The Psychology Podcast

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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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

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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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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 
 

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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 

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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.

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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 

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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  

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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 
 

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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

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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

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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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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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