Life Examined

Some dreamers of the Caribbean dream

04 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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"Moby-Dick" remains a psychedelic enigma

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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The Japanese Art of Happiness

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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Is "Lonesome Dove" an answer to modern male loneliness?

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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In praise of quiet kindness, when the world is asking us to be loud

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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The Two Quotes I Think of — and Lean on — Every Day

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What Viktor Frankl and Seneca say about meaning and mental health. An essay from LifeExamined.substack.com. Please subscribe! It's only takes a minute...

Stay in touch with Life Examined over on Substack!

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Hey everyone! It's Jonathan Bastian. Just popping in to tell you that I've been staying busy with a new weekly newsletter on Substack. I'm also spendi...

Robert Macfarlane: "Is a River Alive?"

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Macfarlane of Cambridge University shares his extraordinary journey writing and researching his latest book “Is a River Alive?” and explain...

When to medicate the mind with Laura Delano

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Laura Delano is the author of “UNSHRUNK: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance." As you’ll hear, Laura Delano speaks from first hand experie...

Yale happiness guru Laurie Santos on the power of time off and modern parenting traps

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Laurie Santos talks about the power of a sabbatical, burn out, and her new online course titled: “The Science of Well-Being for Parents”  —a d...

Ocean Vuong: "The Emperor of Gladness"

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ocean Vuong is a Vietnamese American poet, essayist, novelist and professor of modern poetry and poetics at New York University. Some of you may alre...

“He showed us what simplicity could offer:” Pico Iyer and Paul Elie remember Pope Francis

26 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pico Iyer, essayist and author of numerous books including  “The Half Known Life:In Search of Paradise ” and most recently  “Aflame: Learning ...

Midweek Reset: Life: less itinerary - more flow

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, economist and author of “Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us,” Russ Roberts offers a different perspective and appro...

Brainwashing; the history and complexity of coercive persuasion

19 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rebecca Lemov, professor of the history of science at Harvard University and author of “The Instability of Truth: Brainwashing, Mind Control, and Hy...

Midweek Reset: The Myths of Meritocracy

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Michael Sandel, professor of political philosophy at Harvard University and author of “The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Commo...

Fred Luskin: ‘forgiveness is being at peace with your life.’

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fred Luskin, director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project, reflects on the nature of forgiveness and the value of letting go of grievances....

Midweek Reset: Super communicators

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer prize-winning reporter and author of Supercommunicators; How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection talks abo...

Jillian Turecki; ‘when it comes to love, it begins with you.’

05 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jillian Turecki, renowned couples coach, host of the podcast, ‘Jillian On Love.’ and author “It Begins With You: The 9 Hard Truths About Love Th...

Midweek Reset: The Gift Economy

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Indigenous ecologist and author of “The Serviceberry: An Economy of Gifts and Abundance,” talks about the virtues ...

Are we wired for discovery? Alex Hutchinson on the Explorer’s Gene.

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Hutchinson, award-winning journalist and author “The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map...

Midweek Reset: On having kids

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Jennifer Senior, New York Times opinion writer and author “All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood,”  discusses the impac...

Unlocking the teen brain: Lisa Damour’s guide to raising emotionally balanced kids

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa Damour, psychologist and author of “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents,” addresses s...

Midweek Reset: On Mind over Body

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, journalist and author of The Explorers Gene:Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map,” Alex Hutchinson tac...

What it’s like to be an alcoholic: a renowned philosopher’s struggle with addiction

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Owen Flanagan, professor of philosophy and neurobiology at Duke University and author of “What Is It Like to Be an Addict? Understanding Substance A...

Midweek Reset: On failure

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, polar scientist, explorer and author of “Life Lessons From Explorers: Learn how to weather life’s storms from history’s greatest expl...

Life lessons from history’s greatest explorers

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Polar scientist Felicity Aston reflects on her fascination with exploration; shares lessons on survival, risk, and adventure.  Guest: Felicity Aston ...

Midweek Reset: Connecting with teens

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, psychologist and author of “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents,” Lisa Damour a...

Poet David David Whyte on death, anxiety, and MDMA

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

David Whyte, poet and author of “Consolations II: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words,” reflects on the transformativ...

Midweek Reset: Marriage Actually

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, writer and author of Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story, Leslie Jamison reflects on her childhood marriage fantasy and says when it come...

Understanding anxiety — and its surprising upside

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Episode description: Jonathan Bastian talks with Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, professor of psychology and neuroscience and director of the Emotion Regulation ...

Midweek Reset: Toxic Positivity

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, cognitive scientist and professor of psychology at Yale University Lori Santos explains that negative emotions are very much part of the hu...

Baratunde Thurston: how black communities are reclaiming their connection to nature

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Baratunde Thurston, comedian, writer and host of the TV series “America Outdoors,” on PBS reflects on life growing up in Mount Pleasant, Washingto...

Midweek Reset: Sleep

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Kenneth Miller, writer and author of "Mapping the Dark; The Visionary Scientists Who Unlocked The Mysteries of Sleep," offers a practical a...

The Black Utopians; vision, history, and legacy

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ruha Benjamin, sociologist and professor of African American Studies at Princeton University discusses the concept of "us topia" as an alternative bet...

Midweek Reset: On Attachment Styles

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Amir Levine, associate professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and co-author of Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and Ho...

Dan Winter’s End; dementia and the controversial decision to accelerate one’s death.

02 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lewis Cohen, a psychiatrist and dementia researcher and Jeff Zesiger, a hospice specialist, discuss the complexities of end-of-life decisions for deme...

Midweek Reset: On The Cosmos

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Kelsey Johnson, astronomer and author of  Into the Unknown:The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos talks about the Cosmos and...

Learning from Silence; Pico Iyer on the Transformative Power of Solitude & Monastic Life

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and author Pico Iyer chronicles his over one hundred retreats to a small Benedictine hermitage high above the ocean in Big Sur, Northern Califo...

Midweek Reset: On Arrival Fallacy

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alex Hutchison, writer and author of  Endure and The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on th...

L.A. on Fire: trauma and the psychology of loss

19 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the aftermath of the massive devastation, loss of life, homes and communities due to the recent fires in Los Angeles, George Bonanno, Margot Kushel...

Midweek Reset: On Trauma and Resiliency

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Brad Stulberg writer and author of “Master Of Change: How To Excel When Everything Is Changing - Including You,” shares hopeful observa...

Endurance and the edge of death: unraveling the mysteries of human resilience

12 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author and palliative care doctor Sunita Puri reflects on the hope that drives people to hold on to life, and the uncertainties surrounding death. End...

Midweek Reset: On Variety

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week MIT cognitive scientist and author Tali Sharot reflects on how variety and breaking up routines and habits can help foster a reset and resto...

Exploring the cosmos: Astronomer Kelsey Johnson helps unravel the mysteries of the universe

05 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Johnsons points out that being engaged in the larger questions of our existence is also healthy for us. “We need this exposure to the universe to in...

The Japanese art of happiness: From ikigai, to ritual, to embracing old age

29 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode originally aired on July 23, 2023. Navigating the relentless pace of the modern world often means being bombarded by daily distractions,...

Winter wisdom: Katherine May on grief, loss, and the power of celebration

22 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and winter enthusiast Katherine May revels in the winter months. While the long, dark evenings invite us to huddle indoors and disconnect from ...

Tragic optimism and the male identity crisis with Brad Stulberg

15 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Brad Stulberg, author of Master Of Change: How To Excel When Everything Is Changing — Including You shares his observations of humanity, resourceful...

Is digital addiction fuelling a teen suicide crisis?

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A warning to listeners: The following conversation references suicide, suicidality, and content that is inappropriate for young listeners.    Even ...

Midweek Reset: Finding a way (or path)

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week British author Raynor Winn reflects on healing, hope and resilience. Finding herself homeless and coping with her husband’s recent health ...

Renowned psychologist Tara Brach on the power of Buddhism in modern therapy

01 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode was originally broadcast Saturday, June 26th, 2021 Over the past few decades, Buddhism and psychology have served as bridges connecting...

Midweek Reset: On legacy letters

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Rabbi Steve Leder on why we should consider what we leave those closest to us when we die to include a legacy letter or ‘ethical will.’ ...

‘The Serviceberry’: Robin Wall Kimmerer’s guide to the gift economy

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Potawatomi botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer discusses the philosophy of a “gift economy” in her latest book The Serviceberry,  expanding on the t...

Midweek Reset: On Awe

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week clinical psychologist and author Dacher Keltner delves into the science and mysteries surrounding awe and shares that awe is not just found ...

Food, Farming, Faith and Hip Hop; Black earth wisdom and the fight for environmental and racial justice

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The plight of Black farmers in America has a dark history. The trauma of stolen lands and exploited labor may explain why there are now relatively few...

Midweek Reset: On Resilience

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week clinical psychologist George Bonanno at Columbia University explores resilience and challenges some traditional notions about trauma and say...

Ryan Holiday: A Stoics guide to doing the right thing

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout our lives we face situations that require a response. While events unfold around us, how we choose to react — or whether we choose to rea...

Breaking beyond tribalism and apathy: The brighter side of politics

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the U.S. election just days away there’s a palpable sense that with whichever candidate emerges victorious, it could signal the beginning of th...

Midweek Reset: The Art of the Imperfect

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Oliver Burkeman journalist and author of “Meditations for Mortals” discusses the complexities of trying to be perfect in an imperfect wo...

Oliver Burkeman and the art of imperfectionism

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and author Oliver Burkeman discusses the complexities of happiness, well-being, and productivity — emphasizing the futility of seeking ...

Midweek Reset: On Friendship

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Kate Murphy, journalist and author of “You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters,” sheds some light on the value ...

The senses: A philosophical and sensual exploration of sound, taste, and touch

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the years go on and as science and research advances, we’re learning more and more about how animals are able to use sound and vibrations to effe...

Midweek Reset: On Anxiety

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Judson Brewer psychiatrist, neuroscientist at Brown University and author of “Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycle...

Here’s what ‘Wild Rituals’ author Caitlin O’Connell learned from the elephants

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The amazing sights of the vast African savannas are familiar to many of us through the lens of superb documentary films and videos. Though there are m...

Midweek Reset: On Trees

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Peter Wohlleben, renowned German forester and author of  “The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate,” talks about ...

What does boredom do for us… and to us?

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Why do we get bored? And what exactly happens to us when we experience boredom?  Like joy and anxiety, boredom is a state of mind. Being bored does ...

Midweek Reset: Rebranding Hope

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Jamil Zaki, professor of Psychology at Stanford University and author of “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness,”...

Autism “it’s not a disease, it’s a different way of being”

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode originally aired on November 12, 2022. Jonathan Bastian talks with Lauren Ober, producer, podcast host and executive producer of The...

Leading a good life doesn’t always mean leading an easy one

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to lead a happy and fulfilling life?   Most of us seek happiness through pleasure, calm, and order — preferring to avoid the dis...

Midweek Reset: Sexual Recession

18 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Esther Perel, psychotherapist, bestselling author and the host of the podcast “Where Should We Begin?” talks about a sexual recession. P...

Positivity and hope: How to navigate society away from cynicism

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you feel like we’re living in an era marked by increased mistrust, political tension, and cynicism — you’re not alone, research confirms this...

Midweek Reset: Gaslight

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week Robin Stern, psychoanalyst, and author of “The Gaslight Effect: How to Spot and Survive the Hidden Manipulation Others Use to Control Your...

Rediscovering sexual desire and eroticism with Esther Perel

08 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Few people offer greater insight, sensitivity, and expertise on human relationships and sexuality than Esther Perel. Born and raised in Belgium, Perel...

In search of happiness: The secrets and science behind leading a good life

01 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode originally aired on January 28, 2023. Jonathan Bastian talks with Harvard Medical School Professor of Psychiatry Robert Waldinger abo...

Midweek Reset: Life: less itinerary - more flow

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode originally aired on October 25, 2023. This week, economist and author of “Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us,” ...

Can contemplating death inform a better life

25 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

According to Chaplain Devin Sean Moss, death “informs how we live.” The idea of impermanence —the notion that everything is in a constant state ...

Midweek Reset: On boredom and kids

21 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week James Danckert, psychology professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and co-author of “Out of My Skull: The Psychology of Bored...

‘What do we want in a partner?’ Relationships and how to foster deeper connections

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Finding an ideal partner can be an elusive quest. Over the past three decades, attitudes on relationship roles and dynamics have shifted. Thanks to on...

Could your friend be your life partner? The history and shifting nature of friendship

11 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to relationships, a friendship can hold a far more nuanced and significant place in our hearts, than perhaps we fully appreciate. The P...

Midweek Reset: On Meditation

07 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and co-author of “The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longes...

The art of conversation: Charles Duhigg on how to be a super communicator

04 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s job market, “good communication skills” is often listed as a top requirement. This essential ability not only helps you connect and c...

Midweek Reset: Power practices

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Kemi Nekvapil, leadership coach and author of “Power: A Woman’s Guide to Living and Leaving without Apology” shares a couple of pow...

Wild Sorrow: Poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer on losing her son and finding her way forward

28 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There may be no greater pain in life than that of losing a child; the gaping hole felt when a young life is abruptly cut short, leaving parents to dea...

Midweek Reset: On self curation

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Alain de Botton, philosopher, author and founder of The School of Life talks about why today’s social and cultural environment is contami...

Can birth control mess with the mind? Navigating pregnancy with mental disorders

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Hill, professor of social psychology at Texas Christian University and author of This is your brain on birth control: The surprising science of ...

Midweek Reset: Family trauma

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Terry Real, renowned couples therapist and author “Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship” reflects on the k...

Are you being gaslit? How to navigate and stop the gaslighting in your relationship

14 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever been accused of ‘gaslighting' someone, you might find yourself unsure about what exactly you're being accused of.  The term is the...

Robert Macfarlane on nature, language, and music

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode originally aired on July 2, 2022. British writer Robert Macfarlane grew up loving mountains. A keen hiker, he says mountains are in his ...

Midweek Reset: On Relationships

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Rabbi Steve Leder, author of “For You When I Am Gone: Twelve Essential Questions to Tell a Life Story” reflects on the legacy we leave...

The art of travel: A vagabond’s joys, essence, and philosophy

30 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

*This episode originally aired on January 14, 2023. From our earliest ancestors, we’ve been travelers — first as nomadic tribes, and later as rai...

Relationship skills: Couples counselor Terry Real on building a lasting partnership

23 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After 30 years of experience counseling couples, therapist Terry Real reflects on what makes building a long-term relationship difficult and the ski...

Empathy: The superpower of human connection

16 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Judith Orloff, UCLA clinical psychiatrist and author of The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships, an...

Midweek Reset: Perfectionism

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Katherine Morgan Schafler, author of The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control, explores our relationship with the ideal of being a ...

It’s all in her head: Gender bias in healthcare and reproductive rights

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Doctor Elizabeth Comen and Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Linda Greenhouse talk about gender bias and its lingering impact on women’s healthcare ...

Midweek Reset: On not giving advice

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Casper ter Kuile,  co-founder of Nearness, and author of “The Power of Ritual,” discusses the value of building community and comin...

Bittersweet: Susan Cain on the joy of sweet sorrow

02 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bastian talks with writer, lecturer, and author Susan Cain about the sweet joy of sadness. Cain, author of Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longi...

Midweek Reset: On Discipline

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Ryan Holiday, speaker and author of  “Discipline is Destiny: The Power of Self Control” shares some advice on the stoic virtue of sel...

‘The Perfectionist’s Guide’: Learning to control our quest for the ideal

26 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Psychologist Katherine Morgan Schaflter talks about her book The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control, the universal desire to seek perfection, a...

‘The Sympathizer’ author Viet Thanh Nguyen on new memoir ‘A Man of Two Faces’

19 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pulitzer-prize winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses his memoir “A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial” and the challenges and ...

Midweek Reset: Cultivating Attention

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gloria Mark , Professor at the University of California at Irvine and author of the book “Attention Span:A Groundbreaking Way to Res...

Scott Galloway: Can the youth still make it in America?

12 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Scott Galloway discusses his book "The Algebra of Wealth" and the growing disconnect between young people and their economic futures.