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 • 32 episodes
The Longing Lab
Latest Episodes
Author of Modern Friendship Anna Goldfarb on how to nurture the friendships we most value
Episode 31 Journalist Anna Goldfarb discusses the complexities of modern friendships, emphasizing the impact of social media on longing and the grief in losing friends who played specific roles in our lives. During a time when it appears we hav...
•
49:31
Centenarian & CU super fan Peggy Coppom shares wisdom on love, loss, & living a fulfilling life
Episode 30 Centenarian and University of Colorado Super Fan Peggy Coppom shares wisdom about love, friendship, and prayer through stories she shares about her twin sister, Coach Prime, and her faith in God. Since her family moved fr...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 30
•
54:30
Mother of micropreemie discusses the longing in her 147 days in the NICU & explains the "Tell me what's good" strategy
Episode 29 Steph Hauser shares the miraculous birth story of her son Zev, born at 23 weeks (halfway through Steph’s pregnancy) with a 1% survival rate, and the difficult choices they faced. She explains how her "Tell me what's good" strategy he...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 29
•
58:24
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...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 28
•
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...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 27
•
50:23