Psychlings Podcast

Olivia Carter is a Professor of Psychology and a leading researcher on the subjective experience of consciousness, which explores the factors that determine the contents and nature of an individual’s conscious experience - this includes typical and altered states of consciousness induced by psychedelics, meditation, and neurological conditions. She heads up the Human Experience Lab at the University of Melbourne. You can find Olivia via the Human Experience Lab.

Please enjoy an eye-opening conversation with Prof. Olivia Carter
- Is a vacuum robot conscious? 
- The reality of medicinal psychedelic research
- The role of psychology in a VR/AR world

Hosts: 
- Byron McCaughey ([email protected]). 
- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected])

Luke Smillie is an Associate Professor of Psychology and a leading personality researcher. He heads up the Personality Processes Lab at the University of Melbourne. His interests in the field include the underlying causes of our personalities, the links between personality traits and wellbeing, and personality neuroscience. You can find Luke on Twitter @drsmillie. 

A wide-ranging and fascinating conversation with A/Prof. Luke Smillie

- How your personality impacts wellbeing
- Self-awareness vs self-improvement 
- What he loves about being an academic
- The latest research in the personality psychology 
... plus the future of better relationships (a personality user manual!)

Hosts: 
- Byron McCaughey ([email protected]). 
- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected])

What we would tell ourselves on Day 1 of our psychology studies. A conversation full of tips and advice from Byron and Dazz gained from their experience studying psychology (Graduate Diploma of Psychology) at the University of Melbourne. 

- Embrace  the struggle 
- Grades vs experience 
- Importance of socialising  with peers
- Keeping an open mind on the path forward

Hosts: 
- Byron McCaughey ([email protected]). 
- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected]

Daniel Little is an Associate Professor and the director of the Knowlab at the University of Melbourne which focuses on understanding complex decision making through computational modelling. 

A wide-ranging and illuminating conversation with A/Prof. Daniel Little

- Becoming a cognitive scientist
- Misconceptions of academic life
- The role of AI in cognitive psychology
- Importance of leaning into obstacles. 

You can find Daniel on Twitter @danielrlittle.

Hosts: 

- Byron McCaughey ([email protected])

- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected])

A candid and unfiltered conversation with Dr Simon Cropper - how to thrive in psychology, find your research passion, why we need more psychologists and the joys of Glastonbury.

Dr Simon Cropper is a senior lecturer and the Graduate Diploma of Psychology course coordinator at the University of Melbourne. He is our primary point of contact and has helped us immensely with everything from music recommendations, to care and enthusiasm as we’ve gone through a challenging programme during the pandemic. 

An aspiring “musical veterinarian” in his youth, and now an accomplished academic, neuroscientist and educator, with a keen interest in how the brain creates the reality we experience and attempt to share. 

Hosts: 

- Byron McCaughey ([email protected])

- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected])

In this episode, we explore the highs and lows of studying a Graduate Diploma of Psychology during a COVID lockdown. 

Topics covered: 
- Are my grades actually better?
- Cheating 
- Getting hypnotized 
- Deep work 
- Chinese mystery snacks

Hosts: 
- Byron McCaughey ([email protected])
- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected])

In this episode we unpack the question "Is psychology for me, and where do I go from here?".

Topics covered: 
- Rationale for pursuing psychology
- Credibility and purpose
- Love-hate relationship with the science 
- Uncertainty about the future and a leap of faith

Hosts: 
- Byron McCaughey ([email protected])
- Yu "Dazz" Liu ([email protected])