Two Guys on Your Head

Why is it that some things really annoy us while others we couldn’t care less about? It turns out it has a lot to do with predictability and attention: we get annoyed when something we didn’t choose or anticipate intrudes on our attention, or when we are stuck paying attention to something we would rather […]

In the moment, threatening punishment might seem like a good idea, but does it work? It turns out it depends on your goal. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of punishment and reveal why scolding, threats, and consequences might […]

There are times when we feel out of sync with what we want in the world and how we act in the world. Say you’re longing for close, lasting relationships, but you are acting in a way that says you don’t believe you’re worthy of love, pulling back or pushing people away without quite knowing […]

AI tools can help us extend our capabilities and our capacity, but what about our brains? When is using AI beneficial, and when can it be detrimental to our ability to learn and think? In Part II of our conversations on “When To Use AI,” Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke and Rebecca McInroy talk […]

AI tools are ubiquitous and, let’s be honest, mind-blowing in their capabilities. But when is it healthy and productive to use them, and when is it not? What impact does relying on AI have on our ability to learn, to be creative, to think? In this first “Two Guys on Your Head” episode in our […]

It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to provide some tips to help teachers set the stage for a successful and happy year.

It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to make sure to highlight the psychological significance of this time of year for kids and […]

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel, follows Guy Montag, a “fireman” whose job is to burn books, as he turns into an outlaw set on restoring memory, reclaiming time to think, and building human connection. It is a classic that is easy to take for granted, but as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, […]

Having a growth mindset, the belief that you can get better with effort alone, is supposed to push you to keep trying when things get hard, and often it does. But new research suggests that when you try and still fail, you are more likely to blame yourself, and that can harm your mental wellbeing. […]

A growth mindset about intelligence, the belief that you can get smarter with effort, is supposed to push you to keep trying when things get hard. And often it does. But what happens when you try and still fail? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and […]

No one can control everything that happens, but we can adapt to a changing environment, even when that means shifting our perspective. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy discuss the value of gratitude and how a better understanding of where our values come from […]

Most people, most days, deal with variation pretty well, but how do we psychologically prepare for the times when big things happen that change the course of our lives, our livelihoods, or our sense of self? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about […]

It’s summertime, and for some, that means it’s time for a vacation. But how do you get the most out of your time off and truly vacate? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about how to disconnect and why it’s important. The post How to Disconnect and Why It’s Important (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podca...

A new study confirms that personality traits are associated with longevity, or lack thereof, but while behavior matters, there’s more to the story. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy look at why “everything in moderation, including moderation,” is still good advice. McGeehan et […] The post Personality Traits, Modera...

It seems that people today carry with them the constant mantra, “I’m so busy.” And as it can be tough to juggle work, kids, and life in general, a lot of that feeling of being overwhelmed may be our own fault. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markaman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the […] The post Protect Your Boredom (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- P...

Why is it that we can feel a lot younger or older than we are? What does it mean to feel our age? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore the psychology of how we perceive age. The post How Old Do You Feel? (Rebroadcast) appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

When someone attacks your character, the urge to fire back is almost irresistible. But defending yourself in the heat of the moment often does more harm than good, so why do we do it? In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk about the psychology of fighting back. The post Fighting Back appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Any form of oration is communication, and that communication is often not just a one-way street. In our third episode in our Two Guys on Your Head series on oration, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy look at how oration can be a conversation, albeit a fraught one. The post Oration Part III: The Conversation appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Graduation season brings a flood of commencement speeches, but most fall flat. In this episode of our Two Guys on Your Head series on oration, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy offer some practical tips on how to be an effective orator.  The post Oration Part II: Some Tips appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Graduation season brings a flood of commencement speeches, but most fall flat. In this first episode in our  Two Guys on Your Head series on oration, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy break down the psychology behind effective public speaking and explore the specific techniques that separate forgettable speeches from memorable ones. The post Oration Part I: On Slowing Down appeare...

If we can learn a language in our infancy, why is it so difficult to learn a second language later in life? On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore how we learn language. The post How We Learn Language appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Have you ever traveled to a new place and suddenly, randomly, you experience this overwhelming sense of familiarity with what you’re seeing, like you’ve already seen it, even though you know you haven’t because you’ve never been there before? We call this phenomenon Déjà vu. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob […] The post Déjà vu appeared first on KUT & KUT...

It’s graduation season, and that comes with a lot of joy, tears, expectations, and relief. But it turns out, as Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy explore in this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, graduation is about a lot more than a diploma. The post Graduation appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Art explains the intro clip in the Easter Egg episode. The post Art Explains his Easter Egg appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

When we discover a hidden secret in a song, a movie, or a book, we can feel a sense of joy and connection. Those little gems are referred to as “easter eggs,” and we look for them because we’re curious. In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy talk […] The post Easter Eggs appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcas...