The Psychology Podcast

Today it’s great to have Adam Grant on the podcast. Adam is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of four books that have sold millions of copies and been translated into 35 languages. His work has been praised by J.J. Abrams, Bill and Melinda Gates, and many others. Grant’s TED talks have been viewed more than 20 million times, and he hosts the chart-topping TED podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant. He has been recognized as one of the world’s 10 most influential management thinkers, Fortune’s 40 under 40, Oprah’s Super Soul 100, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Adam received distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Allison and their three children. Topics [4:17] What is rethinking? [7:02] “Preachers, prosecutors, and politicians” [8:08] Why we need to cultivate a scientific attitude [11:48] The path to being effective [12:17] Linking character and success [16:10] Adam’s new construct of character [20:42] The importance of authenticity and integrity [25:05] The role of consistency in exercising our values [30:37] The role of integrity in politics [33:07] The tension between personality and pursuing values [36:08] “A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing” [38:32] The trap of cognitive entrenchment [40:50] The importance of having diverse interests [41:40] Cognitive underpinnings of thinking again [42:31] Actively open-minded thinking [45:53] The benefits of disagreeableness [51:42] Selfishness as the 6th factor of personality [57:31] Why “agreeing to disagree” is wrong [1:00:04] How to destabilize stereotypes [1:05:25] Psychological safety in universities [1:09:40] What “good faith” means [1:11:18] Crossing psychological safety with accountability [1:12:59] What Scott thinks Adam should rethink [1:17:26] The importance of benevolence and universalism Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation with Steven Kotler, a bestselling author and human performance expert, listeners dive deep into the realms of human potential and creativity. Kotler shares insights on navigating the flow state and emphasizes the significance of grit and confidence in overcoming challenges. He differentiates between 'impossible' and 'Impossible,' asserting that extraordinary achievements are reached through persistence. The discussion also touches on the role of fear as a compass and the necessity of resilience amid failures for personal growth.

Today it’s great to have the legendary Noam Chomsky on the podcast. Noam is a public intellectual, linguist, and political activist. He’s the author of many influential books, including Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media, and his latest book with Robert Pollin called Climate Crisis and The Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving The Planet. Chomsky is also known for helping to initiate and sustain the cognitive revolution. He’s the Laureate Professor of Linguistics at The University of Arizona and Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT. Topics [02:06] The cognitive revolution of the ‘50s and ‘60s [03:49] Noam’s first encounter with behaviorism [12:41] What it was like to be part of the cognitive revolution [17:49] Implicit learning and artificial grammar [26:30] Noam’s view on modern-day behavioral genetics [28:05] Noam's thoughts on intelligence [32:02] Noam’s take on creativity [38:41] Chomsky's view vs. Foucault's view [42:49] Noam’s thoughts on modern-day social justice movements [45:50] Is there such a thing as human nature? [49:06] Identity vs. human nature [54:54] Noam’s views on race consciousness in America [59:16] Why Noam thinks Trump is the worst criminal in human history [1:00:34] How can democrats appeal to Trump supporters? [1:03:47] Cancel culture [1:05:10] The complexities of the slogan "defund the police" [1:08:36] Noam reflects on his life regrets [1:10:17] Chomsky's life advice Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today it’s great to chat with Rich Roll on the podcast. Named one of the 25 fittest men in the world by Men’s Fitness and the guru of reinvention by Outside, Rich is a globally renowned ultra-endurance athlete, wellness advocate, best-selling author, husband, and father of four. He shares his inspirational stories of addiction, redemption, and optimal health in his number one best-selling memoir Finding Ultra. Rich has also been featured on CNN, the cover of Outside Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. His latest book, Voicing Change, features timeless wisdom and inspiration from the widely popular Rich Roll Podcast, one of the top one hundred podcasts in the world with over 100 million downloads. Topics [04:09] Rich’s three major transformations [05:29] How Rich overcame his alcoholism [10:12] Rich’s grit and his life as a functional alcoholic [11:12] Learning how to outwork everybody [12:20] Rich’s personality structure during his schooling years [13:55] The relationship between endurance and drug abuse recovery [17:47] Life after rehab [23:22] Changes made during his early 40s and the motivation behind his fitness routines [25:30] You are what you eat [28:10] Spiritual exploration through active meditation [30:07] Addictive nature of the flow state [32:36] Embracing your authenticity [36:01] How humans are all victims of their character defects [39:00] Growth and self-actualization [42:48] How the media interprets Rich’s story [46:08] The psychologically rich life [49:17] The apology narrative [51:21] Why choosing growth is a daily struggle [53:41] Rich’s third transition [58:25] The overnight success culture [1:01:40] Rich’s advice to people trying to adopt a vegan lifestyle [1:02:47] Focus on controlling the controllable Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Your life story is your leadership story.” - Douglas Conant Today it’s great to have Douglas “Doug” Conant on the podcast. Conant is the CEO and founder of Conant Leadership, a mission driven community of leaders and learners who are championing leadership that works. He served as the CEO of Campbell Soup for 10 years and is also the former president of Nabisco and former chairman of Avon. He’s a New York Times bestselling author and his new book is called The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights. Topics [02:14] Doug’s early struggles in his career [04:19] Turning inwards to unlock your potential in life [07:11] Merging “work self” with “real self” into one cohesive identity [11:15] Improve leadership in real time [14:45] Overview of The Blueprint and its 6 Practical Steps [21:31] The practice of declaring yourself to build productive relationships [25:12] More candor is better than less [26:41] Your life story is your leadership story Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today it's great to have Olga Khazan on the podcast. Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic, covering health, gender, and science. Prior to that, she was The Atlantic's Global editor. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is a two-time recipient of the International Reporting Project's Journalism Fellowship and winner of the 2017 National Headliner Awards for Magazine Online Writing. Topics [02:23] The origin of Olga Khazan's weirdness [04:02] The natural tendency of loner kids to flock together [07:35] The state of our polarized society [08:53] How outcasts bond over the mutual feeling of being different [10:17] Changing social norms without changing people's attitude [11:45] The implications of normalizing everything [12:29] Why most people find it hard to be different [14:10] Gender issues when upholding the norm [16:13] The relationship between tribal instincts and farming [18:03] Why most people tend to overgeneralize stuff [19:34] Why American's warm more towards English speakers than non-English speakers [21:15] Social stresses and how it is related to loneliness [23:59] The link between adverse health outcomes and racial disparities [25:09] Perceived versus real social treatment [26:25] The relationship between weirdness and creativity [28:27] How being different can help you find your true self or your true love [35:48] How to be different [37:06] Comfort with discomfort [39:30] "The weirder you are the fewer and the more precious are the people who truly accept you" [40:35] Why non-conformists desire to improve the lives of others Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Ridley, a prominent author and member of the House of Lords, discusses the transformative power of innovation and rational optimism. He presents compelling evidence that the world is improving, advocating for hope grounded in data. Ridley challenges the myth of the 'lone genius' in favor of collaboration and emphasizes the need for freedom in fostering creativity. He also highlights the pitfalls of ideological polarization and encourages nuanced conversations about progress and innovation, illustrating how societal contributions often drive breakthroughs.

Sian Beilock, the President of Barnard College and a renowned cognitive scientist, shares her insights on overcoming performance anxiety. She discusses the fascinating concept of 'choking' and differentiates it from 'flow' state experiences. Sian dives into how societal stereotypes can affect women's success in STEM fields and offers practical advice for building confidence and embracing discomfort. Listeners will learn effective strategies for mental preparation in high-stakes situations, making this discussion a treasure trove for anyone looking to succeed under pressure.

Susan Baum, a leading expert in twice-exceptional education and director of the 2e Center at Bridges Academy, unpacks the complexities of students who are both gifted and learning disabled. She discusses the differences between gifted and non-gifted learners with disabilities and advocates for a broader understanding of giftedness. The conversation highlights the importance of community support, creativity in education, and the innovative Cognitiversity graduate school, all aimed at nurturing the unique strengths of these remarkable students.

Today it’s great to have Shellye Archambeau on the podcast. Archambeau is one of high tech's first female African American CEOs and has a track record of accomplishments building brands, high performance teams, and organizations. Archambeau currently serves on the boards of Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She is also a strategic advisor to Forbes Ignite and the President of Arizona State University, and serves on the board of two national nonprofits, Catalyst and Braven. She is the author of Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms. Time Stamps [01:45] Shellye Archambeau as a tech industry business leader [03:44] Feeling like an outsider growing up [04:32] The birth of Shellye’s tenacity [06:02] You can’t affect what people say to you or people do to you but you can control how you respond. [06:27] Why you need to stop people from controlling your emotions [09:45] Shellye’s mother as a “professional parent” [11:03] Creating a life plan in college [12:28] The importance of making decisions that are consistent with your plans [14:03] “Find your cheerleaders” [17:16] Don’t let them win [19:24] Opening your own doors [19:52] How to fall in love with a future image of yourself [20:55] Early influences during Shellye’s tech journey [22:10] How to foster self determination [24:04] Tips on how to build your reputation [25:03] Stop having second thoughts [29:01] Why you need to start embracing your limits [30:50] Being unapologetically ambitious [31:46] Why it is okay to be ambitious (and why it's not the same thing as narcissism) [33:32] Resilience and staying connected [34:16] How to identify your network [35:50] You deserve it [37:42] How to find your current Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.