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.
What separates us from chimpanzees? | Jane Goodall
Host Elise Hugh introduces a 2003 TED Talk by primatologist Jane Goodall, presented as a tribute after news of her death, highlighting her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees and its impact on how we understand humans and other animals. In the talk, Goodall describes chimpanzee cognition and culture, the environmental and social forces threatening great apes and human communities, and her youth program Roots and Shoots. She closes by arguing that hope lies in our individual and collective choices to live more lightly on the planet and act with compassion toward all life.
#2381 - Taylor Kitsch
Taylor Kitsch discusses bowhunting, life in Montana, and the craft and psychological toll of acting in intense, often real‑life roles. He describes deep preparation for projects like "Lone Survivor," "American Primeval," and "Waco," including working closely with Navy SEALs, Native communities, and survivors. Kitsch also opens up about helping his sister through years of severe fentanyl and heroin addiction, founding the Howler's Ridge nonprofit, his father's death and funeral, and broader reflections on veterans, cult dynamics, grief, and the importance of staying uncomfortable and fully committed to challenging work.