

How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality
PRX
While religion and science often seem at odds, there’s one thing they can agree on: people who take part in spiritual practices tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The big question is: Why? In How God Works, professor Dave DeSteno takes us on a journey to find out how spirituality impacts our minds and bodies, as well as the world in which we live.He speaks to leading scientists and philosophers, religious thinkers, and thought leaders to explore what we can learn from the world’s faith traditions to help us meet some of life’s biggest challenges. Along the way, he’ll look at how we can adapt and use spiritual practices in our own lives, whatever our beliefs, including none at all.It’s by working across the boundaries that usually divide us – science versus religion, one faith versus another – that we’ll find new ways to make life better for everyone.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 20, 2025 • 45min
Losing Our Religion or Finding What Matters?
As more Americans move away from organized religion, the moral and emotional needs once met by faith communities remain. What can secular society borrow from spiritual traditions — ritual, meaning, belonging and moral imagination — to nourish the human spirit and strengthen our shared civic life? In this conversation, recorded live at the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival, Dave explores how sacred wisdom can still guide character, compassion, and community in a post-religious age with Krista Tippett, Father Greg Boyle, and Rabbi Shira Stutman.Krista Tippet is the creator and host of the award winning podcast On Being and an awardee of the National Humanities medal. Father Greg Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in Los Angeles and author of the New York Times bestseller, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Rabbi Shira Stutman is the founder of Mixed Multitudes, an organization that exposes diverse groups of Jews and fellow travelers to Jewish life, tradition, and conversation, and author of the acclaimed book The Jewish Way to a Good Life.

Jun 29, 2025 • 34min
Speaking in Tongues
Josh Brahinsky, a psychological anthropologist and author of the upcoming book *Tongues of Fire*, explores the intriguing practice of speaking in tongues, revealing its surprising prevalence and psychological benefits. Shavon Gartrell, a youth pastor at Glad Tidings Church, shares her personal experiences with this mystical communication. They discuss how neuroscience shows tangible changes in the brain during this practice and the profound emotional connection it fosters, challenging stereotypes and enhancing spiritual mindfulness.

46 snips
Jun 15, 2025 • 41min
The Soul and Science of Prayer
Join neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, who studies the intersection of spirituality and the brain, and Rabbi Shira Stutman, a faith leader and author, as they explore the profound essence of prayer. They discuss how various prayer styles can transform minds and bodies, fostering mental wellness and community connections. Newberg shares insights on the neurological benefits of prayer, while Stutman emphasizes the importance of meaningful rituals. Together, they reveal how prayer can cultivate empathy and deepen our spiritual journeys.

42 snips
Jun 1, 2025 • 51min
Of God and Men
Richard Reeves, a writer and researcher focused on male issues, joins theologian Russell Moore and pastor Rasool Berry to tackle the modern crisis of masculinity. They discuss how societal shifts impact male identity and the vital role of community and rituals in finding purpose. The trio highlights the dangers of unexamined religious paths while sharing insights from young men navigating these challenges. They explore educational disparities among races and classes, and emphasize redefining manhood through vulnerability and support.

8 snips
May 18, 2025 • 35min
Adolescence: How to Build an Adult (From the Archive)
Leah Somerville, a Harvard psychology professor, and Connor Wood, a research scholar specializing in rituals, dive into the complex world of adolescence. They discuss how adolescence is a critical transitional stage, highlighting the unique development of the adolescent brain. The conversation reveals the importance of rites of passage in helping young people navigate adulthood. They also touch on the cultural significance of these rituals and the challenges of defining adulthood in modern America, offering insights on personal growth and societal expectations.

May 4, 2025 • 40min
The Conscious Cosmos
Join philosopher Philip Goff, an expert on panpsychism, and theologian Joanna Leidenhag, who bridges faith and philosophy, as they explore the groundbreaking idea that consciousness might be a core property of reality itself. They discuss how this perspective could reshape our understanding of consciousness across cultures and religions. The conversation dives into the implications for humanity's connection to nature and the re-enchantment of the world, challenging us to rethink our role within the universe.

28 snips
Apr 20, 2025 • 35min
Found By Faith
People find faith or change faiths for many reasons: marriage, raising a family, dealing with grief or crisis. But sometimes it happens the other way around… faith finds you. A believing takes hold, a sense that something divine is there. And maybe not in the way or role that you might have expected. It’s not uncommon. Data show that these types of experiences happen to about 30% of people. On this episode we’ll talk to one of these people –New York Times columnist and best selling author David Brooks– about his unexpected encounter with faith and what came after.Find out more about Weave: The Social Fabric Project, the non-profit David founded at the Aspen Institute.

12 snips
Apr 6, 2025 • 31min
Fasting for the Soul
Imam Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid, Harvard's first full-time Muslim Chaplain, dives into the spiritual significance of fasting in Islam, especially during Ramadan. He discusses how fasting goes beyond just abstaining from food, promoting mindfulness and self-restraint. The conversation also touches on how fasting can enhance community bonds and gratitude. Adam Cohen, a psychology professor, shares new research indicating even one day of fasting can deepen religious commitment and overall well-being, highlighting its transformative power.

Mar 23, 2025 • 35min
Origins of Belief
We often think of belief as a religious or cultural idea that is a hallmark of modern humans. But what if the early sparks of belief burned in our ancestors’ minds long before modern humans walked the earth? What if beliefs about some of the biggest questions out there, like what happens after death, weren’t just pondered by Homo sapiens?On this episode, evolutionary anthropologist Agustín Fuentes takes us on a journey spanning millions of years, from our primate relatives in the deep past to the complex spiritual and cultural traditions we know today. Along the way, we’ll learn how the capacity for belief has helped shape our species and why it remains a powerful force in our lives today.Agustín Fuentes is a Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and the author of the books Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being and The Creative Spark: How Imagination Made Humans Exceptional. Learn more about his work on his website, and be sure to check out his forthcoming book Sex is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary, due out in May 2025.

Mar 9, 2025 • 36min
Marriage, Monogamy and the Modern Mind
When it comes to finding happiness, many religions see marriage as the gold standard: a path to love, stability, and fulfillment. But is that really true? And if so, why are marriage rates plummeting in so many parts of the world?In this episode, we’ll talk to anthropologist Joseph Henrich about the surprising history of marriage and monogamy, including how these institutions helped lay the groundwork for much of our modern way of life. We’ll also speak with psychologist Geoff MacDonald about what it means to live a happy, single life in a world that often prioritizes partnership, and why marriage might not offer the best road to fulfillment for everyone. Joseph Henrich is the Ruth Moore Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, and the author of The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous. Geoff MacDonald is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, where he leads the MacDonald Social Psychology Research Laboratory, which aims to study well-being in singlehood.