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Why does it feel so hard to talk to people who see the world differently than we do? In this episode, we sit down with renowned social psychologist Claude Steele, author of Churn: The Tension That Divides Us and How to Overcome It, to examine the hidden psychological tension that shows up whenever identity, race, politics, or difference enters the room. Steele calls it “churn,” the mental strain of wondering how other people see us, whether we’ll be stereotyped, whether we’ll say the wrong thing, or whether a mistake will become a judgment about who we are. That strain is everywhere right now. It shows up in debates over wokeness, partisan politics, race, culture, workplaces, classrooms, and even ordinary conversations. And as trust declines, we become more guarded, more suspicious, and more likely to retreat toward people who already think like us. But Steele argues that the answer may be simpler than we think. We talk about why prejudice is only part of the problem, why both sides of a divide can experience the same underlying anxiety, how political and cultural conflict can intensify it, and why trust, curiosity, and genuine interest in other people can change the way we relate across difference. It’s a conversation about one of the defining tensions of modern life, and what it might actually take to start trusting each other again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the problem isn’t that a few companies got greedy? What if the problem is that we built a system that teaches companies to sell us out? In this episode, Eric Ries joins us to explain the economic lie sitting underneath so much of modern business: that companies exist to extract as much value as possible for shareholders, even if that means making the product worse, treating employees poorly, breaking customer trust, and slowly destroying the very thing that made the company great. We talk about why so many once-loved brands seem to get worse over time, why Costco has managed to resist the pressure, what Amazon reveals about the tradeoff between customer obsession and company decay, and why “good governance” may actually be helping create weaker companies. This conversation will change how you think about capitalism, Wall Street, private equity, and the companies we interact with every single day. https://www.incorruptible.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually makes you who you are? In this episode, we get into one of the biggest questions a person can ask, not in a vague or philosophical way, but through the lens of neuroscience. Our guest is Dr. Masud Husain, Professor of Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience at Oxford, Editor-in-Chief of Brain, and the award-winning author of Our Brains, Our Selves, which won the Royal Society Trivedi Best Science Book Prize. Dr. Husain explains how your sense of self is built through memory, attention, motivation, perception, concepts, and relationships. In other words, who you are is not just something you have, it is something your brain is constantly creating. That is what makes this conversation so gripping. Because if the brain creates the self, then what happens when part of that system changes? We talk about real patients whose identities seemed to shift after changes in the brain, including one man who lost nearly all motivation after tiny strokes, and another who began losing not just words, but the concepts behind them. Their stories are fascinating, but they also raise a deeply personal question: how much of who you are depends on brain processes you rarely notice? We also get into why we become more risk-averse over time, why discomfort starts to feel less worth it, and whether changing how we think can actually change who we are. This episode will make you think differently about personality, memory, identity, and the story you tell yourself about yourself. Listen now, then subscribe and follow Smart People Podcast so you don’t miss what’s next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most of us think we understand the plastic problem. We’ve heard about ocean pollution. We’ve heard about recycling. We’ve heard the word microplastics enough times that it barely registers anymore. But what if the most important part of this story isn’t the trash, the packaging, or even the environment? What if the real issue is happening inside our own bodies? In this conversation, Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator and president of Beyond Plastics, explains the part of the plastic crisis that rarely makes headlines. Microplastics are not just floating in the ocean. Researchers are now finding them in human blood, lungs, arteries, and even the brain. And the concern is not just the particles themselves, but the thousands of chemicals that travel with them. We also explore why plastic production continues to accelerate despite public concern, why recycling has largely failed, and how the economics of fossil fuels quietly shape the future of plastic. This is not just an environmental story. It is a health story, a policy story, and a story about systems most people never see. Judith's book, The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late, is available now wherever books are sold! Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the way we think, communicate, react under pressure, and connect with others isn’t random at all? And much of your experience could actually be decoded using a very specific behavioral model. And this model could explain why certain conversations energize you while others shut you down, why stress brings out patterns you don’t recognize, and why people who care about each other still miss each other completely. In this episode, we introduce the Process Communication Model, a powerful framework originally developed in a therapeutic setting to improve human connection and outcomes. It has been used quietly for decades, helping millions of people better understand themselves and others, yet many people have never heard of it. This is part one in a three part series. To go hear the other episodes follow In the Arena With DoorTwo or visit doortwo.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you’re not burned out, not clinically depressed, and nothing in your life is falling apart—but you still feel numb, empty, or like you’re just going through the motions? In this episode, sociologist and mental health researcher Dr. Corey Keyes explains the science behind that feeling, and why he calls it “languishing.” We dig into how our culture massively underestimates mental health by defining it as “not sick,” and why that quiet definition keeps so many of us stuck. Corey shares how watching his own father’s life slowly unravel pushed him to rethink success, work, and what it really means to flourish. You’ll learn the key differences between languishing and flourishing, the hidden ways modern life pulls us toward numbness, and why feeling “dead inside” might actually be an existential alarm clock trying to wake you up. We don’t just stay in theory—we talk about what real flourishing looks like for regular people with jobs, kids, stress, and messy lives. Corey's book, Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down, is available now wherever books are sold! Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if there really was an owner’s manual for being human? In this episode, Chris sits down with one of the top executive coaches in the country Shaun Dyke, to reveal the models that billion-dollar leaders use to understand people, motivate change, and create results. They unpack the hidden psychology behind your reactions, relationships, and results—and why most of us are still flying blind without our “human operating manual.” You’ll never look at behavior the same way again. Shaun is the Managing Partner of the leadership development and executive coaching firm called, DoorTwo. Learn more at doortwo.com and subscribe to their brand new podcast, In The Arena with DoorTwo. Stay up to date by signing up! Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt guilty for resenting your job—even one you worked hard to get—you’re not alone. In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Malissa Clark breaks down why burnout and dissatisfaction aren’t always about hours worked, and why our relationship with work is more complicated than we think. We explore the hidden forces that keep us “always on,” why rest doesn’t always feel restful, and how modern work culture is quietly draining us. Whether you're stuck in a toxic job or just feeling off, this conversation will shift the way you think about work—and yourself. Malissa's book, Never Not Working: Why the Always-On Culture Is Bad for Business--and How to Fix It, is available now wherever books are sold! Learn more about Malissa at malissaclark.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think you’re a creative person? Think again. In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Zorana Pringle explains why most of us are far less creative than we believe—and what to do about it. We explore why great ideas often die before they ever get started, how fear disguises itself as perfectionism, and why creativity has more to do with action than inspiration. If you’ve ever felt stuck, distracted, or frustrated that your ideas never quite become reality, this conversation will hit home. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how creativity really works—and how to finally unlock it. Zorana's book, The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action, is available now wherever books are sold! Learn more about Zorana Pringle at zorana-ivcevic-pringle.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest challenge with AI isn’t the technology, but what it’s revealing about us? Jeff Burningham has built companies, invested in hundreds of startups, and even run for governor — but his most urgent message comes in his new book The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI. He believes AI is a mirror, reflecting our values, flaws, and potential, and the real question is whether we’ll grow wise enough to handle it. In this conversation, Jeff draws on his experiences in business, politics, and personal transformation to explore the choice between the “old game” of power and greed and the “new game” of connection and compassion — and why the next decade could determine our future. Jeff's book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI, is available now wherever books are sold! Learn more about Jeff Burningham at jeffburningham.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the most powerful psychedelic on Earth isn’t just a hallucination—but a message? Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Gallimore joins us to explore the mind-bending world of DMT, a molecule found in both nature and the human body that seems to reliably transport users to an alien-like realm filled with intelligent beings. In this episode, we dive into the science behind DMT, the mysterious commonalities in user experiences, and why Dr. Gallimore believes it is so important to try to understand. Is this a glimpse of the afterlife, a forgotten technology, or even contact with a creator? Strap in—this conversation will challenge everything you think you know about consciousness. Dr. Gallimore's book, Death by Astonishment: Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug, is available wherever books are sold. Learn more about Dr. Andrew Gallimore at noonautics.org/personnel/dr-andrew-gallimore-dmt. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the desire for revenge wasn’t just emotional—but biological? In this gripping conversation, Yale-trained lawyer and researcher James Kimmel Jr. explains how the brain processes revenge, why it feels so satisfying in the moment, and why it rarely brings the peace we expect. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and his own powerful personal story, James unpacks how revenge fuels everything from schoolyard fights to mass shootings—and how it’s often disguised as “justice.” We explore the real reasons people commit violent acts, how our justice system may be reinforcing cycles of harm, and what it actually takes to break free. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the human drive to get even—and how to shift that impulse toward healing. If you've ever held a grudge, fantasized about payback, or wondered why letting go is so hard, this episode will change the way you see yourself—and others. Dr. Kimmel's book, The Science of Revenge, is available wherever books are sold. Learn more about Dr. Kimmel at jameskimmeljr.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—the workouts, the healthy food, the meditation app, the supplements—but your body still isn’t responding the way it should… this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: You can’t heal until your body feels safe. Not calm. Not relaxed. Safe. And that’s not just a mindset—it’s a biological state. Today’s guest, Dr. David Rabin, is a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuro. He’s spent decades researching how chronic stress, trauma, and even subconscious fear can hijack your nervous system and silently block your body’s ability to recover. What he’s uncovered is game-changing: the body doesn’t heal because we tell it to—it heals when it knows it can. In this conversation, we break down exactly how that works—starting with the vagus nerve, the body’s command center for switching between stress and recovery. Dr. Rabin explains why your nervous system might still be operating in fight-or-flight mode, even if your life feels perfectly fine. You’ll learn how stress re-routes resources away from the parts of your body responsible for sleep, digestion, immunity, and long-term healing—and why most of us have no idea it’s happening. We also explore how trauma can be stored in the body for years, why it doesn’t always show up in your memories, and how new tools—from psychedelics to vibration-based therapies—are helping people access deep healing without spending a decade in talk therapy. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a whole new framework for understanding stress—not just as a feeling, but as a physiological state you can learn to shift. And more importantly, you’ll leave with actionable ways to start teaching your body what safety actually feels like. So if you’ve ever wondered why you still feel stuck—even when life looks good on paper—don’t miss this one. Let’s get into it. Learn more about Dr. Rabin at drdave.io. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been taught to fear stress, avoid it, and manage it like a toxin. But what if that belief is actually making us weaker? Dr. Sharon Bergquist has spent decades studying the relationship between stress, cellular health, and chronic disease—and what she’s discovered turns the conventional wisdom upside down. We dig into what that means at the biological level: how stress impacts our cells, how it influences everything from aging to energy to immune function, and what we can do—starting today—to tap into this incredible internal capability. You’ll learn why some of the most powerful health interventions aren’t expensive treatments or medications, but simple, often uncomfortable, actions that challenge your body and mind in the right way. So—what if the answer to health isn’t less stress, but better stress? Dr. Bergquist's book, The Stress Paradox: Why You Need Stress to Live Longer, Healthier, and Happier―An Essential Stress Management Companion with a Mind-Body-Soul Approach, is available now. Learn more about Dr. Bergquist at drsharonbergquist.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the federal government walked away from public education? That’s not a hypothetical—it’s part of a real plan gaining traction right now. In this episode, we break down what it actually means to defund and dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and why it could upend the future for millions of students. Former Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. joins us to cut through the noise and explain, in human terms, what’s at risk—from student aid to civil rights protections to the very idea of equal opportunity. We also talk about King’s new book, Teacher by Teacher, and the everyday educators who shape lives in ways most people never see. You’ll hear stories that might remind you of your favorite teacher—and see just how fragile the systems are that allow those stories to happen. If you think this issue doesn’t affect you, think again. Because the decisions being made right now might change everything. Learn more about Dr. King at johnbkingjr.com. Support the Show - Become a Patron! Help us grow and become a Patron today: https://www.patreon.com/smartpeoplepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices