Long time subscriber to the show considering unsubscribing because just heard an ad for Amazon created and read by Shankar himself. So tired of science being in the pockets of billionaires. There are a million reasons to boycott Amazon. Very disappointed.

I’ve been a long-time listener and generally appreciate the thoughtful approach Hidden Brain brings to complex topics. However, I was deeply disappointed by the way Malcolm X was portrayed in a recent episode…as someone who promoted violence. This is a dangerous oversimplification of his philosophy and legacy. Malcolm X did not advocate violence as a solution; he advocated self-defense in the face of brutality and systemic neglect. To reduce his message to "violent rhetoric" without context reinforces harmful stereotypes about Black resistance and continues a long tradition of distorting the legacies of Black leaders who demand justice in uncompromising terms. Hidden Brain can and should do better, especially when handling the stories of figures whose words and intentions have long been misrepresented by mainstream narratives. Context matters. And when that context is missing, it doesn't just misinform, it perpetuates harm. I hope the show takes this feedback seriously and revisits the nuance and depth that Malcolm X deserves.

Great show and sub. I would like to add a theme to the thread of this episode. I think we may have excluded a group of people who don’t feel the pressure to comply or just go along. I can only speak for myself but I have always responded very negatively to any pressure to comply in both insignificant and very significant situations. I believe there are many people like that. Great show, thank you!

Some of the episode I have sent to my children, they act counseling sessions

Every episode teaches something new. A must listen!

Every topic discussed in this podcast is utterly fascinating. I listen to this podcast while I’m working and driving. Shankar is a great host. I love love the way he navigates each episode.

We got o ec r

I love it 😻 it's my favorite podcast, I can never sleep without playing it, I really recommend it ★★★★★

Love this content. Every show brings me knowledge that informs how I can improve myself and better understand others.

Listened to many episodes, but the 3/3 episode about “hiding your true self” was so tiresome. Covering is a good thing when it comes to your sexual orientation. Keep it to yourself…

I've listened to Hidden Brain ever since it was just a brief segment on NPR - I loved the fact that it made science accessible to everyone Unfortunately in the years since then it has increasingly veered towards soft-focus self-improvement with the host just asking softball Qs of guests as prompts, not actually engaging in any kind of intellectual discussion Aldo, please stop this practice of addressing the guest by their name EVERY SINGLE TIME you speak to them!! It's not necessary makes the host sound like a Dale Carnegie superfan ! Not sure how much longer I'll listen to this - I used to listen to new episodes ASAP but now it feels like a chore to get through one

For anyone interested in better understanding humans. Good for work, personal relationships, yourself, society as whole, doesn’t matter. I have gained tons of insight and information that I have put to use in my own life. I’ve listened to many pods over the years but this is one I consistently return to. The episodes are thoughtfully put together and always give the listener so much to think about. I highly recommend this podcast for anyone curious about why we do the things we do.

Hi Shankar! While I am a Christian, and draw different conclusions from much of your podcasts than you are probably expecting me to, I love your podcast and have been listening since 2019! Your dedication, time, energy, and heart shine through and it keeps me coming back!! I would love to challenge you to interview a pro lifer (preferably Christian). Abortion is the greatest human rights issue facing us today and I would love for more people to hear it from a pro life perspective. Thanks for your consideration!! Over 1 million human beings are murdered in America alone each year before they are given a right to life. It is devastating and many many MANY people feel this way. I would love for our perspectives to be heard. Thanks again :)

This is a favorite podcast of mine. I check it out every week for new insights and ideas. Sometimes it starts out basic but always ends with something new. Thanks Shankar and your team for a wonderful weekly treat!

Likening the use of reasonable accommodations or modifications by disabled person to lying about one’s name and intentions in order to perpetrate and in the course of committing a series of domestic and international serious felonies is not only a gross disservice to disabled (and nondisabled) people everywhere; it is frank disinformation and bigotry. This is true whether or not the HB team or its guest care to self reflect and admit their offensive error. We were going to subscribe but no longer can do so in good conscience, the manifest prejudice and/or harmful carelessness is that consequential to our lives. All the more so now, with other purveyors of disinformation who also are aggressively ableist persons being put in positions of considerable power. Sad and hurtful.

Maybe it can find its way again.

Thought provoking. Question what you know. Enjoy. The chosen guests and conversations are food for growth. Keep up the good work, Team!

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.

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.