The Secret of Charisma

2026-03-02 · 94 min · 12 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

→ hosted by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam person

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Feed author/publisher: Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
→ discusses Science concept

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→ discusses Arts concept

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Feed category: Arts
→ discusses Social Sciences concept

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→ hosted by Hidden Brain Media company

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evidence rules-v4
Feed author/publisher: Hidden Brain Media
→ discusses Performing Arts concept

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Feed category: Performing Arts

Entities found in this episode

concepts 8

mentioned Science concept

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evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Science
mentioned Arts concept

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evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Arts
mentioned Social Sciences concept

0.50

evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Social Sciences
mentioned Performing Arts concept

0.50

evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Performing Arts
discusses Science concept

0.40

evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Science
discusses Arts concept

0.40

evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Arts
discusses Social Sciences concept

0.40

evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Social Sciences
discusses Performing Arts concept

0.40

evidence rules-v4
Feed category: Performing Arts

persons 2

mentioned Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam person

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evidence rules-v4
Feed author/publisher: Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
hosted by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam person

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evidence rules-v4
Feed author/publisher: Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

companys 2

mentioned Hidden Brain Media company

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evidence rules-v4
Feed author/publisher: Hidden Brain Media
hosted by Hidden Brain Media company

0.40

evidence rules-v4
Feed author/publisher: Hidden Brain Media

Episode description as stored

Charismatic leaders can inspire devotion and give people a powerful sense of meaning. They can also make us vulnerable. This week, we explore how figures across history have gained followers by offering clarity in moments of uncertainty — and why that clarity can come at a cost. Historian Molly Worthen explains how to recognize the spell of charisma, and why questioning it is essential to a healthy society. Then, on Your Questions Answered, Antonio Pascual-Leone returns to respond to listeners' thoughts and questions about moving on after a breakup. Do you have personal stories about being drawn in by a charismatic leader? A question about how we can be swept up in the spell of a mesmerizing person? If you’d be willing to share your question or story with the Hidden Brain audience, please record a voice memo on your phone. Then, email the file to us at feedback@hiddenbrain.org. Use the subject line “charisma.” Thanks! Our next stops on Hidden Brain's live tour are coming up in just a few weeks! Join Shankar in Philadelphia on March 21 or in New York City on March 25. More info and tickets are at hiddenbrain.org/tour. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.