121 Episodes

  1. #108: Humanism and the conversation of the ages (feat. Sarah Bakewell)

    Published: 11/14/2023
  2. #107: How a really good travel writer approaches her experiences abroad—and at home (feat. Erika Fatland)

    Published: 4/25/2023
  3. #106: Rituals matter more than you think (feat. Dimitris Xygalatas)

    Published: 4/18/2023
  4. #105: What can psychology tell us about meaning? (feat. Paul Bloom)

    Published: 3/2/2023
  5. #104: Palentine's Day (feat. Robin Dunbar)

    Published: 2/14/2023
  6. #103: Tired, scared, and busy: why can't we all just get along? (feat. Mónica Guzmán)

    Published: 1/31/2023
  7. #102: Awe is the emotional component of meaning (feat. Dacher Keltner)

    Published: 1/24/2023
  8. #101: Finding meaning in the maybe (feat. John Kaag)

    Published: 1/17/2023
  9. #100: I interviewed 90+ scientists about their career. These are the 12 biggest lessons I learned.

    Published: 1/10/2023
  10. #99: There's a Reason You Can't Make Yourself Act like Everyone Else: You're Unique (feat. Chantel Prat)

    Published: 1/3/2023
  11. A Small Exercise in Gratitude

    Published: 12/30/2022
  12. #98: A Cognitive Scientist Tries to Convince Me the Mind is Flat; I Don't Think He Succeeds (feat. Nick Chater)

    Published: 12/27/2022
  13. My Favorite Book of the Year

    Published: 12/23/2022
  14. #97: Is the Biggest Fish in the Pond Happy? (feat. W. David Marx)

    Published: 12/20/2022
  15. Can Productivity Be Turned On Like a Faucet?

    Published: 12/16/2022
  16. #96: How Words Get Their Meaning (feat. Gary Lupyan)

    Published: 12/13/2022
  17. The Off-Policy Theory of Happiness

    Published: 12/9/2022
  18. #95: The Value Landscape of Games—and How Companies Exploit It (feat. Adrian Hon)

    Published: 12/6/2022
  19. Introducing: Meaning Lab

    Published: 12/2/2022
  20. #91: How Technology Shapes Our Tastes — in Music and More (feat. Nick Seaver)

    Published: 10/18/2022

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Hi there, My name is Cody Kommers. I produced this podcast in graduate school, while doing my PhD in experimental psychology at Oxford. In it, I interviewed over 90+ scientists, authors, and academics about the personal side of their intellectual journey. I wanted to know about the decisions they made when they were in my shoes—just starting their careers—and how those choices impacted the trajectory of their career. I am very thankful to everyone who took the time to share their stories. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to many of the researchers and writers I admire most. I hope these stories can continue to be a resource for other young academics, especially in the cognitive and behavioral sciences. If you'd like to follow my new work, you can subscribe to Meaning Lab at codykommers.com. codykommers.substack.com