The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane

Social psychologists Gillian Sandstrom and Erica Boothby on why small moments of conversation with people we’ve never met make us happier and the world a kinder place.

Kinsey Institute director and sex researcher Justin Garcia on why the need for intimacy is vital for our wellbeing and has helped us survive as a species.

Clinical psychologist Ingrid Clayton used fawning as a coping strategy growing up in an abusive home. It helped her in those frightening moments but came at a terrible price.

Harvard business professor Leslie John says revealing the sometimes-ugly truth about ourselves can build trust and lead to more honest, meaningful relationships.

Psychoanalyst and advice columnist Lori Gottlieb and author Cathi Hanauer on divorce, breakups and separating without causing too much pain.

Anthony Klotz joins us to talk about his new book "Jolted: Why We Quit, When to Stay, and Why It Matters"

American children used to be adventurous eaters. Why has kids’ food become so bland? And why are so many fussy about what’s on their plates?

Social psychologist Keith Payne on political polarization and why it's so hard to bridge the divide.

Psychologist George Bonanno says we have overestimated the debilitating power of post-traumatic stress disorder and underestimated our resilience.

Father Martin once thought he’d work in the corporate world, but after a few years in New York City, he realized he hated his life. Now he’s written a new memoir about the many summer jobs he had as a kid and how they prepared him for the priesthood.

Psychiatrist Jennifer Reid on where unreasonable expectations come from, how guilt pulls us away from what really matters, and what it takes to finally give ourselves a break.

Neuroscientist Abigail Marsh on extraordinary altruism—people who risk their lives to help strangers—and its opposite: psychopathy, little or no capacity for empathy.

Salman Rushdie knows more about death than most of us. Decades ago, he lived in hiding after a death threat was issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini following the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses.

Babies laugh before they utter their first word. Laughter is universal — although what you find funny may not be funny to me. Laughter strengthens relationships and is good for our health, alleviating stress and anxiety. It can even release endorphins, which reduces pain. Chris Duffy is a stand-up comedian with a serious interest in humor in all its forms. His new book, Humor Me, explores the benefits of cultivating a sense of humor: why laughing is cathartic, contagious and a sign of cooperation. Humor, he says, also allows us to be more observant, more vulnerable and more willing to take social risks. He joins us this week to talk about how to find laughter in our not-so-funny world. He’s hosts the podcast How to be a Better Human.

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel offers advice to a long, healthy life which includes skipping the health fads and cultivating connection.

Do you dread wintertime? Learn how to love it. Psychologist Kari Leibowitz explains how to cultivate a winter mindset to cope with cold days and the dark times in life.

Tim Merrill has been a pastor and youth leadership developer in Camden for decades. He dedicated his new novel, The Song Sparrow, to the young people of Camden.

Survivors Annie Farmer and Liz Stein open up about breaking the culture of silence, coping with public spotlight, and combating sex trafficking.

Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab explains how to set boundaries for ourselves, respect those set by others, and find healthy balance in our relationships.

Poet Edward Hirsch discusses his coming-of-age memoir about his complicated, colorful and comedic Jewish Midwestern family.