The Pulse Folgen

It's a simple question with lots of answers: Who are you? You might answer with your name, age, gender, or race. Or you might define yourself by your family — as a sibling, a parent, or son or daughter. You might choose your profession, your passion, your culture, or values. We hear a lot about embracing our "true selves" — the essential core of our beings; the thing that makes us us. But when you break it down, what is the self? Where does it come from? On this episode, we talk to social psychologist Brian Lowery about his new book "Selfless: The Social Creation of 'You.'" He argues that our sense of self mostly comes from other people, and from cultural and societal context. We'll also hear the story of a young woman whose sense of self was destroyed by a traumatic brain injury — and what the healing process revealed about the forces that determine our path in life.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The messages we receive around quitting are usually straightforward — don't do it. It's something we hear everywhere — from greats like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky, in movies and TV shows, on motivational posters and in children's books: Go the distance. Never give up. Quitters never win, and winners never quit. But what if giving up really is the best option? What if we're miserable, or burned out, or realize our goals have changed? When should we stick it out — and when should we walk away? On this episode, we explore those questions with writer Julia Keller, who examines the science — and potential benefits — of throwing in the towel in her new book, "Quitting: A Life Strategy: The Myth of Perseverance and How the New Science of Giving Up Can Set You Free." We also hear stories about one woman's reckoning with the effects of long COVID on her life, and what prompted a young 20-something to give up everything for a life on the road.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

When NPR host Elise Hu moved to South Korea to be an international correspondent, she ended up getting a crash course on Korean beauty and the country's billion-dollar cosmetics industry. She explains the rise of the industry, its appeal, and the high standards it sets for appearance. On this episode, a conversation with Elise Hu about her new book, "Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty capital."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy