens up in detail about losing his mother and younger sister, how those tragedies reshaped his sense of purpose and responsibility toward his family, and his evolving relationship with former bandmate Liam Payne, including Liam's death. Louis also reflects on fatherhood, redefining success in his solo career, and how his current happiness, relationship, and outlook are shaping his new, more uplifting music.
It's Not Too Late: How to Transform Your Life at Any Moment
Mel Robbins interviews Rich Roll about how he has radically transformed his life multiple times, from a bullied, approval-seeking kid to an alcoholic lawyer, then to a sober, plant-based ultra-endurance athlete and podcaster. Rich details his descent into severe alcoholism, his recovery, his midlife health crisis at 40, and the sequence of small, contrary actions that allowed him to change course. The conversation focuses on addiction as a spectrum, listening to "knocks" from the universe, prioritizing health, and using tiny consistent actions to change at any age.
Love 2.0: How to Fix Your Marriage, Part 2
Host Shankar Vedantam talks with psychologist James Cordova about how blame and efforts to change our partners often trap couples in years-long conflicts, and how practices like genuine acceptance, "eating the blame," and lowering pride can restore intimacy. In the second part of the episode, public health researcher Victor Strecker discusses the science of purpose, how a clear sense of purpose supports health and resilience, and answers listener questions about burnout, caregiving, loss, empty nesting, and finding meaning at different life stages.
CARDI B: Overcoming Depression, Blocking Out the Hate & Owning Your Power
Jay Shetty interviews Cardi B about her inner world, from the quiet, imaginative child planning her future to the global star navigating fame, motherhood, and relentless public scrutiny. She opens up in detail about growing up in the Bronx, her determination to escape poverty and be financially independent before having kids, and the hustle it took to build her music career. Cardi also shares candidly about severe depression linked to marital struggles, the toll of online hate on her creativity, her tough-love parenting style, deep faith in God, and the inspiration behind her new album "Am I the Drama".
Try It for 1 Week: 6 Small Ways to Bring Back the Happiness, Energy, and Fun
Mel Robbins talks about the growing sense that life is less fun, more curated, and weighed down by stress, and argues that fun is not a luxury but a necessity for mental and physical health. Drawing on research and personal stories, she explains how micro moments of joy and playfulness build resilience and combat burnout, anxiety, and numbness. She then offers six practical ways listeners can deliberately bring more happiness, energy, and fun back into their daily lives.
The App That'll Be Bigger Than TikTok
The hosts discuss OpenAI's new Sora app for AI-generated video, exploring its onboarding flow, social mechanics, and why it may be more powerful than TikTok as a multiplayer AI experience. They broaden the conversation to AI as a super app (including ChatGPT's Pulse), concerns about OpenAI's growing power, and how AI will reshape content creation, education, therapy, and addiction support. The episode also covers the rise of micro sports betting and prediction markets, new businesses tackling gambling addiction with AI, and the extreme personal data logging practices of Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke alongside their own approaches to life-logging and memory capture with tools like Meta smart glasses.
Most Replayed Moment: Sadhguru on Why You Don't Need a Life Purpose!
In this replayed conversation, Sadhguru challenges the common notion that humans must discover a singular life purpose, arguing instead that life has no inherent purpose and that inner joy and stability should be the focus. He emphasizes taking responsibility for one's inner experience, learning how the mind and body function, and cultivating inner balance through conscious practices rather than depending on external circumstances. The discussion touches on the impacts of social conditioning, trauma, the limits of intellect, and the importance of turning inward to manage one's own inner state.
The Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Gary O'Reilly, and Chuck Nice interview social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about his book "The Anxious Generation" and the mental health crisis among Gen Z. Haidt argues that a combination of overprotected, low-risk real-world childhoods and underprotected exposure to smartphones and social media has driven sharp rises in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and loneliness, especially among girls. He outlines evidence for the crisis, explains developmental brain mechanisms, details platform-specific harms, and proposes four social norms and policy changes to roll back the "phone-based childhood," while warning about emerging AI chatbot toys aimed at children.
#614 - New York Circus
Theo Von reflects on changes in the circus from his childhood to the present and uses that as a segue into describing a "circus" surrounding his recent comedy special taping in New York City. He explains how going off antidepressants, a viral Department of Homeland Security immigration video using an old joke clip of his, heightened security concerns, and performance struggles all contributed to a stressful night and a later viral clip of him joking about suicide. He clarifies that he is not suicidal, shares a personal story about a friend's sister who took her life, takes emotional calls from listeners about losing a son to suicide and a three‑year‑old finishing chemotherapy, offers prayer and encouragement, and notes that he is back on his medication and planning to rest while remaining hopeful about the future.
Use Your Mind to Heal Your Body With the #1 Harvard Psychologist
Mel Robbins interviews Harvard psychology professor Ellen Langer about her 50 years of research on mindfulness and what she calls mind-body unity. Langer explains how mindlessness underlies many personal and health problems, and how simple shifts in attention, language, and expectations can measurably change physical outcomes like vision, wound healing, blood pressure, and chronic disease symptoms. Through anecdotes and landmark studies, she offers practical ways to question rigid beliefs, reduce stress, and actively notice variability so that people can add more life to their years and influence their own health trajectories.
3 simple ways to build stronger relationships at work | Alyssa Birnbaum
Organizational psychologist Alyssa Birnbaum explains how high-quality connections at work significantly influence engagement, burnout, and well-being, especially in remote and hybrid environments. Drawing on her research and personal experiences, she shows that even a single high-quality interaction can boost engagement and that video conversations can foster connection similarly to in-person meetings. She then offers three concrete practices-expanding dialogue, finding overlap, and showing genuine care-and emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to intentionally create space for meaningful connection at work.
Jay's Must-Listens: Are You Still Holding Onto Childhood Trauma? (Follow 3 Steps & FINALLY Heal) Ft. Gabor Mate & Oprah Winfrey
This episode is a curated collection of conversations about trauma, grief, and healing, featuring insights from Dr. Gabor Mate, John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Bruce Perry, and Anita. Jay Shetty explores how trauma can be loud or subtle, why it often hides behind overachievement or people-pleasing, and how reframing the question from "What's wrong with me?" to "What happened to me?" opens the door to compassion and recovery. The guests share personal stories and frameworks on authenticity, grief, intergenerational wounds, and learning to live fully while carrying past pain.
#2386 - The Red Clay Strays
Joe Rogan talks with members of the Red Clay Strays about their origin as a bar cover band on the Gulf Coast, how their manager learned booking from scratch, and how the group has stayed together through heavy touring by centering their faith and a service-oriented mindset. They discuss writing emotionally heavy songs that resonate with depressed and suicidal fans, the grind of driving Uber during COVID to survive, and broader topics including hospitals as profit-driven businesses, extreme body modification and gene editing, social media-fueled hatred, government surveillance, UFOs, ancient civilizations, the Book of Enoch, and controversies around religious relics and the moon landing.
The Auralyn with Blair Braverman
Survival correspondent Blair Braverman tells Sarah the little-known true story of Maurice and Marilyn Bailey, a British couple whose yacht Auralyn was sunk by a sperm whale in 1973, leaving them adrift on a liferaft for 118 days. Blair walks through their improvised survival strategies, the couple's contrasting mindsets, and how Marilyn's optimism, ingenuity, and traditionally "feminine" tasks became central to their endurance. Together, Blair and Sarah reflect on gender norms in survival narratives, the role of hope and realism, and what this story reveals about relationships, depression, and everyday forms of resilience.
Atheist vs Christian vs Spiritual Thinker: The Paperclip Problem That Exposes Religion!
The host brings together three thinkers-an atheist/agnostic philosopher, a Christian apologist, and a Hindu-trained psychiatrist and spiritual practitioner-to explore why so many people today report a lack of meaning and purpose. They debate whether purpose is objective or purely subjective, how religion, spirituality, neuroscience, trauma, technology, and social conditions contribute to a "meaning crisis," and whether any worldview can adequately address deep suffering such as children dying of cancer. Alongside high-level philosophical disagreement, they also discuss concrete psychological tools and spiritual practices that can help individuals move from feeling lost to experiencing more direction and purpose in their own lives.
This Shocking Truth About Other People Will Change Your Life
Mel Robbins interviews researcher and author Dr. Todd Rose about how our hardwired need to belong drives conformity and how this, combined with social media dynamics, creates "collective illusions"-situations where most people go along with things they privately don't agree with because they wrongly assume everyone else does. Rose explains data showing that people overwhelmingly value relationships, character, meaningful work, and contribution, not fame and status, and that self-silencing to fit in damages both physical and mental health. They explore how authenticity and the simple practices of "let them" and "let me" can dismantle illusions, rebuild social trust, and dramatically improve individual life satisfaction and societal cohesion.
SYSK's Fall True Crime Playlist: The Harrowing Story of the North Hollywood Shootout
The hosts recount the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, detailing the backgrounds of bank robbers Larry Phillips and Emil Matasoranu, their prior crimes, the meticulously planned Bank of America robbery, and the ensuing 44‑minute gun battle with hundreds of police officers. They describe how the event exposed gaps in police firepower, contributed to the militarization of U.S. police forces, and raised ethical questions about medical treatment of wounded suspects. In a closing listener mail segment, they read and respond to a detailed correction from Kenton "Factor" Grua's widow about a previous episode, emphasizing accuracy and sensitivity when portraying real people.
How do you turn hope into action? A doctor and a public health expert answer | David Fajgenbaum and Celina de Sola
Host Elise Hu introduces a TED Intersections conversation between public health expert Selena De Sola and immunology researcher David Fagenbaum on how they turn hope into concrete action in their respective fields. Fagenbaum shares how surviving Castleman disease led him to repurpose existing drugs and build the nonprofit EveryCure, now using AI to match old medicines to new diseases, while De Sola explains how her organization, founded in El Salvador, works to create trauma-informed public systems across schools, healthcare, and law enforcement. Together they discuss holding hope and grief simultaneously, navigating setbacks, scaling systemic change, and the leadership, teamwork, and vision required to sustain impact.
#2384 - Mark Kerr
Joe Rogan and Mark Kerr discuss the new feature film "The Smashing Machine," where The Rock portrays Kerr, and how eerily accurate and emotionally intense the depiction of his life, relationships, and career felt to him. They revisit the early days of MMA and Pride, the dominance of elite wrestling and cardio, and pivotal fighters and fights that shaped the sport. Kerr also speaks candidly about addiction, recovery, identity beyond fighting, and the painful but redemptive process of exposing his struggles in the original "Smashing Machine" documentary and now in the dramatized film.
How to Build the Life You Want (Even When You Feel Overloaded, Exhausted, & Uncertain)
Mel Robbins interviews astronaut and bioastronautics researcher Kelly Girardi about how she went from a coat check job at the Explorers Club to flying a science mission to space. Kelly explains her mindset around expanding what you believe is possible, intentionally designing your reputation, and balancing motherhood with a demanding and unconventional career. She also shares, in detail, her ongoing IVF journey, recurrent pregnancy loss, and why she chooses to be transparent about her struggles in real time to reduce stigma and help others feel less alone.
EMMA WATSON EXCLUSIVE: The Story She Has Not Shared Until Now
Emma Watson joins Jay Shetty to have a long-form, personal conversation about stepping back from acting, disentangling her public persona from her private self, and learning to live more truthfully. She talks about growing up between two households, using acting as an escape, the emotional costs of fame and Hollywood, and the health and nervous-system burnout that forced her to pause her career. Emma also explores love and relationships, creative writing as therapy, friendship and interdependence, and how she holds nuanced positions on activism, including disagreements with J.K. Rowling and speaking about Palestine and Israel.
#612 - Pete Davidson
Comedian and actor Pete Davidson sits down for a long-form conversation about his life, from losing his firefighter father in the 9/11 attacks and how that shaped his childhood, to his struggles with depression, suicidality, addiction, and eventual decision to get sober. He discusses the emotional toll of fame and tabloid culture, his tendency toward self-sabotage and people-pleasing, and how therapy, recovery, and supportive relationships-especially with his mother and older comic friends-have helped him. Pete also talks about gearing up for his first international tour, reflecting on a previous Amish guest, and his excitement and fears around becoming a father for the first time.
Passion vs. Paycheck
Host Shankar Vedantam speaks with organizational scholar Jennifer Tostekaris about the idea of work as a "calling" and how this concept has evolved from its religious roots to a modern secular ideal. They explore compelling examples like Paul Gauguin, Marie Curie, and Oprah Winfrey to illustrate how callings can inspire extraordinary dedication, creativity, and impact. The conversation also examines the psychological and economic downsides of callings, including distorted self-assessment, vulnerability to exploitation, burnout, and the collateral damage to families and other life domains, and concludes with a more tempered view of meaningful work that does not require everyone to have a grand vocation.
Hope Always Lives on the Other Side of Hurt
Ken Coleman and George Camel take live calls from listeners facing a wide range of financial and emotional challenges, from catastrophic investment scams and oversized mortgages to student loans, car debt, retirement fears, and business decisions. Throughout the episode they apply the Ramsey Baby Steps, emphasize living on a budget, avoiding debt, and prioritizing long-term peace over short‑term comfort, while also acknowledging the emotional weight of grief, shame, mental health struggles, and family dynamics that intersect with money decisions.
Dr. K: Feeling Lost in Your 20s or 30s? (THIS Mindset Shift Will Help You Find Direction & Purpose)
The host and Dr. K discuss why so many people in their 20s and 30s feel lost, behind, and purposeless despite external appearances of doing fine. They explore the difference between identity and identification, how ego and constant self-thinking drive depression and anxiety, and how observation, meditation, and emotional regulation can quiet the mind and reveal inner direction. The conversation also covers masculinity, dating, pornography addiction, spiritual evolution, and a practical framework for building purpose and resilience in a rapidly changing world.
(#4) Elise's Top Ten: The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown
Host Elise Hu introduces a replay of Brene Brown's seminal TEDxHouston talk, which explores her research on shame, vulnerability, and what she calls "wholehearted" living. Brown explains how a sense of worthiness is the key factor that separates people who feel love and belonging from those who struggle for it, and describes how embracing vulnerability-rather than numbing it or seeking certainty and perfection-leads to greater joy, connection, and authenticity. She closes by urging listeners to let themselves be seen, love with their whole hearts, practice gratitude and joy, and believe they are enough.
(#10) Elise's Top Ten: What almost dying taught me about living | Suleika Jaouad
Host Elise Hu introduces a talk by writer, teacher, and activist Suleika Jaouad, who recounts being diagnosed with leukemia at 22 and spending four years in treatment as "patient number 5624." She explains that surviving cancer did not end her struggle; instead, the hardest part was reentering life afterward, dealing with physical limitations, grief, PTSD, and the myth of the heroic, ever-grateful survivor. Jaouad describes a 15,000-mile road trip to visit readers who had written to her, and shares what she learned about meaning, hope, and living in the in‑between space between sickness and health.
#611 - Louis C.K.
Theo Von talks with Louis C.K. about performing edgy stand-up in different kinds of venues, parenting, childhood neglect, race and taboo language, and the creative process behind Louis's novel "Ingram". They explore the American literary voice, the evolution of language, and broader cultural issues like polarization, social media addiction, and technology's physical footprint. A large part of the conversation centers on Louis's public downfall, his struggles with sex and pornography addiction, 12‑step recovery, and how confronting his own failures has reshaped his life, work, and friendship with Theo.
Most Replayed Moment: Can Eye Movements Heal Trauma? Bessel Van Der Kolk Explains EMDR Therapy!
The conversation explores how common trauma is, how it affects brain function, and how eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can change traumatic responses. The guest explains specific brain regions involved in danger signaling, body awareness, and time perception, showing how trauma leads to chronic fear, loss of perspective, and reliving rather than remembering events. They then discuss EMDR's mechanisms, research evidence, and demonstrate a brief EMDR-style exercise that quickly reduces the host's emotional activation around a recent unpleasant experience.