457. Tiny Experiments with Anne-Laure Le Cunff

In this episode of Psychologists Off the Clock, host Michael Herold interviews Anne-Laure Le Cunff, neuroscientist and author of 'Tiny Experiments,' about reimagining life through curiosity and experimentation. Le Cunff shares her personal journey from a high-achieving, imposter syndrome-driven career at Google to a transformative health scare that led her to question her linear, goal-obsessed life. She introduces the concept of 'tiny experiments'—small, time-bound tests of behavior or belief that replace rigid goal-setting with a scientific mindset of curiosity and learning. The conversation explores how cognitive scripts like the 'sequel,' 'crowd pleaser,' and 'epic' scripts limit our choices, and how expanding our 'surface area for luck'—by sharing small updates, reaching out, and showing up—increases serendipity. Le Cunff emphasizes the power of generativity over legacy, illustrating how meaningful impact happens in the present through community, connection, and small acts of care. The co-hosts reflect on the balance between long-term planning and flexibility, concluding that the ability to reassess and pivot is a privilege rooted in freedom and self-awareness.