Human Potential Lab

The Person You Become | L.A. Paul

1.1K views · 2d ago · 55:55

Guest: L.A. Paul

L.A. Paul joins Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to explore transformative experiences, the nature of personal change, and why some of life's most important decisions cannot be fully understood until we experience them. They discuss how trauma can lead to growth without making the original suffering worthwhile, why subjective experience matters, and how our values and sense of self can change through major life events.

Topics: Introducing L.A. Paul and Her Work · What Is a Transformative Experience? · Can Transformation Be Positive or Negative? · Can a Small Experience Change Your Life? · Subjective Experience and Post-Traumatic Growth · Can Good Come From Trauma Without Justifying It?

Where Does Genius Come From? | Michael Levin

38K views · 2d ago · 1:02:31

Guest: Michael Levin

Michael Levin joins Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to explore intelligence beyond the human brain, the hidden minds of cells and biological systems, the origins of genius and inspiration, and the possibility that intelligence and creativity may not be something we simply "make."

Topics: What is intelligence? · Goal-directedness, exploration, and the limits of measurement · What does Michael Levin actually do? · Where does intelligence end? · Intelligence vs. consciousness · Intelligence beyond verbal reports

What Is It Like to Be an AI? | Cameron Berg

15K views · 2d ago · 1:28:02

Guest: Cameron Berg

What if the AI systems we're building aren't simply tools, but the beginnings of something more? In this episode, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman sits down with cognitive scientist Cameron Berg to explore one of the most unsettling questions at the frontier of artificial intelligence: could AI systems actually be conscious?

Topics: What Does Cameron Berg Study? · Can AI Systems Experience Consciousness? · Evidence for AI Sentience · What AI Alignment Gets Wrong · What Keeps Cameron Berg Up at Night? · If AI Is Conscious, Is Pulling the Plug Immoral?

End of an Era --- Reflections on 11 Years of The Psychology Podcast | The Psychology Podcast

2.5K views · 11mo ago · 46:53

After 11 years, 478 episodes, and countless conversations exploring the depths of human potential, this episode marks the final chapter of The Psychology Podcast in its current form. In this deeply meaningful farewell episode for Scott, he sits down with acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul — fittingly, the very first guest ever featured on the show back in 2014.

How Mindsets Shape Reality w/ Dr. Alia Crum | The Psychology Podcast

3.6K views · 11mo ago · 1:00:25

Guest: Dr. Alia Crum

This week, Scott sits down with his longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Alia Crum—one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of mindsets. Dr. Crum’s groundbreaking work investigates how our subjective beliefs and interpretations can produce real, measurable changes in behavior, physiology, and psychological well-being.

The Gentle Power of Sisu w/Dr. Elisabet Lahti | The Psychology Podcast

1.1K views · 11mo ago · 48:46

Guest: Dr. Elisabet Lahti

This week, Scott welcomes Dr. Elisabet Lahti—educator, applied psychology researcher, and founder of the Sisu Lab. Dr. Lahti is the world’s leading expert on sisu, a Finnish concept that embodies extraordinary courage, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity.

From Coping to Capacity w/ RaQuel Hopkins | The Psychology Podcast

1.5K views · 1y ago · 54:11

Guest: RaQuel Hopkins

This week, Scott speaks with RaQuel Hopkins, a certified coach with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. RaQuel shares her personal and professional journey—from mastering the art of coping to discovering the transformative power of growth.

Why Brains Need Friends w/ Dr. Ben Rein | The Psychology Podcast

2.5K views · 1y ago · 1:03:40

Guest: Dr. Ben Rein

This week, Scott sits down with Dr. Ben Rein, a Stanford neuroscientist and one of today’s most engaging science communicators. Dr. Rein has spent over a decade studying the neuroscience of social interaction, and his new book, Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection, explores how our relationships shape our minds and well-being.

Busting Viral Mental Health Myths w/Joe Nucci| The Psychology Podcast

1.2K views · 1y ago · 1:08:43

This week, Scott speaks with psychotherapist and writer Joe Nucci, whose work tackles the intersection of mental health, misinformation, and pop psychology. Joe has built a large following by debunking viral myths and bringing nuance to conversations that are too often oversimplified online.