Life Examined

Midweek Reset: Kieran Setiya on failure + process

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Kieran Setyia, professor of philosophy at MIT and author of “Life Is Hard: How Philosophy Can Help Us Find Our Way” reflects on failure...

Uprooted: Climate migration and scientist activism

05 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Abraham Lustgarten and scientist-turned-activist Rose Abramoff discuss the impacts of climate research on human migratory patterns and acti...

KCRW’s “How’s Your Sex Life” discusses falling in love and falling apart with Jonathan Bastian

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

KCRW Life Examined host Jonathan Bastian makes a guest appearance on KCRW’s How’s Your Sex Life, and talks about his insights on relationships, di...

Midweek Reset: Scott Galloway on Blessings

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Scott Galloway NYU professor, podcaster and author of “The Algebra of Wealth: A Simple Formula for Financial Security,” reflects on lif...

Border Crossings: Navigating identity, language, and belonging

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After years of working at the intersection of immigration and education, journalist Lauren Markham offers a different approach to writing about immigr...

Midweek Reset: Michael Pollan on psychedelics

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, renowned writer and author Michael Pollan on the new science of psychedelics. Pollan describes how new treatments using psilocybin can open...

Michael Pollan’s long and strange trip: shifting perspectives on food and psychedelics

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned writer and author Michael Pollan delves into his three-decade odyssey exploring America's food systems. With six bestselling books to his nam...

Midweek Reset: The lesson of Costa Rica

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, psychology and education professor at Columbia University, Peter Coleman explains why in turbulent times at home and across the globe, Co...

Laughter, leadership, and Improv: navigating the unscripted parts of your life

14 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Neil Mullarkey, comedian, actor, and author of In the Moment: Build your confidence, creativity, and communication at work, shares his journey into co...

Midweek Reset: Mood follows action

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Brad Stulberg writer and author of “The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success that Feeds – Not Crushes – Your So...

Are you in a relationship with a narcissist?

07 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Chatman, Professor of Management at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, looks at the role of narcissism in leadership and why CEOs of co...

Midweek Reset: Peaceful protest

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, clinical psychologist and Buddhist teacher Tara Brach on activism and how easy it is to unintentionally absorb the hate and anger leveled a...

Freud: What he said, why he matters

31 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto and the author of Psyche: The Story of the Human Mind, explores the history and contr...

Midweek Reset: Authenticity trap

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Denis McManus, professor of philosophy at the University of Southampton reflects on authenticity and the allure of being true to ourselves ...

Mapping the darkness; the science behind sleep

24 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Award-winning journalist and writer Kenneth Miller delves into our long and mysterious relationship with sleep and explores the scientists who embarke...

Midweek Reset: When to Quit

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, corporate speaker, former professional poker player and author of “Quit: The Power Of Knowing When To Walk Away, ” Annie Duke says know...

Splintering: When a divorce and first child arrive together

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed writer Leslie Jamison takes us on an intimate and honest personal journey, navigating the devastating collapse of her marriage and the joy o...

Midweek Reset: The Retirement Myth

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Yale professor of psychology Paul Bloom offers another perspective on retirement. Although leisure and free time are appealing, research ...

How to build community in an age of isolation

10 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While our modern lifestyles offer many advantages and independence, they have also led to a rise in loneliness as we’ve become less reliant on the c...

Midweek Reset: The wisdom of moss

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Indigenous ecologist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass speaks about the virtues of moss and how one of the smallest an...

‘Re-sparkling’: The science behind embracing variety and rejecting habituation

03 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While good habits and rituals are beneficial, brain scientists and psychologists also say the key to a fulfilling and happy life is novelty, variety, ...

Midweek Reset: Are you addicted?

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Anna Lembke, addiction specialist at Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance ...

Inciting joy: Poet Ross Gay on gardening, grief, and basketball

25 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bastian talks with Ross Gay, poet, essayist, and professor of English at Indiana University. Author of “The Book of Delights,” Gay’s la...

Heartbreak and divorce: reflections on endings, healing, and self-discovery

18 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In his article “Science can explain a broken heart. Could science help heal mine?,” Los Angeles Times columnist Todd Martens shares his story of h...

Midweek Reset: The Art of Love

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, philosopher and writer Alain de Botton says, simple as it sounds, there's nothing more enduring and attractive in a partner than being full...

Addicted to distraction: How our world is robbing our ability to pay attention

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

According to psychologist Gloria Mark, the average attention span is just 47 seconds. Mark, a two-decade veteran in researching attention, says our ab...

Midweek Reset: Negativity bias

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, clinical psychologist and Buddhist teacher Tara Brach on suffering, the negativity bias and why it’s a good idea not to overly fixate on ...

Facing death without God: Spiritual care in the final hours of a death row inmate

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Devin Sean Moss, humanist chaplain, writer, and host of The Adventures of Memento Mori podcast, discusses belief, prayer, and his role as a chaplain p...

Midweek Reset: Why we hate

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, historian George Makari explores the powerful human emotion of hate, xenophobia and fear of the other and says some people “fall in hate,...

Why allergies and gut health are getting worse

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Theresa MacPhail, associate professor of science and technology studies at Stevens Institute of Technology and author of Allergic: Our Irritated Bodie...

Midweek Reset: Ikigai

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Iza Kavedžija, a cultural anthropologist who lived in the Kansai region of Japan, while researching the older members of Japanese society,...

God is a verb: The mystical, existential poetry of Christian Wiman

20 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Wiman, author of Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair, discusses life after being diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of his...

Midweek Reset: Radical Truth Telling

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Anna Lembke, addiction specialist at Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance ...

Robert Sapolsky on life without free will

13 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology, neurology, and neuro-surgery at Stanford University. He’s also a neuroendocrinology researcher and author...

Midweek Reset: The Future Happiness Trap

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Oliver Burkeman, journalist and author of Four Thousand Weeks; Time Management for Mortals explores our relationship with time and asks h...

The wonder of water — and why we love to swim

06 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Katherine May, British writer and author of Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, shares her love of the winter months, describ...

Midweek Reset: Savoring the ordinary

03 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Cassie Holmes, Professor of Marketing and Behavioral Decision Making and author of “Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your T...

Can pain and suffering sweeten our lives?

31 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bastian talks with psychologist Paul Bloom about the role that hardship and pain play in living a good life. Bloom, author of  “The Sweet ...

Wintering and enchantment: A pathway to healing and happiness

24 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

British author Katherine May offers some (heart)warming advice on winter and explores simple ways to rediscover the joy of enchantment. Get full acces...

Midweek Reset: Tech Sabbath

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Harvard divinity scholar Casper ter Kuile talks about the power of ancient ritual and how incorporating a tech sabbath and switching off ou...

Owls: What they know and what humans believe

16 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Carl Safina, ecologist and founding president of The Safina Center at Stony Brook University in New York, shares his experience raising a small owl. S...

Antarctic expedition: A treatise on climate change and motherhood

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Rush, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth, describes her voyage to the mos...

Midweek Reset: Wintering

09 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, British author Katherine May offers a (heart) warming perspective on winter. Rather than dread or endure the cold and dark days, rediscover...

Distilling life on the page: The beauty of storytelling with Yiyun Li

02 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Yiyun Li, writer and author most recently of a collection of short stories Wednesday’s Child: Stories, talks about the beauty of storytelling and ho...

Midweek Reset: Toxic positivity

29 Nov 2023

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...

Dopamine Nation: Living in an addicted world

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bastian talks with Dr. Anna Lembke, director and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, about the role of dopamine i...

The science of spirituality — and why it’s good for our mental health

18 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa Miller, professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University and author of “The Awakened Brain; The New Science of Spirituality and Our Ques...

Midweek Reset: The Power of Subtraction

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, professor and director of the Convergent Behavioural Science Initiative at the University of Virginia Leidy Klotz explains why when it come...

Time management: A guide to more sanity and less anxiety

10 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Oliver Burkeman, journalist and author of Four Thousand Weeks; Time Management for Mortals, explores our relationship with time and the modern obsessi...

Midweek Reset: Why relational conflict is good

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, psychology and education professor Peter Coleman explains that conflicts and disagreements are not just normal in relationships but actuall...

Living in reciprocity with nature, with Indigenous ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer

04 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Professor of American Indian Studies Mishuana Goeman addresses the common misconceptions about Native American land and the ties between the land and ...

Midweek Reset: Creativity has no age

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Midweek Reset from Life Examined, where host Jonathan Bastian takes a small pause for a new perspective. Get full access to Life Examin...

The process of dying: From hospice care to meditating monks

28 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Doctor Sunita Puri and hospice and palliative RN Hadley Vlahos share their perspectives and first-hand experiences helping people approach the end of ...

Midweek Reset: Life: less itinerary - more flow

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Midweek Reset from Life Examined, where host Jonathan Bastian takes a small pause for a new perspective. Get full access to Life Examin...

Conflict, resolution, and the human need to get along, with Peter Coleman

21 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Psychology and education professor Peter Coleman explains that conflict is “a necessary component of the human condition.” As the Director of the ...

Midweek Reset: Better listening

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Midweek Reset from Life Examined, where host Jonathan Bastian takes a small pause for a new perspective. This week, mentor and author o...

The agents of change: How women are altering the power paradigm

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kemi Nekvapil, executive coach and author of POWER: A Woman’s Guide to Living and Leaving without Apology,shares how women are shifting the landscap...

Midweek Reset: Sharon Salzberg and emotional balance

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Midweek Reset from Life Examined, where host Jonathan Bastian takes a small pause for a new perspective. This week, educator and medita...

A 1000 mile trek: Lessons in fortitude and healing from distance walker Raynor Winn

07 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Long-distance walker, writer, and author Raynor Winn describes her 1000 mile walk from Scotland to the South West of England. With tents, backpacks, a...

The art of quitting: Is there wisdom in walking away?

01 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bastian talks with Annie Duke, corporate speaker, former poker player, and author of “Quit: The Power Of Knowing When To Walk Away” about...

Big life decisions and uncertainty: a toolkit

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Bastian talks with economist Russ Roberts, author of “Wild Problems: A Guide to the Decisions That Define Us,” about a variety of approac...

Trauma, PTSD, and human resilience, with George Bonanno

16 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Psychologist George Bonanno, author of “The End of Trauma: How the New Science of Resilience Is Changing How We Think About PTSD,” explores the hi...

The language of grief, with writers Ross Gay and Chloe Honum

09 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ross Gay, poet, essayist, and author of Inciting Joy, shares how losing his father impacted not only his writing, but more or less everything else th...

The art and science of change, with author Brad Stulberg

02 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Brad Stulberg writes and teaches about mental health and well-being, and is author of several books, most recently Master Of Change: How To Excel When...

A guide to self discipline and the science behind habits, good and bad

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Writer and expert on stoic philosophy Ryan Holiday explores the history and power of self discipline. Behavioral scientist and professor at the Univer...

Attachment styles: How knowing ourselves can lead to better, more lasting relationships

19 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Amir Levine, associate professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and co-author of Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can He...

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

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Lori Gottlieb, relationship therapist, podcast host, and author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, shares her experience both personally and profess...

On blindness: Andrew Leland explores how losing his sight has expanded his world view

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Andrew Leland, writer and author of “The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight,” shares his experience of slowly losing his sight aft...

ADHD in an era of distraction: Why are more adults getting diagnosed?

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Anthony Rostain, Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Cooper University Health Care and co-author of “The Adult ADHD Tool Kit: Using CBT to ...

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

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Pico Iyer, traveler writer and author of “The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise,” Pico Iyer explores his love for Japan and why it remains, f...

The secret lives of cats, past and present

15 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Losos, evolutionary biologist at Washington University and author of “The Cat's Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa,” ex...

’Til death do us part’: Hard truths on marriage and divorce with Tracy McMillan

08 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tracy McMillan, TV writer and author of Why You're Not Married . . . Yet: The Straight Talk You Need to Get the Relationship You Deserve discusses how...

Biology’s new era: How mRNA and AI are impacting vaccines, medicine, and reproduction

01 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Specter, MIT professor, science journalist, and author of “Higher Animals: Vaccines, Synthetic Biology, and the Future of Life,” explains ...

Becoming a Buddhist: Two renowned teachers, two stories of transformation

24 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tara Brach, Buddhist teacher, psychologist, podcaster, and founder and guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, talks about ...

Estrangement: Why are adult children cutting off their parents?

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua Coleman, psychologist, senior Fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families, and author of “The Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children ...

Why minimalism: A history, practice and industry

10 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Minimalism is enjoying a resurgence, but can a minimalistic lifestyle and aesthetic bring peace and calm? Does having less stuff bring happiness? Get ...

Effective altruism and our collective human heritage

03 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Philosopher Will MacAskill argues that protecting the future of humanity is the moral priority of our time. Historian Tyrone McKinley Freeman explains...

A perfect childhood, an elite education, and the horror of schizophrenia

27 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Rosen, writer and author of “The Best Minds: The Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions,” tells the story of hi...

The science, language, and many dimensions of pain

20 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

University of Washington Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Mark Sullivan, co-author of “The Right to Pain Relief and Other Deep Roots ...

MDMA, Ecstasy, Molly: Coming soon to a therapist near you

13 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LSD and Ecstasy were once the hippy-trippy illegal substances for concerts, raves, and parties. Now these psychedelics are back in the news — this t...

‘There is life after diagnosis’: Navigating the challenges of dementia care and support

06 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Teepa Snow, founder of the dementia support community Positive Approach to Care and author of  “Understanding the Changing Brain: A Positive Approa...

The future of AI: Its impact on creativity, humanity, and well being

29 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meghan O’Gieblyn, author of “God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning,” writes about the intersection of hu...

The long reach of grief: How one death on 9/11 reverberates today

22 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Senior, Pulitzer-prize winning essayist for the Atlantic, tells the story of mourning, love and recovery. Bobby McIlvaine died in the Twin To...

Say the right thing: DEI and the pathway to positive and constructive dialogue

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at New York University School of Law and the director of the Meltzer Center f...

Spiritual language for the non-believer: Jennifer Michael Hecht’s search for wonder

08 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and philosopher Jennifer Michael Hecht shares how poetry provides joy, insight, and wisdom. In her latest book, “The Wonder Paradox: Embracing ...

Raising minors: Prioritizing our children’s future and well being

01 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Legal scholar Adam Benforado explains how prioritizing our children’s future is the least costly and most effective way to address the major problem...

Nature’s gifts: The hidden life of trees and the joy of animals

25 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

German forester and author Peter Wohlleben explains how trees have a sophisticated method of communication and the ability to feel and heal. Author Su...

Understanding success — and why talent and ability are not always key

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hungarian-born network scientist and author of “The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success,” Albert-László Barabási, explains the disconnect be...

Defining life and personhood: What science, philosophy, and religion have to say

11 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Geneticist Amander Clark and religion, culture, and gender studies professor Samira Mehta discuss how science and religion define when human life begi...

Wintering and enchantment: A pathway to healing and happiness

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

British author Katherine May offers some (heart)warming advice on winter and explores simple ways to rediscover the joy of enchantment. Get full acces...

The beauty of games and the dark side of gamification

25 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 o...

Black poetry and the unearthing of forgotten histories

18 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Black writers and poets Quraysh Ali Lansana and Ishion Hutchinson share how their poetry is shaped by history, tradition, and the unearthing of forgot...

Author Brad Stulberg on peak performance strategies and overcoming OCD

11 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The miracle and mystery of awe: Why it’s good for mind and body

04 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Psychologist and author Dacher Keltner shares the science and mysteries surrounding awe, and suggests we make finding awe part of our daily lives. Get...

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

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, unlocks some of the secrets discovered via 80 years of research on happiness...

In search of paradise—and why travel writer Pico Iyer says it may be within

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Traveler and author Rolf Potts shares his philosophy on meaningful travel and how embracing the unexpected can change us for the better.  Get full ac...

Why humans are kinder than at you think: The philosophy of Rutger Bregman

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Poet David Whyte; on writing the unspeakable

24 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with David Whyte about the power of the written and spoken word. Whyte, a poet, philosopher, and speaker, discusses his la...

Playing the status game, and why we can’t hide from it

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and author Will Storr explains how status influences everything we do. Whether consciously or subconsciously, we all seek to be of value an...