Psychologists Off the Clock

Are we being lied to about the science of attraction? In this episode, UC Davis relationship scientist and author of Bonded by Love: The New Science of Human Attachment , Paul Eastwick , challenges the massive online narratives around "mate value," hardwired gender differences, and dating strategies. It turns out a lot of the viral relationship theories we see online are built on shaky evidence, r...

For some people, stories are entertainment; for others, they can be a lifeline. Janina Scarlet , licensed clinical psychologist, author, and founder of Divine Feminine Publishing, returns to discuss her work promoting books with strong female and gender-diverse representation. She shares how surviving illness after Chernobyl, along with physical and sexual abuse, led her to find comfort in stories...

We’ve all been there: you’re scrolling through your feed, watching someone bake sourdough from scratch in a pristine linen dress, and suddenly your own life feels incredibly messy and chaotic.  In this episode of Psychologists Off the Clock , Debbie and Emily are pulling back the curtain on the hyper-curated worlds of social media influencers, reality TV, and the massive "tradwife" trend. Gra...

We’ve been told forever that women are the only natural caregivers, but neuroscience shows that’s just not true; men actually go through huge biological shifts when they become dads, too. Sitting down with Emily for this episode is clinical psychologist Darby Saxbe , who chats to us about her book Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men’s Lives , which challenges neo-traditi...

When a survivor speaks up, the world too often demands a 'perfect victim' before it offers belief, a painful reality that leaves many wondering if their truth will ever be enough.  In this episode with Deborah Tuerkheimer , author of Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers , we hear about the “credibility complex,” including credibility discount and credibility inflation, rape myt...

It’s easy to live life on autopilot, with your eyes glued to a screen, completely disconnected from your physical surroundings.  But as we learn in this episode with Leidy Klotz , the spaces you inhabit aren't just backdrops; they are actively shaping your mind, moods, and memories.  Talking about Leidy’s latest book, In a Good Place , you’ll hear about Leidy’s framework of agency, growt...

When was the last time you sparked up a conversation with a stranger and surprised yourself with how good it felt?  Behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley , author of A Little More Social , returns to the podcast to discuss with Michael why we systematically underestimate how positively strangers respond, how connection supports happiness, health, and longevity, and the key mechanisms behind our...

Parenting often feels like a high-stakes guessing game played in the middle of a meltdown or a deafening teenage silence. Clinical psychologist and bestselling author Lindsay C. Gibson returns to Psychologist Off the Clock to discuss her new book, " How to Raise an Emotionally Mature Child ," and the core mindsets that build emotional maturity across development.  You’ll hear how emotionally...

Modern life has become a gauntlet of "dangerous weather" that frequently strips away our most basic human needs. In this episode, Emily speaks with author and strategist Stephanie Malia Kraus about her book, How We Thrive , and the essential practice of "rehumaning."  Stephanie breaks down the four systemic forces, from hustle culture to addictive tech, that undermine our well-being and offer...

We’ve been taught that pain always means something is broken, but it’s often just a "stuck" danger signal in the brain.  To show us how to turn that signal off, Jill Stoddard talks with Alan Gordon, the founder of the Pain Psychology Center and author of The Way Out . Drawing on his own recovery from chronic pain, Alan explains how fear and conditioning keep us hurting even after we've healed...

What if success isn’t about grinding toward big goals but about following curiosity through small, imperfect experiments that lead somewhere better? On Psychologist Off the Clock, award-winning neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff , founder of Nest Labs and author of Tiny Experiments , shares how a health scare while working at Google helped her shift from rigid, linear goals to an...

Being absolutely sure you’re right should settle an argument, but somehow, it often does the opposite. Instead, things escalate, tensions rise, and before you know it, the conflict has taken on a life of its own.  For this episode, Yael welcomes New York Times bestselling author, trained mediator, and Good Conflict co-founder Amanda Ripley to unpack her book   High Conflict: Why We Get Trappe...

If your teen is getting caught in cycles of comparison, burnout, or avoidance while trying to “do enough” for college, this conversation offers a different perspective. Emily talks with Ana Homayoun about her book Erasing the Finish Line and what really matters beyond grades, test scores, and prestige. They walk you through unhealthy patterns in college admissions culture, how technology amplifies...

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...