
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

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?

Jan 28, 2025 • 1h 8min
Who Prefers to Work from Home?
In a fascinating discussion, Adrian Furnham, a world-renowned personality psychologist, delves into why many prefer working from home post-pandemic. He examines how personality traits influence these preferences and the dynamic shifts in remote work culture. The conversation also touches on innovative initiatives like Tulsa's relocation bonus to attract remote workers, and the challenges organizations face in measuring productivity. Furnham highlights how trust-based work environments may lead to enhanced employee satisfaction and performance.

Jan 14, 2025 • 1h 7min
Personality, Careers, and the Impact
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Allan Church, PhD, cofounder and managing partner at Maestro Consulting and former SVP of global talent management at PepsiCo, to talk about the impact of personality on careers. A legend in the field of I-O Psychology, Allan has seen the impact of personality on literally thousands of workers throughout his prestigious career.

13 snips
Dec 17, 2024 • 1h 7min
2024 Derailers of the Year
The hosts dive into the 2024's top derailers, analyzing traits like 'excitable' and 'skeptical' in leadership, referencing current political figures. They highlight the dilemmas of reserved behavior and give the 'Derailer of the Year' award to Bashar al-Assad for his controversial actions. The discussion also touches on rivalries in hip-hop and the playful diversion provided by a viral baby hippo. Innovations in space travel and reflections on the evolving political landscape add depth to the conversation, showcasing the intricate links between personality and behavior.

Dec 3, 2024 • 46min
Global Leadership Effectiveness Study
In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Krista Pederson, Hogan's managing director of Asia Pacific, to talk about the recent launch of Hogan’s Global Leadership Effectiveness Study, a groundbreaking research study aimed at identifying the characteristics shared among effective leaders. Are these characteristics the same regardless of geographic or cultural differences? Are any of the characteristics shared among emergent leaders? We explore all of that and so much more in this episode.Learn more about Hogan's Global Leadership Effectiveness Study here: https://hubs.ly/Q02-ySm30
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