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Navigating and Transforming Toxic Workplaces In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the pervasive issue of toxic workplaces. The discussion covers identifying toxic behaviors such as micromanagement, harassment, and discriminatory practices and their detrimental effects on mental and physical health. The role of leadership, particularly toxic leaders, and their impact on work...

Extinction Burst: The Desperate Ways Extremists and their Movements React When Losing Ground In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of extinction bursts—predictable patterns of intensifying behavior when long-standing negative behaviors lose effectiveness. Drawing on examples from political, social, and historical contexts, the episode explains how these bursts man...

Harnessing Small Actions for Big Change in Overwhelming Challenges In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how to take meaningful actions when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. Through insights from various psychological studies, Leslie explains why our brains often shut down when faced with massive issues, and how small, strategic steps can break this paralysis. The...

The Psychological Power of Art and Creativity: Exploring Why We Create In this episode of PsyberSpace, hosted by Leslie Poston, we explore the profound psychological impact of art and creativity. Using examples like Dylan Thomas's poem 'Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night' and Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise,' the episode delves into why art moves us and how creativity nurtures our mental well-bein...

Understanding and Resisting Authoritarian Propaganda In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston looks into the mechanisms of propaganda used by authoritarian regimes. The episode covers the psychological strategies behind media manipulation, revisionist history, and language control intended to mold public perception and behavior. Using historical and contemporary examples, Leslie highligh...

Debunking Psychology Myths: From Brain Function to Vaccines In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston critically examines several long-standing psychology myths and their impacts. The discussion covers misconceptions such as the left-brained/right-brained theory, the myth that we use only 10% of our brain, the idea that opposites attract in relationships, and the belief that venting anger...

PsyberSpace S2E1: The Neuroscience of Wealth and Power In the season two opener of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores how extreme wealth and power transform the human mind. The episode gets into neuroscientific research revealing that power and wealth can rewire neural pathways, decrease empathy, alter decision-making, and increase risk-taking behaviors. Examples from real-world events, incl...

The Psychology Behind New Year's Resolutions and Lasting Change In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the psychology behind New Year's resolutions and why many people abandon them by February. Discussing neuroscience and behavioral psychology, Leslie examines how our brains resist change and the significance of setting realistic, intrinsic goals. The episode highlights the im...

The Psychology of Holiday Consumerism: Understanding Impact and Wellbeing In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the timely subject of holiday consumerism and its various impacts on mental health, community well-being, and global issues. Through recent events like the Amazon workers' strike, the episode highlights the complex interplay of psychological, social, and economic fo...

Understanding Psychological Reactions to High-Profile Violence In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the complex psychological reactions to high-profile acts of violence, using a recent incident involving the death of a healthcare CEO as a case study. The discussion delves into the psychological phenomena of priming, scapegoating, and how media framing affects public sentimen...

Decoding Morality: Vertical vs. Horizontal Morality and Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivations In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the complexities of our moral compass by exploring the dimensions of vertical versus horizontal morality and intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. Through real-life scenarios and psychological theories, the episode examines how our upbringing, cu...

Understanding the Positive Impacts of Social Media on Youth In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston discusses the often overlooked benefits of social media for kids and teens. Through a review of recent research and peer-reviewed studies, the episode explores how digital platforms like Discord, Instagram, and TikTok serve as modern 'third spaces' for social interaction, support psycholo...

Understanding Psychopaths and Sociopaths: Traits, Impacts, and Interactions In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the complex and often misunderstood personality types of psychopaths and sociopaths. The discussion delves into how these individuals navigate through life and the distinct behaviors that characterize them. It highlights the dangers when such individuals rise to p...

The Paradox of Anger: Understanding and Channeling a Primal Emotion In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston delves into the complex emotion of anger. Exploring recent neuroscience findings, Leslie reveals that anger can activate the brain's reward centers, making it feel satisfying. The episode covers the physiological and psychological mechanisms of anger, its impact on relationships a...

Understanding the Psychology of White Supremacy: Historical Roots and Modern Impacts In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the complex psychology behind white supremacy, tracing its historical roots and examining its current manifestations. The discussion delves into how white supremacy perpetuates racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression. Drawing on extensive research,...

Resilience and Coping Strategies During Turbulent Times In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston, a business strategist and research psychologist, explores coping strategies to foster resilience and understanding during periods of stress and uncertainty, such as the volatile election period in the United States. Drawing on recent scientific research, Leslie discusses the importance of be...

Compensatory Masculinity In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of compensatory masculinity, where men display extreme masculine behaviors when feeling their masculinity is threatened. The episode uncovers the adverse effects on men's health, relationships, family dynamics, workplace efficiency, and politics. It also discusses the impact on political decisions, med...

PsyberSpace: Mastering Essential Digital Literacies for a Resilient Future In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the essential literacies needed to navigate the modern digital landscape. These include media literacy, information literacy, AI verification literacy, and digital literacy. The discussion covers the historical context and the significant impact these skills have o...

Understanding Cognitive Dissonance: Insights and Implications In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the concept of cognitive dissonance, a psychological phenomenon causing discomfort when holding conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. The episode examines its origins, impact on personal decision-making, social interactions, health, environmental actions, politics, relati...

Navigating the Psychology of Public Health and Behavior In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the intersection of psychology and public health, particularly in the context of the pandemics and other new health challenges faced since 2020. She digs into why people engage in presenteeism, the role of loss aversion, and the influence of workplace culture. The episode further exa...

Mastering Change Management: Understanding the Psychology Behind Transformation In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston, a marketing executive and research psychologist, tackles the complex topic of change management. Leslie discusses the critical skills needed to manage change in the workplace, explores the psychological reasons behind resistance to change, and examines how different l...

The Truth Behind Resilience Myths: Unpacking Self-Deception and Genuine Healing In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston, a research psychologist, dives into the myths surrounding resilience and how they impact our lives. Topics covered include the false narratives around surviving harassment or abuse, questionable therapeutic methods, and the psychological processes behind these myths s...

Debunking the Myths: The Real Impact of Social Media on Youth In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the complex relationship between social media and children's wellbeing. Challenging the common narrative that social media is detrimental to youth, Leslie dives into recent research that suggests its impact is minimal and often misunderstood. The discussion covers the societal...

Navigating the Digital Classroom: The Psychological Impact of Technology in Education In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the psychological impact of technology on education. The discussion spans AI-enhanced learning, neuroeducation, the challenges of balancing screen time, and the ethical implications of data privacy and equitable access. Key points include the benefits o...

The Psychology of Meetings: Saving Your Brain from Meeting Overload In this episode, host Leslie Poston explores the draining effects of poorly structured meetings and offers psychological insights to transform meeting culture. Topics include why back-to-back meetings feel exhausting, inclusive practices for neurodiverse colleagues, strategies for global teams, and actionable hacks for making meet...