Shankar takes the listener on a deeply introspective journey, expertly navigating our thought and behavior patterns. Topics are broad but the focus is on self improvement in a gentle and enlightening way. It is really beautifully done and feels kind. This podcast has improved my life.

I love the content of the podcast but I really dislike the AI images. They make me uncomfortable and I’ve been avoiding the pod because of them.

THANK YOU! I love all the shows but this one on our need to improve conversation and communication skills really hits home as I’m a facilitator and science communicator. I’ve thought how the US culture needs communication skills to be taught in K-12 education. At each grade level. Our developmental skills improve as we age, therefore so should our understanding of how to communicate well. Again, thank you!

I love this podcast, I listen to it every day

I read all the books recommended here and man; I’m living my best life! Thank you Shankar for sharing your wisdom. YOU ARE MY 🐐

This is the best podcast anywhere, truly exceptional. Shankar is a master interviewer, noone touches him.

Every time I listen to this podcast, I learn something about myself, other people and the world around me. I also feel more enlightened. It’s so fascinating and well done. Been listening to about 5 years now! Huge fan!

Amazing podcast, but the use of AI downgrades it. It looks unprofessional and sloppy. Please just hire a real artist.

I’ve listened since the first episode. It is so interesting to learn things are brain does without us being aware of it, like confirmation bias.

All AI art is theft, sloppy theft. When I see someone using stolen AI art, I assume they are also stealing in other areas too. After all, they are ok using stolen art. Longtime listener and I’m unsubscribing because I don’t want this slop showing up on my phone.

One of the top podcasts out there, it offers a wealth of thought-provoking ideas and inspiration. Over the past few years, I’ve gained so much from it

With a mixture of social science, storytelling, and first-person accounts, Hidden Brain disseminates a balanced outlook on life.

It is based on how things are designed to be. My conclusion to understanding results of albeit things both good and bad, strange and downright unpredictable, involves what is included in a design. There’s no way to know exactly WHAT is in a design. You can’t predict or alter what is designed. Lastly, all you know is what IS designed to be, WILL certainly be. Nothing can or will stop it, it may only change its course, but in end it will always BE, by design. - s.jxn - ga

Becoming too left wing leading. The use of liberal academics and liberal subjective topics seems to be the shift. Example, “Wellness 2.0: When Its All Too Much” topic focuses on the one sided belief that climate change is human induced and can only be corrected with large scale intervention and lifestyle changes from the world population.

I paid for the subscriber and edition and it still has ads. Why oh why would I pay $45 to listen to ads?

I listened to the show today and when the teacher said she had a 12 year old child, I thought, well yes, now I see what’s happening here. My children are adults now, but when they were asking the really hard questions at about that age, it was so difficult to be straight with them about the state of the world. This entire podcast sounded to me like the biggest most circuitous rationalization of why the ecosystem isn’t being destroyed by the last 300 years of human civilization. Her college students had normal responses to learning all of the bad things that are coming down the pike for the planet and its inhabitants, but instead of validating their conclusions based on the information they’re getting this teacher has determined that “we can’t let the children be down about it, we must lift ourselves up as a collective”! Maybe the kids are correct? The whales and dolphins and all the creatures swimming in the ever warming oceans can’t hear all of the rationalizations made by us, and they just live and die. So disappointing. Cal Poly Humboldt should be honest with their students.

Thank you for the timely episode. I really needed that and appreciate the input and insight. Always a treat. These are challenging times and baseline guidance is helpful.

I’ve been listening to hidden brain for almost 5 years. Safe to say that I feel better after listening to each episode. Highly recommended

Mind blown. This episode took me full circle. From why I made decisions, why I didn’t make others starting at 12 years old, to how my phrase “behind the curtain” pertaining to the hidden brain has scientific significance in connection with “telling the universe what you want”. I have these conversations with my adulting kids, but this podcast will be our Sunday dinner music and conversation. Thank you!

This is an intelligent, thoughtful, excellently done show. Shankar Vendantam has a great voice and cadence, and he brings the material to life. This is one of my favorites. Update: Knocking off one star due to the use of AI art. Disappointing.

I would have given this 5 stars, but the AI images straight-forward give me nightmares, i mean ok use it for ads or something like that, but not a respected VERY famous podcast, i mean this has got me disappointed if ill be honest, u guys know better, like even podcasts with less popularity use REAL photos, i mean come on hidden brain, :)

Excellent subject matter and guests. Production note: distracting and unnecessary musical flourishes in the middle of interviews add nothing and feel intrusive.

The guest on this show is in the habit of up speak. She also has a pretty limited vocabulary. I found that her idea of authenticity could be similarly labeled moments of joy. But I fear for her that she will not get the respect she may deserve unless she learns to change her grammar and speech patterns. It’s hard to admire somebody who speaks this way.

I listen to a LOT of podcasts. And this still holds the top spot for me. The subject matter is highly relevant for all of us, touching on fundamental aspects of our humanity. It’s thoroughly researched, educational, compassionate, and heart warming. Please listen!

The show has become quite boring in the last year. It used to have interesting subjects and guests but all too often has supremely irritating guests who are academics and speak down to us in a pedantic manner. I also find the host’s accent really annoying.

This is our favorite podcast of all time, as it offers thought- provoking and insightful discussions on important topics. Great choices in guest speakers, and Shankar is a skilled host and interviewer. Five stars!

It’s taken me much too long to write this review! I have been a fan of Hidden Brain for years, and have purchased numerous books after listening to the interviews. Shankar is such a skilled and inquisitive interviewer - truly the perfect example of what an interviewer should be! Each episode brings a different perspective and he’s had so many fascinating people on the show. Can’t recommend it highly enough!

The dude got political. I understand this is NPR related and thus, nothing but left-wingers run the show, but you had to do it.

Love this show but did not like the most recent story about catching the bunny. Poor bunny.

I love the show but was disgusted when I opened the app and saw the AI photos! I had believed ya’ll put a little more heart and thought into this show than to just slap that on as the cover but I am very disappointed to be wrong. I’m not even fully against AI, but being used in this way is a very saddening move.

Hidden Brain should know better, I thought you were all about being good humans. Using AI images steals from the artists and photographers who did not give permission to be used. I can’t in good conscience listen to a show that doesn’t understand this. Also, the AI images are creepy uncanny valley, they make your show look bad.

5 stars for content. 1 star for delivery because ads are annoying with paid subscription

Your show is very insightful and informative. I like listening and learn how our brain works. Thank you!

Shankar Vedantam’s voice is so soothing and the topics are so on point with what is happening with the collective. Hidden Brain is a social science gem that offers empowering insights.

I love listening to Hidden Brain they are all interesting but some of them are mind blowing

Love your show! So interesting 👏

I find I think back to these episodes after I’ve listened. Interesting to learn why we react the way we do and what we focus on.

First off, I do usually love this podcast and am a paid subscriber, however, the last podcast with Jessica Tracy on pride, was disheartening. She includes being extroverted in her list of “all the good traits”. Is being an introvert a ‘bad’ trait? I find it hard to believe that introversion is a trait associated with bragging and or exaggerated displays of pride. I would love to understand that comment more and understand the research associated with it.

I love Hidden Brain. It has pulled me out of the depths of despair many a time. My five stars can counteract one person’s ‘poor’ review of this great show, which reads exactly like a bad Google restaurant review where someone gives one star because it snowed that day and it took them five extra minutes to get to the restaurant. 🙄 If you don’t like a particular episode, MOVE ALONG or don’t listen. One ‘bad’ episode every now and again out of hundreds doesn’t negate a one star.

I understand the need for ads, but the constant interruption with both ads and segue music is distracting and ruins the momentum for me. I'm very interested in the topics and I think you are an excellent interviewer, but when momentum is stopped every few minutes, it's very distracting.

The guest on this episode demonstrated everything not to do to win people over. Why would you have a guest who is obviously so bad at interpersonal skills to discuss this important topic?

I personally find the trope of asking the expert in the topic for a personal anecdote to be obnoxious and distracting. This combined with Shankar speaking to us as if we were children makes for a dumbed down listen on nuanced and complex topics.

Smart, captivating, fun, leaving you better than it finds you!!! Love love love!

I love the Hidden Brain! I look forward to each episode of thought provoking research. But on October 7- the episode “the hidden meaning behind the words we use”-contained some not so hidden sound effects, music, etc. I’m guessing it was to enhance the subject matter. It did not- in fact- I came close to turning off this episode many times because I found the background effects annoying. I know you’ve used music in the past, but this particular effort was a huge distraction from the subject matter- which was as usual- fascinating. Please try and make sure the background sound effects don’t compete w the people talking.

Listening to the latest podcast episode, I was struck by the overuse of voice effects. I found these effects to be very annoying to the degree that I didn’t want to finish the episode. Please reconsider this trend.

I like that this podcast makes you look at things from a different perspective and question why and how you became who you are and how to improve yourself

Thank you for a truly amazing podcast. I just listened to your episode on money amd I took 6 pages of notes! I plan to use my insights to help me rewrite my scripts about money!

Your team has made impactful influence in my own healing journey. I just want to say thank you for providing meaningful conversations amongst the meaningless deceptions common today. As we change ourselves we change the world. Thank you.

I love your podcasts and have learned so much listening to you and your guests. I also love your laugh and sense of humor. I’m from Suriname and live in US since 1971. Keep doing the good work, it’s just great! Li

Sometimes I don’t enjoy a particular topic or guest. As with anything I can skip. It’s my choice- I’ve truly enjoyed so many episodes and recommend this podcast to so many people. Thank you for a smart discussion on sooooo many topics.