How to Be a Better Human
Episodes
How to unite people through art (with JR)
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Art can move us in deep, meaningful ways. A beautiful song, a good book, or a great film can change our perspectives and attitudes toward ideas, and s...
Body Stuff: Do you really need 8 hours of sleep?
30 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We all know a good night’s sleep is essential, but for many people, sleeping well (or falling asleep at all) can be difficult and even stressful– ...
How To Pitch Your Best Ideas | WorkLife with Adam Grant
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Great pitches can seem like genius or magic. But you don’t have to be a great salesperson to give a great pitch. Whether you’re floating an idea a...
How to talk to a colleague who offended you
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dionna and Denise had a professional relationship that mostly worked–until it didn’t. After a string of mishaps in their workplace, a comment Deni...
How to find gratitude everyday
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the year draws to a close and the collective mood turns reflective, we asked you—our listeners—to pick moments from the first season that stuck...
How creating space for joy can build resilience (with Miracle Jones)
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With all the terrible things happening in the world lately, does the idea of maintaining a spark of joy in your day to day feel unrealistic? Or even i...
How to nurture your “emotional agility” (with Susan David)
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you’re the kind of person who “gets in their feels” or you’re more the type to sweep things under the rug, all humans experience emoti...
How to enrich your everyday life with poetry (with Sarah Kay)
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Roses are red, violets are blue, has poetry ever been intimidating for you? For many people, this art form can feel unapproachable for a myriad of rea...
How thinking critically about history shapes our future (with David Ikard)
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can you think of a time when you told a story and remembered it...wrong? Perhaps you forgot a small detail, like the color of someone’s shoes, or so...
How to co-parent as allies, not adversaries (with Ebony Roberts)
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of your home or your childhood, what comes to mind? Did you feel cared for and loved? Did you trust that your parents were always doing...
How to find health information you can trust (with Dr. Jen Gunter)
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
While technology and the internet have made accessing information easier than ever, how can we discern between the facts we need to make the right dec...
How practicing curiosity could help the world around you (with Joe Hanson)
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered why there are seven days in a week? Or, why glaciers are blue—or what color even is? Today’s guest, YouTube creator Joe Han...
Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi: How many friends do I need?
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Time with friends just isn’t the same with a screen in between you. That’s a struggle many have faced recently, with half of Americans saying they...
How to be a better steward of the environment
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If there’s one thing that connects all humans, it’s that everything we walk on, breathe, drink, and eat comes from the same source: planet Earth. ...
How to find the humor in everyday life (with Jo Firestone)
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you really, really laughed? For some people, laughter comes easily and anything can set them off. But for many of us, finding h...
How engaging with the natural world benefits you-- and science (with Mary Ellen Hannibal)
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of a scientist, do you think of a person in a lab coat? How about a teenager with a smartphone-- or even, yourself? Mary Ellen Hannibal...
How to tap into your self-awareness-- and why it even matters (with Tasha Eurich)
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine someone just pointed out you have something stuck in your teeth. A comment like that would probably make most of us self-conscious, but you’...
How to have conversations with people who hate you? (with Dylan Marron)
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you are online and especially if you're on social media, it’s likely you’ve engaged with people whose opinions are different from your own. Whi...
How to future-proof your career? (with Dorie Clark)
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hustle culture, burnout, “toxic productivity.” Does today’s fast-paced world ever leave you feeling rushed? Dorie Clark teaches executive educat...
How humility and bravery can help your career
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether they are academics, designers, medical professionals, or anything in between, our guests are leaders in their fields whose expertise goes beyo...
Design Matters with Debbie Millman: Celebrating Pride
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alison Bechdel. Eileen Myles. Kenny Fries. Saeed Jones. Four icons reflect on their journeys in this special Pride episode of Design Matters. For more...
TED Climate: What happens to the plastic you throw away?
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic is everywhere. We know we should cut down on it where we can, but is plastic ever the answer? In this episode, a whole world of plastic you ne...
Science of Happiness: Scheduling Time to Feel Awe
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling awe can boost your mood and make you feel more connected with others. Comedian Chris Duffy learns how to tap into it. This is an episode of Th...
How to Be a Better Human Recommends
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of each interview, Chris asks guests: What idea, book, or piece of culture has made you a better human? In today’s episode, we compile ne...
How to really see patience as a virtue
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over the course of the podcast, our guests have shared insights for how anyone can be a better human-- in love, in the workplace, in our communities, ...
How to lead a happier, more fulfilling life (with Dr. Robert Waldinger)
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Listening to your favorite song, going on vacation, chocolate… What makes YOU happy? Today’s guest, psychiatrist Dr. Robert Waldinger, is the dire...
How to stop sabotaging your romantic relationships (with Raquel Peel)
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Does it ever feel like you—or someone you know—is always entering a relationship that’s doomed? According to psychology researcher, Dr. Raquel P...
How to deal with jerks in the workplace (with Christine Porath)
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had a rude co-worker or boss — or have you ever been told that the “jerk” is you? Today’s guest, Christine Porath, researches in...
How to become a better ally (with Nita Mosby Tyler)
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do we mean when we call ourselves “allies”? For Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler, being an ally means being a person that uses their own resources and pr...
How to create a more just future with your community (with Raj Jayadev)
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How would you describe your community? And what if the stories you tell have the power to save someone from injustice? With the popularity and support...
How to forget about finding “The One”— and build a lasting relationship (with Dr. George Blair West)
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you choose to be in a relationship —long or short term— how do you go about picking the right person to spend your time with? And once you are ...
How to make language fun— and create a more inclusive world (with Juli Delgado Lopera)
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember the first time you used “Google” as a verb? Or a time before there were “selfies”? Language is constantly evolving, and as a r...
How learning about indigenous foods can open up your worldview (with Sean Sherman)
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What’s your favorite dish — and what culture originated that recipe? Whether you’re thinking about grilled cheese, burritos, curry, pho… (we w...
BODY STUFF: Why are we so awkward about poop?
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When most people think about poop, they think about shame and embarrassment. It’s something they don’t want to talk about and that prevents us fro...
How to tap into the transformative power of reading (with Michelle Kuo)
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you got lost in a book? If it’s been a minute, today’s guest might recommend you visit a local library or bookstore ASAP. M...
How zombies, dragons, and superheroes could make you a better person (with Christopher Robichaud)
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Roleplaying games and the Marvel universe may be fictional, but they can also teach us a lot about morality in the real world. Christopher Robichaud i...
How to handle the ups and downs of social media (with Aparna Nancherla)
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After scrolling through your social media feeds, how do you feel? Empowered and connected -- anxious, or exhausted? When stand up, actor, and writer A...
How to spend money to buy happiness (with Michael Norton)
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can money really buy happiness? Michael Norton is a social science researcher who studies how we feel about our spending decisions. His work explores ...
How to Rethink a Bad Decision | WorkLife with Adam Grant
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In life and work, we have a hard time changing course. When we wind up in a miserable job, a failing project, or a floundering romantic relationship, ...
How to turn climate anxiety into action (with Luisa Neubauer)
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes it feels like fighting climate change is all about dealing with the many little things we as individuals are doing wrong (hello single-use c...
How to sleep like your relationships depend on it (with Wendy Troxel)
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How did you sleep last night? Whether you sleep next to someone or not, in today’s episode Wendy Troxel offers tips on how to catch better z’s. We...
How to care for your community with radical hospitality (with Doniece Sandoval)
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you volunteer in your community? Don’t feel bad if the answer is no. Whether you are currently involved in a cause or not, you probably have some...
How to have better conversations (with Celeste Headlee)
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Humans need to have conversations every day-- at our jobs, in our homes, in government-- so how can we handle these better? Celeste Headlee is an awar...
How to celebrate the ups —and downs— of family life(with Glen Henry)
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Families can be the cause of both great happiness and deep struggle. In today’s episode, Glen shares how he uses humor and empathy to redefine fathe...
How to bring confidence and joy into your sex life (with Emily Nagoski)
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sex is such a big part of being human. It's how our species persists, but it's also so much more than that. So why do we feel so uncomfortable talking...
How to redefine your self-worth (with Meag-gan O'Reilly)
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“What am I doing with my life? Where am I going?” During this isolated time, many of us are having to readjust our identities because our visions ...
How to be the set designer of your own world (with David Korins)
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us are spending the majority of our time confined to our homes and becoming aware of how the space we're in can affect our well-being. Design ...
How to get the medical care you deserve (with Leana Wen, M.D.)
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A doctor’s visit, even in the best of times, can be overwhelming to navigate. Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency physician and public health advocate who...
How to become a better ally (with Dwinita Mosby Tyler)
15 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What do we mean when we call ourselves “allies”? For Dr. Dwinita Mosby Tyler, being an ally means being a person that uses their own resources and...
How to thrive in remote work (with David Burkus)
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Water coolers, office bagels, frigid spaces with fluorescent lighting. Today's episode is all about work. It’s how we pay the bills, but it’s also...
How to fix our polarized conversations (with Robb Willer)
01 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is your family, community, or even your country more divided than ever? Today’s guest Robb Willer is here to share some compelling insights on how w...
How to cultivate resilience and get through tough times (with Lucy Hone)
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Life can throw curveballs that you feel wholly unprepared for-- just ask Dr. Lucy Hone, a resilience researcher, who tragically lost her 12-year-old d...
How to challenge conventional wisdom -- and change any industry (with Franklin Leonard)
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you think Hollywood needs to change? How about your own industry? It’s difficult to get decision makers to step outside of the tried and true and...
How to find the emotional support you need right now (with Guy Winch)
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you been feeling isolated or emotionally vulnerable lately? Loneliness is universal and while we can experience it at any point in our lives, we ...
Welcome to How To Be a Better Human
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us want to be better, but we’re not sure where to begin. Well, start here. Each week, host Chris Duffy talks to guests and past speakers who...