Curious Minds at Work

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CM 328: Vanessa Bohns on When to Speak Up and When to Hold Back

September 19, 2026

We’ve all had moments when we’re not sure whether to say something. A friend is making a mistake. A colleague seems upset. We have something personal we want to share. Do we speak up? Stay quiet? And how do we know which choice is the right one? Social psychologist Vanessa Bohns studies what happens in these moments. She’s a professor of organizational behavior at Cornell University and author of the new book, Should I Say Something? The Science of What to Share and What to Keep to Yourself....

CM 327: Adrian Owen on How to Sharpen Your Mind

September 05, 2026

When it comes to enhancing mental performance, we’re all looking for an edge. And while a healthy diet, regular exercise, and ample rest support healthy brain function, they can only get us so far. What really matters when it comes to improving our focus, regulating our emotions, or planning for our future, is taking a moment to think before we think. And to do that, we need to understand how our brains do these things, and what they need to do them well. Adrian Owen is a professor of cogni...

CM 326: Gillian Sandstrom on How Small Talk Can Change Your Life

August 22, 2026

Opportunities for human connection are all around us. When we’re in a café. At a restaurant. In a checkout line. Each instance is an opportunity for small talk with a stranger. And these interactions can yield big benefits. Unfortunately, most of us are missing out. We’re not aware of how powerful these experiences can be. And that’s where researchers are sharing some incredible findings. University of Sussex psychology professor Gillian Sandstrom is one of these researchers. Gillian has ...