Full Spectrum with Molly Kawahata

HACKING HUMAN NATURE [June/July Recap]—How Hope Rewires Your Brain, the Myth of Rationality, the Secret to Motivation (It's Not Willpower), the Joke That Disarmed a Nation

I’ve spent the last two months talking with innovators who’ve done wild things—from surviving homelessness to becoming a world-renowned hope researcher, to convincing a sitting President to get roasted on a comedy show to save a landmark policy. This week, I’ve pulled the most powerful strategies from our recent episodes into one mixtape. The common thread? The most effective ways to create change often defy logic. This episode is a toolkit for moments when the usual path doesn’t work, covering: ✅ The Science of Hope: Why setting “moonshot” goals improves performance & how to train your brain for bigger risks. ✅ Behavioral Science: How to motivate anyone using identity & social proof, not logic.  ✅ The Power of Awe: Using “lowercase awe” to reduce daily stress and rewire your brain. ✅ Strategic Humor: A look inside the White House’s plan to use comedy to achieve a high-stakes goal. Plus: one quick how-to from Nathaniel’s episode—a two-part behavioral science playbook to move anyone, including yourself. Putting these together, I realized it’s a sort of toolkit for moments when the usual path doesn’t work. Because when logic fails, human nature often leaves a side window cracked open. Here's to breaking through, — Molly — 🧠 Get the takeaways straight to your inbox. My newsletter ‘What I Wish I Knew’ shares all the research + tools I use in my own life: mollykawahata.com/join [http://mollykawahata.com/join] — 🔗 View the full show notes at mollykawahata.com/podcast [http://mollykawahata.com/podcast] 🎥 Video episodes available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata/podcasts] — 🎙️ Catch the full episodes for the full story—and the actionable how-tos you can use today: * THE HOPE SCIENTIST Pt 1 [https://www.mollykawahata.com/chan1]—Surviving Homelessness to Becoming the World’s Leading Hope Researcher: Dr. Chan Hellman on the Flaw in Optimism, Destroying Toxic Positivity, & the 3-Part Formula to Predict Success * THE SILENT CLIMATE MAJORITY [https://www.mollykawahata.com/nathaniel]—How Behavioral Science Is Activating Millions, The NBA Pattern No One Can Explain, How to Hack Human Nature for Good * DR. KIM NOLAN [https://www.mollykawahata.com/nolan]—“The Moment I Chose to Stay” (A Buddhist Chaplain’s Journey Through the Veil), the Biological Power of Awe, How to Hack “Timelessness” * BRAD JENKINS [https://www.mollykawahata.com/brad]—The Man Who Convinced Obama Into Getting Roasted: Inside the Viral Stunt That Saved Healthcare in America, Why Comedy is the Ultimate Weapon 🎧 Listen to the full Between Stories: * 🧗‍♀️ THE RESCUE OPERATION I DIDN'T KNOW WAS MINE—A story about cosmic humiliation, climbing, tinder ghosts, and the surprising way humor saves us * 🌌 WHEN I COULDN'T FIND THE BLACK BETWEEN STARS—A story about Yosemite, awe, and what happens when you hand someone a feeling they might not catch * 🕓 THE 3AM WHITE HOUSE EPIPHANY—A story about climate, burnout, and the uncomfortable truth that fear might not be what moves us after all * 🧠  LAUGHING ON THE WAY TO THE ER—A story about denial, Bipolar highs, and the cost of feeling invincible — 🕒 Timestamps 01:03 - Introduction to the science of hope 1:53 - Dr. Chan Hellman: the Science of Hope 13:19 - Nathaniel Stinnett: the silent climate majority 31:33 - Dr. Kim Nolan: the power of awe 41:24 - Brad Jenkins: The White House’s move to use humor to save policy — Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2509486/open_sms]

The between series: The rescue operation I didn’t know was mine—a story about cosmic humiliation, climbing, tinder ghosts, and the surprising way humor saves us

In this episode, I answer the question: What’s the most dramatic way to ruin your own life for 24 hours? This is the story about becoming the world's most expensive inconvenience. Welcome to The Between Series—a series where I take you into moments from my life that shaped the themes we explore in the main episodes. For anyone who’s ever: * Hit "reply all" on something you shouldn’t have. * Been that person in a group text. * Woken up in cold sweat remembering something dumb you did in 2012 In this episode, I tell the story of my top-five most mortifying life moments. It starts with a new smartwatch, a few misplaced button clicks in my backpack during an ice climb, and an SOS signal I didn't know I had sent. It ends with a full-scale search and rescue operation—while I was, completely obliviously, having the time of my life. For a long time, I carried this story as proof that I was a burden—irresponsible, dramatic, the world’s most expensive inconvenience. But when I finally dared to tell it out loud, the shame I expected was met with something else entirely: laughter. The kind of laughter that cracks a story open and turns it into absurdity, connection, and relief. This is the companion to our last episode with Brad Jenkins [https://www.mollykawahata.com/brad] about using humor as a strategy—not just for persuasion, but for survival—and how the Obama White House used it to save the Affordable Care Act. It’s a look at how humor isn’t just for coping—it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for connection, forgiveness, and even large-scale change. Sometimes the only way out of our own shame is to find the punchline. There’s more ahead. There always is.  — Molly — 🧠 Get the takeaways straight to your inbox. My newsletter ‘What I Wish I Knew’ shares all the research + tools I use in my own life: mollykawahata.com/join [http://mollykawahata.com/join] — 🔗 View the full show notes at mollykawahata.com/podcast [http://mollykawahata.com/podcast] 🎥 Video episodes available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata/podcasts] — 🔗 Follow for more: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fullspectrumwithmolly/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mollykawahata?_t=ZT-8xI7YvHzuk2&_r=1] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykawahata/] Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2509486/open_sms]

BRAD JENKINS—The Man Who Convinced Obama Into Getting Roasted: Inside the Viral Stunt That Saved Healthcare in America, Why Comedy is the Ultimate Weapon

I remember the day at the Obama White House when healthcare.gov crashed—and millions of Americans were locked out of coverage that could literally save their lives. This is the inside story of how, in a moment of sheer desperation, the Obama White House turned to a viral comedy sketch to save the Affordable Care Act—and how Brad Jenkins made it happen. Brad was the architect behind one of the boldest Hail Marys in modern political history. A former campaign strategist turned culture whisperer, he helped convince President Obama to get roasted by Zach Galifianakis on Between Two Ferns—a move that reached 30 million people and spiked healthcare.gov signups by 40% overnight. You probably know the sketch. You probably don’t know it may have saved the ACA. That’s not a punchline. That’s cold, hard strategy. But Brad’s story isn’t just about one viral win. It’s about the psychology of persuasion. What it takes to disarm people enough to hear you. And why humor works when other tools fail. In this episode, we get into: ✅ How Obama’s team calculated the risk—and why it worked ✅ What it takes to reach people who’ve tuned out or stopped caring ✅ How humor works as stealth persuasion—defusing tension and earning trust And in this week’s How-To: → Why humor lowers defenses, builds trust, and boosts recall → The 3 psychological tools behind powerful humor → When to use each one—and how to avoid misfire This one left me thinking about what we risk, what we reach for—and how sometimes the smartest thing you can do is make someone laugh first. If you’ve ever felt like no one’s listening, this episode is a masterclass in breaking through. — Molly — 🧠 Get the takeaways straight to your inbox. My newsletter ‘What I Wish I Knew’ shares all the research + tools I use in my own life: mollykawahata.com/join [http://mollykawahata.com/join] — 🔗 View the full show notes at mollykawahata.com/podcast [http://mollykawahata.com/podcast] 🎥 Video episodes available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata/podcasts] — 🔗 Follow for more: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fullspectrumwithmolly/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mollykawahata?_t=ZT-8xI7YvHzuk2&_r=1] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykawahata/] Connect with Brad: Twigg & Jenkins Podcast [https://www.twiggandjenkins.com/] Instagram [http://isntagram.com/bradjenkins] | X [https://x.com/bradjenkins?lang=en] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyjenkins] | Enfranchisement Productions   [https://www.enfranchisement.net/] — 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Full Spectrum Podcast 02:41 The Journey to Healthcare Reform 06:28 Brad Jenkins: A Unique Perspective on Identity 13:42 Navigating Racial Identity and Belonging 23:14 The Impact of Barack Obama on Personal Journeys 32:10 Working in the White House: The Office of Public Engagement 43:35 The Historic Story of Healthcare.gov Engagement 45:30 The Challenge of Reaching the Uninsured 49:47 Celebrity Influence and the Healthcare.gov Launch 52:40 The Importance of Humor in Communication 56:30 The Making of 'Between Two Ferns' with Obama 01:01:42 The Impact of Humor on Enrollment Numbers 01:05:39 The Role of Humor in Political Messaging 01:10:20 Finding Joy and Community in Work 01:15:10 Taking Risks and Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2509486/open_sms]

The between series: when I couldn't find the black between stars—a story about Yosemite, awe, and what happens when you hand someone a feeling they might not catch

"Awe doesn’t always translate. But what do we lose when we stop trying to share it?" Welcome to The Between  Series —a series where I take you into moments from my life that shaped the themes we explore in the main episodes. These are the in-between chapters that echo through everything you hear on the show. The landscape of the High Sierra has rearranged the scale of my life more times than I can count. It been a throughline throughout my life, a place I’ve returned to again and again, across decisions and different versions of myself. I think there’s a kind of awe that lives in the places we return to—quiet, familiar, and still able to catch us off guard. Sometimes if we're lucky, we get to experience awe—the feeling so profound it rearranges the scale of things—the parts of life that get too loud are pulled back into proportion. This episode looks at the quiet vulnerability in trying to share awe—and the human need to have our inner experiences seen by the people we care about. Awe can shift perspective. It can connect us to something larger. But what gets unlocked when someone else looks out at the same view, turns to you, and—without a word—you know they see it too? This is the companion to our episode with Dr. Kim Nolan [https://www.mollykawahata.com/nolan] about the science and soul of awe—what it is, why it matters, and how it changes us—and how it can be used as a tool to bolster health, manage stress, and improve relationships. Maybe we don’t share things just to share them. Maybe it’s something else entirely we’re hoping they’ll see. I don’t think awe asks much of us.  Perhaps just that we occasionally notice. —Molly — 🧠 Get the takeaways straight to your inbox. My newsletter What I Wish I Knew shares all the research + tools I use in my own life. Sign up at mollykawahata.com/join [http://mollykawahata.com/join] — 🔗 View the full show notes at mollykawahata.com/podcast [http://mollykawahata.com/podcast] 🎥 Video episodes available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata/podcasts] — 🔗 Follow for more: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fullspectrumwithmolly/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mollykawahata?_t=ZT-8xI7YvHzuk2&_r=1] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykawahata/] Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2509486/open_sms]

DR. KIM NOLAN—“The Moment I Chose to Stay” (A Buddhist Chaplain’s Journey Through the Veil), the Biological Power of Awe, How to Hack “Timelessness”

We think of awe as rare. A sunset. A mountain peak. A fleeting high. But what if we’ve got it backwards? Awe isn’t just something that happens to you—it’s a biological lever hiding in plain sight. One that can decrease stress hormones, stretch time, and rewire attention. In this conversation, Dr. Kim Nolan—Buddhist chaplain, psychologist, and one of the most grounded people I’ve ever known—shows us how to spot the extraordinary buried in the ordinary. We talk about: ✅ How awe can reduce cortisol, expand time, and make you kinder  ✅ The two-part formula scientists use to define awe (and how to reverse-engineer it in your life) ✅ How experiencing awe rewires your brain and makes decision-making easier ✅ The “sacred ordinary” moments most people miss (but you won’t anymore) ✅ Why awe might be one of the most powerful (and overlooked) wellness tools we have In this week’s How-To segment, I’ll break down: → The 2-part formula behind awe—and why it’s not just about feeling “wow” → What the science says about awe and time perception, connection, and burnout → A method to train your brain to experience more awe, anywhere This episode changed how I walk down the street, wait in line, and look into the distance. Because Kim’s right: Awe isn’t scarce—we’re just not looking where it lives. With eyes wide open,  — Molly 🧠 Get the takeaways straight to your inbox. My newsletter ‘What I Wish I Knew’ shares all the research + tools I use in my own life. Sign up at mollykawahata.com/join [http://mollykawahata.com/join] — 🔗 View the full show notes at mollykawahata.com/podcast [http://mollykawahata.com/podcast] 🎥 Video episodes available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata/podcasts] — 🔗 Follow for more: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@mollykawahata] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/fullspectrumwithmolly/] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mollykawahata?_t=ZT-8xI7YvHzuk2&_r=1] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykawahata/] Connect with Kim: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-nolan-3585118/] | TED Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBUlpBXrEcM] | UVM Faculty Page [https://www.uvm.edu/business/profile/kim-nolan-phd] — 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 Accidentally wishing a man at CVS Happy Mother’s Day 02:22 Introducing Dr. Kim Nolan 03:48 Dr. Kim Nolan's Health Crisis and Awakening 17:05 Exploring the Concept of Awe 19:29 Awe in Everyday Life 49:21 The Importance of Consistency 49:40 The Playful Quality of Awe 51:11 Minimizing Harm and Doing Good 51:56 Age, Maturity, and Speaking Freely 53:24 Moments of Awe in Vulnerability 54:52 The Power of Small Acts of Kindness 57:33 The Concept of Timelessness in Awe 57:55 The Impact of Awe on Time Perception 01:00:14 Practical Steps to Cultivate Awe 01:03:32 The Role of Calling in Decision Making 01:07:35 Recognizing and Trusting Your Calling 01:13:41 Awe in Relationships and Everyday Moments 01:21:32 The How-To: How to Harness Awe in Your Own Life Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2509486/open_sms]