Waiting Games

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

Think about the last time a piece of music stopped you in your tracks, or a novel kept you up late at night. Why do these experiences feel so powerful? Psychobiologist Daisy Fancourt says engagement with the arts can help to regulate our emotions, build resilience, and support lo ...  Show more

We all inevitably encounter times when we are waiting for something outside of us. Whether it's clarity on the next step, important news, on another person, or... just the end of a year! This episode is for anyone who's struggling with patience in a season of waiting, with new ...

It's redundant to say 2020 has been a doozy. The ups & downs have been like two kids playing seesaw on an emotional playground. In reality, though, we're still here and all have our place in the lives of others. So how do we keep a grateful mind during such times of uncertaintie ...  Show more

Is there anything more agonizing than being in limbo? Time may seem to slow to a crawl when you’re waiting for high-stakes news like a hiring decision, a biopsy result – or the end of a pandemic. Kate Sweeny, PhD, of the University of California, Riverside, discusses what makes w ...  Show more

Has society progressed past the need for waiting? In the time of smartphones and their 24/7 carousels of distraction, the liminal agony of waiting seems like a thing of the past. In episode 57 of Overthink, Ellie and David explore waiting as a persistent mood of existence. Why do ...  Show more