Join us as we explore José Rodrigues dos Santos' international bestseller "The God Formula" (or "The Einstein Enigma"). This thrilling novel blends quantum physics, global espionage, and profound spiritual questions as a cryptologist races to decode Einstein's secret manuscript supposedly proving God's existence. Perfect for expanding your English vocabulary while contemplating the intersection of science and faith.

Discover the hidden epidemic of pointless work in this episode of “Learning English with Human Beans.”

We unpack David Graeber’s theory of “bullshit jobs,” examine five key categories-from flunkies to taskmasters-and explore the surprising mental-health costs of meaningless tasks. Improve your English vocabulary as you rethink what makes work truly valuable.

References:

- Graeber, D. (2013). “On the Phenomenon of Bullshit Jobs.” *Strike!* essay introducing the concept and collecting hundreds of worker testimonials.

- Graeber, D. (2018). *Bullshit Jobs: A Theory*. Simon & Schuster. Expands the 2013 essay into a full, evidence-driven book identifying five types of pointless roles and their societal harm.

- Walo, S. (2023). “‘Bullshit’ After All? Why People Consider Their Jobs Socially Useless.” *Work, Employment & Society*. Provides the first quantitative backing for Graeber’s claim using American Working Conditions Survey data.

- European Working Conditions Survey (2015). Core dataset analyzed by Walo (2023) and others to measure perceived job usefulness and its links to mental health.

- ETUI (2023). “‘Bullshit jobs’ and the search for meaning in work.” European Trade Union Institute report correlating feelings of job uselessness with higher rates of depression and anxiety.

- Siegrist, J. (1996). “Adverse health effects of high-effort/low-reward conditions.” *Journal of Occupational Health Psychology*. Lays out the Effort-Reward Imbalance model, showing how lack of meaningful reward at work harms psychological well-being.

- YouGov (2018). UK poll finding 37% of respondents believe their job does not contribute “meaningfully” to society, underscoring the widespread nature of perceived “bullshit jobs.”

Join us today for "Learning English with Human Beans" as we analyze Stefan Zweig's powerful novella "24 Hours in the Life of a Woman" with special guest Alice. Discover how a brief encounter can transform a lifetime while expanding your English vocabulary. A perfect blend of literary insight and language learning!

Ever wondered why you just can’t put your smartphone down, even when you know you should? In this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans," we uncover the hidden traps of social media and reveal how apps are designed to keep you hooked. Join us for a fascinating look at the psychology behind our digital habits—while picking up new English skills along the way!

References:

• Montag, C. & Hegelich, S. (2020).
  Understanding detrimental aspects of social media use: Will the real culprits please stand up.
  Frontiers in Sociology.

• Montag, C., et al. (2019).
  Addictive features of social media/messenger platforms and freemium games against the background of psychological and economic theories.
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

• Lachmann, B., et al. (2019).
  Who's addicted to the smartphone and/or the internet?
  Psychology of Popular Media Culture.

• Duke, É. & Montag, C. (2017).
  Smartphone addiction, daily interruptions and self-reported productivity.
  Addictive Behaviors Report.

• Montag, C., et al. (2015).
  Recorded behavior as a valuable resource for diagnostics in mobile phone addiction: Evidence from psychoinformatics.
  Behavioral Sciences (Basel).

• Mai, L. M., et al. (2015).
  "I know you've seen it!" Individual and social factors for users' chatting behavior on Facebook.
  Computers in Human Behavior.

• Sude, D., et al. (2019).
  [Étude sur l’exposition et la sélection de contenus en accord avec ses opinions politiques.]
  Ohio State University.

• Sherman, L. E., et al. (2016).
  The Power of the Like in Adolescence: Effects of Peer Influence on Neural and Behavioral Responses to Social Media.
  Psychological Science.

• Grinberg, N., et al. (2019).
  Fake news on Twitter during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
  Science, 363, 374-378.

• Qiu, X., et al. (2017).
  Limited individual attention and online virality of low-quality information.
  Nature Human Behaviour, 1, article 0132.

• Mønsted, B., et al. (2017).
  Evidence of complex contagion of information in social media: an experiment using Twitter bots.
  PLOS ONE, 12(9), e0184148.

• Robert, D., et al. (2018).
  Bad news has wings: dread risk mediates social amplification in risk communication.
  Risk Analysis, 38, 2193-2207.

• Yan, H. Y., et al. (2020).
  Asymmetrical perceptions of partisan political bots.
  New Media & Society.

Welcome to "Learning English with Human Beans"! In today's special episode, we'll be exploring Celine Song's beautiful film "Past Lives" - a thoughtful meditation on love, identity, and the roads not taken. Join us as we examine the Korean concept of "inyeon" (destiny between people), cultural identity, and the film's refreshing take on relationships. Whether you're looking to expand your English vocabulary or dive into meaningful cultural discussions, this analysis has something for everyone. Spoiler warning: we'll be discussing key moments from the film, so you might want to watch it first if you haven't already!

Learn English while discovering how to spot fake news! In this episode, we explore why false information spreads so quickly and how our minds can be tricked. Using everyday vocabulary and clear examples, we'll help you understand important concepts like "confirmation bias" and "information bubbles" while improving your English listening skills. You'll pick up useful phrases to discuss media literacy while learning practical tips for checking sources and recognizing manipulation techniques. A perfect blend of language practice and essential life skills for navigating today's information-filled world!

References:

- Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow*. [System 1 and System 2 thinking]

- Wason, P. C. (1960). On the failure to eliminate hypotheses. *Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology*. [Confirmation bias]

- Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1973). Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency. *Cognitive Psychology*. [Availability bias]

- Bacon, F. (1620). *Novum Organum*. [Early work on confirmation tendencies]

- Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. *Science*. [False information spreads six times faster than truth]

- Festinger, L., et al. (1956). *When Prophecy Fails*. [Cognitive dissonance]

- World Economic Forum. (2024). *Global Risks Report*. [Misinformation as critical global risk]

- Brandolini, A. (2013). Brandolini's law. [The asymmetry of bullshit principle]

- Bronner, G. (2021). Conspiracy theory formation. *Journal of Social Psychology*. [Analysis of conspiracy emergence timeframes]

- Johnson, N. F., et al. (2020). The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. *Nature*. [Vaccination discourse on social media]

- Bronner, G. (2023-2024). *Rationality in the Age of Misinformation*. Seminar series at La Sorbonne University.

Sources

# Key References

- Kahneman, D. (2011). *Thinking, Fast and Slow*. [System 1 and System 2 thinking]

- Wason, P. C. (1960). On the failure to eliminate hypotheses. *Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology*. [Confirmation bias]

- Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1973). Availability: A heuristic for judging frequency. *Cognitive Psychology*. [Availability bias]

- Bacon, F. (1620). *Novum Organum*. [Early work on confirmation tendencies]

- Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018). The spread of true and false news online. *Science*. [False information spreads six times faster than truth]

- Festinger, L., et al. (1956). *When Prophecy Fails*. [Cognitive dissonance]

- World Economic Forum. (2024). *Global Risks Report*. [Misinformation as critical global risk]

- Brandolini, A. (2013). Brandolini's law. [The asymmetry of bullshit principle]

- Bronner, G. (2021). Conspiracy theory formation. *Journal of Social Psychology*. [Analysis of conspiracy emergence timeframes]

- Johnson, N. F., et al. (2020). The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. *Nature*. [Vaccination discourse on social media]

- Bronner, G. (2025). *Rationality in the Age of Misinformation*. Seminar series at La Sorbonne University.

What makes some people bounce back from failure while others give up? In this episode of "Learning English with Human Beans," we explore the power of grit - that special mix of passion and perseverance that helps turn setbacks into success. Whether you're learning English, changing careers, or facing any difficult challenge, this conversation about resilience will help you understand how to "fail forward" on your journey to success. Join us for practical insights on developing the determination to keep going when things get tough!

Academic References :

Philosophy and Theoretical Foundations

- Aristotle: Concept of entelechy and vital force in "De Anima" and "Metaphysics"

- Henri Bergson: Theory of vital impulse developed in "Creative Evolution" (1907)

- Maria Montessori: Educational philosophy centered on self-determination and the child's inner strength, outlined in "The Child" (1936)

Contemporary Research on Perseverance

- Emilia Lahti: Work on the Finnish concept of "sisu" and its relationship with psychological resilience (University of Helsinki)

- Angela Duckworth: Pioneering research on "grit" at the University of Pennsylvania, synthesized in "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" (2016)

- Albert Bandura: Self-efficacy theory developed at Stanford University, presented in "Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control" (1997)

Psychology of Motivation and Development

- Theory of learned helplessness: Initially developed by Martin Seligman and Steven Maier (1967)

- Robert Vallerand: Dualistic model of passion, distinguishing between harmonious and obsessive passion (University of Quebec at Montreal)

- Edward Deci and Richard Ryan: Self-determination theory, exploring intrinsic and extrinsic motivations (University of Rochester)

- Carol Dweck: Research on fixed and growth mindsets, presented in "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" (2006)

Practical Applications and Critical Perspectives

- Caren Baruch-Feldman: Practical approaches to cultivating perseverance in children, detailed in "The Grit Guide for Teens" (2017)

- Carolin Miller: Conceptualization of "stupid grit" and critical analysis of the limitations of perseverance

Ever fought over the TV remote with your sibling or felt that twinge of jealousy when mom praised your brother instead of you? You're not alone! Join us on "Learning English with Human Beans" as we explore the fascinating psychology behind sibling rivalry - from our evolutionary past to how childhood squabbles shape our adult relationships. Discover why these complex bonds might be your first and most important training ground for life.