Topic: wellbeing

Support for mid-career researchers developing ambitious independent programmes related to human life, health and wellbeing. The award develops research leadership and capabilities while supporting creative work intended to produce substantial advances in understanding.

Psychobiologist Daisy Fancourt of University College London discusses research on how engagement with music, painting, storytelling and other arts relates to emotional regulation, resilience and longer-term wellbeing. The conversation follows her work from arts programmes in hospitals to systematic studies of their psychological effects, and considers practical ways to bring creativity into everyday life. Hosted by Shankar Vedantam and published by Hidden Brain Media on 24 August 2026. This public episode has its own audio player and transcript; the separate subscriber companion The Healing Ar

Marc Berman discusses evidence on how exposure to natural environments affects cognition, mood and wellbeing. The conversation contrasts time spent in natural settings with indoor, screen-based and urban environments, and examines the emerging field of environmental neuroscience. It considers how nature may support cognitive performance as well as psychological, physical and social wellbeing.

Hilde Østby discusses loneliness, its effects on wellbeing and research into why persistent social isolation occurs. Conversation in Norwegian.