Hidden Brain

What are the Odds?


Listen Later

Coincidences can feel like magic. When we realize that a co-worker shares our birthday or run into a college roommate while on vacation, it can give us a surge of delight. Today, we revisit a favorite episode about these moments of serendipity. Mathematician Joseph Mazur explains why coincidences aren't as unlikely as we think they are, and psychologist Nicholas Epley tells us why we can't help but find meaning in them anyway.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Hidden BrainBy Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

41,028 ratings


More shows like Hidden Brain

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,131 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,994 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,964 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,079 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,234 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,748 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,909 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,063 Listeners

Invisibilia by NPR

Invisibilia

21,597 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,347 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,383 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,803 Listeners

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos by Pushkin Industries

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

14,467 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,579 Listeners

People I (Mostly) Admire by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

People I (Mostly) Admire

2,026 Listeners

My Unsung Hero by Hidden Brain

My Unsung Hero

1,186 Listeners