Mind and Behavior

Mind and Behavior

A person with curly hair, reminiscent of Jesse Eisenberg's style, wearing a dark long-sleeve shirt and jeans, sits on a chair against a plain white background.
A-list lessons for better work-life collaboration — direct from the movie set.
A black sheep paradox is depicted as a sheep overlaid with financial charts, including bar graphs and line graphs, on a yellow background. The data showcases various metrics and percentages.
Going against the grain is often difficult — but necessary for outperformance over the long-term.
A man in a black leather outfit sits on an ornate, gold-trimmed chair, with one hand touching his temple and the other resting on the armrest.
7mins
90’s kids know him from All That, Kenan & Kel, and Good Burger. This is Kel Mitchell, who sat down with us to share how he persevered through some of the hardest moments of his life.
Unlikely Collaborators
Digital rendering of multiple human brain models floating against a gray background, highlighting specific brain regions in red.
“The brain is never the same from one moment to the next throughout life. Never ever.”
Five people of diverse backgrounds are lined up against a white background with the text "Question Your Perception Box" displayed below them.
1mins
In the series, guests read aloud questions that pop out from a gumball machine [literally!]. The questions, like “who would you be if you stripped away all of your identities?”, […]
Unlikely Collaborators
A person is sleeping, dreaming of a woman packing multiple bags and suitcases.
"Upon emergence, these patients are sincerely unsure what was reality and what was a ‘dream.'"
A detailed painting of a pensive young woman with brown hair, dressed in red, looking down thoughtfully, hinting at a new chapter that balances her happy moments and quiet reflections.
We must get happiness right — even when the world around us gets it wrong.
A person with long hair faces the ocean, wearing a white shirt. A sheer gray fabric is draped over their face, obscuring their eyes. The background is cloudy with a view of the sea.
Propofol, a drug commonly used for general anesthesia, derails the brain’s normal balance between stability and excitability.
Ancient cave painting depicting animal figures, including what appears to be a bull and a bird, on a textured, brown and beige rock surface.
An analysis of Indonesian cave paintings is reframing the history of human art, though whether the paintings really were created by human hands remains an open question.
Close-up of the lower face from a classic oil painting, showing a subtle smile, cracked paint texture, and part of wavy brown hair.
3mins
“Not only does Mother Nature not care about your happiness, she knows that we need lots of negative emotions to keep us alive.” Harvard happiness professor on why suffering IS necessary:
A black-and-white photo of young children sitting in a classroom. Two teachers stand at the back. Drawings and crafts are displayed on the walls, suggesting it was from an earlier historical period, where every good kid learned under watchful eyes.
How to make sure our formative tendencies don't derail us from being the great leaders we are trying to become.
A collage of speech bubbles containing randomly oriented text, scribbles, and abstract shapes on a black background. Some bubbles feature words like "news" and "missed" partially visible.
In "Not Born Yesterday," author and cognitive scientist Hugo Mercier makes the case that misinformation is overrated — and other human foibles are underrated.
An open processor is connected by circuit lines to a black chess piece, with binary code in the background, symbolizing the intersection of technology and strategy, where every move could deceive even the sharpest minds.
"If you’re training an AI to optimize for a task, and deception is a good way for it to complete the task, then there’s a good chance that it will use deception."
A black-and-white illustration depicts five individuals wearing robes and garlands, reclining and sitting around a table with food and drink, reminiscent of a classical or ancient feast, evoking scenes one might imagine from the time of Confucius.
When stuffed and staring down the last bite, you might hear your mother's voice in your mind.
9mins
Humans are among the most altruistic species that we’ve studied, due to our alloparental instincts – a trait we evolved into that allows us to care for offspring who are […]
Illustration of a skull with crossed bones on a vibrant green background. The phrase "Memento mori!" is boldly inscribed beneath the skull.
Executive coach Jodi Wellman explains how to “make it to the end with no regrets.”
6mins
“How is it possible to do work that you’re proud of and not feel like your job is encroaching on all parts of your life?” Cal Newport, Author of ‘Slow Productivity,’ explains.
Abstract image featuring a human silhouette filled with various medical and neural diagrams, with brain scan images in the background. A small figure is walking towards the center, symbolizing the long game.
Big Think Business columnist Eric Markowitz prefaces his new series on long-term thinking with the experience that almost cut his life short.
A neural network illustration shaped like a brain with the text "REWIRE YOUR BRAIN" in the center against a dark background. Two arrows circle the image, suggesting change or transformation.
9mins
Dr. Aditi Nerurkar on toxic resilience and the importance of gratitude and breathing.
Unlikely Collaborators
Close-up of a vintage coin-operated binocular viewer with a "Turn to Clear Vision" label, set against a colorful, blurred background.
Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist — Frederik Pferdt — lays out a map for navigating unprecedented change and innovation.
A small clock displaying 9:10 is surrounded by a tangled yellow measuring tape with black markings against a dark background, symbolizing the precision and commitment of intermittent fasting.
"Fasting...should not be demonized for simply suggesting that we take a break from eating once in a while."
A group of people, including children, wade through a shallow river in the forested area of the Darién Gap. One person carries a suitcase and other luggage on their back.
Each year, over half a million migrants cross the deadly jungle separating Colombia from Panama in search of a better life in the United States.
Black and white photo of a person on stage, the spotlight effect illuminating them from behind, casting dramatic shadows. A red border frames the image.
It's good to be a wallflower. But sometimes, you need to show yourself off a bit.
A young woman in a white dress with a black sash sits beside a body of water, gazing down, with a dark forest in the background.
3mins
There’s never been more ways to connect with the people in our lives — so why are we lonelier than ever?
Kahneman wearing a suit, rests their chin on their hand while looking thoughtfully ahead.
Cognitive systems famously posited by psychologist Daniel Kahneman (1934-2024) may hold the key to a more productive and focused work environment.
Retro illustration of an astronaut in a space suit floating in space, using a handheld thruster to maneuver, with a backdrop of stars and part of Earth visible.
“Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
An ornate black and white archway frames a vibrant scene of colorful, abstract vertical lines and dense, green foliage.
Architecture in the age of AI — argues professor Nayef Al-Rodhan — should embed philosophical inquiry in its transdisciplinary toolkit.
A close-up of two people with rosy cheeks, smiling and laughing together, wearing historical clothing and ornate collars.
7mins
“Happiness is NOT about feelings.” Harvard happiness expert Arthur Brooks debunks the biggest myths about humanity’s most sought-after state, and explains how to actually get it.