Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with James Kirby about examining Compassion Focused Therapy and his book entitled ‘Choose Compassion’. James N. Kirby, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychologist, and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group at the University of Queensland. He has broad research interests in compassion, but specifically examines factors that facilitate and inhibit compassionate responding. He also examines the clinical effectiveness of compassion focused interventions, specifically in how they help with self-criticism and shame that underpin many depression and anxiety disorders. James also holds a Visiting Fellowship at the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and is an Honorary Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation UK. In 2022 he authored Choose Compassion, and in 2020 he co-edited Making an Impact on Mental Health. He serves as an Associate Editor for two international journals Mindfulness and Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/james-kirbySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Michael Sugrue about his new best selling book entitled RELENTLESS COURAGE: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma. Michael Sugrue is a retired police sergeant with the City of Walnut Creek with over 14 years of service including specialized assignments as a Field Training Officer, SIU Detective and Undercover Special Agent assigned to California Department of Justice Drug Task Force. Before becoming a police officer, Michael served 6 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Captain (Security Forces) specializing in Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Air Base Ground Defense, Nuclear Security and Law Enforcement. As a new police sergeant, Michael encountered a situation that was not only tragic and surreal but it was a call for duty that changed his life forever. Michael found himself in reckless abandon and on the verge of self-destruction until he mustered the courage to ask for help. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/michael-sugrue-2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Kristy Goodwin about practical brain-based hacks to tame tech habits and strategies to decode the neurobiology of peak performance in the technological era. Dr Kristy Goodwin is one of Australia’s leading digital wellbeing and performance experts (and mum who also deals with her kids’ techno-tantrums!) She’s a researcher, author, speaker and media commentator who provides science-backed solutions to optimise wellbeing and productivity in a digital world. Kristy draws on cutting-edge neuroscience and research to explain the profound impacts technology has on our performance and health, without prescribing digital detoxes and going #laptopless. Kristy worked as an educator before becoming an academic and speaker. She’s worked with clients including Apple, Westfield, Bank of Queensland, Macquarie Bank, Foxtel, the National Broadband Network, JP Morgan, McDonalds, NSW Department of Education and Optus. She’s spoken at national and international conferences, schools, workplaces and medical conferences throughout Australia. Kristy’s on a mission to empower people to foster healthy and realistic digital behaviours that support peak performance and wellbeing. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/kiristy-goodwinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Kirrilie Smout about the common elements of mental health treatment planning for children and adults. Kirrilie Smout is a qualified clinical psychologist specialising in working children and teenagers about finding a life vision, creating community among each other, persistence, self-belief, study skills and overcoming obstacles. Kirrilie has presented at several National youth leadership forums, national adolescent health conferences and has spoken to approximately 20,000 young people across Australia. She has achieved the second highest speaking accreditation recognised by the National Speakers Association of Australia, and is one of only 10 in South Australia to have done so. Kirrilie also speaks to parents, teachers and youth leaders about youth issues in Australia; focusing on young people's needs and desires, and how to inspire and effectively lead young people. In 2000 she was awarded the Australian National Speakers Association "Rising Star" award for most promising emerging speaker. In 2001, Kirrilie toured the United States (sponsored by the Australian Youth Foundation) researching American suicide prevention and life skill programs for teenagers. Kirrilie has recently published her first book, The Years that Count: Maximising Motivation, Marks and Optimism in Senior School students. She has recently been asked to present the content of this book at an Australian/New Zealand Adolescent Development conference. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/kirrilie-smoutSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Piers Steel about how procrastination shows up in one's life and the related forces that make it irresistible. Piers Steel likes to think he is among the world’s foremost researchers and speakers on the science of motivation and procrastination. Well, he is a Distinguished Research Chair at the University of Calgary, where he teaches human resources and organizational dynamics at the Haskayne School of Business. His research has appeared in several outlets around the world, ranging from Psychology Today and New Scientist to Good Housekeeping and The New Yorker. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife and two sons. Aside from being a practicing procrastinator from an early age, Piers started formally studying the phenomenon while getting his doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Working with Dr. Thomas Brothen, he had access to a class administered through a Computerized Personalized System of Instruction, an arrangement that allows students to progress through a course at their own pace but is well known for creating high levels of procrastination. Also, being a computerized course meant that every stitch of work that the students completed had a time-date stamp exact to the second. It is an ideal setting for studying procrastination. On top of this, Piers also applied meta-analysis to the study of procrastination, a technique for mathematically summarizing all previous research done on the topic (some 800 previous studies). Together, these techniques provided the results for his PhD thesis “The Nature and Measurement of Procrastination.” Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/piers-steelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Associate Professor Alan Pegna about cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology. Alan Pegna is a neuropsychologist whose interests lie in the field of cognitive neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology. After receiving a Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and a second Masters degree in Human Physiology from University College London (UK), he obtained his PhD from the University of Geneva, using brain imaging techniques to study spatial processing in both healthy controls and brain-damaged patients. He worked for over 20 years as a clinical neuropsychologist at Geneva University Hospital, and as an academic at the University of Geneva, where he supervised numerous research projects in the field of visual processing, again in healthy participants and in persons with focal brain lesions. He joined UQ in 2015, where he now explores the neural basis of visual and spatial processing of emotional stimuli. More specifically, using EEG, he examines the brain's response to different facial expressions, as well as to faces that vary in their perceived approachability (e.g., their apparent trustwothiness). When possible, these studies are also carried out with brain-damaged individuals, in order to investigate the role of particular brain regions in these processes. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/alan-pegnaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Steven Hayes, a Nevada Foundation Professor in Behavior Analysis, discusses process-based therapy, psychiatric medications, and global issues related to mental health. The topics covered include the role of medications in mental health, the concept of chemical imbalance, understanding human differences, metaphors of strength, process-based therapy, limitations of behavior activation, exploring psychedelic therapy, and empowering clinicians.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Debbie Anderson about her experience practicing as a neuropsychologist. Debbie Anderson works exclusively as a clinical neuropsychologist. She trained at the University of Melbourne and has practised in Queensland since completing her course in 1989. She initially worked in public hospital settings before moving into full time private work. She evaluates clients both at the referral of treating doctors and as an independent expert in medicolegal cases (personal injuries civil matters and cognitive aspects of capacity to stand trial in criminal matters). She enjoys the challenge of fully evaluating complex cases, and had given evidence in legal proceedings on a number of occasions. She has several publications and conference presentations related to this work, which demonstrate her commitment to evidence-based practise. Debbie is also very active in the Australian Psychological Society, and most recently chaired the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists annual conference November 2018 and is currently the chair of the Qld Section of the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists. She is passionate about training the next generation of professionals, so supervises new graduates (registrars) in her practise and undertakes casual lecturing at a university in Brisbane, lecturing the students in clinical neuropsychology and assessment skills. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/debbie-andersonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Maggie Dent about the healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. Maggie Dent is an author, educator, and parenting and resilience specialist with a particular interest in the early years and adolescence. Commonly known as the “queen of common sense” she is also an undisputed ‘boy champion’. Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. She is an advocate for the healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. She is a passionate, positive voice for children of all ages. Maggie is the host of the popular ABC podcast, Parental As Anything. She is the author of nine major books, plus several e-books and other resources for parents, adolescents, teachers and early childhood educators, and others who are interested in quietly improving their lives. Maggie is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/maggie-dentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr David Demmer about the mental health challenges of the LGBTIQ+ community. Dr David Demmer is a clinical psychologist based in Melbourne, Australia. He is a respected therapist and speaker with expertise in gender and sexual diversity, self-worth, and resilience. He is the founder and practice director of Wellington Street Psychology, a leading psychology practice in St Kilda. Through his dynamic and authentic approach to psychological wellbeing, he leads a team committed to delivering high-quality mental health support to clients. Dave is the current chair of the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists Victoria Section and a consultant to Movember as a Subject Matter Expert in mental health. He previously lectured in psychology at Deakin University, where he chaired counselling units and was the principal researcher on numerous projects. He continues to bring his experience to numerous research projects. As a respected mental health speaker and expert, Dave regularly presents for media and other organisations. Episode link at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/david-demmerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.