Life Examined

Interrupted and distracted: Johann Hari wants you to regain your attention

Jonathan Bastian talks with writer Johann Hari about our diminishing ability to focus. Hari, author of “Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention — and How to Think Deeply Again,” shares how our modern lifestyle, from phones and food to sleep and technology, is impacting our levels of concentration, with research showing that juggling from one task to another comes at a cost.

Psychedelic spirituality: Ketamine and the future of mental health

Psychedelic drugs can induce profound spiritual and mystical connections. We explore how these experiences positively impact mental health and the therapeutic value of ketamine.

Accidental gods and our desire to deify

History is full of examples of mortals unintentionally mistaken for gods. So why do we see godliness in others, and what if we had a divine counterpart within ourselves? 

Silent suffering: Living with long COVID and mystery illnesses

Jonathan Bastian talks with Meghan O’Rourke, writer, poet, and author of “The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness,” about her 11-year search to find out what was wrong with her. Later, David Agus, professor of medicine and CEO of the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine at the University of Southern California, explains autoimmune disease, long COVID, and what the future holds for diagnosis and treatment.

Less is more: The science and skills behind saying ‘no’

KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz about his new book ‘Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less.’ Klotz explains why we need to re-examine our human desire for more, more, more, and why it often prevents us from seeing the easier and more effective solutions. We also hear from Vanessa Patrick, professor of marketing at the University of Houston, on the art and language of saying “No.” Writer Simon Usborne reflects on how gymnast Simon Biles’ and tennis player Naomi Osaka’s decisions to say “No”  impact the world of sports and elite athletes, and ultimately, on ourselves.

Looking for happiness in all the wrong places

Delve deeper into life, philosophy, and what makes us human by joining the Life Examined discussion group on Facebook.
Jonathan Bastian talks with Laurie Santos, cognitive scientist and professor of psychology at Yale University and host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast about her research into the science of happiness. Later, Will Davies, professor of political economy at Goldsmiths University of London and author “The Happiness Industry” discusses why we are so interested in measuring happiness in the first place. 

Xenophobia and why people love to hate

Jonathan Bastian talks with George Makari, historian and author of “Of Fear and Strangers: A History of Xenophobia,” about the origins of xenophobia and why people get gratification from hate. Later, Alexis Okeowo, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of “A Moonless, Starless Sky,” and Danish documentary filmmaker Simon Lereng Wilmont discuss the reality of refugee camps and children stuck in war zones.

Why do we war?

Jonathan Bastian talks with Margaret MacMillan, historian and author of “War: How Conflict Shaped Us,” about how war has defined our lives and our culture. Later, Edward Tick, psychotherapist, poet and author of “Warrior's Return: Restoring the Soul After War,” and Rabbi Steve Leder speak about the invisible wounds of war, the feeling of helplessness in the presence of evil, and building resilience.

Bringing Buddhism to the therapist’s couch

Jonathan Bastian talks with Mark Epstein, psychiatrist, psychologist, and author of “The Zen Of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life,” about the role of Buddhism in his practice of psychotherapy. Modern psychotherapy, he says, has stepped into the void left by the abandonment of religious rituals. 
Epstein shares stories and anecdotes about his patients, illustrating the links between Buddhism, the theories of influential British pediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, and Freudian psychoanalysis.

Why minimalism: A history, practice and industry

Minimalism is enjoying a resurgence, but can a minimalistic lifestyle and aesthetic bring peace and calm? Does having less stuff bring happiness?