Science journalist Jesse Singal joins me on the show to talk about the dangers of fad psychology, including myths and misconceptions about positive psychology, the self-esteem movement, deceptive media coverage of popular behavioral science research, the replication crisis in academic psychology, and more.Show NotesHere are some of the highlights from our conversation:Jonathan Haidt and moral foundations theoryMisleading statistics and external validityThe problems with self-esteem and the self-esteem movementSelf-efficacy vs Self-esteemCarol Dweck and growth mindsetEffect size in researchMartin Seligman Positive PsychologyPreventative mental healthOpportunity cost in mental healthStructural factors impacting mental healthGritComprehensive Soldier FitnessThe replication crisis in psychologyThe file drawer effectFalsification10% Happier by Dan HarrisPositive Thinking for People Who had Positive Thinking by Oliver BurkemanYou can learn more about Jesse and his work here:The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can’t Cure Our Social Ills (Book)JesseSingal.substack.com (Newsletter)Blocked and Reported (Podcast)Get New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.

Designer and author Fred Dust joins me on the show to discuss how we can use principles from design to have better, more impactful conversations.Show NotesThe distinctiveness of podcast conversationsMission-driven vs exploration-driven conversationsThe 3 ways conversations get derailedThe usefulness of constraints in conversationAdjusting the speed of conversationsThe benefits of rehearsing hard conversationsOvercoming self-consciousness in conversationWearing jeans in the White HouseEnvironmental designBehavioral experimentsActive listening vs creative listeningIlluminationsDealing with being triggeredSelf conversationYou can learn more about Fred and his book at his website: MakingConversation.comGet New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they're released.

Nick chats with Herbert Lui about practical ways to exercise your creativity.Show NotesHere are some of the highlights from our conversation:Misconceptions about creativityThe creative processNature vs nurture in creativityQuality vs quantity in creativityHow to get started being more creative?Creative blocksFear of being judgedCreativity and communityConstructive vs destructive comparisonsWhy constraints are helpful for creativityIs quitting important for creativity?You can learn more about Herbert and his work here:HerbertLui.netGet New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.

Caitlin Faas returns to the show to talk about life coaching—what it is, how it works, how it helps, and common misconceptions.Show NotesHere are some of the highlights from our conversation:How Caitlin went from tenured professor to life coachObjections to life coaching:Life coaching isn’t legit…If you think you need a life coach, what you really need is a therapistThere’s nothing you can get from a life coach that you can’t get from a good friendLife coaches are just snake-oil salesman out to make a quick buck off of vulnerable peopleLife coaching is too “woo-woo” or new-ageyHow to find a life coach who’s a good fit for youHow to know if you need a life coach or a therapistThe dangers of using family and friends as your emotional support personCan you do coaching and therapy at the same time?How much does life coaching cost?How often will I meet with a life coach?What does a life coaching session look like?Where to find a life coach?Is there specific credentialing I should look for with a life coach?You can learn more about Caitlin and her work here:DrCaitlinFaas.comGet New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they're released.

Lodro Rinzler returns to the show to talk about how a Buddhist perspective on anxiety can help us through difficult times.Show NotesHere are some of the highlights from our conversation:Focusing on stories vs anxiety itselfThe parable of the second arrowAnxiety vs worry vs stressThe Three Vajras: Body, Speech, and MindIs the popularity of mindfulness a good thing?Should we try to get rid of negative thinking?Expressing anxiety vs complaining about itHow to handle other people’s anxiety wellGentle inquisitiveness“You are not your anxiety”You can learn more about Lodro and his work here:LodroRinzler.comTake Back Your Mind: Buddhist Advice for Anxious Times (Book)Get New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.

Dr. Sarah Sarkis joins me on the show to talk about the adaptive unconscious, self-sabotaging behavior, attachment patterns, and therapy vs performance coaching.Show NotesHere are some of the highlights from our conversation:The adaptive unconsciousDefense mechanismsSelf-sabotageImproving self-awarenessDeveloping an observing egoAttachment patternsCompensation and replication of attachment dynamicsEmotional maskingUsing emotional pain as motivationIs it the crime or the cover-up?Psychological flexibilityTherapy vs coachingFlow Research CollectiveYou can learn more about Sarah and her work at her website: DrSarahSarkis.comGet New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.

Dr. Margaret Rutherford joins me on the show to talk about perfectly hidden depression, perfectionism, and the challenges of emotional vulnerability.Show NotesHere are some of the highlights from the conversations:Constructive vs destructive perfectionismAppetitive vs aversive motivationTrauma, childhood strategies, and the origins of perfectionism"Smiling depression"Emotional vulnerabilityBrene Brown — The Gifts of ImperfectionTerrence Real — I Don’t Want to Talk About ItPerfectly hidden depressionRigid positivityClassic depression vs perfectly hidden depressionInsight vs actionHow not help someone else who struggles with perfectly hidden depressionShould more therapists be bloggers and podcasters?You can learn more about Margaret and her work here:DrMargaretRutherford.com (Website)Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression (Book)Get New Episodes FirstLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.

Nick talks to professional mediator Dr. Adar Cohen about how we can have difficult conversations more effectively.Here are some of the highlights from the conversations:The Farsi concept of TaroffThe psychology behind conflict avoidanceThe 3 main outcomes of difficult conversations: 1) Solution, 2) Plan, 3) UnderstandingAchieving deep understanding in conversationsThe elements of effective listeningOpen-ended questions vs. litigious questionsThe importance of uncovering “gem statements"How to prepare in advance for difficult conversationsHow to handle defensiveness in difficult conversationsThe importance of silence in difficult conversationsHow to be a good mediator for other peopleYou can learn more about Adar and his work here:AdarCohen.com (Website)Adar on Twitter3 Ways to lead tough, unavoidable conversations (TED Talk Video)How to have Difficult Conversations (Article)Get the newest Minds & Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

In this episode, I talk with author, professor, and writing coach Uddipana Goswami about her practice of Life Writing and how it helped her to process emotional struggles in her life.You can learn more about Uddipana and her work on her personal website.Get the latest Minds & Mics episodes as soon as they're releasedIf you enjoyed this episode of Minds&Mics and want to get notified whenever new episodes are released, you can join Nick's free weekly newsletter here →

Tim Stoddart joins me on the show to talk about his journey out of addiction and into entrepreneurship—and how blogging played a pivotal role. You can learn more about Tim and his work on his personal site TimStodz.comLinks and items of note from this episode:Seth GodinSober NationCopybloggerStodzy Internet MarketingLearn more about the Minds & Mics podcast here, including how to subscribe and get all my newest episodes as soon as they’re released.