The Secret of Charisma

About this episode

<p>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 <a href="https://history.unc.edu/person/molly-worthen/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Molly Worthen</a> explains how to recognize the spell of charisma, and why questioning it is essential to a healthy society. Then, on Your Questions Answered, <a href="https://www.uwindsor.ca/people/apl/314/bio-contact" rel="noopener noreferrer">Antonio Pascual-Leone</a> returns to respond to listeners' thoughts and questions about moving on after a breakup.</p> <p><i>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! </i></p> <p><i>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 </i><a href="https://www.hiddenbrain.org/tour/" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i>hiddenbrain.org/tour.</i></a></p> <p><a href="https://unsplash.com/illustrations/a-man-standing-at-a-podium-with-his-hands-up-49kRD5iSino" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i>Episode illustration by Imhaf Maulana for Unsplash+</i></a></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>