From getting lost in a novel to binge-watching a favorite TV show, we humans spend a lot of time in fictional worlds. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, PhD, a psychologist and novelist, talks about why we’re drawn to fictional worlds; the psychology of fandom and fan fiction; and how insights from psychology helped her write her best-selling series “The Inheritance Game ... Show More
Oct 8
Dyslexia myths, misconceptions and facts, with Tim Odegard, PhD
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, yet it’s still widely misunderstood. Tim Odegard, PhD, talks about how dyslexia is diagnosed and defined; his own experience growing up with dyslexia; how kids at risk can be identified early; what interventions work best; ... Show More
39m 5s
Oct 1
Lefties, righties and mixed-handers: The psychology of brain asymmetry, with Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD
Left-handers make up about 10.6 percent of the world’s population. Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD, talks about why handedness and other brain asymmetries exist; the genetic and environmental factors that influence handedness; whether there’s any truth to the stereotype that lefties ar ... Show More
36m 46s
Sep 24
Teens, AI and the science of risky decisions, with Valerie Reyna, PhD
You might think the best way to make decisions is to know all the facts. But psychologists’ research suggests that getting the “gist” – the core meaning behind the facts – is more important than focusing on every last detail. Valerie Reyna, PhD, talks about why gist matters; how ... Show More
34m 33s
Aug 2022
The Integration of Psychotherapy as a Treatment Modality
In today’s episode of the podcast, I speak with Dr. Mary Jo Peebles, a renowned psychoanalyst, speaker and author, about the significance of psychotherapy from her most recent book, When Psychotherapy Seems Stuck. Dr. Peebles received her Bachelors of Psychology from Wellesley Co ... Show More
1h 12m
Sep 2021
#77: The Science of Compassion - Shauna Shapiro, PhD
Shauna Shapiro, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and an expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She has spent two decades studying the benefits of mindfulness and compassion. Her TEDx Talk on this topic has been viewed over 2 million times. Dr. Shapiro is a ... Show More
41m 23s
Sep 2021
Managing mental health - maintaining your wellbeing in a post-pandemic world
In this episode, we speak with Dr Sophie Homer a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Plymouth. Her research interests include clinical and applied psychology, and the role of negative, intrusive mental imagery in mental health and its potential as a target for interventio ... Show More
36m 12s
Aug 2023
381. Change Your Mindset, Your Health, Your Life | Dr. Ellen Langer
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and “The mother of mindfulness,” Dr. Ellen Langer discuss her latest book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way To Chronic Health. From this they explore how intentioned awareness paired with humility allows for a healthier mindset and body, how the perceptio ... Show More
1h 50m
Aug 2022
How to Create an Exercise Habit Without Driving Yourself Nuts | Kelly McGonigal
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- In this episode from our archives, psychologist Kelly McGonigal dives into her book The Joy of Movement and practical steps on how to develop healthy habits. ... Show More
1h 4m