Episode 18: The Paradox of Forgiveness

Have you ever had a flash of insight that hit you when you least expected it? How did it change your life? Psychologist Anthony Klotz studies the "jolts" that shake us out of our routines, and how these moments can help us make more intentional decisions about the people we want ...  Show more

From childhood, we're taught that honesty is the best policy. Yet in everyday life, we hedge, soften our words, and leave things unsaid. This week, we talk with psychologist Steven Pinker about why indirect speech is such a fundamental part of human relationships. How long can yo ...  Show more

The jihadist conflict in the northeast is stalemated. But is forgiving some of the worst killers the right way to bring peace? 

The Legacy Act in Northern Ireland provides a conditional amnesty for people who committed crimes during the Troubles, as part of a broader process of reconciliation. It’s an attempt to draw a line under events of the past, but it’s generated anger among the families of some vict ...  Show more

It seems that the denizens of New London, Connecticut have real issues with forgiveness and letting go. Every year they throw a bizarre festival castigating the infamous American Revolutionary War-era traitor Benedict Arnold for giving information to the British forces leading th ...  Show more

Deeply personal and emotional, forgiveness is also deeply difficult, fraught, and when it comes it to women, sometimes weaponized. In this classic episode, Anney and Samantha debunk some forgiveness myths, discuss how-tos, and dig into the potential health benefits of letting go. ...  Show more