TED Radio Hour cover image

TED Radio Hour

A neuroscientist's guide to managing our emotions

Mar 7, 2025
Ethan Kross, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan and author of "Shift," explores tools for managing overwhelming emotions. He discusses how self-talk, especially in the third person, can enhance clarity during stress. Kross uses the metaphor of Stradivarius violins to illustrate the intricacies of emotional regulation and highlights the importance of emotional management strategies in navigating life’s challenges. He also delves into the evolution of these methods, from ancient practices to modern techniques, emphasizing the need for both emotional expression and self-control.
49:38

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Regulating emotions is crucial for decision-making, and scientific techniques can offer actionable tools for effective emotional management.
  • Negative emotions, often misunderstood, serve important roles in personal development and can be embraced for adaptive living.

Deep dives

The Value of Understanding Emotions

Regulating emotions is akin to mastering a musical instrument, as emotions can lead to both pain and beauty depending on how they are handled. Knowing how to effectively manage emotions is crucial for decision-making, especially in distressing situations. Learners can develop the ability to manage emotions through understanding the science behind emotional regulation, which reveals actionable tools for better emotional management. The key challenge is that many people lack systematic guidance for navigating their emotional experiences, which can feel overwhelming without it.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode