PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff

In this episode Garth interviews Danae Hudson from Missouri State University in Springfield, MO for a Part 3 interview. At NITOP 2026, they revisit their 2022 podcast conversation to discuss how classrooms and roles have changed since COVID. Hudson describes teaching large Intro Psych sections (330 students), smaller Abnormal Psych classes, and doctoral courses, noting post-COVID struggles in stud...

In this (RE-RELEASE) episode, Garth and Eric—joined by guest host John Batson—interview the late Charles Brewer of Furman University. A towering and beloved figure in the teaching of psychology, Charles reflects on his remarkable career, including his work as a John B. Watson scholar, his 12 years as editor of Teaching of Psychology, his role at the very first AP Psychology Reading, and his servic...

In this episode Garth interviews Steve Most from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Steve shares his approach to navigating the two-body academic problem with his wife, which has led to dual jobs in Sydney and continued adjunct affiliation with the University of Delaware. He describes early uncertainty about research, influential mentors, and how Dan Simons' visual cognition w...

In this RE-RELEASE episode Eric chats with Wayne Weiten (UNLV) about his career, retiring from teaching in 2021, and continuing as a leading intro psych textbook author. From a "go it alone" mindset to shaping future instructors, Wayne reflects on the experiences and influences that defined his impact—including contributions to the Society for the Teaching of Psychology .

In this episode at NITOP 2026, Garth interviews Clara Cheng from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA. Clara serves as the STP vice president of resources, which includes the journal Teaching of Psychology, peer-reviewed syllabi, wikis, the Idea Exchange, best-practices activities, Psychology in Communities, the teachpsych.org website, and free eBooks. Chang shares her background (born in Hong Kong...

In this sidebar episode Garth interviews Melissa Maffeo from Wake Forest University. They discuss Melissa's new book with Cambridge University Press, "The Science of the Supernatural: Critical Thinking for the Mind and Brain," which grew out of a Wake Forest special-topics course. Melissa explains anomalistic psychology's skeptical, research-methods approach in contrast to parapsychology, and outl...

In this RE-RELEASE episode Garth interviews Elizabeth Loftus from the University of California, Irvine in Irvine, CA. It was a Psychology Today magazine article in 1974 that launched her public fame, and her eyewitness testimony and false memory work have lasting influence. She is a world-renown expert who has experienced cancel culture, death threats, but also induction into the National Academy...

In this episode Garth interviews Beth Schwartz from the American Psychological Association in Washington, DC at NITOP 2026. Beth describes her role supporting psychology teaching through faculty resources, policy, and curriculum work with governance groups (CABE and TOPSS), and a focus on student success and accessibility, within APA's reorganized cross-area "psychology team" that reduces silos. S...

In this RE-RELEASE episode Dr. Jane Halonen joins Garth Neufeld to discuss her decades-long career in psychology education. From overcoming a fear of public speaking to mentoring generations of teachers, Jane reflects on her path from clinical psychology to teaching, her experiences as a woman in 1970s academia, and her transformative years at Alverno College's performance-based curriculum. Jane i...

In this episode Garth interviewed Krisstal Clayton from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Krisstal shares how heavy workloads, commuting, work, and caregiving contribute to students' AI use and argues for explicitly teaching AI literacy, its limits, and responsible use. She describes building connection and engagement in a 210-student lecture hall through weekly team activities, team ex...

This webinar features Garth Neufeld and Regan Gurung in discussion about how to implement APA's Introductory Psychology Initiative (IPI) recommendations five years after the release of the book, Transforming Introductory Psychology. They emphasize choosing approaches that fit instructor context, using evidence and data, and avoiding an overwhelming "do everything" redesign. Key ideas include reduc...

In this RE-RELEASE episode of Psych Sessions, renowned psychology textbook author Dr. David Myers shares his remarkable journey from a Seattle childhood—where his great-grandfather invented the ice cream soda—to becoming one of the most influential voices in psychology education. Myers discusses how chance encounters shaped his unplanned career path, from accidentally becoming a social psychologis...

In this episode Eric interviews Blake Nielsen from Columbia College in Columbia, MO. A variety of topics are discussed, including Blake's journey in teaching quantitative research methods, his role at Columbia College, and the college's unique structure. The conversation also delves into Blake's experiences with Monmouth College and his extensive involvement in various academic roles, including di...

In this RE-RELEASE episode Garth and Eric interview Bill McKeachie from the University of Michigan. Bill is a legendary figure in the teaching of psychology, former APA President, introductory psychology textbook author, well-connected (friends with Fred Skinner, Abe Maslow), softball player, and so much more. The recording of this episode was sponsored in part by the Society for the Teaching of P...

In this episode Eric interviews Marianne Fallon from Psi Chi in Chattanooga, TN. Marianne serves as the Executive Director of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. They discuss her roles and responsibilities at Psi Chi, along with the organization's mission to promote excellence in psychology. The conversation delves into Marianne's academic journey, challenges she faced, and her...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with my friend and colleague Dr. Jenn Weaver, a developmental psychologist and associate professor at Boise State University, about the profound impact fathers have on their daughters and, in turn, on the mothers they become. Our conversation was inspired by Jennifer's moving Substack piece, An Ode to Fathers on Mother's Day, which resonated deeply w...

In this episode of Inside Men's Mental Health, I had the pleasure of speaking with my colleague and fellow men's health podcaster Dr. Paul Sharp, a senior lecturer at the University of New South Wales and researcher whose work focuses on the intersection of sociocultural factors, gender, and men's health. We dove into Dr. Sharp's journey from sports and human kinetics into the world of men's menta...

In this episode of Inside Men's Mental Health, I welcomed back Dr. Krista Fisher, Young Men's Health Research Fellow at the Movember Institute of Men's Health and a leading voice in the study of young men's experiences online. Together, we dove into the findings of the groundbreaking Young Men's Health in a Digital World report, which surveyed over 3,000 young men across the UK, US, and Australia...

Garth and special guest host Chris Cardone interview Elliot Aronson from the University of Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA. The trio explores Aronson's significant contributions, including the Festinger and Carlsmith experiment and the cognitive dissonance theory. Aronson elaborates on his work like the jigsaw classroom approach to reduce prejudice and applied social psychology experiments targeting...

In this episode Garth and special guest host Jane Halonen interview Robert Sternberg from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The conversation dives into Sternberg's influential career, his pioneering theories on intelligence and love, and personal anecdotes that shaped his work. Sternberg explains the evolution of his theories, including the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, Triangular Theory of Lo...

In this sidebar episode Garth interviews Drew Christopher from Albion College (in Albion, MI). Drew is serving as the 2026 President of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, APA Division Two. They discuss Drew's presidential task forces for 2026, the inner workings of the STP Executive Committee, and more. Get involved here!

In this episode Garth interviews Ellen Langer from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Early in September, look for the release of Ellen's new book,  The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health . Garth and Ellen share a lovely and far-reaching conversation; she has been studying mindfulness for 45 years, with mindfulness being the process of noticing new things. However, she laments that...

In this special episode of Psych Sessions, hosts Eric Landrum and Garth Neufeld sit down with the legendary psychologist Albert Bandura at his home in Stanford, California. At 94, Bandura reflects on his groundbreaking work in observational learning, the famous Bobo doll experiments, and the development of key concepts like self-regulation, agency, and moral disengagement. The conversation delves...

In this re-release episode of PsychSessions, co-hosts Eric Landrum and Garth Neufeld discuss the foundational stories behind their interests in psychology and teaching, as well as the inception of their podcast. They talk about their academic journeys, the influences of mentors, and the importance of building confidence in students. Topics include the development of critical thinking, the signific...

In this episode Eric interviews Steve Davis (emeritus, Emporia State University and Morningside College) with special guest hosts Loretta McGregor and Jane Halonen. Steve shares updates on his current endeavors, including his involvement with Alice Lloyd College, a school supporting students from one of the most impoverished areas in the U.S. The conversation delves into Steve's journey from a tri...