Hidden Brain

Minimizing Pain, Maximizing Joy

<p>Life is often filled with hardships and tragedies. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with such hardship. This week, we revisit a 2020 conversation with philosopher <a href="https://www.williambirvine.com/">William Irvine</a> about ancient ideas — backed by modern psychology — that can help us manage disappointment and misfortune.</p><p>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/">My Unsung Hero</a>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.</p>

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.