Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan

In the season finale, Kelly sits down with University of Pennsylvania Professor Angela Duckworth, Fulbright Scholar JerDrema Virginia Flynt and Harvard student Will McQuiston to discuss the factors that affect human behavior and the challenges associated with them. Context is especially important to consider in this digital age, as is the need for self-awareness and self-compassion.

Dr. Alexis Abernethy studies spirituality by way of rigorous science. In this episode, she shares her surprising findings with Kelly, palliative care physician BJ Miller and comedian W. Kamau Bell. How do you measure spiritual transcendence? Who is more at peace at the end of life, the atheist or the devout believer? What is the value of organized religion?

The healthiest diet for well-being has been hotly contested among scientists and the public for years. Kelly digs into the nuance of this topic with Dr. Bret Scher, an expert on mental health and metabolism. Joining her to share what they see when it comes to food and mood are Dr. Michael Lenoir and educator Cava Menzies.

Kelly joins Dr. Wendy Suzuki in an animated conversation about the importance of movement in our physical, mental and emotional well-being. This roundtable also features Manoush Zomorodi, journalist and host of NPR’s Ted Radio Hour, and poet and artist Mahogany L. Browne, both of whom share how they incorporate movement into their lives and work.

Kelly speaks with sleep expert Dr. Matthew Walker on the profound importance of getting a good night’s sleep. Cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar and comedian W. Kamau Bell add their perspectives and ask questions about applying Matt’s advice to everyday life with kids, phones, work and stress.

Kelly is joined by psychotherapist Esther Perel, journalist Katie Couric and artist Timothy Goodman to engage in an open dialogue about the importance of connection in our lives. Perel’s research and experience sheds light on what we have lost in the digital age, and she offers her advice on reprioritizing the people around us, for their sake and ours.

Kelly sits down with Dr. Leanne Williams, founding director of the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness, to discuss mental health disorders and therapies. They are joined by hospice and palliative care physician Dr. BJ Miller, and comedian W. Kamau Bell to elaborate on depression, stigmas and misconceptions associated with mental illness, and how we can move forward.

Kelly speaks with Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health, who oversaw the prominent Human Genome Project. Dr. Collins shares how genetics are most often misunderstood, his concern about the impacts of social media on adolescents, and what scientists know makes a lasting difference when it comes to our well-being.

Kelly speaks with Dr. Dima Amso, a professor of psychology at Columbia University, about how the environment we’re brought up in affects our well-being. Dr. Amso gives her take on social media, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and how to be a better consumer of science journalism. She also shares how her work in the lab influences her life as a parent.

Kelly introduces the season by sitting down with Dr. Atul Gawande, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett and Dr. Dani Dumitriu to discuss the state of mental health and well-being in America today. Our experts address the dip in average life expectancy, how context shapes our behavior, and the power of community and connection with quality of life.