The Psychology of Fear: Why We Crave the Thrill

Fear is our oldest survival mechanism, yet we constantly seek ways to hack it. From the dizzying heights of extreme sports to the tension of a poker table, humans have a unique relationship with risk.In this episode, we tell the story of the brain under pressure. We look at how the "rush" of the fight-or-flight response can be addictive, and why the brain’s optimism bias often blinds us to danger. We also discuss how our ancient circuitry—designed to spot lions in the grass—struggles to cope with abstract modern threats, impacting our collective mental health.