Speaking of Psychology

Nathanael Fast, PhD discusses AI's impact on decision-making and the need for ethical use. Examining how AI shapes behavior, he explores unethical decisions made through AI agents, trust in AI, and the importance of equal access to its benefits. The podcast also covers the effects of AI on human behavior and relationships, the need for cautious AI development, and the efforts to democratize AI and shift towards purpose-driven technology.

Dr. Robert Leahy, author of 'If Only…Finding Freedom From Regret,' discusses productive and unproductive regret, rumination, and coping strategies. They explore the power of regret as a tool for change, the complexity of regret and ambivalence, the negative impact of social media, the sunk cost effect, and regrets at different stages of life.

Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, PhD, and organizational psychologist Samuel West, PhD, talk about commerce's biggest flops, the difference between failing and "failing well," and how to overcome the fear of failure. They discuss the Museum of Failure, the downfall of Kodak, the importance of psychological safety, and the nuanced understanding of success and failure.

Robert Sellers, University of Michigan psychologist, discusses the importance and positive impact of diversity in schools and workplaces. Topics include the significance of diversity, evolving understanding of racial and ethnic identity, the need to categorize people in groups, the psychological experience of blackness, addressing criticisms of DEI efforts, the value of diversity in business and education, and the importance of diversity in psychology research.

Psychologist and researcher Viorica Marian discusses the cognitive benefits of being bilingual, including improved executive function, delayed onset of Alzheimer's, and altered perception. They challenge the notion of languages being switched off and on in the brain, explore the definition and power of language, debunk the myth of a critical age for language learning, and discuss the impact of AI on language diversity.

NYU psychologist, Dr. Adam Alter, discusses why getting stuck is a universal experience and how to get unstuck. Topics include strategies for overcoming chronic stuckness, understanding and overcoming writer's block, navigating decision-making, the power of generative AI in overcoming stuckness, and the role of fear in being stuck.

Geoff MacDonald, expert in relationship status and well-being, discusses the growing trend of Americans choosing to stay single. Topics include the relationship between being single and well-being, gender differences in singlehood, societal stigma against being single, and the need for more research on the lives of single people.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, discusses why kids learn best through play, the importance of playful learning in classrooms, how technology impacts play, the need for adults to have recess, and how parents can encourage more play in their kids' lives.

Psychologists discuss the necessity of hope in challenging times, including its difference from optimism. They explore the consequences of losing hope and how it can be nurtured and cultivated. The power of hope is examined, including its role in navigating adversity and inspiring social change.

Sander van der Linden, PhD, researcher at Cambridge University, discusses the prevalence of misinformation, why it spreads like a virus, and strategies to combat it. He explores the impact of generative AI technology, recognizing and combating false political information online, the disparities between traditional media and social media in fact-checking, and the role of community leaders in spreading accurate information.