Human Potential Lab

“Your life story is your leadership story.” - Douglas Conant

Today it’s great to have Douglas “Doug” Conant on the podcast. Conant is the CEO and founder of Conant Leadership, a mission driven community of leaders and learners who are championing leadership that works. He served as the CEO of Campbell Soup for 10 years and is also the former president of Nabisco and former chairman of Avon. He’s a New York Times bestselling author and his new book is called The Blueprint: 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights.

Topics

[02:14] Doug’s early struggles in his career

[04:19] Turning inwards to unlock your potential in life

[07:11] Merging “work self” with “real self” into one cohesive identity

[11:15] Improve leadership in real time

[14:45] Overview of The Blueprint and its 6 Practical Steps

[21:31] The practice of declaring yourself to build productive relationships

[25:12] More candor is better than less

[26:41] Your life story is your leadership story

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Today it's great to have Olga Khazan on the podcast. Khazan is a staff writer for The Atlantic, covering health, gender, and science. Prior to that, she was The Atlantic's Global editor. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and other publications. She is a two-time recipient of the International Reporting Project's Journalism Fellowship and winner of the 2017 National Headliner Awards for Magazine Online Writing.

Topics

[02:23] The origin of Olga Khazan's weirdness

[04:02] The natural tendency of loner kids to flock together

[07:35] The state of our polarized society

[08:53] How outcasts bond over the mutual feeling of being different

[10:17] Changing social norms without changing people's attitude

[11:45] The implications of normalizing everything

[12:29] Why most people find it hard to be different

[14:10] Gender issues when upholding the norm

[16:13] The relationship between tribal instincts and farming

[18:03] Why most people tend to overgeneralize stuff

[19:34] Why American's warm more towards English speakers than non-English speakers

[21:15] Social stresses and how it is related to loneliness

[23:59] The link between adverse health outcomes and racial disparities

[25:09] Perceived versus real social treatment

[26:25] The relationship between weirdness and creativity

[28:27] How being different can help you find your true self or your true love

[35:48] How to be different

[37:06] Comfort with discomfort

[39:30] "The weirder you are the fewer and the more precious are the people who truly accept you"

[40:35] Why non-conformists desire to improve the lives of others

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Today we have Matt Ridley on the podcast. Matt is the author of the recently-released How Innovation Works, as well as The Rational Optimist and several other books related to science and human progress, which have sold over a million copies. He is also a biologist, newspaper columnist, and member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.

Topics
[01:37] What it means to be a rational optimist
[03:39] Evidence that the world is heading in the right direction
[05:43] Giving evidence-based hope
[11:23] Understanding the probabilities of life
[12:42] "It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble; it’s what you think you know that ain’t so"
[14:23] Why nuance is an endangered species
[16:28] The reward value to truthful or insightful information
[18:16] How not everybody is wired to create
[20:08] Working with restricted samples
[23:03] Does the lone genius really exist?
[26:43] Working with naturally occurring samples versus working with restricted samples
[32:10] Why stories don’t necessarily mean generalizable truths about innovation
[34:05] The need to look out for unexpected results
[35:00] Separating the person from the process
[36:02] The phenomenon of simultaneous inventions
[42:28] Why innovation requires freedom
[44:38] Why innovators crave the safe space to fail
[45:08] The government’s role in innovation
[49:47] Biology as the science of exceptions and not rules

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Today it’s great to have Sian Beilock on the podcast. Sian began her tenure as Barnard College President in July 2017, after spending 12 years at the University of Chicago, where she served on the faculty as the Stella M. Rowley Professor of psychology and an executive vice provost. Her work as a cognitive scientist revolves around performance anxiety and reveals simple psychological strategies that can be used to ensure success in everything from test-taking and public speaking to athletics and job interviews. In 2010, she wrote the critically acclaimed book, Choke, and in 2015 she wrote How The Body Knows Its Mind. In 2017, she won the Troland Award from the National Academy of Sciences, and her recent TED Talk has been viewed more than 2 million times.

Time Stamps

[02:57] Sian’s interest in real-world practical applications of science

[04:04] Why writing a book can sometimes be a daunting process

[08:07] Choking Under Pressure

[09:50] Is flow the opposite of choking?

[11:20] Being in the right frame of mind in different situations

[11:59] Sian’s definition of choking

[13:30] Factors influencing a woman’s career success

[17:20] A teacher’s math anxiety and how it impacts a student’s self-belief

[19:20] Advice to young people on matters of confidence

[20:02] Importance of taking risks in uncomfortable situations

[20:48] How to mentally prepare yourself for high stakes situations

[22:07] Barnard College as a unique academic institution

[24:47] Sian’s ultimate topic in a freshman seminar

[27:01] Why college campuses are important places to have cultural conversations

[28:16] How curriculums can incorporate science into today’s reality

[30:03] Teaching about how to think and not what to think

[31:03] Why classrooms should not be considered a safe space

[32:12] Why it’s okay to feel uncomfortable sometimes

[35:09] How the body knows its mind

[37:35] How nature can change how you approach different scenarios in life

[37:57] The Alexander technique in eliminating physical tension

[38:58] How an acting class can help you get used to being uncomfortable

[39:22] Sian’s final tips

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Today it’s great to have Susan Baum on the podcast. Dr. Baum is the Director of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy, a school for twice-exceptional children. She is also Provost of the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. She is the author of many books and articles primarily focusing on understanding and nurturing the needs of special populations of gifted underachieving students including the award-winning 3rd edition of her seminal work To Be Gifted & Learning Disabled. Her research and experience in the field of twice-exceptional education have earned her much recognition: 2010 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award granted by the Weinfeld Group, 2011 recipient of the Connecticut Association for the Gifted “Friend of the Gifted Award; the 2015 Distinguished Professional Alumni Award from the Neag School of Education; the Lifetime Achievement Award from AEGUS and the 2e Newsletter in 2017, as well as the Alexinia Baldwin Award from National Association for Gifted Students in 2019.

Time Stamps

[01:30] Dr. Baum’s experience in the field of twice-exceptional education

[02:53] “Gifted Education” research in 1985

[04:07] What it means to be 2e

[06:00] The difference between gifted and non-gifted in students with learning disabilities

[07:50] What counts as “gifted”

[09:25] The importance of divergent thinking in creative problem-solving

[14:07] Dr. Baum’s work on multiple intelligences theory

[16:18] Dr. Baum’s assessment tools for identifying strengths, interests and talents

[19:54] The 4 personality types identified by Dr. Baum’s assessment tools

[24:48] Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education and embracing neurodiversity

[30:18] “It isn’t easy being green”

[36:33] Learning styles vs. strengths

[41:58] General intelligence and working memory in 2e learners

[46:05] Circumventing the limitations of working memory and strengths-based education

[49:41] The importance of a community of support in 2e education

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Today it’s great to have Shellye Archambeau on the podcast. Archambeau is one of high tech's first female African American CEOs and has a track record of accomplishments building brands, high performance teams, and organizations. Archambeau currently serves on the boards of Verizon, Nordstrom, Roper Technologies, and Okta. She is also a strategic advisor to Forbes Ignite and the President of Arizona State University, and serves on the board of two national nonprofits, Catalyst and Braven. She is the author of Unapologetically Ambitious: Take Risks, Break Barriers and Create Success on Your Own Terms.

Time Stamps

[01:45] Shellye Archambeau as a tech industry business leader

[03:44] Feeling like an outsider growing up

[04:32] The birth of Shellye’s tenacity

[06:02] You can’t affect what people say to you or people do to you but you can control how you respond.

[06:27] Why you need to stop people from controlling your emotions

[09:45] Shellye’s mother as a “professional parent”

[11:03] Creating a life plan in college

[12:28] The importance of making decisions that are consistent with your plans

[14:03] “Find your cheerleaders”

[17:16] Don’t let them win

[19:24] Opening your own doors

[19:52] How to fall in love with a future image of yourself

[20:55] Early influences during Shellye’s tech journey

[22:10] How to foster self determination

[24:04] Tips on how to build your reputation

[25:03] Stop having second thoughts

[29:01] Why you need to start embracing your limits

[30:50] Being unapologetically ambitious

[31:46] Why it is okay to be ambitious (and why it's not the same thing as narcissism)

[33:32] Resilience and staying connected

[34:16] How to identify your network

[35:50] You deserve it

[37:42] How to find your current

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Today it’s great to have Sharon Salzberg on the podcast. Sharon is a meditation pioneer and industry leader, a world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. As one of the first to bring meditation and mindfulness into mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, her relatable, demystifying approach has inspired generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of eleven books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, her seminal work, Lovingkindness, and her newest book, Real Change: Mindfulness To Heal Ourselves and the World, released in September of 2020 from Flatiron Books. Sharon’s secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings is sought after at schools, conferences, and retreat centers worldwide. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed over 3 million downloads and features interviews with the top leaders and thinkers of the mindfulness movement and beyond. Sharon’s writing can be found on Medium, On Being, the Maria Shriver blog, and Huffington Post.

Time Stamps

[01:46] Sharon’s book Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World

[05:31] The dialectical between thinking and doing

[08:06] Sharon Salzberg’s activism

[09:26] Art as a form of social action

[10:38] Love and kindness meditation and the perception in the west

[15:16] The importance of boundaries in love and kindness

[16:25] Learning about agency and love in the pandemic

[21:00] A false sense of agency and the culture of contempt

[22:31] Sharon’s inner state of consciousness

[23:41] Being mindful of your anger and acknowledging your suffering

[30:10] Being realistic and avoiding activist burnout

[32:37] “Benevolent contagion” and Sharon’s vision of interconnection

[35:37] Mindfulness Meditation and dissolving the grip of habits like attribution bias and stereotyping

[42:48] How do you cultivate equanimity?

[46:28] Pairing compassion with equanimity

[47:20] The legacy Sharon wants to leave behind

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Today it is really great to have W. Keith Campbell on the podcast. Campbell is a professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia as well as the author of The Narcissism Epidemic, When You Love a Man Who Loves Himself, and most recently, The New Science of Narcissism. He also has more than 120 peer reviewed articles and he lives in Athens, Georgia.

Time Stamps

[00:01:41] Defining grandiose and vulnerable narcissism
[00:03:33] Three-factor model of narcissism
[00:07:32] The "recipe for narcissism"
[00:10:00] Primary goals and motives of narcissists
[00:12:56] The role of vanity
[00:16:47] Gender differences in narcissistic traits
[00:19:12] Gender differences in narcissism personality disorder diagnoses
[00:22:14] Dark and light triads of personality
[00:26:42] The dark empath and unique personality trait combinations
[00:30:12] How narcissistic traits affect relationship dynamics
[00:35:07] When do relationships start to fall apart?
[00:39:08] Narcissism in today's leadership
[00:44:26] Narcissism in social media
[00:45:39] Geek culture and the great fantasy migration
[00:52:37] How to reduce narcissism
[00:55:57] How to deal with narcissists
[00:57:55] Psychotherapy for vulnerable narcissism
[01:02:04] Narcissistic personality disorder
[01:05:54] New treatments for narcissistic personality disorder
[01:09:40] Transcending the ego

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Today it is great to have Caroline Webb on the podcast. Webb is an executive coach, author and speaker who specializes in showing people how to use insights from behavioral science to improve their professional lives. Her book on that topic, How To Have A Good Day, has been published in 14 languages and more than 60 countries. She is also a Senior Advisor to McKinsey, where she was previously a partner.

Time Stamps

[01:30] How To Have A Good Day during a pandemic
[03:37] The power of practicing mindfulness
[08:44] Emotional contagion and deliberate focus
[09:56] The state of affairs and focusing on what we can control
[13:55] Caroline’s philosophy of “realistic optimism”
[17:07] Realistic optimism vs aggressive positivity
[20:55] How mental contrasting can help you have a good day
[24:07] Changing your environment to change your behaviour
[24:48] Does positive thinking work?
[30:20] How coaching can help you
[32:00] Caroline’s coaching sessions
[37:00] Caroline’s scenic route to the field of psychology
[40:09] How coaching is not always grounded in science
[42:49] The universal need for coaching
[46:24] Listening as a basic coaching skill
[49:32] Helping people engage with their own creativity
[52:22] Burning Man and living a good life

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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Today it is great to have Ryan Holiday on the podcast. Holiday is one of the world’s foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life. He is a sought-after speaker, strategist and the author of many bestselling books including The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living , and the number one New York Times bestseller Stillness is the Key. His books have been translated into over thirty languages, and been read by over two million people. He lives outside Austin, Texas with his family, and his most recent book is Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius.

Time Stamps

[00:01:10] Stoicism and "works over words"
[00:04:04] Modern day Stoicism
[00:05:16] Knowledge for knowledge’s sake vs. practical purposes of philosophy
[00:06:58] The four virtues of Stoicism
[00:07:59] Living well versus living the good life
[00:10:04] The founding fathers and Stoicism
[00:11:18] Ryan’s writing vs. academic writing
[00:17:43] The deeply personal Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
[00:19:21] Zeno the Prophet and the founding of Stoicism
[00:20:41] Living in harmony with nature
[00:22:16] How COVID-19 has given Ryan perspective on being zoomed into life
[00:25:33] Eastern and Western conceptions of stillness
[00:29:30] The relationship between Stoicism and humor
[00:30:11] Aristo the Challenger and the influence of cynicism on Stoicism
[00:31:01] Zeno the Maintainer and the repetition of names in Roman times
[00:33:38] Antipater the Ethicist and transcending individual selfishness
[00:37:56] Panaetius the connector and Stoicism beyond virtue
[00:39:36] Women in Stoicism and Portia Cato
[00:40:58] “Cancelling” Stoicism and the tearing down of Confederate statues
[00:44:48] Posidonius the Genius and the battle between our lower urges and higher nature
[00:46:26] The omission of frivolity in Stoic writing
[00:48:16] Cato: Roman among the Romans
[00:51:58] Epictetus and the nature of freedom
[00:54:27] How Marcus Aurelius became the emperor of Rome
[00:57:13] How Ryan has grown since his earliest engagements with and writings on Stoic philosophy

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-psychology-podcast/support

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