The science of positive motivation for the New Year I NOVA Now I PBS

2020 is finally over. After the coronavirus pandemic and everything else the year’s thrown our way, it’s time to dust ourselves off and get ready for 2021.

To do that, we need positive motivation (neurologically, that’s how our brains prepare to get things done). First, we hear from a neurologist on the science of becoming and staying motivated. Then, we have a special auditory treat. All season, host Alok Patel has asked NOVA Now guests which songs motivate them to do their work, whether that’s running COVID-19 tests in a hospital or conducting experiments in a lab. We took those songs and wrapped them up as a gift for you: a Nova Now Spotify playlist.

Tune in for a taste of guests’ music picks and to revisit some of our most memorable moments from the year.

NOVA Now is a production of GBH and PRX.

It’s produced by:
Ian Coss
Ari Daniel
Jocelyn Gonzales
Isabel Hibbard
Christina Monnen
Sandra Lopez-Monsalve

Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt are the co-Executive Producers of NOVA.
Dante Graves is Director of Audience Development.
Sukee Bennett is Senior Digital Editor.
Robin Kazmier is Science Editor.
Lorena Lyon is Digital Production Assistant.
Emma Uk is research intern.
And Nina Porzucki is Managing Producer of Podcasts at GBH.

Our theme music is by the innovative DJ Kid Koala.

Image: This work is a derivative of “Fireworks” by Leandro Neumann Ciuffo used under CC BY 2.0

© WGBH Educational Foundation 2020

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National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers. Additional funding is provided by the NOVA Science Trust.

Written by NOVA PBS Official