PATINA

On this episode of PATINA, we explore Curse of Knowledge — the struggle to share our expertise with a lay audience — to learn that the cursed among us are in fact the most brilliant. On this episode dive into: The cognitive underpinnings of the curse of knowledge The types of people who are most prone to the curse of knowledge The surprising blessing of the curse of knowledge

On this episode of PATINA, we explore the Jonah Complex — the tendency to run from our greatest potential — to discover that those who are most terrified of our potential tend to have the greatest destinies of all. The Jonah Complex is a resistance around stepping into our most sparkly fate — our greatest potential. A phenomenon that’s as counterintuitive as it is common, the Jonah Complex shows up when we settle for unfulfilling work, subpar partners, underwhelming paychecks, or humdrum routines. While it may seem like we want the best for ourselves, the truth is: we humans can be our own worst saboteurs. But fear not: those of us who are aware of the ways that we deny our greatness are on a path toward our highest destiny. On this episode, we dive into: The psychological & social underpinnings of the Jonah Complex The types of people who are most prone to the shadows of the Jonah Complex Abraham Maslow’s surprising advice for Jonah Complex sufferers

On this episode of PATINA, we explore the star-crossed phenomenon of infatuation — an intense, often all-consuming attraction to a person — to tease apart what is truth and what is tomfoolery. If we humans excel at anything, it is being foolish. And our fatuity is perhaps never more pronounced than when under the spell of infatuation. Drugged by our own neurochemistry and blinded to red flags, even (and perhaps especially) the most intelligent among us can become bumbling, blustering, blushing fools. And yet, our willingness to lend our hearts romantically to another is an eternal muse for the creative mind. Despite the pain, infatuation may be a folly that makes life worth living.

On this episode of PATINA, we undress high self-monitoring — the tendency to be hyperaware of how we present ourselves — to reveal a lovely finding: Us mirrorballs may be the most resplendent social creatures of them all. Summary: To succeed socially, we all need to put on a bit of a show. We laugh at the try-hard joke, suppress the too-honest opinion, fluff our hair before the date, and charm our way through the networking event. But some of us take this color-changing act too far: We can become so focused on how we present ourselves — a personality trait called high self-monitoring — that we lose touch with the authentic, vulnerable self within. In this episode, we will explore the psychosocial nature of high self-monitoring to discover that we are not what Holden Caulfield would call a “phony,” but are instead incredibly self-aware creatures who glue our social worlds together. In this episode we will cover: The psychological and social nature of high self-monitoring An embarrassing personal story about high self-monitoring How to reframe high self-monitoring in your own life & work

On this episode of PATINA, we excavate the murky phenomenon of compassion fade to emerge with a bright discovery: It tends to affect those of us capable of feeling the greatest depths. Summary: In the face of a crisis, we humans are capable of some pretty remarkable acts of compassion. In the wake of too much suffering, however, our compassion can, quite literally, fade. Compassion fade describes the decrease in empathetic behavior and emotion that can occur as the number of people in need increases. Said differently, there is not a linear relationship between the degree of empathy and the severity of a crisis. On its face, compassion fade may make us appear cold or cruel — sociopathic, even. But that appearance is often anything but the truth. In a strange plot twist, those of us who are most likely to experience compassion fade tend to be the most empathetic souls among us. It afflicts those of us who are able to feel deeply, for better or for worse… In this episode we will cover:  The psychological underpinnings of compassion fade Personal and historical stories of compassion fade The surprising group that is most prone to compassion fade How to reframe compassion fade in your own life Read Episode Transcript

On this episode of PATINA, we dive deep into the hypnotizable personality, with all its magic and mystery, offering a textured look at the power of the treasures waiting in our own depths. Summary: Each of us contains unfathomable multitudes — a bottomless ocean waiting to be discovered. This ocean is, of course, a symbol for our unconscious. Notoriously difficult to reach, one popular method of accessing the unconscious is hypnosis, and some of us are more hypnotizable than others. But be warned: Hypnotizability is not always a neat party trick — it can lead us into some murky places inside of ourselves. When it comes to the eternal quest that is human life, however, the treasures waiting in our depths are perhaps always worth the risk. Key Learnings: The history of hypnosis; why hypnosis is coming back in vogue as a therapeutic technique; the most hypnotizable personality types; the beauty and shadow of the hypnotizable personality; the role of hypnosis in deep self-discovery See Episode Transcript

We humans prefer neat and tidy boundaries in our lives. From prehistoric cups to ancient castle walls, we have an instinct to keep certain things out and others in. But, this feat is not so easy when it comes to human nature: Many of us struggle to create firm boundaries between our inner and outer worlds, allowing far too much external stimuli into our internal landscape. Possessing thin boundaries can bring confusion, manipulation, and heartache when not handled with care. And yet, when managed mindfully, it is a state that is also lined with gold: They allow us to experience life with the heart and mind of a poet, an artist, a lover… See Episode Transcript

Humans have an age-old fascination with masks. From rituals to theatre to warding off evil spirits, masks have been used across time and culture to transform us into something else. But what about the metaphorical mask we wear everyday? What are we trying to hide — and why do we feel like frauds? You may be surprised to learn: Those of us who are most likely to wear a mask often have the least to hide. Perhaps we should only be skeptical about those who never wonder if they are an imposter… See all episodes