PsychSessions: Conversations about Teaching N' Stuff

In this (Re-Release) episode Garth interviews PsychSessions co-founder Eric Landrum from Boise State University in Boise, ID. In November 2019, during a PsychSessions working meeting in Boise, Eric surprised Garth with a request to record a PsychSessions interview (Episode #074). In their first meeting face-to-face since the pandemic, Garth and Eric met again in Boise, and it was only fair that Er...

In this episode Garth and Eric celebrate the 10th anniversary of PsychSessions: Conversations About Teaching N' Stuff. We mark 10 years of the PsychSessions flagship podcast (dating back to October 2017) by recalling its origins at Highline College, including an original episode later replaced after only five downloads. They thank hosts, sponsors (especially STP), guests, listeners, and supporters...

In this (Re-Release) episode Eric interviewed Garth Neufeld from Cascadia College in Bothell, WA. For Garth growing up in Canada, music and church were key; he also discusses parental inspirations including the first band name. Music, education, and international travel are important themes early and often. His entreprenurial spirit thrives from work ethic, bands, graduate school through to TIP-NW...

In this episode Garth interviews Theodore Burnes from the University of Southern California Rossier in Los Angeles, CA. Theo is a California-licensed clinical psychologist and licensed professional clinical counselor who teaches in a master's program, maintains a small Los Angeles private practice, and has worked with LGBTQ-spectrum youth since 2004. They discuss evolving language around sexual or...

Retirement doesn't mean slowing down. In this Re-Release episode, we talk with retired University of Arizona faculty member Beatrice Krause about dispelling retirement myths, staying active in academia, and pursuing an eclectic mix of passions - from harp and tango to poetry. A thoughtful conversation about reinvention, curiosity, and life after academia. 🎧 [Note: Portions of the show notes were...

In this episode Garth interviewed Kendra Thomas from Hope College in Holland, MI. Kendra discusses her applied developmental and educational psychology research in under-resourced public schools in Brazil and with the iThemba Projects nonprofit in South Africa. She explains the challenges of collecting valid cross-cultural data, emphasizing short, context-appropriate measures built with practition...

🎧 AskPsychSessions Re-Release! When, if ever, should students complete work that doesn't receive feedback? Jane Halonen from the University of West Florida tackles this listener question in a lively conversation about assignments, feedback, and learning. Plus, there's a bonus discussion on grading presentations through peer review and faculty input . Tune in for practical insights and a thought-p...

In this Part 2 episode Eric interviews Chris Hakala from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. Chris discusses his evolving role as executive director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, which provides faculty development (workshops, consultations, observations) and also manages online courses, instructional design, LMS/ed tech support, and growing online graduate...

Dr. Andrew Smiler's book Clinical Work with Men: Understanding Masculinity in Psychotherapy was recently released by the American Psychological Association. Andy shared his professional journey from five years in community mental health working with teenage boys, through a PhD in Developmental Psychology, academic work, and eventually into full-time private practice. He traced his entry into men's...

Lou walks us through exactly what happens inside a men's circle: the opening rituals, the talking stick, the accountability stretches, and yes, even the drumming. He explains the concept of "clearings," a structured practice for owning your own projections rather than directing anger outward, a tool so powerful it was even brought inside Folsom Prison. He's honest about the barriers men face walki...

I welcomed back Dr. Anthony Isacco to discuss men, religion, and spirituality. Anthony reflected on his personal journey from mandatory childhood Catholicism to a deliberate adult choice to deepen his faith commitment, a decision he credits as transformative. Despite attending Catholic universities for his master's and Ph. D., he struggled to find guidance integrating spirituality into clinical wo...

In this Re-Release episode Garth interviews Lee Gurel, who retired from the Chief of Research in Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences position from the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Washington, DC. On receiving the APA Presidential Citizen Psychologist Citation, Lee reflected on his interests in helping high school teachers of psychology have additional professional development opportuniti...

In this episode Eric interviews Virginia (Ginger) Wickline from Georgia Southern University in Savannah, GA. Ginger begins with the origin of her name and her career path from a visiting position at the College of Wooster to a decade at Miami University of Ohio and then Georgia Southern in 2018, where she earned tenure again. She describes supportive teacher-parents, being a high-achieving multi-a...

Step into psychology history with Michael Wertheimer. In this (Re-Release) episode of  PsychSessions , Michael reflects on his remarkable career, his educational journey, and what it was like growing up as the son of Max Wertheimer, founder of Gestalt psychology. Along the way, he shares stories from serving as a teaching assistant at Harvard for E. G. Boring and B. F. Skinner, plus insights on ba...

In this episode Garth and special guest host Jane Halonen interview Nancy Segal from California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, CA. Nancy discusses her lifelong twin research, books, and current projects. She describes how an undergraduate essay sparked her career, her work with the Minnesota twins reared-apart study, and how behavioral genetics became more accepted as evidence accumulat...

🎙️ How do we separate good science from good storytelling? In this RE-RELEASE episode of  PsychSessions , Garth sits down with Carol Tavris to discuss scientific integrity, critical thinking, cognitive dissonance, and the responsibility of communicating psychology accurately to the public. This thought-provoking conversation is a powerful reminder that evidence—not popularity—should guide what we...

In this episode Garth interviews Jared Keeley from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Jared serves as the first-year director of clinical training and talks about VCU's urban, community-serving campus and student body. He describes his dual interests in clinical psychology and the scholarship of teaching and learning, focusing on the Teacher Behavior Checklist (TBC), developed with...

🎙️ What does great teaching actually look like—and can it be taught? In this RE-RELEASE episode of  PsychSessions , Chris sits down with Victor Benassi to explore the science of exceptional teaching and what it takes to truly transform learning in higher education. Whether you're a new instructor or a seasoned educator, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and remind you why teaching matters...

In this episode Eric interviews Jon Krosnick from Stanford University in Stanford, CA. Jon discusses his cross-appointments and major initiatives, including a new sustainability school funded by a $1.3–$1.4B private gift, hiring about 60 faculty members, and the role of Environmental Social Sciences in ensuring that engineered solutions work with human behavior. He describes the interdisciplinary...

In this AskPsychSessions RE-RELEASE feature, Marianne speaks with Jasmine Mena from Bucknell University. They cover the basics of labor based grading  — an approach that evaluates students on the effort and labor they invest in their work rather than traditional quality-based standards. She discusses how this method empowers students with agency over their learning, and incorporates scaffolded ass...

Bernie's Dad: Personal Reflections is a short-form, reflective podcast hosted by psychology educator Eric Landrum that explores the surprising parallels between a 35-plus-year academic career and life with a new puppy named Bernie Sanders. Through brief, one-word–titled episodes inspired by psychological descriptors, Eric offers thoughtful, often warm reflections on teaching, growth, patience, and...

Bernie's Dad: Personal Reflections is a short-form, reflective podcast hosted by psychology educator Eric Landrum that explores the surprising parallels between a 35-plus-year academic career and life with a new puppy named Bernie Sanders. Through brief, one-word–titled episodes inspired by psychological descriptors, Eric offers thoughtful, often warm reflections on teaching, growth, patience, and...

Bernie's Dad: Personal Reflections is a short-form, reflective podcast hosted by psychology educator Eric Landrum that explores the surprising parallels between a 35-plus-year academic career and life with a new puppy named Bernie Sanders. Through brief, one-word–titled episodes inspired by psychological descriptors, Eric offers thoughtful, often warm reflections on teaching, growth, patience, and...

Bernie's Dad: Personal Reflections is a short-form, reflective podcast hosted by psychology educator Eric Landrum that explores the surprising parallels between a 35-plus-year academic career and life with a new puppy named Bernie Sanders. Through brief, one-word–titled episodes inspired by psychological descriptors, Eric offers thoughtful, often warm reflections on teaching, growth, patience, and...

Bernie's Dad: Personal Reflections is a short-form, reflective podcast hosted by psychology educator Eric Landrum that explores the surprising parallels between a 35-plus-year academic career and life with a new puppy named Bernie Sanders. Through brief, one-word–titled episodes inspired by psychological descriptors, Eric offers thoughtful, often warm reflections on teaching, growth, patience, and...