Life Examined

On this week’s Life Examined, psychologist and co-author of “Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life” and “The Compassionate Instinct” Dacher Keltner talks about the science of awe and why we need a daily dose. We also talk with cultural psychologist Dr. Yuria Celidwen about how the practices of Indigenous communities enhance prosocial behavior, and how the appreciation of awe also helps forge community bonds. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Jonathan Bastian talks with Josh Cohen, a psychoanalyst and professor of modern literary theory at Goldsmiths, about the cultivation of healthy aimlessness. Cohen’s recent book, “Not Working: Why We Have to Stop,” explores why doing nothing and seeking solitude — whether at home or at work — can provide balance needed for a healthy life. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

The season of giving upon us — but what are the best, and most impactful, ways to bestow your generosity? Jonathan Bastian talks with professor Roland Geyer about the best types of sustainable and environmentally friendly holiday gifts, and with Luke Freeman, director of charitable community “Giving What We Can,” about the most effective ways of giving. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

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 Spot,” explores why — from running a marathon to eating spicy food — suffering helps us to thrive and gives us satisfaction. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Despite increasing attention to equity, diversity, and inclusivity, the pay gap for women has not shifted much over the last 15 years. According to one study of the median hourly earnings for full and part time workers in 2020, women earned 84% of what men earned. Jonathan Bastian talks with NPR host and author Stacey Vanek Smith about empowering women in the workplace and how Machiavelli’s “The Prince” might serve as a much needed resource. Later, professor of linguistics Deborah Tannen and author and poet Marguerite Pigeon join to discuss projecting confidence through lingusitic style and fashion. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Jonathan Bastian talks with Susan Orlean about our love and relationship with animals. Orlean, staff writer for the New Yorker and acclaimed author of several books, discusses her latest collection of essays, “On Animals,” in which she explores her fascination and curiosity with all creatures, both feathered and four legged, and asks what our interaction with animals tells us about ourselves. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with ethnobotanist Dr. Cassandra Quave about the amazing medicinal potential of plants and her global search for natural compounds — long known to traditional healers — that could help save us from the looming crisis of untreatable superbugs. We also hear from Dr. Marion Nestle, New York University professor emeritus of nutrition, food studies, and public health, on the health benefits — both real and fictitious — of nutritional supplements. From probiotics to vitamins, why do we take supplements without any scientific evidence that they do any good? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with David Whyte about the power of the written and spoken word. Whyte, a poet, philosopher, and speaker, discusses his latest collection of poems, “Still Possible,” in which he continues to explore vulnerability, relationships, and “the conversational nature of reality.” Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s Life Examined, how health organizations and employers are recognizing that workplace burnout is a real and growing problem. In 2019 the World Health Organization officially identified workplace burnout as an “occupational phenomenon.” Today burnout is reaching epidemic proportions and many employees say the pandemic has made the problem worse. Host Jonathan Bastian talks with burnout expert and author of “The Burnout Epidemic” Jennifer Moss about why overwork has reached epidemic proportions and what employers can do about it. We also hear from Sebastian Cruz, a former hedge fund employee, who says overwork forced him to not only to quit his job but shift careers. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s Life Examined, host Jonathan Bastian talks with avid outdoor enthusiast Jaqueline L. Scott about how she fell in love with nature and birdwatching, and her efforts to make the outdoors a more welcoming and inviting space for Black people. We also hear from Yale environmental professor and historian Dorceta Taylor about the evolution of the environmental movement and how grassroots organizations, Indigenous communities, and other minorities are shaping the conversation around climate and environmental issues. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with J.M. Thompson about how running has been a personal voyage of discovery and healing from severe depression. Thompson, a clinical psychologist, is author of “Running Is a Kind of Dreaming: A Memoir,” in which he explores childhood trauma, suicide, and the powerful medicine of ultra running. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

This holiday season, as we finally enjoy the ability to gather in person, the question on many people’s minds is how to respond when a family member says they’re not vaccinated. Do we exclude our friends when they refuse to trust vaccines? How hard is it to change someone’s point of view? And what role does courage play when it comes to stepping up and doing the right thing? Host Jonathan Bastian talks with psychologist and author Tania Israel about opening a dialogue with unvaccinated friends and family members. We also hear from Ryan Holiday, stoic philosopher and author of “Courage is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave,” who explains that courage isn’t just bravery, but the ability to care about others more than we do ourselves. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s Life Examined, we explore why rationality matters amidst a time of mass misinformation. Host Jonathan Bastian talks with Steven Pinker, Harvard psychologist and author of “Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters” about our ability to sort fact from fiction. We also hear from evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson about how the human species is evolving to become better caretakers of each other and the planet. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

At a time of disconnection and distraction in the world, have we forgotten the importance of listening? Most of us are not shy about sharing our stories or voicing our opinions. But we spend much less time truly taking in what someone else says. How can asking Having better listening skills would help us build better relationships with our friends, families, and coworkers. And asking thoughtful questions would lead to less confusion and chaos. KCRW learns how to better hear what the world around us is saying. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with Harvard psychologist Deirdre Barrett about our collective fascination with dreams and how COVID dreams have changed over the last year. Later, we hear from Dr. Rafael Pelayo, author of “How to Sleep: The New Science-Based Solutions for Sleeping Through the Night,” about the science of sleep and why getting a good night’s sleep has become so difficult. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Host Jonathan Bastian talks with Meghan O'Gieblyn, author of “God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning” about how advanced AI technologies are changing how we think about ourselves and our faith. Later, writer Linda Kinstler talks about the influential role of the tech sector on faith. And Dr. Beth Singler from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. discuses how religion is being renewed and reshaped by modern technology. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with cognitive scientist and philosopher Alison Gopnik about the minds of babies and children. What makes babies such avid learners, and can parents help shape who they will become? Gopnik explains that the evolutionary long human childhood results in years full of exploration and learning. On the other end of the spectrum, neuroscientist, musician, and author of “Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives” Daniel Levitin explains what the latest research shows about the mind as we age. While infants are constantly exploring and making sense of the world, by the time we reach our 70s and 80s, we've built up a whole lot of experience — enabling us to be better problem solvers. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

This is the second in a two-part series about utopian societies, exploring community living and America’s history with utopian ideas, sects, and cults. What was the appeal back then, and how do they operate today? This week, KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with religion professor Ben Zeller about the characteristics of utopian societies, including sects and cults. We also hear from Chris Jennings, author of “Paradise Now: The Story of American Utopianism,” about the utopian communities of 18th and 19th century America. And Anna Newcomb, founder and resident of a co-housing community, describes her life and the appeal of living in Blueberry Hill. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

This is the first in a two-part series about utopian societies exploring the benefits of community cooperation and its dark sides — how the rejection of the status quo can morph into extremism and fanaticism. This week, KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with Akash Kapur about his childhood memories growing up in Auroville, a utopian community in southern India. Kapur is the author of “Becoming India: A Portrait of Life in Modern India.” His latest book, “Better To Have Gone: Love, Death and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville,” explores Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Kenneth Rosen, journalist and author of “Troubled: The Failed Promise of America’s Behavioral Treatment Programs,” takes a closer look at the “tough love” industry and the damaging legacy of wilderness therapy boot camps through the eyes of four former residents — and his own personal experience being forcibly taken from his home as a teenager. Host Jonathan Bastian also talks with Will White, the author of “Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy” and teaching lecturer at Plymouth State University, about the history and positive effects of wilderness therapy programs. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Brian Earp, researcher and co-author of “Love Drugs: The Chemical Future of Relationships,” talks about the range of positive effects that MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, have on relationships. What could de-stigmatizing MDMA mean for couples therapy? KCRW also talks with the clinical director of the Gottman Institute and founder of the Center for Relationship Wellness about the essence of a successful relationship. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s Life Examined, scientist and author of “Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old” Andrew Steele talks about the race to turn back the clock on the aging process. We also talk with University of Florida Sociology Professor Monika Ardelt about the wisdom that comes with old age. Can being wise help you age successfully? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

The average person takes about 25,000 breaths a day but the majority of us give little thought as to how the air actually goes in or goes out of our lungs. What have we misunderstood about the breath and how can healthy breathing habits help both our physical and mental well being? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Ancient stoic wisdom is having an unexpected modern day resurgence. Whether it’s daily Instagram quotes, blogs, or good old fashioned books — the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus are today enjoying something of a comeback. And their appeal is wide, including entrepreneurs, hipsters, sports figures, and even parents. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with renowned Buddhist teacher and psychologist Tara Brach about meditation, mindfulness, and trusting our “inner gold.” Her books include “Radical Acceptance, Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha,” “True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart,” and most recently, “Trusting the Gold: Uncovering Your Natural Goodness.” Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

For African Americans, June 19 (Juneteenth) is both a celebration of freedom and an occasion of somber remembrance. It marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned that they were free — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Until recently, only a handful of states, including Texas, have acknowledged June 19 as a historical date that’s just as significant as Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day. How should we embrace and celebrate America’s not so glorious past, and could Juneteenth change the way we think about our nation? Artist and poet Sybil Roberts Williams shares her way of celebrating Juneteenth and why the arts are so important in shaping the future self-identification of African Americans. We also talk about how Black people still need to be fully acknowledged in U.S. history books — with University of Texas history professor Austin Peniel Joseph. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Music has always played an important role in cultures across the globe and across the millenia. The discovery of a 40,000-year-old bone flute in a German cave showed that hominids, our prehistoric ancestors, could use a tool to produce sound. Technology continues to impact the history and evolution of music, from the lyres depicted in the art of ancient Greece to the orchestras, synthesizers, and electronics used today. Music professor and author Michael Spitzer traces our history of and relationship to music, and tracks the impact music has had on our lives, from Mozart and jazz to Beyonce and hip-hop. Harvard psychiatrist David Silberswieg also discusses how listening to music enhances brain function. Could listening to music help with depression and Parkinson’s disease? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Friendship is one of the most important components and predictors for emotional and physical well being. A good friendship can last a lifetime, but it’s never too late to make new friends, as long as we devote time and energy to that effort. As we re-engage with one another after a year of isolation, who will we choose to interact with, and why does hanging out with our friends feel so good? On this week’s “Life Examined,” science journalist and author Lydia Denworth explains the science and evolution behind friendship and what primates can teach us about the value of social bonds. She says that “a good friendship is as important to our health as diet and exercise.” We’ll also hear from journalist Kate Murphy about why the pandemic has provided us with a useful opportunity to drop the friends that drain and drag you down. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Trees and forests have long been a source of inspiration for art and poetry. The modern environmental movement says forests and trees are on the front lines of fighting climate change by absorbing CO2 and cooling the planet with their leafy canopies. But trees may be far more evolved than their passive exteriors would lead us to believe. We explore the healing power of trees and why a good forest bath might be the best way to de-stress your life. German forester and author Peter Wohlleben explains how trees have a sophisticated method of communication and collaboration, and even have memories. We also hear from naturalist and forest therapy guide Ana Ka’ahanui, who describes how slowing down and being still among the trees might be far more beneficial than taking a rigorous hike. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

The decision to have a child is quite possibly the most daunting and consequential any of us can make. But recent data and research on the well-being of parents may give some would-be parents reason to press pause. A child does provide meaning and purpose but does having children make us happier? Also how will the climate crisis and the COVID pandemic impact the decision on whether or not to have kids? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

LSD and Ecstasy were once the hippy-trippy illegal substances for concerts, raves, and parties. Now these psychedelics are back in the news — this time for their positive impact on trauma and depression. Today nearly one in five American adults lives with a mental illness, and PTSD will affect an estimated 7.7 million Americans at some point in their life. That’s according to NAMI, the National Alliance of Mental Illness. Over the past 30 years, researchers and psychotherapists have discovered the transformative benefits of treating trauma, depression, anxiety and drug addiction in controlled therapy sessions using methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA). KCRW explores how psychedelics and specifically MDMA have shifted the paradigm when it comes to the treatment of trauma, and what the de-stigmatization and medical legalization of these drugs could mean for future treatments of mental disorders. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Repentance and reflection was once the utopian ideal of the penitentiary system. Back then, the ideal was not to punish but to provide a solitary space or sanctuary from the evils of the outside world in which to repent. Today, that ideal has been swallowed by a massive prison industrial complex, but despite being overcrowded and underfunded, some prisons do offer educational programs like writing classes. KCRW explores how poetry and writing have provided meaning for formerly and currently incarcerated people, plus how prison writing serves as a window into life inside America’s incarceration system. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Throughout history, there have always been a small group of people who prepare for doomsday. Today, according to a YouGov poll conducted in 2020, roughly one in five Americans feel that an apocalypse is coming. So what’s the obsession with the end of times, and do America’s historical roots inspire survivalism? KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian learns about the lives and mindsets of people who think the apocalypse is around the corner. Journalist Mark O’Connell crosses the globe in search of preppers and shares his experiences. We also explore the psychology and religious beliefs of preppers, and examine whether the Book of Revelations offers an alternative way to understand apocalyptic moments with Williams College Professor Jaqueline Hiligo and Yale University Professor Yii- Jan Lin. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Authenticity is a quality many of us admire and aspire to, but what does it mean to be truly yourself? Philosophers both ancient and modern have struggled with the question of authenticity and whether we do the right thing because we judge it to be so, or because others praise our deeds. KCRW learns about what it means to be genuine and whether we have more than one inner self. We also explore the challenge of fitting in, and how imposter syndrome disproportionately impacts women of color and minorities. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

For much of the 20th century, the consensus was that our memories are fixed and stored in the brain as literal recordings of past events. Modern research, however, has given us a better understanding. Memories constantly change. They expand, shrink, and expand again. Our memories can also be manipulated and altered by suggestion. KCRW learns about the failings and malleability of memory, and the controversy when it comes to witness testimony in court. We also learn how nostalgic memories can help us cope in difficult times. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with acclaimed nature writer Terry Tempest Williams about the art and beauty of language, rebirth, and rediscovery. Her books include “Finding Beauty in a Broken World” and “The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America’s National Parks.” Williams’ latest collection of essays is called “Erosion: Essays of Undoing.” Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

From hunter gatherers and agrarian societies to colonialism and corporate conglomerates, the need to eat has played a pivotal role in shaping our evolution. It has driven human history and shaped our past. But is the instinct that helped our ancestors survive being manipulated today? Is our food being deliberately designed and marketed to be more addictive? Also, simple rituals and slowing down may help us better connect with our food, ourselves, and nature. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by KCRW DJ and iconic voice of Los Angeles, Garth Trinidad, and written & produced by KCRW On-Air Promo Director Adria Kloke; the Moments are your snack-sized invitation to a serene space. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Worry and anxiety are common problems for most of us, especially during a global pandemic. Stress produced by lockdowns, working from home, and caring for children and the eldery has caused a spike in anxiety and depression. But according to one psychiatrist and researcher, anxiety is also a bad habit we can learn to control. KCRW also speaks with another researcher about neuroscience and promising new treatments for mental disorders. Could electric brain stimulation rewire our brains to help with conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

Nine states, including California, have enacted Medical Aid in Dying legislation, allowing those who are terminally ill to end their lives peacefully by taking doctor-prescribed medication. The process of qualifying for this legislation is rigorously managed — few people fit the criteria and even fewer decide ultimately to follow through. So what’s the importance of control in how we face death? Why do endings matter, and not just for those who die? Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

From Bronze Age farmers to New World colonialists, land ownership has been prized, sought after, inherited and fought over. The hunger for land has resulted in wars, class structure, persecution and the displacement of thousands of Indigenous tribes. Today, financial security and adulthood is still marked by owning a house on a plot of soil but is owning private property a sign of a civilized or uncivilized society? Is it time for governments and communities to finally consider how the native people, who originally shepherded the land thoughtfully and soundly, might once again be considered its rightful “owners.” Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe

For the thousands of workers not on the front lines of COVID-19, the pandemic has ushered in a new era, not only in how we work but how we approach the jobs we do. Will we ever return to the office; the rows of desks and the 9-5 work day? Also author and journalist Sarah Jaffe on why we should expect a lot more from our jobs and not just pay. Get full access to Life Examined at lifeexamined.substack.com/subscribe