PODCAST · society
The Longing Lab
by Amanda McCracken
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 February 2026!
Episodes
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Author of Famished Anna Rollins discusses how purity culture can lead to disordered eating
Send us Fan Mail Episode 42: In this episode, Anna Rollins discusses the impact of purity culture on women's desire, body image, and relationships. She shares personal experiences and insights into how religious and cultural narratives shape longings and disordered eating. Anna Rollins' debut...
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Meditation pioneer Sharon Salzberg on the difference b/t longing, happiness, and connection
Send us Fan Mail Episode 41: Sharon Salzberg, a meditation pioneer, teacher, and author, explores the nature of longing, love, and happiness through the lens of mindfulness and Buddhist teachings. She explains how to transform longing into a path for genuine happiness and deepen your…
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First Love Author Lisa A. Phillips on the impact of teen crushes and heartbreaks
Send us Fan Mail Episode 40 Journalist Lisa A. Phillips discusses her new book First Love, exploring the emotional landscape of adolescent relationships, the significance of first loves, and how early experiences shape future romantic patterns. She shares insights on the importance of…
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James Beard award-winning restaurateur Bobby Stuckey on longing, listening, & longevity in hospitality
Send us Fan Mail Episode 39 Bobby Stuckey, James Beard award-winning restaurateur and master sommelier, discusses how he finds joy in the mundane, the essential skill of listening in hospitality to understand what customers are longing for, and how endurance running has contributed to his…
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The Flirt Coach Benjamin Camras on being a hopeFUL romantic
Send us Fan Mail Episode 38: Flirt coach Benjamin Camras reveals what he's learned about longing, belonging, connection, and self-love, both through his personal dating experience and as a dating coach. He shares ways he helps others navigate the complexities of dating and relationships. Benjamin...
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Infertility advocate Lana Manikowski on finding purpose beyond motherhood
Send us Fan Mail Episode 37: Lana Manikowski (a certified life coach, infertility advocate, and the author of So Now What?) shares her personal journey navigating infertility, how it shaped her life, and practical strategies for reconnecting with one's body and finding purpose beyond motherhood....
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Columbia Professor Walter Frisch on the musical language of longing
Send us Fan Mail Episode 36 Columbia University Professor of Music Walter Frisch explores how longing is expressed in 19th and 20th-century music, particularly in the works of composers like Schumann, Wagner, and Arlen. Frisch also shares the lesser-known historic details on the development of…
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Journalist and author Rachel Hills discusses the sex myths society sells us
Send us Fan Mail Episode 35 Feminist journalist and author of The Sex Myth, Rachel Hills discusses what she’s learned about sex as a source of power, the sex myths many of us believe, and how the sexual revolution didn’t really liberate us. Hills also highlights the social pressures she…
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AI ethicist & minister Dylan Thomas Doyle explains griefbots: their pros and cons & future considerations
Send us Fan Mail Episode 34 Dylan Thomas Doyle (PhD) discusses the use of AI in creating "griefbots," which simulate deceased loved ones. Doyle-Burke emphasizes the ethical considerations, potential harms, and psychological impacts of grief-related technology. He highlights the need for careful...
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Dr. Ravin Alaei shares the connections between our favorite songs and our attachment styles
Send us Fan Mail Episode 33 Dr. Ravin Alaei explores the relationship between music lyrics and attachment styles. In a study of 500 participants, lyrics of ~4,700 songs were analyzed to quantify avoidance, security, and anxiety. Results showed that people with avoidant attachment styles preferred...
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Psychologist Nirit Soffer-Dudek explains maladaptive daydreaming, where fantasy becomes disabling
Send us Fan Mail Episode 32 Psychologist Nirit Soffer-Dudek explains maladaptive daydreaming, a clinical phenomenon where fantasy becomes a highly disabling and distressing addiction. She discusses fuels, triggers, treatments and why/how it’s often misdiagnosed. Nirit Soffer-Dudek, PhD is an...
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Author of Modern Friendship Anna Goldfarb on how to nurture the friendships we most value
Send us Fan Mail 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 have hundreds of connections, she...
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Centenarian & CU super fan Peggy Coppom shares wisdom on love, loss, & living a fulfilling life
Send us Fan Mail 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 from the high plains of eastern Colorado to…
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Mother of micropreemie discusses the longing in her 147 days in the NICU & explains the "Tell me what's good" strategy
Send us Fan Mail 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 helped them find hope and the...
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Psychiatrist Dr. Jud Brewer on longing in the brain & how to curb our cravings through mindfulness
Send us Fan Mail 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 mindfulness training reduces cravings and...
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Feminist author Elissa Bassist on how warping our voices leads to physical pain & longing
Send us Fan Mail 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 doctors and how it highlights the...
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Swipe Fat podcast co-host Alex Stewart on how longing shapes dating experiences for plus size women
Send us Fan Mail 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 should never wait til you're X size…
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Neuroscientist Tom Bellamy (aka Dr. L) explains the brain on limerence & strategies to stop it
Send us Fan Mail 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 limerence Tom Bellamy is an academic...
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Travel expert Pauline Frommer on life & love lessons at the intersection of travel & longing
Send us Fan Mail 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 the future of the travel industry with...
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Harvard social psychologist Ellen Langer on the mindlessness of longing and regret & the power of mindfulness on our health
Send us Fan Mail Episode 23 Social psychologist Ellen Langer, AKA the "mother of mindfulness," explains why our perceived sense of control impacts our mental health, how longing and regret are mindless, why there are no good or bad decisions, and her new book, The Mindful body: Thinking our way…
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Road safety advocate Eric Olson on learning to reframe the loss of his daughter
Send us Fan Mail Episode 22 On May 9, 2023, five-year-old Sidney Mae Olson was struck and killed by a truck in a cross walk. Her father, Eric Olson, discusses the longing that transpired following her death and what he’s learned about himself, his relationship with his daughter, and the...
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Psychologist Giulia Poerio on limerence and mind wandering
Send us Fan Mail Episode 21 Psychologist and mind-wandering researcher Dr. Giulia Poerio shares recent research describing characteristics of limerence, who might be predisposed to it, and potential techniques that help alleviate limerent thinking. Due to the lack of understanding of limerence in...
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Professor and Author Lisa A. Phillips on the relationship between unrequited love and longing
Send us Fan Mail Episode 20 Professor and author Lisa Phillips discusses society's different expectations for genders in the pursuer/pursued template. In reflecting on her own story of unrequited love, she explains how she recognized what, not who, she really wanted. Phillips shares tips for...
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Psychologist & grief expert Mary-Frances O'Connor on how our brains learn from love and loss
Send us Fan Mail Episode 19 Psychology professor and author Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor explains how our expectations encoded in the brain impact our grief when we lose someone we love (through death, divorce, or estrangement). She also illustrates why our brains have to learn over and over that...
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Psychologist Alexandra Solomon on how our current low accountability dating culture fosters a collective attachment disorder
Send us Fan Mail Episode 18 Psychologist and author Dr. Alexandra Solomon explains how our current low accountability dating culture fosters a collective attachment disorder which individuals sometimes mistake as a personal disorder. She provides practical actions individuals can take to foster a...
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Sociology professor Lisa Wade on the rules of hookup culture and how it stemmed from a stalled sexual revolution
Send us Fan Mail Episode 17 Sociology professor Dr. Lisa Wade takes a deep dive into the history and results of hookup culture on American college campuses based on her research. She reveals the unspoken rules of hookup culture and how the stalled sexual revolution contributed to hookup culture...
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Break Free Together founder Linda Kay Klein on the damage caused by purity culture and what recovery involves
Send us Fan Mail Episode 16 Purity culture recovery coach Linda Kay Klein explains how difficult it is to shed the teachings of purity culture. Using her personal experience and those of the many women she interviewed for her book, Linda discusses how purity culture encouraged longing for a…
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My Father's List author Laura Carney on how completing her late father's bucket list set her free from longing to belong
Send us Fan Mail Episode 15 Author Laura Carney reflects on how years of longing to belong restricted her, but learning to say, “yes,” to completing her late father’s bucket list, set her free from a false narrative. In this intimate interview, Carney discusses luck, spirituality, grief, true…
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"The Wedding Doctor," psychologist Jocelyn Charnas on how longing for the "perfect day" prevents focusing on the relationship
Send us Fan Mail Episode 14: Known in New York City circles as "The Wedding Doctor," Dr. Jocelyn Charnas describes how she helps clients navigate wedding planning and maintain the focus on their relationship/marriage while wading through decision fatigue, feelings of loss, and the unrealistic...
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Neuroscientist Zoe Donaldson on romantic pair bonds & what yearning looks like in the brain
Send us Fan Mail Episode 13: Award-winning neuroscientist Zoe Donaldson explains her research on how romantic bonds in prairie voles are encoded in the brain. She specifically looks at what happens the moment a prairie vole decides to reunite with its partner over another. Dr. Zoe Donaldson is an...
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Psychiatrist and prolonged grief expert Dr. Katherine Shear on how longing is the heart of grief
Send us Fan Mail Episode 12: Center for Prolonged Grief founder, Dr. Katherine Shear untangles the differences between prolonged grief disorder and more typical integrated grief. She explains why longing is at the heart of grief and the importance in accepting a changed relationship with the lost...
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Journalist Florence Williams on the science of heartbreak and healing nature of awe
Send us Fan Mail Episode 11: Award-winning science journalist & author Florence Williams shares insights she learned during her journey through the heartbreak of her divorce and writing a memoir about it. She discusses the physical impacts heartbreak has on our bodies and how our openness to…
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Breast Cancer Survivor Cassie Fulmer Brown on longing, living, and loving
Send us Fan Mail Episode 10: Cassie Fulmer Brown discusses longing in relationship to her five-year battle with breast cancer and why it’s important to “Go small and go now!” Five years ago, Cassie Fulmer Brown got her first mammogram at age 40 despite having no signs or symptoms of cancer. She…
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Valentine Special: My husband Dave Butler on relationships, intimacy, and vulnerability
Send us Fan Mail Episode 9: In this Valentine’s Day special, Dave speaks with Amanda about how their relationship developed from meeting to getting married, the pivotal moments during their 11-month-courtship, and the importance of seeing a couple’s therapist. Dave Butler is my husband, life...
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Professional Ultra Runner Hillary Allen on finding value in yourself beyond performance
Send us Fan Mail Episode 8: Hillary Allen explains how longing, through the lens of perfectionism, can positively fuel athletes or destroy them. Hillary Allen is a professional ultra trail runner for Brooks and a gravel cyclist for Scuderia Pinarello. Hillary has raced all over the world…
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Decision Scientist Nika Kabiri on how longing influences our decisions
Send us Fan Mail Episode 7: Nika Kabiri speaks about the role longing plays in decision-making in both healthy and unhealthy ways, how to deal with anticipatory regret, and when to address inaction inertia. Nika Kabiri has spent over 20 years studying how people make decisions in a variety of...
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Veterinarian Bob Irmiger on deciding to euthanize a pet & how longing impacts this decision
Send us Fan Mail Episode 6: Veterinarian Bob Irmiger talks about mourning a sick pet before they're even gone, the agonizing decision to euthanize a pet, the process of euthanasia, and how you know when it’s time to let go. Dr. Bob Irmiger intimately knows the longing pet owners experience before...
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Sober Sexpert Writer Tawny Lara on the benefits of booze-free sex & dating
Send us Fan Mail Episode 5: Writer Tawny Lara speaks about her own sobriety journey, how she became known as the Sober Sexpert, and the benefits to booze-free sex, dating and relationships. With the help of yoga, meditation, therapy, and writing, Tawny Lara quit drinking in 2015 right before her...
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Mt Everest Summiter & Executive Coach Vivian Rigney on Vulnerabilty, Authenticity, & Legacy
Send us Fan Mail Episode 4: Executive Coach Vivian James Rigney speaks about the loneliness and negative inner dialogue he encountered during his two-month climb of Mount Everest and what it taught him about vulnerability, authenticity, and legacy. Vivian James Rigney is President and CEO of…
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Blind woman on self-denial & the longing she faces & fears with anorexia
Send us Fan Mail Cecilia (name changed for privacy) is a writer, gardener, and competitive runner. She is currently exploring recovery from her eating disorder and how that relates to her desire for food and other desires she has long considered forbidden weaknesses. At the age of 14, she became...
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Marshall Fire Survivor & Trauma Expert Melissa Lockman on the Grief of Losing a Home
Send us Fan Mail Episode 2: Melissa Lockman, LCSW: Marshall Fire survivor speaks about her family’s experience processing the loss of their home and neighborhood, how everyone grieves differently, and the importance in validating loss and taking time to pause Melissa Lockman is a Licensed…
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Romance Novelist Rachel McMillan on the Slow Burn
Send us Fan Mail Romance novelist Rachel McMillan discusses the intersection of sex-positive feminism and celibacy, the joys of traveling solo, why women want the slow-burn romance, and how longing fuels her creativity and cultivates gratitude. Rachel McMillan is a Toronto-based Valentine…
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The Trailer
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Longing Lab podcast trailer! I'll share how my personal story led me to start this podcast, the types of guests you'll have the opportunity to hear, and why I believe it will help many listeners.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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 February 2026!
HOSTED BY
Amanda McCracken
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Longing Lab have?
The Longing Lab currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Longing Lab about?
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....
How often does The Longing Lab release new episodes?
The Longing Lab has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Longing Lab?
You can listen to The Longing Lab on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Longing Lab?
The Longing Lab is created and hosted by Amanda McCracken.
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