PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff

Latest Episodes:

E014: RE-RELEASE: Saying no to a job offer Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

What does it take to turn down a job offer when it's your only one?

In this Re-Release episode, the hosts dive into one of the most nerve-wracking scenarios in the academic job market — receiving a single offer with no backup plan and having to decide whether to say yes or walk away.

The conversation covers the role of courage, self-knowledge, and life circumstances in making that call, along with real stories of saying no and what came next. Plus: a simple mindset trick for finding clarity when you're stuck at a career crossroads.

[Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

E252: Lisa Diamond: Exploring identity, navigating controversy, empathy and science Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode Garth interviews Lisa Diamond from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT. They discuss teacher-centric talks on sexuality and gender amid heightened scrutiny and safety concerns for instructors and students, especially as anti-DEI laws have eliminated campus resource centers, and classrooms may be the only remaining gathering places for marginalized students. Lisa believes that textbooks quickly become outdated and that psychology must be taught as an evolving social science with imperfect methods and shifting lenses. She emphasizes that humans are spectrum-based but prone to flawed categories; identity labels can be personally, socially, and politically meaningful yet differ from scientific groupings. She traces how research categories historically excluded bisexual and non-binary people and notes that large-scale data revealed bisexuality as a majority pattern within LGBTQ populations. They discuss how algorithms and social media fuel polarized realities, and Lisa advocates using discomfort awareness, empathy, in-person dialogue, and structured student interactions to counter bias and teach through controversy.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated using Descript AI.]

E013: RE-RELEASE: How to write a recommendation letter May 26, 2026

Show notes

Writing letters of recommendation is one of faculty's most time-consuming responsibilities.

In this Re-Release episode of Beyond Teaching, we share best practices for writing stronger, more effective letters: what to ask students to provide, how to stay organized, when to say no, and what makes a letter truly stand out.

Plus: tips for students on who to ask, how much notice to give, and why a thank-you goes a long way.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

[Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

E2: Motivation Myth Busters, with Wendy Grolnick and Benjamin Heddy May 20, 2026

Show notes

In this APA Publishing-PsychSessions paretner series, Garth Neufeld interviews Wendy Grolnick and Benjamin Heddy about their APA-published book (with Frank Worrel) Motivation Myth Busters. They discuss pervasive misconceptions such as believing some people simply aren't motivated, relying on rewards or pressure, and assuming people accurately know how good they are, emphasizing consequences like fundamental attribution error, resistance to coercion, and miscalibrated self-efficacy. They highlight research-based motivators tied to competence, autonomy, and relatedness; the importance of empathy, mastery-oriented environments, personal relevance, value (attainment/utility), and managing cost; and using structured choice rather than too much control or total freedom. They address students who coast, action creating motivation, structural inequities, and practical classroom uses including reflections, case studies, misconception assessments, and a motivation decision-tree tool.

Watch the webinar here.

E251: Nick Epley: Social courage, bridging gaps, and the gift of connection May 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode Garth interviews Nick Epley from the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL. They discuss psychologists' migration to business schools and Epley's MBA course, "Designing a Good Life," an ethics-focused social psychology class that uses experiments on kindness, gratitude, and how doing good can feel good by increasing connection, competence, and autonomy. Epley describes his social cognition research on why people are "not social enough," underestimating how positive deep conversations, compliments, and reaching out to strangers can be; he recounts a robust demonstration in which participants predict awkwardness and low connection but experience the opposite. He notes that the calibration fades without routine practice and argues that missed connections stem from pessimism and the belief that others don't want to talk. He connects Mindwise to his new book, A Little More Social, advocating small, easy, routine social habits and "data-driven courage," illustrated by personal stories and deep canvassing.

[Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

E012: RE-RELEASE: APA Introductory Psychology Initiative: The Student Learning Outcomes & Assessment Group May 12, 2026

Show notes

In this re-release episode, Garth sits down with members of the APA's Introductory Psychology Initiative (IPI) Working Group on Student Learning Outcomes & Assessment: Jennifer Thompson, Kristin Whitlock, Jane Halonen, Sue Frantz (not featured), and Eric Landrum. Together, they explore how the project took shape, the leadership behind it, the move toward a thematic revolution, and what it means to take a content-agnostic approach to teaching psychology.

Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by AI.

E250: Claude Steele: Trust, churn, and the power of diversity May 05, 2026

Show notes

In this 250th episode of the flagship PsychSessions series, Garth interviews Claude Steele from Stanford University in Stanford, CA. Claude recaps "Whistling Vivaldi" as the story of how stereotype threat emerged in his research and describes "churn" as the psychological vigilance and uncertainty people feel in important, diverse settings where they may be judged through stereotypes. He explains how stereotype threat can impair performance when stakes are high and discusses experiments showing that Black students trusted critical feedback most when it conveyed high standards and confidence in their ability to meet them. He critiques some diversity trainings for heightening identity threat and argues for building trust and "beloved community," emphasizing that those with more power should offer trust first. He also shares brief autobiographical reflections on early college experiences and influential teachers.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

SB32: Garth and Eric Discuss 250 Episodes May 03, 2026

Show notes

In this Sidebar 32 episode Garth and Eric discuss what it means to reach the milestone of 250 episodes of the flagship series for PsychSessions. We reflect on choosing the podcast name and tagline, the value of longevity in building a brand, and the podcast's graphic identity, crediting designer Cale Livingston for the original pink figure-ground logo and newer circular logo used across our additional series. They discuss how the show enables more personal "n' stuff" conversations with colleagues than typical conference chats, recalling memorable moments that are preserved in audio. They introduce a "Re-release" series to reshare early episodes for new listeners and note their near-perfect every-other-Tuesday release schedule with one accidental blip. They highlight partnerships yielding 15–20 series and over 600 total episodes, their minimal editing approach (with occasional removal of "ums"), and the podcast's accidental role as historian for teachers of psychology.

[Note. Portions of these show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

E011: RE-RELEASE: How to Say 'No' in Your Day-To-Day Work (Time Management), Career Context Matters, Your No Committee/No Folder, Chronic Undervaluation Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Saying no is one of the hardest — and most important — skills in academic life. In this re-release episode, Susan Nolan, Adeyinka Akinsulure-Smith, Asani Seawell, and Eric Landrum break down how to do it well. From practical tools like the "no folder" and the "would I be excited if it were tomorrow?" test, to honest conversations about the added pressures faced by women and BIPOC professionals, this episode is all about protecting your time so you can say yes to what truly matters.

Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by AI.

E249: Danae Hudson (Part 3): Navigating change, adapting, the future of learning, and post-pandemic thoughts Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode Garth interviews Danae Hudson from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO for a Part 3 interview. At NITOP 2026, they revisit their 2022 podcast conversation to discuss how classrooms and roles have changed since COVID. Hudson describes teaching large Intro Psych sections (330 students), smaller Abnormal Psych classes, and doctoral courses, noting post-COVID struggles in student adjustment and DFW rates, but some recent movement toward greater preparedness and reduced anxiety. They explore how COVID forced course redesign, current students' desire for more in-person study sessions, and the challenge of assessing learning amid widespread AI use and online degree options. Garth explains cutting Intro Psych content to prioritize meaningful, communicative assessments. Hudson proposes surveying Abnormal Psych students to form AI-mixed study groups and share effective tools. They also discuss boundaries with institutional demands and Hudson's work as STP VP of Membership, building pathways from graduate to late-career involvement and suggesting ways to get involved via STP resources, committees, and task forces.

[Note: Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

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