The Science of Personality Podcast

In the final spooky season episode of The Science of Personality in 2025, Ryne and Blake are joined by Christopher Bader, PhD, professor and chair of the department of sociology at Chapman University, to talk about why people believe in the paranormal. Christopher has studied the paranormal for more than 20 years, and he also takes his work out into the field, having participated in several ghost hunts, observed support groups for UFO abductees, and joined in on bigfoot investigations. In addition, he is the author of the book Paranormal America: Ghost Encounters, UFO Sightings, Bigfoot Hunts, and Other Curiosities in Religion and Culture and the book Paranormal Britain, which will be released in Spring of 2026. 

Spooky season is back! In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and I are joined by Chris French, PhD, professor emeritus and former Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit in the Psychology Department at Goldsmiths, University of London, to talk about the psychology of demonology, possession, and exorcism. With his primary area of research being the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences, Chris is a frequent radio and television guest who casts a skeptical eye over paranormal claims, and is also the author of multiple books on the paranormal, including his most recent one from earlier this year, titled The Science of Weird Shit. For our loyal listeners, you are well aware by now that Ryne and I dedicate our episodes in October to topics like this to celebrate Halloween and the spooky season. Because demonology, possession, and exorcism are at the core of some of history’s best horror films and literary works, we thought it would be a fun topic to cover, and Chris is the perfect guest to join us for this special episode.

Nadine Maliakkal, PhD, is a consultant on Hogan's Talent Analytics team and an expert in using personality assessment in professional sports. In their engaging conversation, she explains how NFL and NBA teams harness personality insights for performance predictions and draft evaluations. Nadine reveals intriguing links between traits like prudence and performance metrics in football. She also discusses the differing personality profiles between offense and defense, and how attributes like resilience and coachability are crucial for athlete success.

The hosts tackle listener questions about personality psychology, diving into the impact of toxic workplaces and the evolution of leadership. They discuss the complexities of measuring ambition and its relevance to success. Authenticity in leadership is explored, revealing the balance between self-disclosure and effectiveness. Additionally, they clarify the distinction between toxic and incompetent behaviors in teams. The conversation wraps up with a look at future challenges in personality psychology amidst AI advancements and the importance of enhancing personal reputations.

In this special episode of The Science of Personality, Blake is joined by three Hogan distributors, Seniora El-Hage of Phoenix Consulting, Victoria Zapata of HR Tools, and Rene Kusch, PhD, of RELEVANT Management Consultancy, to discuss the inside of personality. This episode was recorded live and on video in May at Heiga Studios in Miami, Florida during Hogan Assessments' international distributor summit. A link to the video is below. Cheers!Global Spotlight Series: The Inside of Personality

Dive into the decline of conscientiousness among young adults, revealing a shift in personality traits over generations. The hosts tackle misinformation surrounding personality psychology, discussing its impact on understanding traits like agreeableness and neuroticism. They also explore how technology influences personality development, comparing it to past media critiques. Finally, the nuances of personality in shaping careers and relationships are examined, highlighting the complexities of these essential traits.

Nicole Neubauer, CEO at Personality Guidance AG, Peter Berry, Managing Director at the Peter Berry Consultancy, and Gicheha Gitau, Client Partner at Career Connections, delve into the dark side of personality in leadership. They discuss the importance of understanding darker traits to enhance team dynamics and organizational success. Insights into self-awareness as a leadership tool and the evolving role of personality assessments in career development highlight the global challenges of employee engagement and adaptation in today's work environments.

In the latest episode of The Science of Personality, Ryne and Blake are joined by Coaching.com CEO, Charlotte Saulny, to talk about how organizations can create a coaching culture. With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in professional services, Charlotte has dedicated her career to helping people thrive in the workplace. She has worked directly with many of the heavy hitters in the corporate world, including Hilton, Cisco, Coca-Cola, and Facebook, and as a senior executive at ADP, she oversaw the implementation of a strengths-based employee engagement initiative that positively impacted over 60,000 employees worldwide. 

Roberto Santos is the Managing Director at Atelier HR in Brazil, Jani Wiggett is a Director at JVR Psychometrics in South Africa, and Melvyn Payne is the Commercial Director at Advanced People Strategies in the UK. They discuss the vibrant role of personality traits in team dynamics and leadership. Insights include the effectiveness of Hogan assessments in enhancing self-awareness and cultural relevance in evaluations, the humorous challenges of introducing the Hogan Personality Inventory globally, and the ongoing importance of quality tools in leadership development.

David Greenberg, a psychologist, neuroscientist, and musician, shares his expertise on how music intertwines with personality. He explores how our musical tastes reveal insights about ourselves and how those preferences can change over time. With a focus on music's therapeutic effects, he discusses its role in self-awareness and emotional connection. The conversation also navigates the impact of AI on music consumption and identity, raising thought-provoking questions about the future of music within our personal narratives.