In this episode, I talk to award-winning psychologist Ayelet Fishbach about the science of motivation. How do we motivate ourselves to do anything? From her extensive research, Ayelet shares with us four crucial strategies for successful behavior change: identify the right goals, avoid the “middle”, resist temptations, and seek social support. And equally important, she gives tips on how to sustain motivation for longer periods of time. We also touch on the topics of reinforcement, flow, deliberate practice, self-control, and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. BioDr. Ayelet Fishbach is the Jeffrey Breakenridge Keller Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and the past president of the Society for the Study of Motivation and the International Social Cognition Network (ISCON). She is an expert on motivation and decision making and the author of Get it Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation. Dr. Ayelet’s groundbreaking research on human motivation has won her several international awards, including the Society of Experimental Social Psychology’s Best Dissertation Award and Career Trajectory Award, and the Fulbright Educational Foundation Award.Website: www.ayeletfishbach.comTwitter: @ayeletfishbach Topics01:28 What is motivation science?03:15 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as motivation07:07 Choosing the right goals 12:42 Goals aren't chores14:42 Quantify the goal-setting process 17:40 The effect of incentives on motivation20:41 Ayelet’s view on SMART Goals22:53 Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation27:26 Flow, deliberate practice, and discomfort 30:58 Sustain motivation with feedback34:21 Overcome the “middle problem”38:00 Learn to balance multiple goals43:17 Identify and resist temptation 48:39 The glass half-empty mindset51:50 How to learn from negative feedback56:54 Do relationships affect our pursuit of goals?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to bestselling author Oliver Burkeman about his latest book Four Thousand Weeks. On the surface, it’s easy to mistake it for another self-help book on time management. But instead of enthusing about productivity hacks, Oliver challenges his readers to confront the finite nature of humanity. By doing so, he argues  we can live fuller lives—without having to always carry the fear of missing out. We also touch on the topics of procrastination, positive psychology, flow, realism, deep time, and patience.BioOliver Burkeman is a journalist for The Guardian. From 2006 to 2020, he wrote the popular weekly column on psychology called “This Column Will Change Your Life”. He is the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. In 2015, he won the Foreign Press Association’s Young Journalist of the Year award, and has been short-listed for the Orwell Prize. His most recent book is Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.Website: www.oliverburkeman.comTwitter: @oliverburkeman Topics00:02:03 The efficiency trap00:05:34 Accepting human limitations00:08:35 Why we handicap ourselves00:13:07 How to be a better procrastinator00:18:32 Each activity is paid for with your life00:20:55 The joy of missing out00:23:55 Harness more deep time00:27:57 The common theme of Oliver’s books 00:32:02 Realism and doing the impossible00:37:29 Productivity and self-worth00:40:53 Embracing boredom instead of acceleration00:46:14 Developing a taste for problems00:50:21 Radical incrementalism00:57:30 “Originality lies on the far side of unoriginality”01:01:06 How time management distracts us from wonder01:03:50 Oliver’s approach to new year resolutionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to bestselling author Ryan Holiday about his newest book Courage is Calling. We discuss his unique definition of courage, and how people can practice it in their daily lives. Upon a closer examination of history, Ryan and I question whether the stories of American heroism are as honorable as we’ve been led to believe. We also touch on the topics of social justice, hope, stoicism, resilience, and virtues. BioRyan Holiday is the bestselling author of Trust Me, I’m Lying; The Obstacle Is the Way; Ego Is the Enemy; Conspiracy and other books about marketing, culture, and the human condition. His work has been translated into over 30 languages and has appeared everywhere from the New York Times to Fast Company. His company, Brass Check, has advised companies such as Google, TASER, and Complex, as well as multi-platinum musicians and some of the biggest authors in the world. He lives in Austin, Texas.Website: ryanholiday.netTwitter: @RyanHoliday Topics06:21 Ryan’s definition of courage10:06 Speaking truth to power14:02 History’s competing narratives 17:50 Taking down Confederate monuments20:12 Social justice, politics, and virtues 25:35 Staying true to the ethical frameworks of philosophy32:57 Stoicism and Ryan’s values38:08 Heroism vs courage42:47 Silence is violence46:58 Fearlessness can inspire50:28 No hero is perfect52:22 Hope is the most courageous thing53:10 How to practice courageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to international bestselling author Robert Greene about strategy, seduction, and the sublime. Robert implores us to get comfortable with the dark side of human nature and society. He argues that by acknowledging the reality of human interactions, we can use certain strategies to help us effectively navigate the workplace, our relationships, and daily life. We also touch on the topics of empathy, imagination, charisma, power, and his upcoming book on transcendence and the sublime.Chatting with Robert is always such a delight as we have many mutual areas of interest. I have been a long-time admirer of his books, and remember reading them in college and thinking that he seems to just get it. I hope you enjoyed this high-level discussion as much as I did.BioRobert Greene is an author and speaker known for his books on strategy, power and seduction. He graduated from U.C. Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in classical studies. He has written six international bestsellers: The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, Mastery, and The Laws of Human Nature. Recently, he published The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery. Greene’s books are hailed by everyone from war historians to the biggest musicians in the industry including Jay-Z, Drake, and 50 Cent.Website: powerseductionandwar.comTwitter: @RobertGreene Topics02:12 Robert’s health 03:43 The Daily Laws 04:58 What is a radical realist? 10:10 Empathy is like a telepathic connection14:59 The human desire for fantasy18:50 Etiquette is deception22:17 How to live with the harsh truths of reality28:03 Poeticize your presence31:16 Channel pain into charisma35:36 Stop being so nice all the time39:08 Mix harshness and kindness42:36 The primary law of human nature 46:08 Embrace your dark side50:33 Schadenfreude vs mitfreude53:46 The Pygmalion Effect56:17 The integration of the shadow01:02:05 The Law of the Sublime01:08:14 The “post-mortem life”01:10:03 The sublime is in the everydaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas about gifted education. Specifically, we identify the underrepresented population of gifted students and the unique cultural barriers they face. Joy and Deb share their definition of what self-advocacy is and why it’s a skill everyone should have. They give helpful tips and resources for educators, parents, and advocates on how to find and nurture gifted potential. We also touch on the topics of equity, test preparation, IQ, special education, and intersectionality.BioDr. Joy Lawson Davis is a career educator with over 40 years of experience as a practitioner, scholar, and consultant in gifted education.She holds both master’s and doctorate degrees in gifted education. Dr. Davis has conducted workshops, been a long-term program consultant, and served as a keynote speaker and distinguished guest lecturer in several countries. In 2019 she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted organization (SENG). She is also the author of numerous articles, technical reports, book chapters, and the award-winning book: Bright, Talented & Black.Deb Douglas has spent her professional career as an educator, first as a high school English teacher, then K-12 gifted resource teacher, director of gifted programming, and International Baccalaureate coordinator. She holds master’s degrees in professional development and curriculum and instruction for gifted learners. She served as president of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted and member of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Parent Advisory Board. Deb is a contributor to the quarterly magazine Parenting for High Potential, and is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international conferences.Together, Joy and Deb co-authored Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students: Perspectives from the Field. Website: drjoylawsondavis.com  & www.gtcarpediem.comTwitter: @davis_joy Topics01:15 The underrepresented gifted population04:43 Equity and excellence can co-exist07:20 How Deb and Joy met  09:00 Test preparation and IQ12:42 Expanding the definition of giftedness  17:10 Is it possible to become gifted?20:45 Identifying potential in underrepresented communities25:33 Education often prioritizes limitations over ability27:45 What is self-advocacy?30:34 Normalize giftedness in all communities41:12 Cultural barriers to self-advocacy43:22 How to be advocates for gifted students46:47 Scott’s experience of self-advocacy  48:56 Everyone needs to be a part of the process See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to Kelly Carlin about the human path to wholeness. We delve into Kelly's childhood and what it was like growing up with the influential comedian George Carlin. Recently, she started her own coaching program called Women on The Verge. With a master's degree in Jungian psychology and a coaching certification, Kelly helps women step out of their expected societal roles by empowering them to reclaim their true selves. She finds great joy in seeing others live fuller, authentic lives. We also touch on the topics of parenting, depth psychology, social justice, interconnectivity, and comedy.BioKelly Carlin is an actress, producer, screenwriter, podcast host, and the only daughter of the late comedian George Carlin. Her fascinations range from discovering how to live a true and deep life, to freedom of expression, to the evolution of consciousness and the American psyche. She’s a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, has a master's in Jungian psychology, and comes from a family steeped in comedy, big ideas, and warm hearts. She is also the founder of Women on The Verge, a coaching practice that encourages women to make deep, long-lasting changes within so that they can finally be valued, paid, and recognized.Website: thekellycarlinsite.comTwitter: @kelly_carlin Topics00:01:19 Kelly’s childhood and upbringing00:10:13 The family of comedy00:15:50 Kelly’s interest in Jungian depth psychology 00:19:05 Unlearning childhood experiences 00:22:22 Women on the Verge00:27:01 Embodying new identities00:31:23 Dismantling the “tyrannical shoulds”00:35:07 Authenticity is congruence00:38:48 Social justice and the evolution of consciousness 00:41:41 The need to matter00:48:40 The emerging recognition of interdependence00:52:08 Kelly’s future projects00:58:17 What would irk George Carlin the most about current society?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Psychology Podcast! In this episode, I talk to Amanda Knox about her wrongful conviction for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Her experience revealed dark truths about the media’s inclination to over sensationalize stories about young women and the glaring human errors in the criminal justice system. We also touch on the topics of trauma, cancel culture, cognitive biases, law, and forensic science. Throughout this episode, I try my best to show the audience the real Amanda Knox, not the version of her that the media has depicted. Along those lines, I give her some of my psychological tests to take, including my test on self-actualization as well as my psychopath test! You won't want to miss this episode.BioAmanda Knox is a journalist, public speaker, and podcaster. From 2007 to 2015, she spent nearly four years in an Italian prison and eight years on trial for a murder she didn’t commit. The controversy over Amanda’s case made international headlines for nearly a decade and thrust her into the spotlight, where she was vilified and shamed, a story told in the 2016 Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary and her New York Times best-selling memoir, Waiting to Be Heard. She now works to shed light on the issues of wrongful conviction, criminal justice reform, truth-seeking, and public shaming, and to inspire people towards empathy and perspective. Website: www.amandaknox.comTwitter: @amandaknox Topics00:00:37 Amanda’s pregnancy and privacy00:02:14 Stories don’t equate to reality00:06:05 Self-talk as a coping strategy00:08:51 The true origin of the “Foxy Knoxy” nickname00:11:05 The intrigue and aversion towards female sexuality00:18:45 The arrest of Rudy Guede 00:20:50 Amanda before the tragedy00:23:37 The infamous kiss between Amanda and Raffaele 00:26:42 Why do people love scandals?00:30:26 The misrepresentation of BDSM 00:33:05 Amanda’s sources of self-actualization00:42:30 Amanda’s Light Triad Score00:45:38 Moral Luck00:49:05 Amanda’s Dark Triad Score00:51:55 Vulnerable narcissism, imposter syndrome, and healing00:58:42 The “single victim fallacy”01:01:29 Innocence puts innocents at risk01:04:45 The psychology of prosecutor Giuliano Mignini01:08:56 Itiel Dror’s critique of forensic science01:15:24 Amanda’s post-traumatic growthSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to world-renowned biologist David Sinclair about aging and longevity. David rejects the notion that the deterioration of health is a natural part of growing old and asserts that aging is a disease itself that we need to reverse. But how will a reset of our biological clocks affect our interactions, responses to adversity, morality, and how we live our lives? We discuss the ethical implications of limitless lifespans and also touch on the topics of death, evolution, genetics, medicine, and data tracking.BioDr. David Sinclair is a professor in the department of genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of the scientific journal Aging. He is best known for his work on understanding why we age and how to slow its effects. In addition to being a co-founder of several biotechnology companies, he's the author of the book Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don't Have To. Dr. Sinclair was listed by TIME magazine as one of the “100 most influential people in the world”.Website: sinclair.hms.harvard.eduTwitter: @davidasinclair Topics00:02:26 David’s “sticky beak” personality00:05:08 David’s childhood and upbringing00:10:21 The torment of inevitable death 00:15:13 David’s life purpose00:22:06 Intergenerational interactions 00:28:59 Aging is a disease we can reverse 00:32:20 Accelerating human evolution 00:36:24 The SIR2 gene and the NMN+ pill00:40:04 Reverse brain aging and Alzheimer’s00:42:50 Gene therapy in pills00:48:45 Will we be happier with longer lifespans? 00:52:49 Inside Tracker00:55:31 The future of data tracking and medicine01:00:47 The Information Theory of Aging01:09:08 Is there a biological limit to our lifespans?01:14:21 Mental states can produce epigenetic changes01:20:39 David’s future projectsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to renowned neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett about emotions and the brain. She reveals what the true function of the brain is⎯and it’s not for thinking. We also discuss the impact of past experiences on our cognition and what we can do to overcome our own detrimental patterns. Further into our discussion, Dr. Lisa challenges the traditionally held view that emotions are universal. In her own theory of constructed emotion, she argues that variability in emotional expression exists due to socialization and language differences. We also touch on the topics of hallucinogens, culture, education, relationships, and authoritarianism.BioDr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is among the top one percent most-cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior.Her books include Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain and How Emotions are Made. She has published over 240 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals. Dr. Barrett has been called “the most important affective scientist of our time”.Website: lisafeldmanbarrett.comTwitter: @LFeldmanBarrettTopics00:00:27 Lisa’s interest in clinical psychology00:03:14 A biological approach to emotions00:05:32 Why do we have a neocortex? 00:14:01 The default mode network00:19:27 The brain is not for thinking00:22:48 The rise of authoritarianism during chaos00:29:52 Psychological entropy00:33:26 Predictions are based from past experiences 00:42:23 The mind-brain problem00:44:36 Relationships are reflexive00:50:02 Emotional expression isn’t universal00:56:53 Why you shouldn’t trust psychology textbooks 01:01:20 Reaching out to Paul Ekman 01:08:53 The theory of constructed emotion01:15:43 The role of socialization and language in emotions 01:20:13 The never-ending domain-general vs domain-specific debate in cognitive scienceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk to renowned developmental psychologist Paul Bloom about the pleasures of suffering. We start by discussing the value of suffering in pursuit of meaning and make the distinction between unforeseen tragedy and chosen suffering. Paul also elaborates on BDSM and horror as examples of benign masochism⎯activities that people find comfort and enjoyment in despite the experience of fear. We also touch on the topics of meditation, Buddhism, attachment, parenting, and empathy.BioPaul Bloom is professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen professor emeritus of psychology at Yale University. His research explores the psychology of morality, identity, and pleasure. Dr. Bloom is the recipient of multiple awards and honors including most recently the million-dollar Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize. He has written for scientific journals such as Nature and Science and for the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Atlantic Monthly. He’s the author or editor of eight books including Just Babies, How Pleasure Works, Descartes’ Baby, Against Empathy, and most recently, The Sweet Spot. Website: paulbloom.net/Twitter: @paulbloomatyaleTopics00:01:57 The Sweet Spot00:03:57 Suffering is necessary to pursue purpose00:05:31 Why we choose to suffer 00:08:43 The post-traumatic growth debate 00:18:48 Using religion to cope with suffering 00:24:05 Heredity, morals, and responsibility in parenting00:28:51 The multiplicity of human motivation 00:33:26 Benign masochism in BDSM 00:38:49 The calculus of pain and pleasure00:48:40 Do relationships demand bias? 00:53:18 Is every bias zero sum? 00:57:28 The value of suffering, pain, and horror in imaginationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.