Identity

Identity

The cover of "Big Trust" by Dr. Shadé Zahrai with Faycal Sekkouah features a blue background with light rays, highlighting the power of big trust in rewiring self-doubt and fueling success.
Labels help your brain make sense of a complex world, but when self-attached, those same labels can convince you that you're unable to grow.
A man with a bald head and gray goatee smiles at the camera. Above his head, a thought bubble filled with red scribbles hints at the inner thoughts of John Amaechi.
The psychologist, educator, and former NBA player discusses the professional volumes and childhood stories that shaped his life and his approach to it.
Illustration of a brain with highlighted regions overlaid on a close-up image of blue synapses and neurons, representing neural communication.
2mins
Your brain changes when you experience something, and it changes again when you remember it. Two neuroscientists explain what that means for memory, perception, and identity.
Unlikely Collaborators
A woman smiling at camera.
8mins
Rediscovering competition in an unexpected place helped her rewrite what was possible — and go on to win gold.
Unlikely Collaborators
A silhouette of a person stands facing a wireframe digital figure on a purple patterned background.
"We are racing towards a new era in which we outsource cognitive abilities that are central to our identity as thinking beings," writes computer scientist Louis Rosenberg.
Book cover for "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" by Laura Spinney, featuring contour lines on a beige background, explores the journey of this killer language that reshaped communication worldwide.
English could settle into a state of "diglossia" where a gulf exists between the written form and its spoken varieties, but the two are bound into a single tongue.
A person with short dark hair and a beard sits indoors wearing a brown jacket and dark shirt. The background features blurred indoor elements and a tree.
8mins
How the 40-year-old entrepreneur and media mogul learned from his struggles, and why he believes accountability is the real secret to happiness.
Unlikely Collaborators
A woman with a bowl haircut and red lipstick sits on a sofa wearing a dark, floral dress. A textured yellow pillow and patterned wall are visible in the background.
7mins
She was searching for perfection - until she discovered what she truly needed by letting go of what didn’t fit.
Unlikely Collaborators
Person wearing a purple floral top and hoop earrings, looking upwards. A plant and a wooden table are in the background.
7mins
The New York Times bestselling author and founder of Going With Grace shares how close confrontations with death inspired her to change her life.
Unlikely Collaborators
Silhouette of a person against a vibrant background with radiating light beams in blue, white, and orange hues.
10mins
“Many people get stuck in feeling responsible for their psychological state, and there's a way in which simply being with whatever uncomfortable emotions rather than believing that you are controlling them can be extremely beneficial for psychological wellbeing.”
A person sits pensively with name tags around them reading "Hello, I'm a... writer? bookstore owner? father?.
5mins
How the successful marketer used ancient philosophy to overcome modern obstacles and change his mindset.
Unlikely Collaborators
An open book displays great leaders, with a man walking with a briefcase on the right page and silhouettes of birds flying on the left page.
If “founder mode” runs its course, CEOs should cultivate a new skillset rooted in the authenticity of self-awareness.
A blurred black-and-white image of an American flag, with the stars and stripes visibly distorted, subtly reflecting political polarization.
"We’re acting more like fans of a football team going to a game than a banker carefully choosing investments."
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
Illustration of a tadpole and a frog.
The challenges of setting out in a new direction can be overwhelming — but we can learn to navigate the inflection moments.
An illustrated human brain with musical notes to suggest the concept of music and cognition against a vintage anatomical background.
8mins
What do aliens, apes, and orchestras all have in common? Professor Michael Spitzer explains how they each help us understand the origins of music.
A man standing next to a boat made of bananas at Uros.
The Uros of Lake Titicaca live on floating islands made from reeds. How did they get there?
Neuroscience of rivalry: Fans of England experience intense celebration after their win over Switzerland.
For better teamwork, take a lesson from research into soccer fans who put aside their tribalism.
A woman in a sleeveless dress looks up at a bird shape formed by clusters of white dots against a dark background.
36mins
Are we the stories we tell? Kmele sat down with legendary conservationist Jane Goodall, actor Terry Crews and psychologist Dan McAdams to discuss how humanity makes its meaning.
A man and woman standing at a podium in front of an american flag.
10mins
Bo Seo, Esther Perel, and Dan Shapiro share their tips for arguing better.
A group of ballet dancers standing on stage, ensuring success.
The pursuit of excellence is a noble goal — but constantly having to prove your self-worth can derail your plans for success.
A painting exploring philosophical problems through a depiction of naked people in a pool.
Is immortality a tantalizing possibility or a philosophical paradox?
A blastoid.
From the laying out of the body plan to the organization and functioning of our nervous system, cells rule gene expression and make us who and what we are.
Judith Butler in a black jacket and grey scarf.
A primer on Judith Butler’s theory of gender and performativity.
a blue and pink umbrella laying in the grass.
To advance the gender-affirming healthcare of all those who transition, we must also understand the nature and causes of those who detransition.
a woman holding a rainbow colored kite in the air.
If you think you know what sex, gender, and "the right thing to do" for trans youth and adults are, be sure it agrees with actual science.
a man and a woman holding hands in front of an orange background.
The existential philosopher argued that an authentic and meaningful life is measured by choice.
a painting of people sitting at a bar.
How humans came to feel comfortable among strangers, like those in a café, is an under-explored mystery.
John Templeton Foundation