Harvard Thinking

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 episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace, psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, and public health expert Michaela Kerrissey about when we’ve gone too far in trying to achieve our best.

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 misremember events or fabricate memories entirely. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with science researcher Dan Schacter, Alzheimer’s expert Margaret O’Connor, and neuroscientist Venki Murthy about the science of memory – and how we can remember better.

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 mental health and cognitive function; and lower the risk of heart disease for nearly every demographic. What is it that makes the diet so great? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas discuss the Mediterranean diet with nutritional psychiatrist Uma Naidoo and Mediterranean diet expert Miguel Ángel Martínez-González about how people can make nutritional changes that work for them day to day.

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 energy, poor cognitive function, and can even take years off your life. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins, psychiatrist Tony Cunningham, and epidemiologist Matthew Weaver about why we should – and how to – get better sleep.

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 a place deep within themselves and looks different from writer to writer. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with literary critic James Wood, award-winning novelist Lauren Groff, short story writer Nick White, and playwright Sam Marks about their writing process.

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 lifestyle choices, environmental factors, or an individual’s genetics. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with global cancer trend expert Tim Rebbeck, oncologist Kimmie Ng, and epidemiologist Tomotaka Ugai about how people under 50 can best mitigate their cancer risk.

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 practices to figure out: How do we help our kids read better? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with policy expert Martin West, teacher educator Pamela Mason, and reading researcher Phil Capin about how to best support our students.

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 other times it happens without our awareness. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with psychiatrist Bob Waldinger, educator Rick Weissbourd, and experimental psychologist Mahzarin Banaji about how embracing change can lead to a better life.

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 era of research. Treatments can now be personalized to patients and someday we might even have vaccines that can prevent the disease altogether. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas, cancer researcher Levi Garraway, radiologist Connie Lehman, and cell therapy expert Cathy Wu talk about how close we are to turning a corner on cancer.

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 perspective? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with positive psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar, global governance expert Jane Nelson, and evidence-based optimist Steven Pinker about choosing optimism.

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 environment: it’s now in our bodies. Microplastics have been found in our bloodstreams, lungs, and other organs, and we’re only recently beginning to understand how this affects our health. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas, cell biologist Don Ingber, environmental health scientist Mary Johnson, and nanomaterial researcher Philip Demokritou discuss our destructive relationship with plastic.

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 education worth the price tag? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with economist David Deming, educator Nancy Hill, and philosophy Professor Susanna Siegel about how to make a liberal arts education attractive again.

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 removal of phones eliminates distractions and fosters face-to-face interactions that students themselves have come to appreciate. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with psychologist Laurie Santos, private school administrator Joy McGrath, and psychiatrist Susan Linn about what it would look like to take phones out of classrooms.

American schools have not recovered from the pandemic. On average, schools have lost half a grade level in math and a little less than that in reading. Some students have rebounded, but others are in even worse shape than they were before — and that’s when you can get them in the classroom in the first place. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks with economist Thomas Kane, education policy and program expert Heather Hill, and New York State Master Teacher Stephanie Conklin about how to regain pandemic learning losses.

We’ve all held a grudge. As humans, we’ve all been hurt — and have hurt others. Forgiveness can be a way to release those negative emotions. What’s more, recent research shows forgiveness is linked to better health outcomes. So why is it so difficult? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with Christian theologian Matt Potts, public health expert Tyler VanderWeele, and psychologist Laura Thompson to discuss forgiving when you can’t forget.

The capabilities of artificial intelligence have fallen short of human imagination. They’re now catching up, advancing at an alarming rate. It raises the question: How do we develop these technologies ethically? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas discusses AI with legal expert Sheila Jasanoff, computer scientist Martin Wattenberg, and statistician Susan Murphy.

Nothing is certain except death and taxes. Yet the inevitability of death doesn’t prevent the discomfort and uncertainty felt by those facing the end of their lives. Many experience long deaths in hospitals, while others wrestle with whether to undergo invasive life-extending treatments. How do we confront death — as patients, counselors, and healthcare professionals — in a way that honors the fullness of life? In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas joins Buddhist chaplain Chris Berlin, bioethicist Mildred Solomon, and radiation oncologist Tracy Balboni to talk about end-of-life care.

The planet is only getting hotter. Significant resources need to be devoted to both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, requiring cooperation at all levels of governance. But what do we do when the need for long-term cooperation is overshadowed by short-term interests? Host Samantha Laine Perfas is joined by environmental economist Robert Stavins, historian Emmanuel Akyeampong, and global health expert Caroline Buckee to talk about the challenges in addressing climate change.

In recent years, American democracy has withstood the damage of bitter polarization and a growing distrust of institutions, but there are some who worry the worst is yet to come. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas speaks with political theorist Danielle Allen, best-selling author Steven Levitsky, and constitutional law Professor Stephen Sachs about what it will take to re-energize and protect our system of government.

Occasional loneliness is normal, but what’s happening in the U.S. right now is not. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas welcomes public health expert Jeremy Nobel and education researcher Milena Batanova for a conversation exploring how loneliness became a crisis and how we might reconnect.

Is drinking any amount of alcohol bad for you? Studies are mixed, leaving people confused about the type of relationship they should have with alcohol. In this episode, host Samantha Laine Perfas talks drinking with economist and physician Bapu Jena, bestselling author Emily Oster, and neuroscientist Marisa Silveri.

Join us in welcoming “Harvard Thinking,” a new podcast where the life of the mind meets everyday life.