Climate Denial as a Political Strategy: How Populism Exploits Psychology to Block Change
The debate over climate change has long moved beyond scientific consensus. Today, denying climate change is not just a fringe belief—it is a deliberate political strategy, carefully crafted to build consensus by exploiting deep-seated psychological mechanisms. This is the argument put forward by Alon Tal and Shlomit Paz in their recent article for Nature Climate Change. Their analysis reveals how populist movements weaponize distrust, identity, … Continue reading Climate Denial as a Political Strategy: How Populism Exploits Psychology to Block Change
Re-Resolving
As it’s around the end of the first month of the new year, it seems appropriate to revisit the matter of New Year’s resolutions. Why? Well, because I seem to recall having read more than once that most such resolutions fail to make it past the first month. So, how are yours faring? The State of My Own Resolutions I will admit, for my part, … Continue reading Re-Resolving
Why Are Women Still Underrepresented in the Hard Sciences?
Every year on 11 February, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a reminder of the persistent gender gap in fields like physics, engineering, and computer science. Despite decades of progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in these “hard” sciences. Why? Is it a lack of self-confidence, insufficient guidance in high school, or are we simply waiting for more women to … Continue reading Why Are Women Still Underrepresented in the Hard Sciences?
Practical Dying Wishes
When I think about dying wishes, I think of grand proclamations, deep revelations, or avowals of great emotions. Like: “I was the luckiest person in the whole world because I had you two amazing kids.” Or “Now I can see that God’s hand touched all the moments, even the ones I didn’t like, and it made for a meaningful journey as I managed to navigate … Continue reading Practical Dying Wishes
How a One-Week Retreat Rewires Your Brain: The Science Behind Lasting Change
In my personal blog I recently wrote about my experience of the magic of the Ayurveda retreat where I understood clearly the quietness that comes from stepping away from daily life. But I haven’t wondered why retreats work so profoundly. What’s actually happening in our brain when we unplug, slow down, and immerse ourself in a new environment? I recently dove into research, and what … Continue reading How a One-Week Retreat Rewires Your Brain: The Science Behind Lasting Change
2026: The Year You Give Yourself Permission to Prioritize Pleasure
The new year often arrives with a familiar script: This is the year I’ll finally improve myself. I set this and that as resolutions. Most probably you would like to fix your flaws, optimize your routines, and transform yourself into paragons of productivity. Or you would like to practice regularly physical activity, better eating, play with your kids, and finally start to say “no”. But … Continue reading 2026: The Year You Give Yourself Permission to Prioritize Pleasure
Does a New Year’s Resolution Have To Be New?
Does a New Year’s resolution have to be new? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself recently. The answer I’ve come to isn’t a simple yes or no. Let me back up a moment and take a slightly different route. … Continue reading Does a New Year’s Resolution Have To Be New?
Can Science Spot the Christmas Spirit in Your Brain?
Every December, cities light up, carols fill the air, and the scent of pine and gingerbread lingers. For many, Christmas is a season of joy, nostalgia, and connection. For others, it’s just another day, or even a source of stress. But what if the difference between loving and loathing the holidays could be seen in our brains? A team of Danish researchers set out to … Continue reading Can Science Spot the Christmas Spirit in Your Brain?
Winter Holiday: A Time for Celebration, but Also for Loneliness Among the Elderly
The holiday season is often seen as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. Yet, for many older adults, it can be a period of deep loneliness and isolation. A lot of people over 65, that is the average age where in the Western world almost everyone is retired, live alone, and for some, social isolation is a daily reality. Research shows that a significant … Continue reading Winter Holiday: A Time for Celebration, but Also for Loneliness Among the Elderly
The Murderer Killings
We take our true crime seriously here in the Pacific Northwest. I think that’s because we were home to both best-selling true crime author Ann Rule, and notable serial killer Ted Bundy. In a strange crossing of paths, Ann Rule and Ted Bundy both volunteered at a suicide crisis hotline in Seattle and were friendly. I’m qualified to weigh in about this because when Ted … Continue reading The Murderer Killings
The Lifelong Impact of Pets on Children
Childhood memories are filled with countless experiences, but for many children, one stands out prominently: the bond with a pet. In a recent survey conducted by the American Humane Association, the profound and lasting impact of pets on children was explored, revealing the significance of this relationship in shaping lives, even into adulthood. Emotional Bonds and Development The survey, which gathered responses from 294 individuals, … Continue reading The Lifelong Impact of Pets on Children
Shine in darkness
One day in Pokhara, Nepal at the height of the humid season, everything felt like it was boiling. My mind, my Mac, even my sense of self seemed to sizzle. I walked out into the warm rain just to breathe, and ended up in a small restaurant. By pure chance, I met a Swedish man doing business in Nepal. Impulsive as always, I started talking … Continue reading Shine in darkness
Aporia – The Power of “I Know That I Don’t Know”
Aporia—an ancient Greek term—describes that moment of genuine perplexity when a question resists easy answers. It’s not ignorance; it’s the realization of how little you truly understand. This state of productive confusion is the quiet before the breakthrough, the pause before transformation. And if you’ve ever launched a project, a business, or even a bold idea, you’ve almost certainly encountered it. Socrates and the Art … Continue reading Aporia – The Power of “I Know That I Don’t Know”
Four Things I’ve Learned About the Divine Dwellings
I was reflecting on these not long ago, and they seem worth sharing. They are some important things I’ve learned, conceptually but even more so practically, concerning the practice of loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity (the four “divine dwellings”). That pertains to the formal meditation practices, and more informal versions of that practice, and also simply the ordinary exercise of dwelling in those states in the course of ordinary living. Continue reading Four Things I’ve Learned About the Divine Dwellings
The Art of the Pitch
It feels like I’m spending a lot of time with pitches these days. No, that’s not a World Series joke, although that would be timely. I mean the “a form of words used when trying to persuade someone to buy or accept something.” For example, PR agents pitch guests to come on my How to Share podcast. I pitch sponsors, guests and hosts for why … Continue reading The Art of the Pitch
The Deadly Cost of Climate Inaction
The Human Toll of a Warming Planet Every year, the warnings get louder. The numbers get worse. And yet, the world’s response to climate change remains dangerously slow. The latest report from the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change lays bare a grim reality: climate inaction is not just an environmental issue—it’s a public health catastrophe. In 2025, 12 out of 20 key health … Continue reading The Deadly Cost of Climate Inaction
Climate Change: Nature-Based Solutions for a Resilient Future
Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the most pressing challenges of our time. While they are often treated as separate crises, they are deeply interconnected—and so are their solutions. Among the most promising strategies to address both is the implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS): actions that protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural ecosystems to tackle societal challenges, including climate mitigation and adaptation. The … Continue reading Climate Change: Nature-Based Solutions for a Resilient Future
Doing the Right Thing: A Great Baseball Story
My six-year-old son started playing Little League last year. Watching these young athletes trying to learn the skills to catch, throw, and bat made me realize how difficult those skills are. When a new Little Leaguer actually caught a ball, they were often surprised they actually did it. Then they didn’t want to throw it to someone else and risk them not catching the ball. … Continue reading Doing the Right Thing: A Great Baseball Story
How Nature and Silence in Urban Design Boost Mental Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than half of the global population now lives in cities. And this will likely be the case for your children, grandchildren, and their descendants: by 2050, 68% of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Billions of people will need housing, often in cities where density has already reached extreme levels, and where new challenges must … Continue reading How Nature and Silence in Urban Design Boost Mental Health
Why Adolescents May Be More Speciesist Than Adults
Most adults say they care deeply about animals. Yet, many continue to consume meat regularly — a contradiction known as the meat paradox. Interestingly, this paradox doesn’t emerge overnight. It begins to take shape during adolescence, a critical developmental stage when moral values, social norms, and personal identity start to collide. Recent research from the UK sheds light on how adolescents, compared to adults, may … Continue reading Why Adolescents May Be More Speciesist Than Adults