Shankar Vedantam
Journalist and host of the Hidden Brain podcast, author of Useful Delusions (co-authored with Bill Mesler), who explores psychology, self-deception, and how unconscious biases shape behavior.
Best podcasts with Shankar Vedantam
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157 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 57min
Handling Difficult People, Healing Breakups, and the Science of Talking to Strangers | Shankar Vedantam
Shankar Vedantam, journalist, author, and mind-behavior explorer behind Hidden Brain, dives into handling difficult people, breakups, and talking to strangers. He gets into why trying to fix a partner backfires, how conflict patterns take over, why closure is often a solo job, and how tiny chats with strangers can quietly change your day.
84 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 1h 11min
How Lying To Yourself (A Little) Can Improve Your Relationships and Make the World Feel Less Insane | Shankar Vedantam
Shankar Vedantam, a journalist and the host of Hidden Brain, explores the unexpected benefits of self-deception in his latest book, Useful Delusions. He argues that our brains' ability to filter reality enhances relationships and supports empathy, even amid modern chaos. Shankar discusses the evolutionary roots of self-deception, its adaptive role in parenting, and when it becomes harmful. He provides insights on how understanding our own delusions can foster compassion towards others and improve communication, especially in challenging situations like vaccine hesitancy.
