Unlatched Mind

Glenn Geher, Ph. D., is a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he has received SUNY Chancellor Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service. In addition to teaching a wide range of psychology courses and directing the New Paltz Evolutionary Psychology Lab, Glenn serves as the founding director of the campus's Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) progra...

Timothy Cook, M.Ed., is an educator, researcher, and strategic advisor working at the intersection of cognitive development, AI, and learning design. His work identifies the human capacities that remain essential in an AI-mediated world and advises on practical ideas for cultivating them in schools.   In this engaging conversation, Vinny Vallarine and Tim Cook explore the intersection of AI and ed...

Dr Mike Brooks and Vinny Vallarine follow up from a previous episode to share updates to the One Unity Project .    In this conversation, Vinny and Mike explore the implications of artificial intelligence, particularly the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and its alignment with human values. They discuss the One Unity Project, a collective initiative aimed at harnessing AI for the...

Dr Mike Brooks and host Vinny Vallarine discuss the urgent need for humanity to prepare for the impending Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution.   They explore the existential crisis posed by AI, the exponential growth of its intelligence, and the unique nature of this technological revolution that could give birth to a new species. The discussion also touches on the paradox of progress, the imp...

In this conversation, Vinny Vallarine and Dr. Ken Barish dive into Dr. Barish's latest book:  Bridging Our Political Divide: How Liberals and Conservatives Can Understand Each Other .   They explore the complexities of political psychology and the importance of dialogue over debate in bridging political divides. Dr. Barish shares insights from his extensive experience as a psychologist and discuss...

In this conversation, host Vinny Vallarine and Dr. David Wahl discuss the dark truth of sex trafficking. Dr. Wahl shares insights from his research on human sexuality and the alarming realities of trafficking, including its prevalence, the profiles of victims and traffickers, and the misconceptions perpetuated by media portrayals. They delve into the statistics surrounding trafficking, the role of...

The conversation explores the themes of entrepreneurship, psychology, and the importance of seeking counsel and support.   Vinny and Richard discuss their backgrounds in computer science and math, and how they became interested in psychology. They also talk about the challenges of being an entrepreneur and the tendency to isolate oneself. The importance of having mentors and a support system is em...

After four suicide attempts, Andrea Rosenhaft shares her journey of battling anorexia, depression, and borderline personality disorder.  She emphasizes the importance of reaching out for help and highlights the availability of support through hotlines and therapy. Andrea credits dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) for her recovery. She discusses the impa...

In this conversation, Vinny Vallarine interviews Stuart Knechtle, an associate Pastor, and Christian Apologist. They discuss the origins of Stuart's ministry and the recent success of their Christian 'Give Me an Answer' movement where they engage with skeptics and truth-seekers on college campuses. They also explore the challenges of questioning faith and skepticism, as well as the pushback they s...

Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big tech driving society towards a race to the bottom?   Mike Brooks, Ph. D., a licensed psychologist and a licensed specialist in school psychology in Austin, Texas, joins Unlatched Mind to discuss.    The conversation includes the rapid pace of technological evolution, particularly focusing on AI's impact on society and individual well-being. They delve into i...

In this conversation, Vinny Vallarine and JW Ross discuss the significance of freedom, government control and lobbying, and the challenges of working with the government. They also delve into JW's journey of creating Feel Free, a product designed to address social anxiety. The conversation explores the differences between kratom and kava, the launch of Feel Free, and the impact of society on stres...

I had the privilege of delving into the fascinating realm of biophysics and cellular intelligence with Guy Odishaw, the founder of CerebralFit. The conversation unfolded around the revolutionary field of biologic medicine, where the integration of light therapy, or electroceuticals, takes center stage in leveraging the innate intelligence of our cells for optimal health. Our dialogue began by expl...

In this wide-ranging discussion, we dove deep into the fascinating world of evolutionary psychology with Dr. Frank McAndrew, Ph. D., a renowned professor of psychology at Knox College. Our conversation started with an exploration of "Dunbar's Number", which delves into the limits of human social connections. We pondered the significance of this limit in our increasingly connected yet isolating wor...

Dr. Noam Shpancer joins Unlatched Mind to delve into the complex interplay of technology, mental health, and personal responsibility. Dr. Shpancer, a clinical psychologist and professor, provides valuable insights into the challenges posed by the modern digital landscape, particularly concerning the mental well-being of young people. Our conversation began with an exploration of how excessive choi...

Ryan Michler is the founder of Order of Man, and he's doing some fantastic work helping men become better leaders in their lives. We delved into the concept of resilient masculinity and how it's essential to embrace our roles as men in today's world.    We discuss the challenges modern men face and how we need to navigate the changing landscape of masculinity.   Ryan emphasized the importance of u...

Dr. Virginia "Ginger" Campbell is a physician, author, and science communicator. She is the author of "Are You Sure: The Unconscious Origins of Certainty" and she is a member of the Podcast Hall of Fame (2022).   Dr. Campbell began podcasting in 2006 when she launched two shows: Brain Science and Books and Ideas . Brain Science is still going strong and is widely regarded as the best podcast about...

In this episode of Unlatched Mind, Vinny and Mike Brooks discuss the importance of realism over optimism when it comes to AI and the need for regulatory measures.   They explore the concept of evolutionary mismatch and how our brains are ill-equipped to handle the rapid advancements of AI due to our hunter-gatherer evolutionary history.   The exponential growth of technology is highlighted as a ke...

Mike Brooks, Ph. D., is a licensed psychologist and a licensed specialist in school psychology in Austin, Texas. He has expertise in positive psychology, life balance, the needs of children and teens, and effective parenting practices. He also uses wisdom traditions, including Buddhist psychology and Stoic philosophy, to help clients live richer, fuller lives. With a long-standing interest in how...

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective .    He is one of the world's leading experts on human performance.   Steven is the author of eleven bestsellers (out of fourteen books), including The Art of Impossible, The Future is Faster Than You Think, Stealing Fire, The Rise of Superman, Bold and Abun...

Peg O'Connor, Ph. D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Her training is in moral philosophy, feminist philosophy, addiction studies, and the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein. She believes that philosophy helped her to get and remain sober. Avoiding Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for the first 20 years of her sobriety because of the concept of a "higher power,...

Philosopher, emerging public intellectual, and the Director of  Great Philosophical Problems , Dr. Timothy Shaw joins the show.  Dr. Shaw has undertaken  original research  into how existential concepts impact and are reflected in the psychological distress models of the "Signature Wound" of contemporary war, Moral Injury.   Moral Injury is the damage done to one's conscience or moral compass when...

Joel Green is CEO of Pro Level Training, the National Director of Nike Sports Camps, a former professional basketball player, and a renowned motivational speaker. After retiring from his career in professional basketball, Joel Green founded Pro Level Training (PLT), which has become a 7-figure company. In addition to running PLT, Green is also the National Director for Nike Sports Camps as well as...

Former Air Force Chief Software Officer, Nicolas Chaillan was the Special Advisor for Cloud Security and DevSecOps for the U.S. Department of Defense.   Mr. Chaillan is recognized as one of France's youngest entrepreneurs, has founded 12 companies and has created and sold over 180 innovative software products to 45 Fortune 500 companies.  Mr. Chaillan is also recognized as a pioneer of the compute...

Po Chi Wu, Ph. D., is an active advisor/investor supporting startups at SkyDeck, the accelerator/incubator program at the University of California at Berkeley.  He has taught entrepreneurship at several universities in China and Hong Kong.  Po Chi joins Unlatched Mind to discuss entrepreneurship, philosophy, blockchain, NFTs, the Metaverse, and how the next generation and technology will impact ea...

When prominent psychologist Dr. Howard J. Rankin, Ph. D., has his license permanently revoked for a brief consensual encounter with a former client, he has to learn to deal with the fallout including, shame, humiliation and disgrace as well as fake news and haters.  Howard J. Rankin, Ph. D., joins Unlatched Mind to discuss his redemption after making the single biggest mistake of his life. https:/...