Psychology Life Lessons

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 11th episode, Dr. Dan Lannin has a conversation with Drs. Laura Finan and Julie Campbell–both professors of Developmental Psychology at Illinois State University. Both are brilliant professors that study interesting areas related to development.

The conversation starts with a discussion about Julie’s research on the development of “handedness,” and how people develop preferences for being right-handed or left-handed. Laura talks about her research into adolescent development and drug use, and we reflect on how COVID has influenced mental health and drug use.

The life lessons start with a discussion on losing, and how losing can provide opportunities to reflect and reconsider one’s approach to their work, relationships, and other aspects of life. The conversation turns to the idea of “fit” and how many rejections and difficulties are due to poor fits between a person and their environment, and not because someone is inadequate or “not good enough.” Dan recounts a poem by Shel Silverstein about “fitting with others” — here’s a link to a video version of that poem. Julie emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity, and Laura reflects on the importance of the physical places where we spend our time.

Importantly, in this episode we learn that Julie’s “road rage” has culminated in the neologism– jerk-a-lot, and that Laura could envision herself having a beer with Obama.

Podcast available on:

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Dr. Laura Finan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Illinois State University. Her background is in Psychology, Human Development and Family Science, and Prevention Science. Dr. Finan’s research interests include how social-ecological factors contribute to adolescents’ and young adults’ health and health risk behaviors.

Dr. Julie Campbell is a developmental psychologist at Illinois State University.  She teaches courses in infant, child, and adolescent development, as well as statistics and research methods courses.  Dr. Campbell is the director of the REACH lab, where she and her students examine the neurodevelopment of infant motor behaviors and lateralized functions, such as hand preference.  She also researches the dynamic of the parent and child relationship by focusing on play interactions between parents and their youth and how using objects can change the interaction.  You can read about her work in more detail at: https://about.illinoisstate.edu/jmcamp9/

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.

Enjoy!

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 special 10th episode, Dr. Dan Lannin has a conversation with his former internship cohort. In the last year of training to be a psychologist, each doctoral candidate has to complete a year-long internship where they practice psychotherapy under guided supervision (kind of like residency for doctors). Dan did his internship at Iowa State University Student Counseling Services–along with Drs. Kristen Sievert, Ian Nelson-Johnson, and Joey Ramaeker. Each of today’s guests is successful in different roles within the field of psychology: Kristen directs Iowa State University’s Student Counseling Services, Ian runs his own private practice, and Joey is the Director of Sport Psychology at Notre Dame.

The conversation starts with a discussion of the benefit of taking risks and betting on yourself, moves to a discussion of strengths and wounds. The guests talk about how we form our identities and note that a part of being authentic is sometimes being clear about “who you are not.” The podcast concludes with some wonderful rapid fire life lessons that include a challenge to think of authenticity as a verb (rather than an adjective), and the beauty that can open up in a person’s life when they choose courage over comfort. Toward the end of the episode Ian mentioned a values activity from Brené Brown that you might find helpful. Here it is: https://brenebrown.com/resources/living-into-our-values/

Importantly, in this episode we learn that Ian would like to sit down to a drink with a certain former president (but only if that person were willing to drink “truth serum”), that Kristen has a “weird interest” (her words) in houses, and that Joey might one day be a DJ that wears a helmet.

Podcast available on:

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Dr. Kristen Sievert is the Director of Student Counseling Services at Iowa State University (ISU). She completed her doctoral training in Counseling Psychology at Oklahoma State University and is a licensed Psychologist in the state of Iowa. Dr. Sievert oversees mental health services for students at ISU, which includes clinical services, outreach, consultation, crisis intervention, and collaboration with campus partners.

Ian Nelson-Johnson is a licensed psychologist in Iowa. He and his partner Christina Nelson-Johnson currently own and operate a small private practice called the Ames Mind Body Center. Prior to that, Ian served as a psychologist and group therapy coordinator for Iowa State University’s Student Counseling Service.

Ian’s simple, intentional goal as a developing human being and professional is to bring life into the world. As a psychologist, he strives to empower people and their healing by co-creating a space that fosters authenticity, vulnerability, and resiliency. He believes it takes tremendous courage to turn the spotlight inwards and work on ourselves, and considers it a privilege to walk alongside people as they navigate this gritty, wild, and immensely challenging task of being human. It is why he has such deep respect for the people who choose to walk through his office door.

Dr. Joey Ramaeker

Dr. Joey Ramaeker is a counseling and sport psychologist currently serving as the Sport Psychology Program Director at the University of Notre Dame. In this role, Joey leads a team of two additional psychologists responsible for providing comprehensive psychological services to student-athletes and consultation to the wider athletic department. 

You can follow Dr. Joey Ramaeker on Twitter at @jramaekerphd

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 has a conversation with Drs. Luke Russell and Chang Su-Russell from Illinois State University. Luke studies resilience in relationships, and especially within families of divorce and stepfamilies. Chang studies development in early childhood and socialization to being a sibling and topics like race/ethnicity, and death/dying.

The conversation starts with a discussion of narratives, and how the stories we tell influence our identity and even the lives of our families. Dan’s jaw drops when Luke tells a story of how he talked to himself in college when he looked in the mirror. Chang talks about the importance of meeting basic psychological needs like autonomy, competence, and relatedness–core aspects of Self-Direction Theory.

Importantly, in this episode we learn that Chang once spent a month in Tibet, and that Luke would enjoy a quiet evening with Genghis Khan.

Podcast available on:

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Dr. Luke Russell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Illinois State University. His research investigates how individuals living in diverse family structures (single-parent, post-divorce, stepfamilies) foster resilience and maintain family-members’ health and well-being. He also studies how broader social institutions (e.g., health care systems, schools, and government agencies) can function as supportive resources for such families. He teaches courses in communication and helping skills, family public policy, and enduring issues for couples and families. 

You can follow Dr. Russell on Twitter 

@LTR_HDFS

Chang Su-Russell earns a Ph.D. in human development and family studies from the University of Missouri. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Illinois State University. Her research focuses on the socialization of very young children in challenging contexts, including two major lines of research: parents’ socializing children through the discussions of challenging issues (race and deaths) in response to current societal-political events; parents’ socializing children transition to siblinghood in mainland China in the context of post-one-child policy.

She is a Co-Chair of Asian/Asian American Families Focus Group and the Communication Specialist for the Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Families Section at National Council on Family Relations. Currently, she serves on the Editorial Board for Journal of Family Psychology.

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 has a conversation with two prominent psychology researchers — Dr. David Vogel and Dr. Nathaniel Wade from Iowa State University. The conversation starts by talking about finding and pursuing passions in work and in life, and continues with thoughts on what it means to be true to one’s self. Both guests talk about their journeys to and within psychology research, and how different life events and decisions led them to where they are today. The conversation continues with Dr. Wade talking about how psychology opened up to him when he realized that “things are not always as they appear,” an idea that continues to permeate multiple areas of psychology.

Importantly, in this episode, which we’re now calling Inklings 2, we learn that David once sculpted an award-winning squirrel, and that Nathaniel once learned a choice combination of words at the racetrack.

If you’re interested in checking out their book, here is the link: The Cambridge Handbook of Stigma and Mental Health

Podcast available on:

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Following his undergrad graduation (with a Psych BA in 1994) Nathaniel worked for 4 years as an Addictions Counselor in both an abstinence-based agency and a methadone clinic. He then went to graduate school for Counseling Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University. He finished his PhD in 2003 and joined Iowa State that same year. He is now a Professor of Psychology and Founding Director of Network Community Counseling Services. He is a licensed Psychologist in the state of Iowa and a Certified Group Psychotherapist.

Nathaniel’s research interests center on the processes and outcomes of psychotherapy. Specifically, he has worked to develop and test interventions to promote forgiveness, to understand the impact of integrating religion and spirituality into psychotherapy, and to explore interventions to reduce the stigma associated with seeking counseling. When not working, he spends time with family, hikes in the mountains of NH, listens to podcasts and audiobooks while puttering around the house doing chores, and plays soccer each week with the “older people.”

David L. Vogel is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Iowa State University (ISU), a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA), and a licensed psychologist in the State of Iowa. He is the Director of the ISU Interdisciplinary Communication Studies program. His professional interests focus on issues of diversity with specific attention to the role of stigma and stereotyping as they are applied to psychological health and the decision to seek therapy.

David has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles and has given over 100 national conference presentations. His research has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Defense, and the American Psychological Foundation. Current work is focused on developing interventions that will help reduce stigma and increase the likelihood that people in need will seek quality mental health care services.

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.

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 has a conversation with Dr. Andrew Seidman, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. Andrew starts the discussion by talking about the importance of getting universal human needs met–like being validated, accepted, and finding “existential comfort.”

The conversation moves to a discussion of mental health and the effects of social media. We reflect on how the sheer quantity of online exposures and interactions can be overwhelming, and how social media offers “instant solutions” to boredom that might not always be as helpful as they appear. Andrew’s second life lesson emerges from a quote from Carl Rogers, that “the good life is a process, not a destination,” and notes that life is really lived in the moments when we are not distracted. We both reflect on the importance of establishing community with smaller networks of people, and how local relationships can be life-giving.

Importantly, we muse on who would win in a fight — Carl Rogers or Mr. Fred Rogers. Spoiler alert, the winner’s last name is Rogers.

Podcast available on:

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Andrew Seidman is an NIMH Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry. His program of research focuses on the psychological consequences of societal ills such as stigma and discrimination, and how a sense of personal and collective identity can protect against its effects. 

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.

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 has a conversation with Marcia O’Donnell and Dr. Diane Zosky–two social workers at heart. Marcia reflects on her journey through a serious illness, and how it stripped away different false selves and fostered self-acceptance. Diane reflects on her own transitions in her life, and how big changes and transition can prompt a process of “returning to oneself.” The conversation touches on how people can get meaning, even amidst the every day “chasing” that often defines the first half of life. There is also a life lesson about the different narratives people sometimes use to defer accepting personal responsibility and avoid taking ownership of the choices we have at our disposal.

Importantly, we learn that in a perfect world Diane and Marcia would ideally be sitting down for beers with Nelson Mandela and Jesus.

Podcast available on:

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Marcia O’Donnell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice and former adjunct professor and clinical supervisor in the Department of Social Work at Illinois State University.  Her primary areas of practice are with individuals experiencing anxiety, cancer, and complex developmental trauma.  She completed training with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk through the Trauma Research Foundation and had the fortunate opportunity to be directly supervised by him.  

Dr. Diane Zosky is Dean Emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences and former Director and Professor Emeritus from the School of Social Work at Illinois State University. She is a clinical, licensed social worker and her practice and research experience centered on interventions with perpetrators of intimate partner violence as well as training on the trauma impact on child witnesses of IPV.   She is the former president of the IPV certification agency, Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals and is on the editorial board for the journal Partner Abuse.

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.

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 has a conversation with Dr. Jordan Arellanes and Dr. Anthony Ferraro. They reflect on their experiences navigating academia, both in training and as professionals. Jordan reflects on the importance of developing and maintaining relationships, and how beneficial it can be to lean into some of the experiences that might seem awkward (like approaching people at conferences). Anthony mentions the value of kindness, and the conversation moves into a discussion about mentors and why burning bridges is not the best idea.

Importantly, we learn that Jordan has picked up some unique phrases from the movie Clerks 2, and that Anthony knows a lot about early United States history.

Podcast available on:

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Jordan Arellanes is an Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology at Illinois State University; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5190-0688. He is a mixed methodologist who studies inclusion, diversity, equity, and action (IDEA), Latino school success, and fatherhood. Arellanes’s research focuses on how people develop their roles in society and how the influence of others (friends, parents, teachers, coaches) impacts the desire to maintain or adapt to those societal roles. It is his belief that systemic changes begin with positive relationships and experiences. Recently, his work has been published in Teaching of Psychology, the Journal of Latinos and Education, and the Journal of Research in Personality.

Anthony Ferraro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Kansas State University. He currently serves as one of the co-directors for the Divorce Education Assessment Collaborative, is the Chair of the Family Policy section of the National Council on Family Relations, and sits on the editorial boards for both Family Court Review and the Journal of Divorce & Remarriage. He has been recognized for his contributions to the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students by the Advancing Family Science section of the National Council on Family Relations with the 2020 Emerging Mentor/Teacher Award and by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University with the 2022 Hulsing Mentoring Prize. His research focuses on adjustment during periods of stress and transition, with an emphasis on divorce and co-parenting relationships. Follow him on twitter @docferraro if you want a healthy dose of higher ed nonsense and shenanigans! 

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.

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 has a conversation with Dr. Joey Ramaeker, the director of sport psychology at the University of Notre Dame. Joey and Dan talk about issues relating to sport psychology, but also general tips for non-athletes. Joey talks about his journey to becoming a sport psychologist and offers some great life lessons. Joey starts out talking about the importance of taking a wholistic view of athletes as people. He busts some myths about Kobe Bryant’s approach to sports and talks about the importance of considering the different systems that surround athletes–from teams, to families, to larger social structures. Joey also talks about the importance of helping athletes manage conflict in appropriate ways, and how creating a safe psychological environment can help healthy types of communications thrive. The last life lesson centers around the idea of vulnerability–how elite manage the inherent physical and psychological vulnerability and uncertainty in their sports.

Importantly, we learn that Joey loves The Notorious B.I.G. and invests in things that touch the ground (e.g., beds, shoes, couches, etc.). Dan manages to squeeze out a few tips from Joey on how to improve his pickleball game.

Podcast available on:

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Info on Dr. Joey Ramaeker coming soon!

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.

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 has a conversation with Dr. Jeremy Kanter and Dr. Amy Rauer–both from the University of Tennessee. These two professors are experts on romantic relationships, having conducted important research in the field. Jeremy starts the conversation off with a discussion about the importance of considering a couple’s context when giving and receiving relationship advice. Amy mentions the importance of investing in multiple relationships, and talks about the salience of the often ignored “weak ties” that we all have. There are also great insights about perspective-taking and the fact that conflict is normal and inevitable. Most importantly though, we learn that Amy drinks chocolate almond milk.

Podcast available on:

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Jeremy Kanter, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee. He received his PhD in Human Development and Family Science at the University of Missouri. His research broadly investigates how cognitive and behavioral components of relationships develop in context. In particular, his research highlights how poverty-related stressors influence change and stability in relational processes and the implications of these changes on mental health. 

You can follow Dr. Kanter on Twitter @JeremyBKanter 

Amy Rauer (Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Child and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Her work focuses on how intimate relationships develop as the individuals within them grow and change over the lifespan. She has published widely in both developmental and family science journals, and her work has been recognized multiple times by the National Council on Family Relations and the International Association on Relationship Research.

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.

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 has a conversation with Dr. Yi Du and Dr. Raquel Botello — two counseling psychologists. The conversation starts off with a discussion about how we approach our pain, and then goes into how we often try to predict and control the future rather than appreciating the present and the past. There are also great life lessons about what it means to be “good enough,” how to “own our voice,” and why it can be important to cast off unnecessary guilt.

Podcast available on:

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Dr. Yi Du, Ph.D.

Yi Du, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in California. She received her PhD in counseling psychology at Iowa State University. She is currently transitioning into a new consulting position, and prior to this she has worked extensively at university counseling centers. Her last job was working as a counseling psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services of University of California, Berkeley. She also maintains a small private practice and provides individual therapy and supervision.

Dr. Du’s extensive clinical expertise include multicultural counseling, emotional awareness, college adjustment, identity development, depression/anxiety, relationship concerns and psychological assessment. Originally from China, Dr. Du has provided consultation and supervision for hundreds of Chinese counselors-in-training.

Info on Dr. Raquel Botello coming soon!

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.