Human Potential Lab
by Scott Barry Kaufman
Consciousness Isn't in the Brain | Christof Koch
About this podcast
For eleven years and 478 episodes, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman hosted The Psychology Podcast, one of the most listened-to psychology shows in the world, with more than 30 million downloads. Human Potential Lab is what that show has become.
The questions have moved. What is a mind? What makes something conscious? What happens to being human when the things we build start to look like minds themselves? Too much of the work is happening out of public view. In this new show, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman sits down with the scientists, philosophers and technologists working at the frontier — the people whose work is actively deciding what we could become as a species.
Scott Barry Kaufman is a cognitive scientist and the founder of the Center for Human Potential. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale and an M.Phil. from Cambridge, has taught at Columbia, NYU and the University of Pennsylvania, and is the author or editor of twelve books, including Transcend, Ungifted, Wired to Create and Rise Above. New episodes every other week from October 28, 2026.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 483 episodes
- Consciousness Isn't in the Brain | Christof Koch · 40 minDr. Christof Koch joins Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman to explore one of the deepest questions in science: what is consciousness, and why does anything feel like something from the…
- Where Does Genius Come From? | Michael Levin · 1 h 2 minDr. 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…
- The Person You Become | L.A. Paul · 56 minDr. 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…
- What Is It Like to Be an AI? | Cameron Berg · 1 h 27 minWhat 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…
- Welcome to Human Potential Lab · 2 minAfter 12 years, The Psychology Podcast has become the Human Potential Lab. New conversations with the scientists, philosophers and technologists whose work is actively deciding…
- End of an Era — Reflections on 11 Years of The Psychology Podcast w/ Annie Murphy Paul · 47 minAfter 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…
- How Mindsets Shape Reality w/ Dr. Alia Crum · 1 h 0 minThis 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…
- The Gentle Power of Sisu w/ Dr. Elisabet Lahti · 49 minThis 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…
- From Coping to Capacity w/ RaQuel Hopkins · 54 minThis 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…
- Why Brains Need Friends w/ Dr. Ben Rein · 1 h 3 minThis 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…
- Busting Viral Mental Health Myths w/Joe Nucci · 1 h 8 minThis 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…
- The Psychology of Athletic Excellence w/Dr. Alex Auerbach · 55 minThis week, Scott Barry Kaufman sits down with Dr. Alex Auerbach, a licensed counseling and sport performance psychologist who works with some of the world’s top performers—from…
- Dealing with Feelings w/ Dr. Marc Brackett · 56 minThis week, Scott sits down with Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of Dealing with Feelings: Use Your Emotions to…
- Rethinking Time and the Myth of Urgency w/ Chris Guillebeau · 43 minThis week Scott speaks with author, entrepreneur, and world traveler Chris Guillebeau, best known for The Art of Non-Conformity and his latest book, Time Anxiety: The Illusion of…
- Can You Really Change Your Personality? w/ Olga Khazan · 48 minThis week Scott speaks with journalist and Atlantic staff writer Olga Khazan about her latest book, Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change. Olga shares her…
- Debunking the Genius Myth w/ Helen Lewis · 1 h 7 minThis week, Scott sits down with acclaimed journalist and Atlantic staff writer Helen Lewis to explore her latest book, The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea…
- Embracing Neurodiversity w/ Robin Ince · 57 minThis week, Scott sits down with English comedian, author, and BBC radio host Robin Ince. Known for co-presenting The Infinite Monkey Cage alongside physicist Brian Cox, Robin…
- The Science of Inspiring Leadership w/ Dr. Adam Galinsky · 1 h 0 minThis week, Scott welcomes Dr. Adam Galinsky, Professor at Columbia Business School and author of Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others. Together, they…
- Turning Ideas Into Action w/ Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle · 55 minThis week, Scott welcomes Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, senior research scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Director of the Creativity and Emotions Lab…
- Designing Your Dream Life w/Sahil Bloom · 56 minThis week, Scott sits down with Sahil Bloom—investor, creator, and New York Times bestselling author of The Five Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream…
- Breaking the Stigma w/Mayim Bialik and Jonathan Cohen · 1 h 12 minThis week, Scott is joined by the multitalented Mayim Bialik and Jonathan Cohen. You might know Mayim as the star of Blossom and The Big Bang Theory, or as the former host of…
- Rise Above with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman (Interviewed by Dr. Jonathan Haidt) · 48 minIn a special role-reversal episode of The Psychology Podcast, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is interviewed by renowned social psychologist Dr. Jonathan Haidt to discuss Scott’s…
- Radical Listening with Robert Biswas-Diener and Christian van Nieuwerburgh · 54 minThis week Scott is joined by Robert Biswas-Diener and Christian van Nieuwerburgh, pioneers in positive psychology coaching and co-authors of the new book Radical Listening: The…
- Multiple Intelligences w/ Dr. Howard Gardner · 1 h 6 minIn this special episode, Scott welcomes the legendary Dr. Howard Gardner, a developmental psychologist and professor at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Best known for his…
- Magic, Skepticism, and Success w/ Dr. Richard Wiseman · 1 h 6 minThis week, Scott is joined by Dr. Richard Wiseman, a psychologist renowned for his work on magic, illusion, deception, luck, and self-development. As the UK's only Professor of…
- Does Telepathy Exist? w/ Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell · 1 h 2 minThis week, Scott is joined by Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell—an integrative medical doctor, neuropsychiatrist, and researcher of extraordinary states of consciousness. Dr. Powell's…
- A Legacy of Social Psychology w/ Dr. Elliot Aronson & Dr. Joshua Aronson · 1 h 18 minIn this special episode, Scott is joined by two legendary figures in social psychology: Dr. Elliot Aronson and his son, Dr. Joshua Aronson. At 93, Elliot Aronson remains a…
- How To Help Children Thrive in the Age of Uncertainty w/ Dr. Tovah Klein · 58 minThis week Scott is joined by Barnard College Professor Dr. Tovah Klein. Scott and Dr. Klein discuss her groundbreaking research on child development including the importance of…
- Finding Balance In The Age of Indulgence w/ Dr. Anna Lembke · 55 minThis week Scott is joined by Stanford Psychiatrist and addiction expert, Dr. Anna Lembke. Scott and Dr. Lembke discuss how to reset your dopamine system to take back control of…
- Best of 2024- Reclaim Yourself w/ Emma Seppala · 47 minHappy New Year! As we prepare for the new season of the Psychology Podcast, here's one of our favorites to get you through the holidays. This week Scott is joined by happiness…
- Best of 2024- How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down w/ Corey Keyes · 1 h 0 minHappy New Year! As we prepare for the new season of the Psychology Podcast, here's one of our favorites to get you through the holidays. This week Scott is joined by sociologist…
- Overcome Your Trauma With Happiness w/ Karen Guggenheim · 48 minThis week Scott is joined by author, speaker and pioneer in the global happiness movement, Karen Guggenheim. Scott and Karen discuss overcoming trauma with happiness, how…
- Does the Universe Have a Purpose? w/ Philip Goff · 56 minThis week Scott is joined by author, philosopher, and professor at Durham University, Philip Goff. Scott and Philip discuss evidence for the existence of god, whether the…
- How To Lead Yourself w/ Stedman Graham · 39 minThis week Scott is joined by author, businessman and public speaker, Stedman Graham. Scott and Stedman discuss the importance of identity leadership, centering your worth around…
- The Happiness Trap w/ Russ Harris · 58 minThis week Scott is joined by one of Australia's foremost practitioners of acceptance and commitment therapy, Dr. Russ Harris. Scott and Russ discuss Dr. Harris'' "Happiness Trap”…
- The Psychology of Attraction w/Mark Manson · 54 minThis week Scott is joined by best-selling author and former dating coach Mark Manson about what women really want in a man. In addition to writing multiple bestselling books such…
- Do Nice Guys Really Finish Last? · 1 h 8 minFor this special 10th anniversary episode of The Psychology Podcast, Scott draws on science to answer the age-old question: Do nice guys really finish last? First, Scott…
- The Psychology of Outrage w/ Dr. Kurt Gray · 49 minThis week Scott is joined by author and professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina, Dr. Kurt Gray. Scott and Dr. Gray discuss why Americans seem so divided at…
- How to Make It to the End With No Regrets w/Jodi Wellman · 50 minThis week Scott is joined by Jodi Wellman. Jodi is an author, executive coach, and expert on resiliency. Scott and Jodi discuss living well with no regrets, and learning to…
- Is Toxic Productivity Ruining Your Life? w/Israa Nasir · 40 minThis week Scott is joined by author, speaker and therapist, Israa Nasir. Scott and Israa discuss toxic productivity, the connection between productivity and self-worth, and how…
- How Tribalism Can Unite Us w/ Dr. Michael Morris · 54 minThis week Scott is joined by author and professor of leadership at the Columbia Business School, Dr. Michael Morris. Scott and Dr. Morris discuss the upsides of tribalism— from…
- Personality, Creativity, and Well-being || The Human Potential Lab · 45 minIn this solo episode of The Human Potential Lab, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman shines a light in the intersection of personality, well-being, and creativity. After describing each of…
- The Man Behind The Mind Reader w/ Banachek · 1 h 7 minThis week Scott is joined by "The World's Greatest Mind Reader", Banachek. Scott and Banachek discuss criticisms of self-described psychics, the link between psychology and…
- From Prison To Social Impact w/ Wallo 267 · 35 minThis week Scott is joined by activist, podcaster and author, Wallo 267. Scott and Wallo discuss Wallo's early life of crime and incarceration, what he did after his release to…
- The Upside of OCD w/ Michael Alcee · 55 minThis week Scott has a chat with clinical psychologist Michael Alcee, where they have a humanistic discussion about obsessive compulsive disorder. Michael is critical of the…
- How To Make Magic With Your Partner w/ The Cosmic Romantics · 45 minThis week, Scott is joined by The Cosmic Romantics— the husband and wife magic team consisting of Eric Thirsting and Elizabeth Messick! Scott talks to the couple about balancing…
- Hope For Cynics w/ Dr. Jamil Zaki · 45 minThis week Scott is joined by author and professor of psychology at Stanford University, Dr. Jamil Zaki. Scott and Dr. Zaki discuss tribal cynicism, how hopeful skepticism is…
- Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self w/ Kim Shapira · 52 minThis week Scott is joined by Kim Shapira, a celebrity dietician, author and nutritional therapist. Scott and Kim discuss the rules of the “Kim Shapira Method”, the psychology…
- Reimagining Boyhood & Masculinity w/ Ruth Whippman · 50 minThis week Scott is joined by author and cultural critic, Ruth Whippman. Scott and Ruth discuss what it's like being a mother raising boys in modern society, the role of…
- The Science of Morbid Curiosity w/ Dr. Coltan Scrivner · 1 h 0 minThis week Scott is joined by true crime and morbid curiosity psychologist, Dr. Coltan Scrivner. Scott and Dr. Scrivner discuss how to determine your level of interest in morbid…







