SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay

We all experience some degree of FOMO, also known as the fear of missing out. In fact, it is baked into our genes. Like social comparison, FOMO has contributed to the survival of the species. However, the way it plays out these days is generally less positive. We see friends on social media doing awesome things and it somehow diminishes the quality of our lives. We say “yes” to go to a party because we don't want to miss it even though, deep down we really want to spend a quiet evening reading or watching a movie. FOMO has been getting a lot of press these days and, believe it or not, the guy who came up with the term is the guest on this podcast episode! Feel free to Google the originator of the term as my son did and you will find out that person is none other than Patrick McGinnis (https://patrickmcginnis.com/)! Patrick is the author of “a book I loved called Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice. You’ll hear all about FOMO and its annoying cousin, FOBO, also known as fear of a better option. Knowing about these very human characteristics, you can be more in control of them rather than have them be in control you. So, don’t miss out (see what I did there) and listen in as Patrick and I talk about making FOMO work for you!

Choosing a college major can be daunting. Personally, I changed my major a few times, at least partially because there was so much that I wanted to learn. What if you could earn multiple degrees and explore a bunch of majors? How about 17 degrees? Sounds like a fantasy but, believe it or not, that is exactly what my guest on this episode did. Dr. Benjamin Bolger (https://bolgerconsulting.com/) is known as a perpetual student and is the second most degreed individual in the history of the United States. He has studied in various fields and has attended schools like Harvard, Stanford, Brown, Dartmouth, and Columbia. In fact, during the window of 2000 to 2004, he earned six different master's degrees! Ben currently works as a college admissions counselor, and he has appeared in many national newspapers like the NY Times and TV programs like the NBC Today Show. I had no idea what Ben would be like and it turned out he was as likeable as he was educated. It was so much fun to geek out with Ben about the topic of learning and all it can do for us. This is an unusual opportunity to listen as one of the most educated people on the planet talks about the benefits of being a perpetual learner.

Has anyone ever said to you, “Wow, you are too sensitive!”? Or do you know someone who seems very sensitive? I’m guessing the answer to at least one of these questions is “yes,” because, it turns out that approximately 20% of the human population is highly sensitive. As you’ll hear, high sensitivity is not a pathology but, rather, a function that helped our human tribes survive in the not-so-distant past. The sensitive people of the tribes could hear, smell, or otherwise perceive danger far faster than those who were less sensitive.  Another interesting finding is this: the trait of high sensitivity exists in nearly all species and at the same incidence of 20% --- regardless of species! I’m so excited you will get to learn from my guest, psychotherapist and educator, Alane Freund, MFT (https://www.alanefreund.com/)! Alane is a therapist in private practice, and she gives talks all over the world on Highly Sensitive People, also known as HSPs. Also, as you’ll hear, the term “highly sensitive person” or HSP for short, maybe a regrettable term as Alane prefers “people with finely tuned nervous systems.”  Having a finely tuned nervous system myself, I agree! Alane shares incredibly useful information for people who identify as HSPs as well as people who love them.  So, listen in as Alane and I talk about Highly Sensitive People.

What's in a name? Turns out a lot! Whether you are naming a company, a project, a meeting room, a team, or a baby, names are deeply meaningful.  In fact, some businesses may have failed because their name is so confusing that no one can figure out how to say it, how to spell it, or what they do.  Of course, we can all think of some exceptions to that rule—sure, there are companies that have done well despite having a bad name. But wouldn't it be better to start off on the right foot and stack the cards in favor of a better outcome? Addressing this is a recognized expert on branding and naming things. Alexandra Watkins (https://eatmywords.com/) is the owner of a business called Eat My Words and the author of a book I absolutely devoured called, Hello My Name Is Awesome: How to Create Brand Names that Stick! I loved this book, as did thought leaders like Adam Grant and Nir Eyal. And I am confident you’ll love learning from her as much as I did.  So, listen in as Alexandra and I talk about the power of naming.

Expectation Effect Shownotes Do our expectations affect outcomes? Are there things we can do to increase the likelihood of getting outcomes we want? Are there thoughts that may interfere with these positive outcomes as well?There has been a lot of non-scientific information circulating about these questions. Fortunately, there are people like David Robson (https://davidrobson.me/), sorting the science from the non-science. David is a science writer, a graduate of Cambridge University, and he has won awards for his writing from the Association of British Science Writers and the UK Medical Journalists’ Association. He's also the author of The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Transform Your Life. I loved his book, so have major thought leaders like Daniel Pink, and agree with the New York Journal Review that said, “If you’re looking to make major or minor changes in your life, this book will help you leave the starting gate with positive expectations of success.”So, listen in as David shares how your mindset can transform your life.

It wasn’t long ago that the notion of the mind-body connection was considered New Agey. It was as if the mind and the body were two totally separate systems that had very little to do with each other. Now, with contributions from scientific research, wisdom-based traditions, and modern psychotherapy, the mind-body connection isn’t even questioned. Still, there’s a lot to learn about how our bodies and minds connect and I’m so glad I got to have this conversation with psychotherapist and dance instructor, Rachel Fleischman (https://www.blisscounseling.com/). Rachel is a seasoned therapist who does both traditional individual and couple therapy but who also integrates talk therapy with movement. As you will hear, she is wise, fun, and extremely skilled in pulling her information from various sources that contribute to her knowledge base. If you’re a fan of movement and want to learn more about how it can be a component of psychological healing, this episode is for you! So, listen in as Rachel and I geek out to the psychotherapy and movement.

Autism has been rightfully getting lots of media airtime lately. Indeed, it is a deeply misunderstood condition and, sadly, 85% of autistic adults are unemployed. As you’ll hear in this episode and in my 2020 episode with Dr. Temple Grandin, neurodiversity can help teams thrive and people on the autism spectrum often have a lot to bring to the table at the workplace. In fact, they may bring super strengths that could be akin to what my guest refers to as the Autistic Advantage.   My guest, Olivia Fox Cabane (https://www.askolivia.com/), is the author of a huge bestselling book, The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism. I loved this book and have given it out to countless people I serve. Yet, you’ll hear the personal story of why Olivia wrote the book and how, as an undiagnosed person on the autism spectrum, the publicity tours associated with the book were excruciating to her.You’ll also hear about how the diagnosis has been badly misunderstood, how many treatment modalities have been harmful—even extremely harmful—to people on the spectrum, and some things people need to know to better understand members in our community who are autistic. She even shares the cross-cultural aspects of being in a relationship with a neurotypical husband and some benefits of being in a neurodiverse relationship. So, listen in as Olivia and I talk about the Autistic Advantage. Please note, some descriptors of treatment modalities on this episode are graphic and violent in nature. Please listen accordingly.

Parents overwhelmingly want to raise kind children. Yet many concerning trends are on the rise including narcissism and bullying, leaving many parents to worry: how can I improve the likelihood of raising a kind child? And that’s why I was delighted to meet with author and journalist, Melinda Wenner Moyer (https://www.melindawennermoyer.com/). Melinda is a prolific science journalist and blogger and the author of a book addressing our fears with the hilariously titled, How to Raise Children Who Aren’t Assholes: Science-Based Strategies for Better Parenting--from Tots to Teens. I loved this book and raves for it have come far and wide from sources like Wharton Professor Adam Grant, CNN.com and Publisher’s Weekly who said, Melinda “crafts a winning guide for parents who wish to build a “better, fairer, stronger world.” This delightful mix of strategy and humor shouldn’t be missed.”  I couldn’t agree more and I’m confident you’ll love learning from her as well. So, listen in as Melinda breaks down the science of raising children who are kind and definitely aren’t assholes.Book link: https://tinyurl.com/83x7vcf6

Remember when work was a place we went? And, remember when zoom only meant going fast or, if you are from my generation, a goofy PBS children's TV show? For many of us, working virtually is the new normal. For others, it's back to the office or a hybrid of virtual and real life. What are the implications of working from home? How does it affect the employee? How does it affect the company? What are some ways to create win-win scenarios for corporations and employee well-being as it relates to working in person versus virtually? I'm so happy you and I get to learn from one of the best: Harvard Business Review’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Angela Cheng-Cimini. As you’ll hear, Angela is the perfect person to engage at a high level about these and other nuanced considerations that keep employees and their companies functioning at their best. So, listen in as Angela and I talk about the mental health implications of working remotely vs in-person or hybrid.

Since you've seen the title of this episode, I'm guessing that you have experienced some level a phenomenon called imposterism. It is usually referred to as imposter syndrome and, as you'll hear in this episode, my guest will be defining and challenging that term. Why do we feel it? And why do we hear that voice that says, “You're not good enough to do this!” or, another classic hit, “Just wait till they'll find out I'm a fraud!” It turns out, we’re in good company. Albert Einstein, Meryl Streep, and Maya Angelou have all experienced this. And I'm so delighted that my colleague, Dr. Jill Stoddard (https://jillstoddard.com/), a psychologist, TEDx speaker. and author has written a superb book on this topic. It’s called Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. As you’ll read in the book and hear in this interview, Jill is wise, kind, and super-relatable! You’ll learn more about your inner-critic, how to respond when it tells you not to go what you want to go for, and much more. So, listen in as Jill and I talk about quieting your inner critic that keeps you held back by imposterism.