What if a 400-year-old philosophy held the key to modern wellbeing? Join George and Alice as they explore the revolutionary ideas of Baruch Spinoza. Discover how his vision of mind-body unity, emotions as guides, and joy as a compass offers a practical blueprint for a better life—a blueprint now being validated by modern neuroscience.

Join us for another thought-provoking episode of "Learning English with Human Beans" as we examine the modern masculinity crisis and the myths surrounding traditional manhood. Discover how cultural expectations of what it means to "be a man" impact mental health, relationships, and society while expanding your English vocabulary around gender studies and social psychology. Perfect for English learners interested in contemporary social issues and anyone questioning traditional gender roles in the 21st century.

Sources:

American Psychological Association, Boys and Men Guidelines Group. (2018). APA guidelines for psychological practice with boys and men. American Psychological Association.

Beauvoir, S. de. (1989). The second sex (H. M. Parshley, Trans.). Vintage Books. (Original work published 1949).

Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity: Rethinking the concept. Gender & Society, 19(6), 829–859. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243205278639

Faludi, S. (1999). Stiffed: The betrayal of the American man. William Morrow and Company.

Gazalé, O. (2017). Le mythe de la virilité : Un piège pour les deux sexes. Robert Laffont.

Kupers, T. A. (2005). Toxic masculinity as a barrier to mental health treatment in prison. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(6), 713–724. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20105

Lerner, G. (1986). The creation of patriarchy. Oxford University Press.

Pascoe, C. J. (2007). Dude, you're a fag: Masculinity and sexuality in high school. University of California Press.

Explore how we tell stories about our minds in this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans." George and Alice unpack the evolving classifications of mental health, the crucial difference between medical recovery and personal healing, and the fascinating link between creativity and psychological conditions. Discover how our understanding of mental health reflects cultural narratives while building essential vocabulary for thoughtful discussions in English.

Sources:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.

Cyrulnik, B. (2001). Les Vilains Petits Canards. Odile Jacob.

Frances, A. (2013). Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis. William Morrow.

Jamison, K. R. (1993). Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament. Free Press.

Kyaga, S., Lichtenstein, P., Boman, M., Hultman, C., Långström, N., & Landén, M. (2013). "Mental illness, suicide and creativity: 40-year prospective total population study." Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(1), 83-90.

Slade, M. (2009). Personal Recovery and Mental Illness: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals. Cambridge University Press.

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). "Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence." Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Explore the fundamental human search for meaning in this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans." Join George and Alice as they unpack how we create significance in our lives, understand "closure" as a vital psychological need, and learn how our personal stories shape our sense of purpose. Through everyday examples and psychological insights, discover why meaning-making may be our most essential human journey—while building vocabulary to discuss life's deeper questions in English.

Sources:

Frankl, V. E. (1984). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential Psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Yalom, I. D. (1992). When Nietzsche Wept. Basic Books.

Neimeyer, R. A. (2001). Meaning Reconstruction & the Experience of Loss. American Psychological Association.

Baumeister, R. F. (1991). Meanings of Life. Guilford Press.

Bibliography

Discover why emotions aren’t obstacles to clear thinking but essential guides in this episode of “Learning English with Human Beans.” George explains neuroscientist Antonio Damasio’s revolutionary work challenging mind-body separation, while Alice adds relatable examples and key vocabulary. Learn the crucial difference between emotions and feelings, explore the fascinating Somatic Marker Hypothesis, and understand why “we are feeling machines that think.” Perfect for expanding your English vocabulary while gaining insights into the science of decision-making and consciousness.

Sources:

Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain. New York: Putnam.

Damasio, A. R. (2003). Looking for Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the Feeling Brain. Orlando: Harcourt.

Harlow, J. M. (1868). “Recovery from the Passage of an Iron Bar through the Head.” Publications of the Massachusetts Medical Society, 2, 327-347.

Van Vugt, M. (2006). “Evolutionary Origins of Leadership and Followership.” Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(4), 354-371.

Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1997). “Deciding Advantageously Before Knowing the Advantageous Strategy.” Science, 275(5304), 1293-1295.

Discover the vital science behind your nightly rest in this episode of “Learning English with Human Beans: The Science of Sleep.” Explore how sleep cycles work, why your brain’s glymphatic system cleanses itself at night, the hidden costs of sleep debt, and practical strategies to optimize your slumber—all while building key English vocabulary.

Sources:

Archer, S.N., Robilliard, D.L., Skene, D.J., Smits, M., Williams, A., Arendt, J., von Schantz, M. (2003). “A length polymorphism in the circadian clock gene PER3 is linked to delayed sleep phase syndrome and extreme diurnal preference.” Sleep, 26(4), 413–415.

Dawson, D., & Reid, K. (1997). “Fatigue, alcohol and performance impairment.” Nature, 388(6639), 235–235.

• Edinger, J.D., & Means, M.K. (2005). “Cognitive–behavioral therapy for primary insomnia.” Clinical Psychology Review, 25(5), 539–558.

• Hilditch, C.J., & Shapiro, C.M. (2013). “The clinical relevance of sleep inertia: a comprehensive review.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, 17(4), 243–256.

• Killgore, W.D.S. (2010). “Effects of sleep deprivation on cognition.” Progress in Brain Research, 185, 105–129.

• Mullington, J.M., Haack, M., Toth, M., Serrador, J.M., & Meier‐Ewert, H.K. (2009). “Cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation.” Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 51(4), 294–302.

• Van Dongen, H.P.A., Maislin, G., Mullington, J.M., & Dinges, D.F. (2003). “The cumulative cost of additional wakefulness: dose-response effects on neurobehavioral functions and sleep physiology from chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivation.” Sleep, 26(2), 117–126.

• Wittmann, M., Dinich, J., Merrow, M., & Roenneberg, T. (2006). “Social jetlag: misalignment of biological and social time.” Chronobiology International, 23(1-2), 497–509.

• Xie, L., Kang, H., Xu, Q., Chen, M.J., Liao, Y., Thiyagarajan, M., O’Donnell, J., Christensen, D.J., Nicholson, C., Iliff, J.J., Takano, T., Deane, R., & Nedergaard, M. (2013). “Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain.” Science, 342(6156), 373–377.

Why do humans both seek out authority figures and resist them? Discover the fascinating psychology behind our complex relationship with authority in this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans." From classroom dynamics to political paradoxes, we explore how the desire for leadership shapes American society while building essential vocabulary to discuss power, governance, and social structures in English.

References:

Arendt, H. (1954). "What is Authority?" In Between Past and Future: Eight Exercises in Political Thought. Viking Press.

Canivenc, S. (2012). "Autogestion et nouvelles formes organisationnelles dans la société de l'information, de la communication et du savoir." Thèse de doctorat, Université Rennes 2.

Desor, D. (1973). "Le comportement social des rats soumis à un problème de surpopulation expérimentale." Archives de biologie. 84(4).

Dos Santos, J. R. (2024). The Chaos Protocol. HarperCollins.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (2021). The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates. Retrieved from https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market

Kubrick, S. (Director). (1964). Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb [Film]. Columbia Pictures.

Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2023). Tyranny of the Minority: How to Reverse an Authoritarian Turn and Forge a Democracy for All. Crown Publishing.

Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to Authority: An Experimental View. Harper & Row.

Orwell, G. (1945). Animal Farm: A Fairy Story. Secker & Warburg.

Orwell, G. (1949). Nineteen Eighty-Four. Secker & Warburg.

Prairat, E. (2012). "L'autorité éducative au risque de la modernité." Recherche et formation, 71.

Russell, B. (1949). Authority and the Individual. Routledge.

Simon-Nahum, P. (2023). Sagesse du politique. Le devenir des démocraties. L'Observatoire.

The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015). [Film]. Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez. IFC Films.

Strada Institute for the Future of Work & Burning Glass Institute. (2024). Talent Disrupted: New Data on Bachelor's Degree Underemployment. Retrieved from https://www.burning-glass.com/research-reports/talent-disrupted/

van Vugt, M. (2006). "Evolutionary Origins of Leadership and Followership." Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(4), 354-371.

Discover how our minds play “what if” games to learn from the past and manage emotions in this episode of Learning English with Human Beans: “What If...? – Exploring Counterfactual Thinking.” We unpack the psychology behind imagining alternative outcomes, show how these thoughts help-or sometimes hinder-us, and illustrate the concept with everyday examples and popular fiction.

References:

• Roese, N. J., & Olson, J. M. (1995). What Might Have Been: The Social Psychology of Counterfactual Thinking. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

• Roese, N. J. (1997). Counterfactual Thinking. Psychological Bulletin, 121(1), 133–148 .

• Roese, N. J. (2007). The Functional Theory of Counterfactual Thinking. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11(4), 168–192 .

• Epstude, K., & Roese, N. J. (2017). The functional theory of counterfactual thinking: New evidence, new challenges, new insights. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 55, 1–52