10% Happier with Dan Harris Folgen

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- It seems like a design flaw in our species that we live in a world of constant change yet most of us are not comfortable with uncertainty.  In this episode, we talk to Maya Shankar about how to get better at dealing with change and to stop seeking what scientists call “cognitive closure.” Shankar is a former Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and served as Chair of the White House Behavioral Science Team. She also served as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations, and is currently a Senior Director of Behavioral Economics at Google. She is the host of the Pushkin Industries podcast A Slight Change of Plans, which was named Best Show of the Year in 2021 by Apple.  In this episode we talk about:  Why humans are so uncomfortable with uncertainty and change What a behavioral scientist actually does in the world Why even the host of a podcast about change isn’t immune to the uncertainties of life  The benefits of cultivating a more malleable sense of self Why humans are such bad forecasters The importance of auditing yourself when you’re undergoing a big change How to take advantage of big reset moments The concept of cognitive closure and why encouraging an open mind can make us more resilient   Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/maya-shankar-466

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- “The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.”  These words from the legendary Esther Perel have the power to genuinely change your outlook on life. But while it’s easy to hear them and immediately have your mind go to family relationships or romantic relationships, today we’re going to talk about friendships. Friendships can be massive contributors to mental health. They can also, when they go pear-shaped, be the source of abundant misery.  Today’s guest is the legendary Esther Perel. Her resume is beyond impressive: She is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of books such as Mating in Captivity. Her TED talk has attracted more than 30 million views. She is fluent in nine languages. She is the host of the popular podcasts Where Should We Begin? and How’s Work? And her latest project is called Where Should We Begin - A Game of Stories with Esther Perel.  In this episode we talk about:  How the pandemic has impacted our friendships Esther’s contention that “love and commitment and intimacy don’t just belong to the world of romantic couples” What makes friendship unique, in good ways and tricky ways What to consider when determining whether to confront a difficulty in a friendship How to conduct a self-assessment of yourself as a friend How systematic we should be about cultivating and maintaining our friendships How to reconnect with friends authentically Whether or not we can have platonic friendships across the gender spectrum How to handle friendships when you’re in a romantic relationship, including friendships you share, friendships with those with whom your partner doesn’t get along, and friendships with exes Content warning: There are some brief references to sensitive topics, including suicide.  *Esther Perel invites you and a colleague to apply for a session with her that will be part of the new season of her podcast How's Work? Her team is looking for work pairs, co-founders, colleagues, managers, or any combination to join her for a session to explore the future of work together. Apply here. Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/esther-perel-464

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Life is filled with all kinds of moral dilemmas— from the mundane to the momentous. Should I lie and tell my friend that I like her ugly shirt? Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people? How much money should I give to charity? Ultimately, does anything we do even matter? In today’s conversation, television writer and producer, Michael Schur helps us to navigate our moral dilemmas and answer some of these difficult questions.  Schur is best known for creating and co-creating such shows as Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, and Rutherford Falls. Additionally, he has worked on shows like The Office, Master of None, The Comeback, and Hacks. He is also the Author of How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question.  In this episode we talk about:  What got him started on the road to reading philosophy and studying ethics The so-called “trolley problem” Trusting your gut Natural states of virtue The evolutionary advantages of virtue And how white lies can be beneficial in a complicated and messy society This interview was recorded in person at the TED conference in April of 2022, where both Michael Schur and Dan Harris spoke. Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/michael-schur-463