NPR’s popular show Hidden Brain is coming to San Luis Obispo for a live conversation with the show’s host, veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam, presented in a collaboration between KCBX Public Radio and Cal Poly Arts. The event will take place on Sunday, September 20th, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in Harold Miossi Hall at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo on the Cal Poly campus. This event is part of Hidden Brain’s national “Perceptions” tour, and San Luis Obispo is the show’s only stop on the West Coast.
To celebrate Hidden Brain’s 10-year anniversary, Vedantam is bringing the show to the live stage as he shares seven powerful insights learned over the past decade helping millions of listeners better understand themselves and the world around them. He explores the unconscious patterns that shape human behavior through a unique blend of science, storytelling, and psychology. The award-winning podcast tackles some of life’s most compelling questions, like Why do we feel stuck? How can we become more creative? What strengthens our relationships? and What hidden forces influence the choices we make every day?
Vedantam offers an engaging live experience with fresh perspectives on how the mind works and how to live a more intentional, connected life. Longtime listeners or those discovering the show for the first time can expect an evening of thought-provoking stories, fascinating research, and enlightening conversation. KCBX Public Radio broadcasts Hidden Brain on-air and via online stream every Friday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., and it is also available on-demand at KCBX.org.
Following a successful initial tour in 2025 that kicked off with a sold-out show in San Francisco, the September 20th event will be Hidden Brain’s first time on the Central Coast and the tour’s only stop to date within a 200-mile radius of San Luis Obispo. “Public Radio KCBX is thrilled that the team at Hidden Brain selected San Luis Obispo as a 2026 destination for the ‘Perceptions’ tour,” said Katelyn Schiavone, Director of Community Engagement and Events at KCBX. “We are also incredibly enthusiastic to partner with Cal Poly Arts in order to share this special presentation with the diverse and inquisitive members of the Central Coast community,” Schiavone said.
More information and tickets are available now in conjunction with Cal Poly Arts’ recent 2026/27 season announcement. The initial release of tickets is on sale through Cal Poly Arts’ Season Subscription ticket package for subscribers who purchase tickets to four or more shows. Single tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026, and will be available until the performance date or until the event is sold out at PACSLO.org.