Episodes 29
Avg. Duration 28m
Activity Active
Apple Rating 4.8 (28)
Since Jan 2024
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
53%
Hosting
feeds.simplecast.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

A podcast where the life of the mind meets everyday life. Hosted by Samantha Laine Perfas, produced by Harvard University. Visit harvard.edu/thinking.

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Recent Episodes

S1E28 Breaking the regret cycle

May 13, 2026 29m

We all make mistakes. Sometimes we’re able to brush off these experiences, but other times we’re left with regrets. We regret that thing we said, how we handled that situation, or the choice we made.…

S1E27 Why we love dogs— and they love us back

Apr 29, 2026 28m

Just under half of households in the U.S. own dogs and say they view their dogs as members of their family. The love goes both ways. Dogs depend on us for their survival, just as humans benefit from…

S1E26 Secrets of super-agers

Apr 15, 2026 30m

It’s common for our brains and bodies to atrophy with age. But some adults, those known as super-agers, have shown that we may be able to keep the sharpness of someone decades younger, even matching…

S1E25 Priced out of the American dream

Apr 01, 2026 34m

Owning a home feels increasingly unattainable for many middle-class Americans. Last year, home prices surged to nearly five times the median income. Yet the pace of building new housing, which could…

S1E24 The things we carry

Mar 18, 2026 33m

Different forms of adversity – like abuse, violence, and neglect – not only damage our physical and mental health but also change our cells. Scientific advances in the biology of adversity are…

S1E23 Is marriage worth saving?

Mar 04, 2026 30m

Marriage has evolved a lot through the years – and so have the problems and rewards that come with it. Research suggests it benefits our physical and mental health, but it might not seem like it when…

S1E22 Preserving learning in the age of AI shortcuts

Feb 18, 2026 28m

Generative AI tools are here to stay. There’s a debate around whether or not they should be embraced in spaces of learning. Recent reports suggest that the risks of using these tools might outweigh…

S1E21 The perils of perfectionism

Dec 17, 2025 29m

Many people hold themselves to extremely high standards, but when the scales tip to the pursuit of perfection, it can result in anxiety, depression, and other serious mental health issues. In this…

S1E20 How memory works (and doesn’t)

Dec 03, 2025 28m

We rely on our memories for so much. Memory is the foundation of our sense of self, ability to learn new information, and stay safe. But our memories are also highly suggestible, and we often…

S1E19 Why you should give the Mediterranean diet a try

Nov 19, 2025 25m

Many diets claim to be good for you. But the Mediterranean diet rises to the top with its research-proven benefits: it’s been shown to increase life expectancy; decrease risk for dementia; improve…

S1E18 Are you getting enough sleep? Probably not.

Nov 05, 2025 31m

Sleep deprivation is a form of torture, yet we are depriving ourselves of quality sleep more than ever. Six out of 10 adults in the U.S. aren’t getting enough sleep, which leads to negative mood, low…

S1E17 How to tell a story

Oct 22, 2025 33m

Episode Summary:  Storytelling is a huge part of the human experience. But how do you tell a good story? There are elements of craft to consider for sure, but for many authors, creativity comes from…

S1E16 Young people are facing increased cancer risk. Why?

Oct 08, 2025 30m

People under 50 are experiencing higher risk of some cancers. While overall cancer rates are declining, the incidence of 14 cancer types have increased in younger people. Why? It could be related to…

S1E15 Why are U.S. literacy rates declining?

Sep 24, 2025 25m

Literacy rates in the U.S. have been in decline for a while now. Experts are combing the data for answers. Researchers are examining the role of curricula, teacher training, and classroom best…

S1E14 Changing how we deal with change

Dec 11, 2024 29m

Is it true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Absolutely not; Research shows that people can and do make dramatic shifts at nearly every life stage. Sometimes that change is intentional and…

S1E13 New frontiers in cancer care

Nov 20, 2024 27m

It’s a new era in the fight against cancer. The disease still kills nearly 10 million people worldwide every year, but advances in genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence have ushered in a new…

S1E12 The case for optimism

Nov 06, 2024 30m

Things aren’t what they used to be: they’re actually better. Yet even though many measures show how much progress we’ve made, many people feel like things are worse than ever. How do we change this…

S1E11 Plastic in our blood? That’s a problem.

Oct 23, 2024 28m

Our planet is filled with plastic. On average, we produce 430 million tons every year, most of which is used only for a short period of time and then discarded. But plastic isn’t just in the…

S1E10 The case for a liberal arts education

Oct 09, 2024 27m

College is expensive. Even with ramped-up financial aid efforts from universities, people are still trying to decide if tuition will lead to a smart return on their investment. Is a liberal arts…

S1E9 Why school cellphone bans are spreading

Sep 25, 2024 30m

Schools are banning cellphones. And some states and cities are passing legislation that restricts student phone use in the classroom. Both parents and students have pushed back, yet schools say the…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Harvard Thinking have?

Harvard Thinking has published 29 episodes since January 2024, covering topics in Education, Science.

Is Harvard Thinking still active?

Harvard Thinking is currently active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 28m.

How do I contact Harvard Thinking for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Harvard Thinking, including email and social media links.

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