Life Examined

LSD and Ecstasy were once the hippy-trippy illegal substances for concerts, raves, and parties. Now these psychedelics are back in the news — this time for their positive impact on trauma and depression.  Today nearly one in five American adults lives with a mental illness, and PTSD will affect an estimated 7.7 million Americans at some point in their life. That’s according to NAMI, the National A...

Teepa Snow, founder of the dementia support community Positive Approach to Care and author of  “ Understanding the Changing Brain: A Positive Approach to Dementia Care ,” has spent 40 years working and advocating for those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s.  She addresses our common misperceptions about the disease and why training is so important when it comes to care — not just for the patien...

Meghan O’Gieblyn, author of “God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning,” writes about the intersection of humanity and technology. She joins us to explore what happens when technology matches our creative, psychological, and intellectual needs — and how that impacts who we are as a species. Plus, how chatbots are evolving as a useful tool in combating loneliness...

Jennifer Senior , Pulitzer-prize winning essayist for the Atlantic, tells the story of mourning, love and recovery. Bobby McIlvaine died in the Twin Towers on  9/11. In her latest book  “On Grief; Love, Loss, Memory”  author Jennifer Senior reflects the lives of the McIlvaine family and how 20 years after the loss of their son Bobby, their unspeakable grief lingers on. Senior shares their moving p...

Kenji Yoshino , Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law and the director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging , provides practical tips and suggestions for a new way of having conversations about our differences that will help us get beyond cancel culture.  In his latest book, “Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Id...

Poet and philosopher Jennifer Michael Hecht shares how poetry provides joy, insight, and wisdom. In her latest book, “ The Wonder Paradox: Embracing the Weirdness of Existence and the Poetry of Our Lives ,” Hecht ponders our need for the sacred, and says that seeking out a poem or verses that speak to our daily challenges in life can become a kind of secular replacement for faith. Later, Hecht ope...

Legal scholar Adam Benforado explains how prioritizing our children’s future is the least costly and most effective way to address the major problems we face, whether that's poverty, or health or crime. Later, education reform specialist John Rogers says an increase in violent and hostile rhetoric within the public school system damages democracy and psychologist Erika Felix discusses the impact o...

German forester and author Peter Wohlleben explains how trees have a sophisticated method of communication and the ability to feel and heal. Author Susan Orlean talks about our love and relationship with animals, and what our fascination with them tells us about ourselves.   Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hungarian-born network scientist and author of “The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success,” Albert-László Barabási, explains the disconnect between performance and success, and provides a better understanding of what success really is. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Geneticist Amander Clark and religion, culture, and gender studies professor Samira Mehta discuss how science and religion define when human life begins. Later, bioethicist and philosopher Nancy Jecker reflects on the moral, ethical, and practical challenges of defining personhood. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

British author Katherine May offers some (heart)warming advice on winter and explores simple ways to rediscover the joy of enchantment. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Win or lose — the art and nature of games have a deeper impact on our lives than we might imagine. What’s the appeal, and what do we learn about ourselves? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Black writers and poets Quraysh Ali Lansana and Ishion Hutchinson share how their poetry is shaped by history, tradition, and the unearthing of forgotten histories. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Coach and author Brad Stulberg examines the science behind reaching our full potential, whether it be at work or in our personal lives. And shares his very personal story about getting diagnosed with OCD later in life. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Psychologist and author Dacher Keltner shares the science and mysteries surrounding awe, and suggests we make finding awe part of our daily lives. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, unlocks some of the secrets discovered via 80 years of research on happiness. Later, UCLA Professor of Marketing and Behavioral Decision Making Cassie Holmes reflects on how those who make the most of their time can be happie Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Renowned travel writer and author Pico Iyer reflects on how different cultures and peoples see life and death and find their own versions of happiness and paradise. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Traveler and author Rolf Potts shares his philosophy on meaningful travel and how embracing the unexpected can change us for the better.  Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Historian and author Rutger Bregman examines the science and the history behind human nature and argues that the human mind is wired to be good. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with David Whyte about the power of the written and spoken word. Whyte, a poet, philosopher, and speaker, discusses his latest collection of poems, “ Still Possible ,” in which he continues to explore vulnerability, relationships, and “the conversational nature of reality.” Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Journalist and author Will Storr explains how status influences everything we do. Whether consciously or subconsciously, we all seek to be of value and feel accepted. Author Chuck Thompson says today’s status ideals have shifted; status is not reflected in the clothes you wear, but more about what you do for society.   Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Science journalist and author Lydia Denworth explains the value of friendship and what we can learn from primates about the value of social bonds. Author, public speaker, and podcast host Oscar Trimboli explains the science behind listening and provides tips on how we learn to listen well and pay attention. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Philosopher and writer Chloé Jones explains how recognizing and appreciating moments of beauty in the world around her helped her come to terms with her own body and self-perception. Professor Shailen M. Singh says society needs to embrace a more equitable, inclusive, and humanizing approach, especially towards children with disabilities. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.c...

Jonathan Bastian talks with Sharon Salzberg  educator, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society , and author of several best selling books including “ Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom ,” about her early life traveling to India and discovering meditation, and the “unparalleled” sense of learning she discovered while studying under S.N. Goenka and others. “I think ba...

Psychologist and Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at King's College in London Francesca Happe talks about the progress in autism diagnosis especially in women and dispels some of the myths. Podcaster and writer Lauren Ober shares the story of her own later-in-life autism diagnosis. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe