Into the Magic Shop

Every single one of us has the ability to be a hero every day, says Dr. Phil Zimbardo, who is most well-known for the Stanford Prison Experiment. In this episode, Phil talks about his extraordinary career, the work that he continues to do, and the reality that within all of us is the ability to be kind and compassionate, not only towards ourselves, but others as well.

Key takeaways:
What the Heroic Imagination Project does
Why we get struck by the bystander effect
Why egocentrism is the enemy of socio-centrism
The results of The Good Samaritan Study

Show Notes

Every single one of us has the ability to be a hero every day, says extraordinary psychologist and Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, Dr. Phil Zimbardo, who is most well known for what's been described as the Stanford Prison Experiment.

More recently, Phil has founded a nonprofit - The Heroic Imagination Project, where he works tirelessly to promote compassion in the world. 

“Simply put, a hero is someone who comes to the aid of someone else in need. It could be by giving money, but typically it's helping somebody who's been in an accident, or who has some sudden medical problem that needs to be taken to the hospital.”

In part one of this episode of Into The Magic Shop, Phil talks about his extraordinary career, the work that he continues to do, and the reality that within all of us is the ability to be kind and compassionate, not only towards ourselves but others as well, and how each of us has the ability to live a more compassionate life. 

To find out more, download and listen today. 

On today’s podcast:
  • What the Heroic Imagination Project does
  • Why we get struck by the bystander effect
  • Why egocentrism is the enemy of socio-centrism
  • The results of the Good Samaritan Study

What is Into the Magic Shop?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many were overwhelmed with stress, anxiety and depression. While this epidemic of stress has been growing over the past decade, it has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the divisive nature of political discourse. As a result, many people feel disconnected, inauthentic, and unhappy, while questioning the source of their unhappiness when they presumably have “everything”—an absence of compassion, for oneself and others, is often the source of the problem.

Many of us don’t understand the nature of self-compassion nor the power of compassion to improve our lives and alleviate our suffering. By entering the “Magic Shop”, Jim will share his wisdom and introduce a variety of techniques to change the course of one’s life and share his own lessons learned through the exchange of untold stories of his guests. He will interview authors and experts in the fields of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality and religion, as well as individuals with unique points of view. He will also engage his listeners by answering their questions and also at times interview listeners who are willing to share their own stories of challenge and hardship.