Curious Minds at Work

We’ve all had moments when we’re not sure whether to say something. A friend is making a mistake. A colleague seems upset. We have something personal we want to share. Do we speak up? Stay quiet? And how do we know which choice is the right one? Social psychologist Vanessa Bohns studies what happens in these moments. She’s a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University and author of the new book, Should I Say Something? The Science of What to Share and What to Keep to Yourself. Her research reveals why we often misjudge how other people will respond and how those assumptions can lead us to share too much, say too little, or avoid conversations altogether. Vanessa helps us think differently about what it means to be honest, vulnerable, and open with other people. She also shares research we can use to make better decisions about when to say something and when it may be better to hold back. Resource Links 3 Ways to Make a Request That Doesn’t Feel Coercive Do New Hires Really Understand Your Policies Interview with Alison Wood Brooks, Episode 284 The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.

When it comes to enhancing mental performance, we’re all looking for an edge. And while a healthy diet, regular exercise, and ample rest support healthy brain function, they can only get us so far. What really matters when it comes to improving our focus, regulating our emotions, or planning for our future, is taking a moment to think before we think. And to do that, we need to understand how our brains do these things, and what they need to do them well. Adrian Owen is a professor of cognitive neuroscience and imaging at the University of Western Ontario. He’s spent his career studying how we’re able to do the amazing things associated with our brain’s executive function, things he shares in his latest book, Think Before You Think: Understanding and Mastering Executive Function. This was a fascinating conversation. Episode Links Why Everyone Should Be Thinking More about Thinking Episode 191 with Lisa Feldman Barrett The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.

Opportunities for human connection are all around us. When we’re in a café. At a restaurant. In a checkout line. Each instance is an opportunity for small talk with a stranger. And these interactions can yield big benefits. Unfortunately, most of us are missing out. We’re not aware of how powerful these experiences can be. And that’s where researchers are sharing some incredible findings. University of Sussex psychology professor Gillian Sandstrom is one of these researchers. Gillian has spent decades studying how these kinds of connections work and what they give us. More recently, she’s been researching the link to kindness. And if you’re skeptical about talking to strangers, Gillian’s written a book, Once upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add up to a Big Life, that may be what you need to change your mind. Episode Links Avoiding Loneliness During Life Transitions Don’t Dread Boring Small Talk. You’ll Like It More Than You Think The Big Benefits of Small Talk The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe, and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.

Most of us ruminate. We get caught in a loop of thoughts that replay over and over again. It’s as if our brain is stuck in a place we don’t want to be, yet we can’t break free. Over time, those repetitive thoughts can become the lens through which we see ourselves, other people, and the world—and that lens is often shaped more by fear than reality. Donna Jackson Nakazawa can help us break the cycle. An award-winning science journalist, Donna is the author of Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist. She spent years talking with researchers and clinicians to understand why we ruminate—and, more importantly, how we can shift from negative rumination toward creativity, curiosity, and growth. Donna shares practical tools I’m already putting into practice. This is a book I’ll return to again and again. Episode Links Are You Processing Your Emotions or Just Ruminating How to Escape a Thought Spiral Understanding Why We Get Lost in Thought Spiraling The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe, and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.

Most of what we hear about the middle part of our lives is untrue. It’s focused on the myth of the midlife crisis rather than the realities of these years. This can create a sense of dread for a period of time with tremendous upside. Margie Lachman has spent her career studying midlife. She's author of the book, Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife, Professor of Psychology at Brandeis University, and an expert in adult development and aging. Margie also directs the Brandeis University's Lifespan Lab. This is a conversation about the complexities of midlife. In it Margie shares how to navigate them successfully. Episode Links The ‘Midlife Crisis’ is Overblown – It’s Actually an Opportunity Why Midlife Might Actually Be Awesome 5 Ways to Shape Your Health and Happiness in Midlife The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you subscribe, and tell a friend or family member about the show. Subscribe Click here and then scroll down to see a sample of sites where you can subscribe.