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Now playing: Season 0, Episode 29 — A Great Performance
It's all in your head.
Explore the surprising things we know (and don’t know) about why people are the way they are through expert interviews, rare footage from historical experiments, and brand-new, ground-breaking demonstrations of human nature at work.
1. Grayson Brulte Interview
2017-10-06
I get candid with Grayson Brulte, autonomous vehicle expert, as we discuss the potential ethical issues associated with driverless cars.
2. Uncut Shaman Song
2017-12-06
Watch as a Peruvian Shaman performs his icaro—or healing chant—in its entirety, from my Ayahuasca ceremony.
3. A Few Personal Questions
2017-12-06
With just seven days until my Ayahuasca ceremony, I fill out a recommended personality survey—which becomes a little revealing.
4. Gail Thomas Interview
2017-12-06
I explore how psychedelics can improve mental health in my interview with cancer survivor Gail Thomas, as we discuss her experience in a study involving psilocybin--or mushrooms.
5. Digital Drugs
2017-12-06
Is there a way to experience the effects of psychedelic drugs without having to ingest anything? Watch as I test out a few of these unconventional audio and visual files to see if their claims are true.
6. Uncut False Confession
2017-12-06
Expert Melissa Russano elicits a false confession from one of our test subjects in this fascinating, uncut session.
7. False Confession Victim
2017-12-06
I sit down with Jeffrey Deskovic, a real-life victim of a false confession conviction.
8. The Human Lab Rat
2017-12-06
Check out this extended cut of my challenging experience as a human lab rat in a giant, 60-foot real-world maze.
9. Hero in the Sky
2017-12-13
I interview Shirley Dygert, a first time skydiver, and her tandem skydiving instructor, Dave Hartsock, about a treacherous skydive they both miraculously survived.
10. Mr. Xtreme
2017-12-13
In San Diego, real-life superheroes walk the streets as part of the Xtreme Justice League. I chat with Mr. Xtreme, one of the league’s most visible members, to discuss what it means to be a hero in today’s society.
11. Thought Implant
2017-12-20
Check out the final stage of our power of suggestion test, where we try to convince our subjects that a brain scanner can implant a number in their minds.
12. Sham Acupuncture
2017-12-20
I go deeper into accessory-assisted placebos by discussing sham acupuncture—and getting stuck with a few needles in the process.
13. Unleashed
2017-12-20
I attempt to discuss placebos, but my furry co-star keeps stealing the scene.
14. Hearing Test
2017-12-27
Let’s do a little test. I’ll play two tones and you see if you’re one of the few people who can notice a difference between them.
15. The Musical Savant
2017-12-27
Derek Paravicini, a blind, autistic pianist and musical savant, sits down with me at the keyboard and shows off his incredible range of musical styles.
16. Dynamic Duet
2017-12-27
Jazz pianist Dave O’Brien and his student Derek Paravicini play an impressive piano duet for me.
17. Marcie Bockbrader Interview
2018-01-03
Research Physiatrist Marcie Bockbrader talks to me about a brain-computer interface project that is helping a paralyzed man move his arm.
18. Sending a Signal
2018-01-03
I interview principal research statistician David Friedenberg about his role in analyzing all the data collected in a project aimed at helping a paralyzed man move again.
19. The Origins of Disgust
2018-12-05
With the help of Cecile Sarabian, Dr. Andrew MacIntosh and some fake poop, Michael observes levels of disgust among Japanese Macaques.
20. Rock, Paper, Scissors
2018-12-05
Kyoto University Ph.D. candidate Jie Gao shares her research involving Chimpanzees and the schoolyard game “Rock, Paper, Scissors.”
21. Brains and Language
2018-12-05
Michael and Dr. Terrence Deacon discuss the connection between language and the physical brain.
22. The Park PSA
2018-12-05
We edited the fake Los Angeles parks PSA from our Moral Licensing demonstration!
23. Virtual Dilemmas
2018-12-05
Michael wrestles with two moral dilemmas in VR, designed by researchers Dr. Erick Ramirez and Dr. Scott LaBarge.
24. Coin Toss
2018-12-12
Michael uses a series of coin flips and a large group of people to demonstrate the “wisdom of the crowd.”
25. Q & A
2018-12-12
Michael recruits local Vsauce fans for his Brain experiment, and fields questions in a Q&A setting.
26. Memory Lane
2018-12-12
Michael shares memories with his mom, who has saved everything from his childhood - from report cards to his space camp jacket.
27. Fast Times at Blue Valley High
2018-12-12
Michael takes Dr. Chris Eliasmith on a tour through his high school, including his forensics team’s wall of fame.
28. Jelly Bean Experiment
2018-12-12
Michael conducts his own version of the famous “jelly bean jar” experiment and reveals the statistical significance of the results.
29. A Great Performance
2018-12-19
Michael learns the true story behind Stanford Prison Experiment guard Dave Eshleman’s “John Wayne” moniker.
30. Personal Responsibility
2018-12-19
Michael learns more about Ben Blum’s cousin Alex and his personal transformation after participating in an armed bank robbery
31. A Death Positive World
2018-12-26
Michael meets with Caitlin Doughty and learns about a death-positive culture in Indonesia, where relatives keep their dead loved ones in their homes.
32. World Views
2018-12-26
Michael meets with psychologists Dr. Jeff Greenberg and Dr. Sheldon Solomon to discuss how death affects our world views.
33. A Frozen Pioneer
2018-12-26
Michael visits Alcor life extension and learns about the first person to ever be frozen using cryonics.
34. A Family Affair
2018-10-26
Michael visits Alcor life extension and learns about the family behind – and preserved by – cryonics.
35. Philosophizing About Death
2018-12-26
Michael discusses the philosophy of death, and its changing definition, with Dr. Max More, CEO of Alcor life extension.
36. Barnard's Star
2019-01-02
Michael and Dr. Douglas Vakoch discuss Barnard’s Star, the closest star to our solar system, within the context of sending messages into space.
37. The Golden Record
2019-01-02
Michael and Dr. Steven Vance discuss the famous “Golden Record”, which was sent aboard NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft.
38. What Is The Scariest Thing?
2019-10-24
Stevens talks about fear and if there exists an innate fear of which all people are afraid.
39. I Watch 3 Episodes of Mind Field With Our Experts & Researchers
2019-10-14
I asked a group of colleagues who worked with me on the series to sit down at Vsauce HQ and watch through three entire episodes. We go behind the scenes, elaborate on topics in the episodes, and dig in to what impact working on Mind Field has had on their current research.
Michael Stevens
Self - Host
