Hidden Brain The Reset Button
Dec 22, 2025
Dacher Keltner, a psychologist from UC Berkeley, explores the transformative power of awe, sharing how moments in nature and acts of kindness can reignite mental freshness. He reflects on personal experiences, like a moving encounter with the Dalai Lama and the impact of awe in reducing stress for veterans. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a neuroscientist, emphasizes the importance of connecting student learning to emotions and real-world problems, advocating for educational reform that fosters curiosity and agency in classrooms.
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Sanctuary In Team Flow
- Dacher Keltner coped with severe panic by joining a campus basketball team and found sanctuary in collective flow.
- He said playing with others dissolved his anxiety and created a sense of connection and purpose.
A Letter From Iggy Pop
- Dacher described being in a mosh pit at an Iggy Pop show and writing to him afterward, then receiving a handwritten reply.
- That brief contact renewed his courage and helped him teach large classes with newfound confidence.
Sitting Through A Storm
- Dacher and his wife sat on their porch to watch a tornado storm instead of hiding, feeling alive despite the threat.
- He said risking comfort in front of vast, dangerous nature helped dissolve his anxiety and produced awe.