Alive with Steve Burns

What if grief isn’t something to fix but something to understand? In this episode, psychotherapist Megan Devine breaks down the truth about loss, why we’re so uncomfortable with it, and how our culture gets grief completely wrong. From the myth of “moving on” to the pressure to feel better on a timeline, this conversation challenges everything we think we know about healing. Steve and Megan explor...

Blake Mycoskie opens up about building TOMS Shoes, chasing success, and still feeling empty. He unpacks the hidden cost of validation, the crash that followed, and how he’s redefining purpose, connection, and what it actually means to feel like enough. Together, Steve and Blake dig into the quiet pressure of chasing validation, how identity gets tangled up in achievement, and the crash that can fo...

Steve sits down with media psychology expert Rebecca Tukachinsky Forster to break down parasocial relationships, the one-sided connections we form with TV hosts, creators, and public figures. From childhood TV to social media, they explore why these connections feel real and how easily we trust them. They also look at how these connections can comfort, teach, and even help us feel less alone – and...

Megan helps Steve approach the anxieties, fantasies, and obsessions we bring to our relationship with money.   Dr. Megan McCoy is an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University’s Department of Personal Financial Planning. Received her Ph. D. in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia. She is also a licensed Marriage and...

Adam Savage sits down with Steve to discuss the future of facts, the scientific method, busting myths, and  he gives us a peek inside his legendary workshop.   Adam Savage is a veteran special-effects artist and maker whose early film work led him to co-host MythBusters, where his blend of engineering chops and gleeful chaos became a cultural staple. Currently he hosts Tested, his workshop-driven...

Is depression actually increasing or are we misunderstanding what it really is? Steve Burns sits down with psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Jessi Gold to unpack why depression is often confused with everyday sadness, burnout, or stress.   Is social media and modern life shaping the way we talk about mental health?   Why do so many people seem “fine” while quietly struggling?    And how is s...

Nearly 30% of households in the United States are now single-person homes. In this episode, Steve Burns talks with NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg about why more people are living alone than ever before - and what that shift means for relationships, happiness, and society.   From the psychology of solitude to the role of technology and dating apps, they explore how our relationships are evolving a...

Angela Santomero and Traci Paige Johnson, the creative forces behind Blue’s Clues, join Steve Burns for a 30-year reunion that goes far beyond nostalgia. They go deep behind the scenes to share never before heard stories.    Why did they cast Steve?   How the show almost didn’t make it to air.     The spinoff you never heard about.   They also discuss why  pauses mattered more than punchlines, how...

Malala Yousafzai joins Steve Burns for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation about surviving the Taliban, winning the Nobel Peace Prize at 17, and growing up under a global spotlight as “the bravest girl in the world.”  Malala also opens up about college life, falling in love, online scrutiny, panic attacks, and therapy. In a candid look at mental health and public expectations, she redefines bra...

The legendary Bill Nye joins Steve Burns for an honest, fun, and - occasionally unsettling - conversation about one deceptively simple question: how do people decide what’s true? Nye breaks down why intellectual shortcuts are so tempting, why conspiracy thinking spreads so easily, and why the scientific method remains the most reliable tool for separating fact from fiction.  And they reflect on wh...

*** DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND BECOME A PART OF THE ALIVE FAMILY*** In this episode of Alive with Steve Burns, Steve sits down with journalist and firearms expert Stephen Gutowski for a calm, clear-eyed conversation about how guns came to occupy such a powerful place in American life and identity.  Together, they unpack how firearms shifted from practical tools into national mythology - and whe...

[Original air date: September 17, 2025] Steve and Jamie discuss what it means to be real and be human in a world of manufactured authenticity. Jamie Lee Curtis is an actress, producer, and children’s author. She has won numerous awards (Academy Award, BAFTA, Primetime Emmy, among others) and is considered one of the original scream queens. She is known for her iconic roles in the Halloween franchi...

In this episode, Steven talks with death doula Alua Arthur about how to prepare for the end of life before it becomes an emergency, and why doing so is one of the most generous things you can do for the people you love.   They walk through what end-of-life planning actually entails: wills, advance directives, healthcare proxies, power of attorney, medical decisions, and how to have these conversat...

** DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE NOW**   What does masculinity actually mean in a world where the old rules no longer seem to apply?    Social scientist Richard Reeves joins the show for a clear-eyed, data-driven conversation about why so many men feel untethered - and why the loudest online answers are mostly wrong. From “strength under control” to the quiet crisis facing boys and young men, this is...

Why are we so easily persuaded by charisma? In this episode, historian and writer Molly Worthen talks about the strange, magnetic force we call charisma and why it’s having such a moment right now.    Why aren’t facts more persuasive?    When does inspiration slide into manipulation?    How do you know when a story is moving  you or using you?    This isn’t about charm or “rizz.” It’s about storyt...

What does happiness mean and why do negative emotions matter more than we think?   In this thoughtful conversation, Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author of The Happiness Project and host of the Happier podcast, joins Steven Burns to explore what it really means to live a meaningful life. Rather than chasing constant positivity, Gretchen makes the case for embracing the full emotional spectrum - sadn...

Steve was a recently guest on the podcast Origin Stories and we wanted to share the episode with you. Origin Stories is the ultimate podcast for anyone curious about the workings of the creative mind. Each week, journalist Matthew Shaer talks to a different writer or director about the creation of a work close to their own hearts (and to ours). Nothing is off the table: not the frustrations and th...

This week, we’re taking a deep breath for the holidays, so we’re sharing an episode of Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know. Hasan sits down with documentary legend Ken Burns for a conversation that feels a bit like American history class — if history class were funny, generous, and quietly profound. Ken joins Hasan to talk about his new film on the American Revolution, the stories we choose to tell about ou...

Daryl shares his incredible experience of engaging right-wing extremists with Steve—and how he convinced many of them to open their worldview.   Dr. Daryl Davis is a blues musician, author, and activist. Daryl received awards and acclaim for his book Klan-Destine Relationships and his award-winning film documentary Accidental Courtesy. As a musician, he has performed with Chuck Berry, The Legendar...

Steve and Cas get silly as they discuss the serious work of play and how it shapes and enriches our lives. Cas Holman is a toy designer, writer, and expert on design. She developed the renowned Rigamajig line of toys. Cas was previously a professor at Syracuse University and the Rhode Island School of Design. She was featured on Netflix’s Abstract: The Art of Design. Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat a...

Steve catches up with the amazing Rainn Wilson as they do a deep dive on faith, meaning, and a higher power. Rainn Wilson is an actor, comedian, and director. He is best known as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s The Office (2005-2013). He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Dwight. Rainn is currently the host of the Soul Boom podcast.   BetterHelp: Ali...

This week, we’re taking a short breath and sharing Steve’s recent conversation with David Duchovny from his guest appearance on Fail Better. The two talk about their shared admiration for Samuel Beckett and the surprising amount of common ground between them. They explore Steve’s two-decade retreat from the spotlight after the internet invented rumors about his death, and how he has returned with...

Adam Savage sits down with Steve to discuss the future of facts, the scientific method, busting myths, and  he gives us a peek inside his legendary workshop. Adam Savage is a veteran special-effects artist and maker whose early film work led him to co-host MythBusters, where his blend of engineering chops and gleeful chaos became a cultural staple. Currently he hosts Tested, his workshop-driven pl...

Steve wonders what the difference between “normal” and “not normal” is. His friend Desi drops by to help him out!   Dr. Desiree Jones is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and director of the SHINE Lab (Stigma, Human Interaction, and Neurodivergent Experiences) at the University of Maryland. She received her PhD in Psychological Sciences from the University of Texas at Dallas. She was named in t...

Reema swings by Steve’s window to share what she’s learned about money and why it’s so emotionally awkward.   Reema is the host of the Marketplace podcast, This is Uncomfortable. The show focuses on life and how money messes with it. Reema is an experienced audio journalist with an emphasis on personal finance. She reported in Turkey in 2018 as an ICFJ Bringing the World Home Fellow. Previously, s...