Off-the-clockers, it's time to celebrate because Psychologists Off The Clock just hit 400 episodes! 🎉 For this special milestone episode, the cohosts wanted to pull back the curtain on the podcast: why we do it, how it’s changed our lives, behind-the-scenes blunders, keeping the podcast financially afloat, and the incredible friendships we’ve built along the way.

You all sent in questions for the team, and we’re answering them! Wondering how we choose guests or which co-host gets to interview which guest? We’re revealing it all. And as an extra treat, our podcast production manager, Jai, will be joining us to chat about editing, hilarious bloopers, memorable lessons and episodes, and give you a peek at what really happens in post-production.

And to close out the episode, we’re giving a huge shoutout to some of our amazing Patreon supporters who are helping us deliver the podcast ad-free and making it possible for us to continue bringing you great science-backed psychology content!

So please grab your favorite drink, hit play, and come celebrate with us!

• Join our Patreon and enjoy our episode ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/offtheclockpsych

• Join our community on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/offtheclockpsych/ 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/offtheclockpsych 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheclockpsych/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PsychologistsOfftheClock 

• Get in contact with our Podcast Production Manager, Jai: jswpodcastassistant.com

1. Taking a Leap Into Something Meaningful

100. Celebrating 100 Episodes

300. Celebrating 300 Episodes with Us

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Balancing warmth with assertiveness can feel like an impossible juggling act—too soft, and you're overlooked; too strong, and you're “too much.”

Alison Fragale's book, Likable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, offers practical, research-backed strategies to help women excel at work and in life. 

In this episode, you'll get to understand the science of power and status, self-promotion without the cringe, and overcoming gender biases with authenticity and confidence. We also include real-world challenges, making this discussion both insightful and refreshingly relatable.

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Alison Fragale is the Mary Farley Ames Lee Distinguished Scholar of Organizational Behavior at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School. As a research psychologist, award-winning professor, international keynote speaker, and author, she is on a mission to help others — especially women — use behavioral science to work and live better. Her scholarship has been published in the most prestigious academic journals in her field and featured in prominent media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Boston Globe, and Inc. Alison is the author of the national bestseller, LIKEABLE BADASS: How Women Get the Success They Deserve. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children, who are all named after professional athletes.

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Money impacts us all, whether it brings joy, stress, or confusion.

Chatting with Elizabeth Husserl, author of The Power of Enough and a financial advisor with a background in economics, spirituality, and psychology, we hear about finding joy in our relationship with money. 

You'll learn about breaking free from the abundance-scarcity cycle and gain practical tools like the wealth mandala to help reshape your money mindset. 

Elizabeth also teaches us how open communication can create healthier financial dynamics in families. Tune in for a fresh perspective on money as a tool for fulfillment and well-being! 

● Books: The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781608689422

● Elizabeth's Website: http://www.elizabethhusserl.com

● Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethhusserl

● Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethhusserl/

Elizabeth Husserl is a registered investment advisor representative, financial advisor, highly sought-after speaker, and cofounder of Peak360 Wealth Management, a boutique wealth planning firm. She does nonprofit work throughout the Americas and has led workshops at major tech companies, including Airbnb, Unity, and Google. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter.

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What is the recipe for developing deeper, more intimate relationships? 

Breaking this all down in his new book, The Mindful Path to Intimacy, is couples therapist Dr. James Cordova, who talks to Yael about how true intimacy happens when vulnerability is met with warmth and acceptance and feeling safe being your real self with someone. 

You’ll hear some eye-opening research, including his “relationship checkup” method and how marriage therapy has evolved to focus on both behavior and acceptance. 

If you are looking for ways to strengthen your relationship emotionally and physically—such as staying mindful, paying attention to one another, sexual intimacy, and making check-ins a regular habit—James has some extremely practical suggestions for you!

● Books: 

The Mindful Path to Intimacy by James Cordova 

Reconcilable Differences by Neil Jacobson, Andrew Christensen, and Brian Doss

● More About James:https://www.clarku.edu/faculty/profiles/james-cordova/

● Connect with James on Social Media

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-cordova-1b803316a

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DrJamesCordova/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jamesvcordova/

Dr. James Córdova is a professor at Clark University and a practicing couples therapist. Dr. Córdova’s work strives to better understand the processes that affect marital/couples health and deterioration, particularly those processes that promote greater relationship, mental and physical health. His work helps to build empirically testable approaches to therapy that foster intimacy, acceptance, and motivation for adopting healthy relational practices. Dr. Córdova’s current projects include (1) the Relationship Checkup, a relationship health checkup designed to help partners maintain healthy relationships for a lifetime, (2) observing the process of intimacy development in couples’ interactions, and (3) studying the role of emotional skillfulness in relationship health. He has a few terrific books including The Story of Mu, The Marital Check-Up, and his brand new book, The Mindful Path to Intimacy: Cultivating a Deeper Connection with Your Partner.

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Ever wondered what it takes to bring a TED talk to life? In this episode, Michael Herold has a conversation with Dr. Alina Nikolaou, a passionate TED event curator, who shares her insights about the exciting world of organizing TED and TEDx events. 

They discuss the process of selecting speakers, the power of storytelling, and how to balance entertainment with information. Dr. Nikolaou offers valuable tips on public speaking, preparation rituals, and the experience of participating in TEDx.

You’ll also pick up tips on how to pitch a TEDx talk and ways to stay engaged with the TED community.

Dr. Alina Nikolaou is Director and Curator of TEDAI Vienna, the first TED event in Europe dedicated to groundbreaking ideas on Artificial Intelligence. Born to Greek and Austrian parents, Alina grew up during the financial crisis in Athens, Greece. After school, she moved to Vienna, Austria to graduate with degrees in Communication Science and Political Science. After a short and rather disenchanting journey into the world of advertising, Alina returned to academia for her doctoral research where she explored how Virtual Reality can affect how we think and behave toward complex sociopolitical issues. Her co-authored study about the influence of deepfakes on media trust and credibility won the award for Best Student Paper at the annual conference of the International Communication Science Association in 2023. Alina has held several courses at the University of Vienna, ranging from empirical research methods in the Social Sciences to Media History. In October 2023 she presented her research at AWE EU, the leading industry conference on mixed reality.

Constantly fascinated with the hypes, hopes and fears that surround new technologies, Alina has been a Curator at TEDxVienna since 2019. There she specialises on interdisciplinary ideas about tech, philosophy and power, and brings them to life in the form of TEDx Talks.

To deal with how miraculous and ridiculous the world is she constantly experiments with different artforms: A regular on Vienna’s storytelling stages, Alina is known for her criticisms on capitalism, her borderline anarchist stance and her absurdist humor. Her most recent appearance was at the Rote Bar at Volkstheater, Vienna. Alina is also the creator of the (so far unsuccessful) dadaist Bring Back Boredom movement and the far more successful event format “Poetry Society Vienna”.

Alina holds a Bakk.phil, MSc and Dr.phil. in Communication Science as well as a BA in Political Science from the University of Vienna, Austria. 

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Being neurodivergent isn’t a flaw or a superpower—it’s just a different way of experiencing the world.

To discuss the topic of neurodivergence, Debbie is joined by clinical psychologist Jennifer Kemp to talk about her new workbook, The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate, created specifically for autistic people and ADHDers. 

They explore themes from Jennifer’s book like what it means to receive a late diagnosis, why neurodiversity-affirming practices matter, and the real challenges (and stigma) that come with being neurodivergent. Plus, you’ll pick up insight into the power of self-compassion and why it’s essential for thriving in life—not just surviving.

Join us for this meaningful discussion on how understanding and accommodating neurodivergent behaviors can make a world of difference, whether in the workplace, relationships, or everyday life.

● Books:

The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate.

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing

Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity

● Website: https://jenniferkemp.com.au/

● Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kemp-b6148b

● Connect on X: https://www.twitter.com/jenniferkemp2

● Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Adelaide-Behaviour-Therapy-267123166960864

● Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.kemp.psych

BSc(Psych)Hons, MPsych(Clinical), GradDipApplSc(Psychology of Coaching) Adjunct lecturer, University of Adelaide

Jennifer Kemp is a privately practicing Clinical Psychologist based in Adelaide. Using a neurodiversity-affirming approach, Jennifer weaves together acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), behavioral and compassion-focused approaches with her own lived experience of neurodivergence to help her clients improve their mental health and develop greater self-compassion, self-acceptance, and pride in their neurodivergent identity. Jennifer is the co-author of “The Neurodivergent Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate” and author of “The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism: Build Your Best (Imperfect) Life Using Powerful Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Self-Compassion Skills.”

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Some of the worst kinds of abuse happen right in front of us—often hidden behind love, care, and even medicine.

In this episode, Jill sits down with returning guest Andrea Dunlop and her co-author and colleague Mike Weber to talk about their book, The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy. Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) is a disturbing form of medical child abuse, which we have covered on the podcast before, where a caregiver—usually a mother—makes a child sick or pretends they are, all for attention and sympathy.

Andrea, a podcast host and expert on MBP, and Mike, a seasoned law enforcement officer with years of experience in child abuse cases, highlighted what they’ve learned from investigating these heartbreaking stories. 

They explain why these cases are so hard to catch, the legal system’s challenges in prosecuting perpetrators, and the chilling similarities between MBP and child sexual abuse.

And make sure to stick around until the end of the episode, where Jill and Emily wrap up with a debrief about the emotional toll of confronting such tough realities. 

Andrea Dunlop is the author of four novels, including She Regrets Nothing and Women Are the Fiercest Creatures, and the host and creator of Nobody Should Believe Me, an award-winning investigative true crime podcast about Munchausen by proxy. Andrea is the founder of Munchausen Support, the nation’s only non-profit dedicated to supporting survivors and families affected by MBP, and a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children’s MBP committee, where she serves alongside the country’s foremost experts. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children.

Mike Weber has forty years of law enforcement experience, including fifteen years as a crimes against children investigator. Detective Weber has consulted with numerous police agencies and district attorney’s offices nationally on cases of medical child abuse, and was awarded the 2016 NCMEC Texas Hero for Children Award. He currently lives and works in Fort Worth.

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Ever had a conversation that just clicked—where you felt truly heard and understood? What if you could create that kind of connection more often?

Best-selling author Charles Duhigg joins Debbie in a conversation about his latest book, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. 

Discover the psychology of great conversations, the power of reciprocal vulnerability, and easy strategies for handling difficult conversations without losing control as we break down what makes some people exceptional communicators and how we can all cultivate those abilities in our daily lives.

Whether your goal is to improve your listening skills, build stronger relationships, or simply feel more comfortable in social settings, this episode is full of ideas to help you connect more deeply.Listen and Learn: 

Resources: 

About Charles Duhigg 

A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Charles is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and the author of The Power of Habit, which spent over three years on bestseller lists and has been translated into 40 languages, Supercommunicators, also a bestseller published in 2024, and Smarter Faster Better, a third bestseller. Mr. Duhigg writes for The New Yorker magazine and previously wrote for The New York Times.

Charles led the New York Times team that won the 2013 Pulitzer prize in explanatory journalism for “The iEconomy,” a series that examined the global economy through the lens of Apple. That series included examinations of such topics as the factories in China where iPhones and iPads are manufactured.

Charles has also received The George Polk award, the Gerald Loeb award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal, the Scripps Howard National Journalism award, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, and other honors.

While a reporter at the Los Angeles Times, Charles reported from Iraq about American military operations. Today, Charles writes for The New Yorker magazine.

Before becoming a full-time journalist in 2003, Charles worked as an analyst for American Property Global Partners, a private equity firm and co-founded SWPA Education Management Group, L.L.C., which developed education programs for medically underserved areas.

He was also, for one terrifying day in 1999, a bike messenger in San Francisco.

He lives in California with his wife and two children.

Related Episodes:

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Tired of all the fighting over politics and morality? For this episode, we’re tackling moral outrage with Kurt Gray, a psychology professor and author of Outraged: Why We Fight about Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground. You’ll learn why we get so caught up in right vs. wrong, how to better understand what’s driving people’s fears and motivations, and how to connect—even when you don’t agree. Plus, you’ll get practical tips to manage your own outrage and have more empathetic conversations.

● Books: 

Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein

Article: Should an affair be disclosed? by Yael

● Website: https://www.kurtjgray.com/

● Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtjgray/

● Connect on X: https://x.com/kurtjgray

● Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kurtjgray

● Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurtjgray/

Kurt Gray is a Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he directs the Deepest Beliefs Lab and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding. And is the author of Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.

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What if the very thing keeping you from deep, meaningful friendships is the fear of being your true, imperfect self? 

This week Michael sits down with Jess Johnston for a chat about authenticity, friendship, and overcoming the fear of rejection. They dive into themes for her book, Perfect Is Boring (and It Tastes Like Kale): Finding Belonging and Purpose Without Changing Who You Are, which offers a refreshing take on embracing who you are while finding your place in the world. 

Together, they explore the ups and downs of adult friendships, including letting down your guard to create real bonds. Jess’s relatable stories and practical tips make it easy to see how consistency, courage, and even a little awkwardness can lead to meaningful relationships.

If you’ve ever felt like perfection gets in the way of connection, this conversation is perfect for you.

Jess Johnston lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids, who are the loves of her life. She is an Enneagram Seven and is enthusiastic about everything—but especially people, travel, and sauces. Jess’s writing makes you feel like you’re sitting cross-legged on her couch in your cozy pants while sharing hearts and drinking coffee. She is the co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants) and has been a top contributor to publications such as HuffPost, Scary Mommy, and Motherly.

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