THE SHOW
Lisa Feldman Barrett is the author of ‘How Emotions Are Made’ and a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University with an appointment at Harvard Medical School. In this conversation, we talk about Lisa’s book and what she’s learned about how emotions are made, how we can be happier and healthier by understanding how our emotions work, and the myths about the mind and emotions.
Behind Her Brilliance: Tenacity + The People in Her Life
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THE GUEST
LISA FELDMAN BARRETT | Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to the book How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, Dr. Barrett has published over 200 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as six academic volumes published by Guilford Press. She has also given a popular TED talk.
Dr. Barrett received a National Institutes of Health Director’s Pioneer Award for her revolutionary research on emotion in the brain. These highly competitive, multimillion dollar awards are given to scientists of exceptional creativity who are expected to transform biomedical and behavioral research.
Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Barrett has testified before Congress, presented her research to the FBI, consulted to the National Cancer Institute, appeared on Through The Wormhole with Morgan Freeman and The Today Show with Maria Shriver, and been a featured guest on public television and worldwide radio programs. She is also an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the Royal Society of Canada.
TOPICS COVERED
Lisa’s path from a working poor family to academic researcher
How Lisa overcame failure and setbacks (including 8 failed experiments and a failed dissertation proposal)
How emotions are constructed
What emotional granularity is and why you should develop it
How emotions and the perceptions associated of emotional expression tie into healthcare, education, and the legal system
How “bitches” become leaders
The practical uses of emotional intelligence
Myths about the way our brains and emotions work
How to turn the dial down on intense emotions
Distinguishing between discomfort and distress (and why it matters)
The simple things you can do to develop more emotional control
And more!
STUFF MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
EatThisMuch.com (Lisa Likes)
How Emotions Are Made (Lisa’s book)
Black Mothers Keep Dying After Giving Birth (NPR)
The Island of Knowledge by Marcelo Gleiser (Lisa’s book pick)
The Triple Helix by Richard Lewontin (Lisa’s book pick)
Women in Power by Mary Beard (Lisa’s book pick)
Race on the Brain by Jonathan Khan (Lisa’s book pick)
Naming the Mind by Kurt Danziger (Lisa’s book pick)
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