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You 2.0: Stop Spiraling!

Hidden Brain

2025/12/29
Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain

2025/12/29

Shownote

The start of a new year is a natural moment to set goals for ourselves. But doing so can also be a little daunting. Today, we kick off a series designed to help you understand and grapple with the mental obstacles that can keep you from charting a new path...

Highlights

As the new year begins, many of us turn our attention inward, reflecting on goals and personal growth. Yet, even with the best intentions, our minds can become obstacles to progress. This episode explores the invisible psychological patterns that pull us into cycles of doubt, fear, and isolation—and how small shifts in perspective can redirect those forces toward resilience and connection.
06:55
Trying to suppress a thought makes it more likely to surface.
22:07
Mental calcification turns a question of belonging into a belief.
35:03
The intervention reduced the black-white achievement gap and improved long-term outcomes.
40:28
Surfacing emotions helps break negative thought spirals by grounding them in personal narrative
54:33
Altruistic kidney donors show brain activation linked to valuing strangers' welfare, not overriding selfishness.
1:08:20
Extraordinary altruists believe others deserve help regardless of moral flaws.
1:18:38
Altruistic people aren't pushovers—they're often tough and understand human nature.

Chapters

How Small Fears Can Trigger Big Downward Spirals
00:00
When Belonging Feels Uncertain, Do We See Rejection Everywhere?
13:17
Can a Simple Mindset Shift Change a Student's Future?
27:57
What Stories Help Us Survive Tough Times?
40:28
Why Do Some People Give So Much Without Hesitation?
51:19
How One Act of Kindness Can Lift Someone from Despair
1:02:03
Are Truly Generous People Naive—or Wise?
1:15:08
What Sustains Compassion When the World Feels Broken?
1:25:28

Transcript

Shankar Vedantam: This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedantam. In 1971, a 17-year-old girl won the Miss Black Tennessee Beauty Pageant. It set in motion a chain of events that would transform not just her life, but the lives of millions of other people. Bor...