Podcasts

"Restaurant Week"

It's restaurant week here in NYC, and so we're celebrating the neighborhood spots that feel almost like home and all the hard-working chefs and servers who make a space come alive.

"Starting Over"

In this hour, stories of trying again, fresh starts, and chances at redemption — as a parent, on stage, and in your 20s. This episode is hosted by Jay Allison, producer of this show.

"Growing Pains"

In this episode, the trials and tribulations of growing up: jealousy, loss, secrets, and finding one's place in the world. This episode is hosted by Moth Producer and Director Chloe Salmon. The Moth Radio Hour is produced by The Moth and Jay Allison of Atlantic Public Media.

"What Successful Negotiators Do Differently"

Studies show that women negotiate just as frequently as men — so why do they succeed half as often? With wit and humor, business consultant Kathryn Valentine unpacks the gender expectations of workplace negotiations, offering a clear equation for anyone looking to make a successful ask and get what they want.

"The Trap of Win-Lose Thinking (and how to escape it)"

What do you get when you combine a major flood and near-bankruptcy? For Whole Foods cofounder John Mackey, the answer reshaped his business into a household name. He takes us back to the night his first store was destroyed, showing how shifting from a win-lose mindset to a "win-win-win" worldview helped him achieve success — and why it can work for you, too.

"How To Raise Kids Who Can Handle Hard Things"

Could exposing kids to their fears help them thrive later on in life? Exploring the science of exposure therapy, pediatric psychologist Kathryn Hecht shows how encouraging children to handle discomfort builds confidence and resilience. Through personal stories and practical strategies, she shares the secret for raising kids ready to meet life's challenges.

"What Losing Everything Taught Me About Resilience"

Entrepreneur and TED Fellow Jane Marie Chen started a company that created a low-cost, portable incubator for premature babies in underserved communities, with the goal of saving more than one million babies around the world. After a decade of relentless challenges, the company shut down — pushing her into complete burnout and a profound personal reckoning. In this powerful talk, she shares what happened next and how it taught her the secret to resilience.

"Can You Picture Things in Your Mind? I Can't"

Picture this: a rocket ship crash-lands on a planet, and an alien approaches the spacecraft. What do you see in your mind when you visualize this scene? For Alex Rosenthal (and many others), the answer is: absolutely nothing. Exploring the fascinating science of aphantasia, or the inability to generate mental images, he shows why our minds are much more different than we think.

Close your eyes and picture an apple — what do you see? Most people will conjure up a vivid image of the fruit, but for the roughly one in 100 individuals with aphantasia, nothing will appear in the mind's eye at all.

Science.org: "People Who Can't Picture Images in Their 'Mind's Eye' Still Represent Them in Their Brains"

"Are Psychedelics the Master Key to Our Brains?"

Gül Dölen is a pioneering neuroscientist in the emerging field of psychedelics. She's studied how psychedelics may assist in treating trauma, addiction, depression, and even Parkinson's. A key piece of her research has involved critical periods — when the brain is capable of rapid and deep learning. Psychedelics may be a master key for unlocking these critical periods and curing diseases of the brain. Dölen speaks with Krista Tippett, host of the "On Being" podcast, about what she's learning about the brain and its capacity to heal. Dölen is a professor at UC Berkeley where she teaches both psychology and neuroscience.

"The Disruptors: Sam Altman and Brian Chesky"

Technological innovations are led by people, and in this episode, the leaders of two of the most influential companies in Silicon Valley provide some insight into the human drivers of their products. Sam Altman is co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, which created the artificial intelligence tools ChatGPT and DALL-E. Brian Chesky is co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, which has revolutionized the hospitality industry. Altman and Chesky are also close friends, exchanging advice and support when the road gets bumpy, as it has at times for both. NBC News anchor Lester Holt interviews the founders about the challenges, accomplishments, and responsibilities that come with charting new technological territory. This conversation was recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June. Altman said publicly in late September that OpenAI, which was founded as a nonprofit, is considering converting to a for-profit company. The day before that announcement, three top executives resigned from the company, but Altman said those departures were unrelated. Despite internal turmoil, OpenAI reportedly raised $6.6 billion in early October, which follows a funding round of $10 billion in January.

"The Sober Curiosity Movement" — particularly relevant to individuals who cannot (or choose not to) drink

For adults, the pressure to drink at social engagements, work events, restaurants, or almost anywhere outside the home can feel constant. Recent research has found that "no amount or kind of alcohol is good for your health," and a wide variety of health problems can be linked to drinking. The growing "sober curious" movement offers people a way to think about cutting down on alcohol consumption at their own pace and in their own way, without the stigma that sometimes comes with sobriety. Quality non-alcoholic alternatives are more available than ever before, and sober bars and gathering spaces have popped up in a few cities. An expert panel from Aspen Ideas: Health breaks down sober curiosity for an audience at the festival. Chris Marshall is a mental health counselor and the founder of Sans Bar, a sober bar in Austin, Texas. Jen Batchelor started Kin Euphorics, a functional non-alcoholic beverage brand. And Katie Witkiewitz directs a substance abuse program at the University of New Mexico. Journalist and founding editor of Healthcare Brew, Amanda Eisenberg, moderates the conversation.

"The Surprising Source of Joy"

Why is it that simple pleasures such as bubbles, rainbows, and hot air balloons bring joy to most people? Designer Ingrid Fetell Lee says, "there's something really powerful in the idea that we all find joy in the same things," especially items with little significance otherwise. Fetell Lee studied how our physical environment impacts our well-being, both physically and psychologically. She believes that our surroundings can be a powerful tool for cultivating happier, healthier lives … and joyful moments. In this episode, she talks about the difference between happiness and joy and how we can stimulate our senses to produce joy. Fetell Lee is the author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness.