Two Psychologists Four Beers

Two Psychologists Four Beers

56: The Kindness of Strangers (with Michael McCullough)

Oct 21 • 99 min

Psychologist Michael McCullough joins the show to talk forgiveness, punishment, and how we came to care about the welfare of people we don't know. Also: a listener calls out our dubious math.Special Guest: Michael McCullough.Sponsored By:The Great Courses…

55: All In (with Maria Konnikova)

Oct 7 • 67 min

Psychologist and author Maria Konnikova joins the show to talk poker, life, and what one teaches you about the other. She talks with us about working with Walter Mischel as a graduate student, her decision to leave the academic track to become an author,…

54: Being WEIRD (with Joe Henrich)

Sep 23 • 88 min

Yoel and Mickey interview one of the most influential social scientists of our generation, Harvard University's Joe Henrich. Why are people from the West so peculiar, so different from other people the world over? What led the West to be particularly…

53: The COVID debate (with Robb Willer and Simine Vazire)

Sep 9 • 96 min

Robb Willer and Simine Vazire join the podcast to debate whether social science, in its current form, can usefully contribute to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Is psychology ready to give trustworthy advice to policy-makers? Plus: Yoel shirks his…

52: Cold Takes (with Neil Lewis, Jr.)

Aug 26 • 71 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Neil Lewis, Jr. of Cornell University to the podcast. Is psychology ready to be applied to help the response to the COVID-19 pandemic? What are the opportunity costs of applying a psychological intervention? How does Neil navigate…

51: Against Orthodoxy

Aug 12 • 74 min

After over a year of (mostly) avoiding controversial topics, Yoel and Mickey dive in to talk about orthodoxy, dissent, and "cancel culture." Does the narrowing of acceptable views make us dumber or does it represent a drawing of new moral boundaries that…

50: The Upside of Feeling Bad (with Claudia Haase)

Jul 29 • 83 min

For their 50th episode, Yoel and Mickey welcome Northwestern University psychologist Claudia Haase to the podcast to discuss relationships and mistakes. What was life like in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin wall? How can Yoel and Mickey iron…

49: Why Buddhism is Wrong (with Evan Thompson)

Jul 15 • 79 min

Yoel and Mickey have a far ranging conversation with University of British Columbia professor of philosophy, Evan Thompson. Despite growing up with a daily meditation practice and contributing to the cognitive science of mindfulness, why does Evan not…

48: Clocks and Garbage Cans (with Rachel Ruttan)

Jul 1 • 80 min

Yoel and Mickey host Rachel Ruttan, who is an assisant professor of organizational behavior and human resources at the Rotman School of Management. What is organizational behavior and how is it different from psychology? What makes for a good research…

47: Talking about Racism (with Keith Maddox)

Jun 17 • 89 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome back returning guest Keith Maddox from Tufts University to talk about his research on racism. What is shadeism? Can anything be done to make it easier to talk about race and racism? What happens to poeple who confront racism? Has…

46: Very Good Men (with Very Bad Wizards)

Jun 3 • 97 min

Yoel and Mickey try to settle their feud with the boys from Very Bad Wizards, Tamler Sommers and David Pizarro. They discuss what psychology, philosophy, and art can and can't do. Does psychology get more respect than it deserves? How has philosophy…

45: Being Human (with Scott Barry Kaufman)

May 13 • 65 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome humanistic psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman to the show. Scott talks about his academic path from intelligence researcher to positive psychologist. What is humanistic psychology? Can one study humananistic concepts like…

44: Psychology in the Time of COVID-19

Apr 29 • 68 min

Yoel and Mickey spend the first half of the episode discussing how thier lives have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. How has the pademic affected those with and without children? How has the pandemic impacted our various relationships? For the…

43: Penumbral Fuzz (with Nina Strohminger)

Apr 15 • 71 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Nina Strohminger, Assistant Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics at the Wharton School of Business, to the show. Nina delivers entertaining takes on digust and morality, the true self, adventures in academia, and writing…

42: The Plague (with Joshua Tybur)

Apr 1 • 76 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome evolutionary psychologist Joshua Tybur to the podcast to discuss COVID-19 and the function of disgust as part of the behavioral immune system. What is the relationship between disgust sensitivity and political orientation? Can the…

41: With and Without Children (with Elizabeth Page-Gould)

Mar 18 • 70 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome return guest Elizabeth Page-Gould to the podcast to discuss adults with and without children. Why did Liz choose to have children? What do we make of fathers who leave their familiies? How does society view people without children?…

40: Diversity, Death, and (Cohen’s) D

Mar 4 • 74 min

As Little Urban Achievers, Yoel and Mickey delight in discussing previews for The Jesus Rolls, a Big Lebowski spinoff starring John Torturo as Jesus Quintana. They next talk about the University of California's policy of selecting faculty job candidates…

39: Hot Takes (with Robb Willer)

Feb 19 • 83 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Stanford sociologist and psychologist Robb Willer to the show, who serves up hot takes about the replication crisis. Did the low replicabilty era in social psychology have consequences for political science or sociology? Has the…

38: Is There a Generalizability Crisis?

Jan 22 • 73 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss a new paper by Tal Yarkoni suggesting that quantitative research in psychology is suffering from a generaliozability crisis. Do the numbers and statistics that psychological scientists present in their papers correspond to their…

37: The War on Christmas Holiday Special

Dec 25, 2019 • 64 min

Yoel and Mickey declare war on Christmas, discuss US-Canada differences, and almost entirely avoid serious topics. Bonus semi-serious topic: are all theories in psychology bound to be true?Links:Kitchen Party | Big Spruce Brewing | BeerAdvocateAn…

36: Psychological Science Meets the Real World (with Nick Hobson)

Dec 11, 2019 • 74 min

Mickey and Yoel chat with Nick Hobson, a psychologist who has moved from academia to applying behavioral science in the real world. What are some of the challenges that face academics-turned-practitioners? How can you apply psychological research in a…

35: Against Experiments

Nov 27, 2019 • 68 min

Are many classic social psychology experiments more theater than science? Mickey and Yoel discuss "The Rise and Fall of Social Psychology," a book by the sociologist Augustine Brannigan that makes this provocative claim. Given the complexity of social…

34: The Future of Social Psychology

Nov 13, 2019 • 85 min

Mickey and Yoel take advantage of the SESP (Society for Experimental Social Psychology) conference to ask guests some hard-hitting questions about the present and future of social psychology (and, of course, beers). We then answer the same questions…

33: What is Heterodox Academy? (with Debra Mashek)

Oct 30, 2019 • 67 min

Mickey and Yoel talk with Debra Mashek, the executive director of Heterodox Academy, an organization working to increase open inquiry, viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement in academia. But what does that mean exactly? Aren't these just…

32: Measurement Schmeasurement (with Jessica Flake)

Oct 16, 2019 • 80 min

Jessica Flake joins Mickey and Yoel to talk measurement. What is it, how do you do it well, and do social psychologists care about it? What does measurement theory tell us about the validity of standardized tests like the GRE? Jessica also talks about how…

31: Is Ego Depletion Real?

Oct 2, 2019 • 78 min

By listener request, Yoel quizzes Mickey about ego depletion. How did we start studying it? How has the replication crisis changed how we think about it? After more than a decade studying ego depletion, does Mickey still have any faith in the phenomenon?…

30: Evaluating Eminence

Sep 18, 2019 • 66 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss the role of eminence in science. Is there a role for eminence in psychology? What makes a researcher eminent? Would we be better off disregarding eminence entirely? Your hosts also discuss common myths in psychology plus a recent…

29: Sacred Values

Sep 4, 2019 • 76 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss sacred values. How are sacred valued different from other values? What are the hallmarks of values that have become sacrilized? Why does it seem crass, or even offensive, to suggest trading off a sacred value (such as diversity…

28: Better Advice (with Alexa Tullett)

Aug 21, 2019 • 65 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Associate Professor of Psychology, Alexa Tullett from the University of Alabama to the podcast. Co-host of The Black Goat podcast and board member of the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science (SIPS), Alexa talks…

27: Against Mindfulness

Aug 7, 2019 • 76 min

Playing devil's advocate, Yoel and Mickey mount a criticism against the scientific study of mindfulness. What is mindfulness? Can we measure it? Is mindfulness-based therapy effective? Can mindfulness improve the quality of attention beyond the meditation…

26: Terrible Advice (with Paul Bloom)

Jul 24, 2019 • 68 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Paul Bloom to the podcast, who is not only a returning guest but also the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology at Yale University. We first give terrible advice on parenting. Does parenting affect happiness,…

25: Truth and Political Bias in Psychology (with John Jost)

Jul 3, 2019 • 86 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Professor of Psychology and Politics John Jost from New York University to the podcast. Author of the most influential political psychology paper of the last two decades, John talks about the role of psychology in politics and the…

24: Heuristics and Biases in the Democratic Primary

Jun 19, 2019 • 63 min

Yoel and Mickey take a deep dive into the Democratic Primary field, asking what the field of judgment and decision making can teach us about the large and diverse field of Democratic candidates. Why is Biden leading in the polls? Is Elizabeth Warren being…

23: Slow-Form Journalism (with Daniel Engber)

Jun 5, 2019 • 57 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Slate columnist Daniel Engber to the podcast. Dan talks about the state of science journalism, including what he sees as more skeptical, less credulous reporting. He also talks about the replication crisis in psychology, imposter…

22: Blend of Darkness (with Brent Roberts)

May 22, 2019 • 89 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Professor of Psychology Brent Roberts from the University of Illinois to the podcast. One of the most influential personality psychologists of our day, Brent unleashes his thoughts on broad range of topics: candidate gene studies,…

21: Perils of Privilege

Apr 24, 2019 • 66 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss the concept of privilege, the unearned, sometimes invisible conditions of a person’s life that give them advantages that others might not have. What are the benefits of acknowledging one’s privilege and calling it out in others?…

20: Apostasy and Dissent (with Sarah Haider)

Mar 27, 2019 • 61 min

Yoel and Mickey talk with Sarah Haider, the co-founder and Executive Director of Ex-Muslims of North America, an organization that advocates for the acceptance of religious dissent and supports those who leave Islam. Sarah talks about her own experience…

19: Two Normies Four Beers

Feb 27, 2019 • 65 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss Kill All Normies, a book written by Angela Nagle about the online culture wars, the rise of transgressive politics, and the disappearance of moderates. But, first they discuss a new journal article titled The Paradox of Viral…

A Schedule Update (Shomer F*cking Sabbatical)

Feb 6, 2019 • 3 min

We are going to be on a one-episode-a-month schedule till May. Why? Because Mickey is on sabbatical from his cough incredibly demanding job: ✈️🌴🏖🍹😎Links:Bali

18: What Science and the Humanities Offer Each Other (with Edward Slingerland)

Jan 30, 2019 • 78 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Distinguished Professor of Asian Studies, Edward (Ted) Slingerland from the University of British Columbia to the podcast. Ted discusses what the sciences can offer the humanities, but also how the humanities can enrich science.…

17: Why Trump Won

Jan 2, 2019 • 65 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss Identity Crisis, a new book about the 2016 US presidential election written by the political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck. But first, they talk about the recent controversy over Patreon's ban of a…

16: How Polarized Are We? (with Anne Wilson)

Dec 19, 2018 • 69 min

Yoel and Mickey sit down with Anne Wilson of Wilfrid Laurier University to discuss free speech, the Lindsay Shepherd case, political polarization, #MeToo, and more. Bonus: how many tattoos does Mickey have, and is that why he's less trustworthy?Special…

15: Just When You Think You’re Out

Dec 5, 2018 • 65 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss two mini-controversies recently in the news: 1) Should equity, diversity, and inclusion statements be required from academic job candidates? Do they signal the liberal values of academia, and if so, is that a bad thing? 2) Are…

14: Vices (with Elizabeth Page-Gould)

Nov 21, 2018 • 74 min

Yoel and Mickey have their first repeat guest as Liz Page-Gould joins them to talk vices. Weed, booze and porn are all on the table (well, not literally) as we take on some popular vices. Why do you get paranoid when you smoke? Was alcohol really the…

13: What’s Wrong with the IAT? (with Jesse Singal)

Nov 7, 2018 • 60 min

Journalist Jesse Singal joins Yoel and Mickey to talk about the state of science journalism, what he thinks is wrong with how people interpret the Implicit Association Test (IAT), and the pros and cons of moral outrage. Why do so many science journalists…

12: Everybody Hates Social Media

Oct 24, 2018 • 63 min

Mickey and Yoel take on social media. What are the upsides and downsides of being on social media, particularly Twitter? Why does Mickey ban himself from social media for most of the day? What led Yoel to abandon Twitter entirely for two weeks, and what…

11: No Such Thing as Bad Publicity?

Oct 10, 2018 • 61 min

Yoel and Mickey discuss how scientists should publicize their work. Should scientists issue press releases about their findings? Should they write op-ed columns to communicate directly with the public? If Yoel writes an op-ed about Mickey's paper, is that…

10: Conservative Social Psychologist Wanted (with Clay Routledge)

Sep 26, 2018 • 73 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Clay Routledge to the show. Clay is a professor of psychology at North Dakota State University who studies the cognitive and motivational consequences of the search for meaning, including religion and other supernatural beliefs.…

9: Giving the Finger (with Alice Dreger)

Sep 12, 2018 • 60 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome author, journalist, historian, and bioethicist Alice Dreger to the show. Alice, who wrote Galileo’s Middle Finger, discusses how her upbringing, her academic background, and her own Galilean personality led her to piss so many…

8: Confessions of a Science Critic (with James Heathers)

Aug 29, 2018 • 62 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Northeastern University research scientist and science critic James Heathers to their show. Yoel, Mickey, and James discuss science reform and the need for robust science criticism. Why is it so hard for some (older) scientists to…

7: When Does the Left Go Too Far?

Aug 15, 2018 • 74 min

Yoel and Mickey ask how to know when the political Left has gone too far. Assuming the Left can indeed go too far—turning off even other progressives who feel abandoned by their natural political home—Yoel and Mickey riff on ways this might manifest. The…

6: Yoel and Mickey Fall in Love (with Elizabeth Page-Gould)

Aug 1, 2018 • 78 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome their University of Toronto colleague and close friend, psychologist Elizabeth Page-Gould. Liz, who is an expert in close friendship, tries to help Yoel and Mickey fall in love with each other…and with her…by administering the…

5: I Love How You Hurt Me (with Paul Bloom)

Jul 18, 2018 • 66 min

Yoel and Mickey welcome Yale psychologist Paul Bloom to the show, their very first guest. In a far ranging conversation, Yoel, Mickey, and Paul discuss the potential benefits of pain. Why do we sometimes choose to suffer? Are there any benefits (to self…

4: The Replication Crisis Gets Personal

Jul 4, 2018 • 68 min

In their most emotional episode yet, Yoel and Mickey discuss the replication crisis in psychology. What is meant by the replication crisis and how did it get started? Why does it appear like the field is split into two, with some young academics actively…

3: WTF is the IDW?

Jun 20, 2018 • 66 min

Yoel and Mickey take a deep dive into the so-called Intellectual Dark Web (IDW). What is the IDW and who are the prominent members of this group? Why do members of the IDW seem so cranky? Are members of the IDW actually being silenced, and given their…

2: You’re Not Wrong Walter, You’re Just an A$$hole

Jun 5, 2018 • 61 min

In this episode, Yoel and Mickey tackle problems of tone and incivility in online discussions of the scientific literature. What constitutes bullying and is the term abused to derail legitimate criticism? What is an ad hominem attack and when is it a…

1: In Search of the Campus Free Speech Crisis

May 19, 2018 • 68 min

In their first episode, Yoel and Mickey tackle the alleged free speech crisis on campus. Is there reason to worry or are reports of left-wing intolerance overblown? We take a closer look and talk about what we do and don't feel comfortable saying on…