The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane
Episodes
Fawning and the trap of people-pleasing
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Clinical psychologist Ingrid Clayton used fawning as a coping strategy growing up in an abusive home. It helped her in those frightening moments but c...
The surprising benefits of oversharing
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Harvard business professor Leslie John says revealing the sometimes-ugly truth about ourselves can build trust and lead to more honest, meaningful rel...
How to end a long-term relationship without causing lasting damage
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Psychoanalyst and advice columnist Lori Gottlieb and author Cathi Hanauer on divorce, breakups and separating without causing too much pain.
Job jolts: when to quit and when to stay
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Klotz joins us to talk about his new book "Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters"
How American children became picky eaters
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
American children used to be adventurous eaters. Why has kids’ food become so bland? And why are so many fussy about what’s on their plates?
Our political divides and social identities
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Social psychologist Keith Payne on political polarization and why it's so hard to bridge the divide.
Rethinking PTSD and the new science of resilience
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist George Bonanno says we have overestimated the debilitating power of post-traumatic stress disorder and underestimated our resilience.
Father James Martin’s ‘Work in Progress’
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Father Martin once thought he’d work in the corporate world, but after a few years in New York City, he realized he hated his life. Now he’s writt...
The burden of guilt and how to overcome it
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Psychiatrist Jennifer Reid on where unreasonable expectations come from, how guilt pulls us away from what really matters, and what it takes to finall...
The neuroscience of extremes: altruism and psychopathy
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Neuroscientist Abigail Marsh on extraordinary altruism—people who risk their lives to help strangers—and its opposite: psychopathy, little or no c...
Salman Rushdie reflects on language, imagination and mortality
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Salman Rushdie knows more about death than most of us. Decades ago, he lived in hiding after a death threat was issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini ...
How humor connects us and helps us weather tough times
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Babies laugh before they utter their first word. Laughter is universal — although what you find funny may not be funny to me. Laughter strengthens r...
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s six simple rules for a long and healthy life
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel offers advice to a long, healthy life which includes skipping the health fads and cultivating connection.
How to survive cold, dark winter and difficult times
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you dread wintertime? Learn how to love it. Psychologist Kari Leibowitz explains how to cultivate a winter mindset to cope with cold days and the d...
Tim Merrill on faith, resilience and resistance
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Merrill has been a pastor and youth leadership developer in Camden for decades. He dedicated his new novel, The Song Sparrow, to the young people ...
Epstein survivors speak out
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Survivors Annie Farmer and Liz Stein open up about breaking the culture of silence, coping with public spotlight, and combating sex trafficking.
Nedra Glover Tawwab on setting boundaries and finding balance in relationships
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab explains how to set boundaries for ourselves, respect those set by others, and find healthy balance in our relationships...
Poet Edward Hirsch on his memoir “My Childhood in Pieces”
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Poet Edward Hirsch discusses his coming-of-age memoir about his complicated, colorful and comedic Jewish Midwestern family.
Learning to focus on what matters most
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Diana Hill explains how to revitalize our relationship with ourselves and focus on what really matters.
How clashing regional cultures intensify our political divisions
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historian Colin Woodard explains how America's centuries-old regional differences have led to the political divisions that continue to pull the countr...
How our primal intelligence gives us an edge over AI
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Angus Fletcher argues our capacity for creativity, flexibility and story thinking gives humans a leg up over artificial intelligence.
Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad gets real about living her best life
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Diana Nyad reflects on her historic swim from Cuba to Florida, lessons of forgiveness, and the challenges and pleasures of aging.
The joy of being alone: why we all need solitude
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Robert Coplan on the restorative power of being alone.
NPR’s Scott Simon on journalism, empathy and a good cup of espresso
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Weekend Edition Saturday host talks about the state of journalism, covering war-torn regions, an awkward interview with Billy Cosby and a hilariou...
Redefining normal: autism, stigma and culture
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker on the progress in understanding autism, the ongoing efforts to overcome mental health stigma, and the need to disp...
Jean Twenge’s rules for raising kids in a high-tech world
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Jean Twenge -- a mother of three -- gives parents the tools they need to help their kids develop a healthier relationship with social med...
Linguist John McWhorter on free speech, woke language, and why words matter
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with Columbia University linguist and author John McWhorter on the power of language, the dangers of censorship, and the evolution of s...
Fawning and the dangers of people-pleasing
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clinical psychologist Ingrid Clayton used fawning as a coping strategy growing up in a scary home. It helped her in those frightening moments but came...
The Neuroscience of decision-making
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why don’t we always prioritize what matters most—like making time for family and friends or fitting in a workout during a busy day? Emily Falk bel...
How COVID changed everything
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg reflects on lessons learned and not learned from the COVID pandemic and the ways it changed our lives, culture and pol...
Music and memory
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Princeton professor Elizabeth Margulis explains why music has the power to affect our emotions, transport us to far away places and connect us to othe...
Your brain on psychedelics with Gül Dölen
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychedelic drugs have gained some attention in recent years and neuroscientists are doing fascinating work. Some research includes octopuses on MDMA....
Do you want to live forever? The Mortality Paradox
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Philosopher Stephen Cave on our struggles with our mortality, and how knowing we will die one day can make life precious and even more meaningful.
Climate scientist Kate Marvel…how to feel about our changing planet
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you feeling hopeless about the warming planet? In her book "Human Nature," climate scientist Kate Marvel says it’s natural to feel scared but th...
Spellbound: the power and paradox of charisma
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In her new book “Spellbound,” historian Molly Worthen explains how charisma is more about storytelling than charm.
Edward Hirsch on poetry, comedy and “My Childhood in Pieces”
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Poet Edward Hirsch on his complicated and colorful Jewish Midwestern family and childhood where comedy was a competitive sport.
What to know about living and working with AI
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ethan Mollick’s guidelines of using AI: “always invite AI to the table, be the human in the loop, treat AI like a person and assume this is th...
Gisele Barreto Fetterman on ‘Radical Tenderness’
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gisele Barreto Fetterman on her childhood as an undocumented immigrant, her life now in the public eye, and why vulnerability is a source of strength.
A self-help skeptic on finding contentment and embracing our imperfections
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Author Oliver Burkeman on why it’s time to settle for your imperfections and ditch the relentless self-help messaging of productivity and contro...
Cracking the creativity code
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist John Kounios on our creative brain and those “eureka moments.” Plus, how composer Jennifer Higdon channels her creativity int...
The caregiving crisis in America
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is caregiving a public or private responsibility?
Roots of justice: A conversation with Howard and Bryan Stevenson
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brothers Howard and Bryan Stevenson reflect on their Delaware childhood, their social justice work and how to make sense of these troubled times.
Learning to give and take criticism
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Criticism can be hard to take. So what's the difference between constructive and destructive criticism and how can we quiet the critical voice in our ...
Secrets to a loving, lasting relationship
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Couples therapist Terry Real explains how to resolve conflict and maintain intimacy for lasting relationships.
What existential psychology can teach us about living well
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Steven Heine explains that our deep-seated need for meaning lies in our brains and how to use it to build a life of purpose.
Why do we feel disgust?
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, the yuck factor with psychologist Paul Rozin, who has been studying disgust for five decades. What grosses you out the most?
Embracing autism and neurodiversity
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Bergenfield says that before getting a diagnosis of autism, she was confused. She was overwhelmed by a constant barrage of stimulation, relation...
The imperfect ways we remember
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Ciara Greene says memory is like a LEGO tower that we are constantly reassembling. She's the co-author of "Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imp...
A new history of sex and sexuality in America
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Davis explores the 400-year tension between sex, sexual identity and prudery in America and how it explains some of today’s political confli...
Understanding hoarding: pain, memories and resilience
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does a psychologist fail to recognize that her intelligent, sensitive, and book-loving mother has started hoarding? A new memoir seeks to answer t...
Checked-out and stressed-out: helping disengaged teens reconnect
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ask most third graders if they like school and there’s a good chance they will give you an enthusiastic “yes!” Fast forward to high school and m...
How to cope in anxious times
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychiatrist Richard A. Friedman on what’s behind the country’s malaise and why we’re not helpless…or alone.
When family estrangement sets you free
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eamon Dolan severed his relationship with his abusive mother when he was in his 40s. He had endured her physical and psychological violence as a child...
The art and science of good conversation
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new book, Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, reveals the hidden architecture of good conversation and how we can beco...
Music on our minds: how music affects our memories and emotions
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Princeton professor Elizabeth Margulis explains why music can affect our mood, transport us to another time and place, and connect us to others.
‘Last Seen’: searching for lost family after slavery
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historian Judith Giesberg, author of "Last Seen," and genealogist Adrienne Whaley on the families ripped apart by slavery and the search to find their...
How embracing death can lead to a better life
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Death doula Alua Arthur guides people through death and grief. She explains why we should face our mortality and shares lessons on living well.
How to build burnout immunity
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stress, exhaustion and negativity can lead to workplace burnout. Kandi Wiens explains how to reset your relationship with work.
Jennifer Finney Boylan on her memoir ‘Cleavage’
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Finney Boylan reflects on her life as a transgender women and the ongoing fight for acceptance and rights.
Managing your emotions so they don’t manage you
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Ethan Kross explains how to master your emotional life.
Do you have to love your job?
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychology professor Tessa West on why job satisfaction doesn’t mean you have to love for your work. Her new book is “Job Therapy: Finding...
‘The power of no in a world that demands yes’
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Organizational psychologist Sunita Sah grew up a "good girl," always willing to comply. Now she studies the power of defiance and when to use it.
Investigating the cult-like tactics of modern marketers
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marketing companies can be pretty sneaky when trying to get new customers. Instead of straightforward sales pitches, they’ve turned to manipulat...
A winter mindset and coping in cold, dark and difficult times
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you dread wintertime? Learn how to love it. Psychologist Kari Leibowitz explains how to cultivate a winter mindset to cope with cold days and the d...
How to feel alive in a world that wears us down
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel blah? Does your life feel drab and unexciting? Do you have a vague sense of emptiness? You could be languishing…and you’re not alone.
‘Obsessed with Painting’: Artist Jamie Wyeth and the Unflinching Eye
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Wyeth comes from an artist dynasty. His father is Andrew Wyeth and grandfather N.C. Wyeth. Jamie Wyeth join us to talk about finding his own art...
Talking across the political divide
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How to have conversations with people on the opposite side of the political spectrum.
Identifying and healing from narcissistic people
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ramani Durvasula explores the toxic effects of narcissism and how to deal with narcissistic people.
The history of sex and sexuality in America
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Davis explores the 400-year tension between sex, sexual identity and prudery in America and how it explains some of today’s political confli...
Permission to feel: the value of emotional intelligence
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Marc Brackett, founder of the Center for Emotional Intelligence at Yale University, on expressing and manage your emotions
Understanding anger
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to fly off the handle, especially when we're stressed out. This hour, where does anger come from, how to control it, and how to put it to go...
Embracing our imperfections and the messiness of life
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Author Oliver Burkeman on why it’s time to settle for your imperfections and ditch the relentless self-help messaging of productivity and contro...
The art and imagination of Leonardo da Vinci
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the Ken Burns documentary on the genius and imagination of Leonardo da Vinci, we talk with the filmmakers and an art historian.
Timothy Snyder on freedom and democracy
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yale University professor Timothy Snyder on American's distorted view of freedom and why it matters.
What drives our morbid curiosity
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we love scary stories and films? Why are there so many true crime fans? We talk with psychologist Coltan Scrivner about our morbid curiosity.
Family estrangement and reconciliation
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What drives parents and children apart? What does it take to make amends and rebuild the relationship?
Exploring the human-canine bond
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of people share their lives with dogs, opening their homes and hearts to their canine companions. It’s a partnership that goes back thousan...
The case for hopeful skepticism and the science of human goodness
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Jamil Zaki explains how to avoid cynicism and why most people are better than we think.
Dr. Francis Collins on reconciling science and faith
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the NIH and the Human Genome Project, on finding common ground and the role of science and faith in his life.
How belonging can bring us together & pull us apart
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Belonging is a powerful need for us human beings whether we’re a sports fan, a member of a book group, part of a neighborhood clean up crew or a mem...
The crisis of connection among boys and young men
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Psychologist Niobe Way says "boy" culture has led to a crisis of connection for young men. Her new book is "Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Our...
How to protect yourself from burnout at work
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stress, exhaustion and negativity can lead to workplace burnout. Kandi Wiens explains how to become more resilient and reset your relationship with wo...
How to get a good night’s sleep
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our bodies are built for sleep so why is it so difficult to get a good night's rest?
Biracial identity and belonging
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are you? That's a question people of mixed race hear all the time. Today we talk with a trio of guests about their biracial identity and belongin...
Why we love our stuff
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why does a childhood blanket or teddy bear hold so much meaning? Why do we find it so hard to part with certain objects? This hour, our emotional conn...
Why animals talk
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Arik Kershenbaum decodes howls, whistles, squeals, grunts and other sounds of the wild.
The Value of Emotional Intelligence
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yale University's Marc Brackett explains the importance of emotional intelligence in our lives and how it can help us make better decisions and have h...
Why we dream: the science and psychology of dreaming
27 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can our dreams help us make sense of our waking lives?
Redefining how we age
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As people live longer, should we rebalance work, family, and friendships? Do we need to rethink what it means to be old and the aging process?
How writer Sebastian Junger came face-to-face with his mortality
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Journalist and filmmaker Sebastian Junger almost died. His new book explores coming to terms with his own mortality and what might come after death.
What Inside Out 2 tells us about embracing all our emotions
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Inside Out 2 introduces some uncomfortable emotions - embarrassment, envy, ennui, and anxiety. Two psychologists who consulted on the film explain why...
How to give and take criticism
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Criticism can be hard to take. So what's the difference between constructive and destructive criticism and how can we quiet the critical voice in our ...
Why we lie and why we’re bad at spotting liars
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone lies occasionally, but some people make a habit of it. We look at the nature of deceit, why some people lie more than others, and how to dete...
Creating a Native Landscape in Your Own Yard
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ecologist Douglas Tallamy talks about an approach to conservation that starts with letting your yard grow wild with native plants to save wildlife in ...
Why we need poetry
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Three poets discuss poetry's power to connect, heal and inspire us.
Dr. Frank Anderson on trauma and transformation
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Psychiatrist Frank Anderson specializes in treating trauma. His new memoir, "To Be Loved" is about facing his own traumatic childhood.
MK Asante’s new memoir ‘Nephew’
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Filmmaker and author MK Asante's new memoir begins with him sitting vigil beside his nephew's hospital bed at Temple University hospital after he was ...
How to confront our nation’s troubled history
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If we want to make progress, we need to talk honestly about the most painful parts of America's history. So how do we help people reckon with, and not...
Frank Bruni on our culture of complaint
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times columnist Frank Bruni joins us to talk about why Americans feel so angry, outraged and aggrieved these days.
Artist Jamie Wyeth and the Unflinching Eye
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Wyeth comes from an artist dynasty. His father is Andrew Wyeth and grandfather N.C. Wyeth. Jamie Wyeth join us to talk about finding his own art...