In this episode Eric interviews Jenn Grewe from Utah State University in Logan, UT. Our discussion centers on the significance of finding enjoyment in work to enhance job satisfaction. Jenn emphasizes making conscious efforts to seek out fun and enjoyable activities in everyday life, even as an adult. There is a mention of potentially exploring this topic more deeply in a future podcast.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

Tyler Whitmer is an Assistant Athletic Director of Olympic Sports Performance at Boise State University. Tyler was a high school athlete who became intensely interested in sports performance when he had a unique opportunity to train at the Denver Broncos training center. As he transitioned to college, he discovered that he could have a career in this area and eventually accepted a graduate assistantship at the University of Kansas. Tyler discussed how his experiences at KU and at several small universities helped him grow as a person and coach. We discussed how athletics provides a range of experiences that can be both beneficial and potentially harmful for men, depending on the culture and what is modeled for men by coaches and mentors. Tyler mentioned a personal and professional shift that occurred for him during COVID that led him to develop a program called Get Reps. Get Reps is a group focused on helping male athletes consider what it means to be a good man and targeting some skills deficits that he has noticed in the athletes he works with. Finally, we discuss how helping men helps the entire community and some resources for those interested in the intersection between masculinities and athletics. 

Dr. Ronald Levant is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Akron and a former president of the American Psychological Association and the APA’s Division 51. Ron discussed his challenges as an adolescent and that his pathway was not one that would have necessarily led him to college and graduate training at some of the world’s most prestigious universities. He discussed challenges as an adolescent in school and in his family, including being expelled from one high school. A small circumstance resulted in Ron taking a college admission test and then attending UC Berkeley and later Harvard. Ron discussed some of his contributions, such as his work on normative male alexithymia and his research on fathers. He provided some context for how he developed the idea for the normative male alexithymia hypothesis. Finally, Ron discussed some ideas about how we can move the field forward by addressing several areas, such as men’s self-compassion and sense of shame. 

Jeff Matsushita is the director of the Engaging Men Project at Boise State University. We initially discussed the origins of Jeff’s interest in working with men, which occurred after watching the film Tough Guise as an undergraduate student. He became increasingly interested in men and masculinity and formal work with groups of men. He eventually took a position with the Idaho Coalition Against Domestic Violence, which was quite formative for him. He also has worked with the national group A Call to Men, which similarly works to decrease rates of gender-based violence by engaging men directly. Jeff reflects on mentors who have helped him grow in his work and personally and how his professional work on engaging men has impacted him personally. At the end of the conversation, Jeff provides some helpful guidance on resources for those further interested in the work he discussed of engaging boys in men to decrease gender-based violence.

In this episode Eric interviews Mona Xu from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID. Our discussion covers various topics, from mentoring graduate students and the meaningful relationships formed to navigating higher education's political and social climate. Mona shares her journey of coming out as queer and non-binary and the importance of self-care and community care within academia. The conversation also delves into the challenges and future of higher education amid political tensions and demographic shifts.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this holiday message, PsychSessions co-host Garth Neufeld invites listeners to consider support of the podcast by making an end-of-the-year tax-deductible donation at www.psychsessions.org/donations.

PsychSessions provides free professional development to psychology instructors all over the world!

Thanks for listening!

In this episode Eric interviews Karenna Malavanti from Baylor University in Waco, TX. Karenna discusses issues faced by non-tenure track faculty and her recent presentation with Melissa Maffeo on supporting teaching-focused faculty in higher education. This wide-ranging interview touches on topics such as roles in higher ed, the advocacy needed for non-tenure track positions, Karenna's contributions to Psi Chi, and her background and teaching experiences. This episode delves into the importance of aligning professional work with personal values and the support needed from tenured colleagues to advocate for non-tenure track faculty members.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Eric interviews Ashley Waggoner Denton from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We discuss Ashley's session on what psychology majors do after graduation, her career course, and teaching challenges with large student groups. Ashley shares her experience as an international student in the U.S. and her work in various service roles, including her involvement with APA's Committee for Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE). They also touch on issues related to budget constraints in higher education and the camaraderie within the psychology teaching community.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Garth and Eric spend some time together discussing the current state of the podcast. They discuss future endeavors, including upcoming workshops and an innovative AI series. They delve into the importance of high-quality audio for teaching and accessibility and leveraging AI tools like Suno and Gamma for education. The duo also underscores the value of providing students diverse ways of expressing their knowledge. Throughout the conversation, they reflect on the journey of PsychSessions and how their venture has expanded to highlight other educators' voices in psychology.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Eric interviews Deb Briihl from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA. They discuss Deb’s longstanding career since 1994, roles at Valdosta State, and her path from coordinating the undergraduate psychology program to teaching various subjects, including a recent flip of her History of Psychology class. Deb shares personal insights about career challenges, the bittersweet aspects of change, and her and her husband's considerations about retirement. They delve into exploring new hobbies, with Deb describing her interest in barbecuing and brewing. The episode closes with a personal anecdote about Deb’s “train kiss” tattoo, symbolizing a tender moment with her husband.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

On October 14, 2024, Philip Zimbardo passed away at his home in San Francisco, CA, at the age of 91. He was an emeritus faculty member at Stanford University. We pay tribute here at PsychSessions by re-releasing his interview with Garth, originally released as Episode 050 on January 8, 2019. 

Original show notes: 

In this episode Garth interviews Philip Zimbardo from Stanford University (emeritus) in Stanford, CA. It's a treat to hear Phil discuss how he became such a passionate teacher, with his upbringing, family values about education, and undergraduate/graduate years (Brooklyn College/Yale University). The interplay of his teaching leading to research (think: shyness work) is fascinating, and just wait until you hear about the grade he earned in introductory psychology, and as always, so much more.