The Psychology Podcast

How to Make It to the End With No Regrets w/Jodi Wellman Oct 31, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Jodi Wellman. Jodi is an author, executive coach, and expert on resiliency. Scott and Jodi discuss living well with no regrets, and learning to embrace the bright side of your limited time on Earth.

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Is Toxic Productivity Ruining Your Life? w/Israa Nasir Oct 24, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author, speaker and therapist, Israa Nasir. Scott and Israa discuss toxic productivity, the connection between productivity and self-worth, and how to transform shame into curiosity.

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How Tribalism Can Unite Us w/ Dr. Michael Morris Oct 17, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and professor of leadership at the Columbia Business School, Dr. Michael Morris. Scott and Dr. Morris discuss the upsides of tribalism—

from uniting different tribes to practical implications for workplace inclusion to how tribal psychology may be our best hope for social change.

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Personality, Creativity, and Well-being || The Human Potential Lab Oct 10, 2024

In this solo episode of The Human Potential Lab, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman shines a light in the intersection of personality, well-being, and creativity. After describing each of the major personality traits on offer among humans, he then discusses how personality is related to creative achievement and which traits are related to which forms of well-being. He concludes with a hopeful message about the important of accepting your traits.

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The Man Behind The Mind Reader w/ Banachek Oct 03, 2024

This week Scott is joined by "The World's Greatest Mind Reader", Banachek. Scott and Banachek discuss criticisms of self-described psychics, the link between psychology and magic, and Banachek's successful attempts to fool professional paranormal psychologists.

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From Prison To Social Impact w/ Wallo 267 Sep 26, 2024

This week Scott is joined by activist, podcaster and author, Wallo 267. Scott and Wallo discuss Wallo's early life of crime and incarceration, what he did after his release to change his path in life for the better, his impact on the youth and hip hop community, and his mission to show the world that there are no straight lines to healing.

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The Upside of OCD w/ Michael Alcee Sep 19, 2024

This week Scott has a chat with clinical psychologist Michael Alcee, where they have a humanistic discussion about obsessive compulsive disorder. Michael is critical of the standard medical model of OCD and points out the upsides of OCD. He argues that people with OCD have a unique temperament, which includes heightened existential sensitivity and a richer imagination. While people with OCD certainly have their struggles, and tend to be obsessed about causing harm or receiving harm, Michael also points us to all the ways that OCD have historically been channeled into some of the greatest works of art and literature, and how everyone with OCD can have a healthier relationship with their OCD.

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How To Make Magic With Your Partner w/ The Cosmic Romantics Sep 12, 2024

This week, Scott is joined by The Cosmic Romantics— the husband and wife magic team consisting of Eric Thirsting and Elizabeth Messick! Scott talks to the couple about balancing a romantic and professional relationship, Elizabeth’s own struggles with mental health, and the different kind of magic archetypes. They even do magic for each other!

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Hope For Cynics w/ Dr. Jamil Zaki Sep 05, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and professor of psychology at Stanford University, Dr. Jamil Zaki. Scott and Dr. Zaki discuss tribal cynicism, how hopeful skepticism is different from naive optimism, and the importance of countering “social shark attacks”.

Dr. Zaki's website- https://www.jamil-zaki.com/

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Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self w/ Kim Shapira Aug 29, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Kim Shapira, a celebrity dietician, author and nutritional therapist. Scott and Kim discuss the rules of the “Kim Shapira Method”, the psychology behind losing weight (and keeping it off) as well as the fact that a craving is not a hunger. Kim shows how changing your relationship to food can truly change your entire life.

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Reimagining Boyhood & Masculinity w/ Ruth Whippman Aug 22, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and cultural critic, Ruth Whippman. Scott and Ruth discuss what it's like being a mother raising boys in modern society, the role of "masculinity influencers”, and what healthy masculinity looks like.

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The Science of Morbid Curiosity w/ Dr. Coltan Scrivner Aug 15, 2024

This week Scott is joined by true crime and morbid curiosity psychologist, Dr. Coltan Scrivner. Scott and Dr. Scrivner discuss how to determine your level of interest in morbid curiosity, why some people have a higher level of tolerance (and even attraction) to scary things, and how to spot a “bleeding-heart" horror fan.

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The Psychology of Identity and Fostering Social Harmony w/ Dr. Jay Van Bavel Aug 08, 2024

This week Scott is joined by NYU professor and expert on social identity, Dr. Jay Van Bavel. Dr. Kaufman and Dr. Van Bavel discuss how to escape your echo chambers and overcome your biases, the role social media plays in creating a funhouse mirror, and how to make connections with fellow humans even if they're in your out-group.

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The Third Perspective w/ Africa Brooke Aug 01, 2024

This week Scott is joined by consultant, coach, speaker, and author Africa Brooke. In this lively conversation, Scott and Africa discuss the importance of diversity of thought, expressing yourself in an age of intolerance, and why sometimes it's important to listen to people that you don't necessarily agree with.

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Finding Work That Leaves You Fulfilled w/ Dr. Tessa West Jul 25, 2024

This week Scott is joined by NYU professor and author Dr. Tessa West. Scott and Dr. West discuss how to find a fulfilling job, how to deal with jerks in the workplace, five common sources of career frustration, and how to make a resume more appealing.

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Vulnerable Minds and the Hope of Resilience w/ Marc Hauser Jul 18, 2024

This week Scott is joined by evolutionary biologist and author, Dr. Marc Hauser. Scott and Marc discuss adverse child experiences and why it's important to distinguish them from trauma. They also discuss Marc's framework for thinking about childhood adversity and how to help all kinds of vulnerable minds.

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Why Social Health Is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier w/ Kasley Killam Jul 11, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and social health expert Kasley Killam. Scott and Kasley discuss the importance of prioritizing social health and why cultivating relationships is as important as diet, exercise and sleep.

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The Anxious Generation w/ Jonathan Haidt Jul 04, 2024

This week Scott is joined by NYU social psychologist and author Dr. Jonathan Haidt. Scott and Jonathan discuss the "great rewiring of childhood" and how it is negatively affecting the mental health of teenagers. They also discuss why a return to play based childhoods are better for kids in the long run and review the criticism of his research with an eye toward nuance and the recommendation of better studies to address one of the most pressing issues of our time.

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What Would the Buddha Do? w/ Cory Allen Jun 27, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and podcaster, Cory Allen. Scott and Cory discuss how to live better through teachings on mindfulness, mental clarity, facing reality, and personal growth through the lens of Buddhism.

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Are All Comedians Narcissists? W/ Krystyna Hutchinson Jun 20, 2024

This week Scott is joined by standup comedian and co-host of the critically acclaimed "Guys We F**ed: The Anti Slut Shaming Podcast", Krystyna Hutchinson. Scott and Krystyna discuss the psychology of standup comedy, psychological theory about relationships, and what to do when you find out your father isn't actually your father.

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On Being Human w/ Cory Muscara Jun 13, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author, former monk, spiritual mindfulness guide, and friend Cory Muscara. Scott and Cory discuss the value of self-connection, whether or not there is a "true self", and the role of mindfulness in the self actualization journey.

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The Neuroscience of Manifestation w/ Dr. James Doty Jun 06, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and neuroscientist, Dr. James Doty. Scott and James discuss whether there is any science behind the law of attraction, the importance of "value tagging", and the neuroscience behind manifestation.

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How To Spot a Narcissist and Heal From Them w/ Dr. Ramani Durvasula May 30, 2024

This week Scott is joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr. Ramani Durvasula. Dr. Durvasula is one of the world’s leading experts on narcissism. In this episode, they the common myths about narcissism, the warning signs of narcissism to look for when a new person enters your life, and how to heal and move on with your life after you've been hurt by a narcissistic person.

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Collective Narcissism is Everywhere w/ Agnieszka Golec May 23, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Dr. Agnieszka Golec, the world’s expert on collective narcissism. Scott and Agnieszka dive deep into this relevant and rich topic, touching on the effects that this thinking has on broader society, how it has fanned the flames of populism around the world, and how it can be curbed to bring people closer together and foster more peace.

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What Does it Mean to Be Gifted? w/ Ellen Winner May 16, 2024

This week Scott is joined by developmental psychologist Ellen Winner. Scott and Ellen discuss Ellen's views on IQ and giftedness, the myth that gifted children are gifted in all subject areas, and the importance of artistic giftedness.

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What It’s Like to Live Constitutionally w/ A.J. Jacobs May 09, 2024

This week Scott is joined by NY Times bestselling author, A.J Jacobs, who spent a year living his life living like a founding father down to every single detail— quill pens and all. A.J. reveals what he learned using his adopted colonial mindset, how the constitution affects our lives as well as ways we can interpret it, and the best ways to pursue happiness.

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Reclaim Yourself w/ Emma Seppala May 02, 2024

This week Scott is joined by happiness researcher and best selling author, Dr. Emma Seppala. Scott and Dr,. Seppala discuss the concept of “sovereign", an emancipation from all the ways you subjugate yourself in your own existence. Emma teaches us all how to reconnect with yourself in a healthy way.

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How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down w/ Corey Keyes Apr 25, 2024

This week Scott is joined by sociologist and psychologist, Corey Keyes. Scott and Corey discuss the pervasiveness of languishing in our society today and how to feel alive again. Dr. Keyes explains the 5 psychological vitamins we should all be taking to live life to avoid depression and live life to the fullest.

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Helping Teens Thrive Emotionally and Socially w/ Lisa Damour Apr 18, 2024

This week Scott is joined by clinical psychologist Lisa Damour where they have a nuance and compassionate discussion about the emotional and social lives of teenagers. In this episode they dispel many myths, including the idea that emotional means fragile. Lisa also offers the best evidence-based ways to support teens through their emotional and social journeys and help them thrive.

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How To Be A Supercommunicator W/ Charles Duhigg Apr 11, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and best selling author, Charles Duhigg. Scott and Charles discuss why some conversations succeed while others fail, the 3 main types of conversations, and how to be a supercommunicator.

Timestamps

2:15- How’d Charles Think of The Cover of his book?

3:33- Are there super communicator prodigies

6:40- When did Charles get interested in this topic?

8:29- What are the three types of conversations?

10:50- How can we apply super communication to politics?

18:23- People who disagree historically come together

20:36- Common mistakes people make when talking with each other

23:12- Are great therapists great super communicators?

25:01- What’s going on in “The Big Bang Theory” writer’s room?

33:51- How can you improve connection if you’re shy?

37:25- How can people who have trouble with social cues improve connection?

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Stop Worrying about What People Think of You w/ Michael Gervais Apr 04, 2024

This week Scott is joined by one of the world's foremost sports psychologists, Michael Gervais. Scott and Michael discuss FOPO (Fear of People's Opinions), the importance of grounding your actions in authenticity, and the dangers of performance-based identities.

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Play Is Learning w/ Yumi Kendall Mar 28, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Assistant Principal Cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yumi Kendall. They discuss classical music's role in human flourishing and human transcendence, how life changes once you're a mother, and the sublime coincidence of Yumi occupying the same chair as Scott's grandfather in the Philadelphia Orchestra.

2:01-The Suzuki Method

7:53-What Is A Waldorf Education?

12:19-Yumi's Crystalizing Experience With The Cello

15:59-What Does Talent Mean?

25:33-What Are The Characteristics Of A Creative Musician?

32:28-What Are Tiers Of Transcendence?

40:32-The Importance of Self Compassion

42:12-How Can We Cultivate Healthy Organizations?

48:59-How Motherhood Has Enriched Yumi's Life

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Learning to Love Midlife w/ Chip Conley Mar 21, 2024

This week Scott is joined Modern Elder Academy Founder and best selling author, Chip Conley. Scott and Chip discuss the joys of living in midlife, the importance of being a part of something bigger than yourself, and why life gets better with age.

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Mastering Clear Thinking w/ Shane Parrish Mar 14, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author and creator of Farnham Street blog Shane Parrish. Scott and Shane discuss mastering the skill of clear thinking, taming emotions and one's ego, and practical tips for strength and resilience.

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Think Bigger and Innovate w/ Sheena S. Iyengar Mar 07, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Columbia business professor Dr. Shena Lyengar on how we make choices and innovate. Scott and Sheena discuss the essential tools of becoming a good chooser, the neuroscience of creativity and innovation, and how outsiders can come into a field and become an expert in it.

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Failing Well w/ Amy Edmondson Feb 29, 2024

This week Scott is joined by author of "The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well". Scott and Amy discuss the encouragement of taking smart risks, reframing one's thinking to expect and accept more failure to gain greater success, and how to have a little fun when something doesn't work out.

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How To Be The Love You Seek w/ Dr. Nicole LePera Feb 22, 2024

This week Scott is joined by “The Holistic Psychologist ”, Dr. Nicole LePera, author of the new book "How To Be The Love You Seek". They discuss the importance of being emotionally connected to yourself, healing personal traumas, and expressing your emotions authentically to others.

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Cancelling Cancel Culture w/ Greg Lukianoff & Rikki Schlott Feb 15, 2024

This week Scott is joined by authors of the new book "The Cancelling of The American Mind", Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott. The three discuss cancel culture's effect on human psychology and how to course correct a society intent on cancelling itself.

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No Bad Parts w/ Richard Schwartz Feb 08, 2024

This week Scott is joined by therapist and creator of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Richard Schwartz. Dr. Schwartz offers his latest thoughts on IFS, personal burdens, and the 8 C's of Self-Energy. He even helps Scott make contact with a part of himself that's been buried since childhood summer camp during an impromptu therapy session.

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Climbing The Mountains of Life and Fulfilling Your Maximum Potential w/ Alison Levine Feb 01, 2024

This week Scott is joined by Author and American Mountain climbing legend, Alison Levine, to discuss pushing through fatigue to find your inner strength, turning personal moments of “no” into moments of “yes”, and tapping into your fullest potential whatever mountain you are climbing.

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Right Brain, Creativity, and Meaning in Life w/ Iain McGilchrist Jan 24, 2024

This week, Scott is joined by Psychiatrist and Author of "The Matter with Things", Iain McGilchrist, for a wide-ranging conversation spanning the main differences between left brain and right brain functions, the creative brain, intelligence, the source of truth, and the metaphysical realm of human existence.

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New Year, New Personality: Science-Backed Tips to Actually Change Yourself Jan 18, 2024

Happy 2024 Psychology Podcast listeners. It's a new year and it's time to finally change your personality. Forget the fluff-- Scott is here to bring you some science-backed tips to actually become a new you.

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A Message To Our Listeners Jan 04, 2024

Happy 2024 listeners! A heads up that we'll be dark to start the year but will be back and better than ever in 2 weeks!

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Best of Series: The Latest science of Growth Mindset With Carol Dweck Dec 28, 2023

Today it’s a real honor to have Carol Dweck on the podcast. Dr. Dweck is a leading researcher in the field of motivation and is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford. Her research examines the role of mindsets in personal achievement and organizational effectiveness. Dr. Dweck has also held professorships at Columbia and Harvard Universities, has lectured to education, business, and sports groups around the world, has addressed the United Nations, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, and has won 12 lifetime achievement awards for her research. Her best-selling book Mindset has been widely influential and has been translated into over 25 languages.

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Best of Series: Inside Consciousness with Antonio DiMasio Dec 21, 2023

Today we welcome Dr. Antonio Damasio. He is an internationally recognized neuroscientist whose extensive research has shaped the understanding of neural systems and consciousness. With over a hundred journal articles and book chapters, he has earned many prestigious awards throughout his career. Currently, he serves as University Professor, the David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Philosophy, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. His books Descartes’ Error, Looking for Spinoza, Self Comes to Mind, The Strange Order of Things, and Feeling & Knowing, have been published in translation and are taught in universities throughout the world. In this episode, I talk to Antonio Damasio about consciousness. People often think that the mind and consciousness are the same thing, but Dr. Damasio disputes this notion. He argues that it’s the complex relationship of both our brains and bodies that makes sentient thought possible. Homeostatic feelings like hunger and pain developed before emotions; and along with it came consciousness. We also touch on the topics of perception, mental illness, evolution, panpsychism, AI and machine learning. Website: dornsife.usc.edu/bc Twitter: @damasiousc

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Best of Series: On Human Nature and Human Progress With Noam Chomsky Dec 14, 2023

Today it’s great to have the legendary Noam Chomsky on the podcast. Noam is a public intellectual, linguist, and political activist. He’s the author of many influential books, including Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, and his latest book with Robert Pollin called Climate Crisis and The Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving The Planet. Chomsky is also known for helping to initiate and sustain the cognitive revolution. He’s the Laureate Professor of Linguistics at The University of Arizona and Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT. Topics [02:06] The cognitive revolution of the ‘50s and ‘60s [03:49] Noam’s first encounter with behaviorism [12:41] What it was like to be part of the cognitive revolution [17:49] Implicit learning and artificial grammar [26:30] Noam’s view on modern-day behavioral genetics [28:05] Noam's thoughts on intelligence [32:02] Noam’s take on creativity [38:41] Chomsky's view vs. Foucault's view [42:49] Noam’s thoughts on modern-day social justice movements [45:50] Is there such a thing as human nature? [49:06] Identity vs. human nature [54:54] Noam’s views on race consciousness in America [59:16] Why Noam thinks Trump is the worst criminal in human history [1:00:34] How can democrats appeal to Trump supporters? [1:03:47] Cancel culture [1:05:10] The complexities of the slogan "defund the police" [1:08:36] Noam reflects on his life regrets [1:10:17] Chomsky's life advice

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Best of Series: Where Does Greatness Come From? With David Epstein Dec 07, 2023

Today we welcome David Epstein, the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and of the bestseller The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated in more than 20 languages. His TED Talks on performance science have been viewed more than 11 million times. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated. In this episode, I talked to David Epstein about greatness. If there's one thing we know for sure about greatness, it's that there is no linear path to it. David and I discuss the complex relationship of talent and hard work in specific domains. Although there is no formula, we can both agree that persistent effort and fierce determination are necessary ingredients—but so is talent. We have a nuanced discussion of the dance between nature and nurture on the path to talent. It’s a very delicate dance. We also touch on the topics of self-actualization, creativity, fulfillment and moral greatness. Website: davidepstein.com Twitter: @DavidEpstein

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Best of Series: The New Science of Resilience With George Bonanno Nov 30, 2023

In this episode, I talk to George Bonanno about trauma and resiliency. We start off by discussing what people get wrong about trauma and how this led to the invention of the PTSD diagnosis. George defines what resilience is, how it’s different from growth, and its paradoxical correlation to individual differences. Finally, he elaborates on how the flexibility mindset and sequence help us get through personal traumatic events or global tragedies like 9/11 or the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Best of Series: The Power of Passion and Perseverance With Angela Duckworth Nov 23, 2023

In this week's episode of The Psychology Podcast, we continue the "Best of Series" with Angela Duckworth. Angela Duckworth researches self-control and grit, which is defined as passion and perseverance for long term goals. Her research has demonstrated that there are factors that can be more predictive of success than IQ. In this episode we cover some of her findings on grit, including academic and popular misconceptions of this work. We also discuss research on standardized testing, self-control and more.

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Best of Series: A Remarkable Life, Fast and Slow With Daniel Kahneman Nov 16, 2023

In this week's episode of The Psychology Podcast, we continue the "Best of Series" with Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman.Our conversation revolves around judgment and decision-making. According to Kahneman, noise and bias are everywhere but we don't tend to notice it. We talk about how to reduce noise and bias, and what it means to think fast and slow.

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Best of Series: Surprising Truths about the Human Brain with Lisa Feldman Barrett Nov 09, 2023

In this episode, I talk to renowned neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett about emotions and the brain. She reveals what the true function of the brain is⎯and it’s not for thinking. We also discuss the impact of past experiences on our cognition and what we can do to overcome our own detrimental patterns. Further into our discussion, Dr. Lisa challenges the traditionally held view that emotions are universal. In her own theory of constructed emotion, she argues that variability in emotional expression exists due to socialization and language differences. We also touch on the topics of hallucinogens, culture, education, relationships, and authoritarianism.

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The Secret to a Happy Life || Robert Waldinger Nov 02, 2023

Today we welcome Robert Waldinger to the podcast. Robert is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst and Zen priest. He is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where he directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development. His TEDx talk on this subject has received nearly 44 million views, and is the 9th most watched TED talk of all time. He is the co-author of The Good Life with Dr. Marc Schulz.In this episode, I talk to Robert Waldinger about the secret to a happy life. Robert shares with us the recent findings of The Grant Study, which is the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted. It’s been ongoing for more than 80 years now, and has had high profile participants like US President John F. Kennedy. Robert and I get into the details of how they continue to conduct research and how to make sense of both the new and old data. Sure enough, what the study has found consistent is the power of connection. We also touch on the topics of psychodynamic therapy, defense mechanisms, attachment, and psychological research.

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The New Science of Flow || Orin Davis Oct 26, 2023

Today we welcome Orin Davis to the podcast. Orin Davis earned the first doctorate in positive psychology, and is a self-actualization engineer who enables people to do and be their best. As the Principal Investigator of the Quality of Life Laboratory, he conducts research on flow, creativity, hypnosis, and mentoring. Dr. Davis consults for companies from startups to multinationals on hiring strategies, culture, innovation, and employee well-being. He is the author of Team Flow: The psychology of optimal collaboration.

In this episode, I talk to Orin Davis about the new science of flow. A lot of people are familiar with the concept of flow, but according to Dr. Davis, the experience of it is not very common. We discuss Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s work and how Dr. Davis is expanding the research of flow by studying it at a group level. He talks about how we can increase the chances of experiencing flow for both individuals and teams. We also touch on the topics of microflow, hypnosis, absorption, positive psychology, and self-actualization.

Website: https://qllab.org/

Twitter: @DrOrinDavis

Topics

02:11 Orin’s dissertation

03:18 What is the flow experience?

09:01 Neuroscience of flow

11:57 Team flow

18:53 The whole team needs to be in flow

20:32 Flow is rare

22:07 How to increase flow

28:42 Democratizing flow

31:00 Microflow

35:14 How to spark team flow

36:43 Hypnosis and absorption

44:59 The autotelic personality

47:03 Modern-day positive psychology

51:44 Know thyself

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The Psychology of Secrets || Michael Slepian Oct 23, 2023

Today we welcome Michael Slepian to the podcast. Michael is the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Associate Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia University. A recipient of the Rising Star Award from the Association for Psychological Science, he is the leading expert on the psychology of secrets. He’s authored more than fifty articles on secrecy, truth, and deception. Michael’s research has been covered by The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, BBC, The Wall Street Journal and more. He is the author of The Secret Life of Secrets.

In this episode, I talk to Michael Slepian about the psychology of secrets. Everyone has secrets that they keep from others—how does this affect our relationships and well-being? According to Michael, maintaining privacy is not the most burdensome aspect. Carrying a secret all by ourselves is what weighs us down. Michael and I explore the different categories of secrets and we talk about when to reveal the deepest parts of ourselves and who to reveal them to. We also touch on the topics of personality, morality, trauma, developmental psychology and communication.

Website: michaelslepian.com

Twitter: @michaelslepian

Topics

02:04 Michael’s family secret

05:38 Defining secrecy

11:12 Correlation of personality with secret keeping

13:01 Revealing secrets

18:56 Categories of secrets

24:31 Healthy communication with children

29:50 Morality of secret keeping

34:20 Jamie Kunz and Dale Coventry's secret

36:27 Journaling and emotional support

40:25 Three dimensions of secrets

44:09 How to deflect direct questions

46:05 Sharing secrets anonymously

47:46 Secret joys

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The Power of Wonder || Monica Parker Oct 19, 2023

Today we welcome Monica Parker to the podcast. Monica is the founder of global human analytics and change consultancy HATCH, whose clients include blue-chip companies such as LinkedIn, Google, Prudential, and LEGO. Her career has been nothing short of colorful, having been an opera singer, a museum exhibition designer, a policy director, a Chamber of Commerce CEO, and a homicide investigator. She is also a world-renowned speaker, writer, and the author of The Power of Wonder.

In this episode, I talk to Monica Parker about the power of wonder. In today’s fast-paced world, most people fail to notice the richness of life. To become more wonder-prone, Monica encourages us all to slow down and pursue meaningful exploration. When we pay more careful attention to the world, we become more empathetic, resilient, and exuberant. Monica shares with us her cycle of wonder framework and how we can be more open and present in our daily lives. We also touch on the topics of personality, post-traumatic growth, mindfulness, and education.

Website: www.monica-parker.com

Instagram: @monicacparker

Topics

02:06 Monica’s background and expertise

03:26 The Power of Wonder

06:41 Cycle of Wonder

17:22 The wandering mind

22:18 Wonder shifts our perception

27:15 Slow thought and quality sleep

30:21 Wonder-prone mindset

32:28 Wonderstruck during crisis

36:26 Wonder bringers

39:14 Teaching wonder in schools

45:29 There’s more to life

47:37 Take a daily wonder walk

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Life Without Free Will || Robert Sapolsky Oct 16, 2023

Today we welcome Robert Sapolsky to the podcast. Robert is professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. His research has been featured in the National Geographic documentary "Stress: Portrait of a Killer". At age 30, Robert received the MacArthur Foundation's "genius" grant. He is author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone and Monkeyluv. His latest book is called Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.

In this episode, I talk to Robert Sapolsky about life without free will. Humans like the idea of having control over their lives, but Robert asserts that free will is just an illusion. Life beyond free will may sound unpleasant, but Robert explains the profound consequences of this belief in reforming the justice system, meritocracy, and education. We also touch on the topics of philosophy, quantum physics, mindfulness, grit, and responsibility.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robertsapolsky/

Topics

02:38 Robert’s background and upbringing

05:43 Life without free will

13:16 Believing in free will

24:05 Responsibility and punishment

33:14 The future cannot be determined

43:45 Mindfulness - a form of free will?

48:37 The human experience

53:41 Abolish the justice system and meritocracy

1:04:03 Statistical guilt

1:07:21 Effort, grit and taking credit

1:16:40 Nobody is more “worthy”

1:23:29 Life is worth living

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Psychology of Humor || Bob Mankoff Oct 12, 2023

Today we welcome Bob Mankoff to the podcast. For over 40 years, Bob Mankoff has been the driving force of comedy and satire at some of the most honored publications in America, including The New Yorker and Esquire. He is the founder of Cartoon Collections, parent company to CartoonStock.com, the world’s most successful cartoon licensing platform. For twenty years as Cartoon Editor for The New Yorker, Bob pored over thousands of submissions each week, analyzing, critiquing, and selecting each cartoon. In 2005, he helped start the “New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest.” Bob is the author of numerous books, including his New York Times bestselling memoir, How About Never – Is Never Good For You?: My Life In Cartoons.

In this episode, I talk to Bob Mankoff about the psychology of humor. Looking back at his illustrious career as a cartoonist, Bob talks about his early beginnings and the people he's mentored in the field. He explains the anatomy of a joke and reveals his all-time favorite cartoons. While humans are creative creatures, Bob believes that using AI and technology can further augment our intelligence and humor by opening up worlds of possibilities.

Website: www.bobmankoff.com/

Twitter: @BobMankoff

Topics

02:14 Bob’s childhood & upbringing

10:42 Personality of cartoonists and comedians

19:54 Types of humor

23:44 The grand scheme of time

26:28 Augmenting intelligence and creativity

38:30 Cartoon Bank

44:24 All-time favorite cartoons

52:17 Theory of humor

57:49 Censorship & cancel culture

01:01:24 Bob Mankoff’s legacy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buddhism and the Impermanence of Life || Joseph Goldstein Oct 09, 2023

Today we welcome Joseph Goldstein to the podcast. Joseph is a co-founder and the guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) along with Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg. He is one of the first American vipassana teachers and has been teaching Buddhist meditation worldwide since 1974. A contemporary author of numerous popular books on Buddhism, his publications include Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, One Dharma, Insight Meditation and others.

In this episode, I talk to Joseph Goldstein about Buddhism and the impermanence of life. Being too attached to the self can bring suffering. However, this doesn’t mean that we need to forego our identities or self-care. Joseph explains that enlightenment can be achieved when the mind is free from clinging. He talks about the different states that can help us realize the insight of impermanence and selflessness. We also touch on the topics of mindfulness, compassion, creativity, and wisdom.

Website: www.dharma.org/

Twitter: @onedharma

Topics

03:01 Joseph’s background and expertise

09:31 Enlightenment

15:11 Balance of mind

24:15 Noticing per minute

31:02 Mindfulness and flow

35:38 Wisdom is insight

38:00 Creativity

41:20 Different mind states

49:51 The tales of Sisyphus and Icarus

55:29 Skillful means

58:53 Flow of being

1:02:04 Unprompted mindfulness

1:04:42 Equanimity

1:09:24 Compassion and connection

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expand Your Self || Dan Siegel Oct 05, 2023

Today we welcome Dan Siegel to the podcast. Dr. Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Dr. Siegel is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. He’s authored numerous articles, chapters, and books including the New York Times bestsellers Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human and Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence. His latest book is called IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Dan Siegel about expanding the notion of the self. Modern culture has taught us that the self is all about individual identity and personal experiences. But Dr. Siegel posits that who we are is not limited to the brain or body. He argues that the self is not isolated, it’s composed of our relationships to other living beings and to the natural world. This expanded view of the self has important implications for the trajectory of humanity. We also touch on the topics of consciousness, neuroscience, quantum physics, and the flow state.

Website: drdansiegel.com

Instagram: @DrDanSiegel

Topics

02:20 Me + We

06:08 Expand your self

12:58 The self, the mind, and consciousness

42:15 Integrating all brain networks

59:43 Different styles of daydreaming

1:02:08 Wheel of awareness

1:08:38 We’re IntraConnected

1:11:21 Widening the window of tolerance

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human Flourishing in Education || Nick Holton Sep 28, 2023

Today we welcome Nick Holton to the podcast. Nick is an international speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach. His work focuses on helping individuals become better versions of themselves through the application of the cutting-edge science of human flourishing, a synergistic development of both peak performance and overall well-being and fulfillment. He works with individuals, teams, businesses, and organizations ranging from professional athletes, NCAA programs, educational institutions, first responders and Fortune 100 executives. He is co-founder of The Antifragile Academy and he also co-hosts the podcast, FlourishFM which is sponsored by the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard and the Department of Education at Oxford. Nick has worked with clients, given talks, and delivered training across the U.S., Europe, India, Australia, Uganda, Singapore, Mexico, and South America.

In this episode, I talk to Nick Holton about human flourishing. Our current education system is primarily concerned with teaching academic subjects. While building knowledge is essential, this is not enough to allow students to self-actualize. Nick points out that young people’s need to matter should be addressed as well. To facilitate human flourishing, we need to embed the different principles of positive psychology both inside and outside of the classroom. Nick and I believe that education can transform society for the better, and we exchange ideas on how we can build an ecosystem that fosters holistic development.

Website: www.nickholton.com

Twitter: @dr_nickholton

Topics

02:23 Nick’s background and expertise

11:16 Coaching each individual

13:35 The need for mattering

21:49 What is human flourishing?

25:21 Education can transform society

29:56 Positive education

38:59 The Shipley School

42:40 Holistic development

51:38 FlourishFM

55:41 Flourishing outside the classroom

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Landscape of Leadership || Jeffrey Hull Sep 21, 2023

Today we welcome Jeffrey Hull to the podcast. Jeffrey is a highly sought-after facilitator, keynote speaker and executive coach to both nonprofit and for-profit global organizations.

He is the Executive Director of the Institute of Coaching, based at McLean Hospital. Jeffrey is also a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct professor of leadership at New York University. His latest book is called Flex: The Art and Science of Leadership in a Changing World.

In this episode, I talk to Jeffrey Hull about the new landscape of leadership. The world is changing, and alpha leadership is not the only way to manage a team. Jeffrey highlights the importance of beta leadership, a style that values emotion and collaboration. According to him, the most effective leaders know which style to lead with, depending on the situation. In addition to learning other ways of being, Jeffrey believes we need to leverage perspectives from the indigenous and neurodiverse communities. We also touch on the topics of emotional intelligence, coaching, creativity, and authenticity.

Website: www.jeffreyhull.com

Twitter: @JeffreyHullPhD

Topics

02:18 The beta boss

09:07 Inclusivity in all ways

12:50 Flexible communication

18:29 Emotional intelligence and vulnerability

25:48 Physical energy of being

28:27 Engagement: productivity or creativity

30:35 Collaboration occurs in safe spaces

33:01 Self-coaching

37:49 The future of coaching

43:46 We all have unique gifts

46:40 Dialogue, not disagreement

49:08 Age of convergence

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Build the Life You Want || Arthur Brooks Sep 14, 2023

Today we welcome back Arthur Brooks to the podcast. Arthur is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular weekly “How to Build a Life” column. A world-renowned speaker, he talks about human happiness, and works to raise well-being within private companies, universities, public agencies, and community organizations. His latest book, which he co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, is called Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier.

In this episode, I talk to Arthur Brooks about building the life you want. People often think that happiness is a static end goal. But in reality, life will always have its ups and downs. According to Arthur, we can make choices that can improve our well-being despite the presence of challenges. He talks about how to find satisfaction through family, friends, meaningful work, and faith. Arthur also shares actionable steps around managing emotions and habits that can help us create a better life. We also touch on the topics of neuroscience, transcendence, evolutionary psychology, and love.

Website: arthurbrooks.com

Twitter: @arthurbrooks

Topics

02:50 Build the Life You Want

03:55 Writing the book with Oprah

10:14 Extremes are unhealthy

15:35 Unhappiness is not your enemy

17:38 Faith and transcendental experiences

21:22 Look for real friends, not deal friends

25:09 Work is love made visible

27:27 Love your enemies

37:28 Conflict is not hatred

39:59 Patterns of happiness vs individual variation

44:04 Family as a source of growth

47:36 The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

49:07 Emotional substitution

51:13 Overcoming the negativity bias

55:40 Keep it simple

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spotting Creative Potential || Troy Carter Sep 07, 2023

Today we welcome Troy Carter to the podcast. Troy is the co-founder and CEO of Venice Music, a technology and media company focused on powering the business of music via distribution, services, and data analytics. Formerly, Troy was the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, where he rose to prominence, nurturing the careers of global superstars including Lady Gaga and John Legend. He most recently served at Spotify as its Global Head of Creator Services, overseeing the company's growth strategy for artists and record labels.

In this episode, I talk to Troy Carter about spotting creative potential. Working in the entertainment industry has given Troy an eye for talent, but that’s not all it takes to become successful. Hard work, determination, and letting your personality shine through are also key components. Troy and I talk about musical geniuses and the future of the music industry with the advent of sophisticated AI tools.

Website: www.venicemusic.co/

Twitter: @justcallmetroy

Topics

02:21 The golden age of hip hop

06:50 Spotting creative potential

13:26 East coast VS West coast hip hop

19:16 Discovering Lady Gaga

26:35 Be willing to bet on yourself

29:50 Musical geniuses

36:00 The creative process

41:59 How AI is changing music

49:36 Discovering new artists

53:19 Helping independent labels

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find the Potential in Change || Maya Shankar Aug 31, 2023

Today we welcome Maya Shankar to the podcast. Maya is a cognitive scientist and the creator and host of the podcast, “A Slight Change of Plans”. It was awarded as the Best Show of 2021 by Apple and received an Ambie award from the Podcast Academy in 2022. Maya has a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive neuroscience from Stanford and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Oxford. She's a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music's pre-college program, where she was a private violin student of Itzhak Perlman.

In this episode, I talk to Maya Shankar about change. Humans have a desire to attach roles to identities. But when events disrupt that, we may feel unsure of who we are. Having gone through huge shifts herself, Maya shares with us ways in which we can reconfigure our identities and pivot to pursue our goals in different ways. Change can be disorienting, but it affords us a deeper understanding of ourselves. Maya also believes it’s also an opportunity to re-examine our long held beliefs and values. We also touch on the topics of cognitive science, mindfulness, awe, and hope.

Website: mayashankar.com

Twitter: @MayaUmaShankar

Topics

02:43 Maya as a violinist

06:00 Identity paralysis

13:02 Reconfiguring identity

18:08 A blind cook becomes a master chef

21:10 Post ecstatic growth

24:07 It’s okay to change values

28:38 Mindfulness and awe

34:15 Re-examining our values

38:29 Embracing a flexible mindset

40:49 Cognitive closure

44:51 Maya’s Slight Change of Plans

48:31 Pivot your goals

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding Spiritual Peace through Mindful CBT || Seth Gillihan Aug 24, 2023

Today we welcome Seth Gillihan to the podcast. Seth is a licensed psychologist who specializes in mindful cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Seth is also a therapy advisor with the self-therapy app Bloom, a medical reviewer for Everyday Health, and host of the Think Act Be podcast. Over the years, he’s authored multiple books on mindfulness and CBT. His latest book is called Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Simple Path to Healing, Hope, and Peace.

In this episode, I talk to Seth Gillihan about mindful CBT. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used to address mental health issues. Although proven to be helpful, Seth Gillihan believes that adding the component of mindfulness will not only improve our well-being, but can also help us find meaning, purpose, and peace. He shares with us the Think Act Be paradigm and ways we can be more in tune with ourselves. We also touch on the topics of alignment, spirituality, suffering, and openness to experience.

Website: https://sethgillihan.com/

Instagram: @sethjgillihan

Topics

02:30 Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

11:11 Finding spiritual peace

17:17 Think Act Be paradigm

21:56 Connect with yourself

28:06 Saying yes to life

34:59 Work in alignment

40:53 Alignment practice

44:50 Coming home to yourself

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find Freedom from Regret || Roberty Leahy Aug 17, 2023

Today we welcome Dr. Robert L. Leahy, the Director of The American Institute for Cognitive Therapy NYC and clinical professor of psychology in psychiatry at Weill-Cornell University Medical School. Dr. Leahy serves on a number of scientific committees for international conferences on cognitive behavioral therapy and is a frequent keynote speaker throughout the world. He has authored 27 books about CBT, depression, worry, anxiety, and emotion regulation, which have been translated in 20 languages. His latest book is called If Only...: Finding Freedom from Regret.

In this episode, I talked to Dr. Robert Leahy about finding freedom from regret. Regret is an unpleasant emotion that can motivate us to learn and grow, but there are times when it can keep us frozen in place. According to Dr. Leahy, this is why it’s important to make a distinction between productive and unproductive rumination. He shares the cognitive biases we have about loss and opportunity as well as strategies on how to let go of regret when it no longer serves us.

Website: cognitivetherapynyc.com

LinkedIn: Robert Leahy

Topics

02:12 Why do we feel regret?

07:30 Regret is tied to expectations

12:57 Affective forecasting, coping, resilience

18:31 Existential perfectionism

20:45 The free lunch myth

24:19 Inaction inertia

26:58 Hindsight bias

28:32 Adaptive humility

32:39 Letting go of regret

36:36 The boredom technique

40:01 Productive guilt

43:45 The 8 habits of highly regretful people

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess || Caroline Leaf Aug 10, 2023

Today we welcome Caroline Leaf to the podcast. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist with a Masters and PhD in Communication Pathology and Logopaedics. Since the early 1980s, she has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is also the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, and Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. Her latest book is called How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental Mess.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Caroline Leaf about managing the mind. The world is a crazy place and our minds can get disorderly trying to keep up with it! But according to Dr. Leaf, to have a messy mind is to be human. We don’t have to pathologize our emotions and thoughts. Instead, we can embrace them and implement strategies that allow us to better direct ourselves. Dr. Leaf shows us how to make sense of the messy mind and the scientific research behind those steps. We also touch on the topics of self-compassion, consciousness, trauma, and neuroplasticity.

Website: drleaf.com & mentallyresilientkids.com

Instagram: @drcarolineleaf

Topics

02:10 Dr. Leaf’s background and expertise

08:23 Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

16:14 Managing the mind

23:47 Emotions are warning signals

30:26 Intrusive rumination

34:40 Detox from trauma

42:24 The Neurocycle

46:22 Where CBT works best

49:13 Dr. Leaf’s research

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humanizing Bipolar || Gabe Howard Aug 03, 2023

Today we welcome Gabe Howard to the podcast. Gabe is an award-winning podcast host, author, and sought-after speaker. He hosts the Inside Mental Health podcast and is the author of Mental Illness is an Asshole and Other Observations. He’s been featured in numerous publications including Bipolar Magazine, WebMD, Healthline.com, and the Stanford Online Medical Journal. Among his many awards, he is the recipient of Mental Health America’s Norman Guitry Award and received a resolution from the Governor of Ohio naming him an “Everyday Hero.”

In this episode, I talk to Gabe Howard about living with bipolar disorder, an illness that is characterized by emotional highs and lows. Gabe shares what phases of mania and depression are really like and how the sudden shifts feel so jarring. Even though the disorder has its own set of challenges, Gabe is a staunch believer in taking responsibility for his actions. He opens up about his journey of recovery and the coping strategies that have benefited him. We also talk about the common misconceptions about people with bipolar disorder and public figures who may have had this mental illness.

Website: gabehoward.com

Twitter: @gabehoward29

Topics

03:22 Gabe’s childhood and diagnosis

05:36 Experiencing a wide range of moods

11:31 True mania is not productive

14:47 Bipolar disorder does not control me

22:03 Hypersexuality

30:28 Feeling dead inside

32:49 Mania changes what you see

36:07 Working on coping skills

39:53 Everyday mindfulness

42:03 Perception is reality

45:09 The dangers of bipolar disorder

48:01 Public figures with bipolar disorder

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meaningful Engagement with Life || Eric Zimmer Jul 27, 2023

Today we welcome Eric Zimmer to the podcast. Eric works as a behavior coach and has done so for the past 20 years. He has coached hundreds of people from around the world on how to make significant life changes that serve them well in achieving the goals they’ve set for themselves. He also hosts the award-winning podcast, The One You Feed. With over 30 million downloads, the show features conversations with experts across many fields of study about how to create a life that has less suffering and more fulfillment and meaning. His story and his work have been featured in the media including TedX, Mind Body Green, Elephant Journal, the BBC and Brain Pickings.

In this episode, I talk to Eric Zimmer about how to have a meaningful engagement with life. When we feel connected to what matters, it becomes easier to create an action plan that gets us moving in the right direction. At times, our emotions can get in the way but Eric believes that focusing on behavior changes can help us re-train our thoughts while leading us to our desired outcomes. Eric combines principles from religion, philosophy, and psychology to give us tips on how we can live out our values more mindfully day by day. We also touch on the topics of spirituality, agency, self-love, addiction, and emotions.

Website: oneyoufeed.net

Twitter: @oneyoufeed

Topics

02:35 Eric’s background and expertise

06:25 Behavioral activation

11:47 Be on your own side

17:54 Recovering from addiction

21:15 Spirituality is connection

26:02 Victimhood and agency

33:43 The Middle Way

40:00 The emotional storm model

45:06 Creating feels spiritual

49:00 Kenshō awakening

51:44 Spiritual direction

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find the Place in You that Isn’t Wounded || Niall Breslin Jul 20, 2023

Today we welcome Niall Breslin to the podcast. Niall is one of Ireland’s most formidable and inspiring mental health advocates and public speakers. He is the lead singer and songwriter for “The Blizzards”, and was a coach on “The Voice of Ireland”. His award-winning mental health charity “A Lust for Life” teaches young people to be effective guardians of their own minds. He works with a diverse range of clients, including Apple, Google, international NGOs, and The European Parliament. Niall hosts the ‘Where Is My Mind’ and “Wake Up Wind Down” podcasts, both of which are regularly in the UK and Ireland’s top podcast charts.

In this episode I talk to Niall Breslin about mental health. During his early days as an entertainer and athlete, Niall has always tried to put his best foot forward. But behind this confident exterior, he was silently suffering. It was only after he came forward about his struggles that he sought the help he needed. Instead of avoiding negative emotions, Niall encourages us to face them bravely, either through therapy or mindfulness. We also touch on the topics of education, introspection, resilience, community, and empowerment.

Website: niallbreslin.com

Instagram: @bressie

Topics

02:07 Niall’s background and upbringing

09:12 Surviving a panic attack on TV

14:41 Opening up about mental health

18:40 You can run, but you can't outrun

27:36 Buddhist meditation practice

33:57 Re-conceptualizing masculinity

39:09 Community values

42:31 Living bravely with mindfulness

50:33 Vitamin P

54:01 The Chill Skill

58:44 Where is My Mind?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Not to Get Scammed || Daniel Simons & Christopher Chabris Jul 13, 2023

Today we welcome Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris to the podcast.

Daniel Simons is a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois where he heads the Visual Cognition Laboratory. His research explores the limits of awareness and memory, the reasons why we often are unaware of those limits, and the implications for our personal and professional lives.

Christopher Chabris is professor and co-director of the Behavioral and Decision Sciences Program at Geisinger Health System. He is also faculty co-director of Geisinger's Behavioral Insights Team. From 2014 to 2017, he wrote a monthly column called GAME ON for The Wall Street Journal. His essays have been published in several media outlets.

Daniel and Christopher met at Harvard University in 1997, where they began to collaborate on research. In 2004 they shared the Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology, awarded for The Invisible Gorilla experiment. Together, they co-authored the New York Times bestselling book of the same name. Their latest book is called Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It.

In this episode I talk to Daniel and Christopher about scams and how NOT to get scammed! With enough information and persuasion, anybody can fall for a scheme. According to Daniel and Christopher, certain cognitive biases can make us vulnerable to deception. To help us outsmart con artists, they elaborate the different types of scams and how they work, all the while giving us tools to navigate shady situations.

Website: dansimons.com & chabris.com

Twitter: @profsimons & @cfchabris

Topics

03:20 Nobody’s Fool

07:54 Using AI for deception

10:13 The truth bias

12:42 Fixed belief bias

16:40 The possibility grid

22:27 Scamming through social media

24:21 The Nigerian email scam

27:19 Scam baiting

29:01 Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme

35:16 Are mediums scammers?

36:47 Why do people ignore red flags?

38:59 The Tinder Swindler and romance scams

44:05 Highly successful people get scammed too

47:17 When to be skeptical

54:37 Accept less, check more

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mindful Athlete || George Mumford Jul 06, 2023

Today we welcome George Mumford to the podcast. George is a globally recognized speaker, teacher, and coach. Since 1989, he’s been honing his gentle, but groundbreaking mindfulness techniques with people from locker rooms to boardrooms. Michael Jordan credits George with transforming his on-court leadership, helping the Bulls to six NBA championships. George has also worked with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and countless other NBA players, Olympians, executives, and artists. He is the author of The Mindful Athlete and Unlocked.

In this episode, I talk to George Mumford about peak performance. How does one consistently perform at a high level? Whether it be work, sports, art or any other craft, George believes that everyone has the potential to excel. To unlock greatness, we must cultivate mental toughness, love, and learn to stay in the flow state. George talks about his experience coaching the Chicago Bulls, helping the team thrive on and off the court. We also touch on the topics of mindfulness, resilience, forgiveness, and joy.

Website: georgemumford.com

Twitter: @gtmumford

Topics

01:47 George’s background & expertise

06:53 Basketball with Julius Erving

09:36 Performance whisperer

14:01 Being unlocked

23:55 Coaching the Chicago Bulls

31:01 Staying in the flow state

35:04 Mental toughness, love, forgiveness

36:56 The Mamba Mentality

41:02 Being breathed

45:37 No struggle, no swag

49:58 Recover your true self

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Real Differences Between the Generations || Jean Twenge Jun 29, 2023

Today we welcome Jean Twenge to the podcast. Jean is professor of psychology at San Diego State University. She frequently gives talks and seminars on generational differences and technology based on a dataset of 39 million people. Her audiences have included college faculty and staff, parent groups, military personnel, camp directors, and corporate executives. Her work has been repeatedly featured by the media. She has authored more than 180 scientific publications and books including iGen, Generation Me, and The Narcissism Epidemic. Her latest book is called Generations.

In this episode, I talk to Jean Twenge about the real differences between the generations. Did you know that our current time has the most number of living generations to co-exist? Unfortunately, there is often conflict and miscommunication between them. According to Jean, this is largely due to how the advancement of tech has shaped major life experiences. She shares interesting statistics about each cohort and debunks common misconceptions about baby boomers, millennials, gen z, and others. We also touch on the topics of narcissism, polarization, mental health, gender identity, and compassion.

Website: jeantwenge.com

Twitter: @jean_twenge

Topics

01:38 The real differences between generations

05:50 The silent generation

09:08 Conflict between cohorts

13:33 Narcissism in different generations

21:09 Generation Z

27:34 The income inequality between boomers and millennials

30:42 Are we coddling students?

36:38 The political trajectory of generations

42:10 The Greatest Generation

43:49 Generation Alpha

45:05 Uniting all generations

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Integral Theory, Awakening, and Society || Ken Wilber Jun 22, 2023

Today we welcome Ken Wilber to the podcast. Ken is the developer of Integral Theory. He is also the founder of the Integral Institute, which was formed in collaboration with over 200 scholars and experts, specializing in education, politics, business, medicine, psychology, spirituality, law and criminal justice. His 25 books have been translated into 30 foreign languages, making Ken one of the most widely translated academic writers in America. At age 74, he is still very much active as a philosopher, author, and teacher, with all of his major publications still in print.

In this episode, I talk to Ken Wilber about his Integral Theory. Instead of trying to tackle it in all its complexity, Ken hones in on the application of his theory to intelligence, consciousness and transcendence. He believes that development in these areas follows a predictable path, such as in the case of enlightenment. Borrowing from Zen Buddhism, Ken talks about what it’s like to awaken to the truth of reality. We also touch on the topics of psychological research, diversity, artificial intelligence, and social media.

Website: https://integrallife.com/

Twitter: @TheKenWilber

Topics

03:17 Integral Theory and its applications

09:50 Components of spiritual intelligence

17:41 Maslow’s influence on Ken

21:41 Critique of stage theories

30:49 Spiritual narcissism

44:12 The process of enlightenment

48:42 Individual differences in unitive consciousness

58:09 Integral Theory research

1:03:44 Is society progressing?

1:09:39 Diversity beyond physical attributes

1:13:03 Improving modern-day psychology research

1:18:06 Is life just a test run?

1:22:22 What would an integral social media look like?

1:26:36 Addressing Integral Theory critiques

1:33:00 Does objective reality exist?

1:38:52 Development of artificial intelligence

1:43:08 Awakening to reality

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Journey of Leadership || Alisa Cohn Jun 15, 2023

Today we welcome Alisa Cohn to the podcast. Alisa is an executive coach who has worked with C-suite executives at prominent startups such as Venmo, Etsy, and The Wirecutter, as well as Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Google and Pfizer. Her clientele also includes leaders from around the world, including the first female minister of the transition state of Afghanistan and the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She is the author of From Start-up to Grown-up, which won the 2022 Independent Press Award, and the creator and host of a podcast of the same name.

In this episode, I talk to Alisa Cohn about the journey of leadership. Before we can guide others, Alisa believes we need to lead ourselves first. There are days when we don’t feel up to the task, but Alisa gives us practical advice on how to show up on those difficult days. Drawing on her coaching experience with executives, she shares with us that even the most successful entrepreneurs experience imposter syndrome and negative self-talk—but these can be overcome with the right management tools.

Website: www.alisacohn.com/

Twitter: @AlisaCohn

Topics

02:59 What is executive coaching?

06:17 What makes a great master coach?

09:45 Managing your self

15:33 Combat negative self-talk

18:12 Deal with imposter syndrome

26:33 Leadership is an unnatural act

30:59 The co-founder prenup

33:23 The journey of entrepreneurship

36:42 Three questions for productive meetings

39:17 From Start-up to Grown-up Podcast

42:25 Lead yourself

45:18 The experiences of different leaders

53:04 Alisa’s leadership journey

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Your Future Self || Hal Hershfield Jun 08, 2023

Today we welcome Hal Hershfield to the podcast. Hal is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, Hal was named one of “The 40 Most Outstanding B-School Profs Under 40 In The World” by business education website Poets & Quants. He publishes in top academic journals and also contributes op-eds to the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets. His latest book is called Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.

In this episode I talk to Hal Hershfield about meeting your future self. Decisions are trade-offs between the present and the future. Oftentimes, it's easier to choose what feels gratifying now, than to choose what's more beneficial in the years to come. Hal believes this is because we feel disconnected to our future selves. Hal shows us the mental mistakes we commit when thinking about the future. He shares with us how to visualize who we want to become, so we can make choices that are better for us now and later.

Website: www.halhershfield.com

Twitter: @HalHershfield

Topics

03:21 Hal’s expertise and background

05:40 Your Future Self

13:12 How much do we change over time?

17:25 Mental mistakes when thinking about the future

24:20 Productive prospection

28:48 Why do we fail in our long-term goals?

34:33 Time travel mistakes

40:35 Visualizing your future self

42:53 Making present sacrifices feel easier

45:42 How to get people to follow through

47:37 The future selves of organizations

50:17 Facing an uncertain future

54:03 The collective self

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcast Improv Jam || Dan Lerner Jun 01, 2023

Today we welcome Dan Lerner to the podcast. As an in-demand speaker, author, strengths-based performance coach and instructor of one of the most popular undergraduate courses at New York University, Dan’s expertise in positive psychology helps people lead thriving, successful lives. He works with students, artists, athletes and numerous Fortune 500 companies and executives around the world. Whether it is speaking, coaching, teaching or writing, Dan injects intellect with motivation, science with compassion and makes change both exciting and fun.

In this episode, Dan and I talked about several topics that were of mutual interest. As positive psychologists, we both have a deep interest and appreciation for human potential and how we can cultivate it through education. We also discussed the important components for long-lasting friendship, and how to find a healthy community in this day and age of echo chambers. We hope you enjoy the conversation about personality, leadership, self-help, and mental health as much as we did.

Website: daniellerner.com

Twitter: @DanLernerTweets

Topics

03:02 Dan’s assertiveness and enthusiasm

08:50 Cultivating unique human potential

16:02 Redefining intelligence

22:01 Helping people thrive

24:30 Are students today more fragile?

33:30 The need for empathetic leadership

37:08 The secret to long-lasting friendship

42:16 How to find your community

48:13 The problem with the self-help industry

52:55 Real change is hard

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why We Have Too Much Free Will || Ken Sheldon May 25, 2023

Today we welcome back Ken Sheldon to the podcast. Ken is a Curator's Distinguished Professor of Psychological Science at the University of Columbia, Missouri. He has written and edited over 200 academic books, scholarly articles, and book chapters. Among these, some of his most notable work include Optimal Human Being and Self-determination Theory in the Clinic. His latest book is called Freely Determined: What the New Psychology of the Self Teaches Us About How to Live.

In this episode, I talk to Ken Sheldon about free will. Instead of questioning its existence, Ken is concerned with how we might use free will to help us reach our goals. Each person has the capacity to make good and bad choices, and to learn from the past. Although we are unable to know everything about ourselves, we can still make informed decisions. Believing that we have the ability to choose directly affects our well-being and values. We also touch on the topics of neuroscience, self-determination, and responsibility.

Website: sheldonk.mufaculty.umsystem.edu/home

Topics

03:09 Freely Determined

07:23 System 1 and System 2

09:02 Cybernetic freewill

12:12 Choices are not predetermined

17:36 Self-determination theory

20:20 The feeling of freedom

24:57 The evolution of the symbolic self

32:47 The default mode network in goal setting

40:57 The “Rewind the tape” argument

45:05 The problem of too much freedom

46:51 Determinism is detrimental

50:45 Living well together

53:28 Free will is an adaptation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Minimalism Can Change Your Life || The Minimalists May 18, 2023

Today we welcome Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, and T.K. Coleman, known collectively as The Minimalists. Joshua and Ryan are Emmy-nominated Netflix stars and New York Times–bestselling authors. Alongside their podcast co-host, T.K., they help millions of people live meaningful lives with less. The Minimalists have been featured in Time, Architectural Digest, and GQ, and they have spoken at Harvard, Apple, and Google. Their podcast has more than 100 million downloads, making it one of the most popular podcasts in the world.

In this episode I talk to Joshua, Ryan, and T.K. about minimalism. All too often, we are preoccupied with amassing wealth and possessions in an attempt to fill the void. Soon, we find that accumulating stuff doesn’t make us feel whole. Instead of turning to objects, the minimalists ask us to ponder “How do we live more with less?” When we can get rid of clutter in our homes, digital spaces, and relationships, we make room for what’s truly important. Joshua, Ryan, and T.K. talk about how minimalism has changed their lives, allowing them to feel more content, mindful, and generous.

Website: www.theminimalists.com

Twitter: @TheMinimalists

Topics

01:46 Why minimalism?

08:27 Integrity and hypocrisy

13:05 Abundance begins from within

19:55 Minimalistic being

23:17 The “hell yes!” rule

27:20 Slow down to go faster

30:59 Confronting the void

42:38 Advertisements suck

48:21 Keep what brings joy and value

53:55 The secret to organization

1:01:03 The spontaneous combustion rule

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Awakening from the Meaning Crisis || John Vaervaeke May 11, 2023

Today we welcome John Vervaeke. John is an award-winning professor at the University of Toronto in Psychology, Cognitive Science and Buddhist Psychology. His academic interests include wisdom, mindfulness, meditation, relevance realization, general intelligence, and rationality. He is the author of Awakening from the Meaning Crisis Youtube series and co-author of Zombies in Western Culture: A 21st Century Crisis.

In this episode I talk to John Vaervaeke about the meaning crisis. There is a growing number of people who are struggling to find purpose in life. Society seems to be losing touch of its humanity. John argues that we can address the meaning crisis by appreciating and grounding ourselves in reality. We can find relevance by deepening our relationship with the world and the people around us. In turn, this reverence affords us peace of mind, while recognizing the interconnection of all things. We also touch on the topics of transcendence, mattering, narcissism, spirituality and artificial intelligence.

Website: patreon.com/johnvervaeke

Twitter: @vervaeke_john

Topics

03:30 Meaning and mattering

07:25 Relevance realization

13:33 Grounding and peace of mind

17:30 Horizontal and vertical transcendence

25:45 Wisdom is overcoming dichotomy

29:42 Measuring rationality

34:17 Zen Neoplatonism and Daoism

41:16 Spirituality is what remains

45:43 Care is essential to being human

49:20 The next Buddha is the Sangha

51:33 Reverence realization

58:45 The meaning crisis

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Science of Awe || Dacher Keltner May 04, 2023

Today we welcome Dr. Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists. He is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. Fun fact: he was the scientific advisor behind the beloved Pixar movie, Inside Out! He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, and The Power Paradox. His latest book is called Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.

In this episode I talk to Dacher Keltner about the new science of awe. Emotions like fear and disgust have been extensively researched because of their roles in human survival. But Dr. Keltner argues that awe is also essential for well-being and community. Music, art, and nature are some of the antecedents that can induce a sense of wonder, inspiring us to be better by recognizing that we’re parts of a greater whole. We also touch on the topics of transcendence, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and creativity.

Website: dacherkeltner.com

Twitter: @GreaterGoodSC

Topics

02:19 The science of awe

09:59 What triggers awe?

12:31 The neuroscience and physiology of awe

17:06 The essential features of awe

19:26 A prosocial approach to evolutionary psychology

25:16 Dr. Keltner’s personal search for awe

32:24 Nature and connectivity

36:16 Are we depriving children of awe?

38:20 Awe is a life detector

40:54 Awe and creativity

42:44 The dark side of awe

45:09 Cultivating the awe mindset

53:41 The unifying purpose of awe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Creativity? || The Human Potential Lab Apr 27, 2023

Welcome to The Human Potential Lab! In this special series of The Psychology Podcast, I will be doing solo episodes answering your burning questions about the mind, brain, human behavior, and human potential.

In the second episode of this series, I will be talking about creativity and how it differs from intelligence.

Creativity can come in many different forms. It can be expressed through artistic compositions, through ingenious solutions to problems, or even through the combination of seemingly paradoxical ideas. Over the years, there’s been a large number of scientific studies which have sought to measure creativity. Not only that, but researchers have been able to identify what predicts divergent thinking and its association with certain personality traits. Other fascinating areas of investigation include the link between mental illness and creativity and the neuroscience behind the creative process. Today we will touch on all of these exciting areas.

Website: scottbarrykaufman.com

Twitter: @psychpodcast & @sbkaufman

Topics

01:57 Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking

08:24 “Beyonder” characteristics

12:39 Personality traits associated with creativity

18:07 Ego strength of creative individuals

22:06 Creative people have messy minds

25:53 Neuroscience of creativity

32:39 The link between creativity and mental illness

34:59 Flow and the creative process

37:55 Combining originality and relevance

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life in Five Senses || Gretchen Rubin Apr 20, 2023

Today we welcome Gretchen Rubin, one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. She’s a highly acclaimed writer, having sold millions of copies of her New York Times bestselling books. Her podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, has more than 220 million downloads. As the founder of The Happiness Project, Gretchen has helped create an ecosystem of imaginative products and tools to help people become happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. Her latest book is called Life in Five Senses.

In this episode I talk to Gretchen Rubin about connecting to the world through our five senses. Our fast-paced, modern world keeps us constantly moving, making us feel disconnected from other people and our surroundings. Gretchen shares unconventional ways we can re-experience the world through seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and touching. She believes that tuning into life’s simple pleasures allows us to live each day with more appreciation and vitality. We also touch on the topics of mindfulness, creativity, learning, and individual differences.

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Twitter: @gretchenrubin

Topics

01:57 The Five-Senses Quiz

08:25 The more we know, the more we notice

11:09 Life in Five Senses

14:34 We all have unique sensory worlds

19:21 Gretchen’s daily visits to the MET

24:40 The longing for immersive experiences

27:50 COVID has taught us to value our senses

32:10 The magic of ketchup

36:50 Connecting through sensory experiences

40:04 What is your ideal sensory surrounding?

50:21 The muse machine

55:19 Different ways of being and sensing

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom || Sharon Salzberg Apr 13, 2023

Today we welcome Sharon Salzberg, who is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is the co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed six million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Her latest book is called Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom.

In this episode, I talk to Sharon Salzberg about navigating real life. When we are faced with trials and tribulations, it feels as if we're alone. On top of that, our underlying assumptions about the world and ourselves can make us feel worse. Sharon shares with us useful tips that can help us deal with overwhelming emotions and pain. She believes that by cultivating these loving-kindness practices, it can help us feel more open and free, allowing our inner lights to shine forth.

Website: www.sharonsalzberg.com

Twitter: @SharonSalzberg

Topics

02:17 From isolation to openness and freedom

05:36 Suffering from our unexamined assumptions

07:33 “Shaking hands” with our emotions

11:35 Looking within with love

15:38 Guilt, shame, and remorse

19:23 Loving-kindness exercises

23:33 “When we connect with others, we find ourselves”

27:07 The light within us all

30:34 The Dalai Lama’s visit to insight meditation society

33:15 Widening our window of tolerance

39:11 Allow yourself to feel joy

40:57 Dealing with illness and physical pain

48:00 Aspiration powers our journey

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Science of Consciousness || Anil Seth Apr 06, 2023

Today we welcome Dr. Anil Seth. He is the Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex, where he is also Co-Director of the Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science. His research has been supported by the European Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, and the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Dr. Seth’s 2017 main-stage TED talk is one of the most popular science TED talks, with more than 13 million views. His latest book, which has received numerous accolades, is called Being You: A New Science of Consciousness.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Anil Seth about the new science of consciousness. Although we don’t exactly know how or why consciousness exists, Dr. Seth thinks this shouldn’t stop us from exploring its properties. One of the things he explores in his research is the conditions for consciousness. Everyone has their own way of perceiving the world. Perceptual diversity exists and we would be misguided to try and standardize consciousness on a single dimension. We also touch on the topics of intelligence, panpsychism, free will, AI technology, and the after life.

Website: www.anilseth.com

Twitter: @anilkseth

Topics

02:08 The hard problem of consciousness

07:02 The value of inner experiences

12:22 Experiencing is consciousness

15:51 Panpsychism

19:01 The condition for consciousness

21:38 Neuroscience of consciousness

27:32 Perceptual diversity

37:09 Perception Census

43:00 Can we measure consciousness?

49:13 Individual differences in experiencing

56:40 Experience of free will is not an illusion

1:09:24 Cybernetic free will

1:12:55 Can artificial intelligence produce consciousness?

1:24:24 The desire to persist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to Increase Your Sexual Pleasure || Kenneth Play and Madison Sloane Holland Mar 30, 2023

Today we welcome Kenneth Play and Madison Sloane Holland.

Kenneth Play is an international sex expert and sex educator. Named “the world’s greatest sex hacker” by GQ, he has been featured by more than one hundred media outlets, including The New York Times, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and Huffington Post. He is the creator of the Sex Hacker Pro Series, and author of Beyond Satisfied. His work has helped millions of men gain lasting confidence and competence.

Madison Sloane Holland is a sex and empowerment coach, intimacy expert, and co-host of the top-rated sex podcast, Pleasure Positive Living.

In this episode, I talked to Kenneth and Madison about how to increase sexual pleasure. Most people fail to realize their full sexual potential, partly because sex education in America is fear and shame driven. As a result, people turn to different forms of media, which can create unrealistic expectations and insecurities. Kenneth and Madison dispel the most common sex myths and talk about how we can empower both men and women to take charge of their own pleasure.

Websites: kennethplay.com & www.pleasurepositiveliving.com/guide

Instagram: @Kenneth_Play & @sugar.sloane_madison

Kenneth’s E-book: https://bit.ly/ScottKennethPodcast

Kenneth’s free training on VICE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA3iQ1aR5IY

Topics

04:22 What is sex hacking?

06:05 Shortcomings of American sex education

09:37 How block ourselves from pleasure

13:05 Transcendent sexuality and peak experiences

22:27 Pleasure for healing and intimacy

26:04 The orgasm gap

32:33 Erotic context matters

37:48 Male sexual empowerment

45:52 Myths about sexual pleasure

54:36 Going after our deepest desires

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gender/Sex and the Body || Anne Fausto-Sterling Mar 23, 2023

Today we welcome Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling. She is the Nancy Duke Lewis Professor Emerita of Biology and Gender Studies in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Biochemistry at Brown University. Her books and scholarly articles are referenced widely in feminist and scientific inquiry. She has received grants and fellowships in both the sciences and the humanities. In 2020, she re-released Sexing the Body: Gender Politics and the Construction of Sexuality with updated research.

In this episode, I talked to Anne Fausto-Sterling about gender/sex and the body. During the sixties, the term “gender” was introduced to make a distinction between a person’s biology and psychology. But Dr. Fausto-Sterling believes that these can never really be separate. Biology influences gender—and the opposite is also true. Culture and context can influence our hormones and body systems. We also touch on the topics of gender dysphoria, feminism, intersexuality, trans issues, and child development.

Website: annefaustosterling.com

Twitter: @Fausto_Sterling

Topics

02:52 Dr. Fausto-Sterling’s background and expertise

07:58 Sexual invert, eonist, & transvestite

14:42 Gender identity disorder in the DSM

19:47 Transgenderism and non-binaries

21:49 The Five Sexes

25:27 “Gender is always changing the biology”

30:08 Redefining sex

34:54 Intersex inclusivity

40:29 Feminists labeled as TERFs

43:39 Sex should be functional

45:45 Moral panic about bathrooms, sports, jail

50:00 Addressing issues in context

55:50 Dynamic Systems Framework for Gender/Sex Development

57:54 Dr. Fausto-Sterling’s call to end sex differences research

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Scientific Realities of Biological Sex || Debra Soh, Marco Del Giudice, & Buck Angel Mar 16, 2023

Today we welcome Debra Soh, Marco Del Giudice, and Buck Angel.

Dr. Debra Soh is a neuroscientist who specializes in gender, sex, and sexual orientation. She holds a PhD in neuroscience with scientific expertise in paraphilias, hypersexuality, and child sexual abuse prevention. As a journalist, her writing has appeared in several publications like the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, and many more. In 2020, she published her first book called “The End of Gender”.

Dr. Marco Del Giudice is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. He received his bachelors in psychology and doctorate in cognitive science from the University of Turin in Italy. He has over a hundred scientific publications on personality, motivation, attachment styles, psychopathology, sex differences, and other topics. In 2016 he was granted the Early Career Award of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society (HBES).

Buck Angel is an adult-film producer, performer and motivational speaker who also works as an advocate, educator, lecturer and writer. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance from 2010 to 2016. Born as a biological female, Buck conquered a lifetime of adversity to undergo his transformation to become the healthy, happy, self-confident man that he is today. Buck created the first FTM adult website in 2003, and became the first FTM adult entertainer and film producer. In 2007, Buck made history again as the first transexual man to ever win the AVN transexual performer of the year award.

In this episode, I talk to Debra, Marco, and Buck about the scientific realities of biological sex. There is considerable opposition against the idea that sex is binary. But denying science because it doesn’t seem to fit our gender beliefs can be dangerous. As ironic as it seems, when we acknowledge biology, we can accommodate more variation better than our preconceived, rigid social norms.

Website: drdebrasoh.com , marcodg.net , buckangel.com

Twitter: @DrDebraSoh & @BuckAngel

Topics

04:08 Dr. Marco’s background and expertise

06:41 Dr. Debra’s background and expertise

07:48 Buck’s background and expertise

10:02 Shift from ‘transexual’ to ‘transgender’

12:35 The separation of sex and gender

21:33 Why feminists reject biology

27:27 “It is transphobic to deny biology”

30:51 Extreme trans activism

40:00 Transgenders vs TERFs

43:07 Being gender fluid is trendy

44:18 Losing the nuances in gender

47:49 The evolutionary perspective of traits

55:05 Dismantling the definition of woman

58:46 De-transitioning and safe healthcare

1:07:03 The construction of gender identity

1:14:25 Social transitioning through pronouns

1:22:32 Non-binary and non-specific labels

1:28:42 Prioritizing truth over feelings

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Science of Testosterone || Carole Hooven Mar 09, 2023

Today we welcome Dr. Carole Hooven. For the past six years, she served as a lecturer and co-director of undergraduate studies at Harvard’s department of Human Evolutionary Biology. She has received numerous teaching awards, and her popular Hormones and Behavior class was named one of the Harvard Crimson’s “top ten tried and true.” Currently, Dr. Hooven has moved to the Psychology department where she works as an associate at Steven Pinker’s lab. Her latest book is called T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us.

In this episode, I talked to Dr. Carole Hooven about the science of testosterone. Why do males have higher rates of physical violence, take on more risk, and desire more sexual partners? Dr. Hooven’s research points to testosterone as the answer. Although sex differences may stem from biology, variations in behavior may be better explained by genetics interacting with culture. We also touch on the topics of evolutionary biology, gender dysphoria, gender-affirming care, and academic freedom.

Website: carolehooven.com

Twitter: @hoovlet

Topics

02:49 Dr. Carole’s background and expertise

09:26 Sex differences in mental rotation

21:38 How hormones work

24:47 The uses and effects of testosterone

28:00 Testosterone, risk, and violence

31:23 Genetic and cultural differences

35:33 Trans women’s athletic advantages

38:51 Let scientists conduct research

44:22 Side effects of puberty blockers

49:31 Evidence-informed view of transitioning

56:30 There is no trans phenotype

59:22 The TERFs vs trans debates

1:03:28 Suppression of academic freedom

1:06:48 Untangle science from politics

1:09:15 Can we modify our chromosomes?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Rabinowitz & Callie Wright || What We Get Wrong About Transgender People Mar 02, 2023

Today we welcome Aaron Rabinowitz and Callie Wright.

Aaron is a lecturer in philosophy at Rutgers University. He hosts the Embrace The Void and Philosophers in Space podcast. He specializes in ethics, metaethics, and problems surrounding AI and personhood. He earned his M.A. in Philosophy from Colorado State University.

Callie is a freelance audio producer and the host of the Queersplaining podcast. They are non-binary trans person.

In this episode, I talk to Aaron and Callie about gender and trans issues. When it comes to transgendered folk, we tend to focus on extreme examples that are far removed from reality. Some people think being transgender is a social contagion, while others reject the reality of gender altogether. Callie shares how transitioning has allowed them to become their most authentic self. Aaron sheds light on the issues of consent, autonomy, identity, and medical ethics. Both Callie and Aaron recognize that specific topics can negatively skew public opinion, which is why addressing misconceptions and highlighting the lived experiences of trans men, women, and non-binary individuals are crucial to the conversation.

Website: voidpod.com & queersplaining.com

Twitter: @ETVPod & @calliegetsit

Topics

03:15 Introducing Callie

05:14 Introducing Aaron

08:27 Callie coming out as trans

17:06 Ideology over science

23:32 Transphobia is real

25:28 Social contagion and moral panic

33:29 Pushing the anti-trans agenda

35:56 “Have a trans child or a dead child”

41:13 Extreme trans activists

47:13 The gender critical movement

44:47 The world operates on gender, not sex

51:29 What does it feel like to be a trans woman?

55:50 Subjectivity of gender and identity

1:02:06 Why we gatekeep identities

1:06:30 Trans people in sports

1:23:58 Sex and gender differences

1:32:47 Gender-affirming care

1:39:44 Puberty blockers and transitioning

1:42:38 Medical ethics and barriers to access

1:49:21 Parental consent vs child autonomy

1:52:17 There is harm in waiting and seeing

2:07:55 Irreversible changes in puberty

2:11:43 Teaching gender in school

2:15:26 Wokeness is misappropriated

2:17:42 Final thoughts

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Kotler || Creativity, Skill-Mastery, and Aging Feb 23, 2023

Today we welcome Steven Kotler, the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is an award-winning journalist and one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. Steven is the author of eleven bestsellers including The Art of Impossible, The Rise of Superman, Bold, and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 50 languages, and has appeared in over 100 publications. His latest book is called Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad.

Our moderator for this live discussion was Dr. Torrie Higgins, the Head Coach of the Flow Research Collective. Dr. Higgins is a deeply passionate, empathetic peak performance coach, consultant and educator whose coaching philosophy is rooted in the deep-seated belief that everyone has the potential to achieve success and growth. In her private practice, she has had the opportunity to coach a diverse range of clientele, from mountaineers preparing to summit Mount Everest and K2 to business leaders of Fortune 500 companies.

In this live discussion, I talked to Steven Kotler about creativity, skill-mastery, and aging. Our society views aging as a process of decline, with our physical and mental capabilities worsening over time. Steve Kotler invites us to challenge our preconceived notions about aging by engaging in “impossible” activities that cultivate mastery and creativity. When we are able to incrementally push past our limits, we change our mindset about growing old which ultimately prolongs our longevity. We also touch on the topics of exploration, play, social connection, flow, neuroscience, wisdom, and embodied cognition.

Website: stevenkotler.com

Twitter: @steven_kotler

Topics

04:55 Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad

10:46 Challenging our limiting beliefs

16:12 Narcissism vs mastery

19:40 Curiosity and exploration as motivators

22:24 Approach fear incrementally

27:18 Why we need “replacement friends”

38:44 Finding a training partner

42:54 Creativity and Aging: What We Can Make With What We Have Left

49:38 Intelligence, expertise, giftedness

52:31 “The pursuit of wisdom thrives on joy”

1:02:13 Dynamic deliberate play

1:11:25 Learning through embodied cognition

1:17:06 Flow and peak experiences

1:23:45 Creativity as a way of being

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eli Finkel || How the Best Marriages Work Feb 16, 2023

Today we welcome Eli Finkel. He is a professor at Northwestern University, where he has appointments in the psychology department and the Kellogg School of Management. In his role as director of Northwestern’s Relationships and Motivation Lab (RAMLAB), he has published more than 160 scientific papers and is a guest essayist for The New York Times. The Economist declared him “one of the leading lights in the realm of relationship psychology.” His latest book is called The All-Or-Nothing Marriage.

In this episode, I talked to Eli Finkel about how the best marriages work. The institution of marriage has evolved throughout the decades. People used to tie the knot for socioeconomic purposes, but nowadays we seek to fulfill our higher need for self-actualization in relationships. According to Eli, higher expectations are not necessarily bad for marriages if people can use them strategically. Eli also shares love hacks we can implement to improve our relationships with our partners.

Website: elifinkel.com

Twitter: @EliJFinkel

Topics

02:54 Pleasure vs meaning in romance

05:49 There’s no rule for marriages

08:15 The pre-industrial mindset of marriage

10:39 Vertical integration of needs in a relationship

13:55 Expectations, goals, & fulfillment

17:53 The evolution of marriage

22:30 The All or Nothing Theory of Marriage

25:21 Mate evaluation theory and other studies

34:48 The value of love hacks

38:21 Positive attribution bias

39:36 Third-party reappraisal on conflict

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live From the Comedy Cellar: Comedy, Free Speech, and Why the Last 10 Years of American Life Have Been So Uniquely Stupid with Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott Feb 09, 2023

In this live recording from The Comedy Cellar, Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman has a discussion with Jonathan Haidt, Greg Lukianoff, and Rikki Schlott about why so much in America seems to be so messed up: Things like Gen Z, universities, social media, American democracy, and our sense of humor, grace, and decency. How can we lighten up, toughen up, and get less stupid?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is Intelligence? || The Human Potential Lab Feb 02, 2023

Welcome to The Human Potential Lab! In this special series of The Psychology Podcast, I will be doing solo episodes answering your burning questions about the mind, brain, human behavior, and human potential.

In the first episode of this series, I will be tackling a question I’ve been obsessed with virtually my entire life: What is Intelligence?

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wondered what it means to be smart. Does it simply mean high IQ? Are there other ways of being intelligent? Do multiple intelligences exist? What does it mean to be generally intelligent? As a kid I was placed into special education due to an auditory learning disability which I eventually outgrew. I would look around and see greater potential among all my friends in special ed than other people gave them credit for.

This ignited my passion for understanding intelligence, which carried me through to college where I started to scientifically study this fascinating topic, and I have been studying this topic ever since. I understand that the science of intelligence can be a controversial topic, but in today’s episode I’m just going to focus on the facts and the science, and attempt to show you why this topic is so fascinating and so important to study for a broader understanding of how to unlock the potential of all people.

Website: scottbarrykaufman.com

Twitter: @psychpodcast & @sbkaufman

Topics

01:28 What is intelligence?

02:43 History of IQ tests

05:06 The g factor

11:40 IQ and academic achievement

15:21 Theory of Multiple Intelligences

27:17 Theory of Successful Intelligence

30:06 Talent or intelligence?

32:46 Emotional intelligence

39:26 External factors affecting achievement

40:31 Gifted education

41:29 Theory of Personal Intelligence

45:45 There are infinite intelligences

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connie Zweig || Embracing Your Shadow Jan 26, 2023

Today we welcome the Shadow Expert, Dr. Connie Zweig. She is a retired therapist, writer, Climate Reality Leader, and Citizens Climate Lobbyist. She is the co-author of Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow and the author of Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality. Her latest book is called The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul, which has won both the 2021 American Book Fest Award and the 2021 Best Indie Book Award for best inspirational non-fiction.

In this episode, I talked to Dr. Connie Zweig about embracing the shadow. We often associate the shadow with negativity, but it’s not necessarily bad or sinister. The shadow is composed of repressed feelings and messages in our unconscious, which can erupt out of control. According to Dr. Zweig, we must develop a conscious relationship with our shadow by doing inner work - especially as we age. As we near the end of our lives, it’s crucial that we conduct a life review to help us repair emotionally and spiritually.

Website: conniezweig.com

Twitter: @innerworkofage

Topics

02:33 Dr. Connie’s interest and expertise

06:17 What is “the shadow”?

12:54 How to confront the shadow

14:22 The inner ageist

18:44 Letting go of “doing”

24:01 Elder is a stage, not an age

28:00 The purpose of a life review

32:09 Emotional repair

34:37 Depth psychology

39:50 Spiritual repair

47:12 From role to soul

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabriella Kellerman || Future-Proofing the Workplace Jan 19, 2023

Today we welcome Gabriella Kellerman, the chief innovation officer at BetterUp and the head of BetterUp Labs. She is also a Harvard-trained physician with expertise in behavioral and organizational change, digital health, well-being, and AI. As a thought leader, Gabriella has been published in The Atlantic, Scientific American Mind, JAMA, and the Harvard Business Review. Her first book is Tomorrowmind, which she co-authored with Professor Martin Seligman.

In this episode, I talked to Gabriella Kellerman about prospection and future-proofing the workplace in the 21st century. According to Gabriella, the world is always changing. She argues that we can plan for uncertainty by cultivating creative leadership, building rapid rapport, and learning resilience. We also touch on the topics of imagination, kindness, and positive behavioral science.

Website: gabriellarosenkellerman.com

Twitter: @grkellerman

Topics

01:44 Collaborating with Martin Seligman

03:54 What is prospection?

08:00 Creativity: ways of being divergent

10:36 Creativity hygiene

14:05 Creative strength spotting

16:42 The safety to matter and to innovate

23:59 Positive behavioral science

27:21 Key drivers of resilience

30:48 Instill resilience in the workplace

34:38 Gabriella’s background and expertise

38:37 Building rapid rapport

43:05 Positivity resonance

46:24 Accepting and coping with change

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Perry Zurn & Dani Bassett || How Curiosity Connects Us Jan 12, 2023

Today we welcome Perry Zurn and Dani Bassett.

Dr. Perry Zurn is Associate Professor of Philosophy at American University. He is the author or coauthor of more than 75 publications in philosophy, political theory, trans studies, and network science and has given hundreds of talks at local, national, and international venues. His work has been generously funded by organizations like the American Philosophical Association, the Center for Curiosity, the Lee Somers Fund and more.

Dr. Dani S. Bassett is the J. Peter Skirkanich Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with appointments in the Departments of Bioengineering, Electrical & Systems Engineering, Physics & Astronomy, Neurology, and Psychiatry. They authored more than 390 peer-reviewed publications, which have garnered over 38,000 citations. Dr. Bassett has received multiple prestigious awards from the American Psychological Association, Sloan Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation among others.

They often collaborate on research about neuroscience, curiosity, and the humanities. Recently, they co-wrote Curious Minds: The Power of Connection.

In this episode, I talk to Perry Zurn and Dani Bassett about curiosity. For them, curiosity is not just about gaining knowledge, it’s about connecting to the world and to each other. Each individual has their own style of connecting - they can be busybodies, hunters, or dancers at any given time. Perry and Dani also weigh in on how social media affects curiosity and how their network model of curiosity can improve education.

Website: perryzurn.com & danisbassett.com

Twitter: @perryzurn & @danisbassett

Topics

02:27 Perry and Dani’s interest in curiosity

06:26 Curiosity is connection

12:45 Network science

15:18 Archetypes of curiosity

20:22 Deprivation vs interest-based curiosity

23:56 Social curiosity

29:47 Cycling through the different styles of curiosity

37:25 Is social media making us more curious?

40:51 Consciously practicing curiosity

42:32 Curiosity and learning

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Epstein || Where Does Greatness Come From? Jan 05, 2023

Today we welcome David Epstein, the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and of the bestseller The Sports Gene, both of which have been translated in more than 20 languages. His TED Talks on performance science have been viewed more than 11 million times. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a senior writer for Sports Illustrated.

In this episode, I talked to David Epstein about greatness. If there's one thing we know for sure about greatness, it's that there is no linear path to it. David and I discuss the complex relationship of talent and hard work in specific domains. Although there is no formula, we can both agree that persistent effort and fierce determination are necessary ingredients—but so is talent. We have a nuanced discussion of the dance between nature and nurture on the path to talent. It’s a very delicate dance. We also touch on the topics of self-actualization, creativity, fulfillment and moral greatness.

Website: davidepstein.com

Twitter: @DavidEpstein

Topics

02:13 Talent: Is it nature or nurture?

05:16 Does the 10,000 hour rule apply to creativity?

10:14 Genetics and the rage to master

16:46 Immediate feedback for growth

22:04 Progress is not linear

26:50 Self-actualization is where you “fit”

39:06 The equal odds rule 41:11 Restriction of range

47:55 Creativity and mental illness

56:27 Incentivizing good vs great scientists

1:00:13 Moral greatness

1:06:10 The constraints of creativity

1:12:25 The criteria of genius

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roland Griffiths & David Yaden || The Scientific Psychedelics Revolution and Embracing Mortality: An Ode to Joy Dec 29, 2022

Today we welcome Roland Griffiths and David Yaden.

Dr. Roland Griffiths is a professor of neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral science, and director of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has authored over 400 scientific publications and has trained more than 60 postdoctoral research fellows. His initial 2006 publication on psilocybin is often attributed as the catalyst for the re-initiation of psychedelic research after decades of halted drug research.

Dr. David Yaden is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine working in The Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. His research focus is on transformative experiences that can result in long-term changes and how they temporarily alter consciousness and self. His work has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and NPR.

In this episode, I talk to Roland Griffiths and David Yaden about the latest research on psychedelics. They answer some of my burning questions such as: What are the common characteristics of a mystical experience? Are hallucinations necessary for a transformative experience? How do psychedelics affect our brain? We also touch on the topics of mindfulness, religion, mental illness, and creativity as they share about the latest developments in the field.

Website: griffithsfund.org

Twitter: @ExistWell

Topics

02:36 Roland’s background in psychopharmacology

09:44 Roland’s meditation practice

13:57 David’s mystical experience

18:35 Roland’s mystical experience

22:02 Common characteristics of mystical experiences

27:48 Transformative experience or mental illness?

39:15 Was Timothy Leary right about psychedelics?

46:05 The future of psychedelic research

48:39 The neuroscience of psychedelics

53:14 Creativity and therapeutic use of psychedelics

56:33 Are hallucinations needed for transformation?

1:02:50 Roland’s cancer diagnosis

1:13:41 The Griffiths Professorship Fund

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ali Smith, Andrés González, & Atman Smith || Let Your Light Shine Dec 22, 2022

Today we welcome Ali Smith, Andrés González, and Atman Smith. Brothers Ali and Atman met Andrés at the University of Maryland College Park. During their last semester, the trio spent a lot of time reading books on spirituality, philosophy, history, politics, and other related topics. At the same time, they began their yoga practice and developed it under the guidance of Ali and Atman’s godfather. Months of hard work and planning ensued before they finally co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation. Together, they tell their story of how yoga and mindfulness have transformed countless communities in Let Your Light Shine.

In this episode, I talk to Ali Smith, Andrés González, and Atman Smith about mindfulness in education. For 20 years, they have been teaching yoga and wellness to underserved kids, resulting in a decrease in suspensions and fights and an increase in attendance and grades. But it’s not just about the numbers. For Ali, Andrés, and Atman, what matters even more is changing the school’s culture to become a loving and empathetic space for all by teaching stillness and introspection.

Website: letyourlightshinebook.com

Twitter: @HLFINC

Topics

2:31 Introducing Ali Smith

4:24 Introducing Atman Smith

7:31 Introducing Andrés González

12:45 Hope through mindfulness

17:05 Creating an oasis in schools

20:39 The impact of the Mindful Moment Program

26:16 Reciprocal teaching model

28:00 Involution: tapping into our universal centers

33:37 Sharon Salzberg’s and Rhonda Magee’s work

36:52 Bringing fun and humor to learning

38:11 Making yoga and mindfulness accessible

45:46 Love and empathy need to be consistent and reliable

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neil Pasricha || How to Live an Awesome Life Dec 15, 2022

Today we welcome Neil Pasricha who is an author, entrepreneur, podcaster, and public speaker characterized by his advocacy of positivity and simple pleasures. He is best known for his The Book of Awesome series, and "The Happiness Equation" which are international bestsellers. His first TED talk “The 3 A’s of Awesome” is ranked one of the 10 Most Inspiring of all time. Neil hosts an Apple “Best of” award-winning podcast called 3 Books. His most recent book is called Our Book of Awesome.

In this episode, I talk to Neil Pasricha about how to live an awesome life. The levels of depression and anxiety are its highest today. Now, more than ever, is when we need hope and positivity. According to Neil, the key to living a happier life is appreciating the little things. Awe and gratitude should not be reserved for big moments, but they should be cultivated in the everyday. We also touch on the topics of social media, motivation, confidence, and authenticity.

Website: www.neil.blog

Twitter: @NeilPasricha

Topics

[02:51] Neil’s life and background

[06:49] The Book of Awesome

[11:42] Noticing tiny pleasures

[17:23] The infinite scroll

[22:14] The confidence matrix

[24:57] The Nature of the Fun

[27:44] The Happiness Equation

[32:22] Never retire

[35:59] Overvalue you

[37:16] Create space

[42:24] Have everything

[45:03] Don’t take advice

[50:35] Our Book of Awesome

[55:44] Savoring and healthy selfishness

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Archives: Lisa Feldman Barrett || Surprising Truths about the Human Brain Dec 08, 2022

We’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes from the past year with Lisa Feldman Barrett.

Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is among the top one percent most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior.

Her books include Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain and How Emotions are Made. She has published over 240 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals. Dr. Barrett has been called “the most important affective scientist of our time”.

In this episode, I talk to renowned neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett about emotions and the brain. She reveals what the true function of the brain is⎯and it’s not for thinking. We also discuss the impact of past experiences on our cognition and what we can do to overcome our own detrimental patterns. Further into our discussion, Dr. Lisa challenges the traditionally held view that emotions are universal. In her own theory of constructed emotion, she argues that variability in emotional expression exists due to socialization and language differences. We also touch on the topics of hallucinogens, culture, education, relationships, and authoritarianism.

Website: lisafeldmanbarrett.com

Twitter: @LFeldmanBarrett

Topics

00:01:42 Lisa’s interest in clinical psychology

00:03:53 A biological approach to emotions

00:06:29 Why do we have a neocortex?

00:14:49 The default mode network

00:21:47 The brain is not for thinking

00:25:06 Authoritarianism during economic hardship

00:32:04 Psychological entropy

00:35:33 The brain weather forecast

00:44:16 The mind-brain problem

00:47:37 Relationships are reflexive

00:51:46 Emotional expression isn’t universal

00:58:35 Why you shouldn’t trust psychology textbooks / 6 universal emotions?

01:03:03 Reaching out to Paul Ekman

01:10:42 The theory of constructed emotion

01:16:49 The role of socialization and language in emotions

01:23:43 The never-ending domain-general vs domain-specific debate in cognitive science

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David McRaney || How Minds Change Dec 01, 2022

Today we welcome David McRaney. He is a science journalist fascinated with brains, minds, and culture. In 2012, he created the podcast You Are Not So Smart based on his 2009 internationally bestselling book of the same name and its follow-up, You Are Now Less Dumb. David is also an editor, photographer, voiceover artist, television host, journalism teacher, lecturer, and tornado survivor. His most recent book is called How Minds Change.

In this episode, I talk to David McRaney about the science of belief and persuasion. In this day and age of online tribes and echo chambers, changing people’s opinions seems like an impossible task. Instead of arguing over facts, David encourages us to use empathy to understand why we disagree. He explains Piaget's framework behind knowledge building and shares the use of technique rebuttal for sincere conversations.

Website: www.davidmcraney.com

Twitter: @davidmcraney

Topics

02:12 David’s interest in how minds change

08:41 Piaget's Genetic Epistemology

13:49 Focus on motivations, not conclusions

16:35 Why do people see the viral 2015 dress differently?

23:44 How we produce and evaluate arguments

28:36 We’re living in a post trust world

32:32 How to change minds in large groups

44:33 Cults and conspiratorial communities

52:57 Technique rebuttal

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neal Brennan || The Mind of Neal Brennan Nov 24, 2022

Today we welcome Neal Brennan. He is a director, writer, actor, and comedian most known for co-creating and co-writing the Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show with Dave Chappelle and cult movie classic Half Baked.

Neal received three Emmy nominations for Chappelle’s Show; one for directing, and the other two for writing and producing. He has also performed stand-up on Last Call with Carson Daly, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Lopez Tonight, and Conan. Recently, his comedy special called Blocks was released on Netflix.

In this episode, I talk to Neal Brennan about his comedy and upbringing. As early as 8 years old, Neal has been interested in comedy for its “fairness”. He reveals who his early influences were and what it was like working with Dave Chappelle. In this episode I gave Neal some impromptu psychological tests to help us both understand more about his unique mind. We also touch on the topics of relationships, mindfulness, cognitive distortions, and neurodiversity.

Website: www.nealbrennan.com

Twitter: @nealbrennan

Topics

02:31 Neal’s family background

09:44 When Neal discovered comedy

15:48 Meeting Dave Chappelle

18:00 The aftermath of Half Baked

21:26 The highs and lows of Chappelle’s Show

26:06 “We contain multitudes”

28:20 Neal’s relationships and reality dysmorphia

36:04 Vulnerable narcissism test

44:46 How vulnerable narcissism develops

48:16 Cognitive distortions

55:46 Mindfulness, drugs, and therapy

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Becky Kennedy || Good Parenting Nov 17, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Becky Kennedy. She is a clinical psychologist and mom of three, recently named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME Magazine. She specializes in parenting and child development, with an emphasis on anxiety and resilience. Dr. Becky received her BA in Psychology and Human Development from Duke University and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. Her latest book is called Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be.

In this episode, I talk to Becky Kennedy about good parenting. Raising children is no easy task. As a mom herself, Dr. Becky knows what that’s like. Her parenting philosophy revolves around seeing the good inside every child and seeing the sturdy leader in every parent. She shares actionable advice on how to repair emotional connection after conflict, how to reduce shame, and how we can break unhealthy generational patterns. We also touch on the topics of genetics, resilience, attachment, and self-care.

Website: www.goodinside.com

Instagram: @drbeckyatgoodinside

Topics

02:20 Dr. Becky’s interest in parenting

06:00 The Good Inside Approach

10:22 Maximizing for attachment safety

17:32 Raising children with empathy

23:18 The most generous interpretation

28:49 “Two things are true” mode

33:34 How to make up with our kids after a fight

38:21 Dr. Becky’s recommended resources

39:27 Prioritize resilience over happiness

43:49 How to detect and reduce shame

48:04 Self-care for exhausted parents

50:25 Tips for cycle breakers

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whitney Johnson || Smart Business Growth Nov 10, 2022

Today we welcome Whitney Johnson, CEO and co-founder of the tech-enabled talent development company Disruption Advisors. Whitney is a globally recognized thought leader, keynote speaker, executive coach, and consultant. She is a frequent lecturer at Harvard Business Publishing’s Corporate Learning division. She is also the bestselling author of Disrupt Yourself and Build an A Team. Her latest book is called Smart Growth: How to Grow Your People to Grow Your Company.

In this episode, I talk to Whitney Johnson about business growth. According to Whitney, the development of the individual comes first before the company’s. Growth can be better understood using the S Curve of Learning which has three phases: the Launch Point, the Sweet Spot, and Mastery. By comprehending the cycle of growth, we can find ways to move forward when we feel stuck in both our professional and personal lives. We also touch on the topics of flow, creativity, transcendence, success, and leadership.

Website: www.whitneyjohnson.com

Twitter: @johnsonwhitney

Topics

01:35 Disruption Advisors

07:55 The S Curve of Learning

11:13 Optimize your team for growth

14:23 Mastery and transcendence

16:18 Peak experience and peak performance

21:26 The S Curve as a retention tool

25:00 Excavating your shadow values

28:13 Grow your people to grow your company

33:53 Create the conditions for growth

37:19 The S Curve is a dopamine management exercise

40:20 When to quit and change careers

42:51 Changing the metrics of success

47:16 Disrupt yourself a little bit everyday

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Tomasulo || Psychodrama & Learned Hopefulness Nov 03, 2022

Today we welcome Dan Tomasulo who is a counseling psychologist, professor, and the Academic Director at the Spirituality Mind Body Institute (SMBI), Teachers College, Columbia University. He holds a Ph.D. in psychology, an MFA in writing, and a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Dan is also the author of several books, including American Snake Pit and Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist's Memoir. His latest book is called Learned Hopefulness.

In this episode, I talk to Dan Tomasulo about psychodrama and learned hopefulness. Interventions have always focused on helping people recover from trauma but Dan believes we can do more than that through psychodrama. When we re-enact difficult experiences, we can process and integrate trauma in a way that facilitates growth. It also teaches us to perceive obstacles differently, which is integral to learning hopefulness.

Website: www.dantomasulo.com

Twitter: @drdantomasulo

Topics

01:27 Dan as a stand-up comedian

04:58 Meeting Andy Kaufman

08:33 Dan’s interest in psychology

14:36 American Snake Pit

21:35 Interactive Behavioral Therapy (IBT)

27:10 What is psychodrama?

34:15 Learned Hopefulness

41:00 Hope activating exercises

45:49 Spiritual psychology

51:55 Hope, optimism, faith

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sonja Lyubomirsky || The How of Happiness Oct 27, 2022

Today we welcome Sonja Lyubomirsky who is a distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Originally from Russia, she received her A.B., summa cum laude, from Harvard University and her Ph.D. in Social/Personality Psychology from Stanford University. Her research has been featured in hundreds of magazines, newspapers, shows and documentaries in North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Dr. Lyubomirsky’s best-selling books The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness have been published and translated in over 16 countries.

In this episode, I talk to Sonja Lyubomirsky about happiness. Across all of her research, Dr. Lyubomirsky has found that connection is what makes people happy. So then, how do we form high-quality connections? Dr. Lyubomirsky gives us insight on how to use kindness, reciprocity, and gratitude to maintain and strengthen our relationships. We also touch on the topics of psychedelics, interpersonal chemistry, and social media.

Website: drsonja.net

Twitter: @slyubomirsky

Topics

01:38 Sonja’s interest in happiness research

03:56 The Happiness Pie Chart

07:55 The Set-point Theory of Happiness

10:42 Connection is the key to happiness

15:19 Are extroverts happier?

20:12 Psychedelic social psychology

25:25 The Happiness Boomerang Effect

29:58 What makes for great conversation?

34:16 High-quality connections

36:47 How to create interpersonal chemistry

42:44 Can you count too many blessings?

45:27 Apps that make us happy and unhappy

51:39 Kindness boosts immunity

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martha Beck || Living with Integrity Oct 20, 2022

Today we welcome Martha Beck, who is a New York Times bestselling author, life coach, and speaker. She holds three Harvard degrees in social science. Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.” Martha is a passionate and engaging teacher, known for her unique combination of science, humor, and spirituality. Her newest book is called The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self.

In this episode, I talk to Martha Beck about integrity. According to her, we are all born true to ourselves, with our integrity intact. But then we lose sight of who we are because we try so hard to fit into our society. Martha shares advice on how to live authentically in a culture that doesn't necessarily share the same values as you. We also touch on the topics of neurodiversity, emotions, coaching, and transcendence.

Website: marthabeck.com

Twitter: @TheMarthaBeck

Topics

02:38 Martha’s interest in coaching

04:17 Martha’s Harvard degrees

06:55 Science and eastern philosophy

13:31 Writing for Oprah’s magazine

15:13 Regaining our wildness

20:19 The Way of Integrity

25:08 Duplicity is people pleasing

31:32 Inspiration from Dante’s Divine Comedy

34:55 Enlightenment through surrender

39:25 Personal effectiveness

47:11 Suffering is a guidance mechanism

52:27 How Martha left the LDS Mormon Church

56:27 Hold true to your integrity

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laurie Santos || The Science of Happiness Oct 13, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Laurie Santos, psychology professor and Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,”is Yale’s most popular course in over 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 3.3 million people to date. Dr. Santos is a winner of numerous awards both for her science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She is also the podcast host of The Happiness Lab.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Laurie Santos about happiness. People are unhappy not for lack of trying, but it’s because they’re applying ineffective strategies. Dr. Santos identifies some of the cognitive biases that can hinder our happiness. There is no magical antidote to our problems, but there are ways to boost well-being in small but significant ways. We also discuss resilience, social justice and mindfulness.

Website: drlauriesantos.com

Twitter: @lauriesantos

Topics

03:04 Laurie’s interest in well-being

06:54 Our expectations about happiness

09:44 Defining and measuring happiness

13:59 Predictors of resilience

15:43 Laurie’s happiness score

17:39 “Self-care is a political act”

22:39 The Feel Good, Do Good Effect

24:11 The role of culture, environment, genes

27:55 Contributions to the science of happiness

32:13 The impact of Laurie’s research

35:19 Cognitive biases that influence happiness

38:16 Do mindfulness interventions work?

44:37 The Happiness Lab’s new season

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Archives: Esther Perel || Love, Eros, and Infidelity Oct 06, 2022

In celebration of our first year anniversary with Stitcher, we’re re-releasing one of our favorite episodes from the past year with Esther Perel.

Esther Perel is a psychotherapist and a New York Times bestselling author, recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she hones a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her best-selling books Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs have been translated into nearly 30 languages. Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcast Where Should We Begin? and How’s Work? Her latest project is Where Should We Begin − A Game of Stories with Esther Perel.

In this episode, I talk to renowned psychotherapist and author Esther Perel about love and relationships. We tackle the true essence of the words “eros” and “freedom”. Esther offers her perspective on marriage and affairs, getting to the root cause of why people cheat. We also touch on the topics of soulmates, masculinity, how to keep passion alive during a global pandemic, and Esther’s practice as a cross-cultural therapist.

Website: www.estherperel.com

Instagram: @estherperelofficial

Topics

02:02 Adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic

04:33 Social connection during the pandemic

10:04 “The erotic is the antidote to death”

17:02 True freedom in relationships

22:05 Soulmates don’t exist

26:38 Why people in happy marriages cheat

29:46 Can an affair be good for a marriage?

34:54 Where Should We Begin?

39:00 Redefining marriage, fidelity, and sexuality

46:25 Esther’s cross-cultural approach to therapy

49:31 Esther’s interest in cultural transitions, identity, and relationships

54:56 The masculine obsession with power

01:00:08 The Great Adaptation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Fadiman || Orchestrating Your Symphony of Selves Sep 29, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Jim Fadiman. Jim is a psychologist, writer, and lecturer who has been pioneering psychedelic research since the 1960s. He is recognized as “America’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use.” Jim received his bachelor and doctorate degrees from Harvard and Stanford respectively. Apart from psychedelics, he has also been involved in researching healthy multiplicity for over 20 years. His newest book with Jordan Gruber is called Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Jim Fadiman about multiple selves. The DSM says that having multiple personalities is a disorder, but Dr. Fadiman challenges this notion. In fact, he believes that the opposite is true: the multiplicity of selves is both normal and healthy. It’s not about having one “super self”, but unifying the different parts of who we are. We also discuss psychedelics, its effects on mental health, and how Abraham Maslow would have viewed these mind-altering substances.

Website: jamesfadiman.com

Twitter: @jfadiman

Topics

04:54 Modern microdosing

06:49 Microdosing for physical and mental health

10:00 Healthy vs pathological multiplicity

14:14 What would Maslow think of psychedelics?

23:24 No single self

26:42 Taking responsibility for all yourselves

30:13 Harmonizing selves

34:28 Is it possible to create a super self?

37:58 All your parts are you

42:07 Unified self is healthy

44:08 Being in the right mind at the right time

51:17 Practice selves work

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Gabor Maté || The Myth of Normal Sep 22, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Gabor Maté. A physician, renowned speaker, and bestselling author, Gabor is highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, stress, and childhood development. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing, he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction. He is also a co-developer of Compassionate Inquiry, a therapeutic approach for deep healing and transformation. His newest book is called The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a Toxic Culture.

In this episode, I talk to Gabor Maté about The Myth of Normal. Healthcare in Western societies tend to focus on physical health, without accounting for an individual’s lived experience. The tension between authenticity and attachment and the pressures of a capitalist culture puts undue stress on our minds and bodies. Dr. Maté invites us to rethink trauma and disease, by emphasizing holistic well-being and the role of agency. We also touch on the topics of early childhood, epigenetics, and self-improvement.

Website: drgabormate.com

Twitter: @drgabormate

Topics

02:36 The Myth of Normal

06:14 Maslow’s Metagrumbles

10:25 From individual to global well-being

13:25 Authenticity vs attachment

20:48 No separation of psyche and soma

28:05 Trauma is what happens inside you

33:34 Dr. Gabor Maté’s early childhood

37:20 Trauma denial and victimhood mentality

41:05 Disease is a long term process

45:21 Epigenetics and the role of environment

50:24 Screening for special and gifted education

52:45 Pathways to wholeness

58:01 The four A’s of healing

1:06:44 Compassionate Inquiry

1:10:16 Authentic satisfaction

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Jordyn Feingold || Choose Growth Sep 15, 2022

Today we welcome to the show Jordyn Feingold, resident physician in psychiatry, co-founder of the Positive Medicine Program, and co-author with me of the new book Choose Growth!

Jordyn graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with her BA and Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP). At present, she is a psychiatry resident at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Jordyn is deeply involved in research, curriculum development, and advocacy work pertaining to clinician well-being, locally, nationally, and globally. Together, we wrote Choose Growth: A Workbook for Transcending Trauma, Fear, and Self-Doubt.

In this episode, I talk to Jordyn Feingold about positive medicine and the importance of choosing growth. As a physician and positive psychology practitioner, Jordyn is on a mission to shift the focus of medicine from treatment to well-being. As much as our physical health can influence our mental health, the reverse is also true. She talks about the impact and practical applications of positive psychology in healthcare. We also touch on the topics of resilience, relationships, communication, growth, and transcendence.

Website: positivepsychologyforphysicians.com

Twitter: @jordynfeingold

Topics

04:52 Positive Medicine

12:08 Embodied cognition

14:06 The REVAMP model of well-being

18:10 Positive interventions

21:39 Choose Growth

28:28 Who’s in your boat?

32:08 Active vs passive constructive responding

35:53 High-quality connections

40:01 Jordyn as chief extrovert

42:41 “Yes, and” transcendence

48:34 Integrate your dark side

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Tara Well || Mirror Meditation Sep 08, 2022

Today we welcome Tara Well, who is an associate professor of psychology at Barnard College of Columbia University where she has taught Personality Psychology, Health Psychology, and Psychology of Leadership for over 20 years. Her research on motivation, perception, and cognition has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). She outlines the research and benefits of her meditation program in her latest book Mirror Meditation.

In this episode, I talk to Tara Well about mirror meditation. What is the first thing you think of when you look in the mirror? For a lot of us, our initial instinct is to nitpick at our flaws. Using mirror meditation, Tara teaches people how to use one’s reflection to promote self-acceptance and inner knowing. The mirror can help us become kinder not just to ourselves, but to the people around us as well. We also touch on the topics of narcissism, compassion, and attachment.

Website: mirrormeditation.com

Twitter: @tarawell88

Topics

01:36 Tara’s expertise in psychology

05:33 Mirror Meditation

12:22 Reflecting on identities

14:39 Sit with yourself

18:59 Unfreeze yourself

21:28 Neuroscience of narcissists

26:08 Compassion for narcissists

32:42 Anxious and avoidant self-attachment

36:31 Be there for yourself

39:20 Look at others in the eyes of love

42:07 Reclaiming your projections

43:28 How to see the best in others

45:45 Self-talk in third person

46:51 Meditation practice

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Eric Barker || Plays Well With Others Sep 01, 2022

Today we welcome Eric Barker, the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller Barking Up the Wrong Tree. His book has sold over half a million copies and has been translated into 19 languages. It was even the subject of a question on “Jeopardy!” Eric is also a sought-after speaker, having given talks at MIT, the Aspen Ideas Festival, Google, the United States Military Central Command (CENTCOM), and the Olympic Training Center. His newest book is called Plays Well with Others.

In this episode, I talk to Eric Barker about relationships. We tackle the misconceptions on loneliness, marriage, and body language. Eric shares practical tips that we can apply in our own relationships such as how to keep passionate love alive and how to catch liars. We also touch on the topics of communication, vulnerability, community and health.

Website: bakadesuyo.com

Twitter: @bakadesuyo

Topics

02:18 Plays Well with Others

05:11 Loneliness is perception

08:38 Marriage requires crazy love and work

10:57 Gottman’s Four Horsemen of Divorce

15:26 Keeping passionate love alive

19:02 Emotional endings and love maps

24:28 The Scary Rule

28:14 Dunbar’s number

30:49 Parasocial relationships

35:32 Body language is overrated

39:04 How to catch a liar

42:11 Story of connection

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Skye Cleary || Simone de Beauvoir and the Quest for Authentic Living Aug 25, 2022

Today we welcome philosopher Skye Cleary. She is a lecturer at Columbia University and the City College of New York. Skye is the author of Existentialism and Romantic Love and co-editor of How to Live a Good Life. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Aeon, Business Insider, TED-Ed, and The Los Angeles Review of Books, among other outlets.

In 2021, she was a MacDowell Fellow and In 2017, she won the New Philosopher Writers’ Award. Her latest book is called How to Be Authentic.

In this episode, I talk to Skye Cleary about Simone de Beauvoir’s life and how it has informed her existentialist philosophy. As a feminist during the forties, Simone was passionate about freedom of choice. It's not a surprise then that her definition of authenticity also revolves around self-determination. Authenticity is not about finding a true self, but rather a process of creating who we want to be. We also touch on the topics of gender, power, social justice, narcissism, and fulfillment.

Website: skyecleary.com

Twitter: @Skye_Cleary

Topics

01:54 French existentialist philosophy

04:05 “One is not born, but rather becomes, woman”

09:58 Creating our essence

12:46 Transcending our impulses

18:01 Creative rebellion

22:19 Skye’s Critique of Simone de Beauvoir

24:03 Authenticity is responsible freedom

27:33 Power and freedom

32:00 Skye’s background in philosophy

33:15 Intersubjectivity: the foundation of ethical relations

34:48 Inauthenticity, social media, narcissism

38:37 Windows of freedom, genetics, motherhood

41:38 Fulfillment is embracing life

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Colin Seale || Tangible Equity in Education Aug 18, 2022

Today we welcome Colin Seale, the founder and CEO of thinkLaw. Colin was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where his struggles gave birth to his passion for educational equity. Using lessons from his experience as a math teacher, attorney, and keynote speaker, he helps educators teach critical thinking to all students, regardless of race or achievement through his award-winning organization thinkLaw. Colin is also the author of Thinking Like a Lawyer. His latest book is called Tangible Equity.

In this episode, I talk to Colin Seale about tangible equity in education. For Colin, real equity work should help reduce the predictive power of demographics on outcomes. In order to do that, we need to teach kids how to think for themselves, so they learn to question instead of comply with unfair systems. Colin shares concrete actions that educators can take to contribute towards tangible equity. We also touch on the topics of privilege, race, bias, and gifted education.

Website: thinklaw.us

Twitter: @ColinESeale

Topics

02:55 What is tangible equity?

05:28 Reforming the pathways to success

09:33 Why equity has become a challenge

16:42 The pressure of success and compliance

18:56 Critical race theory in schools

25:01 Understanding race and privilege

30:53 Colin as a keynote speaker

35:15 Leveraging privilege for equity

36:39 We all have power

41:50 Disrupting gifted education

49:24 Shatter the ceiling of education

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Josh Szeps || Thinking Freely Aug 11, 2022

Today we welcome Josh Szeps who is a television, radio and podcast host who shakes up the status quo with his fierce intellect and infectious sense of humor. Josh's interviews with prominent figures and celebrities like Jane Goodall, Ron Howard, Russel Brand, and Neil Patrick Harris have attracted billions of online views and sold out event tickets. Currently, he can be heard on ABC Radio Sydney and on his award-winning podcast Uncomfortable Conversations.

In this episode, I talk to Josh Szeps about what it means to think freely. In this social media age, it's become increasingly challenging to become an independent thinker. Our tribal nature and online echo chambers tend to reinforce ideologies we already believe in. Even the way we talk sounds scripted! Josh and I discuss how to genuinely search for truth so we can broaden our worldviews. We also touch on the topics of intersectionality, wokeism, ethics, and racism.

Website: linktr.ee/joshszeps

Twitter: @joshzepps

Topics

02:35 Are we living in a simulation?

10:39 The clique of provocateurs

16:58 Compromise through conversation

23:27 The excess of wokeism

27:01 Moral foundations and disgust

31:36 Racism in the gay community

35:11 Reverse racism

37:00 Respecting individual identity over group identity

43:16 Should we be proud of intrinsic attributes?

49:08 Scripted ideologies

51:40 How to overcome binary thinking

58:01 Pushing limits through radical curiosity

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Hitendra Wadhwa || Inner Mastery, Outer Impact Aug 04, 2022

Today we welcome Hitendra Wadhwa, Professor of Practice at Columbia Business School where he teaches Columbia’s most popular leadership course, the award-winning “Personal Leadership & Success.” Hitendra is also the founder of Mentora Institute, which is at the forefront of creating a new model of leadership that is agile, authentic, and attainable. Hitendra’s research and teaching on personal leadership have been covered by Forbes, Fortune, CNN, Psychology Today, Wall Street Journal and others. He is the author of Inner Mastery, Outer Impact.

In this episode, I talk to Hitendra Wadhwa about personal development. Growth is often associated with the mastery of skills. But Hitendra reminds us that inner work is also growth. The internal battles we face lead us to become more attuned to our most authentic selves. In order to unlock our full potential, Hitendra shares with us Five Core Energies and how to activate them. We also touch on the topics of leadership, service, purpose, and transcendence.

Website: www.hitendra.com

Twitter: @HitendraWadhwa

Topics

02:31 Hitendra’s background and upbringing

06:16 Personal leadership

09:23 Public leadership

13:44 Ashoka the Great

18:01 Dominion over yourself

21:30 Authenticity and our real selves

27:05 Core Energy: Purpose

29:33 Core Energy: Wisdom

30:48 Core Energy: Growth

32:04 Core Energy: Love

33:33 Core Energy: Self-Realization

37:34 Conceptualizing the Five Core Energies

39:50 Living vs leading

43:41 The mystic in all of us

48:22 From inner dominance to inner surrender

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Kristi Nelson || Wake Up Grateful Jul 28, 2022

Today we welcome Kristi Nelson, the executive director of A Network for Grateful Living. Her life’s work in the non-profit sector has focused on leading, inspiring, and strengthening organizations committed to progressive social and spiritual change. Being a long-time stage IV cancer survivor moves her every day to support others in living and loving with great fullness of heart. She is the author of Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted.

In this episode, I talk to Kristi Nelson about gratefulness. She differentiates gratefulness from gratitude by describing the former as an orientation towards life, without being dependent on internal or external circumstances. Kristi shares with us the practice of Stop, Look, Go and her five guiding principles that can inspire you to live a life of gratefulness. We also touch on the topics of positive psychology, mindfulness, play, and self-compassion.

Website: gratefulness.org

Topics

03:01 Kristi’s cancer diagnosis

04:17 Gratitude vs gratefulness

08:50 Gratefulness during hard times

12:37 Reclaim play, curiosity, courage

15:58 Life is a gift

18:08 Everything is a surprise

20:41 The ordinary is extraordinary

23:48 Appreciation is generative

26:55 Say yes to your life

32:46 Love is transformative

34:35 Stop, Look, Go

38:18 Befriending our full selves

40:43 Leaving a grateful legacy

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Mark Manson || Podcast Improv Jam Jul 21, 2022

Today we welcome three-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Mark Manson. Before becoming an author, he was a blogger. His blog started in 2007 and within a few years it was being read by more than a million people each month. Today, his site is read by more than 15 million people each year. Mark’s books have sold over 14 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 65 languages. According to Amazon Charts, his book The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck was the most-read non-fiction book worldwide in 2017.

For this episode, we did something a little different. Mark Manson and I had an unstructured chat about issues that we both care deeply about. We tackled all sorts of questions like: What makes social media so polarizing? Why are self-help quotes so cheesy? Are all pick-up artists narcissists? Does free will exist? We hope you enjoy the conversation about relationships, politics, self-esteem, and neurodiversity as much as we did.

Website: markmanson.net

Twitter: @IAmMarkManson

Topics

02:03 Mark and Scott as adolescents

04:30 Online discourse in a hyper-connected world

11:36 Troll behavior and non-verbal cues

17:18 Extreme curiosity and criticism of politics

25:00 Mark hates Tiny Buddha?

29:59 The self-help industry

33:24 Neurodiversity and empathy

39:30 Are all traits double-edged swords?

46:26 Co-dependency of grandiose and vulnerable narcissists

54:48 Scott’s unique value proposition

57:08 The bachelor life vs the married life

1:04:22 Co-writing Will Smith’s biography

1:08:53 Free will, law and punishment

1:12:53 Overrated or underrated: meditation

1:15:49 Overrated or underrated: twin studies

1:18:31 Overrated or underrated: self-esteem

1:21:22 Overrated or underrated: social media

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Michael Bungay Stanier || How to Begin Jul 14, 2022

Today we welcome Michael Bungay Stanier, the Founder of Box of Crayons. He is the author of the best-selling book The Coaching Habit, with over a million copies sold. He was a Rhodes Scholar and in 2019 was named the #1 thought leader in coaching. Michael has a masters degree in Philosophy from Oxford, a law degree and a BA with highest honors from the Australian National University. His latest book is called How to Begin.

In this episode, I talk to Michael Bungay Stanier about how to begin. When we set goals, the most popular framework that often comes to mind is the idea of SMART goals. Instead of starting with what’s measurable, Michael urges us to start with what’s important. He shares his criteria for identifying what a worthy goal is, as well as advice on how to stay committed to that worthy goal. We also touch on the topics of coaching, empathy, change, and community.

Website: www.mbs.works

Twitter: @mbs_works

Topics

02:22 About Box of Crayons

03:20 Michael’s interest and expertise in coaching

07:15 The Coaching Habit

12:20 “SMART goals are dumb”

16:32 What is a worthy goal?

23:19 The magic is in the drafting

25:50 Before action, learn to commit

30:27 Adaptive change vs technical change

33:01 Calling in the directions

37:51 Stick with the journey

43:20 Celebrate the journey

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Steve Magness || Real Toughness Jul 07, 2022

Today we welcome back Steve Magness who is a world-renowned expert on high performance. He has been a consultant on mental skills development for professional sports teams, including some of the top teams in the NBA. Steve is the co-author of Peak Performance, The Passion Paradox, and the author of The Science of Running. Collectively, his books have sold more than a quarter-million copies in print, ebook, and audio formats. His latest book is called Do Hard Things.

In this episode, I talk to Steve Magness about real toughness. The prevailing narrative around achievement extols the merits of unrelenting resolve. To show vulnerability is to show weakness. According to Steve, the hyperfocus on external bravado is detrimental to performance and mental health. He outlines his four core pillars of resilience to replace our broken model of toughness. We also touch on the topics of stoicism, self-esteem, emotions, mindfulness, and sports psychology.

Website: stevemagness.com

Twitter: @stevemagness

Topics

04:49 Why machismo is so popular

08:47 UFC vs artistic swimming

14:15 Ditch the facade, embrace reality

19:31 Accept what you’re capable of

24:24 Know when to grit and when to quit

26:38 Listen to your body

31:34 Do hard things more efficiently

35:17 Steve’s 4 minute mile

39:42 Personal wins

43:12 Respond, instead of react

47:12 Transcend discomfort

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Alexi Robichaux || The Future of Coaching Jun 30, 2022

Today we welcome Alexi Robichaux who is the co-founder and CEO of BetterUp, a mobile platform that brings together world-class coaching, AI technology, and behavioral science to deliver sustainable positive change. Alexi is also the Chairman of Youth Leadership America (YLA). They have collaborated with leading companies including Disney, Google, and Hilton Hotels to coach and mentor future leaders. Alexi holds a B.A. in political science and non-profit management with summa cum laude distinction from the University of Southern California.

In this episode, I talk to Alexi Robichaux about the future of coaching. There are countless ways to practice coaching, but Alexi believes coaching must be rooted in science-backed techniques for reliable outcomes—which is precisely what they do at BetterUp. Coaching is not a replacement for therapy, but it can help individuals become more resilient and purposeful in their daily lives. We also touch on the topics of self-actualization, flow, languishing, imagination, and Alexi’s vision for the future of coaching.

Website: www.betterup.com

Twitter: @arobichaux

Topics

04:06 What is coaching?

07:30 Better Up’s coaching model

10:26 Coaching vs therapy

14:37 What good coaching looks like

19:40 Peak experiences and dichotomy transcendence

25:22 Research and innovation as a for-profit business

30:39 Humanistic coaching philosophy

32:45 How to overcome languishing

37:10 Better Up Labs

41:40 Alexi’s current coaching practice

44:30 The future of coaching

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Christine Robinson || Community Psychology Jun 23, 2022

Today we welcome Christine Robinson who is an executive coach, consultant, facilitator, and strategist whose expertise lies in building pathways to policy and systems change. She has worked as a consultant to the White House, the Ford Foundation, Harvard Medical School, the Lumina Foundation and other notable organizations. Christine studied at Vassar College, Brandeis University, and the University of Pennsylvania, and is trained as a developmental and community psychologist.

In this episode, I talk to Christine Robinson about community psychology. In order to nurture a culture of well-being, Christine says it’s crucial to acknowledge the multifaceted identities of individuals. Instead of seeing marginalized groups as “others”, she encourages us to view diversity as a valuable asset to society. We need to listen to everyone’s perspective before we can bring forth social change and co-create an inclusive and equitable community.

Website: christinerobinsonconsulting.com

Topics

02:44 What is community psychology?

06:59 Urie Brofenbenner’s ecological systems theory

13:58 Community well-being and collective efficacy

18:24 Intersectionality of social identities

24:41 Socialization and meaning making

27:30 Othering - a barrier to well being

34:25 Intersectional equity

40:53 The paradox of differences

50:20 Inclusive society psychology

55:28 Co-creation and capacity building

58:41 Negative impacts of discrimination

1:01:56 Cultural intelligence and competence

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Jim Tucker || The Science of Reincarnation Jun 16, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Jim Tucker who is a child psychiatrist and the Bonner-Lowry Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. He is Director of the UVA Division of Perceptual Studies, where he is continuing the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson on reincarnation. He has been invited to speak about his research on Good Morning America, Larry King Live, and CBS Sunday Morning. He recently published BEFORE: Children's Memories of Previous Lives, a 2-in-1 edition of his previous books.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Jim Tucker about the science of reincarnation. We delve into his research findings and methodology on children who claim to remember their previous lives. Dr. Tucker notes that these children don’t just recall biographical details of their past, but they also retain feelings and emotions. His findings have important implications for how we understand consciousness. We also touch on the topics of mortality, trauma, quantum physics, and panpsychism.

Website: www.uvadops.org

Facebook: /jimbtuckermd

Topics

02:15 Dr. Ian Stevenson’s research

04:59 Psychophore

06:39 Dr. Jim Tucker’s interest in reincarnation

10:01 Past life statements and unusual play

18:34 Announcing dreams, predictions, birthmarks

25:13 Fraud, self-deception, fantasy

30:18 Genetic memory

34:21 Transfer of consciousness

39:07 Why are past memories so fleeting?

41:10 Are we all reincarnated?

42:20 Death, trauma, and growth across lifetimes

48:08 Panpsychism and multiverses

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Whitney Goodman || Toxic Positivity Jun 09, 2022

Today we welcome Whitney Goodman, the radically honest psychotherapist behind the hugely popular Instagram account Sit With Whit. She is the owner of The Collaborative Counseling Center, a private therapy practice in Miami. Whitney has her own column in Psychology Today and has been featured in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, NY Magazine, Instyle, Good Morning America, and other publications. Her most recent book is called Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy.

In this episode, I talk to Whitney Goodman about toxic positivity. A happy outlook in life is a strength; but when taken too far, it can backfire and work against us. Positivity stops becoming helpful when we deny the realities of hardship and trauma. Whitney believes positivity is not the panacea to our problems—it needs to be applied in the right time, place, and purpose. She shares with us ways on how to be supportive without being dismissive of our own well-being and of others. We also touch on the topics of authenticity, gratitude, hope, relationships, and work.

Website: sitwithwhit.com

Instagram: @SitWithWhit

Topics

03:14 When positivity becomes toxic

04:36 Pretending to be happy

08:20 Do positive people always succeed?

11:53 Changing toxic positivity

15:33 Well-being > positive thinking

21:31 Stop shaming yourself

23:19 Realistic affirmations and organic gratitude

27:11 How to complain effectively

29:15 Ingredients of communication

31:28 Discrimination with a smile

35:10 A value-driven life

40:20 It’s okay to just be

41:18 Positive fantasy can be helpful

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Mollie West Duffy || Big Feelings Jun 02, 2022

Today we welcome Mollie West Duffy who is an expert in organizational design, development, and leadership coaching. She’s helped advise and coach leaders and founders at companies including Casper, Google, LinkedIn, Bungalow, and Slack. She’s experienced in designing talent processes and systems, as well as organizational structures and behaviors, cultural values, and learning and development programs. Mollie is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book No Hard Feelings. Her most recent book with Liz Fosslien is called Big Feelings: How To Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay.

In this episode, I talk to Mollie West Duffy about how to navigate big feelings. Our emotion-phobic society has a lot of misconceptions about dealing with difficult emotions and what they mean. According to Mollie, big feelings can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves if we sit with our emotions and work through them. Mollie and I share our personal experiences with depression and anxiety and how we coped. We also touch on the topics of anger, perfectionism, social comparison, burn out, and uncertainty.

Website: molliewestduffy.com

Twitter: @molliewest

Topics

01:43 Mollie and Liz’s collaborations

05:08 How Big Feelings was published

08:31 Our emotion-phobic society

12:26 Illustrating emotions

15:13 Myths about big feelings

18:32 Emotional labor

21:14 Anxiety, uncertainty, resilience

25:03 Scott’s tips to manage anxiety

29:48 Separate the “withins” from the “beyonds”

32:14 Assess your tolerance of uncertainty

36:26 Embrace comparison

43:00 Mollie’s tips to manage depression

48:30 Translate your anger

50:43 Perfectionism isn’t as helpful as we think

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John Kaag || How William James Can Save Your Life May 26, 2022

Today we welcome John Kaag, the Chair and Professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He received his Masters in Philosophy from Pennsylvania State University and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Oregon. His writing has been published in The Paris Review, The New York Times, and Harper’s Magazine. He is the author of Hiking with Nietzsche, American Philosophy: A Love Story, and his most recent book is Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life.

In this episode, my conversation with John Kaag revolves around the existential question we’ve all had: is life worth living? John expounds on William James’ answer of “maybe”. He shares about his near-death experience and how vulnerable moments in his life have led him to a more nuanced understanding of philosophy. We also touch on the topics of metaphysics, determinism, suffering, religion, and transcendence.

Website: johnkaag.com

Twitter: @JohnKaag

Topics

03:53 Existential anxiety, fear, freedom

08:50 Is life worth living?

11:14 Seizing control over existence

14:23 Metaphysical chance is real

17:36 The unseen order and human blindness

25:43 “Living unnecessarily near our surface”

30:18 Pragmatism, zest, authenticity

33:26 Resignation or hope in the face of mortality

38:10 Dissolution of the self

42:26 Spiritual narcissism

44:24 Companions in misery

49:28 Melancholy among philosophers

52:13 Life is for living

53:41 The loving cup

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Frans de Waal || Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist May 19, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Frans de Waal, a Dutch American biologist and primatologist known for his work on the behavior and social intelligence of primates. He is a professor in Emory University's psychology department and the Director of the Living Links Center at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. Chimpanzee Politics, The Age of Empathy, The Bonobo and the Atheist, and Mama's Last Hug are among his most popular books that have been translated in over 20 languages. His latest book is called Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist.

In this episode, I talk to Frans de Waal about sex and gender. As a primatologist, he shares his research findings on the biological differences between male and female primates. Despite obvious distinctions between masculine and feminine behavior, great apes have no trouble accepting non-binary individuals—a behavior we humans need to practice more of. Dr. Frans clears up what alpha male really means and debunks the “natural order” of male supremacy. We also touch on the topics of socialization, power, altruism, reproduction, and equality.

Website: www.emory.edu/LIVING_LINKS

Facebook: /franspublic

Topics

03:11 What is a primatologist?

04:15 Biology in the gender debate

08:42 Donna: the non-binary chimpanzee

13:08 Dominance, power, and prestige

17:12 Alpha males and alpha females

20:50 Sex differences in play and aggression

24:45 Gender identity and self socialization

31:30 The Selfish Gene

35:11 The evolution of the clitoris

40:26 The stigma of female sexuality

45:35 Extra-pair copulation and paternity testing

50:35 Competition, rivalry, and conflict resolution

54:54 Maternal instinct and xenophobia among primates

59:03 Embodied cognition

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Todd Rose (Part II) || Collective Illusions May 12, 2022

Today we welcome Todd Rose, the co-founder and president of Populace, a nonprofit think tank that works to find solutions to redistribute opportunity, so all people have the chance to live fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best-selling author of Dark Horse and The End of Average. and his most recent book is called Collective Illusions.

For part two of our interview, I talk to Todd Rose about collective illusions. Humans are a tribal species, prone to conformity. In a lot of instances, we will act according to what our in-group wants rather than what we want as individuals. Ironically, Todd's research shows that we make poor inferences about the majority consensus. Failing to recognize collective illusions can have negative consequences on our identities, relationships, values, and society. To avoid falling into conformity traps, Todd encourages us to live congruent private and public lives that adhere to our personal convictions.

Website: www.toddrose.com

Twitter: @ltoddrose

Topics

03:10 What is a collective illusion?

06:16 Social media and perceived consensus

13:38 Self-fulfilling political polarization

19:10 Socializing the concept of collective illusions

20:49 Gender bias in politics

22:59 Conformity traps in groups and relationships

28:15 Do republicans think the 2020 elections were rigged?

31:32 Preference falsification and manipulation

36:22 The need for belonging and self-expression

38:26 False expectations distort relationships

39:48 Congruence, positive deviance, and authentic responsibility

46:54 Norms as checking mechanisms

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Todd Rose (Part I) || Rethinking Intelligence May 05, 2022

Today we welcome Todd Rose, the co-founder, and president of Populace, a nonprofit think tank that works to find solutions to redistribute opportunity, so all people have the chance to live fulfilling lives in a thriving society. Prior to Populace, he was a faculty member at Harvard University where he founded the Laboratory for the Science of Individuality and directed the Mind, Brain, and Education program. Todd is the best-selling author of Dark Horse, The End of Average, and his most recent book is called Collective Illusions.

For part one of our interview, I talk to Todd Rose about intelligence. From both history and research, we know that standardized tests made the false assumption that an average baseline of intelligence can be captured through IQ. Until today, our education system continues to value general cognitive ability over more specific skills. Instead of focusing on test scores, Todd asks us to look at jagged profiles so we can create environments where everyone can thrive. To truly cultivate human potential, Todd asserts that we need to rethink our traditional frameworks about intelligence.

Website: www.toddrose.com

Twitter: @ltoddrose

Topics

01:50 Dropping out of high school

04:20 Kurt Fischer’s Dynamic Skill Theory

09:33The problem with standardized testing

12:00 Jagged profiles matter more than IQ scores

15:26 There is no aptitude without strategy

22:54 Everybody is capable of excellence

23:58 Changes to improve our school system

28:23 Education transforms lives

33:59 How Todd got into an honors program

40:46 The bell curve of intelligence

43:22 Stop pathologizing natural human variation

47:40 IQ limits our view of human potential

58:43 Individual contribution over cognitive ability

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Dan Pink || Normalize Regret Apr 28, 2022

Today we welcome Dan Pink who is the New York Times bestselling author of When, Drive, A Whole New Mind, and To Sell is Human. Dan’s books have won multiple awards, have been translated into 42 languages, and have sold millions of copies around the world. His articles and essays have also appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, Slate, and other publications. His most recent book is called The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward.

In this episode, I talk to Dan Pink about regret. Dan collected regrets from over 15,000 people across different countries and sorted them into four major categories. He shares insights from his research and shows us how to reframe regret so we can live out the rest of our lives with more authenticity and purpose. We also touch on the topics of happiness, mortality, philosophy, post-traumatic growth, and personality.

Website: www.danpink.com

Twitter: @DanielPink

Topics

02:52 The universality of regret

05:40 Demographic differences in regrets

11:53 Free will and fatalism

15:47 What could have beens

19:13 Action vs inaction

24:12 The four core regrets

28:40 Regret done right

36:04 Debunking “No regrets”

37:59 We don’t talk enough about mortality

41:20 Deathbed regrets

42:38 Regret and gratefulness

45:40 Treat yourself with kindness

47:30 Shame, guilt, remorse

48:21 Do public figures experience more regret?

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Lisa Miller || The Awakened Brain Apr 21, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Lisa Miller, the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain.

In this episode, I talk to Lisa Miller about the new science of spirituality. Despite what skeptics might believe, science and spirituality don’t necessarily contradict each other. Lisa’s research has found that humans are born with a natural capacity to connect with the spiritual. By being open to the transcendent, our brains can reap the benefits of resiliency, creativity, and more. We also touch on the topics of neuroscience, existentialism, mindfulness, and empiricism.

Website: www.lisamillerphd.com

Twitter: @lisamillerphd

Topics

01:34 The Awakened Brain

06:14 Conversations with Martin Seligman

13:20 The spiritual child

15:16 Science augments spirituality

17:26 Defining spirituality and devotion

25:04 Personality correlations with spirituality

27:25 A monism approach to consciousness

31:27 Searching for life’s meaning

37:08 Schumann resonances

39:56 Religious war is outdated

43:34 Transcendence is a process

46:57 Meditation practice with Lisa

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Carl Hart || Drug Use for Grown-Ups Apr 14, 2022

Today we welcome Carl Hart. He is the Ziff Professor of Psychology in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University. He is known for his research on neuropsychopharmacology and his advocacy for the decriminalization of recreational drugs. Carl is the author of High Price and has co-authored the introductory textbook Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior with Charles Ksir. His most recent book is called Drug Use for Grown-Ups.

In this episode, I talk to Carl Hart about drug use and addiction. Society is quick to judge all drug users as addicts but Carl’s research found that the majority of drug users do not meet the criteria for pathology. Recreational drugs, when used responsibly, can have positive effects on people. Instead of waging a war on drugs, Carl advocates for laws that better regulate the production and sale of substances. We also touch on the topics of health, law, racism, cognition, and sociology.

Website: drcarlhart.com

Twitter: @drcarlhart

Topics

02:32 Carl’s interest in neuropsychopharmacology

06:12 The brain disease model of addiction

11:22 Should we talk about drugs with kids?

13:47 Responsible drug use for grown-ups

17:08 Drugs in pursuit of happiness

22:54 The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act

29:28 Scott’s experience with edibles

33:21 Why we need drug checking facilities

37:01 The drug user tropes in media

41:59 Predictors of drug abuse and addiction

46:42 Drug overdose and safety

50:09 Personal responsibility in drug addiction

52:45 Our moralism is killing us

55:06 Coming out as a heroin user

57:52 Bob Marley and James Baldwin

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Susan Cain || The Beauty of Bittersweet Apr 07, 2022

Today we welcome Susan Cain. She is the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, which spent eight years on The New York Times bestseller list, and has been translated into 40 languages. Susan’s TED talk has been viewed over 40 million times and was named by Bill Gates as one of his all-time favorite talks. Her new masterpiece is called Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole.

In this episode, I talk to Susan Cain about the complex emotion of bittersweet. We explore melancholy and how the intertwined recognition of beauty and impermanence can be tapped for creative pursuits. Susan also talks about how existential longing is a natural part of the human condition, allowing us to form deeper connections with one another. We also touch on the topics of creativity, spirituality, relationships, grief, and mortality.

Website: susancain.net

Twitter: @susancain

Topics

02:31 The spectrum of bittersweet

06:10 The paradox of tragedy

07:41 Melancholy is not always depression

11:16 Longing for Eden

16:22 Spirituality is a manifestation of longing

18:30 Existential longing, awe, and wonder

23:25 Reaching through acts of love

30:30 The new science of transcendence

35:59 Mortality and transhumanism

39:44 Maslow’s plateau experiences

43:17 The epigenetics of inherited trauma

48:30 Follow your existential longing

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Tim Urban || Climbing the Thinking Ladder Mar 31, 2022

Today we welcome Tim Urban. He is the writer and illustrator of the blog Wait But Why, which he co-founded with Andrew Finn in 2013. With wry stick-figure illustrations and occasionally epic prose, Wait But Why has garnered millions of unique page views, thousands of patrons and famous fans like Elon Musk. His long-form blog covers a range of subjects including artificial intelligence, outer space, and procrastination. Tim earned his A.B. from Harvard University, graduating cum laude with a major in Government.

In this episode, I talk to Tim Urban about the complex relationship between identity and critical thinking. Tim cautions against blind loyalty to specific ideologies for it can lead to an echo chamber of tribal minds. Instead of dogmatic maxims, he suggests we uphold basic core principles that guide our thoughts and behavior. In this way, Tim believes we engage in high rung thinking all the while cultivating “idea labs” within our culture. We also touch on the topics of dating, education, politics, writing, morality, and tech.

Website: waitbutwhy.com

Twitter: @waitbutwhy

Topics

02:21 Intellectual ADHD

06:14 Detached truth seeking

08:40 Pitfalls of low rung thinking

16:15 Tim’s upbringing and education

21:01 Dating is kind of like Grand Theft Auto

37:50 “Your ego is a backpack”

44:35 The world needs your spaghetti brain

51:38 Idea labs and echo chambers

57:42 The spectrum of opposing views

1:01:13 Repressing science for ideology

1:09:24 Life, death, and cryonics

1:25:05 Learning in analogies and metaphors

1:29:44 Evaluating high quality ideas

1:36:23 Choosing what to read

1:39:35 Tim’s life altering idea

1:42:28 Mars, capitalism, neurolinks

1:47:02 Lightning round

1:53:07 But why wait?

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Jane McGonigal || Playing Games with the Future Mar 24, 2022

Today we welcome Jane McGonigal. She is a world-renowned game designer who challenges players to tackle real-world problems such as poverty, depression, and climate change through collaboration. Jane is also a future forecaster, serving as the current Director of Games Research & Development at the Institute for the Future. Her games and forecasting work have been featured in The New York Times, Wired, The Economist, CNN, NPR and more. As a two-time New York Times bestselling author, she has recently published her third book called Imaginable.

In this episode, I talk to Jane McGonigal about the intersection of gaming and future forecasting. Jane asserts that games are not just for escapist entertainment; they could also be used to help prepare us for what’s to come. Imagining fictional simulations can inspire us to make present changes which can influence our personal and collective futures for the better. We also touch on the topics of creativity, psychotherapy, forecasting, hope, and tech.

Website: janemcgonigal.com

Twitter: @avantgame

Topics

02:08 Futurist game design

05:44 Imagination and the psychological safety of games

09:17 Forecasting and psychotherapy

15:54 Urgent optimism

21:10 Predicting the COVID-19 pandemic in 2010

23:52 Can we predict our own futures?

27:50 Affective vs behavioral forecasting

34:05 The Institute for the Future

36:52 Future scenarios change present behavior

41:41 The perils and promise of facial recognition

47:24 Assessment and benefits of futurist imagination

52:45 The need for more longitudinal studies

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Antonio Damasio || Inside Consciousness Mar 17, 2022

Today we welcome Dr. Antonio Damasio. He is an internationally recognized neuroscientist whose extensive research has shaped the understanding of neural systems and consciousness. With over a hundred journal articles and book chapters, he has earned many prestigious awards throughout his career. Currently, he serves as University Professor, the David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Philosophy, and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. His books Descartes’ Error, Looking for Spinoza, Self Comes to Mind, The Strange Order of Things, and Feeling & Knowing, have been published in translation and are taught in universities throughout the world.

In this episode, I talk to Antonio Damasio about consciousness. People often think that the mind and consciousness are the same thing, but Dr. Damasio disputes this notion. He argues that it’s the complex relationship of both our brains and bodies that makes sentient thought possible. Homeostatic feelings like hunger and pain developed before emotions; and along with it came consciousness. We also touch on the topics of perception, mental illness, evolution, panpsychism, AI and machine learning.

Website: dornsife.usc.edu/bc

Twitter: @damasiousc

Topics

02:17 Time-locked multiregional retroactivation

11:32 The difference between the mind, intelligence, and consciousness

18:37 Panpsychism is an escape

22:50 AIs can replicate minds but not consciousness

25:42 Feeling gave way to consciousness

30:59 The purpose of emotions

33:25 The evolution of feelings and emotions

38:28 The interoceptive nervous system

44:23 Does mental illness disrupt consciousness?

49:51 Creativity as a bottom-up process

54:38 Consciousness can hinder creativity

58:09 Scott’s interest in panpsychism

59:18 Can we ever make feeling machines?

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Charles Koch || Believe in People Mar 10, 2022

In this episode, my guest is Charles Koch. Charles G. Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held American companies. During his tenure with the company, the estimated value has grown from $21 million to more than $100 billion. Charles has published several books detailing his business philosophy: The Science of Success, Good Profit, and Believe in People.

As an influential philanthropist, he supports education, a community of organizations addressing persistent poverty, and public-policy research focused on developing effective solutions to societal problems. He has founded numerous organizations, including Stand Together and the Cato Institute. He holds two master’s degrees in nuclear and chemical engineering from MIT and lives in Wichita, Kansas, with his wife, Liz.

In this episode, I talk to Charles Koch about his bottom-up approach to social change. Charles recognizes that each individual has a gift; schools and organizations should cultivate these unique strengths instead of trying to force people into molds. Charles asserts that institutions can create more meaningful value this way, by truly believing in people. We also touch on the topics of multiple intelligences, self-actualization, education, innovation, and philanthropy.

Website: charleskoch.com

Twitter: @KochIndustries

Topics

04:02 Multiple intelligence theories

07:44 Finding consistent principles of human progress

10:08 Transforming Koch Industries

14:38 Virtuous Cycles of Mutual Benefit

20:07 Bottom-Up Solutions for a Top-Down World

23:51 Empowering contribution-motivated individuals

31:27 Supervisors as self-actualization coaches

37:16 From partisanship to partnership

42:35 Charles’ vision for a self-actualizing society

44:18 Eupsychian Management by Maslow

47:50 Frederick Douglass and Viktok Frankl

51:41 #GiveTogetherNow

53:00 A society that rewards synergy

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Rhonda Magee || The Inner Work of Racial Justice Mar 03, 2022

In this episode, I talk to law professor and mindfulness leader Rhonda Magee about her book The Inner Work of Racial Justice. We discuss her innovative approach to healing racial divides using mindfulness. Rhonda argues that when we bring awareness and compassion to ourselves, relationships, and the environment, we invite healing and connection. We also touch on the topics of education, spirituality, liberation, democracy, and community.

Bio

Rhonda V. Magee (M.A. Sociology, J.D.) is a Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco and an internationally-recognized thought and practice leader focused on integrating mindfulness into higher education, law and social change work. Rhonda’s teaching and writing support compassionate conflict engagement and management; holistic problem-solving to alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable and injured; presence-based leadership in a diverse world, and humanizing approaches to education. Her book, The Inner Work of Racial Justice, advocates for a mindfulness and compassion-based approach to confront racial injustice and work towards healing.

Website: www.rhondavmagee.com

Twitter: @rvmagee

Topics

01:45 Rhonda’s childhood and upbringing

06:48 Personal vs systemic racism

09:43 Education during desegregation

16:55 Rhonda’s interest in mindfulness

25:12 Bridge racial divides with mindfulness

32:51 Liberating practices grounded in being

42:59 Listen for understanding and connection

46:28 The ecology for justice

51:47 Find a collective consensus

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Daniel Schmachtenberger || Towards a Radical Cultural Enlightenment Feb 24, 2022

In this episode, I talk to social philosopher Daniel Schmachtenberger about exponential technology and its effects on our current world. According to Daniel, organizations that harness the power of modern tech rarely use it for good–like how social media companies boost polarizing content to maximize user engagement–leading to a distrust of science and destabilized democracies. To overcome humanity’s current existential threat, Daniel argues we all need to work towards a radical cultural enlightenment. We also touch on the topics of collective intelligence, human development, power, responsibility, and civilization.

Bio

Daniel Schmachtenberger is a founding member of The Consilience Project, aimed at improving public sensemaking and dialogue. The throughline of his interests has to do with ways of improving the health and development of individuals and society, with a virtuous relationship between the two as a goal.

Motivated by the belief that advancing collective intelligence and capacity is foundational to the integrity of any civilization, and necessary to address the unique risks we currently face given the intersection of globalization and exponential technology, he has spoken publicly on many of these topics, hoping to popularize and deepen important conversations and engage more people in working towards their solutions.

Website: consilienceproject.org

Topics

02:52 Techno-optimism vs techno-pessimism

04:28 Definition of exponential technology

08:39 Is the world getting better from tech?

10:37 The radical asymmetry of power

13:58 Decoupling rewards from development

25:19 A new social media algorithm

28:56 Tribal politics, certainty, and perspective taking

33:55 Developing better cognitive capacities

42:06 Rights and responsibilities in a liquid democracy

46:23 The next phase of open societies

49:26 The Consilience Project

52:23 The need for cultural enlightenment

56:13 Creating an antifragile world

58:49 Collective intelligence

1:00:39 Establish expertise and credibility in institutions

1:05:24 The unique existential threat of the 21st Century

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Todd Kashdan || The Art of Insubordination Feb 17, 2022

In this episode, I talk to esteemed psychologist Todd Kashdan about the art of insubordination. As creatures of habit, humans seek familiarity in thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. But Todd argues that deviating from norms isn’t always a bad thing—especially if it’s in pursuit of positive change. To enact principled dissent effectively, Todd teaches us how to persuade the majority and how to embrace unconventional solutions. We also touch on the topics of conformity, intimacy, influence, victimhood, and curiosity.

Bio

Todd Kashdan is among the world’s top experts on the psychology of well-being, psychological strengths, mental agility, and social relationships. His research has been featured in hundreds of media outlets, including multiple articles in the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and Forbes. In 2010, he received the Distinguished Faculty Member of the Year Award at George Mason University and in 2013, he received the Distinguished Early Career Researcher Award by the American Psychological Association. Todd is the author of Curious?, The Upside of Your Darkside, and Designing Positive Psychology. His latest book is The Art of Insubordination.

Website: toddkashdan.com

Twitter: @toddkashdan

Topics

01:34 The elements of principled insubordination

05:07 Why do people conform?

08:57 Social change by principled rebels

14:21 Win responsibly

19:02 Extract wisdom from weirdos

24:22 Do cartwheels in the library

29:06 Self-care for rebels

31:25 How to win over the majority

36:13 Spark curiosity not fear

42:03 Build stronger alliances during conflict

48:23 Boredom, polarization, and insight

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Eric Topol || Public Service Announcement: Separating Facts from Myths in the Pandemic Feb 10, 2022

It's important to recognize that when we're dealing with a very new or rapidly changing phenomenon, like we have been with the pandemic, even the "scientific consensus" can easily be wrong because there's not been much time for the rigorous replicability studies to be conducted or even sometimes to accurately measure the proper effect sizes.

However, I also believe it's important that we don't create a false equivalency between very fringe ideas that are unsupported by the current evidence base and a scientific consensus that is grounded in rigorous methodology.

This is why I sought out the counsel of Dr. Eric Topol on today's show. Despite being one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine and being extremely well regarded in his field of cardiology, he's also been a bright light on social media, shining a light on the best available evidence in the pandemic. He thoughtfully considered all my questions and was very careful to make clear what the current evidence base says without ruling out alternative possibilities in the future in light of new evidence.

In this episode, we cover a number of hot button issues surrounding the pandemic including the potential use of ivermectin to end the pandemic, the potential for increased risk of myocarditis among certain populations after vaccination. We even discuss the role human psychology and human behavior have played in this pandemic. Ultimately, Dr. Topol is optimistic about the future of the pandemic and outlines things coming down the horizon that should give us hope. But as we discussed, the major problems tend to be human problems.

Bio

Eric Topol is a cardiologist, scientist, and author. He is the Founder and Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, Professor of Molecular Medicine, and Executive Vice-President of Scripps Research.

As a researcher, he has published over 1200 peer-reviewed articles, with more than 290,000 citations, elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and is one of the top 10 most cited researchers in medicine. Dr. Topol has been voted as the #1 most Influential physician leader in the United States in a national poll conducted by Modern Healthcare. Besides editing several textbooks, he has published 3 bestseller books on the future of medicine: The Creative Destruction of Medicine, The Patient Will See You Now, and Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again.

Website: drerictopol.com

Twitter: @EricTopol

Topics

05:51 What is Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?

08:21 COVID-19 vaccines are humanity’s greatest medical achievement

12:05 Infection acquired immunity

13:47 Vaccine and COVID induced myocarditis

16:56 The efficacy of booster shots

20:20 Ivermectin studies: what does the data say?

25:15 How to improve pandemic response

30:02 Hope for the future of the pandemic

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Arthur Brooks || Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life Feb 03, 2022

In this episode, I talk to prolific author and social scientist Arthur Brooks about finding meaning in the second curve of life. According to Arthur, the world and our biology urge us to relentlessly chase after the next win. This flawed formula for satisfaction ultimately leaves us unfulfilled. To find true purpose, we must break our addiction to success and confront life’s hard truths. We also touch on the topics of motivation, relationships, aging, transcendence, and love.

Bio

Arthur C. Brooks is the Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. Before joining the Harvard faculty in July of 2019, he served for ten years as president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute (AEI), one of the world’s leading think tanks.

He is also a columnist for The Atlantic, host of the podcast “How to Build a Happy Life with Arthur Brooks,” and subject of the 2019 documentary film “The Pursuit”. Arthur has written 12 books, including the national bestsellers “Love Your Enemies” and “The Conservative Heart”. His most recent book is “From Strength to Strength”, available this February 2022..

Website: arthurbrooks.com

Twitter: @arthurbrooks

Topics

02:18 The plane ride that changed Arthur’s life

08:46 Transcendence as the reward of life

13:11 The addiction to success

17:52 Motivated by why

21:20 From success to freedom

28:45 Arthur and Scott’s shared values

33:18 The Harvard Grant Study

36:33 Love, worship, and commitment

41:24 Vanaprastha: retire to the forest

45:01 What it means to be fully alive

52:42 The Dalai Lama’s pen

56:59 Liminality and the magic of transitions

1:01:25 Being happy vs. the need to feel special

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Andrew Yang || The Future of American Democracy Jan 27, 2022

In this episode, I talk to Forward Party’s founder Andrew Yang about the future of American democracy. Andrew shares the insights he’s learned from his presidential and mayoral campaigns. His major realization is that America’s two-party system is designed for polarization and dysfunction. With the media and the internet further inciting division, polarization may eventually escalate into violence. In order to shift towards a human-centered economy, Andrew believes we need to change our political dynamics and incentives. We also touch on the topics of tribalism, rationality, automation, education, leadership, and governance.

Bio

Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, attorney, and political candidate. He was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary. His signature policy was a universal basic income of $1,000 a month as a response to job displacement by automation. After his campaigns ended, he left the Democratic Party and founded Forward Party, a political action committee that seeks to alleviate political polarization and reform the U.S. political and economic systems.

Andrew is also an author and has published several books including Smart People Should Build Things, The War on Normal People, and most recently, Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy.

Website: www.andrewyang.com

Twitter: @AndrewYang

Topics

01:34 Andrew’s childhood and early ventures

09:04 Andrew’s desire to humanize the economy

11:28 The presidential and mayoral candidacy experience

19:51 Society’s current incentive structures

22:57 “The duopoly is designed for polarization”

29:49 How do we reward grace and tolerance in politics?

33:18 Fact-based governance and a shared objective reality

39:59 New measures for well-being

46:26 Politics is tribal

51:44 United by universal human values

55:28 Fulfilling the need to matter

1:00:36 Human-centered education

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Ayelet Fishbach || How to Motivate Yourself Jan 20, 2022

In this episode, I talk to award-winning psychologist Ayelet Fishbach about the science of motivation. How do we motivate ourselves to do anything? From her extensive research, Ayelet shares with us four crucial strategies for successful behavior change: identify the right goals, avoid the “middle”, resist temptations, and seek social support. And equally important, she gives tips on how to sustain motivation for longer periods of time. We also touch on the topics of reinforcement, flow, deliberate practice, self-control, and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Bio

Dr. Ayelet Fishbach is the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and the past president of the Society for the Study of Motivation and the International Social Cognition Network (ISCON). She is an expert on motivation and decision making and the author of Get it Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation. Dr. Ayelet’s groundbreaking research on human motivation has won her several international awards, including the Society of Experimental Social Psychology’s Best Dissertation Award and Career Trajectory Award, and the Fulbright Educational Foundation Award.

Website: www.ayeletfishbach.com

Twitter: @ayeletfishbach

Topics

01:28 What is motivation science?

03:15 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as motivation

07:07 Choosing the right goals

12:42 Goals aren't chores

14:42 Quantify the goal-setting process

17:40 The effect of incentives on motivation

20:41 Ayelet’s view on SMART Goals

22:53 Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation

27:26 Flow, deliberate practice, and discomfort

30:58 Sustain motivation with feedback

34:21 Overcome the “middle problem”

38:00 Learn to balance multiple goals

43:17 Identify and resist temptation

48:39 The glass half-empty mindset

51:50 How to learn from negative feedback

56:54 Do relationships affect our pursuit of goals?

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Oliver Burkeman || Time Management for Mortals Jan 13, 2022

In this episode, I talk to bestselling author Oliver Burkeman about his latest book Four Thousand Weeks. On the surface, it’s easy to mistake it for another self-help book on time management. But instead of enthusing about productivity hacks, Oliver challenges his readers to confront the finite nature of humanity. By doing so, he argues we can live fuller lives—without having to always carry the fear of missing out. We also touch on the topics of procrastination, positive psychology, flow, realism, deep time, and patience.

Bio

Oliver Burkeman is a journalist for The Guardian. From 2006 to 2020, he wrote the popular weekly column on psychology called “This Column Will Change Your Life”. He is the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. In 2015, he won the Foreign Press Association’s Young Journalist of the Year award, and has been short-listed for the Orwell Prize. His most recent book is Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.

Website: www.oliverburkeman.com

Twitter: @oliverburkeman

Topics

00:02:03 The efficiency trap

00:05:34 Accepting human limitations

00:08:35 Why we handicap ourselves

00:13:07 How to be a better procrastinator

00:18:32 Each activity is paid for with your life

00:20:55 The joy of missing out

00:23:55 Harness more deep time

00:27:57 The common theme of Oliver’s books

00:32:02 Realism and doing the impossible

00:37:29 Productivity and self-worth

00:40:53 Embracing boredom instead of acceleration

00:46:14 Developing a taste for problems

00:50:21 Radical incrementalism

00:57:30 “Originality lies on the far side of unoriginality”

01:01:06 How time management distracts us from wonder

01:03:50 Oliver’s approach to new year resolutions

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Ryan Holiday || How to Have Courage Jan 06, 2022

In this episode, I talk to bestselling author Ryan Holiday about his newest book Courage is Calling. We discuss his unique definition of courage, and how people can practice it in their daily lives. Upon a closer examination of history, Ryan and I question whether the stories of American heroism are as honorable as we’ve been led to believe. We also touch on the topics of social justice, hope, stoicism, resilience, and virtues.

Bio

Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of Trust Me, I’m Lying; The Obstacle Is the Way; Ego Is the Enemy; Conspiracy and other books about marketing, culture, and the human condition. His work has been translated into over 30 languages and has appeared everywhere from the New York Times to Fast Company. His company, Brass Check, has advised companies such as Google, TASER, and Complex, as well as multi-platinum musicians and some of the biggest authors in the world. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Website: ryanholiday.net

Twitter: @RyanHoliday

Topics

06:21 Ryan’s definition of courage

10:06 Speaking truth to power

14:02 History’s competing narratives

17:50 Taking down Confederate monuments

20:12 Social justice, politics, and virtues

25:35 Staying true to the ethical frameworks of philosophy

32:57 Stoicism and Ryan’s values

38:08 Heroism vs courage

42:47 Silence is violence

46:58 Fearlessness can inspire

50:28 No hero is perfect

52:22 Hope is the most courageous thing

53:10 How to practice courage

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Robert Greene || Strategy, Seduction, and the Sublime Dec 30, 2021

In this episode, I talk to international bestselling author Robert Greene about strategy, seduction, and the sublime. Robert implores us to get comfortable with the dark side of human nature and society. He argues that by acknowledging the reality of human interactions, we can use certain strategies to help us effectively navigate the workplace, our relationships, and daily life. We also touch on the topics of empathy, imagination, charisma, power, and his upcoming book on transcendence and the sublime.

Chatting with Robert is always such a delight as we have many mutual areas of interest. I have been a long-time admirer of his books, and remember reading them in college and thinking that he seems to just get it. I hope you enjoyed this high-level discussion as much as I did.

Bio

Robert Greene is an author and speaker known for his books on strategy, power and seduction. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in classical studies. He has written six international bestsellers: The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, Mastery, and The Laws of Human Nature. Recently, he published The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery. Greene’s books are hailed by everyone from war historians to the biggest musicians in the industry including Jay-Z, Drake, and 50 Cent.

Website: powerseductionandwar.com

Twitter: @RobertGreene

Topics

02:12 Robert’s health

03:43 The Daily Laws

04:58 What is a radical realist?

10:10 Empathy is like a telepathic connection

14:59 The human desire for fantasy

18:50 Etiquette is deception

22:17 How to live with the harsh truths of reality

28:03 Poeticize your presence

31:16 Channel pain into charisma

35:36 Stop being so nice all the time

39:08 Mix harshness and kindness

42:36 The primary law of human nature

46:08 Embrace your dark side

50:33 Schadenfreude vs mitfreude

53:46 The Pygmalion Effect

56:17 The integration of the shadow

01:02:05 The Law of the Sublime

01:08:14 The “post-mortem life”

01:10:03 The sublime is in the everyday

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas || Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students Dec 23, 2021

In this episode, I talk to Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas about gifted education. Specifically, we identify the underrepresented population of gifted students and the unique cultural barriers they face. Joy and Deb share their definition of what self-advocacy is and why it’s a skill everyone should have. They give helpful tips and resources for educators, parents, and advocates on how to find and nurture gifted potential. We also touch on the topics of equity, test preparation, IQ, special education, and intersectionality.

Bio

Dr. Joy Lawson Davis is a career educator with over 40 years of experience as a practitioner, scholar, and consultant in gifted education.She holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in gifted education. Dr. Davis has conducted workshops, been a long-term program consultant, and served as a keynote speaker and distinguished guest lecturer in several countries. In 2019 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted organization (SENG). She is also the author of numerous articles, technical reports, book chapters, and the award-winning book: Bright, Talented & Black.

Deb Douglas has spent her professional career as an educator, first as a high school English teacher, then K-12 gifted resource teacher, director of gifted programming, and International Baccalaureate coordinator. She holds master’s degrees in professional development and curriculum and instruction for gifted learners. She served as president of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted and member of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Parent Advisory Board. Deb is a contributor to the quarterly magazine Parenting for High Potential, and is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international conferences.

Together, Joy and Deb co-authored Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students: Perspectives from the Field.

Website: drjoylawsondavis.com & www.gtcarpediem.com

Twitter: @davis_joy

Topics

01:15 The underrepresented gifted population

04:43 Equity and excellence can co-exist

07:20 How Deb and Joy met

09:00 Test preparation and IQ

12:42 Expanding the definition of giftedness

17:10 Is it possible to become gifted?

20:45 Identifying potential in underrepresented communities

25:33 Education often prioritizes limitations over ability

27:45 What is self-advocacy?

30:34 Normalize giftedness in all communities

41:12 Cultural barriers to self-advocacy

43:22 How to be advocates for gifted students

46:47 Scott’s experience of self-advocacy

48:56 Everyone needs to be a part of the process

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Carlin || The Human Path Toward Wholeness Dec 16, 2021

In this episode, I talk to Kelly Carlin about the human path to wholeness. We delve into Kelly's childhood and what it was like growing up with the influential comedian George Carlin. Recently, she started her own coaching program called Women on The Verge. With a master's degree in Jungian psychology and a coaching certification, Kelly helps women step out of their expected societal roles by empowering them to reclaim their true selves. She finds great joy in seeing others live fuller, authentic lives. We also touch on the topics of parenting, depth psychology, social justice, interconnectivity, and comedy.

Bio

Kelly Carlin is an actress, producer, screenwriter, podcast host, and the only daughter of the late comedian George Carlin. Her fascinations range from discovering how to live a true and deep life, to freedom of expression, to the evolution of consciousness and the American psyche. She’s a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, has a master's in Jungian psychology, and comes from a family steeped in comedy, big ideas, and warm hearts. She is also the founder of Women on The Verge, a coaching practice that encourages women to make deep, long-lasting changes within so that they can finally be valued, paid, and recognized.

Website: thekellycarlinsite.com

Twitter: @kelly_carlin

Topics

00:01:19 Kelly’s childhood and upbringing

00:10:13 The family of comedy

00:15:50 Kelly’s interest in Jungian depth psychology

00:19:05 Unlearning childhood experiences

00:22:22 Women on the Verge

00:27:01 Embodying new identities

00:31:23 Dismantling the “tyrannical shoulds”

00:35:07 Authenticity is congruence

00:38:48 Social justice and the evolution of consciousness

00:41:41 The need to matter

00:48:40 The emerging recognition of interdependence

00:52:08 Kelly’s future projects

00:58:17 What would irk George Carlin the most about current society?

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Amanda Knox || The Real Amanda Knox Dec 09, 2021

Welcome to The Psychology Podcast! In this episode, I talk to Amanda Knox about her wrongful conviction for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Her experience revealed dark truths about the media’s inclination to over sensationalize stories about young women and the glaring human errors in the criminal justice system. We also touch on the topics of trauma, cancel culture, cognitive biases, law, and forensic science. Throughout this episode, I try my best to show the audience the real Amanda Knox, not the version of her that the media has depicted. Along those lines, I give her some of my psychological tests to take, including my test on self-actualization as well as my psychopath test! You won't want to miss this episode.

Bio

Amanda Knox is a journalist, public speaker, and podcaster. From 2007 to 2015, she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. The controversy over Amanda’s case made international headlines for nearly a decade and thrust her into the spotlight, where she was vilified and shamed, a story told in the 2016 Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary and her New York Times best-selling memoir, Waiting to Be Heard. She now works to shed light on the issues of wrongful conviction, criminal justice reform, truth-seeking, and public shaming, and to inspire people towards empathy and perspective.

Website: www.amandaknox.com

Twitter: @amandaknox

Topics

00:00:37 Amanda’s pregnancy and privacy

00:02:14 Stories don’t equate to reality

00:06:05 Self-talk as a coping strategy

00:08:51 The true origin of the “Foxy Knoxy” nickname

00:11:05 The intrigue and aversion towards female sexuality

00:18:45 The arrest of Rudy Guede

00:20:50 Amanda before the tragedy

00:23:37 The infamous kiss between Amanda and Raffaele

00:26:42 Why do people love scandals?

00:30:26 The misrepresentation of BDSM

00:33:05 Amanda’s sources of self-actualization

00:42:30 Amanda’s Light Triad Score

00:45:38 Moral Luck

00:49:05 Amanda’s Dark Triad Score

00:51:55 Vulnerable narcissism, imposter syndrome, and healing

00:58:42 The “single victim fallacy”

01:01:29 Innocence puts innocents at risk

01:04:45 The psychology of prosecutor Giuliano Mignini

01:08:56 Itiel Dror’s critique of forensic science

01:15:24 Amanda’s post-traumatic growth

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Sinclair || Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To Dec 02, 2021

In this episode, I talk to world-renowned biologist David Sinclair about aging and longevity. David rejects the notion that the deterioration of health is a natural part of growing old and asserts that aging is a disease itself that we need to reverse. But how will a reset of our biological clocks affect our interactions, responses to adversity, morality, and how we live our lives? We discuss the ethical implications of limitless lifespans and also touch on the topics of death, evolution, genetics, medicine, and data tracking.

Bio

Dr. David Sinclair is a professor in the department of genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of the scientific journal Aging. He is best known for his work on understanding why we age and how to slow its effects. In addition to being a co-founder of several biotechnology companies, he's the author of the book Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don't Have To. Dr. Sinclair was listed by TIME magazine as one of the “100 most influential people in the world”.

Website: sinclair.hms.harvard.edu

Twitter: @davidasinclair

Topics

00:02:26 David’s “sticky beak” personality

00:05:08 David’s childhood and upbringing

00:10:21 The torment of inevitable death

00:15:13 David’s life purpose

00:22:06 Intergenerational interactions

00:28:59 Aging is a disease we can reverse

00:32:20 Accelerating human evolution

00:36:24 The SIR2 gene and the NMN+ pill

00:40:04 Reverse brain aging and Alzheimer’s

00:42:50 Gene therapy in pills

00:48:45 Will we be happier with longer lifespans?

00:52:49 Inside Tracker

00:55:31 The future of data tracking and medicine

01:00:47 The Information Theory of Aging

01:09:08 Is there a biological limit to our lifespans?

01:14:21 Mental states can produce epigenetic changes

01:20:39 David’s future projects

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Feldman Barrett || Surprising Truths about the Human Brain Nov 25, 2021

In this episode, I talk to renowned neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett about emotions and the brain. She reveals what the true function of the brain is⎯and it’s not for thinking. We also discuss the impact of past experiences on our cognition and what we can do to overcome our own detrimental patterns. Further into our discussion, Dr. Lisa challenges the traditionally held view that emotions are universal. In her own theory of constructed emotion, she argues that variability in emotional expression exists due to socialization and language differences. We also touch on the topics of hallucinogens, culture, education, relationships, and authoritarianism.

Bio
Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is among the top one percent most-cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior.

Her books include Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain and How Emotions are Made. She has published over 240 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals. Dr. Barrett has been called “the most important affective scientist of our time”.

Website: lisafeldmanbarrett.com
Twitter: @LFeldmanBarrett

Topics
00:00:27 Lisa’s interest in clinical psychology

00:03:14 A biological approach to emotions

00:05:32 Why do we have a neocortex?

00:14:01 The default mode network

00:19:27 The brain is not for thinking

00:22:48 The rise of authoritarianism during chaos

00:29:52 Psychological entropy

00:33:26 Predictions are based from past experiences

00:42:23 The mind-brain problem

00:44:36 Relationships are reflexive

00:50:02 Emotional expression isn’t universal

00:56:53 Why you shouldn’t trust psychology textbooks

01:01:20 Reaching out to Paul Ekman

01:08:53 The theory of constructed emotion

01:15:43 The role of socialization and language in emotions

01:20:13 The never-ending domain-general vs domain-specific debate in cognitive science

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Bloom || The Pleasures of Suffering Nov 18, 2021

In this episode, I talk to renowned developmental psychologist Paul Bloom about the pleasures of suffering. We start by discussing the value of suffering in pursuit of meaning and make the distinction between unforeseen tragedy and chosen suffering. Paul also elaborates on BDSM and horror as examples of benign masochism⎯activities that people find comfort and enjoyment in despite the experience of fear. We also touch on the topics of meditation, Buddhism, attachment, parenting, and empathy.

Bio
Paul Bloom is professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen professor emeritus of psychology at Yale University. His research explores the psychology of morality, identity, and pleasure. Dr. Bloom is the recipient of multiple awards and honors including most recently the million-dollar Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize. He has written for scientific journals such as Nature and Science and for the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Atlantic Monthly. He’s the author or editor of eight books including Just Babies, How Pleasure Works, Descartes’ Baby, Against Empathy, and most recently, The Sweet Spot.

Website: paulbloom.net/
Twitter: @paulbloomatyale

Topics
00:01:57 The Sweet Spot

00:03:57 Suffering is necessary to pursue purpose

00:05:31 Why we choose to suffer

00:08:43 The post-traumatic growth debate

00:18:48 Using religion to cope with suffering

00:24:05 Heredity, morals, and responsibility in parenting

00:28:51 The multiplicity of human motivation

00:33:26 Benign masochism in BDSM

00:38:49 The calculus of pain and pleasure

00:48:40 Do relationships demand bias?

00:53:18 Is every bias zero sum?

00:57:28 The value of suffering, pain, and horror in imagination

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Esther Perel || Love, Eros, and Infidelity Nov 11, 2021

In this episode, I talk to renowned psychotherapist and author Esther Perel about love and relationships. We tackle the true essence of the word “eros” and “freedom” in the context of romantic relationships. Esther offers her perspective on marriage and affairs, getting to the root cause of why people cheat. With the redefinition of fidelity and sexuality, our current society is still learning how to navigate new patterns of relationships. We also touch on the topics of soulmates, masculinity, how to keep passion alive during a global pandemic, and Esther’s practice as a cross-cultural therapist.

Bio

Esther Perel is a psychotherapist and a New York Times bestselling author, recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she hones a therapy practice in New York City and serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies around the world. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered more than 30 million views and her best-selling books Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs are global phenomena translated into nearly 30 languages. Esther is also an executive producer and host of the popular podcast Where Should We Begin? And How’s Work? Her latest project is Where Should we Begin − A Game of Stories with Esther Perel.

Website: www.estherperel.com/

Instagram: @estherperelofficial

Topics

00:02:14 Adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic

00:05:04 Social connection during the pandemic

00:10:41 “The erotic is an antidote to death”

00:16:02 True freedom in relationships

00:21:05 Soulmates don’t exist

00:25:38 Why people in happy marriages cheat

00:33:54 Where Should We Begin?

00:38:00 Redefining marriage, fidelity, and sexuality

00:45:30 Esther’s cross-cultural approach to therapy

00:48:35 Esther’s interest in cultural transitions, identity, and relationships

00:54:01 The masculine obsession with power

00:59:13 The Great Adaptation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Tedeschi || The Science of Post-Traumatic Growth Nov 04, 2021

In this episode, I talk to Richard Tedeschi about post-traumatic growth (PTG). We dive into how Richard became interested in PTG and the findings from his many years of research. As a clinical psychologist, Richard emphasizes the lived experiences of individuals⎯acknowledging that trauma and transformative change are very context-specific. We also touch on the topics of cultural differences, personality, and Boulder Institute’s post-traumatic growth program.

Bio

Dr. Richard Tedeschi is professor emeritus of psychology at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He’s a licensed psychologist specializing in bereavement and trauma, and has led support groups for bereaved parents for over 20 years. With his colleague Lawrence Calhoun, he published books on post-traumatic growth, an area of research that they have developed that examines personal transformations in the aftermath of traumatic life events. Their books include Trauma and Transformation, Posttraumatic Growth, Facilitating Posttraumatic Growth, Helping Bereaved Parents: A Clinician’s Guide, and the Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth.

Website: https://pages.charlotte.edu/richtedeschi/

Topics

00:00:54 Richard’s interest in post-traumatic growth

00:04:05 Definition of post-traumatic growth (PTG)

00:06:01 Domains of PTG

00:10:02 Perceived change VS actual change

00:16:27 PTG as positive personality changes

00:20:42 Boulder Crest Institute’s post-traumatic growth program

00:26:01 Trauma as a disruption in the psyche

00:29:16 Richard’s roots in humanistic therapy

00:31:08 The subjective experience and response to trauma

00:36:43 Cultural differences in posttraumatic growth

00:40:24 Can posttraumatic growth and PTSD co-exist?

00:38:42 Post-ecstatic growth

00:44:50Catastrophe theory

00:46:07 The pandemic as a potential catalyst for growth

00:48:28 How to facilitate post-traumatic growth

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aaron Beck || Humanizing Psychiatry Nov 02, 2021

Hi everyone, today is a very special episode of The Psychology Podcast. A few nights ago, the legendary psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Temkin Beck passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 100. Tim, as his friends and family affectionally called him, lived an exemplary, full life well lived. Personally, he was a dear mentor and friend of mine. I used to live in the building next door to him in Philadelphia and we'd have tuna sandwiches together on Sundays at his place and discuss humanistic psychology and how to treat patients as humans first. He was always so encouraging of my work, and I enjoyed our discussions about his life and work immensely. I will miss his bow tie, fist bumps, and a sharp mind, which lasted all the way until the end. In my last in-person meeting with him just before the pandemic hit, I handed him a microphone and asked if he would talk about what research he was most excited about these days and whether he could give any advice to young psychologists. That recording is what you will hear today on the podcast.

Remarkably, Tim worked all the way up until his death. To many, he is most known for his work in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which is a time-sensitive, structured, present-oriented psychotherapy that has been scientifically tested and found to be effective in more than 2,000 studies for the treatment of many different health and mental health conditions. When implemented correctly, CBT can help individuals get better and stay better.

However, not many people know this, but Tim’s work was much more than the seminal work he did pioneering CBT. Tim was recently working on a new form of psychotherapy with his colleagues Ellen Inverso and Paul Grant called "Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy”, which deeply humanizes psychiatric patients.

Guided by Tim’s cognitive model, Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R) is an evidence-based practice that provides concrete, actionable steps to promote recovery and resiliency. Originally developed to empower individuals given a diagnosis of schizophrenia, Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy applies broadly to individuals experiencing extensive behavioral, social, and physical health challenges. It is a highly collaborative, person-centered, and strengths-based approach, as it is focused on developing and strengthening positive beliefs of purpose, hope, efficacy, empowerment and belonging. The approach is specially formulated and effective for individuals (i) who have a history of feeling disconnected and distrustful of service providers, (ii) who are not help-seeking, or (iii) who experience challenges that impede action towards aspirations. The reach of Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy extends to mental health professionals across all disciplines, families and loved ones, and peers with lived experience.

One other thing I’d like to mention before we get to today’s episode is the Beck Institute. In 1994, Tim and his daughter, Dr. Judith S. Beck, founded Beck Institute as a 501(c)3 nonprofit with the mission of improving lives worldwide through excellence and innovation in Cognitive Behavior Therapy training, practice, and research. In 2019, Beck Institute opened the Beck Institute Center for Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy to train professionals and staff who work with individuals given a diagnosis of a serious mental health condition, such as schizophrenia.

Beck Institute honors the legacy of Dr. Aaron Beck by providing training and resources in both CBT and CT-R to people around the world. In the nonprofit’s 27-year history, over 28,000 health and mental health professionals have received training in CBT or CT-R through a variety of programs.

You can help honor Dr. Aaron Beck’s legacy by making a gift to the Aaron T. Beck Fund at Beck Institute. This enables the organization to continue Dr. Beck’s latest work with the Center for CT-R at Beck Institute, develop programs, fund scholarships for trainees, and everything in between. The Beck Institute website can be found at beckinstitute.org.

OK, now without further ado, I bring you our guest today, Dr. Aaron Beck.

RIP, Tim.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaac Prilleltensky || The Need to Matter Oct 28, 2021

In this episode, I talk to Isaac Prilleltensky about well-being and happiness. We start our discussion by highlighting the environment and community’s role in well-being instead of conceptualizing it as a purely individualistic construct. Isaac further elaborates on the dangers of mattering “too much” and why we need to balance personal and collective wellness. We also touch on the topics of fairness, social justice, humanistic psychology, and Isaac’s works as a humor writer.

Bio

Isaac Prilleltensky holds the inaugural Erwin and Barbara Mautner Chair in Community Well-Being at the University of Miami. He’s published 12 books and over 140 articles and chapters. His interests are in the promotion of well-being in individuals, organizations, and communities; and in the integration of wellness and fairness. His most recent book is How People Matter: Why It Affects Health, Happiness, Love, Work, and Society, co-authored with his wife, Dr. Ora Prilleltensky.

Website: www.professorisaac.com/

Topics

00:01:10 Isaac’s definition of well-being

00:04:55 Predictors of well-being and happiness

00:06:58 The need to matter

00:09:48 Corrective justice to achieve equality

00:19:31 Me vs. We Culture

00:25:44 Fairness is a prerequisite for mattering

00:28:18 Risks of glorifying grit and resilience

00:32:16 Balancing liberty, fraternity, and equality for a self-actualized society

00:39:27 Democratize happiness

00:43:29 The right and responsibility to matter

00:51:27 Psychology and the status quo

00:53:44 Isaac as a humor writer: smarter through laughter

00:56:21 Fun for Wellness

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

George Bonanno || The New Science of Resilience Oct 21, 2021

In this episode, I talk to George Bonanno about trauma and resiliency. We start off by discussing what people get wrong about trauma and how this led to the invention of the PTSD diagnosis. George defines what resilience is, how it’s different from growth, and its paradoxical correlation to individual differences. Finally, he elaborates on how the flexibility mindset and sequence help us get through personal traumatic events or global tragedies like 9/11 or the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bio

Dr. George Bonanno is a professor of psychology, chair of the department of counseling in clinical psychology, and director of the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab at Teachers College Columbia University. He’s the author of The Other Side of Sadness and The End of Trauma.

Website: www.tc.columbia.edu/LTElab/

Twitter: @giorgiobee

Topics

00:01:41 Jerome L. Singer’s influence on George

00:05:42 Society’s skewed view of trauma

00:08:15 Explaining the PTSD diagnosis

00:10:38 People are more resilient than you think

00:14:23 Resilience VS growth

00:19:50 The resilience paradox

00:24:44 The flexibility mindset

00:29:58 The flexibility sequence

00:34:50 How to be more flexible

00:38:11 Goal-directed self-talk

00:47:50 The resilience blind spot

00:50:06 What 9/11 teaches us about resilience

00:53:10 We’ll overcome the COVID-19 pandemic

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Pinker || Why Rationality Matters Oct 14, 2021

Today it’s great to have Steven Pinker on the podcast. Dr. Pinker is the Johnstone professor of psychology at Harvard University. A two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and the winner of many awards for his research, teaching, and books. He’s been elected to the National Academy of Science, and named as one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People”, and one of Foreign Policy’s “100 Leading Global Thinkers”. His books include How the Mind Works, The Blank State, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, Enlightenment Now, and most recently, Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters. In this episode, I talk to Steven about the definition of rationality, how it relates to truth, and how it’s different from logic. We also discuss the trade-offs in decision making, the limited usefulness of strategic irrationality, the boundaries of socially acceptable fiction, and why people have weird beliefs among other things.

Website: stevenpinker.com
Twitter: @sapinker

Topics

01:02 Must we always follow reason?

03:34 Steven’s definition of rationality

05:24 Tension between conflicting goals

08:31 What is truth?

13:12 When to apply logic or rationality

23:14 There can be no trade-off between rationality and justice

25:35 Politicizing knowledge and research

29:24 Strategic irrationality has limits

36:13 Taboo trade-offs, heretical counterfactuals, and forbidden base rates

42:04 The changing norms of acceptable fiction

45:56 Why rationality is cool

49:39 The costs of decision making

55:54 Progress came from utilitarian reasoning

57:52 "The pandemic of poppycock"

01:01:23 Expressive rationality: morally empowering beliefs

01:05:26 Bayesian reasoning

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Annie Murphy Paul || The Extended Mind Oct 07, 2021

Today it’s great to have Annie Murphy Paul on the podcast. Annie writes about how the findings of cognitive science and psychology could help us to think and act more intelligently. Annie contributes to the New York Times Magazine and the New York Times Book Review, Slate, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among many other publications. She’s also the author of a number of books including The Cult of Personality, Origins, and most recently, The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain.

In this episode, I talk to Annie about the research and concepts in her new book The Extended Mind. We debunk the notion that intelligence is only in the brain by discussing how our bodies, spaces, and relationships all contribute to thought processes. Finally, we also touch on how to build knowledge and expertise through productive cognitive loops, cognitive unloading, and imitation.

Topics

01:05 Thinking outside the brain

03:54 Individual differences in interception

09:51 Annie’s definition of intelligence

13:30 Cognitive loops enhance intelligence

15:31 Is the mind always extended?

17:10 The brain’s dynamic role in thinking

21:14 COVID-19 has turned us into “brains in front of screens”

24:57 Information overload

28:11 Using intuition to think rationally

30:22 Expertise is not brain bound

31:37 The best relationship hack: eat spicy food together

33:50 The research behind The Extended Mind

38:32 Cognitive unloading

40:51 Mastery through imitation

43:00 Scott’s theories about shared expertise

45:39 Reminiscing about Annie’s first episode on The Psychology Podcast

46:22 Embracing the extended heart

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Kathryn Paige Harden || Genetic Inequality, IQ, and Education Sep 30, 2021

Today it’s great to have Paige Harden on the podcast. Dr. Harden is a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, where is the director of the Developmental Behavior Genetics lab and co-director of the Texas Twin Project. Her new book is called The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality.

Topics

· Heritability does not imply determinism

· What is the value of the heritability coefficient?

· Nature and nurture are always intertwined

· Genes, giftedness, and responsibility

· Separating individual differences from hierarchy

· Genetics as a tool for social policy

· Can we systematically improve general intelligence?

· Prioritizing self-actualization in education

· Group differences data, racism, inequality

· Anti-eugenics and the great synthesis

· Polygenic scores: evaluations, correlations, and applications

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Gillespie || Libertarianism, Soft Parenting, and Cancel Culture Sep 23, 2021

Today it’s great to have Nick Gillespie on the podcast. Nick is a libertarian journalist who is currently an editor at large at Reason. A two-time finalist for digital National Magazine Awards, Gillespie’s work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, Slate, Salon, Time.com, Marketplace, and basically any other publication that you’re ever going to read. The Daily Beast named Nick one of “The Right’s Top 25 Journalists”, calling him “clear headed, brainy…among the foremost libertarians in America.”

Topics

· Reason: “free minds and free markets”

· What does being a libertarian mean?

· A critique of American’s intervention in Afghanistan

· Nick’s childhood and upbringing

· The values of libertarianism

· Parallels between Maslow and libertarianism

· Nick’s pseudonym Mr. Myxzptlk

· Child-proofing the world

· How parenting styles and expectations shape children

· The millennial experience of pressure and self-actualization

· The paradox of marginalization and acceptance in current society

· The purpose of cancel culture

· Canceling people in positions of power

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Richard Ryan || Self-Determination Theory & Human Motivation Sep 16, 2021

Today it’s great to have Richard Ryan on the podcast. Dr. Ryan is a professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at the Australian Catholic University in North Sydney and professor emeritus in psychology at the University of Rochester. Dr. Ryan is a clinical psychologist and co-developer of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), one of the leading theories of human motivation. He’s among the most cited researchers in psychology and social sciences today, ranking among the top 1% of researchers in the field. Dr. Ryan has been recognized as one of the eminent psychologists of the modern era, listed among the top 20 most influential industrial organizational psychologists and has been honored with many distinguished career awards. He’s co-author with Edward Deci of the book Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness.

Topics

· Dr. Ryan’s interest in psychology

· Dr. Ryan’s influences in psychology and philosophy

· What is self-determination?

· The continuum of motivation

· The underdog narrative as a motivating force

· Self-Determination Theory’s Basic Needs

· Is benevolence a basic need?

· Ego involvement in exploration and self-esteem

· Dr. Ryan’s attempt to meet Maslow

· Transcendence, mindfulness, and integration

· Self-Determination Theory in relationships

· Changing organization culture through motivationWorks

· How do we fix the current education system?

· Dr. Ryan’s view of positive psychology

· SDT as a criterion to improve social policy

· Dr. Ryan’s upcoming projects

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Ron Friedman || Reverse Engineering Greatness Sep 09, 2021

Today we have Ron Friedman on the podcast. Dr. Friedman is an award-winning social psychologist who specializes in human motivation. He has served in the faculty of the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, and Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, political leaders, and world’s leading non-profits. His books include The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace and most recently Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success.

Topics

· Achieve greatness through reverse engineering

· Reverse Outlining, the most popular TED Talk

· The Xerox Story with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates

· Why complete copycats fail

· Originality is not creativity

· Start a collection of masterpieces

· How The Ritz-Carlton Hotel uses the Scoreboard Principle

· Courage alone is not enough for success

· Strategic practice and cross-training

· Does visualization increase chances of success?

· How copying can facilitate creativity

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Brad Stulberg || Finding Groundedness Sep 02, 2021

Today we have Brad Stulberg on the podcast. Brad is an internationally known expert on human performance, well-being, and sustainable success. He’s co-author of the bestselling Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Wired, Forbes, and more. He’s a contributing editor to Outside Magazine. In his coaching practice, Brad works with executives and entrepreneurs on their performance and well-being and he regularly speaks to large organizations on these topics as well. His latest book is called The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds−Not Crushes−Your Soul.

Topics

· The truth with a capital T

· Brad’s coaching practice

· The Practice of Groundedness

· Benefits of exercise and movement

· What is groundedness?

· The right way to strive

· The problem with hustle culture, optimization, and biohacking

· Research findings about loneliness, alcoholism, and anxiety

· Accepting where you are to get where you want to be

· Difference between stillness and groundedness

· Process mindset over results mindset

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Irvin Yalom || Existential Psychotherapy Aug 30, 2021

Today it’s great to have Irvin Yalom on the podcast. Yalom is emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University’s School of Medicine and author of many internationally bestselling books including Love’s Executioner, The Gift of Therapy, Becoming Myself, and When Nietzsche Wept. He was the recipient of the 1974 Edward Strecker Award and the 1979 Foundations’ Fund Prize in Psychiatry. His textbooks Inpatient Group Psychotherapy and Existential Psychotherapy are classics and have influenced me personally, deeply. Dr. Yalom lives in Palo Alto, California.

Topics

· Dr. Yalom’s childhood and upbringing

· Dr. Yalom’s interest in existential psychology

· Group therapy and death anxiety

· Rollo May’s influence on Dr. Yalom

· Dr. Yalom’s books

· Death anxiety and regret

· Coping with his wife’s death

· Meeting Viktor Frankl, Carl Rogers, and other legends in psychology

· Last moments with Rollo May

· A Matter of Death and Life with the Yaloms

· Dr. Yalom’s advice to therapists

· Overcoming the terror of death

· Serene acceptance of death

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Heather McGhee || What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together Aug 26, 2021

Today we have Heather McGhee on the podcast. Heather is an expert in economic and social policy. The former president of the inequality-focused thinktank “Demos” McGhee has drafted a legislation testified before Congress and contributed regularly in news shows including MBC’s “Meet the Press”. She now chairs the board of “Color of Change”, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. McGhee holds a BA in American Studies from Yale University and a JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Her latest book is called “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together”.

Topics

· Disconnect between policy makers and working families

· Heather’s hope for America

· Zero-sum racial competition in White and Black People

· The true definition of “White Privilege”

· Racist policy-making in determining economic opportunity

· How the Subprime Mortgage Crisis was fueled by racism

· Heather meeting a white supremacist-turned-anti-racist advocate

· “The Big Lie” in election results

· Trump’s “Populist” Agenda

· Black and White people on environmentalism

· Systems in America as the biggest barrier in racial education

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Gary Heil || Choose Love, Not Fear in the Workplace Aug 23, 2021

Today it’s great to have Gary Heil on the podcast. Gary is an author, educator, lawyer, consultant, and coach. He’s the co-founder for The Center for Innovative Leadership where he continues to advise leaders in a wide range of industries and cultural issues. And he has served in a number of public and private boards including Gymboree, Red Envelope, and Front Range Solutions. He presently serves as the chairman of the board of CellTech Metals. He’s the co-author of a number of bestselling books including Leadership and the Customer Revolution, One Size Fits All, Maslow on Management, The Leader’s New Clothes, Revisiting the Human Side of Enterprise, Douglas McGregor Revisited, and Choose Love Not Fear: How the Best Leaders Build Cultures of Engagement and Innovation that Unleash Human Potential.

Topics

· Build great teams with love not fear

· Why aren’t we developing better leaders?

· Organizations’ outdated motivation strategies

· Culture homogenizes behavior

· Leaders suffer from motivated blindness

· The democratization of power

· Millennial’s approach to leadership and organizations

· Choosing love first before competence

· Revisiting Douglas McGregor and Abraham Maslow

· The Quiz You Cannot Fail

· Ordinary people are capable of greatness

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Jon Levy || The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence Aug 19, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Jon Levy on the podcast. Jon is a behavioral scientist best known for his work on influence, human connection, and decision making. Jon specializes in applying the latest research to transform the way companies approach marketing, sales, consumer engagement, and culture. His clients range from Fortune 500 brands like Microsoft, Google, AB InBev, and Samsung to startups. His latest book is called You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence.

Topics

· Jon’s interest in influence and social networks

· The Influencers Dinner

· The influence of meaningful connections

· What is trust and how does it work?

· Giving a platform to the voiceless

· How being generous can help you succeed

· "Relationship hack: Use the vulnerability loop"

· Connecting is not the same as networking

· Stories from the Influencers Dinner

· Jon’s personal metric of success

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Gleb Tsipursky || Cognitive Bias in Relationships Aug 16, 2021

Today it’s great to have Gleb Tsipursky on the podcast. Gleb is the CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts where he consults, coaches, and trains leaders on decision making and risk management strategy. A cognitive neuroscientist and behavioral economist, Dr. Tsipursky has over 550 articles and 450 interviews in prominent venues such as Psychology Today, USA Today, Fast Company, CBS News, Time, and elsewhere. He’s also a bestselling author known for Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters. His new book is The Blind Spots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias & Build Better Relationships available at disasteravoidanceexperts.com/blindspots. He lives in Columbus, Ohio, and to avoid disaster in his personal life, he makes sure to spend ample time with his wife.

Topics

· Should you ever go with your gut?

· Why our fight or flight response is a blind spot

· Tribalism fuels disagreement in modern society

· In-group and out-group bias

· The halo and horn effect

· Shame does not promote diversity and inclusion

· The illusion of transparency

· How to listen and communicate better

· Expert intuition and empathy in relationships

· When can we trust our intuition?

· Strategies to improve mental fitness

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Michael Lewis || A Doctor Shares Life Lessons From His Experiences with Michael Jordan and Abraham Maslow Aug 12, 2021

Today it’s great to have Michael Lewis on the podcast. Michael is an orthopedic surgeon at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. He’s been an orthopedic consultant to the Chicago White Sox baseball team and Chicago Wolves hockey team and the Chicago Bulls basketball team, with whom he earned two championship rings. Dr. Lewis has treated numerous world-class athletes from several continents including All-Star professional basketball and baseball players and Olympic medal winners. He’s the author of several books including a memoir entitled, The Ball’s in Your Court, where he shares life lessons from Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, and none other than Abraham Maslow.

Topics:

· The Ball’s in Your Court

· Michael’s childhood and upbringing

· A life-changing epiphany with Abraham Maslow

· Classroom experience of a Maslow lecture

· How students reacted to Maslow’s ideas

· From psychiatrist to orthopedic surgeon

· Meeting the White Sox and Bill Veeck

· Chicago Bulls and The Last Dance

· Game-changing medical decisions

· Anecdotes with Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Phil Jackson

· Remembering Brian Williams

· Seeing More Colors and Michael’s other books

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Colin DeYoung || Rethinking Mental Illness Aug 09, 2021

Today it’s great to have Colin DeYoung on the podcast. Dr. DeYoung is a professor in the psychology department at the University of Minnesota and the director of the Personality, Individual Differences and Behavioral Genetics program. He researches the structures and sources of psychological traits using neuroscience methods to investigate their biological substrates. He developed a general theory of personality: Cybernetic Big Five Theory which identifies psychological functions associated with major personality traits as well as their connection to other elements of personality and various life outcomes including mental illness.

Topics

· Definitions of mental illness

· The problem with DSM-5’s diagnostic categories

· The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)

· What is cybernetics?

· A Cybernetic Theory of Psychopathology

· How Colin’s theory differs from abnormal psychology

· Differences between mental disorder and psychopathology

· Characteristic adaptations and personality traits

· Moving towards a dimensional model of psychopathology

· What qualifies as cybernetic dysfunction?

· Narcissism, anti-social behavior, and successful psychopaths

· Legal interventions for risky profiles without stigmatization

· The need for non-pharmacological interventions

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Jordan Peterson || Chatting About Human Nature Aug 05, 2021

Today’s episode includes a conversation between Dr. Jordan B Peterson and Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman. Dr. Peterson is professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, a clinical psychologist, and the author of the bestsellers 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos and Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life. Note that this episode originally appeared on the Jordan B Peterson Podcast on June 17, 2021.

Topics

· Combining cognitive science with the humanistic psychology tradition

· Scott’s experience studying IQ and intelligence

· The link between openness to experience and mystical experiences

· Scott discusses his book Transcend

· Self-actualization and The Big Five personality traits

· Does increased aggression lead to stable human societal hierarchies?

· Jordan and Scott discuss mating patterns among humans

· Sex differences towards abuse of power

· Mentorship and transcendence

· The transition from naivety to cynicism to courage

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Paul Wong || Existential Positive Psychology Aug 02, 2021

Today it’s a great honor to chat with the legendary Paul Wong on the podcast. Dr. Wong is Professor Emeritus of Trent University. He’s a fellow of APA and CPA and president of the International Network on Personal Meaning and the Meaning-Centered Counselling Institute Inc. Editor of the International Journal of Existential Positive Psychology, he’s also edited two influential volumes on The Human Quest for Meaning. A prolific writer, he is one of the most cited existential and positive psychologists. The originator of Meaning Therapy and International Meaning Conferences, he has been invited to give keynotes and meaning therapy workshops worldwide. Dr. Wong is the recipient of the Carl Rogers Award from the Society for Humanistic Psychology.

Topics:

· Dr. Wong’s childhood and upbringing

· Animal learning research: optimism vs. helplessness

· Locus of control is not a dichotomy

· The unheard cry of a successful Asian psychologist

· Positive Psychology 2.0

· Embracing the dark side to enhance well-being

· Dual-systems model of what makes life worth living

· Agency, spirituality, and community contribute meaning

· How to find meaning in life

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Kristin Neff || Fierce Self-Compassion Jul 29, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Kristin Neff on the podcast. Kristin is currently an associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion almost 20 years ago. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she’s the author of the book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. In conjunction with her colleague Dr. Chris Germer, she has developed an empirically supported training program called Mindful Self-Compassion which is taught by thousands of teachers worldwide. They co-authored The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals. Her newest work focuses on how to balance self-acceptance with the courage to make needed change. Her latest book is called Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive.

Topics:

· What is fierce self-compassion?

· Integration of fierce and tender self-compassion

· How gender socialization interferes with self-compassion

· Why women tend to have less self-compassion than men

· Patriarchy vs matriarchy: differences in socialization and values

· Breaking gender stereotypes incurs criticism

· Can self-compassion turn into selfishness?

· The psychometrics of self-compassion and self-coldness

· Using common humanity for unity, not division

· Harnessing anger with a quiet ego

· Self-compassion: the dance of acceptance and change

· Correlation of self-compassion with the light and dark triads of personality

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Daniel Goleman || Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence Jul 26, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Daniel Goleman on the podcast. Daniel is an internationally known psychologist who lectures frequently to professional groups, business audiences, and college campuses. As a science journalist, Goleman reported on the brain behavioral sciences for the New York Times for many years. His 1995 book Emotional Intelligence was on the New York Times bestseller list for a year and a half with more than five million copies in print worldwide in 40 languages and has been a bestseller in many countries. Apart from his books on emotional intelligence, Goleman has written books on topics including self-deception, creativity, transparency, meditation, social-emotional learning, ecoliteracy, and the ecological crisis.

Topics:

· Daniel’s current research

· Does IQ outweigh emotional intelligence?

· Competency modeling for emotional intelligence

· Correlation between general intelligence and social-emotional intelligence

· Cognitive control and social-emotional learning

· Daniel’s interest in meditation

· Are certain personalities more attracted to mindfulness?

· How mindfulness training can affect neuroplasticity and creativity

· The Tibetan model of mindfulness

· Meditation apps and their effectivity

· Is there a link between meditation and emotional intelligence?

· The future of mindfulness training methods

· First Person Plural Podcast: EI & Beyond

· Radical transparency during the ecological crisis

· Daniel’s definition of intelligence

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Dean Simonton || The Science of Genius Jul 22, 2021

Today it’s great to have Dean Keith Simonton on the podcast. Dean is distinguished professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California Davis. His well over 500 single author publications focus on topics such as genius, creativity, aesthetics, and leadership. In 2018, MIT Press published his book The Genius Checklist but he has also published many other books on these various topics of genius, leadership, and aesthetics. I just want to personally say his book, Greatness: Who Makes History and Why, is one of the major books that inspired me to go into the field that I’m in today.

Topics:

· Dean’s interest in genius, creativity, and leadership

· The historiometic approach

· Child prodigies and the savant syndrome

· Dean’s schooling years

· Can late bloomers become geniuses?

· Fame and creativity in the age of social media

· Using the equal odds rule to create a masterpiece

· Grit and openness to experience predict genius

· Dean’s solo publications and collaborations

· Re-analysis of Cox’s data on geniuses

· The IQs of Mozart, Cervantes, and Shakespeare

· Scientific genius vs. artistic genius

· The mad-genius paradox

· US Presidents’ IQ scores and leadership

· Variability and the role of talent in mastery

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Robert Sternberg || Adaptive Intelligence Jul 19, 2021

Today it’s great to have Robert Sternberg on the podcast. Robert is a psychology professor at Cornell University. Among his major contributions to psychology are the triarchic theory of intelligence and several influential theories relating to creativity, thinking styles, love, and hate. A Review of General Psychology survey ranked Sternberg as the 60th most cited psychologist of the 20th century. He’s authored and co-authored over 1,500 publications including articles, book chapters, and books.

Topics

· Robert’s childhood experience with IQ tests

· Robert’s passion for psychometrics

· Development of the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

· How the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence relates to Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

· The world’s fixation on general intelligence

· How society and the environment create correlations with intelligence

· Expanding college admissions’ metrics of intelligence

· Is psychological testing still valuable today?

· Real world problems VS academic problems

· Rethinking adaptive intelligence as a species

· Application of intelligence to transcend hate

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Andrew Huberman || Optimize Your Brain Jul 15, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Andrew Huberman on the podcast. Andrew is an associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford. His lab is focused on brain function, development, and repair with emphasis on regeneration to prevent and cure blindness. He also studied the neural circuits that control visual fear and are developing tools to re-map them and to treat anxiety disorders. Additionally, Huberman is the host of the popular podcast called Huberman Lab.

Topics

· The Huberman Lab Podcast

· Andrew’s interest in neurobiology and his current work

· Emotions and the autonomic nervous system

· How visual focus and respiration alters internal states

· Spiegel eye roll hypnosis test

· The amygdala as the dynamic link between internal and external cues

· How to increase motivation

· Chronotype management and the optimal routine

· Flow state and further research

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Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch || Dear Therapists Jul 08, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Lori Gottlieb and Guy Winch on the podcast. Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which has sold over a million copies and is currently being adapted as a television series. In addition to her clinical practice, she writes The Atlantic’s weekly “Dear Therapist” advice column and is co-host of the popular “Dear Therapists” podcast produced by Katie Couric. She contributes regularly to The New York Times and many other publications and in 2019, her TED Talk was one of the Top 10 Most-Watched of the Year. A member of the Advisory Council for Bring Change to Mind, she is a sought-after expert in media such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, CNN, and NPR’s “Fresh Air.” Learn more at LoriGottlieb.com or by following her on Twitter @LoriGottlieb1 and Instagram @lorigottlieb_author. Internationally renowned psychologist Guy Winch advocates for integrating the science of emotional health into our daily lives. His science-based self-help books have been translated into 27 languages and his three TED Talks have garnered over 25 million views. He writes Dear Guy for TED.com, the Squeaky Wheel Blog for PsychologyToday.com and is the co-host with Lori Gottlieb, of the Dear Therapists podcast from iHeartRadio. Learn more at guywinch.com.

Topics

· How Lori and Guy met

· Lori and Guy’s Dear Therapists podcast

· Lori and Guy’s eclectic approach to therapy

· The benefits of tag-team therapy

· Lori and Guy discuss loneliness

· Why people share personal stories on social media

· How mental health relates to ideological extremism

· The importance of self-compassion and curiosity

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David Buss || The Evolution of Sexual Conflict Jul 05, 2021

Today we have David Buss on the podcast. David is a professor of psychology at University of Texas, Austin, and is one of the founders of the field of evolutionary psychology. His primary research focus is on strategies of human mating, particularly the dark side of human mating nature, including conflict between the sexes, jealousy, stalking, intimate partner violence, and murder. David is author of a number of books on mating, including The Evolution of Desire and most recently, Why Men Behave Badly: The Hidden Roots of Sexual Deception, Harassment, and Assault.

Topics

· What is "mating"?

· Why David became interested in evolutionary psychology

· David's response to critics of evolutionary psychology

· David and Scott discuss the replication crisis

· How evolutionary psychology research can combat gender violence

· What gave rise to the #MeToo movement?

· "The bad boy paradox"

· How dark triad traits manifest in women

· David's thoughts on the "pickup artist" community

· David and Scott discuss the "light triad" and positive evolutionary psychology

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Robert Cialdini || The New Psychology of Persuasion Jul 01, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Dr. Robert Cialdini. Dr. Cialdini is the author of Influence and Pre-Suasion and is recognized as the foundational expert in the science of influence. His Principles of Persuasion have become a cornerstone for any organization serious about ethically and effectively increasing their influence. Dr. Cialdini has earned a global reputation for his ability to translate his scientific research into valuable and practical actions. He is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, with over seven million copies sold in 44 different languages. He is the president and CEO of INFLUENCE AT WORK. As a popular keynote speaker, he helps organizations in the US and abroad.

Topics

· Why Robert updated Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

· The “universal principles" of influence

· How Robert became interested in the world of persuasion

· How people react to figures of authority

· The problem with the law of proportionality

· How influence research has withstood the replication crisis

· Unity as the seventh universal principle of influence

· The impact of regionalism

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Amy Chan || Breakup Bootcamp Jun 28, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Amy Chan on the podcast. Amy is the Founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, a retreat that takes a scientific and spiritual approach to healing the heart. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Heart Hackers Club - an online magazine that focuses on the psychology behind love, lust and desire. The Observer calls her "A relationship expert whose work is like that of a scientific Carrie Bradshaw" and her company has been featured across national media including Good Morning America, Vogue, Glamour, Nightline and the front page of The New York Times. Her book, Breakup Bootcamp - The Science of Rewiring Your Heart, was published by Harper Collins on December 1, 2020.

Topics

· How heartbreak can be a bridge to self-actualization

· Understanding our relationship patterns

· Love vs. familiarity

· Amy’s Breakup Bootcamp

· The stages of a breakup

· Amy explains “love addiction”

· The habit of over-giving

· Feeling vs. feeding your emotions

· How to alleviate excessive rumination

· How we should define love

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Loch Kelly || Living an Awakened Life Jun 24, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Loch Kelly on the podcast. Loch is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the non-profit, Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch teaches in a non-sectarian human being lineage using an adult education style based in the earliest non-dual wisdom traditions, modern science and psychotherapy. Loch’s work is to help people access awakening as the next natural stage of human development. He offers in-person retreats, workshops, and online video and audio courses and he has served on the New York Insight Teachers Council.

Topics

· Loch’s spiritual journey

· Loch discusses “awake awareness”

· Absorbed vs. panoramic flow

· Deliberate vs. effortless mindfulness

· The neuroscience of meditation

· How to tap into “pure being”

· Mindfulness for individuals with ADD/ADHD

· Loch discusses nondual theory

· How Loch defines “identity”

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Annaka Harris || On the Mysteries of Consciousness Jun 21, 2021

Today it’s great to have Annaka Harris on the podcast. Annaka is an author whose work touches on neuroscience, meditation, philosophy of mind, and consciousness. She is author of two books: Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind and the children’s book I Wonder. Annaka is also a volunteer for InnerKids, teaching mindfulness meditation to children in schools.

Topics

· The hard problem of consciousness

· Why Annaka wrote Conscious

· Annaka discusses "panpsychism"

· How to think more creatively about consciousness

· The function of consciousness

· The experience of agnosia

· What consciousness has to do with free will

· Consciousness from an evolutionary perspective

· Annaka’s thoughts on the free will debate

· Annaka’s goals in writing I Wonder

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Tal Ben-Shahar || The Science of Happiness Jun 17, 2021

Today it’s great to have Tal Ben Shahar on the podcast. Tal is a Best-Selling Author & Leadership Expert. He taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history. Today, he consults and lectures around the world to executives in multinational corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations. The topics he lectures on include leadership, happiness, education, innovation, ethics, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and mindfulness. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. Tal is the founder of Happiness Studies Academy, an online program that provides the knowledge and the tools to generate happiness for individuals and school communities.

Topics

· Tal’s former career as a squash player

· How Tal ended up teaching happiness at Harvard

· Tal’s definition of happiness

· How deep learning affects our relationships

· How happiness impacts creativity

· Tal discusses various types of well-being

· How different cultures define happiness

· Is it possible to “achieve” happiness?

· How Tal's approach to happiness can lift up disadvantaged populations

· Why depression levels are skyrocketing

· The impact of social media on happiness

· Empathy vs. compassion

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John McWhorter || Nasty Words Jun 14, 2021

John McWhorter teaches linguistics, philosophy, and music history at Columbia University, and writes for various publications on language issues and race issues such as Time, the Wall Street Journal, the Daily Beast, CNN, and the Atlantic. He told his mother he wanted to be a "book writer" when he was five, and is happy that it worked out.

Topics

· Why John wrote a book on profanity

· Why we call it “swearing”

· Why people love the f-word

· How profanity “lives in the right brain”

· Why slurs sometimes become terms of affection

· Why every culture has slurs

· Why John thinks “the elect” is doing harm to society

· How to balance contrasting perspectives on racism

· John and Scott discuss the victim mentality

· Discerning between fact and fiction in racial justice

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Judson Brewer || Unwinding Anxiety Jun 10, 2021

Today it’s great to have Jud Brewer on the podcast. Dr. Brewer is a New York Times best-selling author, addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He is an associate professor and the Director of Research and Innovation at the Center for Mindfulness at Brown University and the Executive Medical Director of Behavioral Health at Sharecare Inc. He has developed clinically proven app-based mindfulness trainings including those to help people with quitting smoking, emotional eating and anxiety. He is the author of The Craving Mind: from cigarettes to smartphones to love, why we get hooked and how we can break bad habits (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2017) and Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind (Avery/Penguin Random House, 2021).

Topics

· Why Jud practices mindfulness

· How to break unhealthy habits and addictions

· What “everyday addictions” are

· Can addictions be reversed?

· Why we prefer cake to broccoli

· The shortcomings of willpower

· Jud discusses discipline and changing behaviors

· The role of anxiety in habit formation

· The science of curiosity

· Understanding our cravings

· What anxiety sobriety is

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Arthur Brooks || Love Your Enemies Jun 07, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Arthur Brooks on the podcast. Arthur is the William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. Before joining the Harvard faculty in July of 2019, he served for ten years as president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute (AEI), one of the world’s leading think tanks.

Topics

· Arthur’s relationship to music

· Arthur’s experience with silent meditation retreats

· Arthur’s unique spin on the science of happiness

· The importance of suffering

· Arthur’s conversation with the Dalai Lama

· How to treat people like assets instead of liabilities

· Being needed vs. objectifying oneself

· How to cultivate dignity

· The importance of having “useless” friends

· Why fear is the opposite of love

· The difference between empathy and compassion

· How religion and spirituality impact human happiness

· How creativity contributes to happiness

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Noreena Hertz || How to Restore Human Connection Jun 03, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Noreena Hertz on the podcast. Noreena Hertz is a renowned thought leader, academic, and broadcaster, named by The Observer “one of the world’s leading thinkers” and by Vogue “one of the world’s most inspiring women.” Her previous bestsellers — The Silent Takeover, The Debt Threat, and Eyes Wide Open — have been published in more than twenty countries, and her opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Financial Times. She has hosted her own show on SiriusXM and spoken at TED, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and Google Zeitgeist.

Topics

· The impact of technology on our social lives

· How to boost the health of our society

· The importance of local communities

· “The loneliness economy”

· The healthcare burden of loneliness

· Combating loneliness in the workplace

· How to give and receive care

· “Blue zones"

· How creating community helps our wellbeing

· How to create communities for the elderly

· Innovative methods to combat loneliness

· How artificial intelligence can address loneliness

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Christian Jarrett || The Science of Personality Change May 27, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Christian Jarrett on the podcast. A cognitive neuroscientist by training, Christian is Deputy Editor of Psyche, a global digital magazine that illuminates the human condition. Christian has written about psychology and neuroscience for publications across the world, including BBC Future, WIRED, New York magazine, New Scientist, GQ Italia and The Guardian. He was the founding editor and creator of the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, presenter of their PsychCrunch podcast, and an award-winning journalist on The Psychologist magazine. His books include The Rough Guide to Psychology and Great Myths of The Brain. His latest book is Be Who You Want: Unlocking The Science of Personality Change.

Topics

[1:48] How Christian burst out of his shell

[4:32] The role of biology in temperament

[6:52] How working on your physical health can influence your personality

[8:11] How changing job roles can shape our personality

[10:07] How our peers shape our personalities

[12:17] The effect of stressors on a developing child’s personality

[17:16] The impact of a child’s environment on their personality

[20:04] The happy events in life that don’t positively affect personality

[23:46] The lemon juice personality test

[27:56] Christian’s thoughts on "cancel culture"

[31:03] Christian discusses personality disorders

[35:37] Why US presidents are more likely to display psychopathic traits

[39:30] Challenge mindset vs. threat mindset

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Tim Grover || The Victory Mentality May 22, 2021

Today it’s great to have Tim Grover on the podcast. Tim is the CEO of Attack Athletics Inc. which he founded in 1989 and author of the international bestseller Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable. World renowned for his work with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and thousands of athletes and business professionals. He appears around the world as a keynote speaker and consultant to business leaders, athletes, and lead achievers in every field. His latest book is called Winning: The Unforgivable Race to Greatness.

Topics

[00:01:58] Tim’s childhood and upbringing

[00:09:08] Choosing to become a professional trainer

[00:11:50] From "fat kid" to competitive basketball player

[00:16:26] "The most successful are the most coachable"

[00:19:30] Victim Mentality vs. Victory Mentality

[00:22:51] The early days of Tim’s career

[00:25:46] Meeting and working with Michael Jordan

[00:30:55] Michael Jordan’s feedback about Tim

[00:33:54] Being a part of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty

[00:41:50] Meeting Kobe Bryant

[00:45:42] The phone call just before Kobe’s passing

[00:50:39] "The unforgiveable race to winning"

[00:54:48] The difference between competing and winning

[00:56:40] The importance of grit for winning

[01:01:36] How uplifting others is the ultimate win

[01:05:11] Creating personal definitions of winning

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Bridget Phetasy || Why We Need More Humor May 20, 2021

Bridget Phetasy is a writer and stand-up comedian. Bridget has contributed to a wide variety of publications such as SpectatorUSA, Huffington Post, Playboy, Tablet Magazine, The Washington Examiner, and more. As the owner and operator of Phetasy, Inc., she has built a digital media cul-de-sac, leveraging existing platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Locals to deliver insightful and compelling commentary and observations on current events. Her YouTube show Dumpster Fire is a satirical commentary on the ridiculousness of the 24-hour news cycle. Her weekly podcast, Walk-Ins Welcome, has become staple listening for many influencers in the social media space.

Topics

[5:16] The power and utility of humor

[12:26] The usefulness of self-deprecating humor

[14:22] Bridget’s thoughts on social media

[21:21] Bridget discusses politics and values

[28:00] Bridget’s thoughts on being “politically homeless”

[31:31] The link between "commodified outrage" and histrionics

[34:33] The issue of online "trauma-dumping"

[36:21] The language of therapy out in the wild

[39:23] The difference between "performative histrionics" and a genuine cry for help

[43:32] The relationship between narcissism and technology

[47:46] Why it’s so hard to do things that are good for us

[50:27] Bridget’s thoughts on whether speech can be violent

[55:15] What it was like being on Curb Your Enthusiasm

[1:01:10] What it was like wearing a Tucker Carlson shirt for a week in LA

[1:04:20] How to see both sides of an issue

[1:09:09] Which lessons from AA could American politics benefit from?

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Katy Milkman || How to Change May 13, 2021

Katy Milkman is an award-winning behavioral scientist and the James G. Dinan Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She hosts Charles Schwab’s popular behavioral economics podcast Choiceology, and is the co-founder and co-director of The Behavior Change for Good Initiative. She has worked with or advised dozens of organizations on how to spur positive change, including Google, the U.S. Department of Defense, the American Red Cross, 24 Hour Fitness, Walmart and Morningstar. Her research is regularly featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and NPR.

Topics

[1:33] What it means to align one’s actions with their goals and dreams

[2:41] Why change is difficult

[6:51] Katy’s thoughts on the barrier of conformity

[8:37] Katy discusses laziness

[12:20] The power of elastic habits

[21:09] How to avoid flaking out

[29:01] How to create a fresh start

[39:21] Why a fresh start can be a setback to some

[45:06] What “temptation-bundling” is

[48:33] Katy’s thoughts on self-control

[51:14] How the power of social forces can boost self-control

[54:15] Can positive behavioral interventions create meaningful change?

[56:12] Does age have an impact on the ability to change?

[58:46] When should we seek change vs. self-acceptance?

[1:02:26] What behavioral changes make a better academic?

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Ed Catmull || The Soul of Pixar May 06, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Ed Catmull. Ed is the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and former president of Pixar Animation and Disney Animation. He has been honored with five Academy Awards, including the Gordon E. Sawyer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of computer graphics. He received his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Utah and is the author of Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and children.

Topics

[1:04] Ed’s childhood growing up in Utah in the 50s

[3:57] Ed’s entry point into the field of animation

[7:30] The evolution of computer graphics

[12:20] How Ed broke barriers in his field

[15:21] Ed’s encounters with Silicon Valley and emerging technologies

[20:29] Ed’s interactions with Steve Jobs

[34:36] How to create a sustainable creative culture

[43:22] Ed describes his leadership style

[46:01] How to protect the creative process and handle internal conflict

[56:33] What it means to take risks at Pixar

[1:03:32] The core principles that make Pixar so creative

[1:10:17] How to lead an effective team

[1:13:13] The appeal of anthropomorphic characters in animation

[1:16:20] The impact of the pandemic on Pixar

[1:24:40] Ed’s opinion on cancel culture

[1:26:30] Ed’s thoughts on the future of animation

[1:33:00] Diversifying Pixar

[1:37:32] Ed’s complete inability to visualize (aphantasia)

[1:40:38] Ed’s thoughts on the field of education

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Dave Asprey || Fast This Way Apr 29, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Dave Asprey, Founder & Chairman of Bulletproof. Dave is a three-time New York Times bestselling science author, host of the Webby award-winning podcast Bulletproof Radio, and has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, The New York Times, Dr. Oz, and more. His latest book is called Fast This Way: Burn Fat, Heal Inflammation, and Eat Like the High-Performing Human You Were Mean to Be.

Topics

[2:13] Dave shares his vision quest experience

[9:50] Why Dave started Bulletproof

[15:12] Dave explains the science behind MCT

[18:10] Dave’s rules for fasting

[21:09] Working fast vs. spiritual fast

[23:01] Cravings vs. hunger

[27:51] The science of the keto diet

[32:30] The science and mentality behind cravings

[36:16] How to develop sustainable food habits

[40:39] Dave shares the impact of fasting on his body and mind

[44:25] Why Dave thinks he can live to 180

[51:32] Dave explains the “16:8 Fast”

[56:42] Dave discusses the dangers of over-fasting

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Julie Lythcott-Haims || How To Be An Adult Apr 22, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Julie Lythcott-Haims on the show. Julie believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way. She is a former corporate lawyer and Stanford dean. She serves on the board of Common Sense Media, and on the advisory board of LeanIn.Org, and she is a former board member at Foundation for a College Education, Global Citizen Year, The Writers Grotto, and Challenge Success. Julie is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American. Her third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, will be out in April 2021.

Topics

[1:32] How Julie defines “adulting”

[3:07] How the way we define adulthood has changed over time

[5:59] What is the “adult mindset”?

[8:00] Why Julie challenges the “right track” concept of adulthood

[15:07] Julie’s advice to those who want to take an unconventional path

[18:57] Julie’s advice to those struggling with questions of identity

[20:46] Julie’s encounters with racism and “othering”

[26:21] Julie’s promise of inclusivity and how she overcame her struggles

[29:40] Julie’s thoughts on self-acceptance and self-love

[33:22] How Julie collected inspiring stories from people for her book

[37:15] Julie’s advice to people who struggle to embrace outsiders

[40:17] How Julie ended up interviewing her Lyft driver for her book

[42:54] Julie’s reflections on intuition and her observational capacity

[45:43] “Life’s beautiful F-words”

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Daniel Kahneman || A Remarkable Life, Fast and Slow Apr 15, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Daniel Kahneman, one of the most influential psychologists of all time. Kahneman is known for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making as well as behavioral economics, for which he was awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. He is author of the bestselling book Thinking, Fast and Slow and co-author of the recent book Noise: A Flaw in Judgment. In 2013, Kahneman received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

Topics

[1:11] Daniel’s early childhood

[4:11] Daniel’s experiences in Nazi-occupied France [6:38] Daniel’s escape from Nazi-occupied France

[10:59] Daniel’s recollection of the birth of Israel

[14:39] How Daniel’s work in the army influenced his work

[20:50] Daniel’s work at UC Berkeley

[23:02] Daniel’s shift in focus from perception & attention to judgment & decision-making

[28:18] The importance of "adversarial collaboration"

[34:52] The development of Daniel’s ambitions in psychology

[37:23] The difference between System 1 and System 2 in psychology

[47:29] Daniel’s thoughts on the free will debate

[50:34] Daniel’s thoughts on individual differences in System 1

[53:54] Daniel’s thoughts on Seymour Epstein’s dual-process model

[57:15] Scott and Daniel discuss individual differences in System 1

[1:02:48] How Daniel moved into investigating hedonic psychology

[1:08:44] Daniel’s response to the current research on well-being

[1:16:00] Hope vs hopefulness as a psychological intervention

[1:19:55] The distinction between the science of well-being vs. the application of the science of well-being

[1:27:00] The link between wealth and happiness

[1:31:15] The difference between bias and noise

[1:36:38] The issue of noise across various disciplines

[1:31:39] What is decision hygiene?

[1:42:47] How Daniel has grown over time as a person

[1:45:38] Daniel’s reflections on winning the Nobel Prize

[1:48:09] What Daniel would study today and where he sees behavioral economics going

[1:50:46] What Daniel wants his greatest legacy to be

[1:53:12] Daniel’s advice to young psychologists

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Jesse Singal || Fad Psychology Apr 08, 2021

Jesse Singal is a contributing writer at New York and the former editor of the magazine’s Science of Us online vertical, as well as the cohost of the podcast Blocked and Reported. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Slate, The Boston Globe, The Daily Beast, and other publications. He was a Bosch Fellow in Berlin and holds a master’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. His book The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can't Cure Our Social Ills will be published in April.

Topics

[1:45] How Jesse caught on to the issue of junk science

[5:18] What is "fad psychology"?

[10:30] Jesse’s critique of mindset interventions

[19:03] The challenges that scientists face

[20:10] Why do we hold scientists to a higher standard than self-help gurus?

[24:46] How valid is the Implicit Association Test (IAT)?

[29:00] Jesse’s thoughts on implicit bias

[31:39] Jesse and Scott discuss Angela Duckworth’s research on grit

[40:34] What does it mean to be living in the “age of fracture”?

[42:05] How Jesse responds to those who claim to benefit from non-scientifically validated self-help interventions

[45:16] Jesse’s thoughts on the science of self-esteem

[50:00] Jesse and Scott discuss monocausal vs multicausal accounts of human behavior

Links and Resources

Jesse Singal's book

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Ayaan Hirsi Ali || Protecting Women's Rights Apr 01, 2021

Today it’s great to have Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the podcast. Ayaan is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and founder of the AHA Foundation. She has written several books including Infidel (2007), Nomad: from Islam to America, a Personal Journey through the Clash of Civilizations (2010), Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now (2015) and The Challenge of Dawa (2017). Her latest book Prey was published by Harper Collins in 2020. In 2005, Ayaan was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world

Topics

[1:58] Ayaan’s early childhood experiences

[4:47] Ayaan’s personal experience with female genital mutilation

[7:39] Which values are moving humanity in a better or worse direction?

[14:02] Ayaan’s relationship with Islam and why she left

[18:41] Ayaan’s current feelings about religion in general

[20:29] Ayaan’s response to critics who doubt her story

[22:19] Ayaan’s conceptualization of Islam and the classifications of Muslims

[28:43] Ayaan’s thoughts on Islam and Western values

[32:39] Ayaan’s response to individuals who call her an "Islamaphobe"

[38:35] Ayaan’s first impressions of the Netherlands

[40:38] Ayaan’s thoughts on modern American feminism

[44:15] Ayaan discusses her own views of feminism

[45:44] Why Ayaan focuses on Muslim migrants in her book

[49:01] How to sidestep vilification of two vulnerable populations

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Michael Murphy || Human Potential Mar 25, 2021

Today it’s great to have Michael Murphy on the podcast. Michael is co-founder of Esalen Institute, a pioneer of the Human Potential Movement, and author of many influential books on extraordinary human potential.

Topics

[1:38] Michael’s early life

[4:09] Michael’s connection with religion

[8:00] How Michael and Dick Price met and founded the Esalen Institute

[14:34] Michael’s connection to Abraham Maslow

[19:07] Michael’s guest list for Esalen

[27:12] How Michael built Esalen

[33:00] Michael’s thoughts on black-white encounter groups

[40:53] How Esalen Institute's geography informs its practices

[43:59] Integral Transformative Practice (ITP)

[47:40] How Michael defines heart & soul

[53:48] What is our deepest birthright?

[56:28] Where Michael sees humanity going

[1:06:14] How to carry on the Human Potential Movement

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Nedra Tawwab || Set Boundaries, Find Peace Mar 18, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Nedra Glover Tawwab. Nedra is a licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert. She has practiced relationship therapy for 13 years and is the founder and owner of the group therapy practice, Kaleidoscope Counseling. Nedra has been featured recently in The New York Times, The Guardian, Psychology Today, Self, and Vice, and has appeared on numerous podcasts. She runs a popular Instagram account where she shares practices, tools, and reflections for mental health and hosts weekly Q&As.

Topics

[2:20] Why Nedra wrote a book on boundaries

[3:24] What is a boundary?

[4:22] What is “enmeshment”?

[5:55] Signs you need to set boundaries

[8:52] Why we’re afraid of setting boundaries

[11:16] Is there hope for chronic people-pleasers?

[12:07] Nedra’s personal journey with boundaries

[21:23] How to set professional boundaries

[27:34] Nedra’s experiences with setting professional boundaries

[34:43] The benefits of having healthy boundaries

[36:36] How mental health impacts your physical health

[40:31] How to help people without burning out

[43:40] The importance of boundaries in achieving a work/life balance

[46:57] The 6 types of boundaries

[50:17] Nedra’s experience with writing her book

[51:57] Nedra’s thoughts on growing her Instagram account

[55:26] Porous vs rigid boundaries

[57:09] How boundaries shift depending on the person

[58:13] How to enforce a boundary

[1:00:39] How to deal with depersonalization

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Andrew Yang || Humanizing Education Mar 11, 2021

Today the tables are turned on The Psychology Podcast as Andrew Yang interviews Scott Barry Kaufman! This is a really meaningful episode for Scott, as he was a big supporter of Andrew's presidential campaign, and is now a big supporter of his Mayoral NYC campaign. Andrew and Scott share a humanistic viewpoint, and it was great to finally get them together in a discussion.

Andrew is the founder of Venture for America, a non-profit organization aiming to create economic opportunities in American cities. He is a former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and is currently running for mayor of New York City on a Democrat ticket. In 2012, the Obama administration selected Andrew as a "Champion for Change" and later as a "Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship" in 2015. This episode originally appeared on Andrew's podcast, Yang Speaks.

In this eagerly anticipated episode, Andrew and Scott discuss:

[02:48] Scott’s journey into and out of special-education

[05:45] Why Scott signed up for dance classes in college

[06:30] How Scott accidentally discovered his singing talents

[08:10] Why Scott decided to pursue psychology

[15:30] The worrying trend of schools rewarding behavioral conformity and performance on thinly disguised intelligence tests

[17:29] Scott’s "Dual-Process Theory of Human Intelligence"

[20:23] Why academic psychologists are under pressure to come up with novel ideas

[21:02] Scott’s encounter with creativity research

[24:39] How Scott’s research on human intelligence opened doors for studying other research topics

[26:31] Examples of human-centered schools

[30:41] Andrew Yang’s take on humanistic and positive education

[33:20] Why Americans need to incorporate humanity into their everyday lives

[36:04] The difference between narcissism and healthy self-esteem

[39:20] Scott’s revised hierarchy of needs

[42:17] The distinction between deficiency motivation and growth motivation

[48:04] The reception of Scott’s latest book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization among psychologist

My friend Andrew Yang is running for New York City Mayor, and he needs our help! Andrew maintains a huge lead in the polls and is dominating press coverage, and together, we can push him into first place in the fundraising race, too. This week, let's make sure Andrew receives more contributions than any other candidate. What's more: any New York City resident who contributes will get their contribution matched 8 to 1 by the City! To contribute, please go to y4ny.com/scott.

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Sam Harris || Free Will (Part 2) Mar 04, 2021

Today it’s great to have Sam Harris on the podcast. Sam is the author of five New York Timesbest sellers, including The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying, and Waking Up. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction. His writing and public lectures cover a wide range of topics—neuroscience, moral philosophy,religion, meditation practice, human violence, rationality—but generally focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live. He also hosts the Making Sense Podcast, which was selected by Apple as one of the “iTunes Best” and has won a Webby Award for best podcast in the Science & Education category.

Topics

[0:17] Sam and Scott discuss materialism and consciousness

[2:59] Sam makes his case for determinism

[11:08] Sam and Scott discuss “the self” and free will

[24:50] Sam’s take on why determinism eases human suffering

[29:23] Sam’s thoughts on the "responsibility paradox"

[36:30] The link between the responsibility paradox, cancel culture, and politics

[43:57] Sam’s thoughts on pride

[48:17] Sam’s reflections on love, hate, and Trump

[1:08:00] Sam’s defense of objective morality

[1:15:51] Why we ‘should’ prevent suffering and promote collective wellbeing

[1:30:23] What if reincarnation was real?

[1:33:37] Would it be good to change someone’s intuition of right and wrong?

[1:39:40] How emotions and values are linked

[1:45:09] Why we need to scale values

[1:48:12] Sam’s issue with the is-ought problem

[1:56:49] Why Sam maintains that free will and determinism are incompatible

[2:02:45] Why the self is an illusion

[2:08:53] Sam’s exploration of mystery

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Sam Harris || Free Will (Part 1) Feb 25, 2021

Today it’s great to have Sam Harris on the podcast. Sam is the author of five New York Times best sellers, including The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying, and Waking Up. The End of Faith won the 2005 PEN Award for Nonfiction. His writing and public lectures cover a wide range of topics—neuroscience, moral philosophy,religion, meditation practice, human violence, rationality—but generally focus on how a growing understanding of ourselves and the world is changing our sense of how we should live. He also hosts the Making Sense Podcast, which was selected by Apple as one of the “iTunes Best” and has won a Webby Award for best podcast in the Science & Education category.

Topics

[1:57] Sam’s reflections on his childhood

[7:18] Sam’s interest in martial arts

[8:04] Sam’s experience with MDMA

[12:09] How Sam ended up on the Dalai Lama’s security detail

[16:39] Sam’s experience with meditation teacher Sayadaw U Pandita

[23:12] Dualistic vs Nondualistic mindfulness

[24:34] Sam’s experience with Dzogchen meditation

[28:27] Sam’s dream about Dilgo Khyentse

[34:15] Sam’s experience with fiction writing

[37:50] Scott questions Sam’s position on free will

[41:33] Sam’s disagreement with Daniel Dennett

[42:41] Sam’s take on free will and human interaction

[46:38] Why Sam thinks we’re getting “free will” wrong

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Simon Baron-Cohen || How Autism Drives Human Invention Feb 18, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Simon Baron-Cohen. Simon is professor of psychology and psychiatry and director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University. He is the author of six hundred scientific articles and four books, including The Science of Evil and The Essential Difference.

[2:47] Simon’s evolution of thought on autism

[5:19] How the social realm of autism has evolved

[8:12] The difference between autism and psychopathy

[10:26] The role of affective vs cognitive empathy

[12:37] How to navigate autism amidst cancel culture

[14:18] Having autistic traits vs being on the autism spectrum

[17:52] How autism drives human invention

[22:11] The “systemizing mechanism” of the brain

[24:03] The role of “if-and-then patterns” in autistic individuals

[26:41] Simon’s thoughts on language acquisition

[27:48] “The empathy circuit”

[37:28] The role of creativity in autism

[41:19] The Brain Types Study

[42:43] The biological basis of creativity and autism

[45:24] Why monkeys don’t skateboard

[48:12] Why language isn’t a necessary precursor to invention

[55:12] How Scott measured implicit learning and pattern-seeking

[59:28] Why Simon’s work has sparked some pushback

[1:01:04] How to support autistic people

[1:05:45] How we can nurture the inventors of the future

[1:07:18] Sex differences in autism

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Jennifer Aaker & Naomi Bagdonas || How Humor Can Save The World Feb 11, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas on the podcast. Dr. Jennifer Aaker is the General Atlantic Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a leading expert on how purpose and meaning shape individual choices and how technology can positively impact both human well-being and company growth. Her work has been widely published in lead in scientific journals and featured in The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and Science. A recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award and the MBA Professor of the Year, Aaker counts winning a dance-off in the early 1980s among her greatest feats.

Naomi Bagdonas is a Lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an Executive Coach. She helps leaders be more creative, flexible and resilient in the face of change by facilitating interactive sessions for Fortune 100 companies and coaching executives and celebrities for appearances ranging from Saturday Night Live to the Today Show. Formally trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Bagdonas performs at comedy venues and teaches improv in San Francisco’s county jail. Her constant stream of foster dogs describe her as gullible and full of treats.

Topics

[3:15] Why the world needs more humor

[6:06] Humor at the expense of others/4 Styles of humor

[8:49] Origin story of “Humor, Seriously”

[12:51] The bottom-line value of humor

[18:19] How to infuse humor in the workplace

[22:05] Jennifer’s thoughts on humorlessness

[24:58] Cultivating the comedian’s toolbox

[28:30] How to create your own signature joke

[30:17] Scott and Naomi’s experiences at Upright Citizen’s Brigade

[34:11] The link between humor and mental health

[37:45] The relationship between status and humor

[42:17] The value of self-deprecating humor

[44:10] The importance of context in humor

[50:22] One of Jennifer’s pranks on her students

[51:21] Biological vs cultural dimensions of humor

[54:58] How humor reflects elements of our society

[58:27] Should there be moral rules for comedy?

[1:03:13] Why truth and misdirection are at the core of comedy

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Adam Grant || Think Again Feb 04, 2021

Today it’s great to have Adam Grant on the podcast. Adam is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of four books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages. His work has been praised by J.J. Abrams, Bill and Melinda Gates, and many others. Grant’s TED talks have been viewed more than 20 million times, and he hosts the chart-topping TED podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers, Fortune’s 40 under 40, Oprah’s Super Soul 100, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Adam received distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Allison and their three children.

Topics

[4:17] What is rethinking?

[7:02] “Preachers, prosecutors, and politicians”

[8:08] Why we need to cultivate a scientific attitude

[11:48] The path to being effective

[12:17] Linking character and success

[16:10] Adam’s new construct of character

[20:42] The importance of authenticity and integrity

[25:05] The role of consistency in exercising our values

[30:37] The role of integrity in politics

[33:07] The tension between personality and pursuing values

[36:08] “A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing”

[38:32] The trap of cognitive entrenchment

[40:50] The importance of having diverse interests

[41:40] Cognitive underpinnings of thinking again

[42:31] Actively open-minded thinking

[45:53] The benefits of disagreeableness

[51:42] Selfishness as the 6th factor of personality

[57:31] Why “agreeing to disagree” is wrong

[1:00:04] How to destabilize stereotypes

[1:05:25] Psychological safety in universities

[1:09:40] What “good faith” means

[1:11:18] Crossing psychological safety with accountability

[1:12:59] What Scott thinks Adam should rethink

[1:17:26] The importance of benevolence and universalism

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Steven Kotler || The Art of Impossible Jan 28, 2021

Today it’s great to chat with Steven Kotler on the podcast. Steven is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. He is the author of nine bestsellers (out of thirteen books total), including The Art of Impossible, The Future Is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abundance. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 40 languages, and appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, TIME and the Harvard Business Review. Steven is also the cohost of Flow Research Collective Radio. Along with his wife, author Joy Nicholson, he is the cofounder of the Rancho de Chihuahua, a hospice and special needs dog sanctuary.

Topics

[4:04] Understanding human potential

[9:58] Why not going big is bad for us

[11:22] Insights into the flow state

[15:06] "Biology scales, personality doesn’t"

[18:44] The importance of confidence and grit

[19:05] Physical vs. psychological recovery

[20:51] Conscious vs. unconscious self-esteem

[22:49] The difference between impossible and Impossible

[25:21] How to get to Impossible

[27:39] Reflections on failure

[31:14] Steven’s thoughts on bravery

[32:51] Fear as a compass

[33:44] Exercising clarity of vision

[34:37] Confronting physical barriers to performance

[36:57] Steven's dimensions of grit

[40:51] How practice makes confident

[43:31] How the "courage to be” may be a form of grit

[44:54] Steven’s thoughts on passion

[49:34] The role of purpose in peak performance

[53:16] How to be a high performer

[55:09] The "habit of ferocity"

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Noam Chomsky || On Human Nature and Human Progress Jan 14, 2021

Today it’s great to have the legendary Noam Chomsky on the podcast. Noam is a public intellectual, linguist, and political activist. He’s the author of many influential books, including Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, and his latest book with Robert Pollin called Climate Crisis and The Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving The Planet. Chomsky is also known for helping to initiate and sustain the cognitive revolution. He’s the Laureate Professor of Linguistics at The University of Arizona and Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT.

Topics

[02:06] The cognitive revolution of the ‘50s and ‘60s

[03:49] Noam’s first encounter with behaviorism

[12:41] What it was like to be part of the cognitive revolution

[17:49] Implicit learning and artificial grammar

[26:30] Noam’s view on modern-day behavioral genetics

[28:05] Noam's thoughts on intelligence

[32:02] Noam’s take on creativity

[38:41] Chomsky's view vs. Foucault's view

[42:49] Noam’s thoughts on modern-day social justice movements

[45:50] Is there such a thing as human nature?

[49:06] Identity vs. human nature

[54:54] Noam’s views on race consciousness in America

[59:16] Why Noam thinks Trump is the worst criminal in human history

[1:00:34] How can democrats appeal to Trump supporters?

[1:03:47] Cancel culture

[1:05:10] The complexities of the slogan "defund the police"

[1:08:36] Noam reflects on his life regrets

[1:10:17] Chomsky's life advice

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Rich Roll || A Psychological Case Study on Greatness Dec 31, 2020

Today it’s great to chat with Rich Roll on the podcast. Named one of the 25 fittest men in the world by Men’s Fitness and the guru of reinvention by Outside, Rich is a globally renowned ultra-endurance athlete, wellness advocate, best-selling author, husband, and father of four. He shares his inspirational stories of addiction, redemption, and optimal health in his number one best-selling memoir Finding Ultra. Rich has also been featured on CNN, the cover of Outside Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. His latest book, Voicing Change, features timeless wisdom and inspiration from the widely popular Rich Roll Podcast, one of the top one hundred podcasts in the world with over 100 million downloads.

Topics

[04:09] Rich’s three major transformations

[05:29] How Rich overcame his alcoholism

[10:12] Rich’s grit and his life as a functional alcoholic

[11:12] Learning how to outwork everybody

[12:20] Rich’s personality structure during his schooling years

[13:55] The relationship between endurance and drug abuse recovery

[17:47] Life after rehab

[23:22] Changes made during his early 40s and the motivation behind his fitness routines

[25:30] You are what you eat

[28:10] Spiritual exploration through active meditation

[30:07] Addictive nature of the flow state

[32:36] Embracing your authenticity

[36:01] How humans are all victims of their character defects

[39:00] Growth and self-actualization

[42:48] How the media interprets Rich’s story

[46:08] The psychologically rich life

[49:17] The apology narrative

[51:21] Why choosing growth is a daily struggle

[53:41] Rich’s third transition

[58:25] The overnight success culture

[1:01:40] Rich’s advice to people trying to adopt a vegan lifestyle

[1:02:47] Focus on controlling the controllable

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Douglas Conant || Authentic Leadership Dec 24, 2020

“Your life story is your leadership story.” - Douglas Conant

Today it’s great to have Douglas “Doug” Conant on the podcast. Conant is the CEO and founder of Conant Leadership, a mission driven community of leaders and learners who are championing leadership that works. He served as the CEO of Campbell Soup for 10 years and is also the former president of Nabisco and former chairman of Avon. He’s a New York Times bestselling author and his new book is called The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights.

Topics

[02:14] Doug’s early struggles in his career

[04:19] Turning inwards to unlock your potential in life

[07:11] Merging “work self” with “real self” into one cohesive identity

[11:15] Improve leadership in real time

[14:45] Overview of The Blueprint and its 6 Practical Steps

[21:31] The practice of declaring yourself to build productive relationships

[25:12] More candor is better than less

[26:41] Your life story is your leadership story

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Olga Khazan || The Perks of Being a Weirdo Dec 17, 2020

Today it's great to have Olga Khazan on the podcast. Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic, covering health, gender, and science. Prior to that, she was The Atlantic's Global editor. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is a two-time recipient of the International Reporting Project's Journalism Fellowship and winner of the 2017 National Headliner Awards for Magazine Online Writing.

Topics

[02:23] The origin of Olga Khazan's weirdness

[04:02] The natural tendency of loner kids to flock together

[07:35] The state of our polarized society

[08:53] How outcasts bond over the mutual feeling of being different

[10:17] Changing social norms without changing people's attitude

[11:45] The implications of normalizing everything

[12:29] Why most people find it hard to be different

[14:10] Gender issues when upholding the norm

[16:13] The relationship between tribal instincts and farming

[18:03] Why most people tend to overgeneralize stuff

[19:34] Why American's warm more towards English speakers than non-English speakers

[21:15] Social stresses and how it is related to loneliness

[23:59] The link between adverse health outcomes and racial disparities

[25:09] Perceived versus real social treatment

[26:25] The relationship between weirdness and creativity

[28:27] How being different can help you find your true self or your true love

[35:48] How to be different

[37:06] Comfort with discomfort

[39:30] "The weirder you are the fewer and the more precious are the people who truly accept you"

[40:35] Why non-conformists desire to improve the lives of others

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Matt Ridley || How Innovation Works Dec 10, 2020

Today we have Matt Ridley on the podcast. Matt is the author of the recently-released How Innovation Works, as well as The Rational Optimist and several other books related to science and human progress, which have sold over a million copies. He is also a biologist, newspaper columnist, and member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.
Topics
[01:37] What it means to be a rational optimist
[03:39] Evidence that the world is heading in the right direction
[05:43] Giving evidence-based hope
[11:23] Understanding the probabilities of life
[12:42] "It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble; it’s what you think you know that ain’t so"
[14:23] Why nuance is an endangered species
[16:28] The reward value to truthful or insightful information
[18:16] How not everybody is wired to create
[20:08] Working with restricted samples
[23:03] Does the lone genius really exist?
[26:43] Working with naturally occurring samples versus working with restricted samples
[32:10] Why stories don’t necessarily mean generalizable truths about innovation
[34:05] The need to look out for unexpected results
[35:00] Separating the person from the process
[36:02] The phenomenon of simultaneous inventions
[42:28] Why innovation requires freedom
[44:38] Why innovators crave the safe space to fail
[45:08] The government’s role in innovation
[49:47] Biology as the science of exceptions and not rules

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Sian Beilock || How Not to Choke Under Pressure Dec 03, 2020

Today it’s great to have Sian Beilock on the podcast. Sian began her tenure as Barnard College President in July 2017, after spending 12 years at the University of Chicago, where she served on the faculty as the Stella M. Rowley Professor of psychology and an executive vice provost. Her work as a cognitive scientist revolves around performance anxiety and reveals simple psychological strategies that can be used to ensure success in everything from test-taking and public speaking to athletics and job interviews. In 2010, she wrote the critically acclaimed book, Choke, and in 2015 she wrote How The Body Knows Its Mind. In 2017, she won the Troland Award from the National Academy of Sciences, and her recent TED Talk has been viewed more than 2 million times.

Time Stamps

[02:57] Sian’s interest in real-world practical applications of science

[04:04] Why writing a book can sometimes be a daunting process

[08:07] Choking Under Pressure

[09:50] Is flow the opposite of choking?

[11:20] Being in the right frame of mind in different situations

[11:59] Sian’s definition of choking

[13:30] Factors influencing a woman’s career success

[17:20] A teacher’s math anxiety and how it impacts a student’s self-belief

[19:20] Advice to young people on matters of confidence

[20:02] Importance of taking risks in uncomfortable situations

[20:48] How to mentally prepare yourself for high stakes situations

[22:07] Barnard College as a unique academic institution

[24:47] Sian’s ultimate topic in a freshman seminar

[27:01] Why college campuses are important places to have cultural conversations

[28:16] How curriculums can incorporate science into today’s reality

[30:03] Teaching about how to think and not what to think

[31:03] Why classrooms should not be considered a safe space

[32:12] Why it’s okay to feel uncomfortable sometimes

[35:09] How the body knows its mind

[37:35] How nature can change how you approach different scenarios in life

[37:57] The Alexander technique in eliminating physical tension

[38:58] How an acting class can help you get used to being uncomfortable

[39:22] Sian’s final tips

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Susan Baum || To Be Gifted & Learning Disabled Nov 26, 2020

Today it’s great to have Susan Baum on the podcast. Dr. Baum is the Director of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy, a school for twice-exceptional children. She is also Provost of the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. She is the author of many books and articles primarily focusing on understanding and nurturing the needs of special populations of gifted underachieving students including the award-winning 3rd edition of her seminal work To Be Gifted & Learning Disabled. Her research and experience in the field of twice-exceptional education have earned her much recognition: 2010 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award granted by the Weinfeld Group, 2011 recipient of the Connecticut Association for the Gifted “Friend of the Gifted Award; the 2015 Distinguished Professional Alumni Award from the Neag School of Education; the Lifetime Achievement Award from AEGUS and the 2e Newsletter in 2017, as well as the Alexinia Baldwin Award from National Association for Gifted Students in 2019.

Time Stamps

[01:30] Dr. Baum’s experience in the field of twice-exceptional education

[02:53] “Gifted Education” research in 1985

[04:07] What it means to be 2e

[06:00] The difference between gifted and non-gifted in students with learning disabilities

[07:50] What counts as “gifted”

[09:25] The importance of divergent thinking in creative problem-solving

[14:07] Dr. Baum’s work on multiple intelligences theory

[16:18] Dr. Baum’s assessment tools for identifying strengths, interests and talents

[19:54] The 4 personality types identified by Dr. Baum’s assessment tools

[24:48] Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education and embracing neurodiversity

[30:18] “It isn’t easy being green”

[36:33] Learning styles vs. strengths

[41:58] General intelligence and working memory in 2e learners

[46:05] Circumventing the limitations of working memory and strengths-based education

[49:41] The importance of a community of support in 2e education

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Shellye Archambeau || Unapolegetically Ambitious Nov 19, 2020

Today it’s great to have Shellye Archambeau on the podcast. Archambeau is one of high tech's first female African American CEOs and has a track record of accomplishments building brands, high performance teams, and organizations. Archambeau currently serves on the boards of Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She is also a strategic advisor to Forbes Ignite and the President of Arizona State University, and serves on the board of two national nonprofits, Catalyst and Braven. She is the author of Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms.

Time Stamps

[01:45] Shellye Archambeau as a tech industry business leader

[03:44] Feeling like an outsider growing up

[04:32] The birth of Shellye’s tenacity

[06:02] You can’t affect what people say to you or people do to you but you can control how you respond.

[06:27] Why you need to stop people from controlling your emotions

[09:45] Shellye’s mother as a “professional parent”

[11:03] Creating a life plan in college

[12:28] The importance of making decisions that are consistent with your plans

[14:03] “Find your cheerleaders”

[17:16] Don’t let them win

[19:24] Opening your own doors

[19:52] How to fall in love with a future image of yourself

[20:55] Early influences during Shellye’s tech journey

[22:10] How to foster self determination

[24:04] Tips on how to build your reputation

[25:03] Stop having second thoughts

[29:01] Why you need to start embracing your limits

[30:50] Being unapologetically ambitious

[31:46] Why it is okay to be ambitious (and why it's not the same thing as narcissism)

[33:32] Resilience and staying connected

[34:16] How to identify your network

[35:50] You deserve it

[37:42] How to find your current

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Sharon Salzberg || Mindfulness To Heal Ourselves and the World Nov 12, 2020

Today it’s great to have Sharon Salzberg on the podcast. Sharon is a meditation pioneer and industry leader, a world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. As one of the first to bring meditation and mindfulness into mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, her relatable, demystifying approach has inspired generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of eleven books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, her seminal work, Lovingkindness, and her newest book, Real Change: Mindfulness To Heal Ourselves and the World, released in September of 2020 from Flatiron Books. Sharon’s secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings is sought after at schools, conferences, and retreat centers worldwide. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed over 3 million downloads and features interviews with the top leaders and thinkers of the mindfulness movement and beyond. Sharon’s writing can be found on Medium, On Being, the Maria Shriver blog, and Huffington Post.

Time Stamps

[01:46] Sharon’s book Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World

[05:31] The dialectical between thinking and doing

[08:06] Sharon Salzberg’s activism

[09:26] Art as a form of social action

[10:38] Love and kindness meditation and the perception in the west

[15:16] The importance of boundaries in love and kindness

[16:25] Learning about agency and love in the pandemic

[21:00] A false sense of agency and the culture of contempt

[22:31] Sharon’s inner state of consciousness

[23:41] Being mindful of your anger and acknowledging your suffering

[30:10] Being realistic and avoiding activist burnout

[32:37] “Benevolent contagion” and Sharon’s vision of interconnection

[35:37] Mindfulness Meditation and dissolving the grip of habits like attribution bias and stereotyping

[42:48] How do you cultivate equanimity?

[46:28] Pairing compassion with equanimity

[47:20] The legacy Sharon wants to leave behind

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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W. Keith Campbell || The New Science of Narcissism Nov 05, 2020

Today it is really great to have W. Keith Campbell on the podcast. Campbell is a professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia as well as the author of The Narcissism Epidemic, When You Love a Man Who Loves Himself, and most recently, The New Science of Narcissism. He also has more than 120 peer reviewed articles and he lives in Athens, Georgia.

Time Stamps

[00:01:41] Defining grandiose and vulnerable narcissism
[00:03:33] Three-factor model of narcissism
[00:07:32] The "recipe for narcissism"
[00:10:00] Primary goals and motives of narcissists
[00:12:56] The role of vanity
[00:16:47] Gender differences in narcissistic traits
[00:19:12] Gender differences in narcissism personality disorder diagnoses
[00:22:14] Dark and light triads of personality
[00:26:42] The dark empath and unique personality trait combinations
[00:30:12] How narcissistic traits affect relationship dynamics
[00:35:07] When do relationships start to fall apart?
[00:39:08] Narcissism in today's leadership
[00:44:26] Narcissism in social media
[00:45:39] Geek culture and the great fantasy migration
[00:52:37] How to reduce narcissism
[00:55:57] How to deal with narcissists
[00:57:55] Psychotherapy for vulnerable narcissism
[01:02:04] Narcissistic personality disorder
[01:05:54] New treatments for narcissistic personality disorder
[01:09:40] Transcending the ego

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Caroline Webb || How to Have a Good Day During a Global Pandemic Oct 22, 2020

Today it is great to have Caroline Webb on the podcast. Webb is an executive coach, author and speaker who specializes in showing people how to use insights from behavioral science to improve their professional lives. Her book on that topic, How To Have A Good Day, has been published in 14 languages and more than 60 countries. She is also a Senior Advisor to McKinsey, where she was previously a partner.

Time Stamps

[01:30] How To Have A Good Day during a pandemic
[03:37] The power of practicing mindfulness
[08:44] Emotional contagion and deliberate focus
[09:56] The state of affairs and focusing on what we can control
[13:55] Caroline’s philosophy of “realistic optimism”
[17:07] Realistic optimism vs aggressive positivity
[20:55] How mental contrasting can help you have a good day
[24:07] Changing your environment to change your behaviour
[24:48] Does positive thinking work?
[30:20] How coaching can help you
[32:00] Caroline’s coaching sessions
[37:00] Caroline’s scenic route to the field of psychology
[40:09] How coaching is not always grounded in science
[42:49] The universal need for coaching
[46:24] Listening as a basic coaching skill
[49:32] Helping people engage with their own creativity
[52:22] Burning Man and living a good life

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Ryan Holiday || Lives of the Stoics Oct 08, 2020

Today it is great to have Ryan Holiday on the podcast. Holiday is one of the world’s foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life. He is a sought-after speaker, strategist and the author of many bestselling books including The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living , and the number one New York Times bestseller Stillness is the Key. His books have been translated into over thirty languages, and been read by over two million people. He lives outside Austin, Texas with his family, and his most recent book is Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius.

Time Stamps

[00:01:10] Stoicism and "works over words"
[00:04:04] Modern day Stoicism
[00:05:16] Knowledge for knowledge’s sake vs. practical purposes of philosophy
[00:06:58] The four virtues of Stoicism
[00:07:59] Living well versus living the good life
[00:10:04] The founding fathers and Stoicism
[00:11:18] Ryan’s writing vs. academic writing
[00:17:43] The deeply personal Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
[00:19:21] Zeno the Prophet and the founding of Stoicism
[00:20:41] Living in harmony with nature
[00:22:16] How COVID-19 has given Ryan perspective on being zoomed into life
[00:25:33] Eastern and Western conceptions of stillness
[00:29:30] The relationship between Stoicism and humor
[00:30:11] Aristo the Challenger and the influence of cynicism on Stoicism
[00:31:01] Zeno the Maintainer and the repetition of names in Roman times
[00:33:38] Antipater the Ethicist and transcending individual selfishness
[00:37:56] Panaetius the connector and Stoicism beyond virtue
[00:39:36] Women in Stoicism and Portia Cato
[00:40:58] “Cancelling” Stoicism and the tearing down of Confederate statues
[00:44:48] Posidonius the Genius and the battle between our lower urges and higher nature
[00:46:26] The omission of frivolity in Stoic writing
[00:48:16] Cato: Roman among the Romans
[00:51:58] Epictetus and the nature of freedom
[00:54:27] How Marcus Aurelius became the emperor of Rome
[00:57:13] How Ryan has grown since his earliest engagements with and writings on Stoic philosophy

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Greg Lukianoff || Free Speech Sep 24, 2020

Today it is great to have Greg Lukianoff on the podcast. Greg is an attorney, New York Times bestselling author, and the present CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). He is the author of Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate, Freedom from Speech, and FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus. Most recently, he co-authored The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Check out Greg and Jonathan’s video on why they dislike the use of the word "coddling" in the title of their book.

Time Stamps

[00:02:39] Why Greg advocates free speech
[00:06:00] The story behind why the former executive director of the ACLU, Ira Glasser, began his fight for civil liberties
[00:07:54] The Bedrock Principle and why you cannot ban something simply because it is offensive
[00:09:42] The limits of free speech and exceptions to the First Amendment
[00:11:19] How Greg’s argument for free speech differs from the traditional argument for free speech
[00:14:38] Addressing the criticism that free speech could incite violence against vulnerable people
[00:16:03] Why we should listen to the arguments of people with whom we strongly disagree
[00:20:13] How to balance arguments for free speech with empathy
[00:22:37] Humor as a coping mechanism for depression
[00:23:14] Greg’s suicide attempt and struggle with depression
[00:27:29] How Greg enjoys helping people who struggle with mental health issues
[00:28:50] How Greg’s thriving after depression can give people hope
[00:29:37] Addressing the stereotype that Greg’s work is always about political correctness, when it is actually often transpartisan
[00:30:08] How hyper-bureaucratized universities can exacerbate mental health problems
[00:33:10] How cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) influenced The Coddling of the American Mind
[00:34:57] The importance of discipline and consistency in the practice of CBT
[00:36:14] The pre-2013 repression of free speech by the administration
[00:38:02] The post-2013 spike of repression of free speech by students
[00:40:23] How anti-free speech administrations taught students habits of anxiety and depression by repressing free speech
[00:43:07] The scary anti-Trump riots after his election in 2016
[00:44:35] Arguments over the title of the book The Coddling of the American Mind
[00:51:07] The six reasons for the sudden spike in anti-free speech activism
[00:55:59] Criticisms against allowing our gender or race identities to define us
[00:57:03] Common enemy identity politics versus common humanity identity politics
[00:59:16] Why compassion is essential
[00:59:57] Naive statism and why we should be cautious when designing laws which repress civil liberties
[01:05:04] Components of Greg’s background which led to his powerful advocacy of free speech on campus
[01:11:26] Greg and his family’s health after a year of injuries, health problems, and bereavement
[01:17:24] Hope that Greg has had since publishing The Coddling of the American Mind

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Spencer Greenberg || Effective Altruism, Mental Health, & Habit Change Sep 10, 2020

Today it is great to have Spencer Greenberg on the podcast. Spencer is an entrepreneur and mathematician and founder of Spark Wave — a software foundry which creates novel software products from scratch, designed to help solve problems in the world using social science. For example, scalable care for depression and anxiety and technology for accelerating and improving social science research. He also founded clearerthinking.org, which offers free tools and training programs used by over 250, 000 people which are designed to help you improve decision making and increase positive behaviors. Spencer has a PhD in Applied Math from NYU with a specialty in Machine Learning. Spencer’s work has been featured by numerous major media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Independent, Lifehacker, Fast Companyand the Financial Times.

Check out sparkwave.tech/conditions-for-change where you can apply the results of scientific studies to your habit development, from making a decision to cultivate a habit, to taking action, and finally, continuing that habit.

Time Stamps

[00:01:40] How the Effective Altruism movement works

[00:02:55] The role of emotions in Effective Altruism

[00:04:03] How Spencer applies Effective Altruism in his work and companies

[00:06:27] How cultivating automatic if-then rules can improve your life

[00:10:42] How to handle depression using behavioral activation

[00:12:05] Introversion and the hierarchical nature of personality

[00:14:58] Personality traits that are not captured by the Big Five model

[00:18:04] How it is easier to present a scientific finding compared to explaining that finding

[00:20:20] The “psychological immune system” and the five categories of behaviors for dealing with difficult situations

[00:20:55] Facing reality and clarifying distortions of thinking

[00:21:27] Feeling-based and emotion-based strategies for dealing with difficulty

[00:22:10] Action-based strategies for dealing with difficulty

[00:23:27] Refocusing techniques for dealing with difficulty

[00:23:42] Reframing and finding the silver lining

[00:29:47] Whether or not the Big Five personality traits are inherently valenced (i.e. positive or negative)

[00:31:03] Personality as a distribution of traits

[00:33:22] Finding optimal levels of different personality traits

[00:33:59] Tips for forming new habits

[00:38:22] How to determine why behavioral change is not happening

[00:42:07] Tips and heuristics for sparking structured and unstructured creativity

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Erika Lust || Ethical Porn Aug 27, 2020

Today it's great to have Erika Lust on the podcast. Lust is an acclaimed adult filmmaker who creates sex-positive, indie adult cinema that portrays sexually intelligent narratives, relatable characters and realistic hot sex. Her XConfessionsproject turns the public’s anonymous fantasies into explicit and artistic short films. Whilst her recently re-launched LustCinema is a US based studio with original series and feature length films for lovers of cinema and sex. In 2015, Erika gave her essential TEDx talk It’s Time for Porn to Change. Her story was also featured in the first episode of the Netflix documentary series Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On (“Women on Top”), directed by Rashida Jones. This year Erika was named as one of the BBC 100 Women’s most influential women of 2019.

Free 7 day subscription of lustcinema.com

Check out the first episode of Erika Lust's new miniseries for free now - 'Safe Word'is a full immersion in the BDSM healthy, sexy culture of communication and awareness in sex. The series follows the ruthless and demanding theatre director Christie in her initiation to BDSM.

link: https://lustcinema.com/lp/free-episode-soft?utm_medium=web&utm_source=thepsychologypodcast&utm_campaign=safeword

Time Stamps

[00:01:51] The changes that Erika wants to see in porn

[00:03:13] What is wrong with standard porn

[00:05:34] What people can expect to see in films produced by Erika

[00:08:33] How the sex can stay dirty, but the values must stay clean

[00:11:51] How to deal with derogation and humiliation in ethical porn

[00:14:08] Why porn, especially taboo porn, is so popular

[00:15:32] Common misconceptions about porn as an industry

[00:22:19] Exploitation in porn

[00:28:05] How to determine if the porn you watch is ethically produced

[00:30:00] Erika’s journey from a dissatisfied porn consumer to becoming a producer and an activist

[00:35:56] A study on the many reasons people have sex

[00:36:38] Objectification in standard porn versus ethical porn

[00:43:32] Research on the positive effects of having sex with a sense of care

[00:44:43] The objectification and stereotyping of men in porn

[00:47:00] The equality of sexual enjoyment

[00:48:07] The meaning of feminist porn

[00:49:58] Whether ethical porn is constrained by evolved human nature

[00:59:10] How to participate in XConfessions

[01:00:51] eroticfilms.com

[01:01:55] LustCinema

[01:03:03] The Porn Conversation

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Bret Weinstein || Uniting America Aug 13, 2020

Today we have Bret Weinstein on the podcast. Bret has spent two decades advancing the field of evolutionary biology, earning his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan before teaching at the Evergreen State College for fourteen years. He has developed a new Darwinian framework based on design tradeoffs and made important discoveries regarding the evolution of cancer, senescence, and the adaptive significance of moral self-sacrifice. He is currently working to uncover the evolutionary meaning of large-scale patterns in human history and seeking a game theoretically stable path forward for humanity. With his wife Heather Heying, he is co-writing A Hunter Gatherer’s Guide to the Twenty-First Century and is the host of Bret Weinstein’s Dark Horse Podcast.
Time Stamps
[00:00:00] Introducing Bret Weinstein
[00:00:43] The meaning of “evolutionary theoretical biology”
[00:01:37] Critiques of evolutionary psychology
[00:03:08] Critiques of epigenetics
[00:03:59] The unfortunate competition between theory and empiricism in academia
[00:05:19] Protests against Bret at Evergreen State College
[00:07:35] The role of fear in collective protests
[00:08:47] Sources of racial tensions in the US: deindividuation on the left & a lack of interracial compassion on the right
[00:12:37] Defining the deindividuation problem
[00:15:08] Unity2020and the fight to return policymaking to the average American
[00:17:15] The meaning of "wokeness": then and now
[00:21:51] Encouraging Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters to join Unity2020
[00:27:33] Considering Andrew Yang as a center-left candidate for Unity2020
[00:28:45] Considering Admiral William McRaven as a center-right candidate for Unity 2020
[00:29:53] Influencing Trump supporters to join Unity2020
[00:32:07] Analogies between religion and political polarization
[00:35:04] "Dichotomy-transcendence"
[00:43:25] Scott’s Twitter run in with the Intellectual Dark Web
[00:45:13] Defining principles of the Intellectual Dark Web
[00:50:26] Possible criticisms of the Intellectual Dark Web
[00:55:05] Bret’s experience growing up with a learning disability
[01:00:57] Assessing IQ as a measure of intelligence
[01:02:07] The danger of studying the correlations between genetics and intelligence
[01:07:00] How we are a long way from understanding how the mind works
[01:12:10] Answering Twitter questions for Bret

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Chloé Valdary || Love & Race Aug 05, 2020

Today it is great to have Chloé Valdary on the podcast. After spending a year as a Bartley Fellow at the Wall Street Journal, Chloe developed the Theory of Enchantment, an innovative framework for socioemotional learning, character development and interpersonal growth that uses pop culture as an educational tool in the classroom and beyond. Chloé has trained around the world including in South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany and Israel. Her clients have included high school and college students, government agencies, business teams and many more. She has also lectured in universities across America including Harvard and Georgetown. Her work has been covered in Psychology Today magazine and her writings have appeared in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

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Robert Sutton || Good Leaders vs. Bad Leaders Jul 30, 2020

Today it’s great to have Robert Sutton on the podcast. Sutton is Professor of Management Science and Engineering and Professor of Organizational Behavior by courtesy at Stanford. He co-founded the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design which everyone calls the d.school. Sutton received his PhD in Organizational Psychology from the University of Michigan and has served on the Stanford faculty since 1983.

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Chip Conley || Wisdom, Midlife, and Peak Experience Jul 23, 2020

Today it's great to have Chip Conley on the podcast. Chip is a New York Times best-selling author who helped Airbnb's founders turn their fast-growing tech start-up into a global hospitality brand. In his book Wisdom at Work: The Making of a Modern Elder, he shares his unexpected journey at midlife, from CEO to intern, learning about technology as Airbnb's Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, while also mentoring CEO Brian Chesky.

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Michael Gervais || Creating a Living Masterpiece Jul 16, 2020

Today it’s great to have Dr. Michael Gervais on the podcast. Dr. Gervais is a world-renowned high-performance psychologist and industry visionary. Over the course of 20 years, working with world leading performers, Dr. Gervais has developed a psychological framework that allows people to thrive in pressure packed environments.

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Katie Herzog and Jesse Singal || Uncancellable Jul 09, 2020

Today it’s great to have Katie Herzog and Jesse Singal on the podcast. Together, Herzog and Signal co-host the Blocked and Reported Podcast.

NOTE: This is a Patreon exclusive episode, which means that only the first half is available for public consumption. The rest of the episode is only available to Patreon subscribers.
Together, Herzog and Signal co-host the Blocked and Reported Podcast.

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Ayishat Akanbi || Keeping it Real Jul 02, 2020

I’m really excited to have Ayishat Akanbi on the podcast today. Ayishat is a writer and fashion stylist based in London. Personal reflection has guided her approach of reminding us of our commonalities instead of our differences. Not just for social awareness but also self-awareness, Ayishat resists the black and white thinking that can lead to divisive socio-political discourse and is comfortable “in the grey”.

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Richard Haier || The Nature of Human Intelligence Jun 25, 2020

Today it’s great to have Dr. Richard Haier on the podcast. Dr. Haier is Professor Emeritus in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine. His research investigates structural and functional neuroanatomy of intelligence using neuroimaging.

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Lilliana Mason || How Politics Became Our Identity Jun 18, 2020

Today it’s great to have the political psychologist Lilianna Mason on the podcast. Dr. Mason is associate professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park, and author of Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity.

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Geoffrey Miller || Signaling, Mating, and Morality Jun 11, 2020

In this episode, I talk with Geoffrey Miller, an American evolutionary psychologist, researcher, and author about elements of evolutionary psychology such as virtue signaling, altruism, sexual selection, and their role in the evolution of human nature.

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Martin Seligman || From Learned Helplessness to Learned Hopefulness Jun 04, 2020

Today it’s great to have Dr. Martin Seligman on the podcast. Dr. Seligman is a leading authority in the fields of positive psychology, resilience, learned helplessness, depression, optimism, and pessimism.

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Wendy Wood || How to Make Positive Changes that Stick May 21, 2020

In this episode I discuss habits with social psychologist Wendy Wood-- how to break the bad ones, create good habits, and how to make them actually stick.

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Pete Carroll || Winning with Meaning and Purpose May 07, 2020

In this episode of The Psychology Podcast I chat with Coach Pete Carroll about how to win with meaning, purpose, and love.

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Michele Gelfand || How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World Apr 30, 2020

Today it’s great to have the cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand on the podcast. Dr. Gelfand is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. Gelfand uses field, experimental, computational, and neuroscience methods to understand the evolution of culture– as well as its multilevel consequences for human groups. In addition to publishing numerous articles in many prestigious scientific outlets, she is the author of Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire the World.

In this episode we discuss:

What are social norms?
The difference between tight and loose cultures
The advantages vs. disadvantages of tight vs. loose cultures
Why did tight vs. loose cultures evolve in the first place?
How chronic threat produces a tight culture
Real vs. perceived (imagined) threats
How cross-cultural psychology is expanding
The interdisciplinary expansion of the study of social norms
How organizations can be tight vs. loose
Why the ambidexterity of an organizational culture matters
Why people welcomed ISIS in some contexts
How to anticipate radical shifts in culture around the world in ways that can be predictable
How people differ in terms of what is perceived a threat
The potential for meaningful conversation across the political divide
The importance of persevering in science
How understanding differing cultural codes can help us navigate and negotiate them
How can modifying a nation’s norms address protracted social problems?
Why Michele is so excited to be in the field now more than ever
How these contexts can breed negative behaviors
Why we need to exert more control to achieve the Goldilocks principle
Why we need to be mindful of social norms
Why Michele is hopeful that we can recalibrate social norms that facilitate greater cooperation among cultures

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Judith Orloff || Thriving as an Empath Apr 23, 2020

“A little self-care goes a long way. Honoring your sensitivities is an act of self-love.”

Today it’s so great to have Dr. Judith Orloff on the podcast. Dr. Orloff is the New York Times best-selling author of The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People. Her new book Thriving as an Empath, along with its companion The Empath’s Empowerment Journal, offers daily self-care tools for sensitive people Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, an empath, and is on the UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty. She synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality. Dr. Orloff also specializes in treating empaths and highly sensitive people in her private practice. Dr. Orloff’s work has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Oprah Magazine, the New York Times and USA Today. Dr. Orloff has also spoken at Google-LA and has a TEDX talk.

The gift of being different
How empaths are “emotional sponges”
How empaths can be misdiagnosed
The importance of being aware of the “phases of nature” and the “cycles of light”
Treasure your sensitivity
Identify the signs of being overwhelmed with stimulation
You are allowed to have peace
The new paradigm of being a man
The sacredness of commitment
Why the past doesn’t control you
The importance of setting boundaries
The joy of not overthinking
How to hold space for someone without having to fix them
Getting in touch with the “magical part of your being”
Being willing to feel loss in order to move on
Go where the light is
How to shield yourself from toxic people
How to stop caring about other people’s opinions of us

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David Yaden || The Science of Self-Transcendent Experiences Apr 16, 2020

Today it’s great to have David Yaden on the podcast. Dr. Yaden is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine. His research focus is on the psychology, neuroscience, and pharmacology of transformative and self-transcendent experiences. He is currently focusing on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. His scientific and scholarly work has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and NPR.

In this episode we discuss:

The applicability of self-transcendent experiences to the current moment
The definition of self-transcendent experiences
Andrew Newberg’s pioneering work on the neuroscience of self-transcendent experiences
Abraham Maslow’s role in the history of the scientific investigation of self-transcendent experiences
The “everyperson’s spiritual experience”
The two main components of awe
The main characteristics of awe
Awe vs. flow
The role of technology in triggering self-transcendent experiences
The triggers of self-transcendent experiences
The limitations of interventions to induce self-transcendent experiences
How we can seek out little moments of awe, gratitude, and mindfulness
How psilocybin can induce very intense self-transcendent experiences
The potential for psychedelic therapy sessions
The neuroscience underlying the therapeutic benefit of psychedelics
How psychedelic experiences can impact our connection with close others
David’s personal self-transendent experience
Davis’ interest in studying intense interventions
David’s study of the philosophy of psychology

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Scott Barry Kaufman || Transcend Apr 09, 2020

On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, physicist Sean Carroll chats with Scott Barry Kaufman, host of The Psychology Podcast, about his new book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, which is out today!

In this episode we discuss:

Why studying humans is more complicated than studying the universe
The importance of having humility as a psychologist
How Scott’s new book Transcend builds on the work of Abraham Maslow
How Maslow never actually drew a pyramid
What Maslow actually meant by his “Hierarchy of Needs”
The dialectical between security and growth
Scott’s new metaphor for the hierarchy of needs
How humans can be greater than the sum of their parts
Scott’s revised integrated hierarchy of needs
Why attachment styles are continuums, not types
Why the need for belonging is not the same as the need for intimacy
The effects of loneliness on our physical health
The latest science of introversion
Healthy self-esteem vs. narcissism
The “growing tip”
Psychological entropy
The need for exploration and information seeking
The more cosmic aspect of love, or “B-Love”
The need for purpose
Why self-actualization is not achievement
The form of purpose that can lead to transcendence
Why nothing is absolutely good or bad

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Seth Gillihan || Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple Apr 02, 2020

Today it’s great to have Dr. Seth Gillihan on the podcast. Dr. Gillihan is a licensed psychologist who has written and lectured nationally and internationally on cognitive behavioral therapy and the role of the brain in psychiatric conditions. His books include The CBT Deck, A Mindful Year: 365 Ways to Find Connection and the Sacred in Everyday Life (co-authored with Dr. Aria Campbell-Danesh), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple,and Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks. Dr. Gillihan also blogs for Psychology Today and hosts the weekly Think Act Be podcast, which features a wide range of conversations about living more fully. He has a clinical practice in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, providing treatment to adults with insomnia, OCD, anxiety, depression, and related conditions.

Find Seth on the web at sethgillihan.com. See Seth’s CBT Deck here. See the Think Act Be online school where Seth offers courses in mindfulness-centered CBT for anxiety, stress, and worry here: https://think-act-be.teachable.com/.

In this episode we discuss:

How Seth got into therapy
The second wave of CBT
The behavioral activation approach
Mindful CBT
Seth’s “Think Act Be” approach
The importance of core beliefs
The cheap form of self-love
“Cycling the Puck”
The importance of returning to the true center of ourselves
The curious paradox of acceptance
What is our deepest self?
What is consciousness?
Why waking up isn’t a once and for all experience
How we can be kinder to ourselves

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Roy Baumeister || Overcoming the Power of Bad Mar 26, 2020

“Life has to win every day, death only has to win once.” — Roy Baumeister

Today it’s great to have Roy Baumeister on the podcast. Dr. Baumeister is currently professor of psychology at the University of Queensland and is among the most prolific and most frequently cited psychologists in the world, with over 650 publications. His 40 books include the New York Times bestseller Willpower. His research covers self and identity, self-regulation, interpersonal rejection and the need to belong, sexuality and gender, aggression, self-esteem, meaning, consciousness, free will, and self-presentation. In 2013 he received the William James award for lifetime achievement in psychological science (the Association for Psychological Science’s highest honor), and his latest book, co-authored with John Tierney, is called “The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us and How We Can Rule It”.

In this episode we discuss:

How the human brain has a tendency to focus on the bad
Why bad is processed more thoroughly than good
The latest research on ego depletion
Roy’s take on the replication crisis
Why falsely accused people have trouble repairing their reputation
Why the bad gets so much more publicity than the good
Early career researchers and the lack of incentive for exporation
Why we are wired for bad
The importance of the Pollyanna principle
Roy’s words of wisdom for those with anxiety over the Coronavirus
“The rule of 4”
Why are hell fearing religions more popular than those preaching a benevolent message?
Gordon Allport’s distinction between mature and immature religion
The riskiness of drawing too much on the self
Roy’s thoughts on the best route to the good life
Ways we can see the bigger picture
The “negative Golden Rule”
How to get on the “low-bad diet”

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Max Lugavere || Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary Mar 19, 2020

Today it’s great to have Max Lugavere on the podcast. Max is a filmmaker, health and science journalist and the author of the New York Times best-selling book Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life, which is now published in 8 languages around the globe. He is also the host of the #1 iTunes health podcast The Genius Life. Lugavere appears regularly on the Dr. Oz Show, the Rachael Ray Show, and The Doctors. He has contributed to Medscape, Vice, Fast Company, CNN, and the Daily Beast, has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, and in The Wall Street Journal. He is a sought-after speaker and has given talks at South by Southwest, TEDx, the New York Academy of Sciences, the Biohacker Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, and many others. Max is excited to release his sophomore book, The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary, a lifestyle guide to living happily and healthily with proven, research-based lifestyle tactics.

What is “nutritional psychiatry”?
The importance of preserving protein in your body
How longevity and nutrition is a continually evolving science
Environmental toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis
The influence of the environment on emotional instability
The “three Ps” of detoxification
The importance of consuming a “nutrient dense diet”
The importance of sweating regularly
The potential of house plants to purify the air
The dangers of tap water
The dangers of consuming processed foods
The importance of whole foods
How to make your gym sessions more efficient
How exercise is a form of medicine
How the right tools in your toolkit can alleviate depression and anxiety
The importance of taking a whole body approach

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Carol Dweck || The Latest Science of Growth Mindset Mar 12, 2020

Today it’s a real honor to have Carol Dweck on the podcast. Dr. Dweck is a leading researcher in the field of motivation and is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford. Her research examines the role of mindsets in personal achievement and organizational effectiveness.

Dr. Dweck has also held professorships at Columbia and Harvard Universities, has lectured to education, business, and sports groups around the world, has addressed the United Nations, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, and has won 12 lifetime achievement awards for her research. Her best-selling book Mindset has been widely influential and has been translated into over 25 languages.

In this episode we discuss:

Carol’s earliest research on “incremental” vs. “entity” beliefs
Carol’s dream of “bottling” the mindsets that lead people to persevere
The limitations of Carol’s earlier studies
The two big developments in studying growth mindset
Growth mindset exercises
The “Big Mama” of growth mindset studies
The underwhelming effect size of educational interventions
How lower-achieving students benefit more from growth mindset interventions
The conditions under which growth mindset interventions don’t work
The role of teacher mindset on teaching effectiveness
The relationship between growth mindset and other outcomes in life
How growth mindset doesn’t invalidate the existence of giftedness
Why every child should be challenged
Why we shouldn’t cut out gifted and talented programs
How praising gifted students for effort can backfire
The relationship between mindsets and IQ
How having a fixed mindset can sometimes lead to increased performance
Cross-cultural differences in mindsets
Criticism that growth mindset claims have been overblown
Carol Dweck’s dream of improving the sustainability of growth mindset interventions (Dweck’s “next big Mount Everest”)
Why mindset is not a “miracle maker”
What Carol Dweck is most excited about in terms of future directions

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Coleman Hughes || The Humanity of Race Mar 05, 2020

“There are very few people who have nothing of any value to say.” — Coleman Hughes

Today it’s great to have Coleman Hughes on the podcast. Coleman is an undergraduate philosophy major at Columbia University and a columnist for Quillette magazine. His writing has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, and the Spectator.

In this episode we discuss:

Coleman’s initial plan in life to become a trombonist
Coleman’s early childhood education
Coleman’s transformation of his thinking about race
Coleman’s nuanced thoughts on intersectionality
Why we set up a norm against racial stereotyping
Is reverse-racism legitimate?
How the main message of the civil rights movement is often ignored today
Coleman’s humanistic perspective on race
Coleman’s criticism of the woke mindset
What makes sense about the woke mindset
Looking at things from the perspective of police officers
Understanding the causes of the underrepresentation of African Americans in gifted education programs
The moral imperative to enhance cognitive development of people in the bottom of society
How racial categories can mislead us
How people underrate the value of local programs and community to solve problems of racism
Why policy shouldn’t look at racial disparities
The important distinction between culture and race
Why focusing on racial disparities (assuming that racial disparities are a proxy for well-being) is a mistake
Coleman’s vision for the good society

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Nir Eyal || How to Be Indistractable Feb 27, 2020

Today it’s really great to have Nir Eyal on the podcast. Nir is formerly a Lecturer in Marketing at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and also taught at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. His first book, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products, was an international bestseller. His current book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life, reveals the Achilles’ heel of distraction and provides a guidebook for getting the best of technology without letting it get the best of us. Nir blogs at: NirAndFar.com

In this episode we discuss:

The one superpower that Nir would want
The root cause of distraction
What really motivates us
How distraction starts from within
How time management is pain management
What is the role of boredom in distractibility?
How to raise indistractible kids
How to remove the external trigger of kids
The critical question that people should ask
How can you prevent distraction with pacts?
How we can use precommitments to keep ourselves focused
How people overuse of the word “addiction”
The stigmatization of ADHD
Treating a kid’s use of technology the same way we think of a swimming pool
How children are “hypocrisy detection devices”
The importance of setting a good example for children
Self-determination theory and the rise of cell phone use
Can too much concentration, and too little daydreaming, be a bad thing?

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Lori Gottlieb || Maybe You Should Talk to Someone Feb 13, 2020

Today we’re excited to have Lori Gottlieb on the podcast. Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which is being adapted as a television series with Eva Longoria. In addition to her clinical practice, she writes The Atlantic’s weekly “Dear Therapist” advice column and is the co-host of iHeart’s upcoming “Dear Therapists” podcast, produced by Katie Couric. She is also a TED speaker, a member of the Advisory Council for Bring Change to Mind, and advisor to the Aspen Institute. She is a sought-after expert in media such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, CNN, and NPR’s “Fresh Air.” Learn more at LoriGottlieb.com or by following her @LoriGottlieb1 on Twitter.

In this episode we discuss:

The fundamental themes of human existence
Irvin Yalom’s influence on Lori Gottlieb
Why we feel isolated in our experiences
The loneliness crisis on college campuses
How the internet helps us numb
How to know when social media has become an addiction
Why happiness as a goal is a disaster
SBK analyzes Lori Gottlieb
Why we are often scared to do things that excite us
Why there is no “hierarchy of pain”
The hierarchy of pain and the social justice movement
Why is it so hard for us to change when we know what to do?
Why we don’t let ourselves be happy
The importance of self-compassion
The most important factor in the success of therapy
What makes for a boring patient?
Why feelings sometimes don’t care about facts
Common myths of therapy
“Part of us wants something and there’s another part of us that goes against the thing we want”
Why “our feelings need air”
How numbness is a state of being overwhelmed by too many feelings
The importance of seeing your own agency and the choices you have

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Jonathan Mooney || Normal Sucks Jan 30, 2020

“The only normal people are the people you don’t know very well.” — Jonathan Mooney

Today we have Jonathan Mooney on the podcast. Jonathan is a dyslexic writer and speaker who did not learn to read until 12 years old. He faced a number of low expectations growing up— was told he would flip burgers, be a high school drop out and end up in jail. Needless to say these prophecies didn’t come to pass. Today, he speaks across the nation about neurological and physical diversity, inspiring those who live with differences and advocating for change. Mooney’s work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, HBO, NPR, and ABC News, and his books include The Short Bus, Learning Outside the Lines, and most recently, Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines.

In this episode we discuss:

What is normal?
How the creation of special ed was originally an act of inclusion
The unintended complications of creating a special education program
Jonathan’s story growing up in special ed
The twice-exceptional (2e) movement
How giftedness comes with a “complicated brew” of assets and challenges
The importance of recognizing the 2e within ourselves and sharing that with the world
The importance of not hiding the things that make us different, but celebrating those things
How Jonathan once took on many personas to hide his differences
How the average got conflated with the impossible ideal in society
The value judgement that is placed on IQ from a cultural perspective
Going from “How smart are you?” to “How are you smart”?
Jonathan feeling deficient because he was different
How Jonathan went on a journey driving a school bus across the United States and listened to people with atypical brains and bodies
The value of human fallibility
The Eye to Eye mentoring program
How the private sector corporate diversity policies can make difference by including atypical brains and bodies as part of diversity initiatives

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Paul Bloom || The Joy of Suffering and the Downside of Empathy Jan 16, 2020

Today it's great to have Paul Bloom on the podcast. Dr. Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science at Yale University. His research explores how children and adults understand the physical and social world, with special focus on morality, religion, fiction, and art. He is past-president of the Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and co-editor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, one of the major journals in the field. Dr. Bloom is also author or editor of seven books, including Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion

In this wide-ranging and provocative episode we discuss:

Paul's graduate research with Steven Pinker
Is language the result of biological evolution or cultural evolution?
What "hardwired" really means
Why innate mechanisms require environmental input
The necessity of bias
Some potential downsides of empathy
The case for rational compassion
Cognitive empathy vs. affective empathy
Did Hitler have the capacity for empathy?
The joy of suffering
Why do we choose to suffer?
The fundamental human need for exploration
The human need to overcome challenges
Would some people be content watching Netflix and smoking pot all day?
The relationship between income and happiness
The importance of spending money well
The psychology of expectation and pleasure
If someone offer you more money, should you take it?
Relief vs. pleasure
Does enjoying something depend on how much we think we will enjoy something?
Art and authenticity
Art and value judgements
Would Tarzan believe in God?
Are babies basically good?
Why religion is so pervasive
Are babies moral?
How a powerful moral sense is responsible for an extraordinary amount of evil in the world
Is moral grandstanding always bad?
Why not everything is virtue signaling

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Cory Muscara || Stop Missing Your Life Jan 02, 2020

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Today it’s great to have Cory Muscara on the podcast. Cory is an international speaker and teacher on the topics of presence and well-being. He believes that when people are deeply fulfilled, they are a better force in the world for other beings, the environment, and their communities. For several years he taught mindfulness-based leadership at Columbia University and currently serves as an assistant instructor of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2012, Cory spent 6 months in silence living as a monk in Burma, meditating 14+ hours per day, and now aims to bring these teachings to people in a practical and usable way, presenting to schools, organizations and healthcare systems, as well as through workshops and retreats for the general public. Named by Dr. Oz as one of the nation’s leading experts on mindfulness, his meditations have now been heard more than 10 million times in over 100 countries. Cory is host of the popular daily podcast, Practicing Human, and the author of Stop Missing Your Life: How to Be Deeply Present in an Un-Present World. In this episode we discuss: <ul> <li>Cory’s transformation from frat boy to monk</li> <li>Can monks be self-actualizing?</li> <li>The importance of not being enslaved by certain parts of you</li> <li>How to overcame pain through mindfulness</li> <li>The emotional body vs. the sensation body</li> <li>The process of detaching sensations from the labels we put on them</li> <li>Equanimity and allowing life to happen</li> <li>How equanimity is more about our internal experience than our external experience</li> <li>The “pain box”</li> <li>How to soften the “pain wall”</li> <li>Dispelling the myth of the “real you”</li> <li>Barriers to real connection</li> <li>What it means to be fully seen and accepted</li> <li>The importance of radical acceptance</li> <li>How the more parts of you that are brought in and accepted the more you feel as though the wholeness of you is accepted and seen</li> <li>The "scrollercoaster" meditation</li> <li>How we can take control of technology and take back our lives</li> </ul>

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Marc Brackett || Become an Emotion Scientist Dec 19, 2019

“Emotion skills are the key to unlocking the potential inside each one of us. And in the process of developing those skills, we each, heart by heart, mind by mind, create a culture and society unlike anything we’ve experienced thus far— and very much like the one we might dare to imagine.” -- Marc Brackett

Today it's great to have Marc Brackett on the podcast. Dr. Brackett is founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and professor in the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine at Yale University. His research focuses on the role of emotions and emotional intelligence in learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, health, and performance. Marc is the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL that has been adopted by over 2,000 preschool to high schools across the United States and in other countries. He has published 125 scholarly articles and received numerous awards, including the Joseph E. Zins award for his research on social and emotional learning. He also is on the board of directors for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Marc consults regularly with corporations like Facebook, Microsoft, and Google on integrating emotional intelligence principles into employee training and product design and is co-founder of Oji Life Lab, a digital emotional intelligence learning system for businesses. His research has been featured in popular media outlets such as the New York Times, USA Today, Good Morning America, and NPR. He is the author of Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help our Kids, Ourselves, and our Society Thrive, published by Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan, which has been translated into 15 languages.

In this wide-ranging episode we discus

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Julia Shaw || Humanizing Evil Dec 05, 2019

“I firmly believe there is no person, no group, no behavior, no thing that is objectively evil. Perhaps evil only really exists in our fears.” -- Julia Shaw

Today it’s great to have Dr. Julia Shaw on the podcast. Dr. Shaw is a psychological scientist at UCL. She is best known for her work in the areas of memory and criminal psychology. In 2017 Dr. Shaw co-founded the memory science and artificial intelligence start-up Spot. Spot helps employees report workplace harassment and discrimination, and empowers organizations to build a more inclusive and respectful work environment. In 2016 she published her bestselling debut book "The Memory Illusion", which has appeared in 20 languages and in 2019 she published her second international bestseller "Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side".

Note: This episode goes down a lot of taboo alleys. The dark side of human nature is a fascinating topic, but there may be some issues that you'd rather not hear about. Please review the list of topics before listening to this episode.

In this episode we discuss:

How Julia got into criminal psychology
How we all do “reality crafting”
The depths of human hypocrisy
Why we don’t always act in accord with our own morality
Julia Shaw’s criticism of the label “evil”
The neuroscience of “evil” and Hitler’s brain
Your brain on porn
How kink is stigmatized in our society
Can you be a feminist and engage in BDSM?
The “deviant sexual interests” scale
The prevalence of rape fantasies
Pedophiles vs. ephebophiles
Why “curiosity shaming” limits discussion and understanding
The science of beastiality and what makes one animal sexier than another animal
Why we shame vegans
Rape culture and how systems fail and lead to harm
What we can do to reduce sexual violence in society
The bright side of your dark side
How we can use the dark side to be a hero (the heroic imagination)

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Rex Jung || The Neuroscience (and Neuroplasticity) of Intelligence, Creativity, and Genius Nov 21, 2019

Today it’s great to have Dr. Rex Jung on the podcast. Dr. Jung is an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico, and a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A graduate of the University of New Mexico, he has practiced neuropsychology in Albuquerque since 2002. His clinical work now centers around intraoperative testing of patients undergoing awake craniotomy to remove tumors within eloquent brain tissue – work with particular relevance to the study of individual differences. He has contributed to over 100 research articles across a wide range of disciplines, involving both clinical and normal populations, designed to assess brain-behavior relationships. He is the Editor of the Cambridge Handbook of the Neuroscience of Creativity. His work has been featured on CNN, BBC, NOVA, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and National Geographic.

In this episode we discuss:

Rex’s earlier work on the neuroscience of intelligence
The distributed brain model of intelligence
Rex’s investigation of Scott’s brain
How the brain can compensate for disability
How our intelligence can change over time
Limitations of IQ tests for measuring intellectual potential
The limits of neuroplasticity
The genetics of intelligence
The creative brain
How the neuroscience of creativity is sometimes the inverse of the neuroscience of intelligence
The “default network” of mental simulation
The human capacity to “simulate or try out ideas before you buy them”
The beautiful architecture of the brain
The neuroscience of genius
Rex’s work on awake craniometries (neurological testing while a patient is awake and a tumor is being removed)

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Steven Hayes || Liberate Your Mind Nov 07, 2019

Today it’s great to have Dr. Steven Hayes on the podcast. Dr. Hayes is a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. The author of forty-three books and more than six hundred scientific articles, he has served as president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world. Dr. Hayes initiated the development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), the approach to cognition on which ACT is based. His research has been cited widely by major media, including: Time magazine, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Men's Health, Self, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Salon.com.

In this episode we discuss:

Steven Haye’s journey to studying the science of liberation
The lessons you can learn from your own pain and suffering
How you can apply psychology to human prosperity
Some limitations of the CBT approach (“CBT gone bad”)
How we all have a “dictator within”
Scott and Steven roleplay an ACT session
How to apply ACT principles to dieting
How Steven defines values
The definition and importance of “psychological flexibility”
How to get out of the “anxiety trap”
How to pivot to what you really want
How consciousness connects us to the infinite
The 6 things that get in the way of pivoting
The social/environmental side of ACT
“What does it gain us to give up on people?”
ACT and social transformation
What is love?

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[Rerun] Dr. Elaine Aron on The Highly Sensitive Person Oct 31, 2019

Dr. Elaine Aron is one of the world’s foremost experts on the highly sensitive person. She ought to be – she was its first researcher! In this episode, we cover this fascinating concept as it relates to a broad swath of psychological concepts like self-esteem, gender, love, leadership, personality, genetics and more. Roughly 20% of the population can be classified as highly sensitive, so all of us likely know someone (or are someone) with this trait. Also, Scott performs a statistical analysis live on air – it’s a first and a lot of fun!

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[Rerun] Helen Fisher on Why We Love, Lust, and Live with Helen Fisher Oct 24, 2019

A leader in the psychology of human mating, and an expert on both the cultural and biological foundations of love, Helen Fisher shares science-backed information on attraction, mate selection, infidelity, the neuroscience of love and the effects of culture on our biology. There’s a wealth of interesting facts here and some surprising insight into humanity’s quest for romance. We LOVED this episode!

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[Rerun] "Spectacular Ability in a Sea of Disability”: The Psychology of Savantism with Darold Treffert Oct 17, 2019

A leading expert in the psychology of savantism for over 40 years and the scientific advisor for the film Rain Man, Darold Treffert is a wellspring of knowledge on this fascinating yet often misunderstood condition. In this episode we cover the brain anatomy of savantism, its causes and some of the incredible abilities of famous savants like Kim Peak, who memorized thousands of books verbatim (down to the page number)! We feel fortunate to have had this chance to learn so much about such an interesting topic from one of the most well respected researchers in the field. Please enjoy and tell us what you think!

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[Rerun] Todd Kashdan on Dancing with the Dark Side of Your Personality Oct 10, 2019

Psychologist Dr. Todd Kashdan shares some unconventional research on how we can harness “negative” psychological characteristics to live whole, successful and fulfilling lives. Topics include the dark triad, emotional experimentation, mindfulness, education, evolution and what it means to live well.

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[Rerun] Angela Duckworth on Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Oct 03, 2019

Angela Duckworth researches self-control and grit, which is defined as passion and perseverance for long term goals. Her research has demonstrated that there are factors that can be more predictive of success than IQ. In this episode we cover some of her findings on grit, including academic and popular misconceptions of this work. We also discuss research on standardized testing, self-control and more.

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[Rerun] Jordan Peterson on Wonder, Creativity, and the Personality of Political Correctness Sep 26, 2019

Today we have Dr. Jordan Peterson on the podcast. Dr. Peterson has taught mythology to lawyers, doctors and business people, consulted for the UN Secretary General, helped his clinical clients manage depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, served as an adviser to senior partners of major Canadian law firms, and lectured extensively in North America and Europe. With his students and colleagues at Harvard and the University of Toronto, Dr. Peterson has published over a hundred scientific papers. Dr. Peterson is also author of two books: Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief and 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, which is a #1 bestseller.

In this wide-ranging conversation we discuss the following topics:

– Why “learned irrelevance” is incredibly important

– Why creativity requires keeping a childlike wonder

– How hallucinogens clear the “doors of perception”

– The “shared vulnerability” model of the creativity-mental illness connection

– The neuroscience of openness to experience

– The personality of personal correctness

– The practical implications of gender differences

– The function of the state in helping to make sure there is equality of individual expression

– How agreeableness and conscientiousness orient us differently in the social world

– The difference between pathological altruism and genuine compassion

– The link between pathological altruism and vulnerable narcissism

– The difference between responsibility and culpability

– How to help people take responsibility and make their lives better

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[Rerun] Tim Ferriss on Accelerated Learning, Peak Performance and Living the Good Life Sep 19, 2019

Three time bestselling author and human guinea pig Tim Ferriss discusses how to become top 5% in the world with a new skill in just 6-12 months. Scott and Tim debunk the 10,000 hour rule, discuss general principles for accelerated skill acquisition, consider what it means to live the good life and take a sneak peak at Tim’s new show The Tim Ferris Experiment.

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[Rerun] Kristin Neff on The Healing Power of Self-Compassion Sep 12, 2019

A pioneering researcher in the psychology of self-compassion, Dr. Kristin Neff provides deep insight into the incredible healing power of being your own ally. In this episode, we cover some immediately useful ways to practice self-compassion and gain its many benefits. Self-compassion has been linked to reductions in anxiety, physical pain, depression and the stress hormone cortisol. It’s been shown to increase motivation, improve a mastery mindset, and enhance well-being. There’s a great deal of levity in this episode as we discuss how we can benefit from learning to care for ourselves the way we care for others.

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[Rerun] Robert Greene on The Laws of Human Nature Sep 05, 2019

Today we have Robert Greene on the podcast. Robert is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery, and is an internationally renowned expert on power strategies. His latest book is The Laws of Human Nature.

In this episode we discuss:

What is human nature?
How to transform self-love into empathy
The deep narcissist vs. the the heathy narcissist
Abraham Maslow’s encounter with Alfred Adler
How to confront your dark side
Returning to your more authentic self
How people who are one-sided are concealing the opposite trait
The importance of not taking yourself too seriously
How to see through people’s masks
The importance of assessing people’s actions over time
Why toxic types have a peculiar sort of charm
Healthy people-pleasers vs. toxic people-pleasers
How to get in deep contact with your purpose
The importance of becoming aware of the “spirit of the generation”
How to confront your mortality and open your mind to the sublime

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[Rerun] Brené Brown on Creativity, Courageous Vulnerability and Wholehearted Living Aug 29, 2019

We are especially grateful (and giddy) to be sharing this episode with our listeners! Brene Brown’s work really gels with our core interests here on The Psychology Podcast, and the resulting conversation contains some enthusiastic and empirically informed banter that is sure to inform and delight. We geek out over some counter-intuitive findings, like how incredibly compassionate people have a tendency to set the most boundaries and say “no.” We discuss the power of being vulnerable and how the data suggests that it is one of the best predictors of courage. We chat about how trying to be cool is the enemy of truly being cool, how we can enrich future generation’s learning with wholehearted living, and how ignoring our creativity defies our essential nature. It’s ~45 minutes of two experts in the field sharing data, and themselves, and it’s one of our favorite episodes yet.

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[Rerun] Susan Cain on The Quiet Revolution: Unlocking the Power of Introverts Aug 22, 2019

Best-selling author Susan Cain shares her personal philosophy and the research that started a movement to empower introverts! For this episode, we wanted to share ourselves – We discuss our values, epiphanies and perspectives on the good life. We also shed light on introversion across a range of topics, including vocations, testing and the differences between scientific and cultural conceptualizations of introversion.

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David Vago || Mind the Mindfulness Hype Aug 15, 2019

Today it’s a delight to have David Vago on the podcast. Dr. Vago is Research Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He also maintains an appointment as a research associate in the Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory at Harvard Medical School. David aims to clarify adaptive mind-brain-body interactions and their therapeutic relevance in health-care settings. In this context, David has been specifically focusing on the study of mindfulness-based interventions in clinical settings, and the basic cognitive and neuroscientific mechanisms by which mindfulness-based practice function.

In this episode we discuss:

What is contemplative science?
History of the idea of “contemplation”
Including intuition under the umbrella of contemplative practice
The aim of mindfulness
Pop writers on mindfulness vs. scientists of mindfulness
What do we know after 25 years of mindfulness research?
The link between mindfulness and how we cope with pain
The link between mindfulness and reducing anxiety
The link between mindfulness and improving depression
How there are a lot of crap studies out there on mindfulness
What are the potential adverse effects of mindfulness?
Why it’s difficult to look at the link between mindfulness and cognitive outcomes
Mindfulness and its impact on impulse control
The impact of mindfulness on attention
The need for better measures of outcomes in mindfulness research
The link between mindfulness and creativity
The false narrative about mindfulness and mind wandering (and the default mode network)
The relationship between mindfulness and wisdom
The main challenges of investigating mindfulness through neuroscience
Why mindfulness is not the end all and be all
The usefulness of taking an evidence-based approach to looking at the benefits of mindfulness

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Christian Miller || How Good Are We, Really? Aug 08, 2019

Today it’s great to have Christian Miller on the podcast. Dr. Miller is A.C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University and Director of the Character Project, funded by the John Templeton Foundation and Templeton World Charity Foundation. He is the author of over 75 papers as well as the author of Moral Character: An Empirical Theory, Character and Moral Psychology, and most recently, The Character Gap: How Good Are We?

In this episode we discuss:

The main aims of the Character Project
Christian’s attempt to integrate positive psychology research with philosophy
Replication of the famous Milgram experiment
Fairness norms among infants
Can we draw boundaries around the notion of “moral character”?
What factors predict whether people help?
How we’re a mixed bag between the poles of compassion and callousness
What Christian’s research has discovered about people’s tendency toward helping, hurting, lying and cheating
Can we make humans better?
How SBK and Aristotle are on the same page

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Brian Nosek || Implicit Bias and Open Science Aug 01, 2019

oday with have Brian Nosek on the podcast. Nosek is co-Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Open Science (http://cos.io/) that operates the Open Science Framework (http://osf.io/). The Center for Open Science is enabling open and reproducible research practices worldwide. Brian is also a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2002. He co-founded Project Implicit (http://projectimplicit.net/), a multi-university collaboration for research and education investigating implicit cognition–thoughts and feelings that occur outside of awareness or control. Brian investigates the gap between values and practices, such as when behavior is influenced by factors other than one’s intentions and goals. Research applications of this interest include implicit bias, decision-making, attitudes, ideology, morality, innovation, and barriers to change. Nosek applies this interest to improve the alignment between personal and organizational values and practices. In 2015, he was named one of Nature’s 10 and to the Chronicle for Higher Education Influence list.

In this episode we discuss:

The genesis of Project Implicit
The current state of the field of implicit bias
Overuses of the Implicit Association Test (IAT)
The common desire people have for simple solutions
The potential for misuse of the IAT for real-world selection
How hard it is to study human behavior
What the IAT is really capturing
How the degree to which the IAT is trait or state-like varies by the topic you are investigating
Cultural influences on the IAT
Brian’s criticism of implicit bias training
The latest state of the science on implicit bias
How our ideologies creep in even when we are trying to be unbiased
The difference between implicit attitudes and conscious attitudes
What would an equality of implicit associations look like?
Why bias is not necessarily bad
The genesis of The Reproducibility Project
What are some classic psychological studies that haven’t replicated?
The importance of having compassion for the scientist
The importance of having the intellectual humility of uncertainty
The importance of cultivating the desire to get it right (instead of the desire to be right)
What is open science?
What is #BroOpenScience?
How hostility on social media can cause us to lose the view of the majority
The importance of balancing getting it right with being kind to others

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Michael Pipich || Owning Bipolar Jul 25, 2019

“Don’t be afraid. You are not alone.” – Michael Pipich

Today we have Michael Pipich on the podcast. Pippich is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, and has treated a wide range of mental disorders and relationship problems in adults and adolescents for over 30 years. Michael is also a national speaker on Bipolar Disorder and has been featured on radio and in print media on a variety of topics. His latest book is Owning Bipolar: How Patients and Families Can Take Control of Bipolar Disorder.

In this episode we discuss:

The main characteristics of bipolar disorder
The three main types of bipolar
The suicidal potential among bipolar
Michael’s three-phase approach to treat patients with bipolar
The benefits of mania
The link between bipolar and creativity
How people with bipolar can thrive
Taking responsibility for your bipolar
How loved ones and family members can support those with bipolar
Linkages between bipolar and the different types of narcissism
Reaching out to help others

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Gleb Tsipursky || A Science-Based Guide to Truth Seeking Jul 18, 2019

Today we have Dr. Gleb Tsipursky on the podcast. Dr. Tsipursky is passionate about promoting truth, rational thinking, and wise decision-making. He is a tenure-track professor at Ohio State, serves as the volunteer President of the nonprofit Intentional Insights, is a co-founder of the Pro-Truth Pledge, and the author of a number of a number of books, most notably the #1 Amazon bestseller The Truth Seeker¹s Handbook: A Science-Based Guide. He is currently working on a book on relationships and cognitive bias.

In this interview we discuss:

Gleb’s humble worldview
How humans are not adapted to evaluate reality clearly
“The backfire effect”
How to make better choices aligned with reality
When should we rely on our gut?
How we so often fall prey to the “fundamental attribution error”
Ways we can recognize the thinking errors that prevent us from seeing reality more clearly
How friends can be the enemies of wise choices
The irrationality of political decisions
The importance of differentiating between the truth and personal values
How Gleb derives his personal values
Why people lose so much money in the stock market
Why you don’t want to invest in a mutual funds
Why the mainstream media be careful when they criticize conservatives
The one thing Trump got right in Charlottesville
How to convince your enemies to collaborate with you
How Gleb escaped the darkness of mental illness through his rational approach to living
How we can protect our happiness against emotional traps
Gleb’s “Pro-Truth Pledge” (https://www.protruthpledge.org)
How you can live the life you want to live

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Cara Santa Maria || Clinical Psychology and Social Justice Jul 11, 2019

Today it’s great to have Cara Santa Maria on the podcast. Cara is an Emmy and Knight Foundation Award winning journalist, science communicator, television personality, author, and podcaster. She is a correspondent on National Geographic’s flagship television series Explorer, and she is the creator and host of a weekly science podcast called Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria. Cara also co-hosts the popular Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe podcast, and hosts the new podcast Fixed That for You. Additionally, she co-authored the Skeptics Guide to the Universe book with her podcast co-hosts and is the spokesperson for National Geographic’s Almanac 2019. Cara is a founding member of the Nerd Brigade and cofounded the annual science communication retreat #SciCommCamp.

In this episode we discuss:

The importance of studying the good death from a multidisciplinary perspective
The challenges working with at-risk adolescent youth
What it was like for Cara to shift focus from public science communicator to graduate school
Cara’s focus on social justice and diversity within her clinical psychology research
How depression and anxiety look different in different cultures and among different languages
Barriers to accessibility to studying psychology through a social justice lens
Cara’s personal hurdles as a woman in science
Cara’s personal experience with Neil deGrasse Tyson
The real meaning of free speech
How #BelieveAllWomen and due process are not diametrically opposed to each other
The importance of taking into account base rates when reasoning about the prevalence of sexual abuse
The importance of being as unbiased as possible when encountering individuals
Balancing #BelieveAllWomen with #NotAllMen
The need for a multi-pronged approach to making social change
What to do when social justice narratives conflict with the data
The importance of existential-humanistic psychology

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Gustav Kuhn || The Science of Magic Jul 04, 2019

Today it’s great to have Gustav Kuhn on the show. Born in Switzerland, Kuhn discovered his passion for magic at the age of 13, and much of his teenage years were dedicated to the art of illusion and deception. At the age of 19 he moved to London to follow his dream of becoming a professional magician, but his career took a dramatic change after he discovered a keen interest for psychology. Gustav went on to study psychology at Sussex University, and towards the end of his PhD, he noticed a direct link between magic and psychology. His unique background in science and magic allowed him to build bridges between these two domains, which helped him establish a science of magic. Kuhn is now a Reader at Goldsmiths University of London, and director of the MAGIC-Lab (Mind Attention & General Illusory Cognition). He is one of the pioneering researchers in the Science of Magic and he is one of the founding members and president of the Science of Magic Association. His latest book is called “Experiencing the Impossible: The Science of Magic”.

What is the link between psychology and magic?
The link between perception and magic
What is magic? What is not magic?
The link between magic and well-being
Early childhood experiences of magicians
The link between magic and creativity
The role of misdirection in magic
The neural basis of magic
Do we all experience the same magic?
The “magician’s force”
The potential for using magic for bad ends
Will magicians ever become obsolete in the age of machines?
The link between magic and human-machine interaction
How we can use science to enhance the magic endeavor

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David Brooks || The Quest for a Moral Life Jun 27, 2019

Today we have David Brooks on the podcast. Brooks is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times and appears regularly on “PBS NewsHour,” NPR’s “All Things Considered” and NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He teaches at Yale University and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the bestselling author of a number of books, including The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement; The New Upper Class and How They Got There; The Road to Character, and most recently, The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life.

In this episode we discuss:

The evolution of David’s thinking about character
The relationship between our commitments and our fulfillment in life
Brook’s criticism of self-actualization taken to the extreme
The four crises of our time
David’s current stance on reparations
Why David is a “border stalker”
How David reconciles the need for commitment with identity fluidity
Commitment vs. individualism
The importance of healthy transcendence
The enunciation moment
What we can do about the current political landscape
David’s thoughts on polyamory and the single life

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Stoya || Foucault, Heteronormativity, and Good Porn Jun 06, 2019

Today it’s great to have Stoya on the podcast. Stoya has been working with sexuality for over a decade. Her writing credits include the New York Times, The Guardian, and Playboy. Her first book of essays, Philosophy, Pussycats, & Porn is available through Not A Cult Media, and her experimental porn project lives at ZeroSpaces.com. (Note: This episode is very explicit, so if that’s not your thing, please enjoy one of the other other 167 episodes of The Psychology Podcast. If you do listen to this episode, please stick around all the way to the end, as we really enjoyed tying it all together at the end of the episode!)

In this episode we discuss a wide range of topics, including:

What is porn?
What is good porn?
Can there be feminism under capitalism?
Stoya’s critique of “liberal feminists”
The importance of values that transcend sexual preferences
How our collective conception of “normal sex” leaves out a whole lot of sexual preferences that “normal” people have
Focault on how preventing the discussion of sex is making us even more obsessed with sex
The science of sexual fantasies
Are there any sexual fantasies that are damaging to normalize?
What we can learn about privacy from pornstars
The benefits/disadvantages of choosing a porn career
Comparing/contrasting BDSM with monogamy
Why BDSM is too wide a category to be considered a sexual orientation
Why Stoya has to be physically aroused in order to be creative in a porn scene
How Scott and Stoya know each other
Which author – from anytime thru history – would Stoya like to go out partying with? And what would her drink of choice be for such an occasion?
The link between ADHD and creativity

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David Sloan Wilson and Steven Hayes || Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science May 30, 2019

Today we have David Sloan Wilson and Steven Hayes on the podcast. David Sloan Wilson is president of The Evolution Institute and a SUNY distinguished professor of biology and anthropology at Binghamton University. Sloan Wilson applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the biological world. His books include Darwin’s Cathedral, Evolution for Everyone, The Neighborhood Project, and Does Altruism Exist? Steven C. Hayes is foundation professor in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. An author of forty-four books and over 600 scientific articles, his career has focused on an analysis of the nature of human language and cognition, and the application of this to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering and the promotion of human prosperity. Hayes has received several awards, including the Impact of Science on Application Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).

Together, they edited the recent book, “Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior.”

In this episode we cover a lot of ground, including:

Steven’s perspective on language and cognition
The difference between evolutionary science and evolutionary psychology
How Skinner thought of himself as an evolutionary psychologist
How evolutionary theory needs to take a step back and taken into account variation selection
How evolutionary science need to be an applied discipline
How evolutionary psychology done right acknowledges both an innate and adaptive component
Why Steven Hayes thinks that 98% of the research we’re doing in psychology might be wrong
Steven’s criticism of psychometric research (he thinks it’s “going down”!)
The first time Steven encountered David’s work and how it made him cry
Steven’s criticism of how the term “genetic” is used in the psychological literature
Separating “pop evolutionary psychology” from good evolutionary science
Renee Duckworth’s skeleton metaphor
The tension between evolutionary change and stability
Why we need to look at function, context, and longitudinal development in order to really balance flexibility and structure,
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as managing the evolutionary process
How multidimensionality and multi-level thinking allows us to manage evolutionary processes like never before
Their upcoming book on prosociality

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Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic || Why So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders May 23, 2019

“There is a surplus of charismatic leaders with a fascinating dark side.” — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Today it’s great to have Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic on the podcast. Tomas is the Chief Talent Scientist at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology at University College London and at Columbia University, and an associate at Harvard’s Entrepreneurial Finance Lab. He’s the author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (And How to Fix It) as well as 9 other books, and over 160 scientific publications. He is the co-founder of DeeperSignals and Metaprofiling and a regular contributor to HBR, FastCompany, and BusinessInsider. You can find him on Twitter @drtcp or at www.drtomas.com.

Limitations of the “lean in” approach
Tomas’s alternative explanation for the existence of gender differences in leadership
How people focus more on confidence than competence
How we emphasize charisma more than humility
How we are more likely to select narcissistic individuals for leadership positions than people with integrity
Gender differences in narcissism
Is masculinity necessarily toxic?
Why we waste so much money on unconscious bias training
How do we get more women in leadership roles?
The better way to select talented people in the workplace than using gender quotas
Do nice guys finish last?

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Hope is Fucked || Mark Manson May 16, 2019

“Whether you think you’re better than everybody or worse than everybody, you’re still assuming that you are different than everybody.” — Mark Manson

Today it’s great to have Mark Manson on the podcast. His blog, markmanson.net, attracts more than two million readers per month. Mark is the New York Times and international bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck (with over 6 million in sales in the US alone) and his latest book is called Everything is Fucked: A Book About Hope.

In this episode we discuss:

Why we are a culture in need of hope
The paradox of progress
How self-control is an illusion
How to learn to communicate to yourself effectively
“Emo Newton’s” laws of emotion
Mark’s definition of growth
How to start your own religion
The paradox of hope
How hope can be incredibly destructive if we’re not careful
Kant’s Formula of Humanity
How to grow up
Political extremism and maturity
The difference between #fakefreedom and real freedom
Why we are bad algorithms and why we shouldn’t fear artificial intelligence so much
What Mark dares to hope for

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Scott Peters || Rethinking Gifted Education May 09, 2019

Today it’s a great pleasure to have Dr. Scott Peters on the podcast. Dr. Peters is an associate professor of educational foundations and the Richard and Veronica Teller Endowed Faculty Fellow of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he teaches courses on measurement and assessment, research methodology, and gifted education. His research focuses on educational assessment, gifted and talented student identification, disproportionality within K-12 education, and educational policy. He is the first author of Beyond Gifted Education: Designing and Implementing Advanced Academic Programs and the co-author (along with Jonathan Plucker) of Excellence Gaps in Education: Expanding Opportunities for Talented Students, published by Harvard Education Press.

In this episode we discuss:

Advocates vs. scientists in the field of gifted education
Does teacher training in gifted education have any effect on self-reported teaching in the classroom?
How the desire for good advocacy in gifted education can bias good science
The real need to advocate for kids who aren’t being challenged in the regular classroom
The absurdity of teaching children based solely on how old they are
Is there room at the table for all different perspectives in the gifted education field?
The problem with the “gifted” label
How can you balance excellence with equity?
How to close the “excellence gap” in gifted education
What domains should be included in gifted education?
The importance of “frontloading” opportunities in school
Acceleration vs. enrichment
What happens when addressing underrepresentation is the main goal of gifted education?
The value of using local norms for gifted student selection
Is complete excellence gap reduction a reasonable goal of gifted education?
Scott’s plan for addressing excellent gaps in gifted education

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Gwen Gordon || Restoring the Playground Apr 25, 2019

“Play is life force itself… when we can sense and amplify its most life-affirming, transformative impulses, it will point us directly to the Playground.”

Today it’s great pleasure to have Gwen Gordon on the podcast. Gordon began her career building Muppets for Sesame Street. Since leaving Sesame Street, Gwen developed Awakened Play, a play-based approach to making behavior change irresistible and transformation delightful. She has applied her insights in organizations ranging from San Quentin Prison to the MIT Media Lab and from IDEO to PepsiCo. Along the way, Gwen has collected a master’s degree in philosophy and an Emmy award in children’s programming. Her latest book is The Wonderful W, which is the first picture book for grownups.

In this episode we discuss:

What is play?
How everything is really “fear of the void”
The doorway to the sense of wholeness
Gwen’s experience working at Sesame Street
Correcting the record about how Gwen created the Rockheads on Sesame Street
Scott’s crush on Miss Piggy
The shadow side to play
How the playground is our true habitat
The incredible importance of adult play
The inherent paradoxes of play
How play relates to attachment theory
How play is a healthy stepping stone to healthy childhood development

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Ruth Richards || Everyday Creativity Apr 18, 2019

Today it’s great to have Ruth Richards on the podcast. Dr. Richards is a psychologist, psychiatrist, professor at Saybrook University, and Fellow of the American Psychological Association. She has published numerous articles, edited/written three previous books on everyday creativity, and received the Rudolf Arnheim Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement (Division 10, American Psychological Association). Dr. Richards sees dynamic creative living as central to individuals and cultures, and a new worldview. Her latest book is called “Everyday Creativity and the Healthy Mind: Dynamic New Paths for Self and Society”, which recently won the won a Nautilus Silver Award.

In this episode we discuss:

What is “everyday creativity”?
What is “universal creative potential”?
All the ways people can do things differently
The four P’s of creativity
Openness and creativity
Chaos and complexity in creativity
The role of the unconscious mind in creativity
The link between mental illness and creativity
The controlled chaos of creativity
The healing function of creativity
Can consciousness get in the way of creativity?
Can creativity heal the world?

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Nicholas Christakis || The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society Apr 11, 2019

"We should be humble in the face of temptations to engineer society in opposition to our instincts. Fortunately, we do not need to exercise any such authority in order to have a good life. The arc of our evolutionary history is long. But it bends toward goodness." -- Nicholas Christakis

Today we have Nicholas Christakis on the podcast. Christakis is a physician and sociologist who explores the ancient origins and modern implications of human nature. He directs the Human Nature Lab at Yale University, where he is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science in the departments of Sociology, Medicine, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Statistics and Data Science, and Biomedical Engineering. He is also the codirector of the Yale institute for Network Science, the coauthor of Connected, and most recently, author of the book Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society,which on its first week became a NY Times bestseller.

In this episode we discuss:

Why breadth of knowledge across fields is important
The evolutionary forces that have shaped our capacity for living socially
Can you love your own group without hating everyone else?
How can crowds be a force for good?
How the capacity for friendship is connected to the evolution of cooperation
Can you love your own group and evenloveother groups as well?
Framing group dynamics in terms of collective narcissism
The â€œsocial suiteâ€ of human nature
The â€œforbidden experimentâ€
Experiments on artificial societies
How long will Homo Sapiens last?
The importance of elephant friendships
How evolution has shaped our societies
The importance of recognizing our common humanity

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Molly Crockett || Moral Outrage in the Digital Age Apr 04, 2019

Today it’s a pleasure to have Molly Crockett on the podcast. Dr. Crockett is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yale University and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics. Prior to joining Yale, Dr Crockett was a faculty member at the University of Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology and a Fellow of Jesus College. She holds a BSc in Neuroscience from UCLA and a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Cambridge, and completed a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship with economists and neuroscientists at the University of Zürich and University College London.

In this episode we discuss:

The discrepancy between outrage in real life vs. online outrage
Cultural evolution and the selection and amplification of online content
How basic reinforcement learning principles drive the design of online systems to maximize the amount of time we spend on the platforms
Is the “habitual online shamer” addicted to outrage?
Habitual behavior vs. addiction
Is “outrage fatigue” happening en masse?
Should we be thinking about rationing our outrage (reserving it for issues we find most important)?
The costs and benefits of outrage
Why people punish and the discrepancy between the actual reasons why we punish (inferred from behavior) vs. self-reported motives
The difficulty doing science on topics that are incredibly heated in public social discourse
The intractably intertwined nature of science and social justice
What technologies might be doing to the way that young people construe the social world
The human capacity for forgiveness
Twitter Q & A

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Ryan Niemiec and Robert McGrath || Ignite Your Character Strengths Mar 21, 2019

Today it’s an honor to have Ryan Niemiec and Robert McGrath on the podcast. Ryan is an author or co-author of nine books, an award-winning psychologist, international keynoter, and education director of the VIA Institute on Character. Robert is Professor of Psychology at Farleigh Dickinson University, senior scientist at the VIA Institute, and has published extensively on the topic of character and virtue. Together, they are author of the new book, The Power of Character Strengths: Appreciate and Ignite Your Positive Personality. Find our your character strengths at viacharacter.org.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

What is a positive personality?
The measurement of character strengths
Why are so many people interested in learning about their character strengths?
How self-knowledge can impact people positively in their lives
The difference between virtue and character
The three main sources of a good character
Is it possible to have a perfect character?
Does the perfectly virtuous person exist?
Is enlightenment actually possible?
The developmental trajectory of character strengths
Is the development of character strengths for everybody, including those experiencing adversity?

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Colin Seale || Closing the Critical Thinking Gap Mar 07, 2019

“At a certain point, the outcome is the opportunity. We have to focus on the bottom line: what is it going to take to get kids ready?” — Colin Seale

Today it’s great to have Colin Seale on the podcast. Colin was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to a single mother and an incarcerated father. He has always had a passion for educational equity. Tracked early into gifted and talented programs, Colin was afforded opportunities his neighborhood peers were not. He founded thinkLaw (www.thinkLaw.us), an award-winning organization to help educators leverage inquiry-based instructional strategies to close the critical thinking gap and ensure they teach and REACH all students, regardless of race, zipcode or what side of the poverty line they are born into. When he’s not serving as the world’s most fervent critical thinking advocate, Colin proudly serves as the world’s greatest entertainer to his two little kiddos and a loving husband to his wife Carrie.

In this episode we discuss:

Colin’s pragmatic approach to solving educational inequalities
The main goals of ThinkLaw
The benefit of people of different races talking about their common humanity
How we can have high expectations for every child
The twice exceptional movement
How we continuously lead genius on the table
The excellence gap in gifted education
Equality of opportunity vs. equality of outcome
The right kind of love
How the victory is in the struggle
Giving children a reason to have grit
Why we need to recognize disruptors as innovators
Creating the space for divergent thinkers

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Wednesday Martin || The Flexibility of Female Sexuality Feb 14, 2019

“There can be no autonomy without the autonomy to choose, without coercion or constraint, or in spite of it, who our lovers will be.” — Wednesday Martin

Today we have Wednesday Martin on the podcast. Dr. Martin has worked as a writer and social researcher in New York City for more than two decades. The author of Stepmonster and the instant New York Times bestseller Primates of Park Avenue, she writes for the online edition of Psychology Today and her work has appeared in The New York Times and Time.com. Dr. Martin’s latest book is called “Untrue: Why Nearly Everything We Believe About Women, Lust, and Infidelity Is Wrong and How the New Science Can Set Us Free.”

In this episode we discuss:

How Wednesday tries to make the sex research “delicious and fun”
How female infidelity is mired in so much misunderstanding
How Millenial women are more sexually adventurous compared to Millennial men
What’s the consensual non-monogamy movement?
How we evolved to be “cooperative breeders”
What is “female flexuality”?
Why we need to stop pathologizing those who embrace non-monogamy
How women are driving the polyamory movement
The good reasons why monogamy is hard and the other options that exist
How your attachment style and sociosexuality are linked to consensual non-monogamy
Disagreeable women and sociosexuality
Rethinking sex differences in the drive for sexual novelty
Pornography viewing differences between men and women
Common triggers of violence in relationships
Rethinking the motivations underlying sex differences in cheating
How better science can help us all have hotter sex

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Todd Herman || The Alter Ego Effect Feb 07, 2019

“At the end of your life, you won’t remember the thoughts or intentions you had. You’ll remember the actions you took. You’ll judge yourself by how you showed up, by what you did, what you said, how you acted, and whether you performed the way you knew you could in any of the stages of life.”

Today we have Todd Herman on the podcast. Herman is a performance advisor to Olympians, pros, and business leaders, and he creates proven systems to help teams & achievers win with less stress. Herman’s latest book is “The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life.”

- How alter egos are part of the human psyche

- The difference between childish and childlike

- Why having an alter ego is about being the best version of yourself

- Multiple self theory and the importance of context

- The Core Self vs. The Trapped Self vs. The Heroic Self

- How to go from an ordinary world to an extraordinary world

- How to activate the person you truly want to become

- How to get into the “wow” mindset

- Todd’s traumatic backstory and how it has led to his superpower

- The hidden forces of the enemy

- How the creative imagination is like the backdoor to performance

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Oren Jay Sofer || A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication Jan 24, 2019

Finding your voice, learning how to say what you mean, and how to listen deeply: this is one of the most rewarding journeys you can take.” — Oren Jay Sofer

Today we have Oren Jay Sofer on the podcast. Sofer teaches meditation and communication nationally. He holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University, and is a member of the Spirit Rock Teacher’s Council. He is also a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication, a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for healing trauma, and he is the Senior Program Developer at Mindful Schools. Sofer is author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication.

In this episode we discuss:

The importance of slowing down
Marshall Rosenberg’s system of nonviolent communication
How our behaviors can viewed as an attempt to meet a deeper need
Entering relationships from a sense of deprivation vs. a place of growth
The importance of relational awareness
The undervalued skill of healthy communication
Why intention is the single most important ingredient in dialogue
Martin Buber’s distinction between the I-Thou vs. I-It relationship
The importance of the “do over”
How to heal after a breakup
The importance of forgiveness and how it happens on its own time schedule

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Richard Katz || Honoring the Wisdom of Indigenous Peoples Jan 10, 2019

Today it’s an honor to have Richard Katz on the podcast. Dr. Katz received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and taught there for twenty years. The author of several books, he has spent time over the past 50 years living and working with Indigenous peoples in Africa, India, the Pacific, and the Americas. He is professor emeritus at the First Nations University of Canada and an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Saskatchewan. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His latest book is Indigenous Healing Psychology: Honoring the Wisdom of the First Peoples. Author royalties will be given back to the Indigenous elders whose teachings made the book possible.

In this episode we discuss:

How being an outsider allows you to see the limitations of the world you are living in
Richard’s friendship with Abraham Maslow
Setting the record straight: The real influence of the Blackfeet Nation on Maslow’s theory of self-actualization
How modern day psychology has oppressed the verbal-experimental paradigm
The limitations of modern measurement
The tension between the scientific method and the narrative approach to psychology
Are all modes of the scientific process valid?
How indigenous people are misunderstood, under-respected, and under-appreciated
What the field of psychology could be if it incorporated indigenous ways of being

Link

Kalahari People’s Fund

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Kati Morton || How to Care for Your Mental Health Dec 27, 2018

Today I’m really excited to have Kati Morton on the podcast. Morton is as an entrepreneur, YouTube creator, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in Santa Monica, CA. Morton has built a global mental health online community, and is author of the book “Are U OK?: A Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health.”

In this episode we discuss:

What’s the difference between mental health and mental illness?
Breaking down the stigma of mental illness
What should you look for when looking for a therapist?
What are some warning signs of a terrible therapist?
What’s the best way to deal with a toxic co-worker?
What's the link between vulnerable narcissism and borderline personality disorder?
How do you know if you need mental help?
What are some of the most validated forms of therapy available today?
How do you break up with friends that you’ve outgrown?
The importance of healthy assertiveness
How a very small no can equate to a very large yes
How can you get more mental help when you need it?

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Jonah Sachs || Unsafe Thinking Dec 20, 2018

Today we have Jonah Sachs on the podcast. Jonah is an author, speaker, storyteller, designer, and entrepreneur. He is the author of Winning the Story Wars: Why Those Who Tell— and Live— The Best Stories Will Rule the Future, and most recently, Unsafe Thinking: How to Be Nimble and Bold When You Need It Most.

In this episode we discuss:

What is safe unsafe thinking?
The power of intuition for creativity
Does your subconscious have free will?
Dual-process theory and creativity
How can you challenge and change yourself when you need it most?
The importance of context for creativity
The different phases of the creative process
The importance of rocking the boat
The benefits of collaborating with your enemies
How can you stay motivated when changing habits is so hard?
What’s the difference between flow and deliberate practice?
The difference between values and identity
Making a safe culture for risks
How to gamify dissent

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Michael Inzlicht || The Replication Crisis Dec 13, 2018

Today we have Dr. Michael Inzlicht on the podcast. Dr. Inzlicht's primary appointment at the University of Toronto is as professor in the Department of Psychology, but he is also cross-appointed as Professor at the Roman School of Management, and he is a Research Fellow at the Behavioral Economics in Action group. Michael conducts research that sits at the boundaries of social psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience. Along with Yoel Inbar, he hosts the podcast “Two Psychologists Four Beers.”

In this episode we discuss:

How serious is the replication crisis in psychology?
Can the human social realm ever be removed from scientific critique?
Do psychologists need to grow a thicker skin?
Academic bullying vs. respectful critique
Is there a gendered element to bullying in science?
Is ego depletion real?
Methodological issues with the ego depletion paradigm
Real world ego depletion vs. laboratory-based ego depletion
The lack of correspondence between self-report measures of self-control and performance measures
The importance of distinguishing between self-control and self-regulation
The paradoxical relationship between trait self-control and state self-control
The "law of least work" or why we are so lazy most of the time
The psychology of boredom

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Drunk Science || Shannon Odell Dec 06, 2018

Today we have Shannon Odell on the podcast. Odell is a Brooklyn based writer, comedian, and scientist. She co-hosts and produces Drunk Science, an experimental comedy show deemed “a stroke of genius” by Gothamist and a finalist in TruTV’s comedy break out initiative. She also co-created, writes, and stars in the Inverse original series “Your Brain on Blank”, where she explains the science behind how everything-from alcohol to caffeine to puppies- affects the brain. She can also be seen at Weill Cornell Medicine, where she is a Neuroscience PhD candidate studying the epigenetic underpinnings of hippocampal function. You can visit Shannon’s YouTube channel here.

How Shannon got into science comedy
How science can be funny
Similarities between the personalities of comedians and scientists
Political correctness in comedy and science
How science communication is often so humorless
Your brain on… the flu.
Your brain on… breakups.
Your brain on… puppies.
Your brain on… caffeine.
Your brain on… social media.
Epigenetics and the effects of early life adversity on the brain
How science can inform treatment options
Barriers for women entering science

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Robert Greene || The Laws of Human Nature Nov 29, 2018

Today we have Robert Greene on the podcast. Robert is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The Art of Seduction, and Mastery, and is an internationally renowned expert on power strategies. His latest book is The Laws of Human Nature. In this episode we discuss:

What is human nature?
How to transform self-love into empathy
The deep narcissist vs. the the heathy narcissist
Abraham Maslow’s encounter with Alfred Adler
How to confront your dark side
Returning to your more authentic self
How people who are one-sided are concealing the opposite trait
The importance of not taking yourself too seriously
How to see through people’s masks
The importance of assessing people’s actions over time
Why toxic types have a peculiar sort of charm
Healthy people-pleasers vs. toxic people-pleasers
How to get in deep contact with your purpose
The importance of becoming aware of the "spirit of the generation"
How to confront your mortality and open your mind to the sublime

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A.J. Jacobs || A Gratitude Journey Nov 22, 2018

Today it’s a great honor to have A.J. Jacobs on the podcast. Jacobs is the author of Thanks a Thousand, It’s All Relative, Drop Dead Healthy, and the New York Times bestsellers The Know-It-All, The Year of Living Biblically, and My Life as an Experiment. He is a contributor to NPR, and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly. He lives in New York City with his wife and kids. Get a handwritten thank you card at ajjacobs.com/thanks.

In this episode we discuss:

What is Project Gratitude?
How A.J. went from grumpy to grateful
Why A.J. chose coffee as his main source of gratitude
The importance of savoring coffee (and everything else in life that matters)
Why we should be grateful for the barrister
The enemy of gratitude
The importance of the “zarf”
Where gratitude emerges, according to gratitude expert Bob Emmons
They importance of reframing your life
Some strategies to increase gratitude in daily life

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Steve Stewart-Williams || How the Mind and Culture Evolve Nov 15, 2018

"It's going to be Okay."-- Steve Stewart-Williams

Today I’m delighted to have Steve Stewart-Williams on the podcast. Dr. Stewart-Williams is a New Zealander who moved to Canada, then to Wales, and then to Malaysia, where he is now an associate professor of psychology at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. His first book, Darwin, God, and the Meaning of Life, was published in 2010 and his latest book is The Ape That Understood the Universe: How the Mind and Culture Evolve.

In this episode we cover the following topics:

What would the human species look like from the perspective of an alien?
Are humans just evolved fish?
How far does evolutionary psychology take us in understanding human nature?
What are some common myths about the evolutionary process?
How we can be evolutionary “losers” and still be human success stories
The distinction between altruism and selfishness
Why the evolutionary psychology perspective is not enough to understand human nature
How culture evolved among humans
The link between human creativity and cultural evolution
The potential human conflict between passing on genes vs. passing on memes
How culture can amplify our nature
Steve answers questions from Twitter

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Sean Carroll || the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Nov 01, 2018

Today it’s an honor to have Dr. Sean Carroll on the podcast. Dr. Carroll is a theoretical physicist at the California Institute of Technology. Recently, Carroll has worked on the foundation of quantum mechanics, the arrow of time, and the emergence of complexity. He has been awarded prizes and fellowships by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, among others. Dr. Carroll has given a TED talk on the multiverse that has more than 1.5 million views, and he has participated in a number of well-attended public debates concerning material in his latest book, which is entitled “The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself.” - The meaning of “post-existentialism” - What is “poetic naturalism”? - What is the fundamental nature of reality? - Do “tables” and “chairs” really exist? - The difference between rich ontology and sparse ontology - The Bayesian probability of the existence of God - How the universe evolved - The analogy between psychological entropy and naturalistic entropy - Can we think about the brain in useful terms entropically? - In what sense do we have free will? - How hard is the hard problem of consciousness? - The importance of “existential gratitude” - The link between quantum mechanics and consciousness - Is there life (consciousness) after death? - How can we create purpose, meaningfulness, mattering, morality, and ethics in a natural world?

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Dan Pink || Motivation, Selling, and Perfect Timing Oct 25, 2018

Today we have Dan Pink on the podcast. Pink is the author of six provocative best-selling books— including his newest: When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. His other books include A Whole New Mind, Drive, and To Sell is Human. Pink’s books have won multiple awards and have been translated into 38 languages.

In this episode we discuss the following topics:

What is the best way to motivate people?
The case for “metapay” among self-actualized people
How purpose is a powerful motivator
The “motivation continuum”
The ways contingent rewards can go awry
Is it possible to be "unhealthily autonomous"?
The importance of “killing your darlings”
Dark triad selling vs. cooperative selling
The “identity civil war” and zero-sum thinking
The new ABCs of communication
The myth of the necessity of extraversion for sales success
The importance of time management
The best and worst times to do…
When is the best time to have a mid-life crisis?

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James Clear || How to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones Oct 18, 2018

Today it’s a great delight to have James Clear on the podcast. Clear’s website, jamesclear.com, receives millions of visitors each month, and hundreds of thousands subscribe to his email newsletter. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Time, and Entrepreneur, and on CBS This Morning, and is taught in colleges around the world. Clear is the creator of The Habits Academy, the premier training platform for organizations and individuals that are interested in building better habits in life and work. His latest book is called “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones”. - How the mind is a “suggestion engine” - How James has grown since his last appearance on The Psychology Podcast - The importance of “dichotomy transcendence” - The importance of choosing the best environment for your genes - How was easily fall into “frictionless” habits - How environment design plays a crucial role in habit change - The four laws of behavior change - The multiple levels of behavior change - The link between identity and habit change - The importance of small habits - Why we should stop focusing on goals and focus on systems instead - Why it’s easier to build a new habit in a new environment - How to go from good to great

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Robert Plomin || How DNA Makes Us Who We Are Oct 11, 2018

Today it’s a great honor to have Dr. Robert Plomin on the podcast. Dr. Plomin is Professor of Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience at King's College London. He previously held positions at the University of Colorado Boulder and Pennsylvania State University. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and of the British Academy for his twin studies and his groundbreaking work in behavioral genetics. He is the author or coauthor of many books, including G is for Genes: The Impact of Genetics on Education and Achievement (with Kathryn Asbury), and most recently, BluePrint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the following topics:

How Robert became interested in genetics
The importance of going “with the grain” of your nature
Robert’s twin studies methodology
How genotypes become phenotypes
How kids select their environments in ways that correlate with their genetic inclinations
The genetic influence on television viewing
How virtually everything is moderately heritable
The effects of extreme trauma on the brain
The developmental trajectory of heritability
How the abnormal is normal
How we could use polygenic information to inform educational interventions
The potential for misuse of genetic information to select children for particular educational tracks
Recent research on shared environmental influences on educational achievement
The “nature of nurture”
The variability of heritability across different cultures and levels of SES
The role of education on intelligence
How teachers can and cannot make a difference
The genetics of social class mobility
Free will and how we can change our destiny

Further Reading

Fifty years of twin studies: A meta-analysis of the heritability of human traits

The nature of nurture: effects of parental genotypes

Variat

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Justin Lehmiller || The Science of Sexual Fantasies Oct 04, 2018

Today we have Dr. Justin Lehmiller on the podcast. Dr. Lehmiller is a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute and author of the book Tell Me What you Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life. Lehmiller is an award winning educator, having been honored three times with the Certificate of Teaching Excellence from Harvard University, where he taught for several years. He is also a prolific researcher and scholar who has published more than 40 pieces of academic writing to date, including a textbook entitled The Psychology of Human Sexuality.

On this episode we cover a wide range of provocative and fascinating findings from the largest survey on sexual fantasies of all time. Topics include:

The most common sexual fantasies among humans
The most taboo sexual fantasy category
Fantasy vs. desire
Reducing shame for the content of one’s sexual fantasies
The relationship between the fantasy-prone personality and sexual fantasies
The importance of sexual self-actualization for well-being
The benefits of open communication of our fantasies with our partners
Sexual orientation vs. sexual flexibility
The truth behind widely held stereotypes about BDSM
Gender differences in sexual fantasies
What your sexual fantasies say about you
The sexiest superhero
OCD and gender bending
Does size really matter?
Which fantasy is the least likely to work out when it’s actually acted out?
How can more people turn their fantasies into reality in a healthy way?
How can we break the barriers in society that prevent us from properly communicating our sexual desires?

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Michael Shermer and Philip Goff || Solving the Mysteries of Consciousness, Free Will, and God Sep 20, 2018

Today we have Michael Shermer and Philip Goff on the podcast. Michael is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University where he teaches Skepticism 101. He is the author of New York Times bestsellers Why People Believe Weird Things, The Believing Brain, and Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality & Utopia. Goff is an associate professor in philosophy at Central European University in Budapest. His main research focus is trying to explain how the brain produces consciousness. His first book, which was published by Oxford University Press, is called Consciousness and Fundamental Reality. Goff is currently working on a book on consciousness aimed at a general audience.

In this episode we cover the following topics:

Is reasoning the ultimate route to truth?
What if human rational faculties can’t comprehend the ultimates realities of existence?
Will the hard problem of consciousness ever be solved?
Panpsychism as a scientific alternative for explaining consciousness
The latest neuroscience of consciousness and its implications for understanding the hard problem of consciousness
The insights that can be gleaned through understanding subjective experience
Will we ever discover if free will exists?
To what extent can our understanding of cognitive neuroscience and genetics can elucidate the extent of our free will?
The possibility for “free won’t”
Can science ever solve the mystery of the existence of God?
How can the science of consciousness, free-will, and God help alleviate fundamental existential concerns of humanity?

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Sara Algoe || Positive Relationships Sep 13, 2018

Today I’m delighted to have Sara Algoe on the podcast. Dr. Algoe is associate professor of social psychology at the University of Virginia. Her expertise spans emotions, relationships, and health psychology. Her basic research questions illuminate the social interactions that are at the heart of high-quality relationships. These include giving to others, expressing gratitude, and sharing laughter.

In this episode we discuss:

The main components of “positive interpersonal processes”
The effect of gratitude on the other person in relationships
The importance of context in positive psychology
How positive and negative emotions can co-exist simultaneously
The “find, remind, and bind” theory of gratitude
The importance of gratitude in everyday life
“Meta” positive emotions
The essentials vs. luxuries of well-being
The validity of gratitude interventions
“Gratitude burnout”
Appreciation vs. gratitude
The need for evil to define the light

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Jonathan Haidt || The Coddling of the American Mind Sep 06, 2018

“There are two ideas about safe spaces. One is a very good idea, and one is a terrible idea. The idea of being physically safe on a campus, not being subjected to sexual harassment and physical abuse, or being targeted for something specifically for some sort of hate speech… I’m perfectly fine with that. But there’s another that is now ascendent, which I just think is a horrible view, which is ‘I need to be safe ideologically, I need to be safe emotionally, I just need to feel good all the time. And if someone says something that I don’t like, that is a problem for everyone else, including the administration.’ I think that is a terrible idea for the following reason: I don’t want you to be safe ideologically. I don’t want you to be safe emotionally. I want you to be strong. That’s different. I’m not going to pave the jungle for you. Put on some boots, and learn how to deal with adversity. I’m not going to take all the weights out of the gym. That’s the whole point of the gym. This is the gym.”

— Anthony Van Jones

Today we have Jonathan Haidt on the podcast. Dr. Haidt is a social psychologist at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Dr. Haidt’s research examines the intuitive foundations of morality, and how morality varies across cultures— including the cultures of American progressive, conservatives, and libertarians. Haidt is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis, and of The New York Times bestseller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. His third book, co-authored with Greg Lukianoff, is called The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure.

In this episode we discuss:

“The tumultuous years” on college campuses from 2015-2017
Wisdom and its opposite
The three great untruths
The main aims of Heterodox Academy
The importance of exposing students to opposing views on campus
The detrimental effects of moral amplification
How moral foundations theory helps explain political divides
The common humanity of liberals and conservatives
The psychological function of having a common enemy
How social media amplifies tribalism
The rise of antifragility
The net effect of “callout culture”
The importance of play in early childhood
The importance of cognitive behavioral therapy and sharpening your intuitions
The importance of both racial/ethnic minority diversity and viewpoint diversity
How to help young people flourish in college

Links

Heterodox Academy

Wisdom as a classical source of human strength: Conceptualization and empirical inquiry

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Carl Zimmer || The New Science of Heredity Aug 23, 2018

Today we have Carl Zimmer on the podcast. Zimmer reports from the frontiers of biology, where scientists are expanding our understanding of life. Since 2004 he was written about science for the New York Times, where his column “Matter” has appeared weekly since 2013. Zimmer has won many awards for his work, including the Stephen Jay Gould Prize, awarded by the Society for the Study of Evolution to recognize individuals whose sustained efforts have advanced public understanding of evolutionary science. Zimmer is the author of thirteen books about science. His latest book is She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Power, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity. In this episode, we discuss: - The difference between genetics and heredity - The perils and promises of gene-editing technologies - The potential for unethical application of emerging genetics findings - The potential for misuse of the genetics of intelligence in education - The potential perils of genetically modified mosquitoes - The potential perils of genetically modified crops - The quirky nature of epigenetics - The existence of “human chimeras” - The limitations of DNA testing

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James Flynn || Nature, Nurture, and Human Autonomy Aug 16, 2018

"When you turn your back on reality you lose the ability to manipulate reality. One would think that is self-evident. I didn't go into this to not try to find the truth." -- James Flynn*

Today it is an honor to have Dr. James Flynn on the podcast. Dr. Flynn is Professor Emeritus at the University of Otago and recipient of the University’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Career Research. In 2007, the International Society for Intelligence Research named him its Distinguished Contributor. His TED talk on cognitive and moral progress has received over 3.5 million visits. His long list of books include Are We Getting Smarter?, What is Intelligence?, Where Have All the Liberals Gone?, Fate and Philosophy, How to Improve Your Mind, and most recently, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Does-your-Family-Make-Smar

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Michael Steger || Meaning, Purpose, and Significance Aug 02, 2018

Today we have Michael Steger on the podcast. Dr. Steger is a Professor of Psychology, and the Founding Director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University. He studies the link between meaning in life and well-being, as well as the psychological predictors of physical health and health-risk behaviors, and the facilitators and benefits of engaging in meaningful work.

In this episode we discuss the following topics:

- The definition of meaning in life

- The measurement of meaning

- The dark triad and meaning

- “The Hitler Problem”

- Life satisfaction vs. meaning in life

- Different forms of pleasure

- The possibility for “meaning exhaustion”

- Meaningful work

- The difference between coherence, purpose, and significance

- Different meanings of purpose

- The strongest sources of meaning in life

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Bradley Campbell || The Rise of Victimhood Culture Jul 26, 2018

Today we have Bradley Campbell on the podcast. Dr. Campbell is a sociologist interested in moral conflict— clashes of right and wrong and how they are handled. Most of his work examines genocide, which normally arises from large-scale interethnic conflicts. Recently he has also begun to examine the much smaller-scale conflicts on modern college campuses. His latest book, co-authored with Jason Manning is called “The Rise of Victimhood Culture: Microaggressions, Safe Spaces, and the New Culture Wars.”

The clash between victimhood and dignity culture
The sociology of genocide and conflict
The difference between honor culture, dignity culture, and victimhood culture
Victimhood as a form of status
Microaggressions on campus
Anti-PC culture vs. victimhood culture
Distinguishing real victimhood from victimhood culture
Conservative victimhood vs. liberal victimhood
Those who embrace offensiveness
Healthy Activism: vs. Psychopathological activism
The main goals of the Heterodox Academy
The need for more generosity and forgiveness among differing viewpoints, cultures, and neurodiverse individuals

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Amy Alkon || How to Live with Guts and Confidence Jul 12, 2018

Today it’s great to have Amy Alkon on the podcast. Amy Alkon is a “transdisciplinary applied scientist”, who synthesizes research findings from various areas, translates the findings into understandable language, and then creates practical advice based on the latest science. Alkon writes The Science Advice Goddess, an award-winning, syndicated column that runs in newspapers across the United States and Canada. She is also the author of Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ckand I See Rude People. She has been on Good Morning America, The Today Show, NPR, CNN, MTV, and does a weekly science podcast. She has written for Psychology Today, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times Magazine, the New York Daily News, among others, and has given a TED talk. She is the President of the Applied Evolutionary Psychology Society, and she lives in Venice, California. Amy’s latest book is Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living With Guts and Confidence.

In this episode you will learn:

The importance of action for overcoming your fears
How people-pleasing backfires
How you can use fear as a tool for change
How to “impersonate your way to being the real you”
Why authenticity is overrated
How to have a secure self-esteem
How to reduce shame
How Amy asked for feedback while she was dating
How to have the courage to say “no”
Why it’s better to have systems than goals
“The importance of “small wins”
Why dating is a numbers game

How to feel more empowered in your life

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Steven Pinker || Humanism, Enlightenment and Progress Jul 05, 2018

Today it’s a great honor to have Steven Pinker on the podcast. Dr. Pinker is an experimental psychologist who conducts research in visual cognition, psycholinguistics, and social relations. He grew up in Montreal and earned his BA from McGill and his PhD from Harvard. Currently Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard, Pinker has also taught at Stanford and MIT. He has won numerous prizes for his research, his teaching, and his ten books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, and most recently, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. Pinker is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Humanist of the Year, a recipient of nine honorary doctorates, and one of Foreign Policy’s “World’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals” and Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today.” He is Chair of the Usage Panel of the American Heritage Dictionary, and writes frequently for The New York Times, The Guardian, and other publications.

In this episode we discuss the following topics:

The main thread that runs through all of Pinker’s work
Does reducing economic inequality increase happiness?
Does increased autonomy lead to increased happiness?
How humanism is compatible with spirituality
Why we should not confuse evolutionary adaptation (in Darwin’s sense) with human worth
The difference between the ultimate and proximal levels of analysis
Why Evolutionary Psychology is often so misunderstood
Why human nature isn’t necessarily conductive to human flourishing
How the laws of the universe don’t care about you
Why do intellectuals hate progress so much?
What are some indicators of human progress?
Why should people care about human progress over the course of history?
The myth of the suicide and loneliness “epidemics”
Why we enjoy and care more about food and children than oxygen
Rates of sexual assault and mental health on campus
The increasing divisiveness and irrationality of politics
How the recent presidential election was a “carnival of irrationality”
Humanistic ethics
Can we have a good without a God?
The possibility of the unification of knowledge across the arts, humanities, and sciences
Toward a third culture

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Katherine MacLean || Open Wide and Say Awe Jun 21, 2018

“How can we use these peak experiences to help people create community that is healthy and to be better human beings?” -- Katherine MacLean

Katherine MacLean, PhD is a research scientist, teacher and meditator. In her academic research (2004-2013) at UC Davis and Johns Hopkins University, she studied how psychedelics and mindfulness meditation can promote beneficial, long-lasting changes in personality, well-being and brain function. In the fall of 2015, she co-founded and began directing the Psychedelic Education & Continuing Care Program in New York (www.psychedelicprogram.com), where she has facilitated monthly integration groups for psychedelic users and training workshops for both clinicians and the public. She currently lives on an organic farm and is preparing to be a study therapist on the upcoming Phase 3 trial of MDMA for post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn more: katherinemaclean.org

In this wide-ranging discussion, we cover the following topics:

- What happened after Katherine “died” in 2012

- Discovery oriented research vs. practical research on psychedelics

- Effects of psychedelics on “existential distress”

- Potential benefits of psychedelics on end-of-life care and terminal cancer patients

- Potential benefits of MDMA for PTSD

- The existence of “enlightened assholes”

- Skepticism about brain research on psychedelics

- The role of the default network in "ego dissolution"

- Misrepresentation of the default network in the psychedelic and meditation literatures

- Benefits of psychedelics and meditation in combination

- Psychedelics and openness to experience

- From anxiety attack to “beauty attack”

- The potential for healthy psychedelic integration and increased community

Links

"Open Wide and Saw Awe" | Katherine MacLean | TEDxOrcasIsland

A Systematic Review of Personality Trait Change Through Intervention

Psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experience in combination with meditation and other spiritual practices produces enduring positive changes in psychological functioning and in trait measures of prosocial attitudes and behaviors

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Ellen Hendriksen || How To Be Yourself Jun 07, 2018

Today we have Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on the podcast. Dr. Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist who helps millions calm their anxiety and be there authentic selves through her award-winning Savvy Psychologist podcast, which has been downloaded over 5 million times, and at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. Her latest book is called “How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety.”

What is your real self?

What is social anxiety?

What is the opposite of social anxiety?

What’s the goal of therapy to treat social anxiety?

How to be comfortable when you are “caught being yourself”

The importance of self-compassion

The difference between introversion and social anxiety

Techniques to overcome social anxiety

The Orchid-Dandelion Hypothesis

The relationship between the highly sensitive person and openness to experience

The importance of going out and living your life first, and letting your confidence catch up

The importance of turning attention “inside out”

How perfectionism holds us back

The importance of “daring to be average”

The myth of “hope in a bottle”

Gender differences in the manifestation of social anxiety

Thanks!!

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Amy Wrzesniewski || Finding Your Calling at Work May 24, 2018

Today we have Dr. Amy Wrzesniewski on the podcast. Dr. Wrzesniewski is a professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management. Her research focuses on how people make meaning of their work in difficult contexts, such as stigmatized occupations, virtual work, or absence of work, and the experience of work as a job, career, or calling. Her current research involves studying how employees shape their interactions and relationships with others in the workplace to change both their work identity and the meaning of the job.

Topics incude:

- The definition of meaning

- The four main sources of meaning

- Spirituality as a potential source of meaning at work

- The way work allows us to transcend the self

- The definition of calling

- How to find your most meaningful calling

- The importance of “self-resonance”

- The difference between consequences and motives

- What is job crafting and how can it help you increase your calling?

- Is job crafting contagious?

- The benefit of collective, team-level job crafting

- The impact of virtual work on job crafting

- How does meaning shape job transitions?

- The effects of occupational regret on people’s lives

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Alice Dreger || Fuzzy Categories May 17, 2018

“Nature doesn’t care about our desire to have these clean political categories for legal purposes.” — Alice Dreger

Today I’m really excited to have Dr. Alice Dreger on the podcast. Dr. Dreger is a historian, bioethicist, author, and former professor of clinical medical humanities and bioethics at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. Dreger is widely known for her academic work and activism in support of people at the edge of anatomy, such as conjoined twins and those with atypical sex characteristics. In her observations, it’s often a fuzzy line between “male” and “female”, among other anatomical distinctions. A key question guiding a lot of Dr. Dreger’s work (and which was the topic of her TEDx talk) is “Why do we let our anatomy determine our fate?” Dr. Dreger is the author of multiple books, including “One of Us: Conjoined Twins and the Future of Normal” and “Galieleo’s Middle Finger Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science.”

In this episode, we discuss a wide range of topics, including:

How Dr. Dreger got involved in the “Intersex Rights Movement” in the mid-90s
The difference between anatomy and gender identity
The relationship between our bodies and our personal and social identities and the role of science and medicine in determining this relationship
Who gets to tell your body what it means
How the mind isn’t the only place where identity exists, and how our identities also exist in the minds of others
The future of gender pronouns
How we should treat those who do not fit traditional notions of sex, such as the fascinating cases of “androgen sensitivity syndrome” and “congenital adrenal hyperplasia”
How we can see more value in variation in anatomy
The need for a more reality-based government
Why the phrase “identity politics” is distracting and only part of a larger problem
The benefits and disadvantages of the “Intellectual Dark Web”
The increasing difficulty of being able to tell what is true and what is false in the media
Why we spend so much of our energy on tribal politics and avoid the real humanitarian problems in the world
Why tribal life is so compelling
The need to balance male and female ways of being
What an “Intellectual Light Web” might look like

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William Damon || The Path to Purpose May 10, 2018

Today it’s an honor to have Dr. William Damon on the podcast. Dr. Damon is Director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence and Professor of Education at Stanford University. Damon’s current research explores how young people develop purpose in their civic, work, family, and community relationships. He examines how people learn to approach their vocational and civic lives with a focus on purpose, imagination, and high standards of excellence. Damon also has written widely about how to educate for moral and ethical understanding. Dr. Damon’s most recent books include The Power of Ideals, Failing Liberty 101, and The Path to Purpose: Helping Our Children Find Their Calling in Life.

In this wide-ranging discussion, we cover the following topics:

- The definition of purpose

- The role of values in purpose

- The difference between purpose and meaning

- Vicktor Frankl’s “will to meaning”

- How purpose is a late developing capacity

- The difference between purpose and resiliency

- The paths to purpose among young people

- Methods for developing purpose

- Moral commitment among moral exemplars

- Purpose among leaders

- The importance of taking "ultimate responsibility" in life

- How we are leaving young people unprepared in a civic society

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Kennon Sheldon || How to Be an Optimal Human Apr 26, 2018

“The happiest person is the person doing good stuff for good reasons.”

— Kennon Sheldon

Dr. Kennon Sheldon is a psychologist at the University of Missouri who studies motivation, goals, and well-being, from both a self-determination theory and a positive psychology perspective. He has authored or co-authored multiple books, including “Optimal human being: An integrated multi-level perspective”. Dr. Sheldon has been cited more than 30,000 times, and in 2010, he was named one of the 20 most cited social psychologists.

In this wide-ranging episode we discuss:

How Ken went from aspiring musician to leading research on goals
Whether the pursuit of happiness is worth it
Is happiness in your genes?
The link between goals and happiness
The what and why of motivated goal pursuit
The basic needs of self-determination theory
Deprivation vs. growth needs
Self-concordance theory
The link between values and happiness
How much can we use science as a guide to values?
Are there some ways of being more conducive to happiness than others?
How to get in touch with your OVP (organismic valuing process)
Marrying positive psychology and humanistic psychology
The relationship between personal goals and personal projects
How to know when to change your goals
The good life: well-being or well-doing?

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Patricia Stokes || Creativity from Constraints Apr 19, 2018

Today I’m delighted to speak with Patricia Stokes, an adjunct professor at Barnard College who studies problem solving and creativity/innovation. Stokes is author of the book Creativity from Constraints: The Psychology of Breakthrough, which was informed by her psychological research as well as her background in art and advertising.

In this episode, we cover:

– How Patricia went from art and advertising to creativity researcher

– The importance of constraints and variability for creativity

– How constraints can promote or preclude creativity

– Using constraints to solve the “creativity problem”

– How “the solution path defines the goal state”

– The four major constraints on creativity

– How teachers and parents should praise children for optimal creativity

– How to reward the courage to be novel

– The importance of constraints in fashion and literature

– How to explain Lady Gaga’s creativity

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Robert Leahy || The Jealousy Cure Apr 12, 2018

It’s great to have Dr. Robert Leahy on the podcast today. Dr. Leahy completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School under the direction of Dr. Aaron Beck, the founder of cognitive therapy. Dr. Leahy is the past president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, past president of the International Association of Cognitive Psychotherapy, past president of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy (NYC), and a clinical professor of psychology in psychiatry at Weill-Cornell University Medical School.

Dr. Leahy has received the Aaron T. Beck award for outstanding contributions in cognitive therapy, and he is author and editor of 25 books, including The Worry Cure, which received critical praise from the New York Times and has been selected by Self Magazine as one of the top eight self-help books of all time. His latest book is The Jealousy Cure: Learn to Trust, Overcome Possessiveness, and Save Your Relationship.

Topics:

Why Dr. Lahey wrote The Anxiety Cure
The new science of jealousy
How jealousy differs from envy
Why jealousy evolved
What is the downside of intense jealousy?
Why we don’t want to get rid of jealousy
Are men and women equally jealous?
The relationship between attachment style and jealousy
What if there really is a reason to be jealous?
What are some practical techniques that people can use to cope with their jealousy?

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Colin DeYoung || Cybernetics and the Science of Personality Apr 05, 2018

Today I’m really excited to have Colin DeYoung on the podcast. Dr. DeYoung is associate professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota. He specializes in personality psychology but is especially interested in personality neuroscience. Besides being a prolific academic and researcher, I am also honored to count him as a dear friend and collaborator.

In this episode we discussed wide-range of topics relating to personality, including:

The modern day personality hierarchy
The “Big Two”: Stability and Plasticity
How Carl Jung developed his theory of introversion
The latest science of introversion
The scientific validity of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Dopamine as the “neuromodulator of exploration”
The two major dopamingeric pathways
Why personality variation evolved
The neuroscience of conscientiousness
The link between compassion and imagination
The neuroscience of anxiety
The cybernetics of personality
Rethinking psychopathology
The effects of therapy on personality change

Links

Cybernetic Big Five Theory

The neuromodulator of exploration: A unifying theory of the role of dopamine in personality

Personality neuroscience and the biology of traits

Opening up openness to experience: A four-factor model and relations to creative achievement in the arts and sciences

The neuroscience of anxiety

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Jordan Peterson || Wonder, Creativity, and the Personality of Political Correctness Mar 29, 2018

Today we have Dr. Jordan Peterson on the podcast. Dr. Peterson has taught mythology to lawyers, doctors and business people, consulted for the UN Secretary General, helped his clinical clients manage depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia, served as an adviser to senior partners of major Canadian law firms, and lectured extensively in North America and Europe. With his students and colleagues at Harvard and the University of Toronto, Dr. Peterson has published over a hundred scientific papers. Dr. Peterson is also author of two books: Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief and 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, which is a #1 bestseller.

In this wide-ranging conversation we discuss the following topics:

– Why “learned irrelevance” is incredibly important

– Why creativity requires keeping a childlike wonder

– How hallucinogens clear the “doors of perception”

– The “shared vulnerability” model of the creativity-mental illness connection

– The neuroscience of openness to experience

– The personality of personal correctness

– The practical implications of gender differences

– The function of the state in helping to make sure there is equality of individual expression

– How agreeableness and conscientiousness orient us differently in the social world

– The difference between pathological altruism and genuine compassion

– The link between pathological altruism and vulnerable narcissism

– The difference between responsibility and culpability

– How to help people take responsibility and make their lives better

Links

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Jordan Peterson- What the State is For

Jordan Peterson- Future Authoring Program

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Max Lugavere || Genius Foods Mar 22, 2018

Today I’m really excited to have Max Lugavere on the podcast. Max is a filmmaker, health and science journalist, and brain food expert. He is also the director of the upcoming film Bread Head, the first-ever documentary about dementia prevention through diet and lifestyle, and he is co-author, with Dr. Paul Grewal, of the just released book, Genius Foods.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

How he got into his line of work
How Alzheimer’s may be prevented through diet
The biomarkers of aging
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats
How to understand research on diet and medicine
Genius foods you can add to your diet right now
His supplement regime
The importance of gut health
The Hygiene Hypothesis on the rise of autoimmune diseases
The only fruits he recommends for a healthy diet
Cholesterol—not bad after all?
The emerging research on “psychobiotics” (treating psychological disorders with probiotics)
Stress, sleep and exercise
Metabolic health and the brain

Links

Follow Max on Twitter

Get his book Genius Foods, which is out now

For everything else Max does

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Mark Leary || The Self, Identity, and Removing the Mask Mar 15, 2018

This week I'm thrilled to welcome Mark Leary, Ph.D. to The Psychology Podcast! Dr. Leary is the Garonzik Family Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University and author of The Curse of the Self. His research interests focus on social motivation and emotion, and on processes involving self-reflection and self-relevant thought. He has written or edited 12 books and over 200 scholarly articles and chapters. He was the 2010 recipient of the Lifetime Career Award from the International Society for Self and Identity and a 2015 co-recipient of the Scientific Impact Award from the Society for Experimental Social Psychology.

During our chat we covered a number of mutual research interests including:
Links:
Read Dr. Leary's new blog at PsychologyToday

Self-esteem, identity and their relationships to behavior
The distinction between “instrumental social value" and "relational social value"
The human need for belonging
The concept of “self-presentation strategies" and their variations:
<ul> <li>Imposter syndrome
Self-promotion
Ingratiation

The difference between egoism and egotism

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Kathryn Prescott || The Devastating Opioid Epidemic Mar 08, 2018

Today I’m delighted to have actress Kathryn Prescott on the podcast! Kathryn is an actor and photographer, originally from London. Ms. Prescott got her first big break when she was 17 playing Emily, a young lesbian with a homophobic twin sister, in the cult UK TV show “Skins”. A few years later she moved to the US to play the lead role in the MTV teen drama “Finding Carter” and has since appeared in various other projects including ‘To The Bone’, ‘Reign’ and ’24: Legacy’. Ms. Prescott is currently shooting her second season of AMC’s ‘The Son’ and has a movie coming out on Netflix in April called “Dude”.

After joining up with The Big Issue Foundation and Centrepoint in the UK for a photography exhibition to raise money for both organizations, she wanted to do something similar in the US, so she got in touch with Homeless Health Care Los Angeles but decided to do something a little different. Her film explores the cyclical nature of pain and isolation when it comes to addiction while highlighting the devastating effect that the opioid epidemic is having on America’s youth. Mrs. Prescott has been surrounded by addiction throughout her life and people’s reactions to it have always fascinated her.

In addition to listening to this fascinating interview with Ms. Prescott, please watch and share her important video and see other links below:

Links

The official website for “Dear You”

“Dear You” on social media: Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook

A great podcast explaining how one sentence helped set off the opioid epidemic

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Melissa Dahl || A Theory of Awkwardness Feb 22, 2018

Melissa Dahl is a senior editor covering health and psychology for New York's The Cut. In 2014, she cofounded New York’s popular social science site, Science of Us. Her work has appeared in Elle, Parents, and TODAY.com. Her new book, Cringeworthy, is her first book.

In our conversation, Melissa shares with us:

- How awkwardness comes from self-consciousness and uncertainty

- How doing improv can help you become less awkward

- How we create more drama with ourselves than necessary

- What we can do to become more one with our awkwardness

- Why the “irreconcilable gap” can lead to awkwardness

- How to find the “growing edge” and challenge yourself to have more awkward conversations

This episode may be the most awkward episode of The Psychology Podcast yet (and that’s saying a lot!). So you won’t want to miss it! :)

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Jessica Tracy || Shades of Pride Feb 15, 2018

“What is it in the human psyche that allows us to achieve, create, discover, and invent in ways that no other species can?”

This is a question Jessica Tracy explores in her book Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. Tracy is a professor of psychology, an emotion researcher, and a social-personality psychologist at the University of British Columbia. In our conversation we discuss the established and emerging research on:

The 2 distinct expressions of pride (hubristic and authentic), and how they relate to the routes to power (dominance and prestige),
The experience and expressions of shame, and how the emotion has made its way into the research on everything from narcissism to addiction,
The moral and self-conscious emotions, and the roles they play in decision making.

Thanks to Jessica for coming on the podcast and discussing these fascinating and important lines of research!

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Mithu Storoni || Stress Proof Feb 08, 2018

Dr. Mithu Storoni is a Cambridge-educated physician, researcher and author, interested in chronic stress and its implications on mental well-being, decision-making, performance, and brain health. In her latest book STRESS PROOF – the scientific solution to protect your brain and body and be more resilient every day, she takes cutting-edge research findings from over 500 published studies and distills them into hundreds of lifestyle-based tricks to help our brains achieve improved mental clarity, increased tranquility, sharper focus, and heightened performance.

In our conversation, Mitthu shares with us:

The physical symptoms of stress
Tips to improve your emotional regulation
The perils of rumination and how to overcome it
The physiological differences between acute and chronic stress
The benefits of different kinds of meditation (mindfulness, open-monitoring, etc.)
The research on how lifestyle interventions (ie. The mind diet, cognitive training) can be used to treat chronic stress

You can find Mithu’s book Stress Proof on Amazon.

Follow Mithu on Twitter @StoroniMithu.

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Suzann Pileggi Pawelski || Using Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts Jan 18, 2018

Today I’m really excited to have James and Suzann Pileggi Pawelski on the podcast. James is Professor of Practice and Director of Education in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania where he cofounded the Master of Applied Positive Psychology Program with Martin Seligman. Suzie is a freelance writer, Psychology Today blogger, and well-being consultant specializing in the science of happiness and its effects on relationships and health. Together, James and Suzie are co-authors of the newly-released book “Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts”. They also give Romance and ResearchTM workshops together around the world.

In this episode we discuss:

What people get wrong about relationships
What the "relationship gym" is
How to cultivate "Aristotelian love"
The specific ways positive psychology can help you be happy with a partner
The role of gratitude in relationships
How to sustain passion in a relationship

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James Fadiman || Psychedelics and the Founding of Transpersonal Psychology Jan 11, 2018

James Fadiman is a Harvard-trained psychologist and writer, who is known for his extensive work in the field of psychedelic research. He co-founded, along with Robert Frager, the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, which later became Sofia University, where he was a lecturer in psychedelic studies. Fadiman is author of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Why he decided to scientifically study the positive effects of LSD

- Why the psychedelic experience is so transformative for so many people

- How the psychedelic experience evaporates boundaries

- The limitations of science

- Fadiman’s experience with Abraham Maslow on an airplane

- The founding of transpersonal psychology

- The potential benefits of "psychedelic therapy"

- How one can have enlightenment without compassion ("false enlightenment")

- The importance of the Bodhisattva Path

- How accepting our multiple selves can increase understanding and compassion

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Kirk Schneider || Existential-Humanistic Therapy Dec 27, 2017

“Adventure and awe are key to the perpetuation of vibrant, evolving lives, and in combination with technological advances may bring marvels to our emerging repertoires.” — Kirk Schneider

Kirk Schneider is a psychotherapist who has taken a leading role in the advancement of existential-humanistic therapy and existential-integrative therapy. He has authored or coauthored ten books, including The Paradoxical Self, Humanity’s Dark Side, Existential-Integrative Psychotherapy, The Psychology of Existence (with Rollo May), The Polarized Mind, The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, and Awakening to Awe. Dr. Schneider is the 2004 recipient of the Rollo May award for “outstanding and independent pursuit of new frontiers in humanistic psychology” from the Humanistic Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association.

In this episode, Kirk teaches us how we can connect with the mystery and discovery in our daily lives in a way that allows us to feel, sense, imagine, create, wonder, and to feel the dysphoric feelings as well, the poignancy of sadness of hurt or anger, and in essence, experience a larger sense of life and of creative work. Kirk's seminal work in existential-humanistic therapy has helped many people be more open to new possibilities and sensitivities to oneself as well as other people, other species, and have a more profound appreciation of our fleeting time in space. Among these topics, we also discuss the following:

What is existential-humanistic therapy?
Kirk’s kinship with Rollo May
Kirk's debate with Ken Wilbur about "ultimate consciousness"
Kirk's vision of an awe-based era in the age of roboticism
Kirk's vision of "depth healers"
How to preserve the core of humanity in this brave new world

Links

The Spirituality of Awe

Existential-Humanistic Therapy (2nd edition)

The Deified Self: A "Centaur" Response to Wilber and the Transpersonal Movement by Kirk Schneider

Rollo May: Personal Reflections and Appreciation by James F.T. Bugental

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Dan Ariely || Spending Smarter Dec 20, 2017

“Money is incredible, but some of the things that make it incredible make it difficult to use.”

— Dan Ariely

Today I’m excited to welcome Dan Ariely to The Psychology Podcast. Dan is a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. Through his research and his (often unorthodox) experiments, he questions the forces that influence human behavior and the irrational ways in which we often all behave. He is author of the bestsellers Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, and several others, and his latest book is Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter.

In our conversation we cover:

Why he decided to dedicate a whole book to money
How the “pain of paying” affects how much we spend
Why we tend to undervalue saving
How fairness impacts our perception of value
Why bad spending becomes a habit

In this episode you’ll learn how to think about money and spend it in smarter ways. It was great getting to chat with Dan, and interesting to see the overlap between his research in Behavioral Economics and the research coming out of Positive Psychology. Enjoy!

Links:

Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter

https://www.amazon.com/Dollars-Sense-Misthink-Money-Smarter/dp/006265120X [Book]

Follow Dan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/danariely

For more resources and information on Dan and his research

http://danariely.com/

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Ruth Whippman || America the Anxious Dec 06, 2017

The process of being happy has become painfully comically neurotic" - Ruth Whippman

This week I am delighted to welcome Ruth Whippman to The Psychology Podcast. Ruth is the author of America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks. The book has been covered by New York Magazine, The New York Times, The New York Post, The Washington Post, and VICE, among others.

Today we bring to you spirited discussion topics such as:

The cultural differences between America and Britain regarding attitudes about happiness (Ruth moved from London to California 6 years ago with her husband and 2 young sons).
Dosage effects of positive interventions—Is it useful to try to feel good all the time?
The standards to which we hold motivational speakers, popular science writers, and scientists themselves—Is it okay for standards to differ?
The rampant promotion of "pseudo-growth" among corporate flourishing initiatives.
The parenting "happiness rat race".

Enjoy, and if you have thoughts on the episode be sure to leave a comment below!

Links:

You can find Ruth's book America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/America-Anxious-Pursuit-Happiness-Creating/dp/1250071526 [Book]

Follow Ruth on Twitter @ruthwhippman

http://twitter.com/ruthwhippman

Bob Emmons on the Power of Gratitude:

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/item/the_power_of_gratitude [Video]

http://scottbarrykaufman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Emmons-paper-for-Gratitude-Complaint-consultation-September-2017.pdf [Paper]

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Elliot Aronson || Not by Chance Alone Nov 22, 2017

"Life is full of lessons, and 'playing the hand you're dealt as well as you can play it' is a good one." -- Elliot Aronson

Today I'm incredibly excited to welcome the legendary Elliot Aronson to The Psychology Podcast. Aronson is an eminent social psychologist who is best known for his groundbreaking experiments on the theory of cognitive dissonance and for his invention of the Jigsaw Classroom, a highly effective cooperative teaching technique which facilitates learning while reducing interethnic hostility and prejudice. He is the only person in the 120-year history of the American Psychological Association to have won all three of its major awards: for writing, for teaching, and for research, and in 2007 he received the William James Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Association for Psychological Science, in which he was cited as the scientist who "fundamentally changed the way we look at everyday life.”

Over the course of our in-depth and wide-ranging discussion, Aronson:

Shares stories and key lessons from his famous mentors–Abraham Maslow and Leon Festinger–and how each of the two altered the course of his life,
Illuminates with examples some of his most fascinating findings in the field of Social Psychology,
Offers his take on the replication crisis and on what he calls the "TED-ification" of Psychology,
Imparts on us wisdom he's gathered not just as a researcher and psychologist but also as a father and brother.

It was a pleasure to have a legend in the field on the show for such a comprehensive conversation, filled with stories and lessons. Enjoy!

Links:

Elliot Aronson's memoir, Not By Chance Alone: My Life as a Social Psychologist, is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Not-Chance-Alone-Social-Psychologist/dp/0465031390 [Book]

To learn more about Aronson's highly effective Jigsaw Classroom (from outcomes to implementation) visit https://www.jigsaw.org/ [Resource]

The Social Animal - Through vivid narrative, lively presentations of important research, and intriguing examples, Aronson's textbook offers a brief, compelling introduction to modern social psychology

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Lewis Howes || The Mask of Masculinity Nov 01, 2017

I look at a man as a symbol of inspiration.
Someone who looks to be of service along his journey.
Someone who experiences fears but has the courage to face them and move forward anyway. Someone who’s loving to all people and creatures in world, including himself.
Someone who can take care of his basic needs and teach others how to live in abundance. Someone who doesn’t judge people but looks for ways to lift others up.
Someone who leaves this place better than the way he found it.
That, to me, is a man.

— Lewis Howes

Today it’s great to have Lewis Howes on The Psychology Podcast! Lewis is a lifestyle entrepreneur, high-performance business coach, author and keynote speaker. A former professional football player and 2-sport All American, Lewis hosts The School of Greatness Podcast, which has received millions of downloads since it was launched in 2013. Howes is also an advisory board member of Pencils of Promise. His latest book is The Mask of Masculinity: How Men Can Embrace Vulnerability, Create Strong Relationships, and Live Their Fullest Lives.

Our conversation covers a few key themes such as:

The power of vulnerability and the role it’s played in Lewis’ life
The masks men wear to hide who they truly are and the benefits of taking off these masks
The male role models Lewis personally looks to for inspiration, and what he admires about them
Hope you enjoy my conversation with Lewis, and if you want to learn more about each of the masks mentioned, be sure to check out his new book The Mask of Masculinity: How Men Can Embrace Vulnerability, Create Strong Relationships, and Live Their Fullest Lives.

Links:

You can find The Mask of Masculinity on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Masculinity-Embrace-Vulnerability-Relationships/dp/1623368626/)

You can listen to The School of Greatness on iTunes, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-school-of-greatness-with-lewis-howes/id596047499?mt=2

Follow Lewis on Twitter @LewisHowes https://twitter.com/LewisHowes

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Jordan Harbinger || The Art of Charm Oct 26, 2017

Today I’m excited to welcome Jordan Harbinger to The Psychology Podcast. Jordan is an entrepreneur, talk show host, and world-renowned social dynamics expert. As co-founder of The Art of Charm, he has helped develop one of the leading self-development programs in the world, with a special expertise in social capital, relationship-building, and authentic rapport. He is also the host of The Art of Charm Podcast, where he interviews leading entrepreneurs, celebrities, authors, and experts on psychology, human performance, behavioral economics, and success.

In our wide-ranging discussion, Jordan and I talk about:

How The Art of Charm came to be (and how it evolved to be differ from the pick-up artist movement)
What kinds of things go on at his intense, 6-day live programs
Where his work at the Art of Charm draws from the world of Positive Psychology
Why it’s important to seek expertise from the right places and set healthy expectations
Why feeling comfortable in your skin is more of a subtractive process than an additive process, and how to go about achieving this
Why we need to delegate nonverbal communication to the level of habit, and some actionable tips for doing so (such as his famous “doorway drill”)
Why we should be more open to the idea of outgrowing friends, and signs it’s time to let a friend go
How all of this relates to the delicate balance of being and becoming, and the risks inherent in not striving to be your most authentic self

This episode offers a lot of food for thought around self development and how we can use scientifically-proven techniques to lead happier and more fulfilling lives. Enjoy!

Find Jordan at:

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Cheryl Einhorn || Making Good Decisions Oct 24, 2017

Today I'm glad to welcome Cheryl Einhorn to The Psychology Podcast! Cheryl is the creator of the AREA Method, a decision making system for individuals and companies to solve complex problems. She is also the founder of CSE Consulting and the author of the book Problem Solved, a Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence & Conviction. Cheryl teaches as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and has won several journalism awards for her investigative stories about international political, business and economic topics.

In our conversation she takes us through the philosophy behind her unique perspective taking process for making better decisions as well as through each of the steps:

The AREA Method gets its name from the perspectives that it addresses: Absolute, Relative, Exploration & Exploitation and Analysis:
- A, or Absolute, refers to the perspective of the research target. It is primary, uninfluenced information from the source itself.
- R, or Relative, refers to the perspective of outsiders around the target. It is secondary information, or information that has been filtered through sources connected to the target.
- E, or Exploration and Exploitation, are really about the human mind. Exploration is about listening to what other people think and believe. Exploitation is about listening to yourself and examining your own assumptions and judgment.
- The second A, or Analysis, synthesizes all of these perspectives, processing and interpreting the information you’ve collected.

Cheryl also shares stories of the people she encountered along her journey of researching the book and explains a variety of applications of this method. We hope you enjoy this actionable episode, and if you're interested to applying this method to a decision you're struggling with right now, be sure to check out Cheryl's free resources!

Links:

Problem Solved: A Powerful System for Making Complex Decisions with Confidence and Conviction is available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Solved-Decisions-Confidence-Conviction/dp/163265086X/

What Kind of Problem Solver Are You [Quiz] https://app.areamethod.com/

Downloadable "Cheetah Sheets" [Download] http://www.areamethod.com/downloads/

More examples of the AREA method at work [Case Studies] http://www.areamethod.com/area-at-work/

Follow Cheryl on Twitter

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Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness || Peak Performance Oct 11, 2017

This week I’m excited to welcome Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness to The Psychology Podcast. Brad writes for Outside, Runner’s World, NPR and has a column in the Huffington Post about health and the science of human performance. Steve Magness coaches Olympians and marathoners, lectures at St. Mary’s University on Exercise Science, and writes for numerous publications including Wired, Sports Illustrated and NY Magazine on the science of performance.

Together they are partners in peak performance, in research, and in writing their latest book Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success.

In this conversation, Brad and Steve teach us:

Why the word “performance” can be deceiving and how those of us focused on creative endeavors, who may not think of “performance” as an end goal, can benefit from their research,
Why both physical and cognitive rest are crucial for world-class performance in our pursuits, in what’s known as the Paradox of Rest (some of you probably know how much I love a good paradox!),
How harmonious passion maps onto their ideas about burnout, and how to identify whether a pursuit is rooted in harmonious or obsessive passion,
Why Brad and Steve limit themselves to 24-48 hours of celebration or wallowing after identity-validating or identity-challenging events,
How to optimize our routines to achieve peak performance,
Why transcendence is one of the most underrated characteristics of peak performance.

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Dacher Keltner || The Power Paradox Oct 04, 2017

"Power is given, not grabbed.” — Dacher Keltner

Today I’m really excited to have Dr. Dacher Keltner join me for his second appearance on The Psychology Podcast!

Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and the faculty director of the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. A renowned expert in the biological and evolutionary origins of human emotion, Dr. Keltner studies the science of compassion, awe, love, and beauty, and how emotions shape our moral intuition. His research interests also span issues of power, status, inequality, and social class. He is the author of the best-selling book Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life and of The Compassionate Instinct.

His latest book is The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence.

In our conversation we discuss several of Dacher’s ideas surrounding power including:

The unique definition of power he presents in the book
The recent development in power research of the 2 paths to power:
- Domination, Manipulation, Coercion
- Status, Respect, Strong Ties
The myth of power stereotypes
The problems of power
- The challenges of getting it
- The difficulties of maintaining it
- The dangers of becoming addicted to it
The Humility pathway of enduring power

Links:

The Power Paradox is available on Amazon

Follow Dacher’s Greater Good Lab on Twitter

[Book] Good to Great – Jim Collins (mentioned-“The final stage of leadership is service”)

[Book] On Tyranny -Timothy Snyder (mentioned-“People give power to tyrants”)

[Book]

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Mitch Prinstein || Popularity and the Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World Sep 27, 2017

Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D. is board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology, and serves as the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, and the Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his research have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, the LA Times, CNN, U.S. News & World Report, TIME magazine, New York magazine, Newsweek, and elsewhere.

In his latest book Popular: The Power of Likeability in A Status-Obsessed World, Prinstein examines how our popularity affects our success, our relationships, and our happiness—and why we don’t always want to be the most popular.

In our conversation we cover this and more, with key themes being:

Why seeking popularity is actually a basic human need,
Why it's not always the "conventionally popular" people who fare best, and how this relates to the (2) different strategies for achieving popularity:
- Likeability
- Status
How studies can help explain both the basic human needs Facebook serves, and the more general status-seeking phenomenon on social media,
What it means to induce a "Popularity Boomerang", and how becoming aware of it can fundamentally change the environment you exist in,
How your early experiences of popularity (or lack thereof) are probably helping or hindering how you show up in the world today, and if hindering, how you can overcome its effects,
Why it's more important the raise likeable kids than you might think, and the parenting implications of popularity research,
The likeability advantage.

We hope this conversation gives you some insights about popularity that will help you achieve your social, personal, and professional goals. Enjoy!

Links:

Popular: The Power of Likeability in A Status-Obsessed World is out now https://www.amazon.com/Popular-Power-Likability-Status-Obsessed-World/dp/0399563733/

Read an overview of the book and to take the Popularity Quiz http://www.mitchprinstein.com/books/popular-book/

Follow Mitch on Twitter @mitchprinstein https://twitter.com/mitchprinstein

For more information on Mitch or his research visit http://www.mitchprinstein.com/

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Brendon Burchard || High Performance Habits Sep 20, 2017

"What are the deliberate habits I can do consciously and consistently to keep getting better?" -- Brendon Burchard

This week I'm delighted to welcome Brendon Burchard to The Psychology Podcast! After suffering depression and surviving a car accident at the age of 19, Brendon faced what he felt were life’s last questions: “Did I live fully? Did I love openly? Did I make a difference?” His intention to be happy with the answers led to his own personal breakthroughs, and ultimately to his life’s purpose of helping others live, to love, and to matter. He spent his 20s researching psychology and leadership, and consulting at Accenture. By age 32, he went out on his own and became a #1 best-selling author, an in-demand high performance coach, a sought-after speaker, and an early pioneer in the online education space.

A #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, #1 Amazon and #1 USA Today best-selling author, Brendon’s books include The Motivation Manifesto, The Charge, The Millionaire Messenger and Life’s Golden Ticket. His latest book is High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way.

In this episode we have an enthusiastic and empirically-informed conversation about:

How Brendon's past lead him to become the personal growth expert and multi-media pioneer he is today
How thinking about life in terms of these 3 types can help you identify when it's time to take action or level up:
<ol> <li>Caged life</li> <li>Comfortable life</li> <li>Charged life</li> </ol>
How these 6 high performance habits can help you achieve long-term success and vibrant well-being:
<ol> <li>Seek clarity</li> <li>Generate energy</li> <li>Raise necessity</li> <li>Increase productivity</li> <li>Develop influence</li> <li>Demonstrate courage</li> </ol>
How these 4 key characteristics set successful creatives apart:
<ol> <li>Identity</li> <li>Obsession</li> <li>Social Duty</li> <li>Deadline</li> </ol>
How Brendon thinks about backing his illuminating frameworks with research

We cover several useful frameworks in this episode, so be sure to enjoy it with a pen in hand. If you're like us, you'll want to take a lot of notes!

Links:

Preorder High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way

[Resource] You can read the first 2 chapter's of Brendon's book here

[Books] Albert Bandura's work on self efficacy (mentioned)

[Book]

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Gretchen Rubin || “Questioning” the Four Tendencies Sep 13, 2017

This week we're delighted to have Gretchen Rubin on The Psychology Podcast! Gretchen is the author of several books, including the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, Better Than Before, The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. She has an enormous readership, both in print and online, and her books have sold almost three million copies worldwide, in more than thirty languages. On her popular weekly podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, she discusses good habits and happiness with her sister Elizabeth Craft; they’ve been called the “Click and Clack of podcasters.” Her podcast was named in iTunes’s lists of “Best Podcasts of 2015” and was named in the Academy of Podcasters “Best Podcasts of 2016". Gretchen's latest book is The Four Tendencies, which is the main focus of this episode's lively discussion and debate.

The larger themes of our conversation include:

The four tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Oblidgers, and Questioners; they refer to the different ways each of us responds to internal and external expectations
How Gretchen came up with these 4 categories
The ways in which each of these 4 categories may be found to correlate with different "Big 5" personality traits
The disadvantages of studying discrete types in the world of personality psychology
The level of rigor necessary to distinguish a theory from a fully-formed, brand new personality dimension
The place for writing that presents theories built on a more observational and experiential notion of truth, as opposed to a rigorously tested truth
The ways that knowing your type can help you harness both your own strengths and those of others

Links:

[Book] The Four Tendencies

[Quiz] Take Gretchen's Four Tendencies Quiz

[Twitter]

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Maia Szalavitz || Rethinking Addiction Sep 06, 2017

This week we're glad to welcome Maia Szalavitz to the podcast! Maia Szalavitz is one of the premier American journalists covering addiction and drugs. She is a co-author of Born for Love and The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, as well as a writer forTIME .com, VICE, the New York Times, Scientific American Mind, Elle, Psychology Today and Marie Claire among others. Her latest book is Unbroken Brain, which challenges the idea of the addict's "broken brain" and the simplistic notion of an "addictive personality".

The key themes of our conversation include:

The personal nature of her book and how emergent science has helped her understand her past
Where the brain is and isn't to blame in the rise of addiction in individuals
"Addiction is not a sin or a choice. It's also not a chronic brain disease."
Why many addictive behaviors are adaptive, and the distinction between an "addiction" and a "dependence"
"Traits that we think are useless can be useful in some settings."
Why she advocates for a shift from belief-cased addiction treatment (ex. 12-step program) to evidence-based treatment
"We all learn to become who we are." We end the conversation with a discussion of what this means to Maia and how we can all benefit from reflecting on this idea in different facets of our lives.

Maia offers a paradigm-shifting take on thinking about addiction, and we think you will learn a lot from this episode. Enjoy!

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Michael Shermer || Science and Skepticism Aug 30, 2017

This week we're excited to welcome Dr. Michael Shermer to The Psychology Podcast. Michael is the publisher of Skeptic magazine, a New York Times bestselling author, and a monthly columnist for Scientific American. He has also been a college professor since 1979 and is currently a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, where he teaches Skepticism 101. In our conversation, Michael sheds light on a smorgasbord of intersections between psychology and skepticism. This episode is also a great primer for those of you who are curious about what it means to think like a skeptic.

In this episode we discuss:

The core tenants of skepticism
The difference between skepticism and cynicism
Whether it's possible--in the eyes of a skeptic--to "prove everything"
The evidence-based probability that God exists
How individual differences in personality (ex. Agreeableness) play a role in one's proclivity for critical inquiry
Whether Michael would consider himself a skepticism "guru"
How to suspend disbelief when you need to act but don't have all the evidence
Michael's interpretation of the free speech discussion in light of recent events
The recent conflation of free speech and hate speech
Why we might be better off evaluating human problems relatively (as opposed to objectively)
The differences between Atheists, humanists, and skeptics
Michael's take on topics discussed by futurists (e.g. The singularity, cryogenics)
Whether or not he is scared of death
The distinction between meaning

We wrap up the conversation by connecting the science of flourishing to positive psychology, where we cover the loci of focus that can predictably bring us a sense of purpose, and the distinction between meaning and happiness.

Enjoy!

Links:

Skeptic magazine and other resources on skepticism

Michael's blog for Scientific America entitled "Skeptic"

Follow Michael Shermer on Twitter

You can preorder his new book Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality & Utopia on Amazon

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Robert Wright || Why Buddhism is True Aug 16, 2017

This week we're excited to have Robert Wright on The Psychology Podcast. Robert is the New York Times best-selling author of Nonzero, The Moral Animal, The Evolution of God, and most recently Why Buddhism is True. He has also written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Time, Slate, and The New Republic, and has taught at The University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University, where he also created the online course Buddhism and Modern Psychology. Robert draws on his wide-ranging knowledge of science, religion, psychology, history and politics to figure out what makes humanity tick.

In this episode we cover:

How "taking the red pill" from The Matrix can be likened to the practice of mediation,
How and why "our brains evolved to delude us",
If and how Buddhism gets you more in touch with "reality", including the bottom-up processes of cognition,
Whether or not one can take parts of the practice too far,
How Buddhism can be beneficial for seeing beauty where you didn't before,
Why our default state of consciousness isn’t necessarily good,
How this book might infer that evolutionary psychology is not a complete explanation for many human tendencies,
Why many feelings are illusions and how we know when they are,
Why it's true that "the more we engage a 'module' the more power it has",
Robert's interpretation of what the Buddha really meant by the "non-self", and how this does or does not conflict with one's sense of identity.

In our conversation, Robert offers Buddhism as a solution for finding and sustaining happiness, exploring the interplay between Buddhist practices and evolutionary psychology in an unprecedented way. You may also find this episode interesting if you're curious about whether it's possible to see the world "accurately" or whether that's even best for one's well being. Enjoy!

Note to Psychology Podcast listeners: This happens to be the 100th episode of The Psychology Podcast. Thank you for your support! It's been a fun journey so far, and we're looking forward to the next 100 episodes!

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Caren Baruch-Feldman || Growing Grit in Teens Aug 09, 2017

Dr. Caren Baruch-Feldman is a clinical psychologist, certified school psychologist, and author of The Grit Guide for Teens. She’s also authored numerous articles and workshops on topics such as cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, helping children and adults cope with stress and worry, helping people change, and developing grit and self-control. In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, Caren and I talk about how her work on grit was a natural outgrowth of her clinical practice, and how this led to writing a book specifically for teens. We also cover what she adds to Angela Duckworth’s definition of grit, and her thoughts on some of the controversies surrounding grit, such as the grit vs. conscientiousness debate and the circumstantial factors that affect grit that may be out of one’s control. We also discuss why parenting is different today and the importance of social support in cultivating grit. Lastly Caren sheds some light on things we can pay attention to in order to increase success in achieving our goals, such as the concept of the “two minds” she talks about in her book—the short-term and long-term minds—, effective vs. ineffective goals, why grit for the sake of grittiness isn’t the goal, and why it’s important to connect grit to our values.

Links

The Grit Guide For Teens is out now

All papers mentioned can be found here

http://drbaruchfeldman.com/blog/

https://twitter.com/carenfeldman

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Sharon Salzberg || Real Love Aug 02, 2017

Sharon Salzberg is a NYT best-selling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation practices in the West. She also cofounded the Insight Meditation Society and is the author of 9 books, the most recent being Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection.

In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we get to learn about why Sharon has devoted her life to these ideas, how meditation has impacted her consciousness, what characterizes "real love", what differences exist between the modern-scientific notions of attachment and Buddhist notions of nonattachment, what Loving Kindness practice is, how you can love someone even if you don't like them (and why you should), how to extend compassion to people who are already self-satisfied, why an important component of self-love is accountability, empathy burnout, how stories play a role in love, why love isn't a state, why excitement vs. familiarity in romantic relationships is perhaps a false paradox, and how mindfulness can help you reframe even the most emotionally difficult situations.

Sharon also takes us through her RAIN model for mindfulness:

R -recognize

A - acknowledge

I - investigate

N - nonidentification

Enjoy!

Links:

Buy Sharon's new book Real Love: The Art of Mindful Connection

Follow Sharon on Twitter

Find Sharon's meditations on:

The Insight Timer meditation app (iOS and Android)

[Book] Eric Fromm's Art of Loving (mentioned)

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Christina Pierpaoli || Aging Meaningfully Jul 22, 2017

I’m really excited to have Christina Pierpaoli on the podcast. Christina is a graduate student in the Geropsychological doctoral program at the University of Alabama. Her research explores associations between chronic illness and psychological health in older adults, and she is by all accounts a rising star in the field of psychology.

For our listeners who may not be familiar with the literature, Geropsychology is the psychology of aging. As Christina puts it, this particular field of psychology can be described as “underrated, poorly understood, embryonic, and riddled with all sorts of stigma”. The world and the United States are aging precipitously, with the estimate that by 2030 1 in 5 Americans will be considered an older adult, but few people are talking about it.

In our conversation, Christina offers that “people are uncomfortable with talking about aging because talking about aging invites a conversation of mortality and finiteness” and speaks to the research showing that “the earlier and more often you think about your own mortality, the more gracefully you will live your life.”

Other things we talk about are the differences in language used to describe getting older when we are young vs. when we are older, unique issues older adults face that younger adults don’t, the idea of subjective age vs. chronological age vs. biological age, the role feeling useful plays in life satisfaction as we age, the idea of loneliness as “the silent killer”, why Christina is so interested in older people, and why she writes a blog about this topic.

Christina brings a unique combination of young and old spirit to the field, a refreshing take on academia and how to get the ideas she finds important into the minds of the people who’d find them useful. No matter your age, you’re sure to get something out of this podcast. Enjoy!

Related Links

Christina’s blog for Psychology Today

Christina’s twitter @youngoldsoul

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Monica Worline and Jane Dutton || Awakening Compassion in the Workplace Jul 19, 2017

Today I'm really excited to have Monica Worline and Jane Dutton on the podcast, co-authors of the new book Awakening Compassion at Work: the Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations.

Monica Worline, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of EnlivenWork. She is also a research scientist at Stanford University Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and executive director of Compassion Lab. Jane Dutton, Ph.D., is the Robert L Kahn distinguished University professor of business administration and psychology and cofounder of the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. She's also a founding member of Compassion Lab.

A central thread in their work is that business has become dehumanized and impersonal. "One of the things that we're seeing as technology takes over more of our work spaces is there's an expectation that people are always available and always on, but that is driving out some of the human connection of work. " Increased busyness, workplace pressures and the distractions of technology increase our attentional load and handicap us from being able to notice the need for acts of compassion. The two define compassion in a way that is distinct from most psychologists.

That is, their definition is a 4-step process:

Noticing

Interpreting (Making sense of human suffering)

Feeling

Acting (Responding to human suffering)

In our conversation we unpack what each of these stages entails as well as addressing male vs. female values in the workplace, the role of the "toxin handler" in the ecosystem, why goal-oriented people should consider working on the culture of compassion at work, how to tackle the short term vs. long term horizon challenges of business when building compassionate cultures, and how organizations have become obstacles to compassion at work.

We can only alleviate what we pay attention to. The demanding culture of work organizations can drive out our capacity to notice the human state of other people. Through their book and speaking, Dutton and Worline hope to empower change agents in a host of settings.

We hope that you leave this episode with a newfound sense of the importance of compassion and with multiple languages to convince others in your organizations to enforce and devote resources to it. Jane and Monica also bring a variety of examples that really crystallize these ideas. It was an honor to speak with these two, and we hope you enjoy the podcast!

Related Links

Awakening Compassion at Work

Paper on the 8 different characteristics often referred to as "empathy" (mentioned)

[Resource] Work of Paul Gilbert on the compassionate mind (fear of compassion scale) (mentioned)

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Lea Waters || Strengths-Based Parenting Jul 12, 2017

Professor Lea Waters, PhD is an Australian academic, researcher, psychologist, author and speaker contributing to the field of Positive Psychology. Most people see improvements as eliminating what's wrong with us, but Lea's work in Positive Psychology expands what we mean by improvement and growth. Her latest book, The Strength Switch, offers parents resources to better build the strengths of young people.

In our conversation, we talk about how Lea has used her strengths in research and storytelling to help parents recognize what biases might be influencing how they parent, and offer techniques for making the switch to a strengths-based approach.

We also dive deeper into the benefits of a strengths-approach by exploring such questions as:

How do we identify our child's strengths?
How can we tell when a strength is underused?
How can we condition ourselves to stop focusing on weaknesses?
What is the difference between strengths of talent and strengths of character, and how can each be used in a strengths-based approach to parenting?
What is the importance of communication?

This episode is for the parents that listen to the podcast. We hope that this is a thought provoking episode, and that you walk away with both the desire to shift your attention towards building your child's strengths and the desire to use the tools to get there.

There’s a ton of strategies here and we had a lot of fun recording the episode.

Relevant Links:

More info on the book, to register for Lea's forthcoming Strength-Based Parenting Online course, and for other free resources.

[Free Resource] Glossary of Strengths

[Free resource] Strength-Based Quiz

Lea's website

Lea's twitter

Link to episode on communication with Alan Alda (mentioned)

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R. Chris Fraley || The Latest Science of Attachment Jul 05, 2017

Today we have one of the world's most preeminent attachment scientists, Dr. R. Chris Fraley, on the podcast! Fraley is a Professor at the University of Illinois's Department of Psychology and received the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Award in 2007 for Early Career Contribution to Psychology in the area of Individual Differences. In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we take a deep dive into a few of Chris' many interesting research areas: attachment processes in close relationships, personality dynamics, and development.

Some of the questions we explore are: How are attachment styles measured? How does research on attachment styles differ between children and adults? What are the implications of individual differences in adult attachment styles? How does this relate to internal working models theory? How does all of that relate to one's own motivational account? What are the roles of nature vs. nurture in the development of attachment styles?

Note to our listeners: You may have already gotten the sense that this conversation is a bit technical, mostly geared towards those who are interested in understanding the debate, and the various nuances on the table. Nevertheless, we hope you enjoy the show, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts in the discussion below!

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Caroline Adams Miller || Getting Grit Jun 29, 2017

On today's episode of The Psychology Podcast, we speak with Caroline Adams Miller about how to to get more grit. Caroline is a certified professional coach, author, media personality, and keynote speaker & educator. In this episode, we discuss what it means to be a positive psychology coach, why she became interested in grit, why millennials may not be as gritty as previous generations, Caroline's definition of "authentic grit", the difference between "selfie" grit and authentic grit, when grit is "good" vs. when it could be harmful, current controversies surrounding grit, when to grit and when to quit, and some practical takeaways to increase your own grit. Wow, we might have just broken a record for the number of times we used the word "grit" in a single paragraph! :) Enjoy, and please contribute to the discussion below.

Relevant Links:

Webite - http://www.carolinemiller.com/

Getting Grit - https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Grit-Evidence-Based-Cultivating-Perseverance/dp/1622039203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492520702&sr=8-1&keywords=getting+grit

Authenticity and Grit, Scientific American

Mindset (Fixed & Growth Mindset) Carol Dweck (mentioned) - https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck-ebook/dp/B000FCKPHG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498310504&sr=8-1&keywords=carol+dweck

Jordan Peterson’s Maps of Meaning (mentioned) - https://www.amazon.com/Maps-Meaning-Architecture-Jordan-Peterson/dp/0415922224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498310572&sr=8-1&keywords=maps+of+meaning

Grit Angela Duckworth -

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Sarah Robb O’Hagan || How to Kick Ass Jun 27, 2017

“If you just laugh at yourself, there is nothing to be scared of anymore.”

Today we have executive, activist, and entrepreneur Sarah Robb O’Hagan on the podcast. O'Hagan is CEO of the fast growing indoor cycling company Flywheel Sports, where she is currently leading the transformation of the business through digital content and services. Prior to this role, Sarah was global president of Gatorade and Equinox, where she reinvented the offering through a significant technology transformation. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to become your extreme you. You will learn how to embrace failure, seize opportunities, and remain confident while igniting your magic drive, staying stubbornly humble, and changing the game! BONUS: Take the Extremer Quiz here.

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Dan Harris || Become 10% Happier + BONUS Meditation Jun 21, 2017

Today we have ABC News Anchor Dan Harris on the podcast. Harris is perhaps the most unlikely meditation evangelist, ever. After a panic attack on Good Morning America, he wrote the New York Times bestselling memoir “10% Happier” about what led him to embrace a practice he’d long considered ridiculous. He then started the 10% Happier: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics app with a handful of bona fide meditation teachers, including Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, as well as the 10% Happier podcast. On today's episode of The Psychology Podcast, we discuss Dan's personal experience with self-help gurus Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra, as well as Western Buddhist psychotherapists, such as Dr. Mark Epstein. As a bonus, there is a 3 minute mindfulness meditation led by Dan himself. Enjoy, and please leave feedback below!

Relevant Links:

10% Happier: Mediation For Fidgety Skeptics App
10percenthappier.com
10% Happier book
10% Happier Podcast
Dan's social accounts:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/danbharris
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danharris/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanHarrisABC/

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Steven Hayes || Get Out Of Your Mind and Live a Vital Life Jun 14, 2017

It is an honor to have Dr. Steven Hayes, the father of "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" (ACT), on the podcast this week. In this wide ranging episode, we learn about the "third wave" of cognitive behavioral therapies, and how to have greater psychological flexibility-- the ability to contact the present moment more fully as a conscious human being, and to change or persist in behavior when doing so serves valued ends. We will learn the 6 core ACT processes, and how they can help you stop fighting the battles within your own head and live a more vital life. The message from today's podcast is that you can choose to live a vital life. This episode will teach you how! Enjoy, and please join in the discussion below.

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Alan Alda || The Art and Science of Relating and Communicating Jun 07, 2017

Today we have Alan Alda on the podcast. Alan has earned international recognition as an actor, writer, and director. He has won seven Emmy Awards, has received three Tony nominations, and is an inductee of the Television Hall of Fame. Many people know of his groundbreaking role as Hawkeye Pierce on the classic television series M*A*S*H, but what many people may not realize is that Alda is also ravenously curious about science, and is a wonderful science communicator! In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we discuss how Alda got into science communication, why people are dying because of bad communication, the importance of empathy, theory of mind, and eye contact, the importance of spontaneous communication, the dark side of empathy, and how to improve communication in the bedroom. Enjoy, and please join in the discussion below!

Check out Alan Alda’s new book: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating

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Eric Turkheimer || Intelligence, Genes, Race, and Poverty Jun 01, 2017

In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, Dr. Eric Turkheimer and I take a deep dive into some of the most complex and controversial topics in all of psychology. What is intelligence? How is intelligence measured? Is intelligence meaningful? Is IQ modifiable? Is IQ heritable? What does heritability really mean? Is heritability of IQ the same across social classes? Are there race differences in IQ? If so, what are the potential causes of race differences in IQ? Why does any of this matter? Note to our listeners: This is a very technical discussion, mostly geared towards those who are interested in understanding the debate, and the various nuances on the table. For those who would like to join in the discussion, you can do so below. Enjoy!

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Daniel Schmachtenberger || Upgrade Your Consciousness May 30, 2017

Today’s guest on The Psychology Podcast is the polymath Daniel Schmachtenberger, a social engineer, evolutionary philosopher, and strategist. This episode discusses a wide range of consciousness-raising issues, including the biology of dysfunction, the philosophy and scientific implications of creating systemic cultural and personal changes, the difference between nootropics and smart drugs, the future of cognitive assessments and the quantified self, the future of customized medical and wellness protocols, aspects of human nature that impede compassion and kindness, how changing the genome will change our entire conception of human nature, what we can do to predispose humans toward perspective taking, emotional resilience, and greater empathy, and how to make a scientifically commensurate ethics and existentialism. As you can see, this episode covers quite the gamut. Enjoy, and please leave comments below!

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Heather Moday || Functional and Integrative Medicine May 24, 2017

On today’s episode of The Psychology Podcast, friend of the show Dr. Heather Moday shares her unique medical expertise to help us live healthier, happier and more productive lives. Dr. Moday is a board-certified physician who is passionate about changing the way medicine is practiced in this country. In this episode, Dr. Moday suggests some tips for optimizing gut health to improve mood and cognition, discusses the importance of sleep and how to achieve a better nights rest, and offers a practical model for people looking to detoxify their systems. Dr. Moday also shares her personal vision to change the way medicine is practiced in this country. It’s an especially practical episode, featuring advice from a functional and integrative medicine pioneer on how to live a better life. Enjoy the show!

For more information on Dr. Moday, visit her website at modaycenter.com.

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Eric Barker || How to Be Awesome at Life May 17, 2017

Eric Barker is the author of the widely popular blog, "Barking Up The Wrong Tree", and he has a new book out with the same title. Barker is known for his science-informed articles on how to be awesome at life. For today’s episode, we focus ona range of topics relating to being awesome in life, including when to grit and when to quit, whether nice guys really finish last, the perils of self-esteem, how it's who you know instead of what you know that really matters, and how people can achieve success while striking a work-life balance. It's a fun and playful episode that contains a high-level discussion of many of the most researched constructs in psychology today, such as introversion/extroversion, giving/taking, deliberate practice/grit, and much more!

To learn more about Eric, check out his blog at bakadesuyo.com

For a month of free access to over 8,000 awesome video lectures, check out thegreatcoursesplus.com/Psych.

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Susan David || Increase Your Emotional Agility May 10, 2017

Susan David is one of the world’s leading experts on emotional agility, an important psychological skill that can help us live a fuller life. In this episode, I speak with Dr. David about how to cultivate emotional agility, the paradox of happiness, job crafting, authenticity, and living a life aligned with one’s personal values. I’m especially pleased to present this episode to listeners; it contains pragmatic information to help people get unstuck, embrace change, and thrive!

For more information about Susan David, visit her website susandavid.com.

For a month of free access to over 8,000 awesome video lectures, check out thegreatcoursesplus.com/Psych.

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Dan Lerner || Thriving in College (And In Life) May 03, 2017

Friend of the show Dan Lerner stops by to share the latest research on how to thrive in college (and in life). Our conversation covers a wide array of topics related to well-being in the college population, including some of the pitfalls of perfectionism, how to determine your passion and keep it healthy, using character strengths to excel, and how to avoid unproductive social pressures. We also hear about Dan’s experiences working with renown musicians and how achieving great success needn’t come at the cost of your own personal happiness. It’s a fun and enthusiastic episode. We hope you enjoy! Learn more about Dan Lerner at positiveex.com

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Friederike Fabritius || The Neuroscience of Leadership Apr 27, 2017

On today’s episode of The Psychology Podcast, we speak with a neuroscientist who specializes in optimizing workplaces for greater productivity and well-being. Our conversation covers a vast array of useful topics, such as habit formation, public speaking, emotional regulation and proper decision making. We talk about how some of these activities show up in brain scans and discuss how individual’s neurochemistry affects their roles at work. There’s a ton of strategies here and we had a lot of fun recording the episode. Learn more about Friederike’s latest book by visiting theleadingbrain.com.

For some really cool socks, go to Bombas.com/tpp and get 20% off your first order!

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Vanessa Van Edwards || How to Captivate People Apr 25, 2017

Vanessa Van Edwards is a self-described “recovering boring and awkward person,” whose latest book, Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, provides simple ways to decode people and level-up your relationships and networking abilities. It’s an especially practical episode, which features a handful of actionable strategies to be more effective in the social realm. We discuss research surrounding charisma, eye contact, hand gestures, relaxing one’s voice, and conquering social anxiety! To learn more about Vanessa, visit her website scienceofpeople.com.

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James C. Kaufman || The Psychology of Creativity Apr 20, 2017

For this episode of The Psychology Podcast, I chat with my brother from another mother, Dr. James C. Kaufman, as we take deep dive into one of humanity’s most coveted virtues - creativity. We profile creative genius, discuss different forms of creativity, and talk about the links between creativity, IQ and mental illness. This episode features some wonderful new ways to think about your creativity, including the possibility for creativity assessment to reduce racial and ethnic bias. To learn more about James, go to his website jamesckaufman.com. For a month of free access to over 8,000 awesome video lectures, check out thegreatcoursesplus.com/Psych.

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Gail Saltz || The Gifts of Disability Apr 18, 2017

Over 50% of people will meet the criteria for a mental illness in their lifetime. On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we want to do our part to encourage people to seek assistance, while celebrating some of the unique strengths of people with brain differences. I speak with expert Gail Saltz about some fascinating gifts that can come with with diagnoses such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and more. We discuss achieving a balance between receiving proper treatment and cultivating strengths to optimize productivity and well-being. To learn more about Dr. Gail Saltz, visit her website drgailsaltz.com. For some really cool socks, go toBombas.com/tpp to get 20% of your first order.

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Diana Brecher || Boosting Student Resilience Apr 13, 2017

Dr. Brecher is a clinical psychologist who uses cognitive behavioral strategies to buffer students against the pervasive depression and anxiety present in higher education. We talk about her science-informed recommendations, which include positive psychological activities designed to increase mindfulness, character strengths, self-efficacy, optimism, gratitude, and more. We discuss the mechanisms through which these interventions work, some of the many benefits they promote, how they can be implemented in schools, and some changes in academic culture that can improve student well-being. Enjoy the episode and sign up for a free trial of The Great Courses Plus at thegreatcoursesplus.com/Psych.To find out more about Dr. Brecher, see here.

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Dan Bowling III || How to be a Happy Lawyer Apr 06, 2017

On today’s episode of The Psychology Podcast, our executive producer Taylor Kreiss conducts a guest interview about lawyer well-being. His guest, Dan Bowling III, is a Duke law professor and a positive psychology expert using science to help lawyers become healthier and happier human beings. We address some of the disconcerting mental health statistics, discuss why lawyers suffer from such mental maladies, and share practical strategies that lawyers (and everyone) can use to become more satisfied with life. There’s a great deal of warmth, levity, and humor here as we take on a hugely important topic and provide some actionable advice for how lawyers can flourish!

Enjoy the show and head to blueapron.com/TPP for 3 free meals with free shipping!

To learn more about Dan Bowling, visit his Facebook here.

To learn more about Taylor Kreiss, visit his brand new website here.

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Roy Baumeister || Willpower, Violence, and Free Will Apr 04, 2017

Roy Baumeister brings the methods of social psychology to bear on some of life’s deepest philosophical problems. In the second part of this two part series (see Part I), we cover the psychology of self-control, evil, sex differences, and free will. In addition to Roy responding to the critics of his “ego-depletion” model of self-control, he also offers some practical strategies to improve willpower for goal attainment, looking at how successful people set up habits that deplete less energy. We also speak to him about the four root causes of violence, looking at research on why perpetrators commit atrocities, and we discuss his controversial research on sex differences and some of the ways that society uses men and women differently. Lastly, we discuss whether humans are special in a way that makes us exempt from the natural laws of causality. We’re appreciative of having had the opportunity to speak with Roy and regardless of whether you agree or disagree with his views (we encourage diverse perspectives on the show), we hope these two episodes (this week’s and last week’s) offer a great deal of value to our listeners. Enjoy the show and visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/psych to get your free trial and access to over 8,000 free online lectures.

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Roy Baumeister || Identity, the Self, and the Meaning of Life Mar 29, 2017

Dr. Roy Baumeister is widely considered to be one of the most influential and cited psychologists of our time. He's also a wonderful conversationalist, full of interesting research to share with our listeners! In this first half of our two part series with Roy, we learn about how he came to study the diverse array of fascinating topics that have characterized his career. We discuss how people determine their identity, the effects of self-esteem on behavior, and how people find a sense of meaning in life. There's a palpable sense of excitement in this episode as these two experts really "nerd out" about some of the biggest questions of the human condition. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! To learn more about Dr. Roy Baumeister, visit roybaumeister.com

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Tim Urban || Wait But Why? Unravelling Life's Biggest Mysteries Mar 22, 2017

We are huge fans of Tim Urban’s Wait But Why blog, so it was a great joy to speak with him for today's show. In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we experience Tim’s patented wry wit and deep philosophical insight as we chat across a wide range of topics, including Tim’s journey to becoming one of the internet’s most popular bloggers, his creative process and self-regulation strategies, his views on our immediate governmental future, the relative importance of personality traits, the connection between the brain and consciousness, the viability of cryogenics, and much more. Tim has some wonderfully clear and entertaining mind experiments that spur some high-level discussions of some of the most fascinating psychological and philosophical mysteries of existence.

Check out Tim's bio here

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Alain de Botton || Love, Sex, Religion and Happiness Mar 08, 2017

Modern day philosopher Alain de Botton has become world renown for his ability to provide compelling real world answers to some of life’s biggest questions. For this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we cover the philosophy and science of a range of topics, including what it means to have a “normal” relationship, the origins of the desire for religion, the pervasive lack of systematic thinking about happiness, how the illusion of perfection creates problems, existential crises and much more. We get a bit cheeky with a high brow discussion of the human condition. Fair warning that this episode does include some discussion of sex and pornography as they relate to well-being.

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Cory Mascara || Mindfulness and Self-Authorship Mar 02, 2017

Mindfulness has become a hot topic recently, gracing the covers of magazines like Time and Scientific American. Yet despite its rising popularity, many people remain confused about what exactly mindfulness is or how to start their own practice! On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, mindfulness expert Cory Mascara speaks with our executive producer Taylor Kreiss, sharing science-backed advice and best practices for how to become more mindful. It's a fun and practical episode for anyone looking to dive into mindfulness meditation!

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Andrew Newberg || Your Brain on Enlightenment Feb 28, 2017

Dr. Andrew Newberg is widely regarded as a leading authority in the neuroscientific study of religious, spiritual and mystical experiences. For this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we engage in philosophically scientific meditations on the sublime and the sacred. Topics include: The 5 major components of an enlightenment experience, what occurs in the brain during a transcendent mental state, the role of psychedelics in connecting with reality, some perplexing findings about “higher consciousness” and it’s correlates in the brain, how to increase your chances of reaching enlightenment… and much more! This is a fun and interesting conversation about some of humanity’s most mysterious and enigmatic subjective experiences. Enjoy the show!

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Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal || On Ecstasis and Extraordinary States of Consciousness Feb 23, 2017

Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal, authors of the new book Stealing Fire, come on the show to discuss the life changing power of ecstatic altered states of mind. The authors have worked with extreme sports athletes, Silicon Valley innovators, and maverick scientists to understand how high performing people are using peak experiences (such as flow) to unlock human potential. We talk about the “altered states economy” and how people spend trillions of dollars a year seeking altered states of consciousness, the transformative experiences we get from festivals like Coachella, what we see in the brain when individuals are using substances like LSD, and the “Hyperspace Lexicon.” It’s a high-level discussion of extraordinary states of consciousness, made fun and interesting by three experts in the field. Enjoy!

EASTER EGG: Listen to the very end of the podcast, after the music and outro, to hear a special interview between Steve and Jamie, which occurred while Scott was away!

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69: Boost Your Focus, Drive, and Micro-Resilience Feb 15, 2017

Bonnie St. John is a celebrated author, Olympian, leadership consultant, and Rhodes scholar who has overcome some tremendous odds to become “one of the five most inspiring women in America.” Needless to say, she’s a fascinating individual with some wonderful stories and advice to convey to listeners. On today’s episode we focus on her latest book, which is full of science backed/immediately effective strategies to help you bring your ‘A game’ no matter what life throws at you. We discuss “micro-resilience” tactics like cultivating optimism, optimizing your metabolism, and using holiday spices and breathing exercises to neutralize stress. Enjoy the show!

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68: The Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human Feb 03, 2017

What a pleasure it was to interview Dr. Dan Siegel, who has a wonderful ability to make complicated scientific concepts understandable and exciting. In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we discuss topics surrounding the human mind - What is it? How does it interact with the environment and with other minds? Are we essentially our thoughts or is there some self that exists beyond cognitions? We cover mindfulness and awe, elucidating how they can help us to integrate our lives and our mind to become more loving and compassionate citizens of the world. We address a host of other topics as well like Terror Management Theory, ADHD, the “sea of potential” and more! We hope you enjoy the show, and please feel free to leave an iTunes review if you’d like to help us refine our craft!

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67: Choose Yourself Jan 24, 2017

Best-selling author James Altucher comes on the show to impart some practical wisdom for how to bounce back from failure. James talks about his own experiences going from multimillionaire to being broke, bankrupt and divorced. We provide a message of common humanity and discuss how we can rise up and succeed despite the failures that inevitably impede our progress. We talk about some of James’ best anxiety relief techniques, how he only owns 15 items and does not rent or own a home, and the rise of the lifestyle entrepreneur. Come join us as Scott and James share some of their own anxieties and how they deal with life’s stressors.

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66: We Might Be Living in a Simulated Reality Jan 18, 2017

Are we living in a simulated reality? Are our smartphones essentially an extension of our minds? Could we achieve immortality via being uploaded to the internet? These are just a few of the philosophically fascinating questions we cover on this episode of The Psychology Podcast! David Chalmers is a friend of the show and we are psyched to feature his expert opinions on the philosophy of mind. We cover how technology might affect the evolution of the human species, the future of artificial intelligence, and the future existence of “super-intelligence.” We’re talking about some of the most well thought out perspectives on the future of our species and technology – and it is entirely too much fun. Enjoy the show!

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65: How Millennials are Changing the World Jan 16, 2017

Today on The Psychology Podcast, we discuss howthemillennial generation is redefining success, breaking down barriers, and changing the world. Our Executive Producer Taylor Kreiss chats with Jared Kleinert, whose latest book features 75 vignettes from extraordinary millennials looking to impart practical wisdom on how to have a greater impact. We examine how these high performing individuals found their purpose, utilized their character strengths and leveraged exponential technologies to change the world for the better. It's a fun and interesting episode for listeners looking to optimize their lives!

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64: The Power of Meaning Jan 10, 2017

On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, friend of the show Emily Esfahani Smith sheds light on how we can craft a life that truly matters. Finding meaning in life is a crtitical existential good, and with today’s discussion we take a science backed look at how we can achieve this vital purpose. Topics include Sufism, mystical experiences, authenticity, finding purpose, magic mushrooms, mortality, life narratives, transcendence and more. If you would like to hear about how to experience more meaning on a daily basis, give this episode a listen!

Emily Esfahani Smith writes about culture, psychology, and relationships. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Atlantic, and elsewhere. She is also a columnist for The New Criterion and an editor at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, where she manages the Ben Franklin Circles project, a collaboration with the 92nd Street Y and Citizen University to build community and purpose across the country. She studied philosophy at Dartmouth College and has a master’s in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives with her husband in Washington, DC. Blurb taken from amazon.com

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63: Finding Mastery Dec 20, 2016

What a great pleasure it was to chat with high performance psychologist, and fellow podcaster, Dr. Michael Gervais! Listen in as we deconstruct excellence as it manifests in sports, creativity, well-being and other domains. Topics include passion, grit, mindfulness, imagination, growth, and becoming comfortable with the unknown. This is a high level discussion about what it takes to flourish in the sports world and in life, how to silence one's inner critic, and how nature & nurture factor into world class success. A huge thank you to Michael Gervais and we look forward to hearing what you think of the episode!

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62: Love, Power, Morality, and Awe Dec 13, 2016

Dr. Dachner Keltner is the founding director of the Greater Good Science center, as well as a professor of psychology at the University of California Berkeley, so he’s in a special place to discuss some incredibly interesting positive psychological topics like love, awe, teasing, compassion, empathy, gratitude and much more! It’s a fun and fascinating episode where we take a deep look into the science of the good life. Enjoy the show!

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61: Creativity, Courageous Vulnerability and Wholehearted Living Nov 23, 2016

We are especially grateful (and giddy) to be sharing this episode with our listeners! Brene Brown's work really gels with our core interests here on The Psychology Podcast, and the resulting conversation contains some enthusiastic and empirically informed banter that is sure to inform and delight. We geek out over some counter-intuitive findings, like how incredibly compassionate people have a tendency to set the most boundaries and say "no." We discuss the power of being vulnerable and how the data suggests that it is one of the best predictors of courage. We chat about how trying to be cool is the enemy of truly being cool, how we can enrich future generation’s learning with wholehearted living, and how ignoring our creativity defies our essential nature. It’s ~45 minutes of two experts in the field sharing data, and themselves, and it’s one of our favorite episodes yet.

We’re making a real effort to improve the show for our listeners and would hugely appreciate 15 seconds of your time filling out this short survey: http://survey.libsyn.com/psychologypodcast (Email is not required).

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60: Exercise, Mental Stamina, and High Performance Nov 12, 2016

With this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we take a deep look into how exercise benefits us far beyond the time we spend in the gym. We adapt a quick fire style of questioning and cover a wide range of topics like how Olympic athletes set goals – to the importance of becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Brad is an expert in the subject and shares practical information about how to recover from stress, how to motivate high performance and how physical fitness improves “life fitness.” We’re making a real effort to improve the show for our listeners and would hugely appreciate 15 seconds of your time filling out this short survey:

http://survey.libsyn.com/psychologypodcast (Email is not required).

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59: Unlocking the Pathway from Imagination to Implementation Nov 03, 2016

It’s a special episode of The Psychology Podcast, as Stanford professor, international bestselling author, and leading creativity expert Tina Seelig stops by to discuss some of our favorite topics: Imagination, creativity, innovation & entrepreneurship. We parse out some of the differences between imagination and creativity, discuss what it means to really see something, and offer practical advice on how to find one’s calling! This episode was especially fun to record!

“Dr. Tina Seelig is Professor of the Practice in the department of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University School of Engineering, and the executive director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program. She teaches courses on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the d.school at Stanford University.” Blurb taken from amazon.com

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58: How to Live a Good Life Oct 26, 2016

In this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we get pragmatic about how to live your version of the good life. We feature action strategies, based on the latest science from positive psychology, to maximize vitality, happiness, meaning, and positive relationships. Topics include mindfulness meditation, the power of saying no, the false dichotomy of mind and body, finding purpose, and how to make exercise better than sex! We thank those listeners who take a moment to leave an honest iTunes review – it helps us hone our craft!

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57: Yes, And... The Psychology of Improv Comedy Oct 20, 2016

Today we welcome Anne Libera and Kelly Leonard on the show for an especially fun and playful look at the world of improv comedy! Anne and Kelly are world class improv instructors and ambassadors who have a long history at The Second City, the world’s first ever on-going improvisational theatre troupe. The Second City has turned out notable performers like Tina fey, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers. Topics revolve around improv as it relates to mindfulness, creativity, cognitive reframing, authenticity and more. We also learned a lot from this interview about how improv can be used in everyday life, and we still get a kick out of the story we improvised involving the destruction of Purple Popsicle Man! We thank those listeners who take a moment to leave an honest iTunes review – it helps us hone our craft!

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56: The New Narcissism Sep 28, 2016

In everyday conversation, we use the word “narcissist” to describe our ex-lovers and the jerks we encounter on the subway, but what does it really mean? On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, Scott has a fascinating discussion with Kristin Dombek about the "new narcissism”, in which everyone is a selfish narcissist-- except ourselves. In this episode, we take a close look at how the label narcissism is used in psychology and popular culture, and how its increasing use may be a product of our modern times. We also discuss the guilt and fear associated with being labeled a narcissist, we talk about the differences between narcissism and psychopathy, and we cover an assortment of other topics including science journalism, how often we act out of character in a day, and the possibility of a “selfie apocalypse!”

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55: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck Sep 13, 2016

In this raw and uncut episode, Mark Manson imparts his wisdom on the art of not giving a fuck. According to Manson, the key to living a good life is “not giving a fuck about more; it’s giving a fuck about less, giving a fuck about only what is true and immediate and important”. In this interview, we learn about this unique art form, and all of the counterintuitive ways that giving less fucks in your life actually frees you up to get more of what you truly value. You’ll learn how the acceptance of one’s negative experience can itself be a positive experience, the benefits of suffering, the futility of searching for happiness, the ways that emotions are overrated, and how to distinguish between good values and unproductive values. You’ll also be inspired to learn that you are not as special as you think you are, and that you are wrong about everything. As if that wasn’t motivating enough, you’ll also learn to accept your mundane existence, and the inevitability of death. This was a fun, wise, and at times, rather profound, interview. Note: In the spirit of Mark’s message, this entire interview is uncensored and unedited, which means that Scott shows extreme vulnerability in a way that he hasn’t before in past episodes. Fuck it.

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54: Minds and Morality Sep 09, 2016

Why are humanoid robots creepy? Why do ghosts always have unfinished business? Do all animals have a mind? Does our consciousness persist beyond our physical bodies? Might cryonics help us live forever?! These are some of the great mysteries of the human condition we address with Dr. Kurt Gray. It's a fun and interesting philosophical episode, where we consider a range of topics related to having a mind and moral responsibility. Fair warning - this episode contains some adult content as we engage in some quirky and interesting moral considerations.

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53: Getting Smarter, Faster & Better Aug 30, 2016

On this episode of the Psychology Podcast, we interview Pulitzer prize winning author Charles Duhigg about his latest book Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business. Charles has a real strength for communicating scientific research through fun/entertaining narratives, and elucidating how to be more effective in our everyday lives. We discuss research related to motivation, decision-making, teamwork, focus, prioritization and more – all via interesting anecdotes varying from championship poker, military training and airplane disasters. This interview features some very practical science and several harrowing stories. Enjoy and feel free to leave a review on iTunes - it lets us know what you enjoy and helps us refine our craft!

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52: Reducing Racial Inequalities in Gifted Education Aug 15, 2016

Dr. Davis is a career educator with over 30 years of experience as a practitioner, scholar, author and consultant. Her current work, a topic that is near and dear to the show, involves increasing equity of access to gifted education programs. In this episode, we talk about the racial inequalities that plague our nation's gifted education programs, and we discuss work being done to create equal opportunity. Other topics include: the current evaluation criteria for “giftedness” and how it can be improved, the importance of bringing all of the shareholders to the table for these discussions, the anti-intellectualism of our modern era, and several alternative ways of identifying giftedness in school. It’s a personally meaningful episode as Scott and Joy recount their own experiences with our non-inclusive education protocols. We hope you enjoy the show!

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51: Developing Peak Performance Aug 06, 2016

Sean Desai is the defensive quality control coach for the Chicago Bears and works with some of the world’s greatest athletic competitors. In this episode, we discuss his player development model, known as D.I.C.E., which emphasizes the importance of Direction, Instruction, Collaboration and Empowerment. We talk about what it’s like to work with the NFL, the nature of coach-player relationships, and Sean imparts some practical advice to individuals hoping to become high-level athletic coaches. Other topics include: evaluating potential, key characteristics of mental toughness, striving for greatness and more. Football fans, leaders, coaches and teachers will appreciate Sean's insight into developing peak performance. The audio quality is a bit rough toward the beginning (we’re sorry!), but smooths out, and we think the content is top notch!

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50: Life Experimentation Jul 31, 2016

Four time bestselling author (and human guinea pig) A.J. Jacobs gets us laughing, and thinking, about the benefits of lifestyle experimentation. In this episode, we discuss A.J.’s courageous journey to learn everything about the world via reading the entire encyclopedia Britannica. A.J. talks about his book Drop Dead Healthy, where he spent months pursuing perfect physical health. We learn from his experiences following the bible (as literally as possible) for an entire year, and much more. Topics include: The importance of gratitude, what it’s like to win the lottery, the benefits of running electricity through the brain, and the differences between being psychotic, psychopathic and sociopathic. It’s an especially eclectic and playful episode that provides deep insight into what it means to live well. We hope you have as much fun listening to the episode as we had recording it. And feel free to leave a review on iTunes if you’re feeling compelled (it’s a big help to our cause and we thank you in advance)!

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49: Unraveling the Mysteries of Personality and Well-Being Jul 11, 2016

Who am I? Am I just a product of nature and/or nurture? What does it mean to live a life of meaning and happiness? On this episode of the psychology podcast, Dr. Brian Little helps us explore these existentially significant questions. We discuss whether or not the self is an illusion. We shed light on the effects of genes, societal influences and personal projects on personality. The conversation includes Brian’s experiences with influential psychologists such as George Kelly. Other topics include: the Big Five Model of personality, authentic living, identity change, and the good life. Brian has been described as a mix between Robin Williams and Albert Einstein, and we can see why after our discussion – it’s a fun and philosophically poignant episode featuring one of the legends in the field. Enjoy the show!

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48: The Ego is the Enemy Jun 21, 2016

On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we interview bestselling author Ryan Holiday about the timeless life-advice he gleaned from researching his latest book: Ego Is The Enemy. Ryan shares insights from great individuals that eschewed the spotlight to put their higher goals above their desires for recognition.We talk about the importance of talking less and doing more. Our conversation covers the human drive to live a meaningful life and the dramatic shifts in worldview that takes place when astronauts view earth from outer space. We discuss the well-being benefits of integrating behavior with personal values and we commiserate over feeling existentially compelled to squeeze every last drop of productivity from each moment. It’s an interesting look at the foibles of egoism; anyone interested in contemplating what it means to live a good life would do well to give this episode a listen. Enjoy the show!

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47: Deep Work Jun 10, 2016

On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we feature a particularly lively exchange, as Scott and Cal attempt to decode the patterns of success, sharing their perspectives on deep work, deliberate practice, grit, creativity, talent, mastery, IQ, and cultural misconceptions about passion and finding one's calling. The discussion has a fun and curious tone; it is a research-informed exploration of what it really takes to succeed in the 21st century. We had a great time recording this episode and we think you will really enjoy it.

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46: Helping Children Succeed in School and in Life Jun 02, 2016

We are happy to welcome journalist and author Paul Tough on the show to discuss how we can help children from adverse backgrounds flourish. Paul began his deep dive into this topic 13 years ago for a New York Times piece, and he has been fascinated with the neuroscientific, psychological, political and sociological research ever since. This episode is a look at practical recommendations for how children can transcend difficult circumstances and cultivate well-being. We cover some of the challenges facing impoverished children and the effects of these environments on how children develop. We discuss constructs like grit, conscientiousness, character strengths, and "non-cognitive capacities". We ask important philosophical questions like “are the skills associated with doing well in school really the same as doing well in life?” We look at how pursuing well-being can actually fuel academic success, the importance of creativity and autonomy in school, and much more!

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45: Reducing Anxiety Through Play May 31, 2016

On this episode of the Psychology Podcast, we welcome renaissance man and psychology enthusiast Charlie Hoehn. Charlie has carved a unique path through this world that has led him to work with best-selling authors like Tim Ferris, Tucker Max and Ramit Sethi, all while pursuing his own work as a writer. We talk about his drives toward creativity and autonomy that led him to create a life outside of the 9-5 grind. We also discuss Charlie’s personal experiences with anxiety and get advice on how to reduce anxiety through play. Other topics include our ability to change who we are and the importance of doing what you love. Please enjoy the show!

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44: The Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory of Personality May 21, 2016

An intellectual hero of the show, 91 year old Seymour Epstein is the creator of one of the most well-respected theories in personality psychology: the Cognitive-Experiential Self-Theory of Personality (CEST). In this episode, we discuss how Epstein discovered his calling, what the field of psychology was like in the 1940s, his experience taking a class with Abraham Maslow, his interaction with Gordon Allport, and how he came to create his dual-process theory of personality. We also talk about implications of the theory as it relates to religion, politics and clinical psychology. It was a pleasure speaking with this giant in the field. Enjoy the show!

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43: Intelligence, IQ Testing and Genetics May 03, 2016

Dr. Stuart Richie is an expert in human intelligencedifferencesand their relations to the brain, genetics, andeducation. Thisepisode distills some of the most important andinteresting ideasin intelligence, IQ testing, genetics and theiraffects on societyat large. We discuss the false dichotomy betweennature vs.nurture. We illuminate popular media and institutionalpressures todeliver sensational findings. We cover the ethicalimplications ofthe quickly developing genetic science, withquestions like “shouldinsurance companies be able to raise yourrates depending on yourgenetics?” Ultimately, this is acrash course on thepsychology of intelligence featuring two expertson the topic.Enjoy! And check out Stuart’s book Intelligence: All That Matters.

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42: Human Mating Intelligence Apr 28, 2016

We welcome friend of the show Dr. Glenn Geher to discuss human mating intelligence. Glenn is an expert in the field of evolutionary psychology and has a wealth of fascinating research to share on the origins of species – if listeners have ever wanted a crash course in evolutionary thought, this is an excellent primer. Topics include: the attractiveness of creativity and humor from an evolutionary perspective, the many causes of human behavior, human universals vs. individual differences, how our evolutionary hard-wiring affects modern behavior and much more. Conversation really flows in this episode as we discuss what people find attractive in potential mates.. For more information, check out Glenn and Scott’s book Mating Intelligence Unleashed!

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41: Releasing Your Inner Bonobo Apr 18, 2016

Dr. Susan Block is a world renowned sex therapist, radio talk show host and expert on the culture of the bonobo great ape. Needless to say, this is an especially interesting episode! We explore how pleasure can be a guiding principle in the good life, when it is tempered with kindness and a sense of meaning. We discuss the methods and positive outcomes of erotic theater therapy. We cover different cultural perspectives on sex, sexual identity, taboos and repression. We take a deep look into the culture of the Bonobo great ape, who is one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, to see how they might teach us about forming a more peaceful society – they have never been seen killing each other in the wild or in captivity! Other topics include female empowerment, asexuality, polygamy and politics. This episode contains material that may be graphic for some of our younger viewers, but it is an enlightening look into the psychology of sex and the good life.

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40: Extraordinary Workplaces Mar 27, 2016

Ron Friedman Ph.D. shares research from his latest book The Best Place to Work, about the art and science of creating an extraordinary workplace. Ron discusses how businesses can appeal to basic psychological needs like autonomy, competence and relatedness to design a work environment which optimizes engagement and creativity. It’s an especially practical episode, where we dive into science-backed recommendations to help companies improve the hiring process, boost motivation and enhance decision making. This episode features some very interesting research, like the persuasion techniques used by hostage negotiators, as well as didactic stories about figures like Monica Seles and president Obama on the importance of unconscious thinking and leading by example.

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39: The New Principles of Business Management Mar 21, 2016

On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, Dr. David Burkus discusses the latest research in organizational psychology to help business thrive in our post-industrial world. In particular, we talk about his latest book, Under New Management, which reveals the counter-intuitive leadership practices that actually enhance engagement and drive performance in companies. This is a great episode for anyone interested in what the science has to say about optimizing workplace performance. We discuss how and why top companies like Whole Foods and McDonalds are emphasizing employee satisfaction, engagement and well-being at work. We also cover topics such as perceptions of inequality, positive effects of income transparency, ditching performance appraisals, some barriers to productivity and some of the genius tactics of big companies like Zappos (who will pay you to quit you job?!). We hope you enjoy!

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38: Discussing the nature of childhood prodigies Mar 07, 2016

On this episode of the psychology podcast, we gain insight into the fascinating and mysterious psychology of prodigious children. Kimberly Stephens recently co-authored a book investigating the link between autism and extraordinary childhood talent called The Prodigy's Cousin, which had made her an excellent source of knowledge. We discuss the extraordinary working memory, attention to detail, passionate interest, talent development and parenting styles that tend to characterize incredible childhood skill. We also cover an interesting genetic component; research suggests that autism tends to be present in the families of prodigies. The conversation is a celebration of the high achievement, intense interest and quirky personalities expressed by prodigies like Jonathan Russell, who has been known to pass the time recreating music with household items like blenders and washing machines! It’s a fun discussion and we’re excited to share it with our listeners.

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37: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Feb 24, 2016

Angela Duckworth researches self-control and grit, which is defined as passion and perseverance for long term goals. Her research has demonstrated that there are factors that can be more predictive of success than IQ. In this episode we cover some of her findings on grit, including academic and popular misconceptions of this work. We also discuss research on standardized testing, self-control and more.

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36: Uncovering the Habits and Routines that Make People Live Better Feb 14, 2016

James Clear studies successful people across a wide range of disciplines to uncover the habits and routines that make them the best at what they do. In this episode, we speak with James about his behavioral psychology background to uncover practical advice on how to flourish. The conversation is light and pleasant, while the content is deep and immediately useful for people looking to live better through science. Topics include habit formation, identity crafting, self-quantification and personal well-being. Enjoy and tell us what you think in the iTunes comments section!

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35: The Healing Power of Self-Compassion Jan 31, 2016

A pioneering researcher in the psychology of self-compassion, Dr. Kristin Neff provides deep insight into the incredible healing power of being your own ally. In this episode, we cover some immediately useful ways to practice self-compassion and gain its many benefits. Self-compassion has been linked to reductions in anxiety, physical pain, depression and the stress hormone cortisol. It’s been shown to increase motivation, improve a mastery mindset, and enhance well-being. There’s a great deal of levity in this episode as we discuss how we can benefit from learning to care for ourselves the way we care for others.

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34: How Happiness Can Accelerate Your Success Jan 25, 2016

Dr. Emma Seppälä is a true friend of the show and we’re thrilled to speak with her about her new book, The Happiness Track. In this episode, we provide data-driven insight into how our overextension is hindering our success, and how cultivating happiness can actually drive our achievement. The research shows that we needn’t be chronically over-scheduled and over-caffeinated to achieve our goals. Pursuing things like meaningful relationships, gratitude and self-compassion can actually be more conducive to success. We cover some fascinating studies and offer practical thoughts on enhancing well-being and innovation. We think you’ll really enjoy the dialogue.

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33: The Highly Sensitive Person Jan 18, 2016

Dr. Elaine Aron is one of the world’s foremost experts on the highly sensitive person. She ought to be – she was its first researcher! In this episode, we cover this fascinating concept as it relates to a broad swath of psychological concepts like self-esteem, gender, love, leadership, personality, genetics and more. Roughly 20% of the population can be classified as highly sensitive, so all of us likely know someone (or are someone) with this trait. Also, Scott performs a statistical analysis live on air – it’s a first and a lot of fun!

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32: How to Live a Good Life Dec 21, 2015

Tom Rath is a 6x national best-selling author who works on the psychology of well-being. This episode provides science-backed insight into how to live a good life. We cover the development of positive psychology. We discuss optimizing your energy levels so you can really show up for life. The conversation progresses across creativity, personal mission and the education system. Finally, existential topics arise as we talk to Tom about his decades-long battle with cancer. This hour with Tom is a refreshing look at what really makes people happy and gives them a sense of meaning. We’re grateful for his time and we think this episode was special.

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31: Final Messages on Leadership and Life from a Dying Coach, with Performance Psychology Expert Dec 06, 2015

We’re incredibly grateful today to have Master of Applied Positive Psychology Paddy Steinfort on the show to discuss his inspirational experience with beloved Aussie Football coach Dean Bailey. Paddy’s new book, Breakfast With Bails, presents some of the timeless wisdom on performance, leadership and life that made coach Bailey a sage and a beloved public figure in Australia. Paddy is himself a former professional Australian football player, who now works as a performance and leadership consultant for teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NCAA football in the USA. We draw on Paddy’s expertise to learn about the psychological strategies of high performance professional athletes. We cover practical topics like mental toughness, mindfulness, creativity, emotional contagion, visualization, self-determination and leaving a legacy in sports and in life.

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30: Narcissism & Loving The People Who Love Themselves Nov 28, 2015

The narcissists of the world will be happy to hear that they make for an extraordinarily interesting psychological discussion! On this episode we speak with an expert in the field, Dr. W. Keith Campbell, who has spent more than a decade studying narcissism and its effects on relationships. This interview is an in-depth look at the character trait as it relates to (takes a deep breath): dating, social media, reality TV, age, leadership, politics, diagnosis, grandiosity and more. We cover the different forms of narcissism, why narcissists have such a powerful affect on us, and how we can learn to spot the narcissists in our life. It’s a fun and fascinating topic – enjoy!

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29: Understanding and Supporting People with ADHD Nov 09, 2015

Statistically speaking, many of us know someone or even experience some of the difficulties associated with ADHD, but what are the essential characteristics of this often misunderstood phenomenon? On this episode of the Psychology Podcast, we gain a contemporary understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from an expert in the field, Dr. Mark Bertin. Dr. Bertin has a great deal of experience working with individuals and families living with ADHD. We discuss the diagnosis as it relates to creativity, information management, executive function impairment, stress, mindfulness and more. There’s a great deal of practical advice here for those looking to understand and support people with ADHD.

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28: Learning How to Learn Oct 24, 2015

On this episode of The Psychology Podcast, we dive deep into the psychology of learning with one of its top experts, Barbara Oakley PhD. She shares some tremendously practical advice on how to optimize learning, boost memory and neutralize procrastination. We also shed light on related topics like improving the education system, the mechanics of learning, popular perceptions of mathematical ability and the importance of optimistic realism. Barbara's free online course Learning How to Learn is one of the most popular courses in the world, with well over half a million students in its first six months alone; We’re lucky to learn from this master of learning how to learn!

"Barbara Oakley, PhD, PE, is a professor of engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and writer of national acclaim. Her research focuses on the complex relationship between neuroscience and social behavior. Dr. Oakley’s research has been described as “revolutionary” in the Wall Street Journal—she has published in outlets as varied as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and The New York Times. Oakley’s books have been praised by many leading researchers and writers, including Harvard’s Steven Pinker and E. O. Wilson, and National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Oates. Her forthcoming A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) (Penguin, July 31, 2014) is opening new doors on how to learn.” -Blurb taken from Coursera

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27: How Video Games Can Make Us SuperBetter Oct 11, 2015

Gamers rejoice! Bestselling author, video game designer, and TED talk superstar Jane McGonigal stops by to discuss her research on the positive effects of video gaming. She's a goldmine of science-backed information on how games can fight depression and PTSD, encourage creativity and help to achieve real world goals. We get personal as Jane shares the struggle with a traumatic brain injury that led her to create the sensationally popular video game and book SuperBetter, which have helped over 500k people live healthier and happier lives. We also cover topics like post ecstatic growth, finding your passion, gamifying your life, the importance of struggle and well-being.

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26: Celebrating Smart Girls in the 21st Century Oct 04, 2015

Distinguished Professor Barbara Kerr, Ph.D. is a wellspring of knowledge on creativity, giftedness and optimal experience in the 21st century. This episode is a treasure trove of insight into the unique socio-cultural challenges, life-trajectories and opportunities of smart and talented young girls and women. The topic is near and dear to our hearts here at The Psychology Podcast, as we discuss an extraordinary amount of research ranging across topics such as grit, personality profiles, gender roles, stereotype threat, self-perception, differing conceptualizations of intelligence and how falling in love with a future image of yourself can predict creative success. Be sure to check out Barbara's research and philosophy of Smart Girls in the 21st Century and enjoy the show!

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25: Extending Human Life: From Science Fiction to Science Fact Sep 27, 2015

Visionary Liz Parrish shares some of the remarkable ways that genetic therapies are helping humanity transcend disease, aging and physical limitations. We discuss some of the current applications of gene therapy, what we can reasonably expect given the rate of progress and some of the moral implications of this science. If you’re anything like us, you’ll be astounded to hear about this work; it can already make you stronger and faster, and it may help future generations live upwards of 400 years!

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24: "Spectacular Ability in a Sea of Disability”: The Psychology of Savantism Sep 20, 2015

A leading expert in the psychology of savantism for over 40 years and the scientific advisor for the film Rain Man, Darold Treffert is a wellspring of knowledge on this fascinating yet often misunderstood condition. In this episode we cover the brain anatomy of savantism, its causes and some of the incredible abilities of famous savants like Kim Peak, who memorized thousands of books verbatim (down to the page number)! We feel fortunate to have had this chance to learn so much about such an interesting topic from one of the most well respected researchers in the field. Please enjoy and tell us what you think!

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23: How Millennials are Changing the World for the Better Aug 29, 2015

19-year-old entrepreneur and author Jared Kleinert discusses the unique opportunities and extraordinary accomplishments of the millennial generation. We are yet to look at this subject on the show and it was a delight to stop and consider Jared’s philosophy and research on our youth’s culture. We chat about millennial psychology in relation to entrepreneurship, passion, talent development, technology, science and more!

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21: Understanding the science of introversion and extraversion Jul 26, 2015

We have Dr. Luke Smillie on the podcast to elucidate the research and conceptualizations surrounding introversion and extraversion. Topics include psychometrics, well-being, cultural values, neurochemistry personality traits, nature vs. nurture and much more. With this episode we wanted to clear up controversy and delve deep into this hot topic to help the listener get the lay of the land. We hope you enjoy!

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20: Hope, the Future and Flourishing Jul 05, 2015

One of the world’s foremost experts on hope, self-proclaimed “hopemonger” Shane Lopez, sheds light on the incredible impact hope can have in our lives. We chat about flourishing, narratives of our future, passion and how hope may predict job and school success. There are some compelling statistics here that we hope will get you focused on cultivating… more hope!

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19: Why We Love, Lust, and Live Jun 22, 2015

A leader in the psychology of human mating, and an expert on both the cultural and biological foundations of love, Helen Fisher shares science-backed information on attraction, mate selection, infidelity, the neuroscience of love and the effects of culture on our biology. There’s a wealth of interesting facts here and some surprising insight into humanity’s quest for romance. We LOVED this episode!

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18: Straight Talk about IQ Jun 08, 2015

In this episode we cover every topic in psychology, neuroscience and genetics (not literally, but it certainly feels that way)! Christopher Chabris shares his expert opinions on science journalism, general intelligence, IQ testing, intuition, creativity, the default mode brain network and more. We really nerd out here – science types will get a kick out of this in depth discussion.

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17: Maximizing, satisficing and the paradox of choice May 25, 2015

A legend in the field, economic psychologist Barry Schwartz talks about how having too many options can be paralytic and tiresome to the human psyche. Schwartz also discusses the destructive force of an “only the best will do” mentality. We contemplate the implications of these concepts across topics like parenting consumerism, creativity, the prevalence of dissatisfaction in the modern world and what we can do to help ourselves.

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16: How to Be Understood and Reach Your Goals May 11, 2015

Best selling author and social psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson discusses motivational styles and how we can ensure people understand who we truly are. It’s a particularly actionable episode, where the listener can learn strategies aimed at effective communication, habit formation and making better motivational decisions.

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15: Accelerated learning, peak performance and living the good life Apr 27, 2015

Three time bestselling author and human guinea pig Tim Ferriss discusses how to become top 5% in the world with a new skill in just 6-12 months. Scott and Tim debunk the 10,000 hour rule, discuss general principles for accelerated skill acquisition, consider what it means to live the good life and take a sneak peak at Tim’s new show The Tim Ferris Experiment.

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14: Stoicism, Strategy and Creativity Apr 18, 2015

Best selling author Ryan Holiday discusses how Stoicism can help us transform trials into triumph. It’s a pragmatic episode, full of strategies to invert obstacles and wrest opportunity from adversity. The conversation includes invaluable advice for aspiring creatives, research affirming the Stoic approach, how great historical figures have used Stoicism and more…

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13: Examining standardized testing Apr 05, 2015

Award-winning education writer Anya Kamentez provides practical guidance for parents looking to understand standardized testing. She and Scott roll up their sleeves and delve deep into the nature, origins, drawbacks and future of our high-stakes testing culture. The dialogue spans varying topics including broadening our educational priorities, holding schools accountable, implementing better assessments and helping children beat the system.

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12: Imaginary worlds and creativity Mar 22, 2015

Creativity scholar Michele Root-Bernstein discusses her work exploring the playful imaginative worlds of children and their correlation with creativity. Scott and Michele tease out the implications of imaginary worlds on education, giftedness, vocation, self-perception and more. Some other topics include the importance of play, technology’s effects on self-expression and high-level creative achievement.

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11: How “little bets” spur big creative successes Mar 08, 2015

Award-winning author Peter Sims shares some heartening research on how people like Steve Jobs, Chris Rock and Frank Gehry use small experiments to lay the groundwork for big creative successes. It’s an encouraging episode for all the creative types out there thinking they have to have it all figured it out from the get-go. Also, Scott and Peter banter across a wide spectrum of topics including improving education, the empathy deficit in America, deliberate practice and the importance of marching to the beat of your own drummer.

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10: How to change your habits Feb 16, 2015

Dr. Art Markman discusses tools, tips and tricks for editing our behaviors and achieving our goals. It’s an incredibly practical episode for those of us who want to lose that weight, write that book and change our lives. Topics include why we tend to fail with habit change, how to live a good life and more.

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9: The science of raising happily productive kids Feb 09, 2015

Expert Dona Mathews presents ample research regarding how to help children flourish into happy and successful adults. Scott guides the interview across a wide array of vital domains including creativity, flow, standardized testing, growth mindsets and the many myths about intelligence.

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8: Modern rudeness in Stone Age minds Jan 26, 2015

Advice columnist and science writer Amy Alkon sheds light on the evolutionary roots of modern impoliteness. She shares research on how to cure rudeness and make the world a friendlier place. Scott and Amy get personal as they cover topics like living with ADHD, being a starving artist, how to live a good life and the joy of being “weird.”

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7: "What is it like to be a psychopath?" Jan 18, 2015

“Cognitive neuroscientist Kent Kiehl discusses his research and personal experience working with “those without conscience.” Scott and Kent demystify the historically fascinating illness as it relates to criminal activity, genius, evil, flourishing, the brain, gender and treatment."

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6: Dancing with the dark side of your personality Jan 04, 2015

Psychologist Dr. Todd Kashdan shares some unconventional research on how we can harness “negative” psychological characteristics to live whole, successful and fulfilling lives. Topics include the dark triad, emotional experimentation, mindfulness, education, evolution and what it means to live well.

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5: Givers, takers, matchers and fakers Dec 21, 2014

University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Professor and bestselling author Adam Grant presents some heartening research on how being a giver can lead to success. He and Scott chat about a plethora of topics, including the meaning of friendship, introversion, takers, and fakers, and the importance of challenging dogmatic science.

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4: Discussing the origins of extraordinary athletic performance Dec 06, 2014

Bestselling author David Epstein presents research on the interplay between nature and nurture, how mentality propels success, how we assess potential, sex differences in sport, and why getting older doesn’t mean we can’t achieve greatness.

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3: Talking Mastery and Social Intelligence Nov 16, 2014

Five time international bestselling author Robert Greene shares his thoughts on creativity, finding your calling, social intelligence and his latest book about what it means to be a ‘Master’ of your craft.

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2: Daydreaming and Mental Contrasting for Goal-Fulfillment Nov 16, 2014

Psychologist Gabrielle Oettingen’s research on goal-setting and self-regulation animates discussion of some incredibly practical tools to help with constructive daydreaming, hurdling obstacles, implementation intentions and goal-fulfillment.

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1: The Science of Growing Smarter Nov 16, 2014

Science writer Annie Murphy Paul's fresh perspectives on intelligence and personality prompt a heart-to-heart about learning, intelligence assessments, growth mindsets and rethinking intelligence

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