Psychology Life Lessons

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode of Psychology Life Lessons, Dan talks with journalist Gabe Bullard, author of Against Convenience: Embracing Friction in an Age of Endless Ease. Together they examine the hidden costs of technologies that promise to make life easier. Gabe defines a convenience as anything that saves, or claims to save, time, money, or energy. He contrasts “true” conveniences like the Starbucks app with “false” ones like self-checkout–but all conveniences come at a cost where effort is never eliminated, only shifted onto workers, customers, or communities. Dan and Gabe explore how endless ease leads us to interact with machines instead of people, turns art into background noise, and pushes creators toward constant spectacle. Drawing on research about flow and habituation, they consider how frictionless living can leave people isolated, bored, and cut off from the challenge that makes life meaningful. The conversation closes on a hopeful note, with practical ways to reintroduce friction and Gabe’s invitation to weigh what we gain and lose each time we choose the easy path.

Podcast available on:

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Gabe Bullard is a journalist, critic, and broadcaster. He has written for NPR, The New York Times Magazine, Nieman Reports, 99% Invisible, Bright Wall/Dark Room, The Washington Post, and Smithsonian Magazine, among other outlets. He was a Nieman journalism fellow at Harvard University and is co-founder of Together, Alone, an online magazine of television criticism. He’s from the Midwest and now lives in Switzerland.

Check out his website: gabebullard.com

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode of Psychology Life Lessons, Dan talks with distinguished professor and Brewer Award winner Eric Landrum about teaching, career development, and what sustains a life in academia. Eric shares how his approach to teaching evolved over more than 3 decades—including why he stopped giving tests—and reflects on the challenges psychology majors face when planning for life after graduation. They also discuss his podcast Psych Sessions, the role of improv in the classroom, and what Eric has learned about balancing professional ambition with personal well-being.

Podcast available on:

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R. Eric Landrum is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at Boise State University, receiving his PhD in cognitive psychology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He is a research generalist, broadly addressing improving teaching and learning, including skills assessment, advising innovations, working to understand postbaccalaureate student success such as entering the psychology workforce, effective graduate school applications, and more.

Eric has 450+ presentations, more than 25 books/textbooks, and has published 95 peer-reviewed journal articles in his career. He has collaborated with 325+ research assistants and taught 16,000+ students over 30 years at Boise State. At the 2014 APA Educational Leadership Conference, Eric was presented with an APA Presidential Citation for outstanding contributions to the teaching of psychology. With the 2015 launch of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology journal, he served as inaugural co-editor until 2020. He is a member of APA, a fellow of Division One (General Psychology) and Division Two (Society for the Teaching of Psychology/STP), and served as STP Secretary (2009-2011) and STP President (2014). He is a charter member of the Association for Psychological Science (named fellow in 2018) and a fellow of the Midwestern Psychological Association. During 2016-2017, Eric was President of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, and from 2017-2018, he served as President of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. In August 2019, he received the American Psychological Foundation’s Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award, arguably the highest award for psychology teachers in America. In April 2024, Eric was named a Distinguished Professor at Boise State, the highest award for tenured faculty at the university. In 2025, Eric became a distinguished member of Psi Chi, the highest honor that this international honor society in psychology awards.

As for teaching, he frequently teaches Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, Psychological Measurement, and Capstone Perspectives: History & Systems courses, but has also taught Introduction to the Psychology Major and Statistical Methods (frequently), and both Learning and Cognitive Psychology (less frequently).

Also, be sure to check out his podcast: Psych Sessions!

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode of Psychology Life Lessons, Dan talks with existential therapist and author Emmy van Deurzen about what it means to live authentically in the face of life’s challenges. Emmy reflects on her journey from the Netherlands to France and eventually the UK, where she became a leading voice in existential therapy and education. She shares how philosophy and psychology can work together to help us navigate freedom, responsibility, and the anxieties that come with uncertainty. Together, they explore why anxiety can be seen as a sign of possibility and what it takes to embrace life’s paradoxes with passion. Emmy’s insights blend decades of clinical work, philosophical reflection, and cultural critique, offering a fresh perspective on human resilience and authenticity.

It’s a conversation that reminds us that life’s challenges and mysteries can also be invitations to maturity and vitality.

Podcast available on:

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Emmy van Deurzen is an existential therapist, counselling psychologist, and philosopher, who has worked in the field since 1973 and who has written numerous books on existential psychology and psychotherapy. Her work has been translated into over 30 languages. She founded the Society for Existential Analysis and its journal in 1988, the Regent’s School of Psychotherapy in 1990, and the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling (NSPC) in 1996.  She was the driving force behind the First World Congress for Existential Therapy, which was held in London in 2015. This also led to the founding of the Federation for Existential Therapists in Europe (FETE).  Emmy continues to co-direct NSPC, the Existential Academy (EA) and Dilemma Consultancy, with Digby Tantam.  She is a visiting professor with Middlesex University and current President of the worldwide Existential Movement.  Emmy is an international speaker who has given presentations and workshops on five continents. 

Amongst her books are the bestseller Existential Psychotherapy and Counselling in Practice (Sage, 3d edition 2012), Psychotherapy and the Quest for Happiness (Sage, 2009), Everyday Mysteries (Routledge, 2nd ed, 2010), Paradox and Passion (Wiley, 2nd ed 2015) and Rising from Existential Crisis (PCCS books, 2021).

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode of Psychology Life Lessons, Dr. Dan Lannin talks with author Elizabeth Weingarten about how to navigate life’s most uncertain moments. Drawing from her new book How to Fall in Love with Questions, Elizabeth explores how big, unanswerable questions about purpose, relationships, and identity can be sources of growth rather than anxiety. She discusses how binary questions and societal “charlatans of certainty” can trap us into seeking fast answers instead of meaningful clarity. Through science, storytelling, and personal reflection, she shares tools for developing a “questions practice” to live more intentionally and patiently. Together, they unpack the cultural roots of impatience, the influence of identity and power on question-asking, and how cultivating courage can help us thrive in the unknown. It’s a powerful reminder that the right questions—not quick answers—can often be a the liberating force we need.

Podcast available on:

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Elizabeth Weingarten is a journalist and applied behavioral scientist who works at the intersection of science and storytelling.

A graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has worked on the editorial staffs of The Atlantic, Slate, and Qatar Today, and was Managing Editor of Behavioral Scientist. Her writing has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, Slate, CNN, The Financial Times, Quartz, Harvard Business Review, and Time.

She has led research programs at the think tank New America, the consultancy ideas42, and at tech companies Torch and Udemy. An in-demand speaker, she has shared her work and conducted workshops at venues including SXSW, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and University of Virginia. She lives in Northern California with her husband and son.

Check out her book,  website, and Substack for more of her work!

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode of Psychology Life Lessons, Dr. Steven Heine joins Dr. Dan Lannin to explore the psychology of meaning in an increasingly fragmented world. Drawing on decades of work in cultural and existential psychology, Dr. Heine explains how cultural contexts shape the way people see themselves, what it means to live a “good” life, and how psychological universals are often misunderstood. They unpack his research on WEIRD societies, the Meaning Maintenance Model, and how humans respond to disruptions in meaning—sometimes by doubling down on existing beliefs. Heine also shares insights from his latest book Start Making Sense, offering practical wisdom for restoring purpose in an age of disconnection. From the loss of community to the numbing effects of social media, the conversation highlights how identity, connection, and culture intertwine in the search for meaning.

Podcast available on:

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Steven J. Heine is Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology and Distinguished University Scholar at the University of British Columbia. After receiving his PhD from the University of British Columbia in 1996, he had visiting positions at Kyoto University and Tokyo University, and was on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania before returning to British Columbia. He has authored the best-selling textbook in its field, entitled “Cultural Psychology,” and has written two trade book called “Start Making Sense” (2025) and “DNA is not Destiny”(2017). Heine has received numerous international awards and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. 

Heine’s research focuses on a few topics that converge on how people come to understand themselves and their worlds. His research in cultural psychology has explored the key role that culture plays in shaping people’s psychological worlds. He has also conducted much research exploring how people’s essentialist biases make them prone to misunderstand and fear genetic concepts. His most recent work has investigated how people make meaning in the face of meaninglessness, and how they can lead more meaningful lives.

Make sure to check out his new book: Start Making Sense

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode of “Psychology Life Lessons,” Dr. Yi Du takes over hosting duties to interview Dr. Dan Lannin about their co-authored book, “The Art and Science of Helping.” After introducing Dan’s background, they discuss how effective helping requires both artistic creativity and scientific evidence. Dan shares the powerful “help maze” metaphor from his camp counselor days, where blindfolded children walking in circles could only exit by raising their hand for help—illustrating how seeking help is often the most important first step toward healing. They explore how self-stigma creates additional suffering and prevents help-seeking, and previous negative experiences with vulnerability can further discourage people from reaching out. Both psychologists note a societal “empathy shortage,” attributing it partly to our culture of convenience and immediate gratification. Throughout their conversation, they emphasize that becoming an effective helper requires self-knowledge and intentional practice, while highlighting human resilience symbolized by their book’s cover image of a flower growing through concrete.

Podcast available on:

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• Spotify

Dr. Yi Du is a licensed psychologist in California with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Iowa State University and postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley. She has been training and supervising future mental health professionals since 2012, helping them develop their skills in therapy, multicultural awareness, and professional growth.

Yi’s approach to therapy is deeply rooted in human connection, blending emotion-focused and humanistic principles with self-compassion and mind-body awareness. She integrates Western psychological research with Eastern philosophical traditions, striving to create a balanced approach to mental health.

As a researcher, she explores topics like mental health interventions, cultural adaptation, and the experiences of international students. She has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses on personal growth, career development, and research methods, earning recognition for her teaching and mentorship.

Above all, Yi is passionate about helping future helpers grow, making psychological insights practical, relatable, and meaningful in real-world settings.

Learn more about Dr. Yi Du here.

Here is some more information about The Art and Science of Helping: Developing Fundamental Skills in a Multicultural Age:

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Lannin interviews Dr. Michelle Sherman, a clinical psychologist with 30 years of experience and coauthor of “Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma.” Dr. Sherman shares her journey from working with veterans and their families to co-authoring books with her mother aimed at supporting families affected by mental illness. She discusses the unique challenges faced by those who love someone with mental illness–from navigating healthcare systems to managing personal boundaries. Dr. Sherman offers practical insights on emotional validation, understanding PTSD, and maintaining hope while caring for others. The conversation illuminates how combining professional expertise with genuine compassion can help both individuals with mental illness and their loved ones find paths toward healing and growth.

Podcast available on:

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Dr Sherman is a board-certified clinical psychologist, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, and the Editor of the APA journal, “Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice.” After serving 17 years in the VA healthcare system, and over two decades in academia (professor at the University of Oklahoma and Minnesota), she is now in private practice. She was named the American Psychological Association’s Family Psychologist of the Year in 2022.

Check out Dr. Sherman’s books and other resources here.

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Lannin interviews Jessica Chen, a global communications expert and author of Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons. Jessica shares her journey from being an Emmy award-winning journalist to founding a communications training company that has reached millions. She discusses the challenges of navigating “quiet” versus “loud” cultures in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy, effective communication, and mindset. Jessica offers practical tips on how to build a career brand, advocate for oneself, and celebrate personal achievements without losing authenticity. The conversation highlights how embracing your unique values while learning to adapt can lead to professional success and personal fulfillment.

Podcast available on:

• Apple
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• Spotify

Jessica Chen is an Emmy-Award Winner and the CEO of Soulcast Media. She has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Entrepreneur and Market Watch, Inc., and is a highly requested global event keynote speaker on cross-cultural communications and developing workplace confidence and executive presence. Her company, Soulcast Media has worked with top global organizations, including Google, LinkedIn, Mattel, Harvard Business School, Draftkings, the CDC and many more. Her communications courses are consistently ranked as most popular and have reached over 2 million learners. Her unique approach has transformed people’s speaking, executive presence and authority.

Prior to starting Soulcast Media, Jessica was an award winning TV News Reporter. She graced the television networks of ABC10 News, NBC 4News as well as stations in the greater New York City region.

Order Jessica Chen’s upcoming book, “Smart, Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons” HERE! 

*Just named a Next Big Idea Must Read*

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Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Lannin chats with Mo Bunnell, the founder of a company that helps experts build better relationships and grow their businesses. Mo shares insights from his upcoming book, Give to Grow, which focuses on a proactive and mutually beneficial approach to business relationships. He talks about the importance of engaging with clients, understanding their problems, and offering real experiences of working together. Mo challenges traditional sales methods, advocating for a strategy centered on helping others. The conversation highlights the value of being proactive, staying authentic, and the lasting impact of meaningful connections.

Podcast available on:

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Mo Bunnell helps complex organizations grow by scaling business development skills across their organizations and creating a growth-oriented culture. He’s the author of Give to Grow, The Snowball System, the host of the podcast Real Relationships Real Revenue and the founder of Bunnell Idea Group (BIG), who has trained tens of thousands of professionals.

BIG’s clients have used Mo and his team’s GrowBIG® training to give their experts a system for growth that creates deep relationships, gives a comprehensive business development framework and dare we say, is fun to use.

Mo started out his career as an expert himself, passing all the actuarial exams to earn their highest designation: Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Today, Mo enjoys working with hundreds of clients including some the largest, most prestigious service-based organizations. Mo and his wife of over 30 years, Becky, enjoy spending time with their friends and two adult daughters. Outside of work he enjoys working out, backpacking, and playing ultimate frisbee at the national and world levels. Becky and Mo live in Atlanta Georgia with their four horses, two cats, dog, bird and miniature donkey, Louie Hamilton.

Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.

Psychology Life Lessons is a podcast where we listen in on conversations with psychology experts and try to extract life lessons, and maybe a little wisdom.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Lannin interviews Stephanie Harrison, the founder of the New Happy company. Stephanie explains her approach to happiness, aimed at enhancing well-being. She stresses the importance of making psychological research practical and accessible so that it can be applied to everyday life. Stephanie offers perspectives that challenge common societal views on happiness and suggests a new approach that emphasizes inherent self-worth and the value of community connections. The discussion examines the negative impacts of societal pressures and underscores the need to redefine happiness, focusing on personal expression and helping others.

Podcast available on:

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• Spotify

Stephanie Harrison is an expert in the science of happiness and the creator of the New Happy philosophy. She has a master’s degree in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was later an instructor, and was previously the Director of Learning at Thrive Global, leading the development of science-based programs that improve well-being.

Her company, The New Happy, has revolutionized the way that people understand and pursue happiness. Their artwork, newsletter, videos, podcast, and resources reach millions of people around the world every month. She is a Harvard Business Review and CNBC contributor and her expertise has been featured in publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, and Architectural Digest. She is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and advises on employee well-being and company culture.

Her first book, NEW HAPPY, will be released by Penguin Random House in May 2024.

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Disclaimer: The content on this site is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Additionally, the opinions and viewpoints expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the entities that employ the host or guests.