In The Illusion of Conscious Will, psychologist Daniel Wegner challenges one of our most deeply held beliefs: that we consciously will our actions. Drawing from a wide array of experiments and real-world observations, Wegner makes a compelling case that our sense of free will is often a mental construct, a story our brain tells itself after the fact.

This episode explores the eerie science behind automatisms, ideomotor actions, and how people can genuinely believe they’re in control, even when they’re not. Wegner dives into everything from Ouija boards and hypnosis to criminal responsibility and everyday decision-making, forcing us to rethink what it really means to choose.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly in the driver’s seat of your mind, this episode will leave you both unsettled and enlightened.