Speaking of Psychology

Tessa West, PhD, is a psychology professor at NYU and author of "Job Therapy: Finding Work that Works for You." She delves into the roots of job dissatisfaction and unveils strategies for identifying what truly makes you unhappy at work. The conversation covers navigating toxic coworkers and emphasizes effective communication as a key to workplace harmony. Tessa also explores the dynamics of intergenerational communication and the importance of psychological safety for employee well-being, challenging traditional exit interviews for more open dialogue.

Join Charles Duhigg, author of 'Supercommunicators,' and conversation researcher Michael Yeomans, PhD, as they unravel the secrets to effective communication. Discover the traits of 'super communicators' and learn how to build rapport with new acquaintances. They discuss aligning conversation goals, especially during disagreements, and the influence of technology on modern dialogue. Plus, explore techniques for navigating challenging discussions and the vital role of emotional intelligence in forging deeper connections.

Join Dr. Jessica de Bloom, a vacation well-being researcher from Groningen University, and Dr. Sarah Pressman, a health psychology expert from UC Irvine, as they explore the profound impacts of taking time off. They discuss how vacations boost both mental and physical health, emphasizing the benefits of unplugging and finding balance between capturing memories and being present. The duo also reflects on post-pandemic travel attitudes and the importance of meaningful experiences in enhancing well-being, offering strategies for maximizing your time away.

Joe DeGutis, PhD, a Harvard psychologist specializing in prosopagnosia, teams up with Sadie Dingfelder, a participant who discovered her lifelong face blindness. They delve into how face blindness affects daily life and relationships, highlighting the cognitive challenges it presents. The duo explores innovative research and promising treatments while discussing the impact of mask-wearing on face recognition. They also touch on oxytocin's potential to enhance social engagement, bringing a fascinating blend of personal experience and scientific insight.

Octopus researcher Jennifer Mather, PhD, discusses how octopuses evolved remarkable problem-solving abilities and intelligence, their brain structure, cognitive skills, and insights into general thinking and intelligence. She delves into octopus evolution, tool use behavior, color-changing capabilities, social interactions, and advocating for ethical treatment in research. The podcast also explores models of intelligence in animals beyond mammals, showcasing insects and cephalopods, and intriguing abilities of ants, leaf cutter ants, Latia limpets, and Owl Limpets. Additionally, it covers marine ecosystems, movement, perception, and buoyancy in marine animals.

Dennis Stolle, PhD discusses workplace challenges, psychological safety for young workers, remote work impact on job satisfaction, rising popularity of four-day work weeks, and importance of fostering psychological safety in the workplace for improved well-being and organizational success.

Nicholas Hatsopoulos, an expert in brain-computer interfaces, discusses the future of BCIs, practical challenges, decoding brain movements, internet access via thoughts, tongue movements in the cortex, brain plasticity with prosthetic swallowing devices, and the potential of BCIs for augmenting human abilities.

Psychologist and novelist, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, discusses the psychology of fandom, writing bestsellers, and the intersection of psychology and fiction. She explores why we're drawn to fictional worlds, how analyzing one's work shapes writing style, and children's preferences for real vs. fantasy stories.

Expert Arline Bronzaft discusses the impact of noise pollution on health, including children's learning, cardiovascular disorders, and mental distress. She shares unique noise complaints and solutions, advocating for noise reduction measures.

Psychologist Kim Meidenbauer and public health researcher Amruta Nori-Sarma discuss the impacts of heat on mental health, emotions, and cognitive abilities, including the correlation between heat, violence, and aggression. They delve into the relationship between heatwaves and mental health, exploring how extreme heat can affect different demographics and the importance of green space infrastructure. The podcast also addresses the challenges in providing cooling solutions for vulnerable populations and the impact of uncomfortable temperatures on mental health.