The Longing Lab
Do you ever find yourself so fixated on longing that you can’t enjoy the present? Longing for a lover, an exotic destination, a lost loved one, or a past time in your life? The Longing Lab takes a deeper look at the science of longing and the culture that drives us to long for what we don’t have. You can expect insightful conversations with individuals uniquely qualified to talk about longing. Host, Amanda McCracken, has written or spoken about her own addiction to longing in national publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, & the BBC. The goal of the Longing Lab is to inspire individuals to make positive changes in their lives. Look for her book, When Longing Becomes Your Lover (Hachette), in fall of 2025!
Podcasting since 2022 • 29 episodes
The Longing Lab
Latest Episodes
Psychiatrist Dr. Jud Brewer on longing in the brain & how to curb our cravings through mindfulness
Episode 28 Psychiatrist and mindfulness research leader Dr. Jud Brewer explains the neural mechanisms of longing (i.e. romantic obsession) and the differences between excitement (contraction) and joy (expansion). Brewer discusses how mind...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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42:29
Feminist author Elissa Bassist on how warping our voices leads to physical pain & longing
Episode 27 Feminist author Elissa Bassist discusses her experiences with longing while warping her voice in academia, relationships, and medical settings. She shares her two-year journey with physical pain misunderstood and dismissed by many do...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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50:23
Swipe Fat podcast co-host Alex Stewart on how longing shapes dating experiences for plus size women
Episode 26 Alex Stewart, the influencer behind the hit podcast Swipe Fat, discusses how body shaming shapes romantic longing, the polarizing use of words like “fat,” the impact of weight loss drugs on the body positivity movement, and why you s...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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58:03
Neuroscientist Tom Bellamy (aka Dr. L) explains the brain on limerence & strategies to stop it
Episode 25 Neuroscientist and owner of Livingwithlimerence.com Dr. Tom Bellamy explains what is happening in the brain when one experiences limerence, what makes it scientifically so difficult to disrupt, and strategies to practice to stop lime...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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1:16:46
Travel expert Pauline Frommer on life & love lessons at the intersection of travel & longing
Episode 24 Travel expert and writer Pauline Frommer illustrates how travel experiences have made her a better seeker, the importance of appreciating the ephemeral moments in travel, why the holy grail of travel is finding one’s soulmate, and th...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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50:58