Speaking of Psychology

American Psychological Association

"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. read less

Our Editor's Take

How does aging affect someone's mind? What's really behind the decline in teens' mental health? The Speaking of Psychology podcast offers the latest research into the topic of psychology. The show, from the American Psychological Association (APA), discusses the human mind. The host says the podcast looks at the crossover between science and life. Discussions on the podcast revolve around the workings of how humans think and why. It brings listeners a unique insight into human behaviors.

Kim Mills is the host of Speaking of Psychology. She joined the American Psychological Association in 2007 as a deputy director. Before joining the APA, Mills worked at the Associated Press and the Whitman-Walker Clinic. The podcast host is currently the director at APA. She oversees strategic and public affairs.

On the podcast, she speaks with experts from across the field of psychology. The discussions include thorough research and years of experience. Guests on the show have included Ph.D. holders like Mo Wang, Lauren Questch, and David Patterson. Patterson talks about research into hypnosis, while Questch discusses parenting. Mo Wang examines why attention spans seem to have shrunk in recent years. The guests and host discuss the latest research and breakthroughs in psychology.

Speaking of Psychology is a fascinating exploration of the human mind. Listeners learn the psychology behind toys and the difference between clutter and hoarding. Autism, aging, and how a sense of community drives human behavior are all topics on the podcast. What causes certain behaviors? Are teenagers' brains programmed to make wrong decisions? How do con artists scam intelligent people? The podcast examines these thoughtful questions and more. It gives a thorough examination of the science of the human mind. New episodes drop each week.

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The psychology of sports fans, with Daniel Wann, PhD

The psychology of sports fans, with Daniel Wann, PhD

Are you a sports “superfan”? Or do you wonder what’s driving the superfans in your life? Daniel Wann, PhD, of Murray State University, talks about why being a fan is usually good for people’s mental health, how they choose the teams they root for, why some are fair-weather fans while others love to cheer for the underdog, how fandom is changing among younger people, and whether a crowd of supportive fans can affect the outcome of a game. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Episodes

The psychology of sports fans, with Daniel Wann, PhD

The psychology of sports fans, with Daniel Wann, PhD

Are you a sports “superfan”? Or do you wonder what’s driving the superfans in your life? Daniel Wann, PhD, of Murray State University, talks about why being a fan is usually good for people’s mental health, how they choose the teams they root for, why some are fair-weather fans while others love to cheer for the underdog, how fandom is changing among younger people, and whether a crowd of supportive fans can affect the outcome of a game. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

You can learn new things at any age, with Rachel Wu, PhD

You can learn new things at any age, with Rachel Wu, PhD

Picking up a new skill as an adult can seem daunting. But research suggests that learning new things as you age may be key to keeping your cognitive skills sharp -- and that middle aged and older adults may be just as good at learning as younger people are. Rachel Wu, PhD, of the University of California Riverside, talks about why lifelong learning matters, how adults can learn more like kids, why feedback and failure are important, and what types of learning opportunities to seek out. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Understanding the mind of a serial killer, with Louis Schlesinger, PhD

Understanding the mind of a serial killer, with Louis Schlesinger, PhD

From Jack the Ripper to Jeffrey Dahmer to the Gilgo Beach killer, serial killers have long inspired public fear – and public fascination. Louis Schlesinger, PhD, a professor of psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and co-investigator of a research project on sexual and serial murder with the FBI Behavioral Science Unit, talks about what we really know about these murderers’ motivations and their methods, how some manage to avoid capture for so long, and how forensic psychology research can help investigators solve cases.

Coping with family estrangement, with Lucy Blake, PhD

Coping with family estrangement, with Lucy Blake, PhD

Being estranged from a family member -- a parent, sibling or adult child -- is far more common than people think. Dr. Lucy Blake, author of “No Family is Perfect: A Guide to Embracing the Messy Reality,” talks about why family estrangement happens, why estrangement encompasses more than just “no contact,” the stigma around estrangement, and where and how to find support. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

How to help kids navigate friendship, with Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD

How to help kids navigate friendship, with Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD

It isn’t always easy to navigate the complicated social dynamics of elementary, middle or high school. Clinical psychologist and kids’ friendship expert Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, talks about how kids make and keep friends; how their understanding of friendship changes as they grow; why most kids are mean sometimes; and how to help kids navigate tough situations including arguments and friendship breakups. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Bridging the generation gap at work, with Megan Gerhardt, PhD

Bridging the generation gap at work, with Megan Gerhardt, PhD

As Gen Z enters the workforce and older workers put off retirement, some workplaces may see five generations sharing an office -- from the Silent Generation all the way to Gen Z. Megan Gerhardt, PhD, of Miami University, talks about why it’s important to move past generational stereotypes, why age diversity is a strength, and what older and younger workers can learn from each other. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Expressive writing can help your mental health, with James Pennebaker, PhD

Expressive writing can help your mental health, with James Pennebaker, PhD

Writing can be a powerful tool to help people work through challenges in their lives and improve their mental health. James Pennebaker, PhD, of the University of Texas at Austin, talks about why expressive writing can be good for mental health and how to try it. He also discusses his research on language use, and how analyzing the words that people use in their daily lives can offer insights into their emotions, motivations and personality. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

How music, memory and emotion are connected, with Elizabeth Margulis, PhD

How music, memory and emotion are connected, with Elizabeth Margulis, PhD

The right song can make us feel chills, help pull us out of a bad mood, or take us back in time to the first time we heard it. Elizabeth Margulis, PhD, director of the Music Cognition Lab at Princeton University, talks about how music, memory, emotion and imagination intertwine; why people are especially attached to music from their teen years; whether there’s any music that’s considered universally beautiful; why repetition is important in music; and why we so often get “earworms” stuck in our head. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

What’s going on inside your cat’s head? With Kristyn Vitale, PhD

What’s going on inside your cat’s head? With Kristyn Vitale, PhD

Cats have long had a reputation as standoffish pets, but many cat owners will tell you that the cat-human bond can run deep. Cat psychologist Kristyn Vitale, PhD, talks about new research on cats’ cognitive and social abilities; why cats really are as emotionally attached to us as we are to them; the best ways to enrich your cat’s life; and how to finally get your cat to stop scratching your couch. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Designing cities to improve mental health, with Jenny Roe, PhD

Designing cities to improve mental health, with Jenny Roe, PhD

The world is an increasingly urban place, and with urban living comes traffic, noise, pollution and other hassles. But cities don’t have to wear us down. Jenny Roe, PhD, of University of Virginia, talks about how to design cities that support mental health and well-being with elements like access to nature and spaces that encourage community, how our physical environment affects our mental health and the importance of equity and access in city design. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Love and algorithms: The future of dating apps, with Liesel Sharabi, PhD

Love and algorithms: The future of dating apps, with Liesel Sharabi, PhD

Over the past two decades, dating apps have become the most common way for people to meet a partner. Liesel Sharabi, PhD, director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at Arizona State University, discusses how that shift has changed how people meet and form relationships, whether relationships that start online are more or less likely to succeed, what you can do to avoid dating app burnout, and how developing technologies such as AI and virtual reality could change dating in the future. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

How video games can help kids learn and grow, with Susan Rivers, PhD

How video games can help kids learn and grow, with Susan Rivers, PhD

Video games get a bad rap -- but the right games can be a tool to reach kids and teach them important social emotional and academic skills. Susan Rivers, PhD, chief scientist at the nonprofit iThrive Games, talks about how to design games that are both entertaining and educational, what kinds of skills kids can learn through gaming and how parents can balance screen time concerns with recognizing the important role games play in their kids’ lives. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

How to use AI ethically, with Nathanael Fast, PhD

How to use AI ethically, with Nathanael Fast, PhD

Artificial intelligence is already changing how people work, learn, play and live. As these technologies develop, it will be crucial to understand how they interact with human behavior to make sure we use AI safely and ethically. Nathanael Fast, PhD, executive director of the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making at the USC Marshall School of Business and co-director of the Psychology of Technology Institute, talks about how AI affects people’s decision-making, whether most of us trust AI, and why it’s important to make sure that the potential benefits of AI flow to everyone, not just the most privileged. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

How to learn from regret, with Robert Leahy, PhD

How to learn from regret, with Robert Leahy, PhD

Regret is painful – but it can also be productive, pushing us to make better decisions and needed changes in our lives. Dr. Robert Leahy, author of the book “If Only…Finding Freedom From Regret,” talks about the difference between productive and unproductive regret, why some people seem to ruminate on their regrets more than others, what to do if regret is consuming your thoughts, and whether people have more regrets than they used to. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

How to fail successfully, with Amy Edmondson, PhD, and Samuel West, PhD

How to fail successfully, with Amy Edmondson, PhD, and Samuel West, PhD

Remember New Coke? Colgate frozen lasagna? The Hawaii chair? History is littered with commercial failures. Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson, PhD, author of “Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well,” and organizational psychologist Samuel West, PhD, curator of the Museum of Failure, talk about some of commerce’s biggest flops, the difference between simply failing and “failing well;” and how individuals and organizations can get past the fear of failure, recognize its potential upsides and learn from their mistakes. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Why diversity matters, with Robert Sellers, PhD

Why diversity matters, with Robert Sellers, PhD

The words diversity, equity and inclusion have become political flashpoints -- but the science and evidence on why diversity matters is often ignored. Robert Sellers, PhD, of the University of Michigan, talks about why diverse groups lead to better outcomes and how psychologists’ research has informed our understanding of diversity in our schools, workplaces and other institutions. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

The benefits of being bilingual, with Viorica Marian, PhD

The benefits of being bilingual, with Viorica Marian, PhD

More than half the world’s population speaks more than one language. Viorica Marian, PhD, of Northwestern University, talks about why speaking multiple languages may have far-reaching cognitive benefits, how the bilingual brain processes language and how the languages we speak shape the way we think and perceive the world. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Encore - How to get unstuck with Adam Alter, PhD

Encore - How to get unstuck with Adam Alter, PhD

Everyone gets stuck sometimes: in a creative pursuit that stalls, in a job or a relationship that isn’t working out, or even just at an exercise plateau. NYU psychologist Adam Alter, PhD, author of “Anatomy of a Breakthrough: How to Get Unstuck When It Matters Most,” talks about why getting stuck is such a universal experience, what you can do to get stuck less often, how you know when it’s time to quit versus push ahead, and the practical steps you can take to get past the mental or emotional hurdles that are keeping you stuck. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.

Encore - Living a happy single life, with Geoff MacDonald, PhD

Encore - Living a happy single life, with Geoff MacDonald, PhD

More Americans than ever before are single -- about half of American adults are unmarried and close to three in 10 are not in a committed relationship. Geoff MacDonald, PhD, of the University of Toronto, talks about how relationship status is related to well-being, whether there is a societal stigma against singles, and why there is so much more research on being in a happy relationship than there is on being happily single.

Why we learn best through play, with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD

Why we learn best through play, with Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD

Playtime isn’t just for fun -- psychologists who study children’s learning have found that kids learn best through play. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, PhD, of Temple University, talks about why kids need playtime, what playful learning looks like in a classroom, how technology is changing children’s play, why adults need recess, too, and what parents can do to encourage more play in their kids’ lives. For transcripts, links and more information, please visit the Speaking of Psychology Homepage.