Many boys form deep friendships in childhood. But as they become teens, they report fewer close, rich friendships. Niobe Way, PhD, author of “Rebels With a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves and Our Culture,” discusses “boy" culture; why boys are naturally as emotionally intelligent as girls; the societal pressures that lead to disconnection among boys as they grow into men; and how teaching students to listen with curiosity can help them deepen connections and friendships.

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Chapters

01:37 Understanding Boy Culture and Its Impact

03:43 The Evolution of Boys' Friendships

10:04 Why Boys and Men are Struggling

20:22 Cultural Insights from Boys and Men of Color

24:46 "Boy" Culture in China

31:29 Listening with Curiosity: A Path to Connection

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From deciding whether to buy a house to weighing the risks and benefits of taking a new medication, many important life decisions hinge on understanding numbers, statistics and probability. Ellen Peters, PhD, author of “Innumeracy in the Wild: Misunderstanding and Misusing Numbers” discusses what it means to be numerate; how numeracy

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What can you learn from the science of behavior change that can help you make the changes you want to see in your life? Katy Milkman, PhD, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You are to Where You Want to Be, discusses the importance of accurately identifying the behavioral roadblocks standing in your way, how specific strategies such as “temptation bundling” and creating fresh starts can help you achieve your goals, how to turn laziness to your advantage by setting the right defaults, and more.

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Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD,  discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and pain, and the difference between chosen and unchosen suffering.

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As an adult, making new friends—and maintaining old friendships—can be tough. Life is busy and friends end up taking a backseat to other relationships and responsibilities. Marisa Franco, PhD, psychologist and friendship expert, talks about how to make new friends and strengthen and rekindle old friendship ties, why Americans’ friendship networks are shrinking, the differences between men’s and women’s friendships, and more.

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For many of us, movies offer our earliest lessons in love and help shape our expectations about what romance and relationships might look like. Relationship researchers Paul Eastwick, PhD, and Eli Finkel, PhD, are cohosts of the podcast “Love Factually,” where they use psychology to dissect their favorite rom coms. They talked to “Speaking of Psychology” about how films depict dating and relationship truths and myths, and how well our favorite characters’ love stories hold up when analyzed through the lens of science.

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People are increasingly turning to chatbots for mental health advice and support – even as researchers work to develop safe, evidence-based AI mental health interventions. Vaile Wright, PhD, discusses the promises, limitations and risks of AI in mental health; how AI tools are already being used in mental health care; how these tools could help expand access to care; and how AI might change what therapy looks like in the future.

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Why can’t you remember your first birthday party? Or the house you lived in at age 2? Nicholas Turk-Browne, PhD, talks about new studies that suggest that babies and toddlers may form early memories; why we aren’t able to retrieve them as adults; and how evolving brain imaging techniques could help answer these questions – and help us understand more about what it’s like to be a baby and how babies experience the world.

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Want to be happier? Some of our happiness level is due to genes or life circumstances, but research shows much of it is within our control. Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, talks about the habits and mindsets that lead to lasting happiness, the complex relationship between money and happiness, whether technology is making us less happy, and whether it’s possible to worry too much about being happy.

Find Dr. Lyubomirsky's newsletter The Happiness Files at

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Can money make you mean? Most of us like to think we’d stay grounded if we were to become wealthy, but psychologists’ research suggests that money, status and power shape people’s beliefs and behavior – sometimes in surprising ways. Paul Piff, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine, talks about money, fairness and empathy; the relationship between money and happiness; and the implications of rising income inequality.

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