The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.
Dr. Maya Shankar: How to Shape Your Identity & Goals
In this episode, my guest is Maya Shankar, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist, former senior advisor to the White House and Chair of the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She is the creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. We discuss how our identities develop and change, how our beliefs and internal narratives shape our perception of self, and how to use structured introspection about our values to determine our goals. We discuss how to cope and grow through uncertain situations, especially those that force us to reexamine our roles and identity. Dr. Shankar shares her experience of redefining her identity after an early career-ending setback. She also explains numerous science-based strategies to effectively define goals, structure our goal pursuits and maintain consistent motivation. This episode provides a science-supported toolkit and roadmap to assess your identity and goals and positively transform in the face of change.
For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.
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Timestamps
(00:00:00) Dr. Maya Shankar
(00:02:37) Sponsors: Maui Nui Venison & Eight Sleep
(00:05:15) Identity Foreclosure, Identity Paralysis, Throughlines
(00:12:10) Identity & Adolescence; “Essence” & Shame
(00:16:58) Delight & Awe
(00:23:00) Delight & Possibilities for Self
(00:29:28) Playing Violin, Childhood
(00:34:54) Sponsor: AG1
(00:35:58) Intrinsic Motivation; Juilliard & Courage
(00:45:43) Competitive Environments; Curiosity & Growth
(00:53:46) Re-Creating of Self
(01:00:51) Pop-Science, Science Accessibility
(01:05:25) Sponsor: InsideTracker
(01:06:32) Passions & Curiosity
(01:13:20) Change, Cognitive Closure, End-of-History Illusion
(01:22:29) Self-Awareness & Critical Feedback
(01:30:48) Tools: Flexible Mindset; Reframing & Venting; Gratitude
(01:40:13) Tool: Framing Goals
(01:47:13) Tool: Agency in Goal Pursuit
(01:52:25) Tool: Like-Minded People & Goal Pursuit; Challenging Beliefs
(02:01:27) Cultivating Open-Mindedness & Empathy
(02:08:15) Building Self Narratives: Empathy, Burnout
(02:13:56) Tools: Goal Setting
(02:19:54) Tool: “Middle Problem”, Maintaining Motivation
(02:24:55) Tool: Aversion & Memory, Peak-End Rule
(02:31:41) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media
Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac