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 […]
The Psychology Podcast
Dr. Stuart Ritchie on Intelligence, IQ Testing and Genetics
Dr. Stuart Richie is an expert in human intelligence differences and their relations to the brain, genetics, and education. This episode distills some of the most important and interesting ideas in intelligence, IQ testing, genetics and their affects on society at large. We discuss the false dichotomy between nature vs. nurture. We illuminate popular media […]
Dr. Glenn Geher on Human Mating Intelligence
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. […]
Dr. Susan Block on Releasing Your Inner Bonobo
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 […]
Dr. Ron Friedman on Extraordinary Workplaces
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 […]
The New Principles of Business Management with Dr. David Burkus
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 […]
Discussing the Nature of Childhood Prodigies with Kimberly Stephens
On this episode of the psychology podcast, we gain insight into the fascinating and mysterious psychology of child prodigies. Kimberly Stephens recently co-authored a book with psychologist Joanne Ruthsatz 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 […]
Angela Duckworth on Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
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 […]
Uncovering the Habits and Routines that Make People Live Better, with James Clear
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 […]
Dr. Kristin Neff on the Healing Power of Self-Compassion
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 […]
Dr. Emma Seppälä on How Happiness Can Accelerate Your Success
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” — Maya Angelou 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 […]
Dr. Elaine Aron on the Highly Sensitive Person
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 […]