Two Guys on Your Head

Popularity shapes our choices every day, but in today’s world, what we perceive as “popular” is often steered by algorithms, targeted ads, push notifications, and the constant pull of social media; forces we may not fully recognize. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology of popularity and how its influence has evolved in the digital age. The post The Weighted Vest: an update on popularity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We often assume our choices reflect personal taste: selecting the “best” products, enjoying the movies we “want” to see, and listening to the music we believe is “good.” Yet underlying these decisions is the powerful influence of popularity. It doesn’t just affect what we buy—it informs how we evaluate ideas, people, and beliefs. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy examine the psychology of popularity and its impact on our everyday judgments. The post The Psychology of Popularity appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Humans may take the card we swipe for granted at the grocery store when we buy food, or look at our bank balance and not even think of how unique it is that we can translate those little numbers into experiences and things. It’s merely one of the benefits of having big brains. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of how our brains determine value. The post How We Determine Value (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Every day we’re surrounded by a flood of negative headlines, and it can take a real toll on our mental health. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy share practical ways to protect your well-being and stay mentally strong in the midst of all the noise. The post Mental Health in the Media Storm appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

To resist or not to resist? That is the question. And the answer is—shocker to no one—it depends. But what it depends on matters a lot. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the fine line between resistance as healthy self-preservation versus resistance as missed opportunity, and what to take into account when considering a path forward. The post The Psychology of Personal Resistance appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We spend an increasing proportion of our time online, and, given the importance of social media to human welfare, the external factors that shape online behavior are important to consider. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore social media use and the weather. Resources & References Worse Weather Amplifies Social Media Activity — A 2025 study in Psychological Science by Kelton Minor, Esteban Moro, and Nick Obradovich shows that extreme weather events significantly increase social media use, often more than major cultural celebrations. Read the study here. The post The Weather and Social Media Use appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We often blame the weather when we’re feeling low, or give it credit when we’re feeling great. But research shows our moods aren’t actually driven by sunshine or storms. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the surprising psychology of weather and emotion. Reference: Lucas, R. E., & Lawless, N. M. (2013). Does life seem better on a sunny day? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23607534/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23607534 The post The Weather and Your Mood appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Discoveries can make a lot of money, so can you enhance the discovery process with more money? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore a new study that examines this exact question. The post Does Money Motivate Discovery? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

When our actions hurt someone or lead to a bad outcome, it can be uncomfortable to acknowledge that we’re at fault, yet as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, taking responsibility for our actions can yield long-term psychological benefits we shouldn’t overlook. The post Retroactive Justification appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

We all know someone who seems to dislike everyone, until they decide they like you. But what happens next? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology behind people who hate everyone. The post Why We Like People Who Hate Everyone appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.