Psychologists Off the Clock

If you’ve ever avoided saying yes to something meaningful because you were waiting to feel less anxious or more “ready,” this episode is for you. Cohosts Yael and Michael Herold sit down for a chat about his confidence-building online course and the misconceptions that keep people stuck, especially the idea that motivation and the “right mindset” must come first.  You’ll hear how acceptance a...

Guilt can feel uncomfortable and easy to push away, but it is one of those emotions that actually serves an important purpose in our lives. For this episode, Debbie sits down with developmental psychologist Chris Moore , author of The Power of Guilt , to unpack what guilt really is and why it plays such an important role in our lives and relationships. Informed by both research and personal experi...

If you’ve ever ended an argument with your partner, coworker, or family member feeling confused about how it escalated so quickly, this episode is for you.  Julia Minson , founder of the Constructive Disagreement Lab and author of How to Disagree Better , explains to us why trying to “win” arguments often starts fights and offers a different metric for success: a disagreement that increases b...

Overwhelm can push us to a point where the tools we normally rely on suddenly feel out of reach.  In this episode, clinical psychologist and burnout expert Kerry Makin-Byrd discusses her book Start Here: A Practical Guide for the Overwhelmed , created as a simple, step-by-step guide for moments when thinking clearly feels difficult. She explains overwhelm as being outside the “window of toler...

Weight feels like one of those topics everyone has an opinion on, yet it’s deeply personal for each of us. So, for this episode, Emily and Jill take the opportunity to dig into what it’s like to navigate body changes in a world full of strong opinions, from the rise of GLP-1 medications to the stigma that can come with medical or surgical interventions. Jill opens up about her own journey with wei...

Feeling loved sounds simple, but it is not something that just happens because someone cares about you.  In this episode of Psychologists Off the Clock, Yael talks with Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis about their book, How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most , and why it is possible to be loved but not actually feel loved. They explore what really helps pe...

Oversharing has a bad reputation. But what if revealing more about yourself is actually the fastest way to build trust?  To give us insight into the psychology behind oversharing — when it builds connection and when it backfires — we’re joined by behavioral scientist and author of Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing , Leslie John . Leslie guides us through the surprising benefits o...

If you struggle with people-pleasing and losing yourself in relationships, this episode with Ingrid Clayton , a licensed clinical psychologist and expert in relational trauma, about her book Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves and How to Find Our Way Back , is a conversation that can help you understand and transform patterns holding you back.  Exploring fawning, which is...

Behind the scenes of everyday family life is a mental workload many of us carry without even realizing it, and that’s exactly what Debbie Sorensen explores in her interview with sociologist Allison Daminger about her book , What's on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life .  Allison defines cognitive labor as the invisible work of managing family needs and obligations, and walks us thro...

Caregiving is often framed as a burden, but what if it’s also one of the most meaningful ways we come to know ourselves? Emily sits down with acclaimed journalist and cultural critic Elissa Strauss for this episode to discuss her extensive work on the politics and culture of parenting and caregiving, which has appeared in publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times.  Centering on he...

In a world that’s more connected than ever yet feels increasingly lonely, award-winning journalist Jennifer B. Wallace explores why the simple human need to matter may be the most powerful force shaping our well-being.  Joining Yael to discuss her new book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose , Jennifer underscores the crucial role of mattering in fostering resilien...

We all feel emotions every day, but how often do we stop to understand what they really are and how they work?  Joining Michael for this episode is Ethan Kross , a renowned authority on emotion regulation and author of Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don’t Manage You , for a conversation about the science behind how our internal dialogue affects health, performance, and relationships.&n...

What if grief isn’t something to “get over” but something that can lead us toward meaning, connection, and healing?  Jill interviews David Kessler , a leading expert on loss and healing. They discuss Kessler's background, his books, especially Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief , and his journey through personal grief, including the loss of his son.  David shares insights on the s...

So many women grow up hearing that we should be able to have it all, yet very few of us are ever shown what that actually looks like in real life. In this episode, Emily welcomes Corinne Lowe , an associate professor of Business Economics and Public Policy.  Corinne shares insights from her book, Having It All: What Data Tells Us About Women’s Lives and Getting the Most Out of Yours , which e...

Creativity is not just for artists or makers, so how can we build creativity and move from having an idea to doing something with it?  Joining Jill for this conversation is Zorana Ivcevic Pringle , a senior research scientist and the author of The Creativity Choice . Zorana discusses her journey into the world of creativity, the broader definition of creative acts beyond the arts, and how our...

If you’ve been dragging some of last year around with you, or you’ve been feeling that strange mix of excitement and pressure that shows up every January, this episode is calling your name.  Closing out the year, the POTC cohosts are bringing you a conversation about how creativity can be a lifeline, a mindset shift, and a really enjoyable way to start 2026 feeling more like yourself. Walking...

We’ve all rolled our eyes at someone's behavior, only to realize, uncomfortably, that we’ve done the same.  Join Yael in this conversation discussing this very common human experience with Michael Hallsworth , the author of The Hypocrisy Trap . Michael breaks down the nature of hypocrisy, including its historical origin and why it is such a prevalent issue in our lives and in politics. ...

Are you wisely using your genius energy?  In this episode, Michael reconnects with Diana Hill, a therapist and author who has recently explored the concept of focusing your genius energy on what matters most through her book Wise Effort . Their discussion spans from insights from ancient Buddhist wisdom to the application of commitment therapy to the practice of finding one's unique 'genius e...

How can we reshape the understanding of consent and more effectively address the widespread problem of sexual violence?  Start by joining Jill for a conversation with award-winning activist Chanel Contos , who is bringing attention to the complexities of consent, sexual coercion, and rape culture through her book Consent Laid Bare .  Chanel’s pioneering work in making consent education m...

If you shudder when Daylight Saving Time ends and the colder months settle in, or if winter leaves you feeling stuck in a funk, we’re here to present a different way to look at this stretch of the year. In this episode, Kari Leibowitz , a health psychologist and author of ' How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days ,' joins Debbie to talk about her journey from...

What do you do when your trust is broken, or when people start questioning your trustworthiness? Chances are, you’re left feeling unsure, even overwhelmed. Most of us don’t really understand how trust works, so trying to fix it can feel impossible. In this episode, Peter Kim from USC's Marshall School of Business breaks it down for us. Drawing from his book How Trust Works , he shares over twenty...

Parenting in the digital age can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. For this episode, Emily brings in the insight of Ash Brandin for a thoughtful conversation about her book, Power On , and what healthy screen use can actually look like for families.  With over 15 years of hands-on experience teaching in the classroom, Ash shares a perspective that moves away from fear and guilt, e...

How do you show up in the world, whether it’s online, at work, or in your community? Whether you’ve thought about it or not, that’s all part of your personal brand.  In this episode of Psychologists Off The Clock, Michael is joined by Goldie Chan , a personal branding expert, to unpack her book, Personal Branding for Introverts , and what personal branding really is and how it’s different fro...

We’ve all had those moments when a simple shift in perspective suddenly makes everything feel possible, and that’s exactly what this episode explores. Debbie is joined in this episode, Stanford psychologist Gregory Walton for a conversation about his book Ordinary Magic and how small shifts in the way we think can lead to big changes in our lives and communities. From the way we handle tough momen...

Have you ever found yourself holding onto feelings of guilt or shame long after a difficult experience or mistake?  In this episode, Jill sits down with Dr. Carolyn Allard , a leading voice in trauma-focused psychology and research. Together, they unpack the complex nature of guilt and shame, especially when these emotions become non-adaptive in the face of trauma or hardship.  Carolyn,...