What’s the science behind kindness? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discover the science hidden in the hit Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso with its creators Jason Sudeikis & Brendan Hunt and neuroscientist Heather Berlin. Is it better to give than it is to receive?

How do we find common ground with others? We get into Gary’s experiences in professional soccer and how the character of Ted Lasso came to be. Do good comedians have to understand the psychology of their audience? Is it true that nice guys always finish last? We break down what it takes to design a character that is kind. Was Gary a mean player or a nice player on the pitch?

What is leadership? Learn how the Ted Lasso team defines good leadership and how they approach toxic masculinity and incorporating therapy into the show. Is Ted Lasso the personification of magic mushrooms? We discuss drugs, sports therapy, and the “suck it up” generation. What is it like now that athletes are able to prioritize their mental health?

Next, we bring on Heather Berlin to offer her scientific take. What happens to the brain when it’s involved in an act of kindness? Is it actually better to give than it is to receive? Is there such a thing as toxic positivity? Is being happy all the time really the goal? Find out how your sweat can impact responses in others and how the amygdala impacts heroic acts. What does Heather make of their claim that Ted is the personification of mushrooms? We discuss the treatment uses of psilocybin and how it works to treat depression and anxiety. And finally, does the brain of a good leader look different?

Thanks to our Patrons Tor V Eystad, Andrew Nelson, Honza Rek, Michael Webber, Toni Pomeroy, Zarin Taylor, and Justin Nelson for supporting us this week.

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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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0:00 - Part 1 w/ Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt
04:30 - The Basis for Ted Lasso
10:04 - The Psychology Behind Ted Lasso
16:28 - Challenging 'Nice Guys Finish Last'
19:25 - Was Gary a 'Nice' Soccer Player?
20:50 - The Role of Leadership in Ted Lasso
24:19 - Role of Medications vs Therapy
30:05 - Behind the Sports Therapist in Season 2
32:03 - Where did the storylines come from?
34:44 - Vulnerability in Professional Sports?
39:25 - Part 2 w/ Neuroscientist Heather Berlin
40:32 - The Neuroscience of Kindness
45:26 - Can positivity be overused?
47:24 - Do the things you watch affect behavior?
49:38 - Are emotional responses innate or trained?
52:23 - The Neuroscience of Psilocybin
54:30 - What makes someone a 'leader'?
58:23 - Outro