Dr. Aaron Rochlen is a Clinical Professor and Chair in the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Texas at Austin. We discussed Aaron's journey to psychology and men's mental health, and I found it interesting that he perceived himself as an average graduate student until he really found his passion. His passion came when he read a paper that proposed some challenges on engaging men in therapy: men are in "double jeopardy."

We also discussed how his highest impact work came from being curious about some simple questions that came in his research. The first question was why are men's suicide rates so much higher if their rates of depression are considerably lower, when compared with women. The second question was related to some findings that demonstrated women were increasingly earning more than their male partners. Aaron was curious about the impact of this on men and fathers.

We also chatted about Aaron's ideas on what we should really call a unique men's depression (masked, masculine, male?) and the challenges on naming interventions designed for men who might be hesitant to engage in help-seeking. We did find some time to talk about his stay-at-home father research, which was cutting edge at the time. In fact it was so cutting edge and applicable to real life that it landed Aaron on NBC's Today Show.

Aaron also teaches a popular course on movies and mental health at UT, so we discussed a few movies and shows that demonstrate depression, including depression in men. In 2007, I saw Aaron give a talk on depression in men with illustrations from the Sopranos pilot episode that was fantastic, so it was great to connect with him on this topic one-on-one. We wrap up with Aaron describing how he indeed "practices what he preaches" via his small practice with men called Walk Therapy Austin. He finds that a therapy that is outdoors and movement-oriented helps men engage in talk therapy.

Welcome to the first season of Inside Men's Mental Health! In this podcast, we'll be exploring this thing called masculinity and its impact on men's mental health, relationships, and communities.

In this episode Garth interviewed Joshua Woods from Grandview University in Des Moines, IA. Josh shares his journey from being a struggling student with a rocky academic start to becoming a passionate educator and researcher. They discuss the creation and success of the Intro Psych Coast to Coast conference, which was born out of the pandemic. They delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of teaching introductory psychology, touching on themes such as the importance of authenticity in teaching and the nuanced understanding required when discussing complex topics like racism and correlation. The conversation also highlights Josh's deep ties to Des Moines, his family's involvement in a local dance studio, and his transformative experience studying overseas in England. As Josh prepares to take on a new role and heads into a sabbatical, they explore his vision for the future of psychology education.

[Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Garth interviews Paula Hylton from the Cannon School in Concord, North Carolina. Paula discusses her journey and experiences as a high school psychology teacher. She shares insights into the unique aspects of teaching at an independent school, her creative teaching methods, and activities such as the first-day memory icebreaker and the 10K step challenge. Paula reflects on her background, motivation, professional development, and the importance of making psychology relevant to students' lives. She also emphasizes the value of building strong student-teacher relationships and the impact of real-world applications in the classroom.

[Note. Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Garth interviews June Gruber from the University of Colorado Boulder. They discuss various aspects of her research focus, which intersects clinical psychology and positive emotions. June shares insights into her Positive Emotion and Psychopathology (PEP) lab, where she explores how positive emotions manifest in psychological disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. The episode covers the methodologies used in her lab, the ethical considerations in research, and her takeaways from years of studying emotions, including the nuanced understanding that pursuing happiness too intensely can be counterproductive. June also shares her inspiring journey from a small town in California to a distinguished academic career, highlighting the importance of mentorship and community support. The conversation wraps up with her involvement in co-authoring introductory psychology textbooks, emphasizing the importance of making psychological science accessible to a broader audience.

[Note: Portions of the show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode Garth interviews Carol Tavris, an independent scholar from Los Angeles, CA. Carol recounts her eclectic career, highlighting her transition from academia to writing. She discusses the importance of accurately communicating psychological science to the public, emphasizing empirical evidence while criticizing the tendency of some popular writers to prioritize sensational ideas. She reflects on various topics, including her work on the psychology of anger, her skepticism toward unfounded scientific claims, and the dynamics of cognitive dissonance. The dialogue also covers Tavris's contributions to textbooks, particularly her efforts to incorporate critical thinking and a balanced view of gender and cultural issues in introductory psychology courses. Carol generously shares insights on maintaining scientific integrity amid societal pressures and changing academic landscapes.

[Note. Portions of these show notes were generated by Descript AI.]

In this episode of AskPsychSessions, Marianne answers a listener question about teaching your expertise to those from other specialties. Her guests are Dr. Andrew Butler from Washington University in St. Louis and Dr. Kristoffer Romero from the University of Windsor. The conversation covers content selection, assessment options, and skill development.

Well, the contiguous United States and D.C. Bonus: Take the short form of the NEO and get matched with the state you vibe with. OR use this in class for five one-way ANOVA examples.

Blog Post: https://notawfulandboring.blogspot.com/2016/07/wilsons-americas-mood-map-interactive.html

Original Article: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-a0034434.pdf

Time Magazine article, featuring the Big Five survey: http://time.com/7612/americas-mood-map-an-interactive-guide-to-the-united-states-of-attitude/

• The Society for the Teaching of Psychology - teachpsych.org
• Macmillan Learning - macmillanlearningpsychology.com
• Soomo Learning - soomolearning.com