Sometimes it's the little things that get us through the hard times, and for many people crossword puzzles can serve as an escape. Author David Leavitt shares his humble opinion on the importance of this daily memento.

Devdutt Pattanaik takes an eye-opening look at the myths of India and of the West -- and shows how these two fundamentally different sets of beliefs about God, death and heaven help us consistently misunderstand one another.

Rituals for the dead span much of the natural world, seen in practices from humans and elephants to bees, dolphins and beyond. With charm and playful insight, animal behaviorist Kaeli Swift delves into the life (and death) habits of...

If you can't imagine life without chocolate, you're lucky you weren't born before the 16th century. Until then, chocolate only existed as a bitter, foamy drink in Mesoamerica. So how did we get from a bitter beverage to the chocolate...

Welcome to Crash Course Theater with Mike Rugnetta! In this, our inaugural week, we're going to ask the two classic questions about theater. 1.What is theater? And 2. Is it spelled -re or -er? Well, there's a clue to question two in the...

New ReviewExplore the influence of religion on Japan over the centuries. Learn about Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, which is still practiced but serves mainly as a source of traditional customs and festivals. It has slightly more followers...

You're walking home, a little tipsy, guided only by the moonlight. Suddenly, you sense something watching you: an unnervingly large owl with a human face! This is La Lechuza, a malevolent witch-owl from Tejano and Mexican folklore.

African religions include Islam and Christianity, but also hundreds of diverse and complex indigenous religions. In this episode of Crash Course Religions, we explore those traditions and how, when forced intro adaption-mode as a result...

It's one of the rituals of spring if you have a lot of Jewish friends: the annual seder invitation. Here's what not to do if you want to keep that friendship alive.

What is Freemasonry? In this video, we explore the origins, symbols, and beliefs of one of the world's oldest and most mysterious fraternal organizations. Learn about secret rituals, the meaning of the Square and Compass, and how lodges...

Crows are amongst the most intelligent birds in the animal kingdom. These birds possess higher cognition skills, which allow them to solve complex problems and plan their future tasks. Their response to death is another unique feature...

Discover the many theories about Stonehenge’s purpose, from its potential role as an ancient calendar to a site for religious rituals and burials. Learn about the evidence pointing to ceremonies, feasts, and even possible healing...

This video is answering the question of what jobs did people do in the iron age.

Sometimes the best way to understand something complicated and abstract is with a metaphor. Gareth Morgan suggested we can gain some good insights into the nature of organizations from 8 organizational metaphors.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could replace negative thoughts with alternatives that are both positive and true? Well, this is called Cognitive Reappraisal, and there are techniques to help you. Get our Kindle-exclusive companion to this...

Ancient Norse seafaring Vikings were well-known as explorers, traders, and warriors. But when they got down, they weren't messing around. Sure, Norse Sagas tell of epic voyages, and etymological studies have granted insight into the...

Kateri Tekakwitha's journey from a Mohawk village to Catholic sainthood reflects the intertwined tales of faith and colonization in 17th century America.

In this video, we'll be discussing harm OCD, which is a specific type of OCD where people are worried about harming others. We'll discuss the signs and symptoms of harm OCD, as well as how to get help if you think you might have it.

Do you sometimes feel like you're being too hard on yourself? That maybe your thoughts and feelings just don't line up with what everyone else seems to believe? If so, you might be struggling with scrupulosity. In this video, I talk...

Love weird and wacky history? So Confucianism is sort of a big deal, it's been the guiding principle of one of the largest empires on the planet for some 2000 years, but when was the last time you heard anything about Confucius himself?...

In Part 2, the focus shifts to goal achievement. The host explains the two types of goals: result goals and ritual goals. Result goals are the desired outcomes or achievements, while ritual goals are the habits or behaviors that support...

This video is answering the question of how did the Greeks worship the gods.

What is Shinto? This is Episode 1 of a 5-part series introducing what some call the indigenous Japanese religion. What is it all about? What are kami? And how do people practice it?

Halloween was not always a holiday of candy, costumes, and parties. Its history stretches back almost two thousand years. But what is this history? And what extent can we call Halloween a Christian holiday...if at all?