
The Science of Personality Podcast
Personality affects the way we relate to the world and the people in it, how we work, who we love, and how other people see us. Although the study of personality is centuries old, our ability to understand and control such a complex and abstract concept is relatively new in the context of history. Featuring some of the world’s leading experts in personality psychology and business, this podcast explores the impact of personality on life, leadership, and organizational success.
Latest episodes

18 snips
May 20, 2025 • 47min
The Myth of Authenticity
The conversation dives into the complexities of authenticity, suggesting it may harm career progression rather than help. It examines the myth surrounding being your "true self" and its implications in social and professional interactions. The speakers discuss the balance between kindness and authenticity in the workplace, revealing unique challenges for Generation Z. They highlight the importance of integrity over authenticity in leadership, emphasizing traits like honesty. Lastly, they explore how personality assessments can help bridge professional personas with true selves.

May 13, 2025 • 40min
Live from SIOP 2025: Part Three
In this special episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake interview guests in person at the 2025 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Conference in Denver. Featured guests include:- Rob Kaiser, President, Kaiser Leadership Solutionso Topic: Using Hogan in private equity- Ellen Lovell, PhD, Principal Workforce Transformation Consultant, Perceptyxo Topic: Trends in organizational wellbeing - Jessie McClure, Senior Consultant, Hogan Assessmentso Topic: Trends in organizational wellbeing- Rebecca Feder, Principal Consultant, Princeton HR Insighto Topic: Should there be regulations in executive coaching?- Emilie Seyfang, Consultant, Hogan Assessmentso Topic: Should there be regulations in executive coaching?

May 6, 2025 • 1h 3min
What Activates Your Dark Side?
In that latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Jackie Sahm, Hogan’s Vice President of Integrated Solutions, to talk about what activates your dark side. With Jackie being one of the world’s foremost experts in interpreting Hogan scales and facilitating Hogan feedback sessions, not to mention her previous role as a consultant for numerous Fortune 500 companies and Hogan’s Director of Global Learning, she's the perfect guest to explore this aspect of the dark side.

Apr 29, 2025 • 51min
Live from SIOP 2025: Part Two
In this special episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake interview guests in person at the 2025 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Conference in Denver. Featured guests include: - Ty Fezzey, PhD Student, University of Alabamao Topic: Competitiveness- Bradley Brummel, PhD, Professor of Psychology, University of Houstono Topic: Leader identity- Pradnya Parasher, PhD, Managing Director, ThreeFish Consultingo Topic: Leadership emergence in India- Georgi Yankov, PhD, Principal Research Scientist, Development Dimensions Internationalo Topic: Personality of robots

Apr 22, 2025 • 1h 1min
Domino Derailers
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Trish Kellett, Hogan's executive advisor for strategic initiatives and former director of the Hogan Coaching Network, Rebecca Feder, principal consultant at Princeton HR Insight, and Rebecca Ghanadan, PhD, founder and principal at Aspis Coaching Group, to talk about Domino Derailers. This is a relatively new concept when it comes to Hogan terminology and was actually coined by Trish during her time as director of the Hogan Coaching Network. And, because Rebecca F. and Rebecca G. are also members of the Hogan Coaching Network, we thought it would be fun to do a panel with three guests for this very special episode.

Apr 8, 2025 • 39min
Live from SIOP 2025: Part One
In this special episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake interview guests in person at the 2025 Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Conference in Denver. Featured guests include:- Brian J. Ruggeberg, Consultant, Spencer Stuart o Topic: Using Hogan tools for executive assessment and development- Comila Shahani-Denning, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Hofstra University o Topic: Benefits of graduate students getting Hogan certified- Nadine Maliakkal, PhD, Talent Analytics Consultant, Hogan Assessments o Topic: Creativity in leadership- Kevin Mitchell, PhD, Talent in Organizational Development Manager, MIT Lincoln Laboratory o Topic: Creativity in leadership- Nicole Dickie, Senior Consultant (APAC), Hogan Assessments o Topic: Global Leadership Effectiveness Survey early findingsTake Global Leadership Effectiveness Survey here: https://www.hoganassessments.com/news-events/updates/call-for-participation-global-research-study-on-effective-leadership/

Mar 25, 2025 • 51min
The Hidden Cost of Toxic Employees
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake talk about toxic employees and the affect they have on organizations across the globe. We’ve all experienced it: the colleague who brings the mood down, the boss who thrives on chaos, or the team member whose negativity drains the energy from the room. These "everyday" toxic behaviors create stress, hamper productivity, and leave us feeling demoralized. But what may not be immediately apparent is the significant hidden cost they carry.

Mar 11, 2025 • 51min
Charisma in Politics
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Zsolt Feher, Hogan's vice president of business development, to talk about charisma in politics. For centuries, charismatic politicians have had a significant advantage when it comes to assuming leadership roles. They enamor us with their confidence and the ability to tell us exactly what we want to hear. In this episode, we’ll talk about some of the more notable charismatic politicians throughout history, what personality characteristics they have in common, and whether they actually are effective leaders.

Feb 25, 2025 • 1h 19min
Evolutionary Psychology
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Douglas Kenrick, PhD, professor of psychology at Arizona State University, to talk about evolutionary psychology. What are its primary concepts? What implications does it have? And why is it such a controversial topic to so many people? Dr. Kenrick has spent decades researching and lecturing on this topic and is viewed by his peers as one of the leading experts in this area.

Feb 11, 2025 • 56min
The Psychology of Scamming: Why Are People So Susceptible?
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake discuss a topic that everyone has at least been subjected to, if not been a victim of, and that is scammers. Whether by phone, email, or other means, scammers use a variety of methods to access sensitive data or to make a quick buck. So, the question is: why do people fall for these schemes? What makes us so vulnerable to these vultures who seem to seek us out on an almost daily basis?