PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff

In this episode Garth interviews Laura Freberg from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA. Laura discusses her approach to teaching psychology through big ideas and real-world problems, recounting her journey from a major in political science to becoming a professor of psychology. Laura shares her innovative methods for integrating AI into the classroom, h...

In this episode Eric interviews Nadine Kaslow from Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Nadine discusses her work schedule, including her teaching responsibilities, research, and administrative duties. She also shares her strategies for balancing an extensive workload, highlighting the importance of efficiency, good systems, and collaborative teamwork. The conversation delv...

In this episode Garth and special guest host Jane Halonen interviewed Todd Rose (in a Part 2 interview), the CEO for Populace from Burlington, MA. They explore the concept of jagged profiles and how flexible, individualized learning can be integrated into higher education. The conversation delves into practical strategies for creating effective, inclusive learning environments, the alarming rise o...

Dr. Anthony Isacco is Professor, Program Director, & Training Director in the Graduate Psychology Program at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has co-authored such books as the Handbook of the Psychology of Fatherhood; Religion, Spirituality, and Masculinity: New Insights for Counselors; and All In: Breaking Barriers to Discerning the Priesthood. Anthony discussed his initial inte...

Dr. Andreas Walther is a senior researcher for science and teaching at the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the University of Zurich and clinical psychotherapist with the outpatient clinic for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Medicine of the Psychotherapeutic Centre of the University of Zurich. Andreas discussed the journey to his work focused on developing a treat...

Dr. Jennifer Mootz is Assistant Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology at Columbia University and Research Scientist with the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Palmira Fortunado dos Santos is the Mental Health, Trauma and Violence Program Coordinator with the National Institute of Health in Mozambique. We discussed how Drs. Mootz and Furtunad...

In this episode Garth interviews Don Christensen from Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, WA. They discuss the educational and professional journey that led Don from an attempted engineering degree at Stanford to a successful psychology career focusing on teaching and performance enhancement. They discuss Don's early influences, from collegiate golf to motivational psychology, and his transi...

In this episode Eric interviews Noland White (Part 2) from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. They discuss Noland's approach to teaching and the importance of mental health and work-life balance for both students and educators. Noland shares the evolution of his role as a co-author for an intro psych textbook, detailing his journey from attending a focus group to becoming a c...

In this sidebar, Eric describes the upcoming Biennial International Seminar on the Teaching of Psychological Science (BISTOPS), which will be held July 6-10, 2026, in Paris. The organizer is Doug Bernstein (douglas.bernstein@comcast.net) from the University of South Florida. A PDF accompanies this episode, which contains the key details about this opportunity. The deadline to apply for BISTOPS 202...

In this episode Eric interviews Loretta McGregor (a Part 2 interview) from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. Loretta shares insights from her recent tenure as STP President, discussing the challenges and proud moments, including a strategic membership dues increase and launching a high school mentoring program. Loretta also details her new role as Interim Associate Dean at Arkansas State...

In this episode Eric interviews Drew Christopher (a Part 3 interview) from Albion College in Albion, MI. The conversation spans various topics, including Drew's career transitions, roles as an editor for the journal 'Teaching of Psychology,' SPSP pre-conference coordinator, and currently as President-Elect of STP. Drew discusses his thought process behind taking on different roles, his eventual ri...

In this episode, Dr. Robert McEntarffer, a former high school teacher and current college educator, discusses the cognitive offloading potential offered by AI and on those types of thinking it would be wise not to let AI replace. Rob offers a critique of the term artificial "intelligence", suggesting that "large language model" may be a more appropriate term given that AI doesn't truly understand...

Join veteran educators Dr. Jordan Wagge, Professor and Chair of Psychology at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, and Dr. Alex Swan, Associate Professor of Psychology at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, as they share insights and lessons learned from incorporating AI tools into their professional lives and classrooms. This episode offers valuable perspectives for educators navigating the...

In this first episode of the PsychSessions: AI and Education, host Joe Slade speaks with Garth Neufeld, co-founder of the Psych Sessions podcast. They discuss Joe's research and experiences with AI in education, including the use of AI avatars, ChatGPT's voice mode, and the potential for AI workflows as teaching and learning tools. Joe shares his optimistic perspective on integrating AI into educa...

In this episode Eric interviews Melissa Maffeo from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. Melissa shares insights about her freshman seminars on alcohol history, use, and misuse, emphasizing harm reduction over abstinence. The conversation delves into her biopsychology class and creative teaching methods, such as murder mysteries to teach neurobiology. The episode also covers Melissa's care...

Dave talks with Jane Halonen (University of West Florida) and Dana Dunn (Moravian University) about opportunities to choose to do what brings us joy and also allowing opportunities for our more junior colleagues to gain experiences that will help with their career development.  We discuss the frustration of dealing with burdensome and unnecessary processes that can take time away from our teaching...

Ken Carter (Oxford College of Emory University) and Pat Puccio (Depaul University; retired from the College of DuPage) discuss a range of topics having to do with negotiating late career chapters and retirement. We chat about the different ways that "late career" can be interpreted and different pathways in retirement. We also comment on the need for support for late career and retired psychology...

In this episode, Loretta McGregor (Arkansas State University) and Randy Smith (retired) chat with Dave about knowning when it's time to retire or to make a career change, based on what we personally find rewarding. We reflect on technology-related changes in teaching, especially with regard to writing (ever wonder where "cut and paste" came from?). Randy and Loretta also offer some practical sugge...

Dave talks with Suzie Baker (James Madison University) and Drew Christopher (Albion College) about the "late career" label and the changes, as our careers have progressed, in how we decide how to invest our time. We also discuss what aspects of our teaching have stayed the same or changed over time, and how we have adapted (or not) to changes in available technology. We mention some older forms of...

Stephen Chew of Samford University and Ken Keith, retired from University of San Diego, talk with Dave about factors that go into the decision to retire, what makes a for a healthy department based on their experience as department chairs, and how our teaching has evolved over the years. A theme that emerges is creating environments to support student learning. Ken and Stephen also offer some advi...

Dave talks with Ellen Carpenter of Virginia Commonwealth University and Alan Strathman of the University of Central Missouri about what "late career" means and how we make decisions about what things to take on and when to say no. It is possible to be late career in a broad sense but also be early in the process of taking on different responsibilities. We also chat about our experiences using teac...

In this episode, Dave talks with Barney Beins, retired from Ithaca College, and Sue Frantz, retired from Highline College and current Executive Director of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. We discuss how retirement can take different forms, and how the choices we make about how to spend our time relate to our sense of fulfillment. Barney and Sue discuss how they made the decision to ret...

Dave, Garth, and Eric discuss the genesis of the idea for this podcast series and the need in general for late career faculty to be able to connect with others in similar situations. Dave provides a sneak preview of some of the issues that come up across the episodes. The series is intended not just for faculty who are late in their careers, but also for those in early or mid-career (like Garth!)...

In this episode Eric interviews Kim Case from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Kim discusses the balance of in-person versus online teaching, the pros and cons, and the human connection often lost in an online format. She shares her experience of a profound teaching stint in Italy and the importance of building genuine relationships in academia. The conversation also delves into t...

In this episode Eric interviews Loreto Prieto from Iowa State University in Ames, IA. They discuss their experiences in academia, particularly the challenges and rewards of teaching. They cover various educational systems, the importance of community colleges, and the difficulties students face in returning from breaks. Loreto shares stories about his personal and professional journey, including h...