"Speaking of Psychology" is an audio podcast series highlighting some of the latest, most important and relevant psychological research being conducted today. Produced by the American Psychological Association, these podcasts will help listeners apply the science of psychology to their everyday lives.
It’s December, which means it’s peak season for charitable donations. But how do you decide which organizations to support? Joshua Greene, PhD, discusses how people make moral choices and the implications for where they donate their money; how people can donate using their head and their heart; and how moral psychology can offer avenues to help people cooperate across partisan divisions in a polarized world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10.12.25 • 51:18
In an age of increasing distractions, researchers have found that spending time in nature can be an antidote that helps us restore our focus and attention. Marc Berman, PhD, talks about why natural environments are “softly fascinating” and why that’s beneficial for the brain; why even cold, rainy walks can be good for you; whether bringing nature inside – through plants, art or patterns – may have some benefits; and what implications this research has for policymakers, urban planners and others who shape our physical world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
03.12.25 • 41:08
Studies have shown that gratitude can help us cope with challenges and is good for our relationships and our health. But figuring out how to foster gratitude in kids isn't always easy or obvious. Andrea Hussong, PhD, talks about why gratitude matters; how to help kids feel thankful, recognize generosity and think about others; and how to respond productively in the moment when kids do something ungrateful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26.11.25 • 26:40
For people with misophonia, certain sounds – like chewing, coughing or pen clicking – can trigger strong emotional reactions including anxiety, disgust and rage. Heather Hansen, PhD, director of the Misophonia Research Network, talks about scientists’ evolving understanding of misophonia; what’s happening in the brain when someone hears a trigger sound; whether misophonia is related to other mental health conditions; and advice for those living with misophonia and their friends and family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
19.11.25 • 36:35
Over the past several years, the rise of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy has changed the conversation around weight and obesity in the U.S. Rachel Goldman, PhD, talks about how GLP-1s work; the effects they can have on mental health; what questions to ask if you’re considering trying these medications; how weight loss can shift people's relationships with their family, friends and partners; and why there’s still stigma around the use of GLP-1s and how patients can navigate that. Find Dr. Rachel's new book at When Life Happens: The Mindset Shift You Need to Manage Stress, Build Confidence, and Break Free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12.11.25 • 37:21
We all want to be liked and respected. But sometimes, our intuitions about how to make a good impression lead us astray. Övül Sezer, PhD, talks about common mistakes, including humblebragging and hiding our accomplishments; whether the rules of making a good impression are different on social media; and how to “brag wisely” by sharing your journey rather than listing your accomplishments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
05.11.25 • 43:03
Body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair pulling (trichotillomania) and skin picking are relatively common but remain stigmatized and misunderstood. Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD, and Clare Mackay, PhD, talk about why these behaviors occur and how they relate to grooming and emotion regulation; how living with BFRBs affects people’s lives and mental health; why reducing shame and stigma is so important; and how parents can support children with BFRBs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
29.10.25 • 36:49
Are you dreaming of your next vacation? Many people see travel as a chance to escape their routines, explore new places and maybe even ‘find themselves.’ Andrew Stevenson, PhD, author of “The Psychology of Travel,” talks about whether travel makes us happier, how technology and social media are changing the experience of travel, why we get post-vacation blues and how to approach the place where you live with a travel mindset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22.10.25 • 37:23
When we think of courage, we often picture dramatic, high-stakes moments, but courage comes into play not only in extraordinary situations but also in everyday life. Cynthia Pury, PhD, talks about physical, moral and psychological courage; whether courage necessarily involves overcoming fear; how our cultural and social viewpoints shape what we see as courage; and whether it’s possible to practice bravery and become more courageous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15.10.25 • 37:40
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; how reading difficulties can affect mental health; and why talking about the “gifts” of dyslexia can be problematic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
08.10.25 • 39:05
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 are more creative; why “pawedness” is common in cats, dogs, and other non human animals; and why left-handed people are underrepresented in brain research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
01.10.25 • 36:46
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 it explains why teens make so many risky decisions; how understanding gist can help doctors communicate better with their patients; and why AI systems may be moving toward more gist-based reasoning. Chapters 00:00 What is Gist? 09:55 The Role of Gist in Adolescent Decision-Making 19:40 Misinformation and Gist-Based Thinking 29:53 AI Decision-Making: A New Frontier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24.09.25 • 34:33
From hurricanes to wildfires to gun violence, trauma and disaster touch the lives of millions of children each year. Robin Gurwitch, PhD, discusses how disasters affect children’s mental health, how to support children and teens in the aftermath of disasters, and how parents can talk to their children about traumatic events in the news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17.09.25 • 31:12
Financial scams targeting people over age 60 cost victims more than $3.4 billion in 2023. Neuropsychologist Duke Han, PhD, talks about why some older adults are at risk, financial vulnerability as an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, and how people can protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to a scammer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10.09.25 • 24:46
For many women, the shifting hormones of midlife bring troubling symptoms like hot flashes, mood and memory changes. Now, researchers are learning more about the short- and long-term health effects of menopause. Clinical health psychologist Rebecca Thurston, PhD, discusses links between menopause symptoms and long-term cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s risk; evolving treatments, including hormone therapy and non-hormonal options; and why midlife can be an empowering as well as challenging time for women. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
03.09.25 • 33:18
Many boys form deep friendships in childhood. But as they become teens, they report fewer close, rich friendships. Niobe Way, PhD, author of “Rebels With a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves and Our Culture,” discusses “boy" culture; why boys are naturally as emotionally intelligent as girls; the societal pressures that lead to disconnection among boys as they grow into men; and how teaching students to listen with curiosity can help them deepen connections and friendships. Please take our listener survey at at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Chapters 01:37 Understanding Boy Culture and Its Impact 03:43 The Evolution of Boys' Friendships 10:04 Why Boys and Men are Struggling 20:22 Cultural Insights from Boys and Men of Color 24:46 "Boy" Culture in China 31:29 Listening with Curiosity: A Path to Connection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
27.08.25 • 41:52
From deciding whether to buy a house to weighing the risks and benefits of taking a new medication, many important life decisions hinge on understanding numbers, statistics and probability. Ellen Peters, PhD, author of “Innumeracy in the Wild: Misunderstanding and Misusing Numbers” discusses what it means to be numerate; how numeracy affects people’s health, financial security and other life outcomes; and how can you improve your confidence and ability with numbers. Please take our listener survey at at.apa.org/SoPSurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20.08.25 • 35:22
What can you learn from the science of behavior change that can help you make the changes you want to see in your life? Katy Milkman, PhD, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and author of the book How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You are to Where You Want to Be, discusses the importance of accurately identifying the behavioral roadblocks standing in your way, how specific strategies such as “temptation bundling” and creating fresh starts can help you achieve your goals, how to turn laziness to your advantage by setting the right defaults, and more. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13.08.25 • 43:42
Why do people like to watch scary movies or listen to sad songs? Why do we run marathons and raise children, even though both of those pursuits come with struggle and pain? Paul Bloom, PhD, discusses why suffering is linked to meaning in life, the connection between pleasure and pain, and the difference between chosen and unchosen suffering. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
06.08.25 • 23:18
As an adult, making new friends—and maintaining old friendships—can be tough. Life is busy and friends end up taking a backseat to other relationships and responsibilities. Marisa Franco, PhD, psychologist and friendship expert, talks about how to make new friends and strengthen and rekindle old friendship ties, why Americans’ friendship networks are shrinking, the differences between men’s and women’s friendships, and more. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30.07.25 • 32:14
For many of us, movies offer our earliest lessons in love and help shape our expectations about what romance and relationships might look like. Relationship researchers Paul Eastwick, PhD, and Eli Finkel, PhD, are cohosts of the podcast “Love Factually,” where they use psychology to dissect their favorite rom coms. They talked to “Speaking of Psychology” about how films depict dating and relationship truths and myths, and how well our favorite characters’ love stories hold up when analyzed through the lens of science. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23.07.25 • 38:47
People are increasingly turning to chatbots for mental health advice and support – even as researchers work to develop safe, evidence-based AI mental health interventions. Vaile Wright, PhD, discusses the promises, limitations and risks of AI in mental health; how AI tools are already being used in mental health care; how these tools could help expand access to care; and how AI might change what therapy looks like in the future. Please take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16.07.25 • 30:27
Why can’t you remember your first birthday party? Or the house you lived in at age 2? Nicholas Turk-Browne, PhD, talks about new studies that suggest that babies and toddlers may form early memories; why we aren’t able to retrieve them as adults; and how evolving brain imaging techniques could help answer these questions – and help us understand more about what it’s like to be a baby and how babies experience the world. Take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
09.07.25 • 41:42
Want to be happier? Some of our happiness level is due to genes or life circumstances, but research shows much of it is within our control. Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, talks about the habits and mindsets that lead to lasting happiness, the complex relationship between money and happiness, whether technology is making us less happy, and whether it’s possible to worry too much about being happy. Find Dr. Lyubomirsky's newsletter The Happiness Files at https://drsonja.kit.com/newsletter. Take our listener survey at http://at.apa.org/SoPSurvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
02.07.25 • 34:30
Can money make you mean? Most of us like to think we’d stay grounded if we were to become wealthy, but psychologists’ research suggests that money, status and power shape people’s beliefs and behavior – sometimes in surprising ways. Paul Piff, PhD, of the University of California, Irvine, talks about money, fairness and empathy; the relationship between money and happiness; and the implications of rising income inequality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25.06.25 • 44:00
Between economic uncertainty, the rise of AI and major changes in government policy, many U.S. workers feeling stress. A recent survey found more than half of U.S. workers report stress due to job insecurity. Mindy Shoss, PhD, talks about the future of work, including how AI and technology may reshape job roles; how job insecurity affects mental and physical health; coping strategies; and the role of employers in fostering a supportive work environment in uncertain times. Take our listener survey at https://at.apa.org/SoPsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18.06.25 • 34:35
Becoming a parent is a huge life transition. Now, researchers are finding evidence that parenthood actually changes the brain – and these changes happen to fathers as well as to mothers. Darby Saxbe, PhD, talks about the hormonal and brain shifts that occur in new moms and dads; the advantages and risks these changes confer; why paternity leave matters; and how to support people as they become parents. Take our listener survey at https://at.apa.org/SoPsurvey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11.06.25 • 35:36
What makes us feel secure, safe and supported in our relationships with partners, friends and family? Ximena Arriaga, PhD, talks about how early and ongoing life experiences shape our bonds with others, why our “attachment style” isn’t fixed but can always change, and how partners can help each other thrive in their close relationships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
04.06.25 • 35:37
Why does time fly when you’re having fun – and slow to a crawl when you’re not? Ruth Ogden, PhD, talks about how our experiences and emotions influence our sense of time, why time seems to go by faster as we get older, why changing to daylight saving time feels so disruptive and why the COVID-19 pandemic did strange things to many people’s sense of time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28.05.25 • 36:09
No one gets through life without encountering adversity. But many people survive terrible things without lasting trauma. George Bonanno, PhD, talks about how humans cope with extreme life events, the factors that lead to resilience in the face of adversity, and how cultivating cognitive flexibility can help us handle difficult times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21.05.25 • 35:50
